Covid-19 Sentry

Contents

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

From Preprints

• The Usage of Mindsponge Theory for Explaining The Willingness of Global Citizens to Provide Geospatial Global Positioning System (GPS) Data From Their Smartphones During The COVID-19 Pandemic -
  Global citizens have widely discussed COVID-19 and its transmission prevention since the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the disease as a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020, and a pandemic on March 11, 2020 [1]. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of digital epidemiology based on public health data [2]. In the early stages of the pandemic, public health officials faced critical problems in collecting effective information input from the public. Specifically, the issues around the donation of digital data related to the context of mobile phone privacy became a major roadblock in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic [3]. Hswen et al. [3] evaluated people’s willingness to provide their smartphone geospatial global positioning system (GPS) data during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study involved 1055 participants from 41 countries with a mean age of 34. Findings showed that participants living in India or Brazil were more willing to provide their GPS data than those living in the United States. No significant differences were seen between positive and negative valence framing messages. Monetary incentives of $5 significantly increased participants’ willingness to provide GPS data. Half of the participants in the self-interest and pro-social arms agreed to provide their GPS data, and almost two-thirds of participants were willing to provide their data in exchange for $5. Framing and incentivization can be used in combination to influence the acquisition of private GPS smartphone data. Financial incentives can increase data provision to a greater degree with no losses on these intrinsic motivations to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The study’s findings have the ability to contribute to lowering the social cost of epidemic control by informing evidence-based policymaking efficiently [4].
  🖺 Full Text HTML: The Usage of Mindsponge Theory for Explaining The Willingness of Global Citizens to Provide Geospatial Global Positioning System (GPS) Data From Their Smartphones During The COVID-19 Pandemic
• The Usage of Mindsponge Theory for Explaining The Social Identity Loss and Reverse Culture Shock among International Students in China During COVID-19 Pandemic -
  International students are often exposed to various challenges during life transitions. The COVID-19 pandemic in China has also contributed to these life challenges. During the global pandemic period, there were two groups of international students. The first group was those who remained in China during the pandemic, and the second group was those who had left China and were stranded in their home countries due to a ban on international travel amid COVID-19. By qualitatively studying these two groups of participants, Raja et al. [1] found that the first group experienced challenges like anxiety, campus closure, lockdown, parental health issue concern, and social isolation, while the second group experienced challenges like reverse culture shock which was more distressing, readjustment to home country, life changes in home and host countries, social and academic resources loss (study environment disruption, losing important group memberships, financial constraints, visa expiry, graduation delay, and academic suspension) [1]. Raja et al. [1] utilized the mindsponge theory (MT) as their study framework. MT focuses on the human mind’s information processing system in explaining individual behavior changes over time based on contextual settings [2]. Mindsponge framework consists of five components, namely: 1) mindset, 2) comfort zone, 3) multi-filtering system, 4) cultural and ideological setting, and 5) cultural values [3]. There was a shift of the “mindset” of international students where the personal identity, such as “Who am I?” shifted into “How I should be?” MT helps explain how life changes impact international students’ sense of belonging amid the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the dimensions of identity through the mindsponge mechanism. This mechanism suggests that individuals absorb and integrate new cultural values compatible with their core values while rejecting those of lesser importance [4]. Based on this notion, this study explores the experiences of international students in China regarding their unplanned return to their home countries during the COVID-19 pandemic [1]. This study highlighted the re-acculturative stress international students face in their home countries due to unplanned transitions during the pandemic.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: The Usage of Mindsponge Theory for Explaining The Social Identity Loss and Reverse Culture Shock among International Students in China During COVID-19 Pandemic
• The Usage of Mindsponge Theory for Explaining The Generation Mechanism of Career Decision-making Difficulties among Chinese Undergraduates During The COVID-19 Pandemic -
  The COVID-19 situation in China has led various sectors to accept the employment of college graduates lately. The low record number of Chinese college graduates and the pressure from the economic downturn resulted in low confidence in employment among college graduates. The difficulties in career decision-making have gradually developed into a psychological barrier to successful employment among Chinese undergraduates. By conducting a qualitative study of 20 undergraduates exhibiting delayed employment, Shi [1] found that the variables of individual, parents, peers, and social environment influence participants’ career decision-making difficulties. This study proposes a multivariable and single-subject generation mechanism to explain Chinese undergraduates’ career decision-making difficulties during the pandemic. Shi [1] utilized the framework of social cognitive career theory (SCCT) [2] aided by the mindsponge theory (MT) to explain her study findings. SCCT was insufficient to explain the mental state changes in the career decision-making difficulties encountered by participants over time in further detail [1]. Therefore, SCCT was aided by MT to fill this gap. MT utilizes the human mind’s information processing approach to understand better individual behavior changes over time based on contextual settings [3]. Mindsponge framework consists of five components, namely: 1) mindset, 2) comfort zone, 3) multi-filtering system, 4) cultural and ideological setting, and 5) cultural values [4]. MT is helpful when studying psychological phenomena in terms of their temporal dimension with regard to the information process associated with the natural renewal of human psychology and society, which can explain and help address complex psychological and behavioral problems [5].
  🖺 Full Text HTML: The Usage of Mindsponge Theory for Explaining The Generation Mechanism of Career Decision-making Difficulties among Chinese Undergraduates During The COVID-19 Pandemic
• The Application of Mindsponge Framework and 3D Framework in Explaining The Production Process of COVID-19 Vaccines Globally -
  Global citizens have widely discussed the COVID-19 outbreak since the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the disease as a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020, and a pandemic on March 11, 2020 [1]. Since then, tremendous efforts have been made by scientists and health professionals to innovate the COVID-19 vaccines, which safeguard against the virus. It is helpful to conduct an in-depth conceptual investigation into the process of producing, administrating, and distributing COVID-19 vaccines. Vuong et al. [2] explained the COVID-19 vaccine production process by using the serendipity-mindsponge-3D (SM3D) creativity management theory. The mindsponge theory explains how the human mind processes information in contextual settings [3], while the 3D creativity management theory explains how creativity and innovations are made through information processes [2]. Conceptually, the mindsponge framework consists of five components: 1) mindset, 2) comfort zone, 3) multi-filtering system, 4) cultural and ideological setting, and 5) cultural values [4]. Meanwhile, the 3D framework consists of three major blocks: (1) the information absorbing and filtering block, (2) the creativity processing block, and (3) the innovation outcome block [5]. Based on the mindsponge framework [4] and the 3D framework [5], the COVID-19 vaccines production process was explained through three main stages, such as: 1) vaccine-related information absorption or rejection based on usefulness, 2) information usage for developing vaccines in a short period, and 3) vaccines production, distribution, and administration, finally in late 2020 [2]. These insights may be beneficial for facilitating the subsequent production, administration, and distribution of modified vaccines and vaccination campaigns.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: The Application of Mindsponge Framework and 3D Framework in Explaining The Production Process of COVID-19 Vaccines Globally
• A Systematic Background Check of TRICARE Provider Names -

