Covid-19 Sentry

Contents

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

From Preprints

• Regulatory Focus and Perceived Safety with Casual Partners: Implications for Perceived Risk and Casual Sex Intentions During the COVID-19 Pandemic -
  Motives for security (i.e., prevention focus) or pleasure (i.e., promotion focus) help regulate risk perceptions. Individuals focused on prevention (vs. promotion) tend to be more aware of health risks, more careful in their sexual behaviors, and less likely to take risks with casual partners. However, feeling safer with casual partners seem to mitigate some of these risks. We administered an online survey in English, Spanish, and German at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to 550 participants who were single (57.6% women). Participants predominantly focused on prevention were less fearful of COVID-19 infection, perceived to be well informed about COVID-19, and retrieved their information from scientific sources. Participants predominantly focused on promotion were more fearful of COVID-19 infection and perceived to be well informed about COVID-19 but retrieved their information from non-scientific sources. These participants also had stronger intentions to have casual sex if they felt safer (vs. less safe) with their casual partners. Our findings show the importance of individual motivations and interpersonal dynamics for risk perception and sexual activity during the pandemic.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Regulatory Focus and Perceived Safety with Casual Partners: Implications for Perceived Risk and Casual Sex Intentions During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Development and external validation of a deep learning-based computed tomography classification system for COVID-19 -
  Rationale: Currently available machine learning models for diagnosing COVID-19 based on computed tomography (CT) images are limited due to concerns regarding methodological flaws or underlying biases in the evaluation process. Objectives: We aimed to develop and externally validate a novel machine learning model that can classify CT image findings as positive or negative for SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Methods: We used 3128 images from a wide variety of two-gate data sources for the development and ablation study of the machine learning model. A total of 633 COVID-19 cases and 2295 non-COVID-19 cases were included in the study. We randomly divided cases into a development set and ablation set at a ratio of 8:2. For the ablation study, we used another dataset including 150 cases of interstitial pneumonia among non-COVID-19 images. For external validation, we used 893 images from 740 consecutive patients at 11 acute care hospitals suspected of having COVID-19 at the time of diagnosis. The dataset included 343 COVID-19 patients. The reference standard was RT-PCR. Result: In ablation study, using interstitial pneumonia images, the specificity of the model were 0.986 for usual interstitial pneumonia pattern, 0.820 for non- specific interstitial pneumonia pattern, 0.400 for organizing pneumonia pattern. In the external validation study, the sensitivity and specificity of the model were 0.869 and 0.432, respectively, at the low-level cutoff, and 0.724 and 0.721, respectively, at the high-level cutoff. Conclusions: Our machine learning model exhibited a high sensitivity in external validation datasets and may assist physicians to rule out COVID-19 diagnosis in a timely manner. Further studies are warranted to improve model specificity.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Development and external validation of a deep learning-based computed tomography classification system for COVID-19
• Real-life protection provided by vaccination, booster doses and previous infection against covid-19 infection, hospitalisation or death over time in the Czech Republic: a whole country retrospective view -

