Background: Uptake of COVID-19 bivalent vaccines and oral medication nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid) has remained low across the United States. Assessing the public health impact of increasing uptake of these interventions in key risk groups can guide further public health resources and policy. Methods: This modeling study used person-level data from the California Department of Public Health on COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, deaths, and vaccine administration from July 23, 2022 to January 23, 2023. We modeled the impact of additional uptake of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir during acute illness in different risk groups defined by age (50+, 65+, 75+ years) and vaccination status (everyone, primary series only, previously vaccinated). We predicted the number of averted COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths and number needed to treat (NNT). Results: For both bivalent vaccines and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir, the most efficient strategy (based on NNT) for averting severe COVID-19 was targeting the 75+ years group. We predicted that perfect coverage of bivalent boosters in the 75+ years group would avert 3,920 hospitalizations (95%UI: 2,491-4,882; 7.8% total averted; NNT 387) and 1,074 deaths (95%UI: 774-1,355; 16.2% total averted; NNT 1,410). Perfect uptake of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir in the 75+ years group would avert 5,644 hospitalizations (95%UI: 3,947-6,826; 11.2% total averted; NNT 11) and 1,669 deaths (95%UI: 1,053-2,038; 25.2% total averted; NNT 35). Conclusions: These findings suggest prioritizing uptake of bivalent boosters and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir among the oldest age groups would be efficient and have substantial public health impact in reducing the burden of severe COVID-19, but would not address the entire burden of severe COVID-19.
Abstract Background: Moral injury occurs when negative distressing emotions appear and are suppressed. This could lead to several mental health problems such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and result in long-lasting emotional, behavioral, and social problems. Moral injury, a term more commonly used in war contexts, has come into the spotlight during COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate the rate of moral injury and its association with psychological injuries during this healthcare crisis. Methods: We assessed the rates of depression, anxiety, stress, and their association with moral injury among 333 nurses, medical interns, and residents between December 2020 and January 2021. This study was done using validated versions of Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) and Moral Injury Symptom Scale-Healthcare Professionals (MISS-HP) scores. Results: Totally 333 healthcare professionals participated in this study, mostly aged between 26 to 30 years old. Nearly half of the participants had a clinically significant moral injury. The average scores of anxiety and stress were significantly higher in women. The participants who were single showed higher rates of depression and moral injury than married ones. Moreover, anxiety, stress, depression, and moral injury were higher in nurses than other healthcare professionals. The scarcity of personal protective equipment at the workplace and giving care to patients with end-stage COVID-19 diagnosis were among the factors associated with a higher risk of developing mental health problems. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that anxiety, stress, depression, and moral injury were prevalent among healthcare professionals during COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the rates of anxiety, stress, and depression were associated with moral injuries.
Background: Laboratory biomarkers are amongst the best imperative predictors of disease outcomes in hospital-admitted COVID-19 patients. Although data is available in this regard at a global level, there is a paucity of information in Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to assess the laboratory biomarkers association with death among COVID-19 patients in Ethiopia. Methods: A health facility-based longitudinal study was conducted from 2020 to 2022 among RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted and on treatment follow-up at COVID-19 treatment hospitals in Addis Ababa. A robust Poisson regression model was fitted to assess the association between demographic, clinical, and laboratory factors and death. Significance was determined at p<0.05, and variables with p < 0.15 in bivariate analyses were included in the final multivariable models. Incidence rate ratio (IRR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to describe associations. Results: Of the 2357 COVID-19 patients, 248 (10.5%) died. The median age of participants was 59 (IQR= 45- 70) years, and the majority (64.9%) of them were male. Lower median RBC was observed among those who died at 4.58 (4.06-5.07) as compared to those who survived at 4.69 (4.23-5.12) whereas high median (IQR) WBC was a predictor of mortality with 11.2 (7.7-15.9). After adjusting for confounders, death was associated with age >74 years having adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR (95%CI): 2.46 (1.40-4.34)], and critical clinical situations [aIRR (95% CI): 4.04 (2.18-7.52)]. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that abnormal liver function tests, abnormal white blood cells, age of the patients, and clinical status of the patients during admission are associated with unfavorable outcomes of COVID-19. Hence, timely monitoring of these laboratory results at the earliest phase of the disease was highly commendable.