  During Covid-19, the Defense Health Agency9s TRICARE insurance plan expanded its coverage to include 30.1% additional civilian healthcare providers. The DHA9s Annual Report, however, states that TRICARE9s provider directories are only 80% accurate. Although the DHA9s 9.6 million beneficiaries need expanded access to care, they also require protection from misleading information, medical fraud, patient abuse, and identity theft. Since 2013, the Department of Health and Human Services9 Office of the Inspector General has excluded 17,706 physicians from federal health programs due to misconduct. Patients who receive care from excluded providers experience worse medical outcomes. To determine if any excluded provider names were found on TRICARE9s website, we performed background checks on TRICARE West9s healthcare provider directory between January 1 and March 2023. Out of 39,463 provider names sampled from 22 states, there were 2,398 matches (6.08%) with individuals and businesses found in the OIG List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (OIG-LEIE), the GSA-SAM, the HHS HIPAA Breach Report, the International Trade Administration9s Consolidated Screening List, the OIG-HHS Fugitive List, the FBI9s January 6th Capitol Violence List of Charged Defendants, State Medicaid Exclusion Lists, and FDA Debarment Lists. Our study includes demographic analysis of the matching names and recommendations for an Insider Threat Management model. We recommend that DHA officials publish the National Provider Identification (NPI) numbers of all TRICARE providers. NPI numbers facilitate more accurate background checks of healthcare providers.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: A Systematic Background Check of TRICARE Provider Names
• KCL TEST: an open-source inspired asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 surveillance programme in an academic institution -

