Background: Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, mathematical models have been widely used to inform public health recommendations regarding COVID-19 control in healthcare settings. Objectives: To systematically review SARS-CoV-2 transmission models in healthcare settings, and summarise their contributions to understanding nosocomial COVID-19. Methods: Systematic search and review. Data sources: Published articles indexed in PubMed. Study eligibility criteria: Modelling studies describing dynamic inter-individual transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare settings, published by mid-February 2022. Participants and interventions: Any population and intervention described by included models. Assessment of risk of bias: Not appropriate for modelling studies. Methods of data synthesis: Structured narrative review. Results: Models have mostly focused on acute care and long-term care facilities in high-income countries. Models have quantified outbreak risk across different types of individuals and facilities, showing great variation across settings and pandemic periods. Regarding surveillance, routine testing - rather than symptom-based testing - was highlighted as essential for COVID-19 prevention due to high rates of silent transmission. Surveillance impacts were found to depend critically on testing frequency, diagnostic sensitivity, and turn-around time. Healthcare re-organization was also found to have large epidemiological impacts: beyond obvious benefits of isolating cases and limiting inter-individual contact, more complex strategies such as staggered staff scheduling and immune-based cohorting reduced infection risk. Finally, vaccination impact, while highly effective for limiting COVID-19 burden, varied substantially depending on assumed mechanistic impacts on infection acquisition, symptom onset and transmission. Studies were inconsistent regarding which individuals to prioritize for interventions, probably due to the high diversity of settings and populations investigated. Conclusions: Modelling results form an extensive evidence base that may inform control strategies for future waves of SARS-CoV-2 and other viral respiratory pathogens. We propose new avenues for future models of healthcare-associated outbreaks, with the aim of enhancing their efficiency and contributions to decision-making.
Background Understanding the relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of new COVID-19 vaccine formulations against SARS-CoV-2 infection is an urgent public health priority. A precise comparison of the rVE of monovalent and bivalent boosters given during the 2022 Spring-Summer and Autumn-Winter campaigns, respectively, in a defined population has not been reported. We therefore assessed rVE against hospitalisation for the Spring-Summer (fourth vs third monovalent mRNA vaccine doses) and Autumn-Winter (fifth BA.1/ancestral bivalent vs fourth monovalent mRNA vaccine dose) boosters. Methods A prospective single-centre test-negative design case-control study of ≥75 year-olds hospitalised with COVID-19 or other acute respiratory disease. We conducted regression analyses controlling for age, gender, socioeconomic status, patient comorbidities, community SARS-CoV-2 prevalence, vaccine brand and time between baseline dose and hospitalisation. Results 682 controls and 182 cases were included in the Spring-Summer booster analysis; 572 controls and 152 cases for the Autumn-Winter booster analysis. A monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine as fourth dose showed rVE 46∙9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 14∙4-67∙3) versus those not boosted. A bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine as fifth dose had rVE 46∙4% (95%CI 17∙5-65), compared to a fourth monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose. Interpretation Both fourth monovalent and fifth BA.1/ancestral mRNA bivalent COVID-19 vaccine doses demonstrated benefit as a booster in older adults. Bivalent mRNA boosters offer equivalent protection against hospitalisation with Omicron infection to monovalent mRNA boosters given earlier in the year. These findings support the current UK immunisation programme that advises the use of bivalent booster doses.