  Background. Evidence is accumulating that the effectiveness of covid-19 vaccines against infection wanes, reaching relatively low values after 6 months. Published studies demonstrating this effect based their findings on a limited range of vaccines or subset of populations, and did not include booster vaccine doses or immunity obtained due to covid-19 infection. Here we evaluate effectiveness of covid-19 vaccines, booster doses or previous infection against covid-19 infection, hospital admission or death for the whole population in the Czech Republic. Methods. Data used in this study cover the whole population of the Czech Republic reported as infected and/or vaccinated between the first detected case on March 1, 2020 and November 20, 2021 (for reinfections), or December 26, 2020 and November 20, 2021 (for vaccinations), including hospital admissions and deaths. Vaccinations by all vaccines approved in the EU were included in this study. Anonymous, individual-level data including dates of vaccination, infection, hospital admission and death were provided by the the Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic. The risks of reinfection, breakthrough infection after vaccination, hospital admission and death were calculated using hazard ratios from a Cox regression adjusted for sex, age, vaccine type and vaccination status. Findings. The vaccine effectiveness against any PCR-confirmed infection declined from 87% (95% CI 86-87) at 0-2 months after the second dose to 53% (95% CI 52-54) at 7-8 months for Comirnaty, from 90% (95% CI 89-91) at 0-2 monthsto 65% (95% CI 63-67) at 7-8 months for Spikevax, and from 83% (95% CI 80-85) at 0-2 months to 55% at (95% CI 54-56) 5-6 months for the Vaxzevria. For Janssen Covid-19 Vaccine we found no significant decline but the estimates are less certain. The vaccine effectiveness against hospital admissions and deaths decayed at a significantly lower rate with about 15%, resp. 10% decline during the first 6-8 months. The administration of a booster dose returns the protection to or above the estimates in the first two months after dose 2. In unvaccinated but previously SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals the protection against PCR-confirmed SARS- CoV-2 infection declined from close to 97% (95% CI 97-97) after 2 months through 90% at 6 months down to 72% (95% CI 65-78) at 18 months. Interpretation. Our results confirm the waning of vaccination-induced immunity against infection and a smaller decline in the protection against hospital admission and death. A booster dose is shown to restore the vaccine effectiveness back to the levels seen soon after the completion of the basic vaccination schedule. The post- infection immunity decreases over time, too. Funding. No external funding was used to conduct this study.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Real-life protection provided by vaccination, booster doses and previous infection against covid-19 infection, hospitalisation or death over time in the Czech Republic: a whole country retrospective view
• Analysing the Correlation between Convolutional Filter Sizes and Classification Accuracy Using MNIST -
  Handwriting recognition is the process of automatically converting handwritten text into electronic text (letter codes) usable by a computer. The increase in technology reliance during an international pandemic caused by COVID-19 has showcased the importance of ensuring the information stored and digitised is done accurately and efficiently. Interpreting handwriting remains complex for both humans and computers due to the various styles and skewed characters. In this study, we conducted a correlational analysis on the association between filter sizes and the convolutional neural networks (CNN’s) classification accuracy. The testing has been conducted from the publicly available MNIST database of handwritten digits (LeCun and Cortes, 2010). The dataset consists of a training set (N=60,000) and a testing set (N=10,000). Using ANOVA, our results indicate a strong correlation (.000,P≤0.05) between filter size and classification accuracy. However, this significance is only present when increasing the filter size from 1x1 to 2x2. Larger filter sizes were insignificant therefore, a filter size above 2x2 cannot be recommended.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Analysing the Correlation between Convolutional Filter Sizes and Classification Accuracy Using MNIST
• Validity Testing of the Conspiratorial Thinking and Anti-Expert Sentiment Scales Across 24 Languages from a Large- Scale Global Dataset -
  In this study, we tested the validity across two scales addressing conspiratorial beliefs that may influence behaviors related to public health, government, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The 4-item Conspiratorial Thinking Scale and 3-item Anti-Expert Sentiment Scale were validated across 24 languages and dialects using the COVIDiSTRESSII Global Survey dataset, with 12,261 participants who completed the survey in languages with greater than 100 participants per language. We employed confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance test, and measurement alignment for internal consistency testing. To test convergent validity of the two scales, we assessed correlations with trust in seven agents related to government, science, and public health. Although scalar invariance was not achieved when measurement invariance test was conducted initially, we found that both scales can be employed in further international studies with measurement alignment. Moreover, both conspiratorial and anti-expert beliefs were significantly and negatively correlated with trust in all agents. Findings from this study provide supporting evidence for the validity of both scales across 24 languages for future large-scale international research.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Validity Testing of the Conspiratorial Thinking and Anti-Expert Sentiment Scales Across 24 Languages from a Large-Scale Global Dataset
• Disruptiveness of COVID-19: Differences in Course Engagement, Self-appraisal, and Learning -
  We investigated how the transition to remote instruction amidst the COVID-19 pandemic affected students’ engagement, self-appraisals, and learning in advanced placement (AP) Statistics courses. Participants included 681 (Mage=16.7 years, SDage=.90; %female=55.4) students enrolled in the course during 2017-2018 (N=266), 2018-2019 (N=200), and the pandemic-affected 2019-2020 (N=215) year. Students enrolled during the pandemic- affected year reported a greater improvement in affective engagement but a decrease in cognitive engagement in the spring semester relative to a previous year. Females enrolled in the pandemic-affected year experienced a greater negative change in affective and behavioral engagement. Students enrolled during the pandemic-affected year reported a greater decrease in their anticipated AP exam scores and received lower scores on a practice exam aligned with the AP exam compared to a prior year. Though resilient in some respects, students’ self-appraisal and learning appeared negatively affected by pandemic circumstances.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Disruptiveness of COVID-19: Differences in Course Engagement, Self- appraisal, and Learning
• Healthcare workers’ heterogeneous mental-health responses to prolonging Covid-19 pandemic: A full year of monthly follow up in Finland -
  Purpose: To investigate changes in healthcare workers’ mental-health under prolonging Covid-19 pandemic conditions. Methods: A monthly survey over a full year was conducted for employees of the HUS Helsinki University Hospital (n =

