Background. Sparse data documenting the impact of COVID-19 in Africa has fostered the belief that COVID-19 skipped Africa. We previously published results from a systematic postmortem surveillance at a busy inner-city morgue in Lusaka, Zambia. Between June-October 2021, we detected COVID-19 in 15-19% of all deaths and concentrated in community settings where testing for COVID-19 was absent. Yet these conclusions rested on a small cohort of 70 COVID-19+ individuals. Subsequently, we conducted a longer and far larger follow-on survey using the same methodology. Methods We obtained a nasopharyngeal swab from each enrolled decedent and tested these using reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). A subset of samples with a PCR cycle threshold <30 underwent genotyping to identify viral variants. We weighted our results to adjust for enrolment ratios and stratified them by setting (facility vs. community), time of year, age, and location. Results From 1,118 enrolled decedents, COVID-19 was detected among 32.0% (358/1,116). We observed three waves of transmission that peaked in July 2020, January 2021, and ~June 2021 (end of surveillance). These were dominated by viral variants AE.1, Beta, and Delta, respectively. During peak transmission, COVID-19 was detected in ~90% of all deaths. COVID-19 deaths clustered in Lusakas poorest city wards. Roughly four COVID-19 deaths occurred in the community for every facility death. Antemortem testing occurred for 52.6% (302/574) of facility deaths but only 1.8% (10/544) of community deaths; overall, only ~10% of COVID-19+ deaths were identified in life. Conclusions COVID-19 had a devastating impact in Lusaka. COVID-19+ deaths occurred in all age groups and was the leading cause of death during peak transmission periods. Testing was rarely done for the vast majority of COVID-19 deaths that occurred in the community, yielding a substantial undercount. If typical, these findings contradict assertions that Africa was spared from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background: While booster vaccinations clearly reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 and death, the impact of boosters on SARS-CoV-2 infection has not been fully characterized: doing so requires understanding their impact on asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic infections that often go unreported but nevertheless play an important role in spreading SARS-CoV-2. We sought to estimate the impact of COVID-19 booster doses on SARS-CoV-2 infection in a vaccinated and actively surveilled population of young adults during an Omicron-predominant period. Methods and Findings: We implemented a cohort study of young adults in a college environment (Cornell University9s Ithaca campus) from December 5, 2021 through December 31, 2021 when Omicron was deemed the predominant SARS-CoV-2 variant on campus. Participants included 15,102 university students fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized or approved vaccination (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, or Ad26.COV2.S) who were enrolled in mandatory at-least-weekly surveillance PCR testing, and having no positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test within 90 days before the start of the study period. Multivariable logistic regression considering those with full vaccination (a 2-dose series of BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273, or 1 dose of Ad26.COV2.S) with a booster dose versus those without a booster dose. 1,870 SARS-CoV-2 infections were identified in the study population. Controlling for gender, student group membership, full vaccination date and initial vaccine type, our analysis estimates that receiving a booster dose reduces the odds of having a PCR-detected SARS-CoV-2 infection relative to full vaccination by 52% (95% confidence interval [37%, 64%]). This result is robust to the choice of the delay over which a booster dose becomes effective (varied from 1 day to 14 days). Conclusions: Boosters are effective, relative to full vaccination, in reducing the odds of SARS-CoV-2 infections in a college student population during a period when Omicron was predominant. Therefore, booster vaccinations for this age group can play an important role in reducing community and institutional transmission.
Background Ongoing symptoms or the development of new symptoms following a SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis has caused a complex clinical problem known as Long COVID. This has introduced further pressure on global healthcare systems as there appears to be a need for ongoing clinical management of these patients. LC personifies heterogeneous symptoms at varying frequencies. The most complex symptoms appear to be driven by the neurology and neuropsychiatry spheres. Methods A systematic protocol was developed, peer reviewed and published in PROSPERO. The systematic review included publications from the 1st of December 2019 30th June 2021 published in English. Multiple electronic databases were used. The dataset has been analysed using a random-effects model and a subgroup analysis based on geographical location. Prevalence and 95% confidence intervals were established based on the data identified. Results Of the 302 studies, 49 met the inclusion criteria, although 36 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The 36 studies had a collective sample size of 11598 LC patients. 18 of the 36 studies were designed as cohorts and the remainder were cross-sectional. Symptoms of mental health, gastrointestinal, cardiopulmonary, neurological, and pain were reported. Conclusions The quality that differentiates this meta analysis is that they are cohort and cross-sectional studies with follow up. It is evident that there is limited knowledge available of LC and current clinical management strategies may be suboptimal as a result. Clinical practice improvements will require more comprehensive clinical research, enabling effective evidence-based approaches to better support patients.
