Covid-19 Sentry

Contents

• From Preprints
• From Clinical Trials
• From PubMed
• From Patent Search

From Preprints

• COVID-19 and neuroinflammation: A vital role for dance therapy in long-term health outcomes -
  There is mounting evidence that COVID-19 infection is related to neuroinflammation, which can lead to the development of neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Diseases. Holistic, mind-body tools and techniques commonly used in dance therapy directly support neural mechanisms that may help prevent or slow this process. This article reviews recent biological research on the development and progress of COVID-19 and outlines the connection between infection and neurodegenerative illness, while indicating a clear role for dance therapy in pandemic response and recovery.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: COVID-19 and neuroinflammation: A vital role for dance therapy in long-term health outcomes
• Convergent epitope specificities, V gene usage and public clones elicited by primary exposure to SARS-CoV-2 variants -
  While humoral immune responses to infection or vaccination with ancestral SARS-CoV-2 have been well-characterized, responses elicited by infection with variants are less understood. Here we characterized the repertoire, epitope specificity, and cross-reactivity of antibodies elicited by Beta and Gamma variant infection compared to ancestral virus. We developed a high-throughput approach to obtain single-cell immunoglobulin sequences and isolate monoclonal antibodies for functional assessment. Spike-, RBD- and NTD-specific antibodies elicited by Beta- or Gamma-infection exhibited a remarkably similar hierarchy of epitope immunodominance for RBD and convergent V gene usage when compared to ancestral virus infection. Additionally, similar public B cell clones were elicited regardless of infecting variant. These convergent responses may account for the broad cross-reactivity and continued efficacy of vaccines based on a single ancestral variant.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Convergent epitope specificities, V gene usage and public clones elicited by primary exposure to SARS-CoV-2 variants
• Subcellular mapping of the protein landscape of SARS-CoV-2 infected cells for target-centric drug repurposing -
  The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in millions of deaths and affected socioeconomic structure worldwide and the search for new antivirals and treatments are still ongoing. In the search for new drug target and to increase our understanding of the disease, we used large scale immunofluorescence to explore the host cell response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among the 602 host proteins studied in this host response screen, changes in abundance and subcellular localization were observed for 97 proteins, with 45 proteins showing increased abundance and 10 reduced abundances. 20 proteins displayed changed localization upon infection and an additional 22 proteins displayed altered abundance and localization, together contributing to diverse reshuffling of the host cell protein landscape. We then selected existing and approved small-molecule drugs (n =123) against our identified host response proteins and identified 3 compounds
• elesclomol, crizotinib and rimcazole, that significantly reduced antiviral activity. Our study introduces a novel, targeted and systematic approach based on host protein profiling, to identify new targets for drug repurposing. The dataset of ~75,000 immunofluorescence images from this study are published as a resource available for further studies.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Subcellular mapping of the protein landscape of SARS-CoV-2 infected cells for target-centric drug repurposing
• Discovery of a druggable copper-signaling pathway that drives cell plasticity and inflammation -
  Inflammation is a complex physiological process triggered in response to harmful stimuli. It involves specialized cells of the immune system able to clear sources of cell injury and damaged tissues to promote repair. Excessive inflammation can occur as a result of infections and is a hallmark of several diseases. The molecular basis underlying inflammatory responses are not fully understood. Here, we show that the cell surface marker CD44, which characterizes activated immune cells, acts as a metal transporter that promotes copper uptake. We identified a chemically reactive pool of copper(II) in mitochondria of inflammatory macrophages that catalyzes NAD(H) redox cycling by activating hydrogen peroxide. Maintenance of NAD+ enables metabolic and epigenetic programming towards the inflammatory state. Targeting mitochondrial copper(II) with a rationally-designed dimer of metformin triggers distinct metabolic and epigenetic states that oppose macrophage activation. This drug reduces inflammation in mouse models of bacterial and viral infections (SARS-CoV-2), improves well-being and increases survival. Identifying mechanisms that regulate the plasticity of immune cells provides the means to develop next-generation medicine. Our work illuminates the central role of copper as a regulator of cell plasticity and unveils a new therapeutic strategy based on metabolic reprogramming and the control of epigenetic cell states.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Discovery of a druggable copper- signaling pathway that drives cell plasticity and inflammation
• A mosaic-type trimeric RBD-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate induces potent neutralization against Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants -
  Large-scale populations in the world have been vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines, however, breakthrough infections of SARS-CoV-2 are still growing rapidly due to the emergence of immune-evasive variants, especially Omicron. It is urgent to develop effective broad-spectrum vaccines to better control the pandemic of these variants. Here, we present a mosaic-type trimeric form of spike receptor-binding domain (mos-tri-RBD) as a broad-spectrum vaccine candidate, which carries the key mutations from Omicron and other circulating variants. Tests in rats showed that the designed mos-tri- RBD, whether used alone or as a booster shot, elicited potent cross-neutralizing antibodies against not only Omicron but also other immune-evasive variants. Neutralizing antibody titers induced by mos-tri-RBD were substantially higher than those elicited by homo-tri-RBD (containing homologous RBDs from prototype strain) or the inactivated vaccine BBIBP-CorV. Our study indicates that mos-tri-RBD is highly immunogenic, which may serve as a broad-spectrum vaccine candidate in combating SARS-CoV-2 variants including Omicron.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: A mosaic-type trimeric RBD-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate induces potent neutralization against Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants
• It-who-must-not-be-named: Covid-19 misinformation, tactics to profit from it and to evade content moderation on YouTube -
  Brazilian YouTube channels spreading vaccine misinformation also misinform the public about the Covid-19 pandemic. Our analysis shows that content creators developed tactics to evade moderation and to profit both from the YouTube Partner Program and from different products, such as courses, books, supplements, and even isolated land — this last item in a pretext to flee from alleged conspiracies. Through the YouTube Partner Program, 516 brands paid for ads that appeared on videos containing Covid-19 misinformation, including the American CDC.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: It-who-must-not- be-named: Covid-19 misinformation, tactics to profit from it and to evade content moderation on YouTube
• Impact of supplementary air filtration on airborne particulate matter in a UK hospital ward -

  Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, aerosol spread of SARS-CoV-2 has been a major problem in healthcare facilities, resulting in increased use of supplementary HEPA filtration to mitigate transmission. We report here a natural experiment that occurred when an air filtration unit (AFU) on an inpatient ward for older people was accidentally switched off. Aim To assess aerosol transport within the ward and determine whether the AFU reduced particulate matter (PM) levels in the air. Methods Time-series PM, CO2, temperature and humidity data (at 1 minute intervals) was collected from multiple sensors around the ward over two days in August 2021. During this period, the AFU was accidentally switched off for approximately 7 hours, allowing the impact of the intervention on particulates (PM1-PM10) to be assessed using a Mann-Whitney test. Pearson correlation analysis of the PM and CO2 signals was also undertaken to evaluate the movement of airborne particulates around the ward. Findings The AFU greatly reduced PM counts of all sizes throughout the ward space (p<0.001 for all sensors), with PM signals positively correlated with indoor CO2 levels (r = 0.343-0.817; all p<0.001). Aerosol particle counts tended to rise and fall simultaneously throughout the ward space when the AFU was off, with PM signals from multiple locations highly correlated (e.g. r = 0.343-0.868 (all p<0.001) for PM1). Conclusion Aerosols freely migrated between the various sub-compartments of the ward, suggesting that social distancing measures alone cannot prevent nosocomial transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The AFU greatly reduced PM levels throughout the ward space.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Impact of supplementary air filtration on airborne particulate matter in a UK hospital ward
• Genomic Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Seychelles, 2020-2021 -

  Seychelles, an archipelago of 155 islands in the Indian Ocean, had confirmed 24,788 cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by the 31st December 2021. The first SARS-CoV-2 cases in Seychelles were reported on the 14th of March 2020, but cases remained low until January 2021, when a surge of SARS-CoV-2 cases was observed on the islands. Here, we investigated the potential drivers of the surge by genomic analysis 1,056 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples collected in Seychelles between 14th March 2020 and 31st December 2021. The Seychelles genomes were classified into 32 Pango lineages, 1,042 of which fell within four variants of concern i.e., Alpha, Beta, Delta and Omicron. Sporadic cases of SARS-CoV-2 detected in Seychelles in 2020 were mainly of lineage B.1 (European origin) but this lineage was rapidly replaced by Beta variant starting January 2021, and which was also subsequently replaced by the Delta variant in May 2021 that dominated till November 2021 when Omicron cases were identified. Using ancestral state reconstruction approach, we estimated at least 78 independent SARS-CoV-2 introduction events into Seychelles during the study period. Majority of viral introductions into Seychelles occurred in 2021, despite substantial COVID-19 restrictions in place during this period. We conclude that the surge of SARS-CoV-2 cases in Seychelles in January 2021 was primarily due to the introduction of more transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants into the islands.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Genomic Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Seychelles, 2020-2021
• Emotional Responses to a Global Stressor: Average Patterns and Individual Differences -
  Major stressors often challenge emotional well-being—increasing negative emotions and decreasing positive emotions. But how long do these emotional hits last? Prior theory and research contain conflicting views. Some research suggests that most individuals’ emotional well-being will return to, or even surpass, baseline levels relatively quickly. Others have challenged this view, arguing that this type of resilient response is uncommon. The present research provides a strong test of resilience theory by examining emotional trajectories over the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In two pre-registered longitudinal studies (total N =1,147), we examined average emotional trajectories and predictors of individual differences in emotional trajectories across 13 waves of data from February through September