4804. between 4th June 2020 to 28th May 2021. Pandemic-related potentially traumatic events (PTEs), work characteristics (e.g., contact to Covid-19 patients), and other covariates were used to predict Mental Health Index-5 (MHI-5) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) in generalized multilevel and latent-class mixed model regressions. Results: Local Covid-19 log-incidence (odds ratio, OR = 1.21, with 95% CI = 1.10–1.60), directly caring for Covid-19 patients (OR = 1.33, CI = 1.10–1.60) and PTEs (OR = 4.57, CI = 3.85–5.43) were all independently associated with low mental health, when (additionally) adjusting for age, sex, profession, and calendar time (a 5th degree polynomial expansion). Independence from time suggests effects of incidence change in time. Effects of local Covid-19 incidence on sleep were fully dependent on time. Latent mental-health trajectories were characterized by a large class of “stable mental health” and minority classes for “early shock, improving” and “early resilience, deteriorating” mental health. The minority classes, especially “early shock, improving”, were more likely to live alone and be exposed to PTEs than others. Conclusion: Healthcare workers face increasingly heterogeneous mental-health challenges as the Covid-19 pandemic prolongs. Adversity and mental ill-being may accumulate in some employees. More research is needed on the factors affecting employees’ resilience to the prolonging pandemic. Living arrangements may play a role.
      🖺 Full Text HTML: Healthcare workers’ heterogeneous mental-health responses to prolonging Covid-19 pandemic: A full year of monthly follow up in Finland

• The T cell receptor repertoire reflects the dynamics of the immune response to vaccination -
  Early, high-resolution metrics are needed to ascertain the immune response to vaccinations. The T cell receptor (TCR), a heterodimer of one and one {beta} chain, is a promising target, with the complete TCR repertoire reflecting the T cells present in an individual. To this end, we developed Tseek, an unbiased and accurate method for profiling the TCR repertoire by sequencing the TCR and {beta} chains and developing a suite of tools for repertoire analysis. An added advantage is the ability to non-invasively analyze T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Tseek and the analytical suite were used to explore the T cell response to both the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (n=9) and the seasonal inactivated Influenza vaccine (n=5) at several time points. Neutralizing antibody titers were also measured in the covid vaccine samples. The COVID-19 vaccine elicited a broad T cell response involving multiple expanded clones, whereas the Influenza vaccine elicited a narrower response involving fewer clones. Many distinct T cell clones responded at each time point, over a month, providing temporal details lacking in the antibody measurements, especially before the antibodies are detectable. In individuals recovered from a SARS-CoV-2 infection, the first vaccine dose elicited a robust T cell response, while the second dose elicited a comparatively weaker response, indicating a saturation of the response. The physical symptoms experienced by the recipients immediately following the vaccinations were not indicative of the TCR/antibody responses, while a weak TCR response seemed to presage a weak antibody response. We also found that the TCR repertoire acts as an individual fingerprint: donors of blood samples taken years apart could be identified solely based upon their TCR repertoire, hinting at other surprising uses the TCR repertoire may have. These results demonstrate the promise of TCR repertoire sequencing as an early and sensitive measure of the adaptive immune response to vaccination, which can help improve immunogen selection and optimize vaccine dosage and spacing between doses.