Objective- To empirically derive a long COVID case definition consisting of significantly increased signs, symptoms, and diagnoses to support clinical, public health, research, and policy initiatives related to the pandemic. Design- Case-Crossover Population-based study Setting- Veterans Affairs medical centers across the United States between January 1 2020 and August 18 2022. Participants- 367148 individuals with positive COVID-19 tests and preexisting ICD-10-CM codes recorded in the VA electronic health record were enrolled. Trigger- SARS-CoV2 infection documented by positive laboratory test. Case Window- One to seven months following positive COVID testing. Main Outcomes and Measures- We defined signs, symptoms, and diagnoses as being associated with long COVID if they had a novel case frequency of at least 1 to 1000 and they were significantly increased in our entire cohort after a positive COVID test when compared to case frequencies before COVID testing. We present odds ratios with confidence intervals for long COVID signs, symptoms, and diagnoses, organized by ICD10-CM functional groups and medical specialty. We used our definition to assess long COVID risk based upon a patients9 demographics, Elixhauser score, vaccination status, and COVID disease severity. Results- We developed a long COVID definition consisting of 323 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes grouped into 143 ICD-10-CM functional groups that were significantly increased in our 367148 patient post-COVID population. In our long COVID definition at a proportion of at least 59.7 percent (based on all COVID positive patients). Patients with more severe cases of COVID-19 and multiple comorbidities were more likely to develop long COVID. Conclusions and Relevance- An actionable, empirical definition for long COVID can help clinicians screen for and diagnose long COVID, allowing identified patients to be admitted into appropriate monitoring and treatment programs. An actionable long COVID definition can also support public health, research and policy initiatives. COVID patients with low oxygen saturation levels or multiple co-comorbidities should be preferentially watched for the development of long COVID.
Background: Viral rebound has been reported in people infected with COVID-19 treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, and some cases been reported in patients who did not receive any antiviral treatment. Since the course of COVID-19 has not yet been well defined, we evaluated the incidence of viral rebound among COVID-19 patients treated with COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma (CCP) in Uganda. Methods: In the CCP trail, 136 patients were enrolled between 21st September 2020 and 2nd December 2020 who presented to the Mulago National Referral COVID-19 treatment unit. Patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR test irrespective of disease severity were hospitalized and randomized to receive either COVID-19 CCP plus standard of care (SOC) or SOC alone. SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR was done at baseline and on days 3, 5, 7, 14 and 28 post randomisation or until two consecutive negative RT-PCR results were obtained, whichever occurred first. We analysed for occurrence of viral rebound. Viral rebound was defined as a positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test following a prior negative test. Findings: 20% of the participants had viral rebound. Viral rebounders were predominantly male. The median age was 45-64 years and they had at least one co-morbidity. There was no difference in the rebound rates in the study arms, and participants with hypertension had more rebound rates compared to those with other co-morbidities. Interpretation: Viral RNA rebound was common among patients receiving CCP. Viral rebound may be a result of the biphasic nature of COVID-19 infection, and not a consequence of the therapeutic interventions.