  Objectives: To establish a SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing programme in an academic institution to analyze saliva samples collected from asymptomatic staff and students. Design: PCR to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in saliva self-collected by asymptomatic students and staff members from King′s College London, and their household contacts. Standards for diagnostics testing set by the DHSC (UK) were followed to develop an automated saliva PCR service for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Prospective study that run from December 2020 until July 2022. Setting: Testing took place in an academic institution including 18 different locations in London (UK). Participants: There were no selection criteria; asymptomatic participants were encouraged to test regularly (twice weekly when on campus). Main outcome measures: Number of tests, number of participants and positive rate. Results: 158,277 PCR tests were carried out on saliva, of which 2,989 were positive (1.89%), collected by 20,186 participants. Between 10-30% of campus footfall were tested. The positive rate was equivalent to that reported by the Office for National Statistics (UK), except for the period encompassing the delta variant; this wave was nearly absent in our cohort. We employed non-commercial reagents and an open source-inspired automated pipeline for sample processing. This rapidly developed service was awarded UKAS accreditation under the ISO15189 standard. Conclusions: Including academic institutions in pandemic preparedness is a critical consideration, considering the experience in developing, validating, and implementing economic and scalable testing solutions. Given the joint ventures in hospital pathology departments across the UK and the move to centralised, automated, commercial tests, focusing on academic centres that can carry out research and development to test for novel and re-emerging pathogens should be a top priority.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: KCL TEST: an open-source inspired asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 surveillance programme in an academic institution
• Variability in excess deaths across countries with different vulnerability during 2020-2023 -

  Excess deaths provide total impact estimates of major crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.We evaluated excess death trajectories during 2020-2023 across countries with accurate death registration and population age structure data; and assessed relationships with economic indicators of vulnerability. Using the Human Mortality Database on 34 countries, excess deaths were calculated for 2020-2023 (to week 29, 2023) using 2017-2019 as reference, with weekly expected death calculations and adjustment for 5 age strata. Countries were divided into less and more vulnerable; the latter had per capita nominal GDP<USD30,000, Gini>0.35 for income inequality and/or at least 2.5% of their population living in poverty. Excess deaths (as proportion of expected deaths, p) were inversely correlated with per capita GDP (r=-0.60), correlated with proportion living in poverty (r=0.66) and modestly correlated with income inequality (r=0.45). Incidence rate ratio for deaths was 1.06 (95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.08) in the more versus less vulnerable countries. Excess deaths started deviating in the two groups after the first wave. Between-country heterogeneity diminished over time within each of the two groups. Less vulnerable countries had mean p=-0.8% and 0.4% in 0-64 and >65 year-old strata while more vulnerable countries had mean p=7.0% and 7.2%, respectively. Usually lower death rates were seen in children 0-14 years old during 2020-2023 versus pre-pandemic years. While the pandemic hit some countries earlier than others, country vulnerability dominated eventually the cumulative impact. Half of the analyzed countries witnessed no substantial excess deaths versus pre-pandemic levels, while the other half suffered major death tolls.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Variability in excess deaths across countries with different vulnerability during 2020-2023
• Prediction of mental well-being from individual characteristics and circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic -
  The “Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on NIMH Patients and Volunteers” study was a longitudinal study launched in spring 2020 by researchers at NIMH, to investigate the effect of the emerging COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. For each participant, the study collected personal characteristics, such as demographics, psychological traits, and clinical history, together with personal circumstances at regular intervals during their enrollment in the study. In this paper, we examine the degree to which a variety of mental health outcomes over time for an individual can be predicted from personal characteristics and their changing circumstances, using regression models trained on other study participants. We find that it is possible to predict the variation of a participant’s mental health outcomes from time point to time point, for most of the outcomes we consider. This capability is dominated by information about outcome at the point of enrollment in the study, but can be improved by considering personal characteristics and circumstances.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Prediction of mental well-being from individual characteristics and circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Discovery of Novel Allosteric Sites of SARS-CoV-2 Papain-Like Protease (PLpro) -
  Papain-like protease (PLpro) is a viral protease found in some coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Inhibition of PLpro activity could potentially limit viral replication, making it an attractive target for antiviral drug development. This work describes the discovery of novel allosteric residues of SARS-CoV-2 PLpro that can be targeted with antiviral drugs. First, a computational analysis was performed to identify potential druggable pockets on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 PLpro. The computational analysis predicted three druggable pockets around PLpro’s surface and are located at the interfaces of its four domains. Pocket 1 is located at the interface between the Ub1 and thumb domains, pocket 2 is at the interface between the thumb, finger, and palm domains, and pocket 3 is at the interface between the finger and palm domains. Targeted alanine mutagenesis of selected residues with important structural interactions revealed 14 residues that are essential for maintaining a catalytically active and thermodynamically stable PLpro. Namely, these residues are T10, D12, T54, Y72, and Y83 in pocket 1; Q122, S239, Q237, H275, and S278 in pocket 2; and S212, Y213, Y251, K254, and Y305, in pocket 3. In addition to this, residues that were found important to catalysis were recovered by mutating them to amino acids of similar physicochemical properties to further elucidate the mechanistic properties of the local interactions they make. Experimental work confirms essential contacts are present in the allosteric sites of PLpro that could be targeted with non-competitive inhibitors as novel therapeutics against COVID-19.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Discovery of Novel Allosteric Sites of SARS-CoV-2 Papain-Like Protease (PLpro)
• Study of the protective OAS1 rs10774671-G allele against severe COVID-19 in Moroccans suggests a North African origin for Neanderthals -