Introduction Despite the broad spectrum of neurological symptomatic manifestation in COVID19 patients, the brain tissue susceptibility and permissiveness to SARS-Cov2 infection is yet uncertain. This critical appraisal aims at bridging the gap by consolidating the body of evidence for meticulous evaluation of molecular neuropathological pathways and CSF diagnostic signatures of SARS-Cov2 infection in the central nervous system (CNS) that will underpin further strategic approach for neuroprotection and treatment of neurological COVID19 Methods and Analysis We have developed the protocol of this review according to the provisions of Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewer Manual for Evidence Synthesis ,2015 and Arksey and O Malley Methodological Framewotk ,2005.The articles for this review will be sourced from several electronic databases including EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), Cochrane, Crossref Metadata and Semantic scholar. Herein we generated the search strategy using the medical subject headings [ MeSH Terms] , term in all field bibliography at all permutations in conjunctions with boolean operators Ethical Clearance and Dissemination plan Herein the review will not involve the human participants henceforth the ethical clearance approval is not applicable .We will disseminate the final findings of this review to scientific conferences at local and international level. The manuscript for final findings will be published on reputable journal of neuroscience. Keywords: Molecular, Neuropathology, CSF biomarkers, SARS-Cov2
Rationale & Objective: SARS-CoV-2 infections are likely underdiagnosed, but the degree of underdiagnosis among maintenance dialysis patients is unknown. Durability of the immune response after third vaccine doses in this population also remains uncertain. This study tracked antibody levels to 1) assess the rate of undiagnosed infections and 2) characterize seroresponse durability after third doses. Study Design: Retrospective observational study Setting & Participants: SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated patients receiving maintenance dialysis through a national dialysis provider. Immunoglobulin G spike antibodies (anti-spike IgG) titers were assessed monthly following vaccination. Exposure(s): Two and three doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine Outcome(s): Undiagnosed and diagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infections; anti-spike IgG titers over time Analytical Approach: “Undiagnosed” SARS-CoV-2 infections were identified as an increase in anti-spike IgG titer of ≥100 BAU/mL, not associated with receipt of vaccine or “diagnosed” SARS-CoV-2 infection (by PCR or antigen test). In descriptive analyses, anti-spike IgG titers were followed over time. Results: Among 2660 patients without prior COVID-19 who received an initial two-dose vaccine series, 371 (76%) SARS-CoV-2 infections were diagnosed and 115 (24%) were undiagnosed. Among 1717 patients without prior COVID-19 who received a third vaccine dose, 155 (80%) SARS-CoV-2 infections were diagnosed and 39 (20%) were undiagnosed. In both cohorts, anti-spike IgG levels declined over time. Of the initial two-dose cohort, 66% had a titer ≥500 BAU/mL in the first month, with 23% maintaining a titer ≥500 BAU/mL at six months. Of the third dose cohort, 95% had a titer ≥500 BAU/mL in the first month after the third dose, with 76% maintaining a titer ≥500 BAU/mL at six months. Limitations: Assays used had upper limits. Conclusions: Among maintenance dialysis patients, 20-24% of SARS-CoV-2 infections were undiagnosed. Given this population9s vulnerability to COVID-19, ongoing infection control measures are needed. A three-dose primary mRNA vaccine series optimizes seroresponse rate and durability.
Buprenorphine is a highly effective treatment for opioid use disorder and a critical tool for addressing the worsening U.S. overdose crisis. However, multiple barriers to treatment, including stringent federal regulations, have historically made this medication hard to reach for many who need it. In 2020, under the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, federal regulators substantially changed access to buprenorphine by allowing prescribers to initiate patients on buprenorphine via telehealth without first evaluating them in person. As the Public Health Emergency is set to expire in May of 2023, Congress and federal agencies can leverage extensive evidence from studies conducted during the wake of the pandemic to make evidence-based decisions on the regulation of buprenorphine going forward. To aid policy makers, this review synthesizes and interprets peer-reviewed research on the effect of buprenorphine flexibilities on uptake and implementation of telehealth, and its impact on OUD patient and prescriber experiences, access to treatment and health outcomes. Overall, our review finds that many prescribers and patients took advantage of telehealth, including the audio-only option, with a wide range of benefits and few downsides. As a result, federal regulators, including agencies and Congress, should continue non-restricted use of telehealth for buprenorphine initiation.
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to the emergence of various variants of concern (VoCs) that are associated with increased transmissibility, immune evasion, or differences in disease severity. The emergence of VoCs fueled interest in understanding the potential impact of travel restrictions and surveillance strategies to prevent or delay the early spread of VoCs. We performed phylogenetic analyses and mathematical modeling to study the importation and spread of the VoCs Alpha and Delta in Switzerland in 2020 and 2021. Using a phylogenetic approach, we estimated 383-1,038 imports of Alpha and 455-1,347 imports of Delta into Switzerland. We then used the results from the phylogenetic analysis to parameterize a dynamic transmission that accurately described the subsequent spread of Alpha and Delta. We modeled different counterfactual intervention scenarios to quantify the potential impact of border closures and surveillance of travelers on the spread of Alpha and Delta. We found that implementing border closures after the announcement of VoCs would have been of limited impact to mitigate the spread of VoCs. In contrast, increased surveillance of travelers could prove to be an effective measure for delaying the spread of VoCs in situations where their severity remains unclear. Our study shows how phylogenetic analysis in combination with dynamic transmission models can be used to estimate the number of imported SARS-CoV-2 variants and the potential impact of different intervention scenarios to inform the public health response during the pandemic.