Background: The COVID-19 (COVID) pandemic has been associated with care seeking and delivery system changes. Before COVID the management of low back pain (LBP) was variable and a common source of low-value care. The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to examine how the management of LBP changed during the COVID pandemic in commercially insured (CI) and Medicare Advantage (MA) cohorts. Methods: A US national sample of LBP episodes with a duration of less than 91 days experienced during 2019-2021 was analyzed. Independent variables included whether an individual had CI or MA coverage, and the timing of LBP onset. Secondary independent variables included individuals home address State. Dependent measures included the percent of individuals initially contacting eighteen types of health care provider (HCP) and receiving twenty-two types of health care services, and total episode cost. Early and late COVID measures were compared with a pre-COVID baseline to examine COVID related change. The impact of the stringency of State level COVID public policy response was evaluated. Results: The study included 222,043 CI and 466,125 MA complete episodes of LBP. During the pre-COVID period the MA cohort was older (MA median 72 vs. CI 45), with higher percent female (61% vs. 52%), and from zip codes with a higher Area Deprivation Index (median 52 vs. CI 38). MA and CI cohort attributes remained nearly identical in the early and late COVID periods. Initial contact with licensed acupuncturists (LAc risk ratio (RR) 0.66) and physical therapists (PT RR 0.82) in the CI cohort, and with PTs (RR 0.78), urgent care (RR 0.86), and emergency medicine (RR 0.87) in the MA cohort experienced the largest decreases during the early COVID period. The largest increase in the CI cohort was to PCPs (RR 1.08), and in the MA cohort to PCPs (RR 1.11) and nurse practitioners (RR 1.09). During the late COVID period the largest decreases in the CI cohort were to neurologists (RR 0.84), PTs (RR 0.86), and physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians (RR PMR 0.87) and in the MA cohort to rheumatologists (RR 0.81), PMR (RR 0.89) and pain management physicians (RR 0.89). The largest increases during the late COVID period in the CI cohort were to radiologists (RR 1.22), hospitals (RR 1.07) and orthopedic surgeons (OS RR 1.04) and in the MA cohort to LAcs (RR 1.32), radiologists (RR 1.11) and hospitals (RR 1.10). Compared to the pre-COVID period during the early COVID period the percent of episodes including most health care services was unchanged or reduced. In the late COVID period in both the CI and MA cohorts the percent of episodes with imaging studies increased, MRI (RR CI 1.15, MA 1.21), CT (RR 1.16, 1.16), and plain film radiology (RR 1.06, 1.06). The stringency of State COVID public policy responses was not associated with significant variability in either the type of HCP initially contacted, or services received for LBP. Conclusions: In both CI and MA LBP cohorts COVID was associated with changes in the types of HCP initially contacted and subsequent services provided. Guideline concordant first-line service use declined during COVID, and the rate of diagnostic imaging was higher in the late COVID period than the pre-COVID period.
The widespread existence of expired antigen testing kits in households and potential coronavirus outbreaks necessitate evaluating the reliability of these expired kits. Our study examined BinaxNOW COVID-19 rapid antigen tests 27 months post-manufacture and 5 months past their FDA extended expiration dates, using SARS-CoV-2 variant XBB.1.5 viral stock. We conducted testing at two concentrations: the Limit of Detection (LoD) and 10 times the LoD. 100 expired and unexpired kits were tested at each concentration for a total of 400 antigen tests. At the LoD (2.32x10^2 TCID50/mL), both expired and unexpired tests displayed 100% sensitivity (95% CI 96.38% to 100%), with no statistical difference (95% CI -3.92% to 3.92%). Similarly, at 10 times the LoD, unexpired tests retained 100% sensitivity (95% CI 96.38% to 100%), while expired tests exhibited 99% sensitivity (95% CI 94.61% to 99.99%), demonstrating a statistically insignificant 1% difference (95% CI -2.49% to 4.49%, p=0.56). Expired rapid antigen tests had fainter lines than the unexpired tests at each viral concentration. The expired rapid antigens tests at LoD were only just visible. These findings carry significant implications for waste management, cost efficiency, and supply chain resilience in pandemic readiness efforts. They also provide critical insights for formulating clinical guidelines for interpreting results from expired kits. In light of expert warnings of a potential outbreak of a severity rivaling the Omicron variant, our study underscores the importance of maximizing the utility of expired antigen testing kits in managing future health emergencies.