Background Vaccination is a key tool to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Israel, COVID-19 vaccines became available to adults in December 2020 and to 5 to 11 year old children in November 2021. Ahead of the vaccine roll-out in children, we aimed to determine whether parents intended to vaccinate their children and describe reasons for their intentions. Methods We recruited parents on social media and collected information on parental socio- demographic characteristics, COVID-19 vaccine history, intention to vaccinate their children against COVID-19, and reasons for parental decisions, using an anonymous online survey. We identified associations between parental characteristics and intention to vaccinate children using a logistic regression model and described reasons for intentions to vaccinate or not using proportions together with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results 1837 parents participated. Parental non-vaccination and having experienced major vaccination side effects were strongly associated with non-intention to vaccinate their children (OR 0.09 and 0.18 respectively, p<0.001). Compared with others, parents who were younger, lived in the socioeconomically deprived periphery, and belonged to the Arab population had lower intentions to vaccinate their children. Commonly stated reasons for non-intention to vaccinate included vaccine safety and efficacy (53%, 95%CI 50-56) and the belief that COVID-19 was a mild disease (73%, 95%CI 73-79). The most frequently mentioned motives for intending to vaccine children was returning to normal social and educational life (89%, 95%CI 87-91). Conclusion Parental socio-demographic background and their own vaccination experience was associated with intention to vaccinate their children aged 5 to 11. Intention to vaccinate was mainly for social and economic reasons rather than health, whereas non-intention to vaccinate mainly stemmed from health concerns. Understanding rationales for COVID-19 vaccine rejection or acceptance, as well as parental demographic data, can pave the way for intentional educational campaigns to encourage not only vaccination against COVID-19, but also regular childhood vaccine programming.
The CDC recommended a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty (BNT162b2) COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in September 2021 for high-risk individuals. Pregnant and high-risk lactating women were encouraged to receive the booster to obtain potential prolonged protection for themselves and their infants. This study investigated the ability of the booster vaccine to increase IgA and IgG antibodies specific to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in human milk compared to levels pre-booster. We found a significant increase in both anti-RBD-specific IgA and IgG antibodies in human milk 1-2 weeks after the Pfizer-BioNTech booster and at the study endpoint (60 days post- booster). These results suggest the booster vaccination enhances SARS-CoV-2 specific immunity in human breast milk, which may be protective for infants.
Objectives To report on 1) the impact of DED on social, mental, and financial well-being, and 2) the use of virtual consultations to assess DED during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design & Methods An exploratory retrospective review of 35 charts. Telephone consultations for patients with DED conducted during the first lock-down period in Ontario in 2020 were reviewed. Results The most commonly reported DED symptoms were ocular dryness, visual disturbances, and burning sensation. The most common dry eye management practices were artificial tears, warm compresses, and omega-3 supplements. 20.0% of charts documented worsening of DED symptoms since the onset of the pandemic and 17.1% reported the lockdown had negatively affected their ability to perform DED management practices. 42.8% of patients reported an inability to enjoy their daily activities due to DED symptoms. 52.0% reported feeling either depressed, anxious, or both with 26.9% of patients accepting a referral to a social worker for counselling support. More than a quarter of the charts recorded financial challenges associated with the cost of therapy, and more than a fifth of patients reported that financial challenges were a direct barrier to accessing therapy. Conclusions Patients living with DED reported that their symptoms negatively affected their daily activities including mental health and financial challenges, that in turn impacted treatment practices. These challenges may have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Telephone consultations may be an effective modality to assess DED symptom severity, the impact of symptoms on daily functioning, and the need for counselling and support.