Most clinical trials evaluating COVID-19 therapeutics include assessments of antiviral activity. In recently completed outpatient trials, changes in nasal SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels from baseline were commonly assessed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) or mixed models for repeated measures (MMRM) with single-imputation for results below assay lower limits of quantification (LLoQ). Analyzing changes in viral RNA levels with singly-imputed values can lead to biased estimates of treatment effects. In this paper, using an illustrative example from the ACTIV-2 trial, we highlight potential pitfalls of imputation when using ANCOVA or MMRM methods, and illustrate how these methods can be used when considering values <LLoQ as censored measurements. Best practices when analyzing quantitative viral RNA data should include details about the assay and its LLoQ, completeness summaries of viral RNA data, and outcomes among participants with baseline viral RNA ≥LLoQ, as well as those with viral RNA <LLoQ.
Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), there have been multiple waves of infection and multiple rounds of vaccination rollouts. Both prior infection and vaccination can prevent future infection and reduce severity of outcomes, combining to form hybrid immunity against COVID-19 at the individual and population level. Here, we explore how different combinations of hybrid immunity affect the size and severity of near-future Omicron waves. To investigate the role of hybrid immunity, we use an agent-based model of COVID-19 transmission with waning immunity to simulate outbreaks in populations with varied past attack rates and past vaccine coverages, basing the demographics and past histories on the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region (WPR). We find that if the past infection immunity is high but vaccination levels are low, then the secondary outbreak with the same variant can occur within a few months after the first outbreak; meanwhile, high vaccination levels can suppress near-term outbreaks and delay the second wave. Additionally, hybrid immunity has limited impact on future COVID-19 waves with immune-escape variants. Enhanced understanding of the interplay between infection and vaccine exposure can aid anticipation of future epidemic activity due to current and emergent variants, including the likely impact of responsive vaccine interventions.
INTRODUCTION Since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in December 2019 multiple metabolomics studies have proposed predictive biomarkers of infection severity and outcome. Whilst some trends have emerged, the findings remain intangible and uninformative when it comes to new patients. OBJECTIVES In this study, we accurately quantitate a subset of compounds in patient serum that were found predictive of severity and outcome. METHODS A targeted LC-MS method was used in 46 control and 95 acute COVID-19 patient samples to quantitate the selected metabolites. These compounds included tryptophan and its degradation products kynurenine and kynurenic acid (reflective of immune response), butyrylcarnitine and its isomer (reflective of energy metabolism) and finally 3,4-didehydro-3-deoxycytidine, a deoxycytidine analogue, (reflective of host viral defence response). We subsequently examine changes in those markers by disease severity and outcome relative to those of control patients levels. RESULTS & CONCLUSION Finally, we demonstrate the added value of the kynurenic acid / tryptophan ratio for severity and outcome prediction and highlight the viral detection potential of ddhC.
