Understanding the build-up of immunity with successive SARS-CoV-2 variants and the epidemiological conditions that favor rapidly expanding epidemics will facilitate future pandemic control. High-resolution infection and serology data from longitudinal household cohorts in South Africa reveal high cumulative infection rates and durable cross- protective immunity conferred by prior infection in the pre-Omicron era. Building on the cohort9s history of past exposures to different SARS-CoV-2 variants and vaccination, we use mathematical models to explore the fitness advantage of the Omicron variant and its epidemic trajectory. Modelling suggests the Omicron wave infected a large fraction of the population, leaving a complex landscape of population immunity primed and boosted with antigenically distinct variants. Future SARS-CoV-2 resurgences are likely under a range of scenarios of viral characteristics, population contacts, and residual cross-protection.
Background: COVID-19 sequelae are poorly defined with an ambiguous pathophysiology. Persistent sequelae could have global, public health and societal ramifications. We aimed to describe sequelae presenting more than six months after COVID-19 in non-hospitalized young adults. Methods: A prospective, longitudinal cohort study followed-up on young Swiss Armed Forces (SAF) personnel. The comprehensive test battery was administered during a single full day of testing at the University of Zurich. It quantified the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, renal, ophthalmological, male reproductive, psychological, and general health in addition to laboratory parameters. Results: We included 501 participants (5.6% females) with a median age of 21 years (range 19-29). Cases of previous COVID -19 (>6 months (mean 10 months) since diagnosis, n=177) were compared with never infected controls (n=248). We also included more recent COVID-19 cases (≤6 months, n=19) and asymptomatically infected individuals (n=49). We found a significant trend towards metabolic disorders, higher Body Mass Index (BMI) (p=0.03), lower aerobic threshold (p=0.007), higher blood cholesterol (p<0.001) and low-density lipoprotein LDL levels (p<0.001) in participants> 6 months post Covid-19 when compared to controls. There were no significant differences in psychosocial questionnaire scores, ophthalmological outcomes, sperm quality or motility between controls and those infected more than 6 months previously with SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions: Young, previously healthy, individuals largely recover from mild infection and the multi-system impact of the infection is less that seen in older or hospitalized patients. These results may be extrapolated to health-care workers and other young workforce adults. However, the constellation of higher body mass index, dyslipidemia and lower physical endurance 6 months post COVID-19 is suggestive of a higher risk of developing metabolic disorders and possible cardiovascular complications. These findings will guide investigation and follow-up management.
Objectives This study aims to describe the population level data on neonatal and maternal outcomes of COVID-19 positive pregnant women of Sri Lanka by secondary analysis using National COVID-19 Positive Pregnant Women Surveillance. Design Secondary analysis of surveillance data from the National COVID-19 positive pregnant women surveillance, Sri Lanka. Data of all pregnant women whose maternal and neonatal outcomes were reported in National Surveillance from 1st March 2020 to 31st October 2021 were included in the study. Associated factors for maternal and neonatal outcomes, namely POA at delivery, mode of delivery, birthweight, immediate place of newborn care, congenital abnormalities, and condition of neonate at completion of one month were calculated using univariate and multivariate Odds ratios. Results Maternal COVID-19 infection reported preterm birth rate of 11.9%, LSCS rate of 54.5%, low birthweight rate16.5% and 8.3% of the newborns requiring intensive care. Neonatal mortality rate was 9 per 1000 live births. Pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity increased the risk of preterm delivery compared to pregnant women with normal BMI by 46.7% (AOR=1.467, CI=1.111-1.938, P=0.007). In contrast, the risk of preterm delivery reduced by 82.4% (AOR=0.176, CI=0.097-0.317, p<0.001) and presence of any type of congenital abnormalities in newborns by 72.4% among the COVID-19 positive women who required only inward treatment in comparison to women with severe COVID-19 infection requiring intensive care (AOR=0.276, CI=0.112-0.683, p=0.005). Conclusion Increased severity of maternal COVID-19 infection and pre-pregnancy overweight/ obesity were associated with many adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Therefore, close observation and aggressive management of COVID-19 among the pregnant women should be considered to reduce the risk of progressing to severe illness.
Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 were authorized at the end of 2020 and are effective in preventing deaths; however, many persons remain unvaccinated. We used weekly publicly available CDC data from 26 U.S. jurisdictions, which include COVID-19 death rates by age and vaccination status, to estimate the number of excess deaths that might have been averted by vaccination from May 30 to December 4, 2021 in unvaccinated persons >= 18 years old. We subtracted the death rate in the vaccinated from rates in the unvaccinated to estimate the death rate each week that could be attributable to non-vaccination and multiplied this rate difference by the number of people in the unvaccinated group for each age group and each week, to estimate the excess mortality among the unvaccinated. Then, we extrapolated the number of deaths due to non-vaccination in the 26 jurisdictions to the whole US population using 2020 census estimates. In the 26 participating jurisdictions, there were an estimated 83,400 excess deaths among the unvaccinated populations, from May 30 to December 4, 2021. The largest number of excess deaths occurred in those 65-79 years old (n=28,900; 34.7% of total), followed by those 50-64 years old (n=25,900; 31.1%). Extrapolated to the US population we estimated approximately 135,000 excess deaths during the study period in persons >= 18 years old. Our estimates are an underestimate of all excess deaths that have occurred since vaccine became available because our analysis period was limited to May 30 to December 4, 2021 and many excess deaths occurred before and after this period. In summary, we used retrospective data to provide an estimate of the substantial number of COVID-19 deaths among the unvaccinated illustrating the importance of vaccination to prevent further unnecessary mortality during this pandemic.
Objective: With the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) countries had to establish COVID-19 surveillance by adapting existing systems, such as the mandatory notification system and syndromic surveillance systems. We estimated COVID-19 hospitalization and ICU burden from existing severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) surveillance and compared it to COVID-19 notification data. Methods: Using data from the ICD-10 based hospital sentinel, we estimated SARI incidence and validated our estimations retrospectively using full population data. We estimated age- specific incidences for COVID-19 hospitalization and ICU for the first three COVID-19 waves in Germany, based on information of SARI cases (COVID-SARI). We compared these estimations to hospitalization and ICU burden of COVID-19 from notification data and described potential underreporting of hospitalizations in notification data. Findings: The estimation of SARI incidence from sentinel data corresponded very well to full population data. The estimated COVID-SARI incidence matched the notified COVID-19 hospitalization incidence in the first wave, but was much higher during the second and the third wave. The proportion of unknown hospitalization status among notified COVID-19 cases was much higher in the later waves compared to the first wave. For all waves, the ICU incidence estimated from COVID-SARI was considerably higher than the results from notification data. Conclusion: The use of SARI sentinel data adds valid and important information for assessing COVID-19 hospitalization and ICU burden, especially in times with high case numbers where notification data may be more incomplete.
Introduction Viral sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 has been used for outbreak investigation, but there is limited evidence supporting routine use for infection prevention and control (IPC) within hospital settings. Methods We conducted a prospective non-randomised trial of sequencing at 14 acute UK hospital trusts. Sites each had a 4-week baseline data-collection period, followed by intervention periods comprising 8 weeks of 9rapid9 (<48h) and 4 weeks of 9longer-turnaround9 (5-10 day) sequencing using a sequence reporting tool (SRT). Data were collected on all hospital onset COVID-19 infections (HOCIs; detected ≥48h from admission). The impact of the sequencing intervention on IPC knowledge and actions, and on incidence of probable/definite hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) was evaluated. Results A total of 2170 HOCI cases were recorded from October 2020-April 2021, with sequence reports returned for 650/1320 (49.2%) during intervention phases. We did not detect a statistically significant change in weekly incidence of HAIs in longer-turnaround (IRR 1.60, 95%CI 0.85-3.01; P=0.14) or rapid (0.85, 0.48-1.50; P=0.54) intervention phases compared to baseline phase. However, IPC practice was changed in 7.8% and 7.4% of all HOCI cases in rapid and longer- turnaround phases, respectively, and 17.2% and 11.6% of cases where the report was returned. In a per-protocol sensitivity analysis there was an impact on IPC actions in 20.7% of HOCI cases when the SRT report was returned within 5 days. Conclusion While we did not demonstrate a direct impact of sequencing on the incidence of nosocomial transmission, our results suggest that sequencing can inform IPC response to HOCIs, particularly when returned within 5 days.
The COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by varying movement restriction measures across populations worldwide. These restrictions altered daily activities at all levels, including food access and intake, as well as psychological feelings during lockdown. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate health, and nutrition behaviors during confinement during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Panama. We conducted a cross-sectional study using an online survey for data collection; a total of 1,561 surveys were validated. The majority of respondents were women (74.2%) between 18 and 49 years old. Among the respondents, 83.3% indicated a university education level, and 49.9% reported a monthly family income equal to or less than 1,000 USD. In addition, more than 50% self-reported overweight or obesity. Responses were analyzed using k-means algorithms to identify food intake patterns; we found three patterns: a healthy food intake pattern, a non-healthy food intake pattern and a mixed food intake pattern. The respondents with healthy food intake and non-healthy food intake patterns reported better socioeconomic conditions. Individuals classified as having mixed food intake patterns had lower incomes, less education and higher unemployment rates. Regarding emotions, we found that women experienced more negative emotions, such as fear, worry and anxiety, during the lockdown period. Taken together, these results suggest that the mobility restriction measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic affected food intake patterns by exacerbating existing inequalities. We believe that directing resources towards strategies with the greatest positive impacts on public health remains key, especially in critical situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Objectives Care Homes faced crisis during the SARS-CoV2 pandemic with increased mortality and various corrective interventions were undertaken. The impact of current SARS-CoV2 B.1.617.2 (Delta variant) outbreak on COVID-19 deaths in Care Homes is not completely known. Design Observational study Setting and Participants We included nationwide data of deaths from all causes and COVID-19 in England and Wales during March 7, 2020-November 26, 2021. Methods Impact of COVID-19 deaths in Care Homes, Hospital and Homes relative to total deaths from all causes was investigated. Results During March 7-August 28,2020; 15,414 (29.8%) of the 51,740 COVID-19 deaths occurred in Care Homes. During August 29, 2020-May 28, 2021, there were significant decrease in COVID-19 deaths in Care Homes ([19.2%]; RR 0.64; 95%CI 0.63-0.65;p<0.0001], which significantly declined further ([8.9%]; RR 0.46; 95%CI 0.43-0.48;p<0.0001) during May 29-November 26, 2021. During the March 7-August 28, 2020; 20.0% (15,514/76,906) of all Care Home deaths were caused by COVID-19, which significantly declined to 18.5% (RR 0.92; 95%CI 0.90-0.93; p<0.0001) during August 29, 2020-May 28, 2021 and declined further to 2.5% (RR 0.13; 95% CI 0.12-0.14;p<0.0001) during May 29-November 26, 2021. Increased percentages of COVID-19 deaths occurred in Hospitals ([72.3%]; RR 1.14; 95% CI 1.1-1.15;p<0.0001) and Homes ([6.3%]; RR 1.33; 95% CI 1.27-1.40; p<0.0001) during August 29, 2020-May 28, 2021 and further increases in the Hospitals ([80.8%]; RR 1.11; 95% CI 1.10-1.12; p<0.0001) and Homes ([8.8%]; RR 1.39; 95% CI 1.31-1.47; p<0.0001) during May 29-November 26, 2021. Conclusions and Implications There was a significantly lower number of COVID-19 deaths occurred in Care Homes and a significantly lower number of Care Homes deaths caused by COVID-19 during the Delta variant surge in England and Wales than the prior surges. Care Home residents are at highest risk for mortality, continuous monitoring and research on COVID-19 preventive interventions are essential.
Objective Evaluation of the specificity and accuracy of four CE-approved SARS-CoV-2 antigen rapid self-tests (AG-ST) Anbio, Clungene, Hotgene and Mexacare. Method 1015 asymptomatic volunteers were screened for SARS-CoV-2 by means of an oropharyngeal swab taken by qualified personnel and subsequent RT-PCR testing. Each participant additionally performed nasal self-swabs for two of the four rapid antigen tests at the same day according to the manufacturers’ instructions. Study participants transmitted a photo and own interpretation of their test results to the study center. The results of the two self-tests provided by the participants were correlated with the results of the SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR and independently assessed and evaluated by the study center. Results None of the volunteers tested positive upon RT- PCR, whereas 13 AG-ST showed a false positive test result (0.7%). The highest false positivity rate was found for the Clungene test (2.1% compared to 0.2% for the other tests), while the highest test failure rate (invalid) was found for the Mexacare test (3.7%). The Anbio and Hotgene tests produced the fewest false positive results when evaluated by the participants and also showed the best agreement among themselves. Conclusion SARS-CoV-2 Antigen rapid self- tests with higher false positive test rates, such as the Clungene test, or with high rates of invalid test results, such as the Mexacare test, are less suitable for screening purposes of asymptomatic study participants especially in low-prevalence settings. False positive or inadequate test results increase the burden on certified test laboratories due to verification PCR tests and cause a substantial economic loss due to unnecessary quarantine measurements and cause psychological stress in the affected study participants. In addition to earlier defined requirements for sensitivity for SARS-CoV-2 detection, a lower acceptance boundary for the false positivity rate of < 0.3% should be demanded.