Background: There have been rapid shifts in outpatient care models during the COVID-19 pandemic but the impact of these changes on patient outcomes are uncertain. We designed this study to examine ambulatory outpatient visit patterns and outcomes between March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020 (pre-pandemic) and from March 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021 (pandemic). Methods: We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of all 3.8 million adults in the Canadian province of Alberta, which has a single payer healthcare system, using linked administrative data. We examined all outpatient physician encounters (virtual or in-person) and outcomes (emergency department visits, hospitalizations, or deaths) in the next 30- and 90-days. Results: Although in-person outpatient visits declined by 38.9% in the year after March 1, 2020 (10,142,184 vs. 16,592,599), the increase in virtual visits (7,152,147; 41.4% of total) meant that total outpatient encounters increased by 4.1% in the first year of the pandemic. Outpatient care and prescribing patterns remained stable for adults with ambulatory-care sensitive conditions (ACSC): 97.2% saw a primary care physician (median 6 visits), 59.0% had at least one specialist visit, and 98.5% were prescribed medications (median 9) in the year prior to the pandemic compared to 96.6% (median 3 in-person and 2 virtual visits), 62.6%, and 98.6% (median 8 medications) during the first year of the pandemic. In the first year of the pandemic, virtual outpatient visits were associated with less subsequent healthcare encounters than in-person ambulatory visits, particularly for patients with ACSC (9.2% vs. 10.4%, aOR 0.89 [95% confidence interval 0.87-0.92] at 30 days and 26.9% vs. 29.3%, aOR 0.93 [0.92-0.95] at 90 days). Conclusions: The shifts in outpatient care patterns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic did not disrupt prescribing or follow-up for patients with ACSC and did not worsen post-visit outcomes.
Objectives To describe the severity of maternal infection when the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant was dominant (15/12/21-14/01/22) and compare outcomes among groups with different vaccination status. Design: Prospective cohort study Setting: UK consultant-led maternity units Participants: Pregnant women hospitalised with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test up to 7 days prior to admission and/or during admission up to 2 days after giving birth. Main outcome measures: Symptomatic or asymptomatic infection. Vaccination status. Severity of maternal infection (moderate or severe infection according to modified WHO criteria). Mode of birth and perinatal outcomes. Results: Out of 1561 women admitted to hospital with SARS-CoV-2 infection, 449 (28.8%) were symptomatic. Among symptomatic women admitted, 86 (19.2%) had moderate to severe infection; 51 (11.4%) had pneumonia on imaging, 62 (14.3%) received respiratory support, and 19 (4.2%) were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Three women died (0.7%). Vaccination status was known for 383 symptomatic women (85.3%) women; 249 (65.0%) were unvaccinated, 45 (11.7%) had received one vaccine dose, 76 (19.8%) had received two doses and 13 (3.4%) had received three doses. 59/249 (23.7%) unvaccinated women had moderate to severe infection, compared to 10/45 (22.2%) who had one dose, 9/76 (11.8%) who had two doses and 0/13 (0%) who had three doses. Among the 19 symptomatic women admitted to ICU, 14 (73.7%) were unvaccinated, 3 (15.8%) had received one dose, 1 (5.3%) had received two doses, 0 (0%) had received 3 doses and 1 (5.3%) had unknown vaccination status. Conclusion The risk of severe respiratory disease amongst unvaccinated pregnant women admitted with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection during the omicron dominance period was comparable to that observed during the period the wildtype variant was dominant. Most women with severe disease were unvaccinated. Vaccine coverage among pregnant women admitted with SARS-CoV-2 was low compared to the overall pregnancy population and very low compared to the general population. Ongoing action to prioritise and advocate for vaccine uptake in pregnancy is essential.