2020. The pandemic had immediate detrimental effects on average emotional well-being. Across the next six months, average negative emotions returned to baseline levels with the greatest improvements occurring almost immediately. Yet, positive emotions remained depleted relative to baseline levels, illustrating the limits of typical resilience. Individuals differed substantially around these average emotional trajectories and these individual differences were predicted by socio-demographic characteristics and stressor exposure. We discuss theoretical implications of these findings that we hope will contribute to more nuanced approaches to studying, understanding, and improving emotional well-being following major stressors.
      🖺 Full Text HTML: Emotional Responses to a Global Stressor: Average Patterns and Individual Differences

• “I Think It’ll All Blow Over in the End”: How Young People Perceive the Impact of COVID-19 on Their Future Orientations - March 2022 -
  Since the beginning of 2020, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its lockdowns have changed the current lives of young people drastically. Given the importance of future orientations for young people’s mental well-being, it is important to investigate if and how this lockdown affected young people’s future orientations. In this study, 34 Dutch young people (aged 16-24) with diverse backgrounds were interviewed during the lockdown of spring 2020 in the Netherlands. Results showed that young people experienced effects of COVID-19 on their current lives and short-term futures, but according to these young people, their long-term futures were not affected by the first COVID-19 lockdown. The latter finding may be explained by young people’s assumed temporality of the pandemic, their general optimistic attitudes, two-track thinking, strong feelings of agency, and flexibility.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: “I Think It’ll All Blow Over in the End”: How Young People Perceive the Impact of COVID-19 on Their Future Orientations - March 2022
• The use of digital technologies by people with mild to moderate dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic: A positive technology perspective -
  A growing body of research has shown that people with dementia are using digital technologies to enhance lived experience. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new digital opportunities and challenges and so provides a unique opportunity to understand how people with dementia have adapted to this new digital landscape. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 people with dementia and analysed thematically. We generated five themes, showing how participants used digital means to combat the stresses of the pandemic by facilitating social connection, self- actualisation, enhanced well-being and by assisting with activities of daily life. These technologies helped to reduce isolation, provide access to support groups, create opportunities for cognitive stimulation and self-development, and engendered a sense of identity at a time of perceived loss. Despite these benefits, participants also reported challenges regarding cognitive fatigue and usability issues. We recommend that training on how to use digital technologies is co-produced with people with dementia and designers engage with the voices of people with dementia throughout the design process. In turn, this could promote the social connectedness, well-being and self-worth of people with dementia.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: The use of digital technologies by people with mild to moderate dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic: A positive technology perspective
• The widening of inequalities in COVID-19 years of life lost from 2020 to 2021: a Scottish Burden of Disease study -
  Background: Previous studies have highlighted the large extent of inequality in adverse COVID-19 health outcomes. Our aim was to monitor changes in the overall, and inequalities in COVID-19 years of life lost to premature mortality (YLL) in Scotland from 2020 and 2021. Methods: Cause-specific COVID-19 mortality counts were derived at age-group and area-deprivation level using Scottish death registrations for 2020 and 2021. YLL was estimated by multiplying mortality counts by age-conditional life expectancy from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 reference life table. Various measures of absolute and relative inequality were estimated for triangulation purposes. Results: There were marked inequalities in COVID-19 YLL by area deprivation in 2020, which were further exacerbated in 2021; confirmed across all measures of absolute and relative inequality. Half (51%) of COVID-19 YLL was attributable to inequalities in area deprivation in 2021, an increase from 41% in 2020. Conclusion: Despite a highly impactful vaccination programme in preventing mortality, COVID-19 continues to represent a substantial area of fatal population health loss for which inequalities have widened. Tackling systemic inequalities with effective interventions are required to mitigate further unjust health loss in the Scottish population from COVID-19 and other causes of ill-health and mortality.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: The widening of inequalities in COVID-19 years of life lost from 2020 to 2021: a Scottish Burden of Disease study
• Repeated ethanol exposure and withdrawal alters ACE2 expression in discrete brain regions: Implications for SARS- CoV-2 infection -