Background: The natural history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission dynamics may have changed as SARS-CoV-2 has evolved and population immunity has shifted. Methods: Household contacts, enrolled from two multi-site case-ascertained household transmission studies (April 2020-April 2021 and September 2021-September 2022), were followed for 10-14 days after enrollment with daily collection of nasal swabs and/or saliva for SARS-CoV-2 testing and symptom diaries. SARS-CoV-2 virus lineage was determined by whole genome sequencing, with multiple imputation where sequences could not be recovered. Adjusted infection risks were estimated using modified Poisson regression. Findings: 858 primary cases with 1473 household contacts were examined. Among unvaccinated household contacts, the infection risk adjusted for presence of prior infection and age was 58% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 49-68%) in households currently exposed to pre-Delta lineages and 90% (95% CI: 74-100%) among those exposed to Omicron BA.5 (detected May - September 2022). The fraction of infected household contacts reporting any symptom was similarly high between pre-Delta (86%, 95% CI: 81-91%) and Omicron lineages (77%, 70-85%). Among Omicron BA.5-infected contacts, 48% (41-56%) reported fever, 63% (56-71%) cough, 22% (17-28%) shortness of breath, and 20% (15-27%) loss of/change in taste/smell. Interpretation: The risk of infection among household contacts exposed to SARS-CoV-2 is high and increasing with more recent SARS-CoV-2 lineages. This high infection risk highlights the importance of vaccination to prevent severe disease. Funding: Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.
A lack of fine, spatially-resolute case data for the U.S. has prevented the examination of how COVID-19 burden has been distributed across neighborhoods, a known geographic unit of both risk and resilience, and is hampering efforts to identify and mitigate the long-term fallout from COVID-19 in vulnerable communities. Using spatially-referenced data from 21 states at the ZIP code or census tract level, we documented how the distribution of COVID-19 at the neighborhood-level varies significantly within and between states. The median case count per neighborhood (IQR) in Oregon was 3,608 (2,487) per 100,000 population, indicating a more homogenous distribution of COVID-19 burden, whereas in Vermont the median case count per neighborhood (IQR) was 8,142 (11,031) per 100,000. We also found that the association between features of the neighborhood social environment and burden varied in magnitude and direction by state. Our findings underscore the importance of local contexts when addressing the long-term social and economic fallout communities will face from COVID-19.
Aim: Rapid intervention development, implementation and evaluation is required for emergency public health contexts, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic. A novel Agile Co-production and Evaluation (ACE) framework has been developed to assist this endeavour in future public health emergencies. This scoping review aimed to map available behavioural science resources that can be used to develop and evaluate public health guidance, messaging, and interventions in emergency contexts onto components of ACE: rapid development and implementation, co-production with patients or the public including seldom heard voices from diverse communities, and inclusion of evaluation. Methods: A scoping review methodology was used. Searches were run on MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychInfo, and Google, with search terms covering emergency response and behavioural science. Papers published since 2014 and which discussed a framework or guidance for using behavioural science in response to a public health emergency, were included. A narrative synthesis was conducted. Results: Seventeen records were included in the synthesis. The records covered a range of emergency contexts, the most frequent of which were COVID-19 (n=7) and non-specific emergencies (n=4). One record evaluated existing tools, six proposed new tools, and ten described existing tools. Commonly used tools included the Behavioural Change Wheel, Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Behaviour model (COM-B model) and social identity theory. Three records discuss co-production with the target audience and consideration of diverse populations. Four records incorporate rapid testing, evaluation, or validation methods. Six records state that their tool is designed to be implemented rapidly. No records cover all components of ACE. Conclusion: We recommend that future research explores how to create guidance involving rapid implementation, co-production with patients or the public including seldom-heard voices from diverse communities, and evaluation. Keywords: behavioural insights, emergency response, health protection.