Importance: Ruling out pulmonary embolism (PE) among patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) with suspected or confirmed SARS-COV-2 is challenging due to symptom overlap, known increased pro-thrombotic risk, and unclear D-dimer test interpretation. Objective: Our primary objective was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of standard and age-adjusted D-dimer test thresholds for predicting 30-day pulmonary embolism (PE) diagnosis in patients with suspected SARS-COV-2 infection. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a retrospective observational study using data from 50 sites enrolling patients into the Canadian COVID-19 ED Rapid Response Network (CCEDRRN) registry between March 1, 2020 to July 2, 2021. Adults (≥18 years) with SARS-COV-2 testing performed at index ED visit were included if they had any of the following presenting complaints: chest pain, shortness of breath, hypoxia, syncope/presyncope, or hemoptysis. We excluded patients with duplicate records or no valid provincial healthcare number. Main Outcomes and Measures: Our primary end point was 30-day PE diagnosis based on a positive computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) or hospital discharge diagnosis code of PE. The outcome measure was the diagnostic accuracy of an age adjusted D-dimer strategy as compared to absolute D-dimer thresholds (500 - 5000 ng/mL). Results: 52,038 patients met inclusion criteria. Age-adjusted D-dimer had a sensitivity (SN) of 96% (95% CI 93-98%) and a specificity (SP) of 48% (95% CI 48-49%) which was comparable to the most sensitive absolute threshold of 500 ng/mL (SN 98%, 95% CI 96-99%; SP 41%, 95% CI 40-42%). Other absolute D-dimer thresholds did not perform well enough for clinical reliability (SN <90%). Both age-adjusted and absolute D-dimer performed better in SARS-COV-2 negative patients as compared to SARS-COV-2 positive patients for predicting 30-day PE diagnosis (c-statistic 0.88 vs 0.80). Conclusions and Relevance: In this large Canadian cohort of ED patients with suspected SARS-COV-2 infection, an age-adjusted D-dimer strategy had similar sensitivity and superior specificity to the most sensitive D-dimer threshold of 500 ng/mL for predicting 30-day PE diagnosis irrespective of SARS-COV-2 infection status. Adopting an age-adjusted D-dimer strategy in patients with suspected SARS-COV-2 may help avoid unnecessary CTPA testing without compromising safety.
Introduction: Part of the patients infected by COVID-19 have at least one lasting sequel of the disease and may be framed in the concept of long Covid. These sequelae can compromise the quality of life, increase dependence on other people for personal care, impair the performance of activities of daily living, thus compromising work activities and harming the health of the worker. This protocol aims to critically synthesize the scientific evidence on the effects of Covid-19 among workers and its impact on their health status and professional life. Method: Searches will be performed in MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, LILACS and Epistemonikos. Included studies will be those that report the prevalence of long-term signs and symptoms in workers and/or the impact on their health status and work performance, which may be associated with Covid-19 infection. Data extraction will be conducted by 3 reviewers independently. For data synthesis, a results report will be carried out, based on the main outcome of this study. Discussion: This review will provide evidence to support health surveillance to help decision makers (i.e. healthcare providers, stakeholders and governments) regarding long-term Covid.
Objective: Despite the surge of telemedicine use during the early stages of the coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, research has not evaluated the extent to which the growth of telemedicine has been sustained during recurring pandemic waves. This study provides data on the long-term durability of video-based telemedicine visits and their impact on urgent and non-urgent healthcare delivery from one large health system in New York City. Materials and Methods: Electronic health record (EHR) data of patients between January 1st, 2020 and November 30th, 2021 were used to conduct the analyses and longitudinal comparisons of telemedicine or in-person visit volumes. Patient diagnosis data were used to differentiate COVID-19 suspected visits from non-COVID-19 ones while comparing the visit types. Results: While COVID-19 prompted an increase in telemedicine visits and a simultaneous decline in in-person clinic visits, telemedicine use has stabilized since then for both COVID-19 and non-COVID suspected visits. For COVID-19 suspected visits, utilization of virtual urgent care facilities is higher than the trend. The data further suggests that virtual healthcare delivery supplements, rather than replaces, in-person care. Discussion: The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the use of telemedicine as a means of healthcare delivery, and the data presented here suggests that this is an enduring transformation. Conclusion: Telemedicine use increased with the surge of infection cases during the pandemic, but evidence suggests that it will persist after the pandemic, especially for younger patients, for both urgent and non- urgent care. These findings have implications for the healthcare delivery system, insurers and policymakers.