  Objectives: The clinical presentation of COVID-19 has shown high variability between individuals, which is partly due to genetic factors. The OAS1/2/3 cluster was found to be strongly associated with COVID-19 severity. We aimed to examine this locus for the occurrence of the critical variant, rs10774671, and its respective haplotype blocks within the Moroccan population. Methods: The frequency of SNPs at the cluster of OAS immunity genes was assessed from an in-house database in 157 unrelated individuals of Moroccan origin. The OAS1 exon 6 was sequenced by Sanger9s method in 71 asymptomatic/mild and 74 moderate/severe individuals positive for SARS-CoV-2. Genotypic, allelic, and haplotype frequencies of three SNPs were compared between the two groups. Finally, males in our COVID-19 series were genotyped for the Berber-specific marker E-M81. Results: The prevalence of the OAS1 rs10774671-G allele in present-day Moroccans was 40.4%, close to that of Europeans. However, it was found equally on both the Neanderthal GGG haplotype and the African GAC haplotype with a frequency of 20% each. These two haplotypes, and hence the rs10774671-G allele, were significantly associated with the protection against severe COVID-19 (p = 0.034, p = 0.041, and p = 0.008 respectively). Surprisingly, among Berber men, the African haplotype was absent while the prevalence of the Neanderthal haplotype was close to that of Europeans. Conclusion: The protective rs10774671-G allele of OAS1 was found only in the Neanderthal haplotype in Berbers, the indigenous people of North Africa, suggesting that this region may have served as the stepping-stone for the passage of the hominids to the other continents.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Study of the protective OAS1 rs10774671-G allele against severe COVID-19 in Moroccans suggests a North African origin for Neanderthals
• Visceral adipose macrophage content does not associate with body mass index or systemic inflammation in COVID-19: an autopsy study -