  Emerging evidence suggests that people with alcohol use disorders are at higher risk for SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 engages angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) receptors for cellular entry. While ACE2 and TMPRSS2 genes are upregulated in the cortex of alcohol-dependent individuals, information on expression in specific brain regions and neural populations implicated in SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasion, particularly monoaminergic neurons, is limited. We sought to clarify how chronic alcohol exposure affects ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression in monoaminergic brainstem circuits and other putative SARS-CoV-2 entry points. C57BL/6J mice were exposed to chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) vapor for 4 weeks and brains were examined using immunofluorescence. We observed increased ACE2 levels in the olfactory bulb and hypothalamus following CIE, which are known to mediate SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasion. Total ACE2 immunoreactivity was also elevated in the raphe magnus (RMG), raphe obscurus (ROB), and locus coeruleus (LC), while in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), ROB, and LC we observed increased colocalization of ACE2 with monoaminergic neurons. ACE2 also increased in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and decreased in the amygdala. Whereas ACE2 was detected in most brain regions, TMPRSS2 was only detected in the olfactory bulb and DRN but was not significantly altered after CIE. Our results suggest that previous alcohol exposure may increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasion and render brain circuits involved in cardiovascular and respiratory function as well as emotional processing more vulnerable to infection, making adverse outcomes more likely. Additional studies are needed to define a direct link between alcohol use and COVID-19 infection.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Repeated ethanol exposure and withdrawal alters ACE2 expression in discrete brain regions: Implications for SARS-CoV-2 infection
• CD169-mediated restrictive SARS-CoV-2 infection of macrophages induces pro-inflammatory responses -
  Exacerbated and persistent innate immune response marked by pro-inflammatory cytokine expression is thought to be a major driver of chronic COVID-19 pathology. Although macrophages are not the primary target cells of SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans, viral RNA and antigens in activated monocytes and macrophages have been detected in post-mortem samples, and dysfunctional monocytes and macrophages have been hypothesized to contribute to a protracted hyper- inflammatory state in COVID-19 patients. In this study, we demonstrate that CD169, a myeloid cell specific I-type lectin, facilitated ACE2-independent SARS-CoV-2 fusion and entry in macrophages. CD169-mediated SARS-CoV-2 entry in macrophages resulted in expression of viral genomic and sub-genomic (sg) RNAs with minimal viral protein expression and no infectious viral particle release, suggesting a post-entry restriction of the SARS-CoV-2 replication cycle. Intriguingly this post-entry replication block was alleviated by exogenous ACE2 expression in macrophages. Restricted expression of viral gRNA and sgRNA in CD169 + macrophages elicited a pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (TNF , IL-6 and IL-1 {beta}) in a RIG-I, MDA-5 and MAVS-dependent manner, which was suppressed by remdesivir pre-treatment. These findings suggest that de novo expression of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in macrophages contributes to the pro-inflammatory cytokine signature and that blocking CD169-mediated ACE2 independent infection and subsequent activation of macrophages by viral RNA might alleviate COVID-19-associated hyperinflammatory response.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: CD169-mediated restrictive SARS-CoV-2 infection of macrophages induces pro-inflammatory responses
• A SARS-CoV-2 Spike Ferritin Nanoparticle Vaccine is Protective and Promotes a Strong Immunological Response in the Cynomolgus Macaque Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Model -
  The COVID-19 pandemic has had a staggering impact on social, economic, and public health systems worldwide. Vaccine development and mobilization against SARS-CoV-2 (the etiologic agent of COVID-19) has been rapid. However, novel strategies are still necessary to slow the pandemic, and this includes new approaches to vaccine development and/or delivery, which improve vaccination compliance and demonstrate efficacy against emerging variants. Here we report on the immunogenicity and efficacy of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine comprised of stabilized, pre-fusion Spike protein trimers displayed on a ferritin nanoparticle (SpFN) adjuvanted with either conventional aluminum hydroxide or the Army Liposomal Formulation QS-21 (ALFQ) in a cynomolgus macaque COVID-19 model. Vaccination resulted in robust cell-mediated and humoral responses and a significant reduction of lung lesions following SARS-CoV-2 infection. The strength of the immune response suggests that dose sparing through reduced or single dosing in primates may be possible with this vaccine. Overall, the data support further evaluation of SpFN as a SARS-CoV-2 protein-based vaccine candidate with attention to fractional dosing and schedule optimization.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: A SARS-CoV-2 Spike Ferritin Nanoparticle Vaccine is Protective and Promotes a Strong Immunological Response in the Cynomolgus Macaque Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Model