EPIC-Peds: Study of Oral PF-07321332 (Nirmatrelvir)/Ritonavir in Nonhospitalized COVID-19 Pediatric Patients at Risk for Severe Disease - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Drug: nirmatrelvir; Drug: ritonavir
Sponsor: Pfizer
Not yet recruiting
Evaluating Public Health Interventions to Improve COVID-19 Testing Among Underserved Populations - Condition: COVID-19
Intervention: Behavioral: Public Health Intervention Package
Sponsors: Kathleen Fairfield; MaineHealth
Not yet recruiting
COVID-19 Serologic Strategies for Skilled Nursing Facilities - Condition: COVID-19
Intervention: Other: Cohorting
Sponsors: NYU Langone Health; Brown University; National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Recruiting
Safety, Tolerability and Immunogenicity of Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine Betuvax-CoV-2 - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Biological: Betuvax-CoV-2; Drug: Placebo
Sponsors: Human Stem Cell Institute, Russia; Betuvax LLC; CEG BIO LLC
Active, not recruiting
Evaluation of Full Versus Fractional Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine Given as a Booster for the Prevention of COVID 19 in Adults in Mongolia- Mongolia, Indonesia, Australia Coronavirus (MIACoV). - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Biological: Tozinameran - Standard Dose; Biological: Tozinameran - Fractional Dose
Sponsors: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute; Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations; PATH; The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Not yet recruiting
Early High-Titre Convalescent Plasma in Clinically Vulnerable Individuals With Mild COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Biological: COVID-19 convalescent and vaccinated plasma; Other: Current standard of care
Sponsors: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besancon; Deutsches Rotes Kreuz DRK-Blutspendedienst Baden-Wurttemberg-Hessen; NHS Blood and Transplant
Not yet recruiting
Nebulised Heparin in Patients With COVID-19 Pneumonia - Condition: COVID-19 Pneumonia
Intervention: Drug: Unfractionated heparin
Sponsor: Lady Reading Hospital, Pakistan
Not yet recruiting
MF59®) and mRNA (MIPSCo-mRNA-RBD-1) Vaccines in Healthy Adults** - Condition: SARS-CoV-2
Interventions: Biological: Adjuvanted SARS-CoV-2 beta variant RBD recombinant protein vaccine (DoCo-Pro-RBD-1 + MF59); Biological: SARS-CoV-2 beta variant RBD mRNA vaccine; Other: Normal Saline
Sponsors: University of Melbourne; Southern Star Research
Not yet recruiting
Nutrition and LOComotoric Rehabilitation in Long COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Intervention: Other: Intervention group
Sponsors:
Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel; Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Not yet recruiting
COVID-19 Hyper Coagulability Care by LLLT - Condition: COVID-19 Pneumonia
Interventions: Radiation: Low level laser Therapy; Other: Circulatory exercises
Sponsor: Cairo University
Recruiting
Immuno-bridging and Broadening Study of a Whole, Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccine BBV152 in Healthy Adults - Condition: COVID-19
Intervention: Biological: BBV152
Sponsor: Ocugen
Active, not recruiting
The BOOSTED (Booster Options Or Switching Tested for Effectiveness and Downsides Study) Trial (COVID-19) - Conditions: COVID-19; Vaccine Reaction; COVID-19 Pandemic
Interventions:
Behavioral: Moderna Booster Vaccine; Behavioral: Pfizer Booster Vaccine
Sponsor:
University of California, San Francisco
Enrolling by invitation
Reparixin as add-on Therapy to Standard of Care to Limit Disease Progression in Adult Patients With COVID-19. - Conditions: COVID-19 Pneumonia; Sars-CoV-2 Infection
Interventions: Drug: Reparixin; Other: Placebo
Sponsor: Dompé Farmaceutici S.p.A
Not yet recruiting
Self-Management Interventions for Long-COVID - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Behavioral: Education and Strategies Intervention; Behavioral: Mindfulness Skills Intervention
Sponsors: Toronto Rehabilitation Institute; Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); University Health Network, Toronto
Recruiting
An Open-label, Randomized, Parallel-arm Study Investigating the Efficacy and Safety of Intravenous Administration of Pamrevlumab Versus Standard of Care in Patients With COVID-19 - Conditions: COVID-19 Respiratory Infection; COVID-19 Pneumonia; Covid19
Intervention:
Drug: Pamrevlumab
Sponsor: Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS
Completed