  Introduction: Adiposity, especially visceral adiposity with elevated body mass index (BMI), is associated with a hyperinflammatory syndrome and poor outcomes in patients with COVID-19. In other diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, systemic inflammation is driven directly by visceral adipose macrophages which release pro-inflammatory cytokines. Currently it is unknown whether visceral adipose tissue macrophage content may similarly explain the observation that COVID-19 patients with elevated BMI are at risk for a hyperinflammatory syndrome and death. Methods: This was a retrospective study of hospitalized adults who died of COVID-19 between March 2020 and June 2020 and underwent autopsy. Visceral adipose tissue macrophage content was quantified by histological staining of visceral adipose tissue samples with CD68, using pericolic fat gathered at autopsy from each subject. Clinical data including inflammatory markers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive Protein (CRP), Troponin, D-dimer, Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and ferritin as well as BMI were collected from electronic medical records. Results: A total of 39 subjects were included in this study. There was no association between BMI and visceral adipose tissue macrophage content (Spearman R=0.025, p=0.88). Additionally, there was no association between adipose tissue macrophage content and any of the systemic markers of inflammation measured including ESR, CRP, Troponin, D-dimer, IL-6, and Ferritin (p>0.05 for all markers). Conclusion: Unlike chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, elevated BMI is not associated with increased visceral adipose tissue macrophage content in patients who died of COVID-19. Additionally, among patients who died of COVID-19, visceral adipose tissue macrophage content is not associated with markers of systemic inflammation. These results suggest that the elevations in systemic markers of inflammation-and the hyperinflammatory syndrome often observed during acute COVID-19-does not directly originate from visceral adipose macrophages as it seems to in chronic disease states.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Visceral adipose macrophage content does not associate with body mass index or systemic inflammation in COVID-19: an autopsy study
• Drivers and impact of the early silent invasion of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha -

  SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) circulated cryptically before being identified as a threat, delaying interventions. Understanding the drivers of such silent spread and its epidemic impact is critical to inform future response planning. Here, we integrated spatio-temporal records of international mobility, local epidemic growth and genomic surveillance into a Bayesian framework to reconstruct the early dissemination of Alpha out of the UK in the first three months after emergence. We found that silent circulation lasted from days to months and was logarithmically associated with sequencing coverage. Social restrictions in certain countries likely slowed down the seeding of local transmission by weeks, mitigating the negative consequences of late detection. Revisiting the initial spread of Alpha supports local mitigation at the destination in case of emerging events.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Drivers and impact of the early silent invasion of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha
• Between authority and common sense: development and investigation of a model explaining COVID-19 preventive behaviours -
  To protect themselves from COVID-19, people follow the recommendations of the authorities, but they also resort to placebos. To stop the virus, it is important to understand the factors underlying both types of preventive behaviour. This study examined whether our model (developed based on the Health Belief Model and the Transactional Model of Stress) can explain participation in WHO-recommended and placebo actions during the pandemic. Model was tested on a sample of 3,346 participants from Italy, Japan, Poland, Korea, Sweden, and the US. It was broadly supported: objective risk and cues to action showed both direct and indirect (through perceived threat) associations with preventive behaviours. Moreover, locus of control, decision balance, health anxiety and preventive coping moderated these relationships. Numerous differences were also found between countries. We conclude that beliefs about control over health and perceived benefits of actions are critical to the development of interventions to improve adherence to recommendations.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Between authority and common sense: development and investigation of a model explaining COVID-19 preventive behaviours
• SOCIAL COMMUNICATION PATHWAYS TO COVID-19 VACCINE SIDE-EFFECT EXPECTATIONS AND EXPERIENCE -
  Objective: Negative beliefs about medication and vaccine side-effects can spread rapidly through social communication. This has been recently documented with the potential side-effects from the COVID-19 vaccines. We tested if pre-vaccination social communications about side-effects from personal acquaintances, news reports, and social media predict post-vaccination side-effect experiences. Further, as previous research suggests that side-effects can be exacerbated by negative expectations, we assessed if personal expectations mediate the relationships between social communication and side-effect experience. Method: In a prospective longitudinal survey (N=551), COVID-19 vaccine side-effect information from three sources—social media posts, news reports, and first-hand accounts from personal acquaintances—as well as side-effect expectations, were self-reported pre-vaccination. Vaccination side-effect experience was assessed post-vaccination. Results: In multivariate regression analyses, the number of pre-vaccination social media post views (β = .17) and impressions of severity conveyed from personal acquaintances (β = .42) significantly predicted an increase in pre-vaccination side-effect expectations, and the same variables (βs = .11, .14, respectively) predicted post-vaccination side-effect experiences. Moreover, pre-vaccination side-effect expectations fully mediated the relationship between both sources of social communication and experienced side-effects from a COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusions: This study identifies links between personal acquaintance and social media communications and vaccine side-effect experiences and provides evidence that pre-vaccination expectations account for these relationships. The results suggest that modifying side-effect expectations through these channels may change the side-effects following a COVID-19 vaccination as well as other publicly discussed vaccinations and medications.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: SOCIAL COMMUNICATION PATHWAYS TO COVID-19 VACCINE SIDE-EFFECT EXPECTATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
• Post-COVID rebound of gonorrhoea in England -