Background: Longitudinal estimates of long COVID burden during Omicron remain limited. This study characterized long-term impacts of COVID-19 and booster vaccination on symptoms, Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), and Work Productivity Activity Impairment (WPAI). Methods: Outpatients with ≥1 self-reported symptom and positive SARS-CoV-2 test at CVS Health United States test sites were recruited between 01/31-04/30/2022. Symptoms,EQ-5D and WPAI were collected via online surveys until 6 months following infection. Both observed and model-based estimates were analyzed. Effect sizes based on Cohen9s d quantified the magnitude of outcome changes over time, within and between vaccination groups. Mixed models for repeated measures were conducted for multivariable analyses, adjusting for covariates. Logistic regression assessed odds ratio (OR) of long COVID between vaccination groups. Results: At long COVID start (Week 4), 328 participants included 87 (27%) Boosted with BNT162b2, 86 (26%) with a BNT162b2 primary series (Primed), and 155 (47%) Unvaccinated. Mean age was 42.0 years, 73.8% were female, 26.5% had ≥1 comorbidity, 36.9% prior infection, and 39.6% reported ≥3 symptoms (mean: 3.1 symptoms). At Month 6, among 260 participants, Boosted reported a mean of 1.1 symptoms versus 3.4 and 2.8 in Unvaccinated and Primed, respectively (p<0.001). Boosted had reduced risks of ≥3 symptoms versus Unvaccinated (observed: OR 0.22, 95% CI, 0.10-0.47, p<0.001; model-based: OR: 0.36, 95% CI, 0.15-0.87, p=0.019) and Primed (observed: OR 0.29, 95% CI, 0.13-0.67, p=0.003; model-based: OR 0.59, 95% CI, 0.21-1.65, p=0.459). Results were consistent using ≥2 symptoms. Regarding HRQoL, among those with long COVID, Boosted had higher EQ-5D Utility Index (UI) than Unvaccinated (observed: 0.922 versus 0.731, p=0.014; model-based: 0.910 versus 0.758, p-value=0.038) and Primed (0.922 versus 0.648, p=0.014; model-based: 0.910 versus 0.708, p-value=0.008). Observed and model-based estimates for EQ-VAS and UI among Boosted were comparable with pre-COVID since Month 3. Subjects vaccinated generally reported better WPAI scores Conclusions: Long COVID negatively impacted HRQoL and WPAI. The BNT162b2 booster could have a beneficial effect in reducing the risk and burden of long COVID. Boosted participants reported fewer and less durable symptoms, which contributed to improve HRQoL and maintain WPAI levels. Limitations included self-reported data and small sample size for WPAI.
Background. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine protects against COVID-19. Methods.. Employees of Cleveland Clinic in employment when the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine first became available, were included. Cumulative incidence of COVID-19 over the following 26 weeks was examined. Protection provided by vaccination (analyzed as a time-dependent covariate) was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression, with change in dominant circulating lineages over time accounted for by time-dependent coefficients. The analysis was adjusted for the pandemic phase when the last prior COVID-19 episode occurred, and the number of prior vaccine doses. Results. Among 51017 employees, COVID-19 occurred in 4424 (8.7%) during the study. In multivariable analysis, the bivalent vaccinated state was associated with lower risk of COVID-19 during the BA.4/5 dominant (HR, .71; 95% C.I., .63-.79) and the BQ dominant (HR, .80; 95% C.I., .69-.94) phases, but decreased risk was not found during the XBB dominant phase (HR, .96; 95% C.I., .82-.1.12). Estimated vaccine effectiveness (VE) was 29% (95% C.I., 21%-37%), 20% (95% C.I., 6%-31%), and 4% (95% C.I., -12%-18%), during the BA.4/5, BQ, and XBB dominant phases, respectively. Risk of COVID-19 also increased with time since most recent prior COVID-19 episode and with the number of vaccine doses previously received. Conclusions. The bivalent COVID-19 vaccine given to working-aged adults afforded modest protection overall against COVID-19 while the BA.4/5 lineages were the dominant circulating strains, afforded less protection when the BQ lineages were dominant, and effectiveness was not demonstrated when the XBB lineages were dominant.
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has put a lot of strain on health systems since 2020. A review of the Swiss hospital pharmacies responses during the first wave was performed to improve the quality of the pharmaceutical management of future health crises. Methods: An electronic survey was sent to all head of hospital pharmacies in Switzerland. The questionnaire was organized into eleven clusters of questions and covered many topics regarding the management of the first wave of COVID-19. Data collection was conducted from May to June, 2020. Results: Analyses were performed with 43 responses (66%) out of 65 questionnaires sent (at least one answer per questionnaire). 41% (17/41) of pharmacies had existing standard operating procedures or pandemic plans and 95% of them (39/41) created a steering committee to manage the crisis. 67% (29/43) created new activities to respond to the specific needs of the crisis. 67% (26/39) created new drug lists for: COVID-19-specific treatments (85% of pharmacies; 22/26), sedatives (81%; 21/26), anaesthetics (77%; 20/26) and antibiotics (73%; 19/26). Drug availability in COVID-19 wards was managed by increasing existing stocks (54% of pharmacies; 22/41) and creating extra storage space (51%; 21/41). Two drugs generated the most concern about shortages: propofol (49% of pharmacies; 19/39) and midazolam (44%; 17/39). Remdesivir stocks even ran out in 26% of pharmacies (10/39). Specific new documents were drafted to respond to medical needs with regards to drug administration (28% of pharmacies; 12/43), drug preparation (28%; 12/43) and treatment choices (23%; 10/43). Conclusions: Swiss hospital pharmacies encountered many challenges related to the COVID-19 crisis and had to find solutions quickly, effectively and safely. The survey highlights the key role played by Hospital Pharmacy9s in many aspects during the pandemic by providing logistical and clinical support to medical and care teams. The lessons and experiences outlined could be used to improve the quality of the preparation for similar future events.