Importance: An evidence-based appraisal of the COVID-19 vaccination policies among people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) with respect to disease-modifying therapies (DMT) is important for our understandings and their further management. Objective: To synthesize the available evidence concerning the effect of DMTs on COVID-19 vaccination immunogenicity and effectiveness. Data Sources: We searched MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, MedRxiv, and Google Scholar from January 2021 until January 2022. Study Selection: The exclusion criteria included: not a primary investigation; retracted/withdrawn; no eligible participants - people with no history/evidence of previous COVID-19 and corticosteroid administration within two months of vaccination; no eligible exposures - all nine DMT classes; and no eligible comparators - DMT-unexposed at the time of vaccination. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Entries were assessed independently by two reviewers for eligibility and quality. Dichotomized data was extracted by two reviewers in accordance with Cochrane guidelines, and were pooled using either Peto fixed-effects or Inverse-variance random-effects methods. Main Outcomes and Measures: Main outcomes were i) B-cell response, measured by seroconversion odds ratio (OR);
Background Understanding the characteristics and natural history of novel pathogens is crucial to inform successful control measures. Japan was one of the first affected countries in the COVID-19 pandemic reporting their first case on 14 January 2020. Interventions including airport screening, contact tracing, and cluster investigations were quickly implemented. Here we present insights from the first 3 months of the epidemic in Japan based on detailed case data. Methods We conducted descriptive analyses based on information systematically extracted from individual case reports from 13 January to 31 March 2020 including patient demographics, date of report and symptom onset, symptom progression, travel history, and contact type. We analysed symptom progression and estimated the time-varying reproduction number, Rt, correcting for epidemic growth using an established Bayesian framework. Key delays and the age- specific probability of transmission were estimated using data on exposures and transmission pairs. Results The corrected fitted mean onset-to-reporting delay after the peak was 4 days (standard deviation: ±2 days). Early transmission was driven primarily by returning travellers with Rt peaking at 2.4 (95%CrI:1.6, 3.3) nationally. In the final week of the trusted period, Rt accounting for importations diverged from overall Rt at 1.1 (95% CrI: 1.0, 1.2) compared to 1.5 (95% CrI: 1.3, 1.6) respectively. Household (39.0%) and workplace (11.6%) exposures were the most frequently reported potential source of infection. The estimated probability of transmission was assortative by age. Across all age groups, cases most frequently onset with cough, fever, and fatigue. There were no reported cases of patients <20 years old developing pneumonia or severe respiratory symptoms. Conclusions Information collected in the early phases of an outbreak are important in characterising any novel pathogen. Timely recognition of key symptoms and high-risk settings for transmission can help to inform response strategies. The data analysed here were the result of robust and timely investigations and demonstrate the improvements to epidemic control as a result of such surveillance.
Background. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether boosting healthcare personnel, already reasonably protected by prior infection or vaccination, with a vaccine developed for an earlier variant of COVID-19 protects against the Omicron variant. Methods. Employees of Cleveland Clinic who were previously infected with or vaccinated against COVID-19, and were working in Ohio the day the Omicron variant was declared a variant of concern, were included. The cumulative incidence of COVID-19 was examined over two months during an Omicron variant surge. Protection provided by boosting (analyzed as a time-dependent covariate) was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression. Analyses were adjusted for time since proximate overt immunologic challenge (POIC) as a time-dependent covariate. Results. Among 39 766 employees, 8037 (20%) previously infected and the remaining previously vaccinated, COVID-19 occurred in 6230 (16%) during the study. Risk of COVID-19 increased with time since POIC. In multivariable analysis, boosting was independently associated with lower risk of COVID-19 among those with vaccine- induced immunity (HR, .43; 95% CI, .41-.46) as well as those with natural immunity (HR, .66; 95% CI, .58-.76). Among those with natural immunity, receiving 2 compared to 1 dose of vaccine was associated with higher risk of COVID-19 (HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.21-1.97). Conclusions. Administering a COVID-19 vaccine not designed for the Omicron variant, 6 months or more after prior infection or vaccination, protects against Omicron variant infection in both previously infected and previously vaccinated individuals. There is no evidence of an advantage to administering more than 1 dose of vaccine to previously infected persons.