  With the removal of all COVID-19 restrictions in July 2021, a marked increase in gonorrhoea diagnoses in England was observed. Investigations revealed increases have been widespread, particularly in young people aged 15-to-24 years. Testing numbers have not shown a corresponding increase and have remained below 2019 (pre-pandemic) levels.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Post-COVID rebound of gonorrhoea in England

From Clinical Trials

• THE EFFECT OF ARGININE AND GLUTAMINE ON COVID-19 PATIENTS OUTCOME: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Dietary Supplement: Neomune
  Sponsors:   Universitas Sriwijaya;   M. Djamil General Hospital
  Completed

• Study of Obeldesivir in Children and Adolescents With COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Drug: Obeldesivir
  Sponsor:   Gilead Sciences
  Not yet recruiting

• Immunogenicity and Safety of AdCLD-CoV19-1 OMI as a Booster: A COVID-19 Preventive Vaccine in Healthy Volunteers - Conditions:   COVID-19;   Vaccines
  Interventions:   Biological: AdCLD-CoV19-1 OMI;   Biological: Comirnaty Bivalent 0.1mg/mL (tozinameran and riltozinameran)
  Sponsor:   Cellid Co., Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

• Using Text Messages to Boost COVID-19 Vaccine Booking Rate - Conditions:   Vaccination Hesitancy;   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Behavioral: Behavioural science-informed text messages;   Behavioral: Control
  Sponsors:   The Behavioural Insights Team;   Public Health England;   Department of Health and Social Care;   NHS England and NHS Improvement
  Completed

• Digital Health Literacy on COVID-19 for All: Co-creation and Evaluation of Interventions for Ethnic Minorities and Chinese People With Chronic Illnesses in Hong Kong - Conditions:   Digital Health Literacy;   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Behavioral: Digital health literacy intervention
  Sponsor:   The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
  Not yet recruiting

• Ivermectin to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Hospitalisation in Subjects Over 50 - Conditions:   COVID-19;   SARS-CoV-2
  Interventions:   Drug: Ivermectin;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Insud Pharma
  Terminated

• Methylprednisolone in Patients With Cognitive Deficits in Post-COVID-19 Syndrome (PCS) - Condition:   Post-COVID-19 Syndrome
  Intervention:   Drug: Methylprednisolone
  Sponsor:   Charite University, Berlin, Germany
  Not yet recruiting

• COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy in Adults With Sickle Cell Disease - Conditions:   Sickle Cell Disease;   COVID-19 Vaccine;   Vaccine Hesitancy
  Intervention:   Behavioral: SCD-specific COVID-19 vaccination information (SCVI) video
  Sponsors:   Duke University;   American Society of Hematology
  Not yet recruiting

• Leveraging Community Health Workers to Combat COVID-19 and Mental Health Misinformation in Haiti, Malawi, and Rwanda - Conditions:   Mental Health;   COVID-19;   Misinformation
  Interventions:   Behavioral: Card-Sorting Activity (Pre-intervention design);   Behavioral: SMS Crafting (Pre-intervention design);   Behavioral: SMS Messaging
  Sponsors:   Harvard Medical School (HMS and HSDM);   Partners in Health
  Active, not recruiting

• Effect of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Among Post-COVID-19 Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh - Condition:   Pulmonary Pathology
  Intervention:   Behavioral: Pulmonary Rehabilitation
  Sponsor:   Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  Active, not recruiting

• A Study to Learn About New COVD-19 RNA Vaccine Candidates for New Varients in Healthy Individuals - Conditions:   SARS-CoV-2 Infection;   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Biological: BNT162b2 (Omi XBB.1.5)
  Sponsors:   BioNTech SE;   Pfizer
  Not yet recruiting