Excess death estimates have great value in public health, but they can be sensitive to analytical choices. Here we propose a multiverse analysis approach that considers all possible different time periods for defining the reference baseline and a range of 1 to 4 years for the projected time period for which excess deaths are calculated. We used data from the Human Mortality Database on 33 countries with detailed age-stratified death information on an annual basis during the period 2009-2021. The use of different time periods for reference baseline led to large variability in the absolute magnitude of the exact excess death estimates. However, the relative ranking of different countries compared to others for specific years remained largely unaltered. The relative ranking of different years for the specific country was also largely independent of baseline. Averaging across all possible analyses, distinct time patterns were discerned across different countries. Countries had declines between 2009 and 2019, but the steepness of the decline varied markedly. There were also large differences across countries on whether the COVID-19 pandemic years 2020-2021 resulted in an increase of excess deaths and by how much. Consideration of longer projected time windows resulted in substantial shrinking of the excess deaths in many, but not all countries. Multiverse analysis of excess deaths over long periods of interest can offer a more unbiased approach to understand comparative mortality trends across different countries, the range of uncertainty around estimates, and the nature of observed mortality peaks.
Clinical Performance Evaluation of the CareSuperb™ COVID-19 Antigen Home Test - Condition: COVID-19
Intervention: Device: CareSuperb COVID-19 Antigen Home Test Kit
Sponsor: AccessBio, Inc.
Recruiting
Use of E-health Based Exercise Intervention After COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Intervention: Behavioral: Exercise training using an e-health tool
Sponsors: Norwegian University of Science and Technology; University of Oslo
Recruiting
Effect Of Calcitriol On Neutrophil To Lymphocytes Ratio And High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Covid-19 Patients - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Drug: Calcitriol; Other: Placebo
Sponsor: Universitas Sebelas Maret
Completed
Clinical Study for the Efficacy and Safety of Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b in Moderate COVID19. - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Drug: P1101 (Ropeginterferon alfa-2b); Procedure: SOC
Sponsor: National Taiwan University Hospital
Active, not recruiting
Phase I Clinical Trial of Recombinant Variant COVID-19 Vaccine (Sf9 Cell) (WSK-V102) - Condition: COVID-19
Intervention: Biological: Recombinant variant COVID-19 vaccine(Sf9 cell)
Sponsor: WestVac Biopharma Co., Ltd.
Not yet recruiting
A Phase II Clinical Trial of Recombinant Variant COVID-19 Vaccine (Sf9 Cell) (WSK-V102) - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Biological: Recombinant variant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cell); Biological: Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (CHO cell); Biological: Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cell)
Sponsor: WestVac Biopharma Co., Ltd.