Patient harm due to unsafe healthcare is widespread, potentially devastating, and often preventable. Hoping to eliminate avoidable harms, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the Global Patient Safety Action Plan in July 2021. The UK9s National Health Service relies on several measures, including “never events”, “serious incidents”, patient safety events, and coroners9 prevention of future death reports (PFDs) to monitor healthcare quality and safety. We conducted a systematic narrative review of PubMed and medRxiv on 19 February 2023 to explore the strengths and limitations of coroners9 PFDs and whether they could be a safety metric to help meet the WHO9s Global Patient Safety Action Plan. We identified 17 studies that investigated a range of PFDs, including preventable deaths involving medicines and an assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that PFDs offered important information that could support hospitals to improve patient safety and prevent deaths. However, inconsistent reporting, low response rates to PFDs, and difficulty in accessing, analysing, and monitoring PFDs limited their use and adoption as a patient safety metric for hospitals. To fulfil the potential of PFDs, a national system is required that develops guidelines, sanctions failed responses, and embeds technology to encourage the prevention of future deaths.
The Standard of Care Combined With Glucocorticoid in Elderly People With Mild or Moderate COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Intervention: Drug: Glucocorticoid
Sponsor: Huashan Hospital
Not yet recruiting
Investigation of the Effect on Cognitive Skills of COVID-19 Survivors - Condition: COVID-19
Intervention: Other: green walking and intelligence gam
Sponsors: Bayburt University; Karadeniz Technical University
Completed
Conducting Clinical Trials of the Medicine “Rutan Tablets 0.1g” No. 10 in the Complex Therapy of COVID-19 - Condition: Patients With COVID-19
Interventions: Drug: The drug “Rutan 0.1”.; Other: Basic treatment
Sponsor: Research Institute of Virology, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Completed
Arginine Replacement Therapy in COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19
Intervention: Drug: Arginine Hydrochloride
Sponsor: Emory University
Not yet recruiting
Effectiveness of a Second COVID-19 Vaccine Booster in Chinese Adults - Condition: COVID-19
Interventions: Biological: Intramuscularly administered Ad5-nCoV vaccine; Biological: Aerosolized Ad5-nCoV; Biological: DelNS1-2019-nCoV-RBD-OPT1; Biological: SYS6006
Sponsor: Jiangsu Province Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Not yet recruiting
Studying the Efficiency of the Natural Preparation Rutan in Children in the Treatment of COVID-19, ARVI - Condition: COVID-19 Respiratory Infection
Interventions: Drug: Rutan 25 mg; Other: Control group
Sponsor: Research Institute of Virology, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Completed
A Pilot Study Evaluating the Efficacy of the Vielight Neuro RX Gamma in the Treatment of Post COVID-19 Cognitive Impairment - Condition: Post COVID-19 Cognitive Impairment
Interventions: Device: Vielight Neuro RX Gamma active device; Device: Vielight Neuro RX Gamma sham device
Sponsor: Vielight Inc.