From Clinical Trials

• A Clinical Trial on Sequential Immunization of Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine (CHO Cell, NVSI-06-09) and Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell) - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine (CHO cell，NVSI-06-09);   Biological: Inactivated COVID-19 vaccine (Vero cells)
  Sponsors:  
  National Vaccine and Serum Institute, China;   China National Biotec Group Company Limited;   Lanzhou Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd;   Beijing Insitute of Biological Products Co., Ltd
  Not yet recruiting

• Compass Course: COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Behavioral: Compass Course
  Sponsor:  
  Allina Health System
  Recruiting

• Phase 1/2 Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Inhaled IBIO123 in Participants With Mild to Moderate COVID-19 Illness - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: IBIO123;   Other: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Immune Biosolutions Inc
  Recruiting

• COVID-19 Volumetric Quantification on Computer Tomography Using Computer Aided Diagnostics - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Diagnostic Test: CAD analysis
  Sponsors:  
  Bogdan Bercean;   Pius Brinzeu Timisoara County Emergency Hospital
  Not yet recruiting

• Improving COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Black and Latino Youth - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Behavioral: Culturally-Tailored COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Intervention;   Behavioral: Standard Care
  Sponsors:   Nemours Children’s Health System;   National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS);   University of Delaware;   ChristianaCare
  Active, not recruiting

• ApTOLL for the Treatment of COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: ApTOLL;   Other: Saline
  Sponsors:  
  Macarena Hernández Jiménez;   Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial
  Recruiting

• Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Impacts of COVID-19 on Young Adults - Condition:   Post COVID-19
  Intervention:   Other: Evaluation of Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Impacts of COVID-19 on Young Adults
  Sponsor:   Istanbul Arel University
  Not yet recruiting

• Platform Trial to Compare Homologous Boost of Authorized COVID-19 Vaccines and Heterologous Boost With UB-612 Vaccine - Condition:   COVID-19 Vaccines
  Interventions:   Biological: UB-612;   Biological: BNT162b2 vaccine;   Biological: ChAdOx1-S vaccine;   Biological: Sinopharm BIBP
  Sponsors:   Vaxxinity, Inc.;   Syneos Health
  Recruiting

• COVID-19 Variant Immunologic Landscape Trial (COVAIL Trial) - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: mRNA-1273;   Biological: mRNA-1273.351;   Other: Sodium Chloride, 0.9%
  Sponsor:   National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
  Not yet recruiting

• Clinical Evaluation of Rapid Antibody Test for Covid-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Diagnostic Test: Livzon Rapid Antibody Test for COVID-19
  Sponsors:   University of Southampton;   West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust
  Completed

• Nitrate-based Nutritional Formula for Oxygen Saturation and Patient-reported Outcomes in Covid-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Dietary Supplement: NITRATE;   Dietary Supplement: PLACEBO
  Sponsor:   University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education
  Completed

• A Single Heterologous Booster Vaccination Study of TAK-019 in Healthy Japanese Adults (COVID-19) - Condition:   Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
  Intervention:   Biological: TAK-019
  Sponsor:   Takeda
  Not yet recruiting

• Use of a Combined Regimen of Fluoxetine, Prednisolone and Ivermectin in the Treatment of Mild COVID-19 to Prevent Disease Progression Progression in Papua New Guinea - Conditions:   SARS-CoV2 Infection;   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: Combination regimen: Fluoxetine, Prednisolone, Ivermectin;   Drug: Combination regimen: Albendazole, Vitamin C
  Sponsors:  
  Oriol Mitja;   National Department of Health, Papua New Guinea;   Fundación FLS de Lucha Contra el Sida, las Enfermedades Infecciosas y la Promoción de la Salud y la Ciencia
  Not yet recruiting

• Virtual Physical Rehabilitation Following COVID-19 Hospitalization - Conditions:   COVID-19;   Post COVID-19;   Long COVID
  Intervention:   Other: Intervention Group: Virtual home-based rehabilitation plus usual outpatient care
  Sponsors:   McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre;   Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR);   Julie Cloutier, Patient Partner/J’ai eu la COVID;   Maria Sedeno, RESPIPLUS;   Rebecca Zucco, Santé WillKin (WillKin Health);   Anne Van Dam, Canadian Thoracic Society
  Not yet recruiting

• Early Treatment Strategy With High-dose Dexamethasone in Patients With SARS-CoV-2 - Conditions:   Covid19;   Dexamethasone
  Intervention:   Drug: Dexamethasone
  Sponsor:  
  Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor
  Not yet recruiting