Not yet recruiting
A Study to Compare QLS1128 With Placebo in Symptomatic Participants With Mild to Moderate COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Drug: QLS1128; Drug: Placebo
Sponsor: Qilu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Not yet recruiting
Short-term Effects of Transdermal Estradiol on Female COVID-19 Patients - Conditions: COVID-19; Hormone Replacement Therapy
Interventions: Drug: Climara 0.1Mg/24Hr Transdermal System; Other: Hydrogel patch
Sponsors: Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa (IUC); Turkish Menopause and Osteoporosis Society; Karakoy Rotary Club; Rebul Pharmacy
Completed
Effect of Kinesio Tape Versus Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise In Post COVID-19 - Condition: Post COVID-19 Condition
Interventions: Other: Pursed lip breathing; Other: Cognitive Behavior Therapy; Other: Diaphragmatic breathing exercise; Other: Kinesio tape
Sponsor: Cairo University
Not yet recruiting
Hydrogen-Oxygen Generator With Nebulizer for Adjuvant Treatment of Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Conditions: Covid19; Hydrogen-oxygen Gas; AMS-H-03
Interventions: Device: Hydrogen-Oxygen Generator with Nebulizer, AMS-H-03; Device: OLO-1 Medical Molecular Sieve Oxygen Generator
Sponsor: Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease
Not yet recruiting
Oxygen Atomizing Inhalation of EGCG in the Treatment COVID-19 Pneumonia in Cancer Patients - Conditions: COVID-19 Pneumonia; Neoplasms Malignant
Interventions: Drug: EGCG; Drug: Placebo
Sponsor: Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute
Recruiting
The Use of Photobiomodulation in the Treatment of Oral Complaints of Long COVID-19.A Randomized Controlled Trial. - Conditions: Xerostomia; COVID-19; Long COVID; Persistent COVID-19
Interventions: Combination Product: Institutional standard treatment for xerostomia and Long Covid; Radiation: Photobiomodulation Therapy; Radiation: Placebo Photobiomodulation Therapy
Sponsor: University of Nove de Julho
Recruiting
Balneotherapy for Patients With Post-acute Coronavirus Disease (COVID) Syndrome - Condition: Post-COVID-19 Syndrome
Intervention: Other: Balneotherapy and aquatic exercises
Sponsors: Parc de Salut Mar; Caldes de Montbui’s City Council; Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER); European Regional Development Fund
Completed
A Study to Assess the Efficacy of HH-120 Nasal Spray for Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Adult Close Contacts of Individuals Infected With SARS-CoV-2 - Condition: SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Interventions: Drug: HH-120 nasal spray 1; Drug: HH-120 nasal spray 2; Drug: Placebo Comparator 1; Drug: Placebo Comparator 2
Sponsor: Beijing Ditan Hospital
Completed
Lactoferrin for COVID-19-Induced Taste or Smell Abnormality - Conditions: Covid19; Taste Disorder, Secondary; Taste Disorders; Dysgeusia; Smell Disorder; Ageusia; Anosmia
Intervention: Dietary Supplement: Lactoferrin
Sponsor: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Withdrawn
SARS-CoV-2 NSP8 suppresses type I and III IFN responses by modulating the RIG-I/MDA5, TRIF, and STING signaling pathways - SARS-CoV-2 has developed a variety of approaches to counteract host innate antiviral immunity to facilitate its infection, replication and pathogenesis, but the molecular mechanisms that it employs are still not been fully understood. Here, we found that SARS-CoV-2 NSP8 inhibited the production of type I and III IFNs by acting on RIG-I/MDA5 and the signaling molecules TRIF and STING. Overexpression of NSP8 downregulated the expression of type I and III IFNs stimulated by poly (I:C) transfection…
Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) and COVID-19: A review of the potential use of ASM inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 - In the last 2 years, different pharmacological agents have been indicated as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Specifically, drugs termed as functional inhibitors of acid sphingomyelinase (FIASMAs) have proved to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 replication using different types of cells. Those therapeutic agents share several chemical structure characteristics and some well-known representatives are fluoxetine, escitalopram, fluvoxamine, and others. Most of the FIASMAs are primarily used as…
Artificial intelligence-based optimization for chitosan nanoparticles biosynthesis, characterization and in‑vitro assessment of its anti-biofilm potentiality - Chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) are promising biopolymeric nanoparticles with excellent physicochemical, antimicrobial, and biological properties. CNPs have a wide range of applications due to their unique characteristics, including plant growth promotion and protection, drug delivery, antimicrobials, and encapsulation. The current study describes an alternative, biologically-based strategy for CNPs biosynthesis using Olea europaea leaves extract. Face centered central composite design (FCCCD),…
SARS-CoV-2 E protein-induced THP-1 pyroptosis is reversed by Ruscogenin - Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), an emerging pathogenic coronavirus, has been reported to cause excessive inflammation and dysfunction in multiple cells and organs, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here we showed exogenous addition of SARS-CoV-2 envelop protein (E protein) potently induced cell death in cultured cell lines, including THP-1 monocytic leukemia cells, endothelial cells and bronchial epithelial cells, in a time- and…
The enzymatic hydrolysate of fucoidan from Sargassum hemiphyllum triggers immunity in plants - Fucoidans are polysaccharides that consist predominantly of sulfated L-fucoses, from which, fucoidan oligosaccharides (FOSs) are prepared through different methods. Fucoidan has versatile physiological activities, like antiviral functions against SARS CoV-2 and bioactivitiy in enhancing immune responses. Although fucoidan or FOS has been widely used in mammals as functional foods and new drugs, its application in plants is still very limited. Moreover, whether fucoidan or its derived hydrolytic…
A confirmed COVID-19 in a patient with newly diagnosed hypertension and preexisting type 2 diabetes mellitus: a case report - CONCLUSION: Poor blood glucose management in the case of COVID-19 may increase the pathogen’s susceptibility, the likelihood that patients will be admitted to the hospital, and the likelihood that mortality will be enhanced.