Nanomaterial-Augmented Formulation of Disinfectants and Antiseptics in Controlling SARS CoV-2 - The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant consideration toward innovative strategies for overcoming the viral spread. Nanotechnology will change our lives in several forms as its uses span from electronics to pharmaceutical procedures. The use of nanoparticles provides a possibility to promote new antiviral treatments with a low possibility of increasing drug resistance compared to typical chemical-based antiviral treatments. Since the long-term usage of disinfectants and…
Insights into the structure and dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein double mutant L452R-E484Q - The Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2, located on the S1 subunit, plays a vital role in the virus binding and its entry into the host cell through angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. Therefore, understanding the dynamic effects of mutants on the SARS-CoV-2 RBD is essential for discovering drugs to inhibit the virus binding and disrupt its entry into the host cells. A recent study reported a double mutant of SARS-CoV-2, L452R-E484Q, located in the RBD region. Thus, this…
The Role of Vitamin D in COVID-19 and the Impact of Pandemic Restrictions on Vitamin D Blood Content - Vitamin D is a hormone regulating the immune system and playing a pivotal role in responses to microbial infections. It regulates inflammatory processes by influencing the transcription of immune-response genes in macrophages, T cells, and dendritic cells. The proven role of vitamin D in many infectious diseases of the respiratory tract indicated that vitamin D should also play a role in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vitamin D inhibits cytokine storm by switching the pro- inflammatory Th1 and Th17 to the…
Discovery of Novel and Highly Potent Inhibitors of SARS CoV-2 Papain-Like Protease Through Structure-Based Pharmacophore Modeling, Virtual Screening, Molecular Docking, Molecular Dynamics Simulations, and Biological Evaluation - Background and Objective: COVID-19 has struck our society as a great calamity, and the need for effective anti-viral drugs is more urgent than ever. Papain-like protease (PLpro) of SARS CoV-2 plays important roles in virus maturation, dysregulation of host inflammation, and antiviral immune responses, which is being regarded as a promising druggable target for the treatment of COVID-19. Here, we carried out a combined screening approach to identify novel and highly potent PLpro inhibitors for…
First-in-class trispecific VHH-Fc based antibody with potent prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy against SARS- CoV-2 and variants - SARS-CoV-2 and its variants have persisted in this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While the vaccines have greatly reduced the COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and death, about half of the world remain unvaccinated due to various reasons. Furthermore, the duration of the immunity gained from COVID-19 vaccination is still unclear. Therefore, there is a need for innovative prophylactic and treatment measures. In response to this need, we previously reported on the successful computer-aided development…
Inhibition of the hexamerization of SARS-CoV-2 endoribonuclease and modeling of RNA structures bound to the hexamer - Non-structural protein 15 (Nsp15) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) forms a homo hexamer and functions as an endoribonuclease. Here, we propose that Nsp15 activity may be inhibited by preventing its hexamerization through drug binding. We first explored the stable conformation of the Nsp15 monomer as the global free energy minimum conformation in the free energy landscape using a combination of parallel cascade selection molecular dynamics (PaCS-MD) and the Markov…
Lack of antiviral activity of probenecid in Vero E6 cells and Syrian golden hamsters: a need for better understanding of inter-lab differences in preclinical assays - Antiviral interventions are urgently required to support vaccination programmes and reduce the global burden of COVID-19. Prior to initiation of large-scale clinical trials, robust preclinical data in support of candidate plausibility are required. The speed at which preclinical models have been developed during the pandemic are unprecedented but there is a vital need for standardisation and assessment of the Critical Quality Attributes. This work provides cross-validation for the recent report…
Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Inhibitors of the SARS-CoV2 nsp3 Macrodomain - A series of amino acid based 7H -pyrrolo[2,3- d ]pyrimidines were designed and synthesized to discern the structure activity relationships against the SARS-CoV-2 nsp3 macrodomain (Mac1), an ADP-ribosylhydrolase that is critical for coronavirus replication and pathogenesis. Structure activity studies identified compound 15c as a low-micromolar inhibitor of Mac1 in two ADP-ribose binding assays. This compound also demonstrated inhibition in an enzymatic assay of Mac1 and displayed a thermal shift…