Not yet recruiting
PAxlovid loNg cOvid-19 pRevention triAl With recruitMent In the Community in Norway - Conditions: Post COVID-19 Condition, Unspecified; SARS-CoV2 Infection; COVID-19
Interventions: Drug: Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir; Drug: Placebo
Sponsors: Haukeland University Hospital; University of Bergen
Not yet recruiting
Use of a Hypochlorous Acid Spray Solution in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients : COVICONTROL Study . - Condition: SARS CoV 2 Infection
Interventions: Other: Spray with Hypochlorous Acid Group; Other: Spray with Placebo Group
Sponsor: University of Monastir
Recruiting
Role of Vit-D Supplementation on BioNTech, Pfizer Vaccine Side Effect and Immunoglobulin G Response - Condition: COVID-19 Respiratory Infection
Intervention: Combination Product: Vitamin-D
Sponsor: Sulaimany Polytechnic university
Completed
Telerehabilitation Program and Detraining in Patients With Post-COVID-19 Sequelae - Condition: COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Intervention: Other: Telerehabilitation program
Sponsor: Campus docent Sant Joan de Déu-Universitat de Barcelona
Completed
COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Amongst Underserved Populations in East London - Conditions: COVID-19; Influenza; Vaccination Refusal
Intervention: Device: Patient Engagement tool
Sponsors: Queen Mary University of London; Social Action for Health
Not yet recruiting
REVERSE-Long COVID-19 With Baricitinib Pilot Study - Condition: Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
Intervention: Drug: Baricitinib 4 MG
Sponsors: Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Emory University; University of California, San Francisco; University of Minnesota; Vanderbilt University; Yale University
Not yet recruiting
Post Covid-19 Dysautonomia Rehabilitation Randomized Controlled Trial - Conditions: Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome; Dysautonomia
Interventions: Procedure: Rehabilitation; Procedure: Standard of Care
Sponsors: Evangelismos Hospital; National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; LONG COVID GREECE; 414 Military Hospital of Special Diseases
Recruiting
Exercise for Health in Patients With Post-acute Sequelae of COVID-19 - Condition: Long COVID
Intervention: Other: Rehabilitation program
Sponsors: Campus docent Sant Joan de Déu-Universitat de Barcelona; Hospital de Mataró; University of Barcelona
Active, not recruiting
Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2-mediated thromboinflammation by CLEC2.Fc - Thromboinflammation is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients, and post-mortem examination demonstrates the presence of platelet-rich thrombi and microangiopathy in visceral organs. Moreover, persistent microclots were detected in both acute COVID-19 and long COVID plasma samples. However, the molecular mechanism of SARS-CoV-2-induced thromboinflammation is still unclear. We found that the spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk)-coupled C-type lectin member 2 (CLEC2), which was…
In silico identification and validation of phenolic lipids as potential inhibitor against bacterial and viral strains - The recurrence of coronavirus disease and bacterial resistant strains has drawn attention to naturally occurring bioactive molecules that can demonstrate broad-spectrum efficacy against bacteria as well as viral strains. The drug-like abilities of naturally available “anacardic acids” (AA) and their derivatives against different bacterial and viral protein targets through in-silico tools were explored. Three viral protein targets [P DB: 6Y2E (SARS-CoV-2), 1AT3 (Herpes) and 2VSM (Nipah)] and four…
Potential role of PIM1 inhibition in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection - CONCLUSION: 2-pyridone PIM1 inhibitor could hinder cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2 and modulate several pathways implicated in immunity, suggesting a potential benefit in the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic approach.
SARS-CoV-2 inhibition and specific targeting of infected cells by VSV particles carrying the ACE2 receptor - No abstract
Understanding how transmembrane domains regulate interactions between human BST-2 and the SARS-CoV-2 accessory protein ORF7a - Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID, replicates at intracellular membranes. Bone marrow stromal antigen 2 (BST-2; tetherin) is an antiviral response protein that inhibits transport of viral particles after budding within infected cells. RNA viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 use various strategies to disable BST-2, including use of transmembrane ‘accessory’ proteins that interfere with BST-2 oligomerization. ORF7a is a small, transmembrane protein…
Harringtonine: A more effective antagonist for Omicron variant - Fusion with host cell membrane is the main mechanism of infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we propose that a new strategy to screen small-molecule antagonists blocking SARS-CoV-2 membrane fusion. Using cell membrane chromatography (CMC), we found that harringtonine (HT) simultaneously targeted SARS-CoV-2 S protein and host cell surface TMPRSS2 expressed by the host cell, and subsequently confirmed that HT can inhibit membrane fusion. HT effectively…
A new cellular interactome of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and its biological implications - There is still much to uncover regarding the molecular details of SARS-CoV-2 infection. As the most abundant protein, coronavirus nucleocapsid (N) protein encapsidates viral RNAs, serving as the structural component of ribonucleoprotein and virion, and participates in transcription, replication, and host regulations. Virus-host interaction might give clues to better understand how the virus affects or is affected by its host during infection and identify promising therapeutic candidates….