From PubMed

• Curcumin and Its Analogs as a Therapeutic Strategy in Infections Caused by RNA Genome Viruses - The use of natural resources for the prevention and treatment of diseases considered fatal to humanity has evolved. Several medicinal plants have nutritional and pharmacological potential in the prevention and treatment of viral infections, among them, turmeric, which is recognized for its biological properties associated with curcuminoids, mainly represented by curcumin, and found mostly in rhizomes. The purpose of this review was to compile the pharmacological activities of curcumin and its…

• Recovery of serum testosterone levels is an accurate predictor of survival from COVID-19 in male patients - CONCLUSIONS: Recovery or failure to reinstate testosterone levels is strongly associated with survival or death, respectively, from COVID-19 in male patients. Our data suggest an early inhibition of the central LH-androgen biosynthesis axis in a majority of patients, followed by full recovery in survivors or a peripheral failure in lethal cases. These observations are suggestive of a significant role of testosterone status in the immune responses to COVID-19 and warrant future experimental…

• Inspiration for COVID-19 Treatment: Network Analysis and Experimental Validation of Baicalin for Cytokine Storm - Background: Cytokine storm (CS) is a systemic inflammatory syndrome and a major cause of multi-organ failure and even death in COVID-19 patients. With the increasing number of COVID-19 patients, there is an urgent need to develop effective therapeutic strategies for CS. Baicalin is an anti-inflammatory and antiviral traditional Chinese medicine. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic mechanism of baicalin against CS through network analysis and experimental validation, and to…

• Introduction of a Capillary Gel Electrophoresis-Based Workflow for Biotherapeutics Characterization: Size, Charge, and N-Glycosylation Variant Analysis of Bamlanivimab, an Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Product - Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a major public health problem worldwide with 5-10% hospitalization and 2-3% global mortality rates at the time of this publication. The disease is caused by a betacoronavirus called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the Spike protein expressed on the surface of the virus plays a key role in the viral entry into the host cell via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor. Neutralizing…

• Cognitive dysfunction associated with COVID-19: A comprehensive neuropsychological study - CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 reporting cognitive symptoms showed a reduced cognitive performance, especially in the attention-concentration and executive functioning, episodic memory, and visuospatial processing domains. Future studies are necessary to disentangle the specific mechanisms associated with COVID-19 cognitive dysfunction.

• Oral and intranasal vaccines against SARS-CoV-2: Current progress, prospects, advantages, and challenges - CONCLUSION: In this article, the current approaches used to develop effective oral and nasal mucosal vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and their benefits, prospects, and challenges have been summarized.

• Targeting of neutrophil activation in the early phase of the disease for prevention of Coronavirus disease-19 severity - Prevention of the disease severity seems critical for mortality reduction of Coronavirus (CoV) disease-19. The neutrophils play a key role in the induction of severity. We here propose inhibition of neutrophil activation and/or cascade reactions of complement leading to this cell activation at the early phase of the disease as a potential tool to inhibit aggravation of the disease. We emphasize the need of appropriate timing for intervention as follows. 1) The intervention at the very early…

• Ivabradine in the management of COVID-19-related cardiovascular complications: A perspective - Besides acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute cardiac injury is a major complication in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and associates with a poor clinical outcome. Acute cardiac injury with COVID-19 can be of various etiologies, including myocardial ischemia or infarction and myocarditis, and may compromise cardiac function, resulting in acute heart failure or cardiogenic shock. Systemic inflammatory response increases heart rate (HR), which disrupts the myocardial oxygen…

• Identification of phytochemical inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 protease 3CL(pro) from selected medicinal plants as per molecular docking, bond energies and amino acid binding energies - Recent worldwide outbreak of SARS-COV-2 pandemic has increased the thirst to discover and introduce antiviral drugs to combat it. The bioactive compounds from plant sources, especially terpenoid have protease inhibition activities so these may be much effective for the control of viral epidemics and may reduce the burden on health care system worldwide. Present study aims the use of terpenoid from selected plant source through bioinformatics tools for the inhibition of SARS-COV-2. This study…

• New bis hydrazone: Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure, DFT computations, conformational study and in silico study of the inhibition activity of SARS-CoV-2 - The aim of this work was to synthesize new bis hydrazone derived from benzil in good yield, namely: (1Z,2Z)-1,2-bis (3-Chlorophenyl Hydrazino) Benzil, encoded by 3-Cl BHB. The benzil (or 1,2-diphenyl ethanedione) reacts with 3-Cl phenyl hydrazine by reflux method using ethanol as solvent to obtain the target compound. The obtained product is depicted by UV-Vis, IR spectroscopy and XRD-crystals analysis. All various contacts intra and intermolecular found in 3-Cl BHB were determined by the X-ray…

• Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization of novel phthalimides derivatives bearing a 1,2,3-triazole unit and examination as potential SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors via in silico studies - In the present study, novel phthalimide derivatives 8(a-f) and 9(a-f) bearing a 1,2,3-triazole subunit were synthesized via CuAAC reactions and characterized by ¹H, ^(13)C-NMR, HR-MS, and FT-IR analyses. To support the fight against SARS- CoV-2, in silico molecular docking studies were carried out to examine their interactions with the proteins of SARS- CoV-2 (Mpro and PLpro) and the protein-protein interactions (PPI) between the ACE2-spike (S1) in comparison with various inhibitors reported to be…

• Mucins Inhibit Coronavirus Infection in a Glycan-Dependent Manner - Mucins are a diverse and heterogeneous family of glycoproteins that comprise the bulk of mucus and the epithelial glycocalyx. Mucins are intimately involved in viral transmission. Mucin and virus laden particles can be expelled from the mouth and nose to later infect others. Viruses must also penetrate the mucus layer before cell entry and replication. The role of mucins and their molecular structure have not been well-characterized in coronavirus transmission studies. Laboratory studies…

• A Yeast-Based Screening System for Differential Identification of Poisons and Suppressors of Human Topoisomerase I - CONCLUSIONS: This yeast-based screening system can distinguish between TOP1 suppressors and TOP1 poisons. The assay can also identify compounds that are likely to be cytotoxic based on their effect on yeast cell growth that is independent of recombinant human TOP1 overexpression.

• A TMPRSS2 inhibitor acts as a pan-SARS-CoV-2 prophylactic and therapeutic - The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus remains a global public health crisis. Although widespread vaccination campaigns are underway, their efficacy is reduced due to emerging variants of concern (VOCs)^(1,2). Development of host-directed therapeutics and prophylactics could limit such resistance and offer urgently needed protection against VOCs^(3,4). Attractive pharmacological targets to impede viral entry include type-II transmembrane serine proteases (TTSPs), such as TMPRSS2,…

• Design, synthesis and biological evaluations of niclosamide analogues against SARS-CoV-2 - Niclosamide, a widely-used anthelmintic drug, inhibits SARS-CoV-2 virus entry through TMEM16F inhibition and replication through autophagy induction, but the relatively high cytotoxicity and poor oral bioavailability limited its application. We synthesized 22 niclosamide analogues of which compound 5 was found to exhibit the best anti-SARS-CoV-2 efficacy (IC(50) = 0.057 μ M) and compounds 6, 10, and 11 (IC(50) = 0.39, 0.38, and 0.49 μ M, respectively) showed comparable efficacy to niclosamide….

From Patent Search

• MACHINE LEARNING TECHNIQUE TO ANALYZE THE WORK PRESSURE OF PARAMEDICAL STAFF DURING COVID 19 - Machine learning technique to analyse the work pressure of paramedical staff during covid 19 is the proposed invention that focuses on identifying the stress levels of paramedical staff. The invention focuses on analysing the level of stress that is induced on the paramedical staff especially during pandemic. - link

• CBD Covid 19 Protection - - link

• METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING IMPROVED GENERALIZED FUZZY PEER GROUP WITH MODIFIED TRILATERAL FILTER TO REMOVE MIXED IMPULSE AND ADAPTIVE WHITE GAUSSIAN NOISE FROM COLOR IMAGES - ABSTRACTMETHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING IMPROVED GENERALIZED FUZZY PEER GROUP WITH MODIFIED TRILATERAL FILTER TO REMOVE MIXED IMPULSE AND ADAPTIVE WHITE GAUSSIAN NOISE FROM COLOR IMAGESThe present invention provides a new approach is proposed that includes fuzzy-based approach and similarity function for filtering the mixed noise. In a peer group, the similarity function was adaptive to edge information and local noise level, which was utilized for detecting the similarity among pixels. In addition, a new filtering method Modified Trilateral Filter (MTF) with Improved Generalized Fuzzy Peer Group (IGFPG) is proposed to remove mixed impulse and Adaptive White Gaussian Noise from Color Images. The modified trilateral filter includes Kikuchi algorithm and loopy belief propagation to solve the inference issues on the basis of passing local message. In this research work, the images were collected from KODAK dataset and a few real time multimedia images like Lena were also used for testing the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. - link