• Maternal Prenatal Somatization, Postnatal Depression, and Offspring Temperament During the COVID-19 Pandemic -
  Background. Researchers have begun to examine the psychological toll of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. Data are now emerging indicating that there may be long-term adverse effects of the pandemic on new mothers and on children born during this period. Methods. In a longitudinal study of maternal mental health and child emotional development during the pandemic, we conducted online assessments of a cohort of women at two time points: when they were pregnant at the beginning of the surge of the pandemic in the United States (N=725), and approximately one year postpartum (N=296), examining prenatal and postnatal maternal mental health symptoms and infant temperament. Results. Prenatal maternal symptoms of somatization, the number of people in the household with COVID-19 symptoms, and postnatal maternal depressive symptoms all were positively associated with infant negative affect. Further, postnatal maternal depressive symptoms mediated the relation between prenatal maternal symptoms of somatization and infant negative affect. Conclusions. These findings have important implications for our understanding of the persistence of mental health symptoms in potentially vulnerable groups and of the emotional development of children who were in utero during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Maternal Prenatal Somatization, Postnatal Depression, and Offspring Temperament During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• California Wildfire Exposure, Vulnerability, and Mental Health: Who gets to recover and who does not? -
  One of the various aftereffects of persistent climate change is an upsurge in the frequency, severity, and effect of wildfires on the wellbeing of suffering communities. The destruction and wreckage of one’s home, properties, and the surrounding neighborhood, as well as the threat to one’s psychological safety and the safety of loved ones, can have long-term effects on survivors’ mental health. The central goal of this study, therefore, is threefold. Firstly, identify the significant qualitative and quantitative studies that examine the impacts of wildfire on mental health. This study mainly focuses on studies that capture the effects of wildfire, smoke, and air quality in California and how that affected the local communities based on their vulnerability determinants. Secondly, the study examines both types of studies to find common grounds regarding the most vulnerable population and their mental health, their ability to seek professional help, and barriers to the road to recovery. Finally, this study provides evidence-based strategies for including more vulnerable members of society in receiving sufficient and timely psychological care to recover from PTSD, trauma, distress, and hopelessness. Migrant farmworkers, particularly younger female Hispanic and indigenous workers, suffer from the wildfire’s long-term stress, PTSD, depression, and emotional distress. Furthermore, the continued COVID-19 deepens the gap, social stigma, and barriers to receiving sufficient mental health care to recover and rehabilitate traumatic wildfire exposure. A localized mental healthcare support system based on equity, with flexible infrastructure and greater accessibility, promises to be more efficient and advantageous for underrepresented and vulnerable individuals seeking mental health treatment and quick recovery.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: California Wildfire Exposure, Vulnerability, and Mental Health: Who gets to recover and who does not?
• Educational Assessment Experiences of College Students during COVID-19 -
  To better understand the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on today’s college students and tomorrow’s workforce, a survey was administered to 992 U.S. college students (Meanage=22.36 years, SDage=5.24; %female=53.3) between February and June 2021 on academic assessment practices they experienced before and after COVID-19. Females reported greater test anxiety and lower computer self-efficacy; neither varied based on race/ethnicity nor parental education. Most reported a transition to an online modality during the COVID-19 outbreak with a decrease in classroom assessments. Though classroom assessment formats appeared to change minimally, assessment administration changed markedly during the pandemic-affected period. Untimed and open-book assessments became more common. Assessments administered in-class and in-person proctored became less frequent. Interestingly, during spring 2021, as many colleges returned to in-person instruction, open-book, outside of class, and exams proctored online or unproctored remained common, suggesting a persistent shift in assessment administration practices. Students generally did not feel that exams covered any less content, however cheating was a concern. Most indicated it was difficult to concentrate and reported the idea of taking an exam was stressful during the pandemic, though many still believed that it is important to have assessments to demonstrate learning. Some noted they no longer planned to take certain standardized exams (e.g., GRE) given changes in admission requirements of post-baccalaureate academic programs. Some felt deterred from pursuing further education, yet others felt more inclined given perceptions of a highly competitive job market. Implications of these findings are discussed.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Educational Assessment Experiences of College Students during COVID-19
• iCOPE with COVID-19: A Brief Telemental Health Intervention for Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic -
  The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted unprecedented disruptions to the daily lives of children and adolescents worldwide, which has been associated with an increase of anxiety and depressive symptoms in youth. However, due to public health measures, in-person psychosocial care has been affected causing barriers to mental health care access. This study investigated the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of iCOPE with COVID-19, a brief telemental health intervention for children and adolescents to address anxiety symptoms. Sessions were provided exclusively using videoconferencing technology. Feasibility and acceptability were measured with client satisfaction data. The main outcome measure for effectiveness was anxiety symptom severity measured using the Screen for Child Anxiety and Related Disorders (SCARED). Results indicated that the treatment was well accepted by participants. Significant reductions in anxiety were noted for social anxiety, and were observed to be trending towards a mean decrease for total anxiety. The findings suggest that this brief telemental health intervention focused on reducing anxiety related to COVID-19 is acceptable and feasible to children and adolescents. Future research using a large sample and with a longer follow-up period could inform whether symptom decreases are sustained over time.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: iCOPE with COVID-19: A Brief Telemental Health Intervention for Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Lockdown experiences and views on future research participation of autistic adults in the UK during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic -
  The COVID-19 lockdown was a set of nationwide public health restrictions in force on the UK from March 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Co-occurring anxiety and depression in autistic people placed them at heightened risk of potential adverse mental health due to the lockdown. Furthermore, the impact of current and future public health measures on autistic people’s willingness to take part in autism research was unknown. We carried out in-depth interviews with 31 autistic adults exploring their experiences of the COVID-19 lockdown and how the pandemic may affect future research participation. Transcripts were analysed thematically within a critical realism framework. Participants identified positive aspects of lockdown such as enjoying the lack of social pressures and using their well-developed skills for dealing with uncertainty. Autistic people also shared challenges of adjusting to lockdown, e.g., rapid change in daily routines. While hopeful about the freedom gained from easing restrictions, participants were concerned about the inconsistent communication and application of rules during the transition out of lockdown which may exacerbate already rising mental health issues among autistic people. The participants viewed research participation and engagement with increased relevance during the pandemic and welcomed efforts to conduct research using online methods of communication. The COVID-19 lockdown had a varied effect in the lives and routines of autistic people. However, healthcare providers and researchers need to be mindful of rising mental health issues during the pandemic, especially for people who were already vulnerable. The response to the pandemic may have offered opportunities for innovation in research processes enabling more autistic people to engage with research and making studies more inclusive.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Lockdown experiences and views on future research participation of autistic adults in the UK during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Icon Arrays Reduce Concern Over COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects: A Randomized Control Study -
  On April 13, 2021, the CDC announced that the administration of Johnson and Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine would be paused due to a rare blood clotting side effect in ~0.0001% of people given the vaccine. Most people who are hesitant to get a COVID-19 vaccine list potential side effects as their main concern (PEW, 2021); thus, it is likely that this announcement increased vaccine hesitancy among the American public. Two days after the CDC’s announcement, we administered a survey to a group of 2,046 Americans to assess their attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines. The aim of this study was to investigate best practices for communicating information about the risk of side effects to the public. We found that the use of icon arrays to illustrate the small chance of experiencing the blood clotting side effect greatly decreased reported aversion toward the Johnson and Johnson vaccine as well as all other COVID-19 vaccines.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Icon Arrays Reduce Concern Over COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects: A Randomized Control Study
• Niche diversity influences psychometric properties of a brief personality scale – evidence from representative samples during the COVID-19 pandemic -
  Recent studies using more diverse samples have questioned the applicability of the Big Five. It needs to be shown how robust measures of the big five are and whether any deviations are systematic or random. We present validity information on a ten-item personality measure applied to population samples in 16 nations during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (N=35,052). Overall, we found poor replicability and low reliability of the five-factor structure of personality. We then test whether variation is systematically related to ecological, economic or stress-related variables. Personality structure replicability measured via averaged Tucker’s Φ values was correlated with niche diversity data (Human development index, rate of urbanization, diversity of export goods) and national wealth, but not reliably related with COVID-19 (gross domestic product per capita). and death rates per million citizens during the study period. These patterns overall suggest that a) personality structure in brief measures need to be carefully tested prior to any substantive interpretations of the personality data and b) that systematic socioecological factors have an impact on survey responses to personality inventories.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Niche diversity influences psychometric properties of a brief personality scale – evidence from representative samples during the COVID-19 pandemic