Zilucoplan in immune-mediated necrotising myopathy: a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial - BACKGROUND: Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) is an autoimmune myopathy characterised by proximal muscle weakness, high creatine kinase (CK) values, and autoantibodies recognizing 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) or the signal recognition particle (SRP). There are currently no approved therapies for IMNM and many patients experience active disease despite off-label treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, glucocorticoids, and immunosuppressants. Detection of…
Delivery of anti-microRNA-21 by lung-targeted liposomes for pulmonary fibrosis treatment - Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disorder with a low survival rate. Pulmonary fibrosis is one of the complications of COVID-19 and has a high prevalence in COVID-19 patients. Currently, no effective therapies other than lung transplantation are available to cure IPF and post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that mediate the development and progression of pulmonary fibrosis, thus making them potent drug candidates for this serious disease….
Insights of different analytical approaches for estimation of budesonide as COVID-19 replication inhibitor in its novel combinations: green assessment with AGREE and GAPI approaches - Simple, direct, rapid, and sensitive HPLC and spectrophotometric methods were established for simultaneous estimation of a novel combination of budesonide and azelastine (BUD/AZL) in their laboratory-prepared mixture and dosage form according to the medicinally recommended ratio 1:4.28. Budesonide is an important inhalation corticosteroid that plays a vital role in the inhibition of COVID-19 replication and cytokine production. The first chromatographic method was created for the simultaneous…
A multi-organoid platform identifies CIART as a key factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection - COVID-19 is a systemic disease involving multiple organs. We previously established a platform to derive organoids and cells from human pluripotent stem cells to model SARS-CoV-2 infection and perform drug screens^(1,2). This provided insight into cellular tropism and the host response, yet the molecular mechanisms regulating SARS-CoV-2 infection remain poorly defined. Here we systematically examined changes in transcript profiles caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection at different multiplicities of…
Colchicine reduces the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in COVID-19 patients - CONCLUSION: Treatment with colchicine inhibited the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, an event triggering the ‘cytokine storm’ in COVID-19.
Teicoplanin derivatives block spike protein mediated viral entry as pan-SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors - The rapid emergence of highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants poses serious threat to the efficacy of vaccines and neutralizing antibodies. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop new and effective inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 and future outbreaks. Here, we have identified a series of glycopeptide antibiotics teicoplanin derivatives that bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein, interrupt its interaction with ACE2 receptor and selectively inhibit viral entry mediated by S protein….
Paving New Roads Using Allium sativum as a Repurposed Drug and Analyzing its Antiviral Action Using Artificial Intelligence Technology - CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered interest among researchers to conduct future research on molecular docking with clinical trials before releasing salutary remedies against the deadly malady.
Brevicillin, a novel lanthipeptide from the genus Brevibacillus with antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral activity - CONCLUSION: This study provides detailed description of a novel lanthipeptide and demonstrates its effective antibacterial, antifungal and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity.
Evaluation of residual humoral immune response against SARS-CoV-2 by a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) 9 months after BNT162b2 primary vaccination - The humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination has shown to be temporary, although may be more prolonged in vaccinated individuals with a history of natural infection. We aimed to study the residual humoral response and the correlation between anti-Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) IgG levels and antibody neutralizing capacity in a population of health care workers (HCWs) after 9 months from COVID-19 vaccination. In this cross-sectional study, plasma samples were screened for anti-RBD IgG using a…