• Pulmonary Artery Pressure in COVID-19 Survivors - Condition:   Pulmonary Hypertension Secondary
  Intervention:   Diagnostic Test: right heart catheterization (RHC).
  Sponsor:   Mansoura University Hospital
  Enrolling by invitation

• Preliminary Efficacy of a Technology-based Physical Activity Intervention for Older Korean Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Conditions:   Cardiovascular Health;   Physical Function
  Intervention:   Behavioral: Golden Circle
  Sponsor:   University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  Completed

• Supported Employment COVID-19 Rapid Testing for PWID - Condition:   Health Behavior
  Intervention:   Behavioral: Supported Employment
  Sponsor:   University of Oregon
  Not yet recruiting

• Study of LAU-7b for the Treatment of Long COVID in Adults - Condition:   Long COVID
  Interventions:   Drug: LAU-7b for 3 cycles;   Drug: LAU-7b for 1 cycle, then placebo;   Other: Placebo for 3 cycles
  Sponsor:   Laurent Pharmaceuticals Inc.
  Not yet recruiting

From PubMed

• The S1’-S3’ Pocket of the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Is Critical for Substrate Selectivity and Can Be Targeted with Covalent Inhibitors - The main protease (Mpro) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a well-characterized target for antiviral drug discovery. To date, most antiviral drug discovery efforts have focused on the S4-S1’ pocket of Mpro; however, it is still unclear whether the S1’-S3’ pocket per se can serve as a new site for drug discovery. In this study, the S1’-S3’ pocket of Mpro was found to differentially recognize viral peptidyl substrates; for instance, S3’ in Mpro strongly favors Phe…

• Cyclotheonellazoles D-I, Potent Elastase Inhibitory Thiazole-Containing Cyclic Peptides from Theonella sp. (2131) - Six new thiazole-containing cyclic peptides, the cyclotheonellazoles D-I (1-6), were isolated from the Australian marine sponge Theonella sp. (2131) with their structures assigned by comprehensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic and MS spectrometric analyses, Marfey’s derivatization studies, and comparison with time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculated ECD data. The Type 2 azole-homologated peptides herein comprise up to five nonproteinogenic amino acids, including the protease…

• Assessment of efficacy and safety of endoscopic lung volume reduction with one-way valves in patients with a very low FEV₁ - CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the potential efficacy of one-way valves, even in patients with very low FEV(1), as these patients experienced significant improvements in FEV(1), 6MWD and quality of life. No death was reported, suggesting a good safety profile, even in these high-risk patients.

• Prevalence of oral complications in the course of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection under mechanical non-invasive ventilation - CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 hospitalised patients with severe symptoms crossing with poor oral health-related conditions. This may exacerbate a response for COVID infection, and play a role in cytokine storm. For Covid-19 management, to inhibit extraoral/intraoral complications, it is recommended to adjust oral hygiene procedures, including antibacterial, protective, moisturising agents after individual oral health assessment.

• The Possible Mechanisms of Cu and Zn in the Treatment and Prevention of HIV and COVID-19 Viral Infection - Due to their unique properties and their potential therapeutic and prophylactic applications, heavy metals have attracted the interest of many researchers, especially during the outbreak of COVID-19. Indeed, zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) have been widely used during viral infections. Zn has been reported to prevent excessive inflammatory response and cytokine storm, improve the response of the virus to Type I interferon (IFN-1), and enhance the production of IFN-a to counteract the antagonistic…

• SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein inhibits the PKR-mediated integrated stress response through RNA-binding domain N2b - The nucleocapsid protein N of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) enwraps and condenses the viral genome for packaging but is also an antagonist of the innate antiviral defense. It suppresses the integrated stress response (ISR), purportedly by interacting with stress granule (SG) assembly factors G3BP1 and 2, and inhibits type I interferon responses. To elucidate its mode of action, we systematically deleted and over-expressed distinct regions and domains. We show that…

• A Mixture of Essential Oils from Three Cretan Aromatic Plants Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Proliferation: A Proof-of-Concept Intervention Study in Ambulatory Patients - INTRODUCTION: The need for effective therapeutic regimens for non-critically ill patients during the COVID-19 pandemic remained largely unmet. Previous work has shown that a combination of three aromatic plants’ essential oils (CAPeo) (Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav., Origanum dictamnus L., Salvia fruticose Mill.) has remarkable in vitro antiviral activity. Given its properties, it was urgent to explore its potential in treating mild COVID-19 patients in primary care settings.