From Clinical Trials

• A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial of Ivermectin With Favipiravir in Mild-to-moderate COVID-19 Patients - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: Ivermectin Tablets;   Other: Placebo
  Sponsors:   Mahidol University;   Prince of Songkla University
  Not yet recruiting

• Using MOST to Optimize an Intervention to Increase COVID-19 Testing for Frontline Essential Workers - Conditions:   COVID-19;   COVID-19 Testing
  Interventions:   Behavioral: Motivational interviewing

1001. counseling;   Behavioral: Text messages (TMs) and quiz questions (QQs);   Behavioral: Peer education;   Behavioral: Access to COVID testing
      Sponsor:   New York University
      Not yet recruiting

• Australian Phase 2/3b Study to Assess Effectiveness of a Protein-based Covid-19 Vaccine (Spikogen) - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Biological: Spikogen/Covax-19
  Sponsors:  
  Vaxine Pty Ltd;   Australian Respiratory and Sleep Medicine Institute;   Cinnagen
  Not yet recruiting

• COVID-19 Administration of Single-Dose Subcutaneous Anti- Spike(s) SARS-CoV-2 Monoclonal Antibodies Casirivimab and Imdevimab in High-Risk Pediatric Participants Under 12 Years of Age - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Drug: casirivimab+imdevimab
  Sponsor:  
  Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
  Recruiting

• GlowTest COVID-19 Antigen Home Test Kit QRI Use Study - Condition:   Covid 19
  Intervention:   Diagnostic Test: GlowTest COVID-19 Antigen Home Test
  Sponsors:   Arion Bio;   CSSi Life Sciences
  Not yet recruiting

• Efficacy of Different COVID-19 Vaccine Combinations in Inducing Long-term Humoral Immunity [PRIBIVAC] - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: Homologous mRNA booster vaccine;   Biological: Heterologous mRNA booster vaccine;   Biological: Non-mRNA booster vaccine A;   Biological: Non- mRNA booster vaccine B;   Biological: Non-mRNA booster vaccine C
  Sponsors:   Tan Tock Seng Hospital;   A*Star;   Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School;   KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital
  Recruiting

• Study of GRT-R910 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Boost Vaccine in Healthy Volunteers - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: GRT-R910 booster 113 days after prime;   Biological: GRT-R910 booster 28 days after prime
  Sponsor:   Gritstone Oncology, Inc.
  Recruiting