In this population-based cohort of 7530 adults, combined IgG/A/M anti-Spike titres measured after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination were predictive of protection against breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection. Discrimination was significantly improved by adjustment for factors influencing risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure including household overcrowding, public transport use, and visits to indoor public places.
We suggest a statistical test for underdispersion in the reported Covid-19 case and death numbers, compared to the variance expected under the Poisson distribution. Screening all countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) dataset for evidence of underdispersion yields 21 country with statistically significant underdispersion. Most of the countries in this list are known, based on the excess mortality data, to strongly undercount Covid deaths. We argue that Poisson underdispersion provides a simple and useful test to detect reporting anomalies and highlight unreliable data.
Evaluation of Full Versus Fractional Doses of COVID-19 Vaccines Given as a Booster in Adults in Australia - Mongolia, Indonesia, Australia Coronavirus (MIACoV). - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Biological: Tozinameran - Standard dose; Biological: Tozinameran - fractional dose; Biological: Elasomeran - standard dose; Biological: Elasomeran - fractional dose
Sponsors: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute; Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations; PATH; The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Not yet recruiting
Zofin to Treat COVID-19 Long Haulers - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Drug: Zofin; Other: Placebo
Sponsors:
Organicell Regenerative Medicine; Proxima Clinical Research, Inc.
Not yet recruiting
Effect of Daily Oral Administration of Food Supplement NLC-V in Patients Diagnosed With COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Intervention: Dietary Supplement: NLC-V
Sponsor:
Todos Medical, Ltd.
Completed
Fourth COVID-19 Vaccine Dose- mRNA1273 - Condition: COVID-19 Pandemic
Intervention: Biological: mRNA1273 vaccine
Sponsor: Sheba Medical Center
Active, not recruiting
Study Design of the Diacerein in Patients With Covid-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Drug: Diacerein; Drug: placebo capsules
Sponsors: University of Campinas, Brazil; Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Not yet recruiting
HEART Rate Variability Biofeedback in LOng COVID-19 (HEARTLOC) - Condition: COVID-19
Intervention: Behavioral: Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback (HRV-B)
Sponsors: University of Leeds; University of Manchester; Leeds Comunity Healthcare NHS Trust
Recruiting
A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of MVC-COV1901 or MVC-COV1901(Beta) Against COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19 Vaccine
Interventions: Biological: MVC-COV1901(Beta); Biological: MVC- COV1901
Sponsor: Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp.
Not yet recruiting
Fourth BNT162b2 COVID-19 Vaccine Dose - Condition: COVID-19 Pandemic
Intervention: Biological: BNT162b2 vaccine
Sponsor: Sheba Medical Center
Active, not recruiting
Effects of Aerobic Exercise in Patients With Post COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Other: High-intensity interval aerobic exercise training; Other: Control Group
Sponsor: Gazi University
Not yet recruiting
Immunogenicity and Safety of the SpikoGen COVID-19 Vaccine in Children Aged 5 to <12 Years and 12 to <18 Years Compared With Adults Aged 18 to 40 Years - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Biological: Low-dose SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike protein + Advax-SM adjuvant; Biological: SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike protein + Advax-SM adjuvant
Sponsors:
Cinnagen; Vaxine Pty Ltd
Not yet recruiting
Safety and Immunogenicity of COVI-VAC as a Booster Dose in Adults Previously Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Conditions: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2
Intervention: Biological: COVI-VAC
Sponsor:
Codagenix, Inc
Not yet recruiting
Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training in Patients With Post COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Other: Inspiratory Muscle Training Group; Other: Control Group
Sponsor: Gazi University
Not yet recruiting
Ivermectin for Post Exposure Prophylaxis of Covid-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Drug: Ivermectin; Other: Placebo
Sponsors:
Clinical Research Centre, Malaysia; Hovid Berhad
Recruiting
Availability and Advice on Test Uptake During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Vignette Study. - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Behavioral: Customised testing advice; Behavioral: Regular testing advice; Behavioral: LFT available; Behavioral: No LFT available
Sponsor:
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
Completed
Efficacy and Safety of Ingavirin®, 90 mg Capsules in Patients With COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Drug: Ingavirin®, 90 mg capsules; Drug: Placebo
Sponsor: Valenta Pharm JSC
Recruiting
Strain Wars: Competitive interactions between SARS-CoV-2 strains are explained by Gibbs energy of antigen-receptor binding - Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 has mutated several times into new strains, with an increased infectivity. Infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 strains depends on binding affinity of the virus to its host cell receptor. In this paper, we quantified the binding affinity using Gibbs energy of binding and analyzed the competition between SARS- CoV-2 strains as an interference phenomenon. Gibbs energies of binding were calculated for several SARS-SoV-2 strains, including Hu-1 (wild…
Natural products as a source of novel drugs for treating SARS-CoV2 infection - COVID-19, the infectious disease caused by the beta-corona virus SARS-CoV2, has posed a global health threat causing more than five million of deaths in the last two years in the world. Although the disease often presents with mild cold- like symptoms, it may have lethal consequences following thromboembolisms, hyperinflammation and cytokine storm eventually leading to pulmonary fibrosis and multiple organ failure. Despite the progress made in the understanding of the SARS-CoV2 pathology and the…
Theta-Defensins to Counter COVID-19 as Furin Inhibitors: In Silico Efficiency Prediction and Novel Compound Design - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Dec. 2019. SARS-CoV-2 binds to the cell membrane through spike proteins on its surface and infects the cell. Furin, a host-cell enzyme, possesses a binding site for the spike protein. Thus, molecules that block furin could potentially be a therapeutic solution. Defensins are antimicrobial peptides that can…
Use of hiPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes to Rule Out Proarrhythmic Effects of Drugs: The Case of Hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 - In the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, drug repurposing was widely used to identify compounds that could improve the prognosis of symptomatic patients infected by SARS-CoV-2. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was one of the first drugs used to treat COVID-19 due to its supposed capacity of inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication in vitro. While its efficacy is debated, HCQ has been associated with QT interval prolongation and potentially Torsades de Pointes, especially in patients…
Ag-enriched TiO(2) nanocoating apposite for self-sanitizing/ self-sterilizing/ self-disinfecting of glass surfaces - The excellent strategy to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is to inhibit the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2. Since fomites are one of the vital routes of coronaviral transmission, disinfecting of fomites play a pivotal role in curbing its survival on the contaminated surfaces. Available commercial disinfectants cannot keep the contaminated surfaces sanitized all the time. Self-disinfecting ability of Ag-enriched TiO(2) nanocoating due to its superb photocatalytic efficiency can…
Synthesis, In silico study (DFT, ADMET) and crystal structures of novel sulfamoyloxy-oxazolidinones: Interaction with SARS-CoV-2 - A new series of sulfamoyloxyoxazolidinone (SOO) derivatives have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, NMR, IR, MS and EA. Chemical reactivity and geometrical characteristics of the target compounds were investigated using DFT method. The possible binding mode between SOO and Main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 and their reactivity were studied using molecular docking simulation. Single crystal X-ray diffraction showed that SOO crystallizes in a monoclinic system…
Probing marine brown macroalgal phlorotannins as antiviral candidate against SARS-CoV-2: molecular docking and dynamics simulation approach - Over the past year, owing to the emergent demand for the search for potential COVID-19 therapeutics, identifying alternative candidates from biological sources is one of the sustainable ways to reinforce the drug discovery process. Marine macroalgae have numerous advantages because of the richest availability of underexploited bioactive compounds. Polyphenolic compounds like phlorotannins obtained from brown macroalgae are reported as proven antiviral and immunostimulatory agents. Thus, the…
IL13Pred: A method for predicting immunoregulatory cytokine IL-13 inducing peptides - CONCLUSION: The best performing model was incorporated in web-server and standalone package named ‘IL-13Pred’ for precise prediction of IL-13 inducing peptides. For large dataset analysis standalone package of IL-13Pred is available at (https://webs.iiitd.edu.in/raghava/il13pred/) webserver and over GitHub link: https://github.com/raghavagps/il13pred.