Discovery of compounds that inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Mac1-ADP-ribose binding by high-throughput screening - The emergence of several zoonotic viruses in the last twenty years, especially the pandemic outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, has exposed a dearth of antiviral drug therapies for viruses with pandemic potential. Developing a diverse drug portfolio will be critical for our ability to rapidly respond to novel coronaviruses (CoVs) and other viruses with pandemic potential. Here we focus on the SARS-CoV-2 conserved macrodomain (Mac1), a small domain of non-structural protein 3 (nsp3). Mac1 is an…
Clinical evaluation of the GeneXpert Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2/Flu/RSV combination test - The Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2/Flu/RSV combination test received emergency use authorization approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration in December 2020, and Health Canada approval in January 2021. The performance characteristics of the GeneXpert Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2/Flu/RSV combination test were assessed at Lakeridge Health Oshawa and the National Microbiology Laboratory of Canada. The combination test was compared to the Xpert SARS-CoV-2 and Xpert Flu/RSV assays, and…
AMP5A modulates Toll-like receptors 7 and 8 single-stranded RNA immune responses in PMA-differentiated THP-1 and PBMC - CONCLUSION: Due to the biphasic course of COVID-19, therapeutic approaches that augment antiviral immunity may be more beneficial early in infection, whereas later interventions should focus on inflammation suppression. In this study, we show that AMP5A inhibits TLR 7/8 signaling in myeloid cells, resulting in a decrease in inflammatory mediators associated with hyperinflammation and autoimmunity. Furthermore, data demonstrating that AMP5A activates immunomodulatory transcription factors found…
Spread of infectious agents through the air in complex spaces - The fluid mechanical processes that govern the spread of infectious agents through the air in complex spaces are reviewed and the scientific gaps and challenges identified and discussed. Air, expelled from the nose and mouth, creates turbulent jets that form loosely coherent structures which quickly slow. For the transport and dispersion of aerosols, the suitability of the Eulerian as well as the Lagrangian approaches are brought into context. The effects of buoyancy and external turbulence are…
Post-treatment with propofol inhibits inflammatory response in LPS-induced alveolar type II epithelial cells - Over-inflammation and severe lung injury are major causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). With the COVID-19 pandemic, an increasing number of patients with preexisting lung injury and inflammation are undergoing surgery or artificial ventilation under sedation in intensive care units, where 2,6-diisopropylphenol (propofol) is a commonly used drug for sedation. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether post-inflammation treatment with…
Portable real-time colorimetric LAMP-device for rapid quantitative detection of nucleic acids in crude samples - Loop-mediated isothermal amplification is known for its high sensitivity, specificity and tolerance to inhibiting- substances. In this work, we developed a device for performing real-time colorimetric LAMP combining the accuracy of lab-based quantitative analysis with the simplicity of point-of-care testing. The device innovation lies on the use of a plastic tube anchored vertically on a hot surface while the side walls are exposed to a mini camera able to take snapshots of the colour change in…
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
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
A CENTRAL TRANSACTION AUTHENTIC SYSTEM FOR OTP VERIFICATION - The present invention relates to a central transaction authentic system (100) for OTP verification. The system (100) comprises one or more user display units (102), one or more financial units (104), an account deposit unit (106), an OTP authentication unit (108) and a service server unit (110). The central transaction authentic system (100) for OTP verification work as Anti-money laundering measure. The system (100) also helpful for minimizing rate of cybercrime. The central transaction authentic system (100) for OTP verification that can neutralize digital financial fraud. The present invention provides a central transaction authentic system (100) for OTP verification that can monitor and analyze every transaction and customer interaction across its customer base for suspicious and potentially criminal activity. - link