• Safety and Immunogenicity of COVID-19 Vaccine, Inactivated in Healthy Population Aged From 3 to 11 Years - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Biological: COVID-19 Vaccine,Inactivated
  Sponsor:   Sinovac Biotech Co., Ltd
  Not yet recruiting

• Study of Immunogenicity Equivalence of a Homologous Third Dose of Covid-19 (Recombinante) Vaccine - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Biological: Covid -19 (recombinante) vaccine
  Sponsor:   The Immunobiological Technology Institute (Bio-Manguinhos) / Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz)
  Recruiting

• Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of a Monoclonal Antibody Cocktail for the Prevention of COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: ADM03820;   Other: Placebo
  Sponsors:  
  Ology Bioservices;   Enabling Biotechnologies (EB)
  Not yet recruiting

• Communities Fighting COVID-19! - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Other: COVID-19 Testing Home-based (Aim 1);   Other: COVID-19 Testing Mobile (Aim 1);   Other: COVID-19 Testing Mobile Approach 1 (Aim 2);   Other: COVID-19 Testing Mobile Approach 2 (Aim 2)
  Sponsors:   San Diego State University;   National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  Recruiting

• Usefulness of DORNASE in COVID-19 on HFNO - Condition:   COVID-19 Pneumonia
  Intervention:   Procedure: inhalations
  Sponsor:  
  University Medical Centre Ljubljana
  Not yet recruiting

• Communities Fighting COVID Return to School - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Behavioral: At-home COVID-19 testing;   Behavioral: Family- based model;   Behavioral: Onsite COVID-19 testing
  Sponsors:   San Diego State University;   Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
  Recruiting

• Phase Ⅱ and Ⅲ Trial of a SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine LYB001 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: LYB001;   Biological: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Yantai Patronus Biotech Co., Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

• The Effect of Micellized Food Supplements on Health-related Quality of Life in Patients With Post-acute COVID-19 Syndrome. - Condition:   Post-acute COVID-19 Syndrome
  Intervention:   Dietary Supplement: Curcumin/Boswellia Serrata/Ascorbic acid mixture
  Sponsor:   PhysioMetrics
  Not yet recruiting

From PubMed

• Virus-inspired hollow mesoporous gadolinium-bismuth nanotheranostics for magnetic resonance imaging-guided synergistic photodynamic-radiotherapy - The anti-tumor efficacy of single photodynamic therapy (PDT) and radiotherapy (RT) has been greatly affected by inadequate tumor uptake of photo/radiation sensitizers, limited laser penetration depth, and radiation sickness caused by high doses of X-rays. Here, we report a biomimetic coronavirus-inspired hollow mesoporous gadolinium/bismuth nanocarrier loaded with a new NIR photosensitizer HB (referred to as HB@VHMBi-Gd) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided synergistic photodynamic-RT….

• Author Correction: Amantadine inhibits known and novel ion channels encoded by SARS-CoV-2 in vitro - No abstract

• The short isoform of the host antiviral protein ZAP acts as an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 programmed ribosomal frameshifting - Programmed ribosomal frameshifting (PRF) is a fundamental gene expression event in many viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. It allows production of essential viral, structural and replicative enzymes that are encoded in an alternative reading frame. Despite the importance of PRF for the viral life cycle, it is still largely unknown how and to what extent cellular factors alter mechanical properties of frameshift elements and thereby impact virulence. This prompted us to comprehensively dissect the…

• Plant lectins as prospective antiviral biomolecules in the search for COVID-19 eradication strategies - Lectins or clusters of carbohydrate-binding proteins of non-immune origin are distributed chiefly in the Plantae. Lectins have potent anti-infectivity properties for several RNA viruses including SARS-CoV-2. The primary purpose of this review is to review the ability of lectins mediated potential biotherapeutic and bioprophylactic strategy against coronavirus causing COVID-19. Lectins have binding affinity to the glycans of SARS-COV-2 Spike glycoprotein that has N-glycosylation sites. Apart from…

• A rapid real-time polymerase chain reaction-based live virus microneutralization assay for detection of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in blood/serum - CONCLUSION: We describe a rapid RT-PCR-based SARS-CoV-2 microneutralization assay for the detection of neutralizing antibodies. This can effectively be used to test the antiviral activity of serum antibodies for the investigation of both disease-driven and vaccine-induced responses.