Chemical profiling and unraveling of anti-COVID-19 biomarkers of red sage (Lantana camara L.) cultivars using UPLC- MS/MS coupled to chemometric analysis, in vitro study and molecular docking - CONCLUSION: Flowers and leaves extracts of four L. camara cultivars were recognized as rich sources of phytoconstituents possessing anti-COVID-19 activity. Combination of UPLC-MS/MS and chemometrics is a promising approach to detect chemical composition differences among the cultivars and correlate them to COVID-19 inhibitory activities allowing to pinpoint possible biomarkers. Further in-vitro and in-vivo studies are required to verify their activity.
PEDV infection affects the expression of polyamine-related genes inhibiting viral proliferation - Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is an alpha-coronavirus that causes epidemic diarrhea in swines. The mortality of PEDV infection in one-week-old piglets is extremely high, which causes a huge significant economic loss to the global pig husbandry and blocks its healthy development. There was a lack of adequate studies to elucidate pathogenic mechanism associated with PEDV infection. In the present study, we detected the expression profiles of polyamine metabolism associated genes in Vero…
Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory roles of vitamins in COVID-19 therapy - oxidative stress is caused by an abundant generation of reactive oxygen species, associated to a diminished capacity of the endogenous systems of the organism to counteract them. Activation of pro-oxidative pathways and boosting of inflammatory cytokines are always encountered in viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2. So, the importance of counteracting cytokine storm in COVID-19 pathology is highly important, to hamper the immunogenic damage of the endothelium and alveolar membranes….
Imatinib and methazolamide ameliorate COVID-19-induced metabolic complications via elevating ACE2 enzymatic activity and inhibiting viral entry - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents a systemic disease that may cause severe metabolic complications in multiple tissues including liver, kidney, and cardiovascular system. However, the underlying mechanisms and optimal treatment remain elusive. Our study shows that impairment of ACE2 pathway is a key factor linking virus infection to its secondary metabolic sequelae. By using structure-based high-throughput virtual screening and connectivity map database, followed with experimental…
Visualizing a Field of Research for the Coronavirus Replication in Humans with Knowledge Mapping: Evidence from Web of Science - CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that “viral infection,” spike protein," and “mutation” might be future research hotspots on coronavirus replication in humans. The attention should be paid to the mutations of S protein and these mutants carrying mutations.
Targeting stem-loop 1 of the SARS-CoV-2 5’ UTR to suppress viral translation and Nsp1 evasion - SARS-CoV-2 is a highly pathogenic virus that evades antiviral immunity by interfering with host protein synthesis, mRNA stability, and protein trafficking. The SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein 1 (Nsp1) uses its C-terminal domain to block the messenger RNA (mRNA) entry channel of the 40S ribosome to inhibit host protein synthesis. However, how SARS-CoV-2 circumvents Nsp1-mediated suppression for viral protein synthesis and if the mechanism can be targeted therapeutically remain unclear. Here, we…
Efficient disinfection of SARS-CoV-2-like coronavirus, pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses using cold plasma induces spike protein damage - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a worldwide public health emergency, and the high transmission of SARS- CoV-2 variants has raised serious concerns. Efficient disinfection methods are crucial for the prevention of viral transmission. Herein, pulse power-driven cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), a novel sterilization strategy, was found to potently inactivate SARS-CoV-2-like coronavirus GX_P2V, six strains of major epidemic SARS-CoV-2 variants and even swine coronavirus PEDV and SADS-CoV…