• 一种病毒核酸提取无醇裂解液、试剂盒及提取方法 - 本发明公开了一种病毒核酸提取无醇裂解液、试剂盒及提取方法。本发明病毒核酸提取无醇裂解液由胍盐、无机盐、表面活性剂和缓冲液组成；所述胍盐为异硫氰酸胍和盐酸胍中的任一种或两种；所述无机盐为氯化钠和氯化钾中的任一种或两种；所述表面活性剂为聚乙二醇和吐温20；所述缓冲液的pH值为7.5~8.5。本发明可有效避免传统核酸提取裂解液中醇类挥发或刺激性气味对人体造成伤害；配制方法简单，无有毒化学试剂，安全无污染，既可手工操作提取，也可用于自动化平台；与有醇裂解液相比，病毒核酸检测的灵敏度相当，准确度一致，线性范围相当。 - link

• 用于预防SARS-CoV-2奥密克戎株的腺病毒载体疫苗 - 本发明涉及用于预防SARS‑CoV‑2奥密克戎株的腺病毒载体疫苗。本发明采用密码子偏好性进行优化得到新的S基因序列，其能高效在人源细胞内高效表达，免疫机体后可高效表达S抗原，产生针对奥密克戎株SARS‑CoV‑2的中和抗体，可以有效保护机体免受奥密克戎株的侵染。 - link

• 表达SARS-CoV-2奥密克戎突变株病毒抗原肽的核酸序列及其应用 - 本发明提供表达SARS‑CoV‑2奥密克戎突变株病毒抗原肽的核酸序列及其应用。奥密克戎株原始的S基因序列蛋白不能有效在细胞内高效表达；本发明采用密码子偏好性进行优化得到新的S基因序，使其能高效在人源细胞内高效表达，产生相应的多肽，诱导产生相应的免疫保护反应，为SARS‑CoV‑2奥密克戎株的疫苗的研发提供基础。 - link

• A STUDY ON MENTAL HEALTH, STRESS AND ANXIETY AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS DURING COVID-19 - SARS-Cov-2 virus causes an infectious disease coronavirus(COVID-19).The Students life is made harder by COVID-19.The human reaction that happens normally to everyone through physical or emotional tension is stress. Feeling of angry, nervous and frustration caused through any thought or events leads to stress. As college closures and cancelled events, students are missing out on some of the biggest moments of their young lives as well as everyday moments like chatting with friend, participating in class and cultural programme. For students facing life changes due to the outbreak are feeling anxious, isolated and disappointed which lead them to feel all alone. We like to take the help of expert adolescent psychologist to find out the techniques to practice self-care and look after their mental health. We would like to find out whether techniques used reduce the anxiety and stress among Engineering Students. - link

• A METHOD FOR THE TREATMENT OF COVID-19 INFECTIONS WITH PALMITOYLETHANOLAMIDE - - link

• CONNECTING A TUTOR WITH A STUDENT - A system and a method for connecting a tutor with a student in real time. Initially, the system receives a student profile. Further, the system receives a question from the student. Furthermore, the system synthesizes the question based on a set of predefined machine learning model. Subsequently, the system determines a cohort of the students from the set of the cohort of the students. The cohort of the students is determined based on the one or more parameters related to the question. Further, the system identifies a tutor assigned to the cohort of the students. Subsequently, the system notifies the tutor in real time. Further, the system receives an acknowledgement from the tutor within a predefined time. Finally, the system connects the tutor with the student in real time when the acknowledgement is the positive acknowledgement. - link

• ADVANCED SELF-ASSESSMENT OF GLOBAL PANDEMICS LIKE SARS-COV-2 FOR HEALTHY RACE USING MACHINE LEARNING - An Enormous quantum of fallacious gratified regarding this dangerous contagion is participated online. In this patent we exercise machine literacy to measure SARS-COV-2 content, which is deceptively evident, online, which leads to establishment of health guidance, particularly about vaccinations. We plant that the anti-vax community is developing a less focused debate around SARS-COV-2 than its counterpart, the pro-vaccination community. Yet, the opposing-vax collaborative displays a wider range of motifs related to SARS-COV-2, and hence the information can appeal to a broader sampling of individualities seeking SARS-COV-2 guidance online, for illustration individualities cautious of a obligatory fast-tracked SARS-COV-2 vaccine or those seeking volition remedies. Hence, the opposing-vax community aspects more deposited to attract fresh support going forward when compared to pro-vax community. The fashion ability of opposing-vax community leads wide lack of relinquishment of a SARS-COV-2 vaccine, which means the world falls short of furnishing herd impunity, leaving countries open to unborn SARS-COV-2 reanimations. We give a mechanistic model that infers these results and could help in assessing the likely efficacity of intervention strategies. Our system is scalable and hence encounters the critical problem facing social media platforms of having to assay huge volumes of online health misinformationFigure related to the abstract is Figure. 1.1 - link