• Unexplained arterial thrombosis: approach to diagnosis and treatment - Arterial thrombotic events in younger patients without a readily apparent etiology present significant diagnostic and management challenges. We present a structured approach to diagnosis with consideration of common causes, including atherosclerosis and embolism, as well as uncommon causes, including medications and substances, vascular and anatomic abnormalities, systemic disorders, and thrombophilias. We highlight areas of management that have evolved within the past 5 years, including the use…

• Is pregnancy a risk factor for in-hospital mortality in reproductive-aged women with SARS-CoV-2 infection? A nationwide retrospective observational cohort study - CONCLUSIONS: With the adjustment for intervention that was shown to be an independent factor associated with mortality, pregnancy appeared to have a favorable effect on SARS-CoV-2 infection. Given the immunosuppressed state of pregnancy, this finding is in line with the hypothetical protective role of a weaker immune response that inhibits the production of proinflammatory cytokine. With the adjustment for intervention, pregnancy was found associated with more favorable outcome of COVID-19, in…

• A Report on Multi-Target Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Phytoconstituents from Monochoria hastata (Family: Pontederiaceae) - This study aims to investigate the potential analgesic properties of the crude extract of Monochoria hastata (MH) leaves using in vivo experiments and in silico analysis. The extract, in a dose-dependent manner, exhibited a moderate analgesic property (~54% pain inhibition in acetic acid-induced writhing test), which is significant (** p < 0.001) as compared to the control group. The complex inflammatory mechanism involves diverse pathways and they are inter- connected. Therefore, multiple…

• Computational Simulation of HIV Protease Inhibitors to the Main Protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2: Implications for COVID-19 Drugs Design - SARS-CoV-2 is highly homologous to SARS-CoV. To date, the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 is regarded as an important drug target for the treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Some experiments confirmed that several HIV protease inhibitors present the inhibitory effects on the replication of SARS-CoV-2 by inhibiting Mpro. However, the mechanism of action has still not been studied very clearly. In this work, the interaction mechanism of four HIV protease inhibitors Darunavir…

• Involvement of the ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/MasR Axis in Pulmonary Fibrosis: Implications for COVID-19 - Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, fibrotic lung disease affecting 3 million people worldwide. The ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/MasR axis is of interest in pulmonary fibrosis due to evidence of its anti-fibrotic action. Current scientific evidence supports that inhibition of ACE2 causes enhanced fibrosis. ACE2 is also the primary receptor that facilitates the entry of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 is associated with a myriad of symptoms ranging from asymptomatic…

• Development of a PROTAC-Based Targeting Strategy Provides a Mechanistically Unique Mode of Anti-Cytomegalovirus Activity - Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a major pathogenic herpesvirus that is prevalent worldwide and it is associated with a variety of clinical symptoms. Current antiviral therapy options do not fully satisfy the medical needs; thus, improved drug classes and drug-targeting strategies are required. In particular, host-directed antivirals, including pharmaceutical kinase inhibitors, might help improve the drug qualities. Here, we focused on utilizing PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs), i.e.,…

• Efficacy, Safety and Future Perspectives of JAK Inhibitors in the IBD Treatment - Although development of biologics has importantly improved the effectiveness in inducing and maintaining remission in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), biologic therapies still have several limitations. Effective, low-cost drug therapy with good safety profile and compliance is therefore a substantial unmet medical need. A promising target for IBD treatment strategies are Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, which are small molecules that interact with cytokines implicated in pathogenesis of IBD. In…

• The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Management and Outcome in Patients with Heart Failure - CONCLUSIONS: Mortality rates in HF patients infected with COVID-19 were high. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the reduced usage of health services but without increased overall mortality.

• Prevalence and Outcomes Associated with Hyperuricemia in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 - CONCLUSION: In patients admitted to the hospital for COVID-19, higher serum UA levels were independently associated with AKI, MAKE, and in-hospital mortality in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, hyperuricemia was associated with higher procalcitonin and troponin I levels.

• Discovery of 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene derivatives as SARS-CoV-2 3CL(pro) inhibitors for treating COVID-19 - The epidemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has now spread worldwide and efficacious therapeutics are urgently needed. 3-Chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease (3CL^(pro)) is an indispensable protein in viral replication and represents an attractive drug target for fighting COVID-19. Herein, we report the discovery of 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene derivatives as non-peptidomimetic and non-covalent inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2…

From Patent Search

• METHODS OF TREATING SARS-COV-2 INFECTION - - link

• REAL-TIME REST BREAK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR WORKPLACE - The present invention relates to a real-time rest break management system for workplace that comprises of a work desk, wherein first portion is incorporated with a biometric unit 4 for authenticating first user, and a second portion with a telescopic panel 2 associated with a weight sensor 6 and timer unit 7 calculating weight of head/hand manifesting user presence and their resting time period is mounted with an inflated cushion 5, an interactive primary display unit 1 attached over desk enables user to set first/second threshold time for sleeping/taking break, further linked with a tracking interface keeping track of activities and a vibrating unit crafted inside the cushion 5 which is linked to a secondary display unit 8 of second user, giving them access to actuate vibrating unit generating impulses to wake first user when threshold time period is exceeded by the first user. - link