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 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
FOLDABLE KIDS NEST - The objective of the present invention is to provide a bird’s nest bag which allows a kid to sleep or sit inside. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the bird nest bag is used to isolate kids below 2 years, who are affected by COVID-19. The netted portion of the bag allows a clear visibility to check on the user by the medical assistants, during emergency situations. The children below two years of age can be isolated in the bags for a shorter duration. (Refer Fig. 1) - link
IDENTIFICATION AND ALARM SYSTEM FOR FACIAL CORONA MASK USING CNN BASED IMAGE PROCESSING - tThe covid-19 epidemic is the world’s largest wake-up call for people to pay attention to their own and society’s health. One thing to keep in mind is that there is a segment of the population that has been exposed to the covid-19 virus and has generated antibodies without developing any significant illnesses and is continuing to be healthy. This indicates that a significant section of the population, even excluding the elderly, lacks the necessary bodily immunity to combat a Viral infection. As terrible as covid-19 is on a global scale, developing personal health standards and preventative measures for any pathogenic virus as a community would have spared many lives. In’this work, a camera is combined with an image processing system to recognise facial masks, which may be improved in a variety of ways. First and foremost, this method is meant to identify masks on a single person’s face. While this method is efficient in identifying someone has a mask, it does not ensure that they will wear it all of the time. The most effective update for this task is to install a camera with a wide field of view so that many individuals can be seen in the frame, and the faces of those who aren’t wearing markings can be identified, as well as the number of people and the timing. - link
ANTIMICROBIAL SANITIZING FORMULATION - An antimicrobial sanitizing formulation, comprising, i) isopropyl alcohol in the range of 0.1%- 80% w/w, ii) an emollient in the range of 0.1%-15% w/w, iii) hydrogen peroxide in the range of 0.1 0.13% w/w, iv) citric acid in the range of 0.1% to 2.0% w/w, v) silver nitrate in the range of 0.1% to 0.5% w/w, and vi) a fragrance imparting agent in the range of 0.1% to 2.0% w/w. - link
A HEALTH BAND WITH A BIOMETRIC MODULE AND WORKING METHOD THEREOF - The present invention discloses a health band with a biometric module and method thereof. The assembly includes, but not limited to, a plurality of sensors configured to gather health data associated with a predefined symptom of a medical condition of a user; a memory unit configured to store the data and an interface, which is configured to determine the medical condition using the data;a processing unit configured to execute the application; and a notification facility configured to provide a notification upon receiving from the interface an instruction associated with the notification, wherein the notification is associated with a drug reminder and the like. - link
RNA 검출 방법 - 본 발명은 RNA의 분석 및 검출 방법에 관한 것이다. 특히, 본 발명은 특히, 본 발명은 짧은 염기서열의 RNA까지 분석이 가능하면서도 높은 민감도 및 정확도로 정량적 검출까지 가능하여 감염증, 암 등 여러 질환의 진단 용도로도 널리 활용될 수 있다. - link
黄芩黄酮活性成分及其制剂在制备预防和/或治疗炎症风暴药物中的应用 - 本发明公开了黄芩黄酮活性成分及其制剂在制备预防和/或治疗炎症风暴药物中的应用。所述黄芩黄酮活性成分选自下述至少一种：黄芩素、汉黄芩素和千层纸素A。炎症风暴是一种机体对外界刺激的过度免疫反应和炎症反应，以炎症细胞因子的快速大量释放为特征。炎症风暴可由许多感染或非感染性疾病引起，并与疾病的严重程度和多器官功能障碍综合征的发生密切相关。减少炎症风暴的发生有助于降低器官损伤和减缓疾病进程，尤其对危重症患者的治疗至关重要。本发明发现，黄芩素、汉黄芩素、千层纸素A均具有不同程度抑制小鼠细胞因子风暴的作用。黄芩素能改善炎症风暴引发的肺损伤和炎性细胞浸润。因此黄芩黄酮活性成分可用于制备防治炎症风暴的药物。 - link
一种预防和/或治疗炎症风暴的药物组合物及其制剂与应用 - 本发明公开了一种预防和/或治疗炎症风暴的药物组合物、制剂及其应用。该药物组合物，由黄芩素、汉黄芩素和千层纸素A组成，其中，黄芩素、汉黄芩素、千层纸素A的质量比为0.251.5：0.57：1。本发明提供的自微乳包括下述组分：药物磷脂复合物、油相、乳化剂和助乳化剂；其中，所述药物磷脂复合物由上述药物组合物和磷脂材料复合而成。本发明的实验结果表明在LPS诱导的系统性炎症风暴小鼠模型中，黄芩素、汉黄芩素和千层纸素A的组合物及其自微乳制剂均具有不同程度抑制小鼠细胞因子风暴的作用。本发明为炎症风暴的临床治疗提供了一种安全、有效、经济的解决方案。 - link
胸部CT图像识别方法、装置、计算机设备和存储介质 - 本申请涉及一种胸部CT图像识别方法、装置、计算机设备和存储介质。所述方法针对CT图像特点，设计轻量级的胸部CT图像识别网络更快速准确地识别出胸部CT图像。引入X‑DMFF模块，提升模型性能且降低计算成本。在DMS模块中引入Swin‑Transformer与残差学习，提取更多尺度的空间特征信息并对特征信息不断重用，提升模型分类效果。 - link