• Peptide foldamer-based inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein-human ACE2 interaction - The entry of the SARS-CoV-2 virus into a human host cell begins with the interaction between the viral spike protein (S protein) and human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2). Therefore, a possible strategy for the treatment of this infection is based on inhibiting the interaction of the two abovementioned proteins. Compounds that bind to the SARS-CoV-2 S protein at the interface with the alpha-1/alpha-2 helices of ACE2 PD Subdomain I are of particular interest. We present a stepwise…

• CD36 mediates SARS-CoV-2-envelope-protein-induced platelet activation and thrombosis - Aberrant coagulation and thrombosis are associated with severe COVID-19 post-SARS-CoV-2 infection, yet the underlying mechanism remains obscure. Here we show that serum levels of SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein are associated with coagulation disorders of COVID-19 patients, and intravenous administration of the E protein is able to potentiate thrombosis in mice. Through protein pull-down and mass spectrometry, we find that CD36, a transmembrane glycoprotein, directly binds with E protein and…

• Upper Respiratory Tract OC43 Infection Model for Investigating Airway Immune-modifying Therapies - Respiratory virus infections initiate and transmit from the upper respiratory tract (URT). Coronaviruses, including OC43, are a major cause of respiratory infection and disease. Failure to mount an effective anti-viral immune response in the nasal mucosa increases the risk of severe disease and person to person transmission highlighting the need for URT infection models to support development of nasal treatments that improve coronavirus anti-viral immunity. We aimed to determine if OC43…

• The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 lineages and associated saliva antibody responses among asymptomatic individuals in a large university community - SARS-CoV-2 (CoV2) infected, asymptomatic individuals are an important contributor to COVID transmission. CoV2-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)-as generated by the immune system following infection or vaccination-has helped limit CoV2 transmission from asymptomatic individuals to susceptible populations (e.g. elderly). Here, we describe the relationships between COVID incidence and CoV2 lineage, viral load, saliva Ig levels (CoV2-specific IgM, IgA and IgG), and ACE2 binding inhibition capacity in…

• Management of chronic myelogenous leukemia with COVID-19 and hepatitis B - The application of immunosuppressive agents and targeted drugs has opened a novel approach for the treatment of hematological tumors, and the application of tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia is one of the landmark breakthroughs that has considerably improved the prognosis of CML patients. However, with the extensive use of TKI, the co-infection of CML patients has become increasingly apparent, especially regarding infectious diseases such as hepatitis B and…

• Immunogenicity of BNT162b2 in children 6 months to under 5 years of age with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, in the era of Omicron predominance - CONCLUSIONS: Children previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, developed robust neutralizing antibody response against Omicron variant after single-dose BNT162b2. Children with an interval of > 6 months since COVID-19 infection developed higher neutralizing antibody response compared to those with a 3-to-6-month interval.

• Neutralizing antibody and T-cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 variants by heterologous CoronaVac/ChAdOx-1 vaccination in elderly subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - CONCLUSION: Heterologous CoVac/ChAd vaccine induced the production of NAb against SARS-CoV-2 WT, Alpha, Beta, and Delta variants, but low for Omicron in COPD patients. Induction of CD4 T-cell subset responses was slightly observed by this vaccine regimen.

• Cysteamine-mediated blockade of the glycine cleavage system modulates epithelial cell inflammatory and innate immune responses to viral infection - Transient blockade of glycine decarboxylase (GLDC) can restrict de novo pyrimidine synthesis, which is a well-described strategy for enhancing the host interferon response to viral infection and a target pathway for some licenced anti-inflammatory therapies. The aminothiol, cysteamine, is produced endogenously during the metabolism of coenzyme A, and is currently being investigated in a clinical trial as an intervention in community acquired pneumonia resulting from viral (influenza and…

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