• P2P 네트워크를 이용한 내장된 화상회의 시스템 - 본 발명은 P2P 네트워크를 이용한 내장된 화상회의 시스템에 관한 것으로, 상태표시부(1), 영상송출부(2), 제어부(3), 광고부(4), 입력부(5)를 포함한다. - link

• A DOORBELL SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND RECORDING A PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA OF A PERSON - AbstractTitle: A doorbell system for monitoring and recording a physiological data of a person The present invention provides a doorbell system 500 for monitoring and recording a physiological data of a person. The doorbell system 500 having a transmitter module 100 and a receiving module 200. The transmitter module 100 is having a TOF sensor module 110, an ultrasound detector 120, and an infrared detector 130. Further, a speech recognition system 150, a facial recognition system 160, and a temperature detector 190 are provided for recognizing speech, face, and temperature of the person by comparing pre-stored data. A controlling module 180 is set with a predefined commands for communicating with the transmitter module 100 and receiving module 200. The collected facial and speech data is compared and matched with the pre-stored data then the temperature detector 190 triggers and the door opens when the captured body temperature of the person is matched within the predefined range of temperature.Figure 1 - link

• A study of contemporary trends in investing patterns, household savings, and economic investment. - Because household savings and household investments are intertwined and interdependent, they are discussed briefly in this paper. Household savings account for more than half of a country’s capital formation, which fluctuates due to a variety of economic factors such as inflation and interest rates. Households should gradually shift their savings and investments from physical assets to financial assets to avoid a sudden change in wealth. They should also save and invest using a variety of platforms. Trends in investing and saving will be easier to track and measure this way. This year’s domestic saving rate in India is 2.3 percent lower than last year’s and 1.2 percent lower than the year before. Since 2011, general domestic savings have been steadily declining, with the trend continuing into the following year. According to official data, the GDP in 2020 shrank by 23.9%, the least in previous years and the least since the Covid-19 pandemic in previous years. As a result, the information presented in this paper is drawn from and evaluated from other sources - link

• 靶向刺激体液免疫和细胞免疫的新冠病毒mRNA疫苗 - 本发明公开了一种靶向刺激体液免疫和细胞免疫的新冠病毒mRNA疫苗。本申请的第一方面提供一种分离的DNA分子组合，该DNA分子组合包括第一DNA分子和第二DNA分子和第三DNA分子中的至少一种。通过第一DNA分子以及第二DNA分子和/或第三DNA分子的组合，利用第一DNA分子最终合成的mRNA诱导高滴度的交叉中和抗体，利用第二DNA分子和/或第三DNA分子最终合成的mRNA诱导新冠病毒特异性的细胞毒性T淋巴细胞，从而高效地同时激活相对独立的体液免疫应答和细胞免疫应答，应对新冠病毒在流行传播过程中产生的突变毒株所引发的突破性感染。 - link

• 跨膜丝氨酸蛋白酶2抑制剂在制备治疗和/或预防冠状病毒感染药物中的用途 - 本发明公开了跨膜丝氨酸蛋白酶2抑制剂在制备治疗和/或预防冠状病毒感染药物中的用途。本发明通过亲和垂钓及活性导向分离获得3种化合物，证实该类化合物可以直接地与跨膜丝氨酸蛋白酶2结合，KD<13μM，且能够显著抑制跨膜丝氨酸蛋白酶2的催化活性。在细胞水平上可以有效的抑制新型冠状病毒SARS‑CoV‑2假病毒入侵，表明该类化合物对于制备治疗和/或预防病毒感染药物具有非常积极的作用。化合物1 化合物2 化合物3。 - link

• PROLIPOSOMAL DRY POWDER INHALER OF REMDESIVIR - The present invention is related to Proliposomal Dry Powder Inhaler of Remdesivir and its method thereof for the treatment of viral infections such Coronaviridae (including COVID-19 infection). - link

• Use of Diminazene Aceturate, Xanthenone, ACE 2 activators or analogs for the Treatment and therapeutic use of COVID-19 on human patients. - - link

• ACTIVE RIDER SAFETY SYSTEM FOR TWO WHEELERS - The present invention relates to an active rider safety system for two wheelers comprising, a protective case equipped by a user for riding, where the case is integrated with multiple piezoelectric sensor that determines fastening of the case by user, a processing unit linked to the sensor, where the unit detects absence of case upon fetching data from the sensor below a threshold value and thereby terminates operation of ignition by stopping a coupled motor operated via a radio frequency module, an alcohol detection sensor that detects presence of alcohol and send data to processing unit, a temperature sensor that measures temperature of the user, an accelerometer sensor that activates upon ignition us tuned on to determine presence of a crash and a navigation module that via communication module sends location of user to pre saved users and concerned authorities. - link