Deficient GABABergic and glutamatergic excitability in the motor cortex of patients with long-COVID and cognitive impairment - CONCLUSIONS: Neuro-Long COVID patients performing sub-optimally in the executive functions showed a reduction of LICI related to GABAb inhibition and a reduction of ICF related to glutamatergic regulation. No alteration in cholinergic circuits was found.
Optimization, and biological evaluation of 3-O-β-chacotriosyl betulinic acid amide derivatives as novel small-molecule Omicron - SARS-CoV-2 Omicron viruses possess a high antigenic shift, and the approved anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs are extremely limited, which makes the development of new antiviral drugs for the clinical treatment and prevention of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks imperative. We have previously discovered a new series of markedly potent small-molecule inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 virus entry, exampled by the hit compound 2. Here, we report a further study of bioisosteric replacement of the eater linker at the C-17 position of…
Synthetic and natural guanidine derivatives as antitumor and antimicrobial agents: A review - Guanidines are fascinating small nitrogen-rich organic compounds, which have been frequently associated with a wide range of biological activities. This is mainly due to their interesting chemical features. For these reasons, for the past decades, researchers have been synthesizing and evaluating guanidine derivatives. In fact, there are currently on the market several guanidine-bearing drugs. Given the broad panoply of pharmacological activities displayed by guanidine compounds, in this review,…
Dose-response and type-dependent effects of antiviral drugs in anaerobic digestion of waste-activated sludge for biogas production - In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, antiviral drugs (AVDs) were heavily excreted into wastewater and subsequently enriched in sewage sludge due to their widespread use. The potential ecological risks of AVDs have attracted increasing attention, but information on the effects of AVDs on sludge anaerobic digestion (AD) is limited. In this study, two typical AVDs (lamivudine and ritonavir) were selected to investigate the responses of AD to AVDs by biochemical methane potential tests. The…
Potential role of tirzepatide towards Covid-19 infection in diabetic patients: a perspective approach - In Covid-19, variations in fasting blood glucose are considered a distinct risk element for a bad prognosis and outcome in Covid-19 patients. Tirazepatide (TZT), a dual glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist may be effective in managing Covid-19-induced hyperglycemia in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. The beneficial effect of TZT in T2DM and obesity is related to direct activation of GIP and GLP-1 receptors with subsequent…
Heat waves accelerate the spread of infectious diseases - COVID-19 pandemic appeared summer surge in 2022 worldwide and this contradicts its seasonal fluctuations. Even as high temperature and intense ultraviolet radiation can inhibit viral activity, the number of new cases worldwide has increased to >78% in only 1 month since the summer of 2022 under unchanged virus mutation influence and control policies. Using the attribution analysis based on the theoretical infectious diseases model simulation, we found the mechanism of the severe COVID-19…
Dextran sulfate from Leuconostoc mesenteroides B512F exerts potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and in vivo - The emergent human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and its resistance to current drugs makes the need for new potent treatments for COVID-19 patients strongly necessary. Dextran sulfate (DS) polysaccharides have long demonstrated antiviral activity against different enveloped viruses in vitro. However, their poor bioavailability has led to their abandonment as antiviral candidates. Here, we report for the first time the broad-spectrum antiviral activity of a DS-based extrapolymeric substance produced by…
The novel hyaluronic acid granular hydrogel attenuates osteoarthritis progression by inhibiting the TLR-2/NF-κB signaling pathway through suppressing cellular senescence - In patients with mild osteoarthritis (OA), two to four monthly injections are required for 6 months due to the degradation of hyaluronic acid (HA) by peroxidative cleavage and hyaluronidase. However, frequent injections may lead to local infection and also cause inconvenience to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Herein, we developed a novel HA granular hydrogel (n-HA) with improved degradation resistance. The chemical structure, injectable capability, morphology, rheological properties,…