FORMULATIONS AND METHOD FOR PREPARATION OF HERBAL MEDICATED TRANSPARENT SOAP - ABSTRACTFORMULATIONS AND METHOD FOR PREPARATION OF HERBAL MEDICATED TRANSPARENT SOAPThe present invention provides formulations for herbal medicated transparent soaps and method of preparation of the same. Transparent soaps are prepared by saponification of mixture of non-edible oils to get the desired consistency and cleaning action. Nonvolatile alcohols and other transparency promoters are used to get good transparency and binding properties. Herbal extracts of different herbs are added to get medicated properties. - link
SOCIAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR MOBILE ROBOTS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT TECHNOLOGY - The emergency department (ED) is a safety-critical environment in which healthcare workers (HCWs) are overburdened, overworked, and have limited resources, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. One way to address this problem is to explore the use of robots that can support clinical teams, e.g., to deliver materials or restock supplies. However, due to EDs being overcrowded, and the cognitive overload HCWs experience, robots need to understand various levels of patient acuity so they avoid disrupting care delivery. In this invention, we introduce the Safety-Critical Deep Q-Network (SafeDQN) system, a new acuity-aware navigation system for mobile robots. SafeDQN is based on two insights about care in EDs: high-acuity patients tend to have more HCWs in attendance and those HCWs tend to move more quickly. We compared SafeDQN to three classic navigation methods, and show that it generates the safest, quickest path for mobile robots when navigating in a simulated ED environment. We hope this work encourages future exploration of social robots that work in safety-critical, human-centered environments, and ultimately help to improve patient outcomes and save lives. Figure 1. - link
A MACHINE LEARNING BASED SYSTEM FOR DETECTING OMICRON VARIANT FROM A GENOME SEQUENCE AND METHOD THEREOF - The present invention discloses a machine learning based system for detecting omicron variant from a genome sequence and method thereof. The system includes, but not limited to, a processing unit having a memory unit and a machine learning interface embedded on it for validating a variant-induced changes in the one or more condition-specific cell variables are combined to output a single numerical variant score for each of the one or more variants, the variant score computed by one of outputting the score for a fixed condition; summing the variant-induced changes across conditions; computing the maximum of the absolute variant-induced changes across conditions. - link
A SYSTEM BASED ON DEEP LEARNING FOR ANALYZING DELAYED ENHANCEMENT MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING TO IDENTIFY COVID 19 AND METHOD THEREOF - The present invention discloses a system based on deep learning for analyzing delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging to identify COVID 19 and method thereof. The method and system include, but not limited to, a processing unit adapted to process the data based on deep learning data modelling in the magnetic resonance imaging associated with the digital image scanning system for diagnosis COVID 19 with the spatial resolution that each frame is deposited is 256 * 256, and being creating that level and vertical resolution respectively are 256 pixels (pixel), the read/write address that the read/write address of each image element, which is controlled by processing unit and forms circuit and finishes; And the data that will be stored in memory are input to a real-time microcontroller, it is characterized in that: analyze and compare by the Multi-source Information Fusion analytical system by using the real-time microcontroller to deliver the D/A changer then, digital signal is become analogue signal output. - link
用于体外诊断的新型冠状病毒核衣壳蛋白抗体 - 本发明提供了一种用于体外诊断的新型冠状病毒核衣壳蛋白抗体或抗原结合片段。所提供的抗体包括重链可变区和轻链可变区，重链可变区包括SEQ ID NO:11、12和13所示的CDR序列，轻链可变区包括SEQ ID NO:14、15和16所示的CDR序列。所提供的抗体用于新型冠状病毒的体外检测，具有极高的灵敏度和特异性。 - link
新型冠状病毒抗原检测的方法和试剂盒 - 本发明提供了一种新型冠状病毒抗原检测的方法和试剂盒。试剂盒包括试剂条，试剂条包括底板，以及位于底板上的沿样品层析的方向依次相连的样品垫、胶体金垫、硝酸纤维素膜和吸水纸；胶体金垫上附着有胶体金标记的质控标记物和第二新型冠状病毒核衣壳蛋白抗体；硝酸纤维素膜上设有T线和C线，T线含有第一新型冠状病毒核衣壳蛋白抗体，C线包含与胶体金标记的质控标记物特异结合的配体；第一新型冠状病毒核衣壳蛋白抗体具有包含SEQ ID NO:1、2和3所示CDR序列的第一重链可变区和SEQ ID NO:4、5和6所示CDR序列的第一轻链可变区。所提供的试剂盒用于新型冠状病毒的体外检测，具有极高的灵敏度和特异性。 - link