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<h1 data-aos="fade-down" id="covid-19-sentry">Covid-19 Sentry</h1>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" data-aos-anchor-placement="top-bottom" id="contents">Contents</h1>
<ul>
<li><a href="#from-preprints">From Preprints</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-clinical-trials">From Clinical Trials</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-pubmed">From PubMed</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-patent-search">From Patent Search</a></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-preprints">From Preprints</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>Who has the flu? Early winter 2023-24 spread of flu and COVID-19</strong> -
<div>
Winter 2023-24 has seen an unusual confluence of a variety of respiratory illnesses, ranging from flu to RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) and COVID-19. Between December 21, 2023 and January 29, 2024, we surveyed 30,460 individuals aged 18 and older across all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. We asked them if they had experienced an Influenza-like Illness (ILI) defined as experiencing a fever and cough, or a fever and sore throat, and/or if they had been diagnosed with COVID-19, over the previous month. Amongst those who responded yes to such questions, we asked them whether or not they had sought medical attention. In this report, we summarize our findings across a variety of demographic subgroups, including age, race, education, income, gender, and geography.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://osf.io/wfx3g/" target="_blank">Who has the flu? Early winter 2023-24 spread of flu and COVID-19</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Thymidine Phosphorylase Mediates SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Enhanced Thrombosis in K18-hACE2TG Mice</strong> -
<div>
COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is associated with arterial and venous thrombosis, thereby increasing mortality. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (SP), a viral envelope structural protein, is implicated in COVID-19-associated thrombosis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Thymidine phosphorylase (TYMP), a newly identified prothrombotic protein, is upregulated in the plasma, platelets, and lungs of patients with COVID-19 but its role in COVID-19-associated thrombosis is not defined. In this study, we found that wild-type SARS-CoV-2 SP significantly promoted arterial thrombosis in K18-hACE2TG mice. SP-accelerated thrombosis was attenuated by inhibition or genetic ablation of TYMP. SP increased the expression of TYMP, resulting in the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in BEAS-2B cells, a human bronchial epithelial cell line. A siRNA-mediated knockdown of TYMP inhibited SP-enhanced activation of STAT3. Platelets derived from SP-treated K18-hACE2TG mice also showed increased STAT3 activation, which was reduced by TYMP deficiency. Activated STAT3 is known to potentiate glycoprotein VI signaling in platelets. While SP did not influence ADP- or collagen-induced platelet aggregation, it significantly shortened activated partial thromboplastin time and this change was reversed by TYMP knockout. Additionally, platelet factor 4 (PF4) interacts with SP, which also complexes with TYMP. TYMP enhanced the formation of the SP/PF4 complex, which may potentially augment the prothrombotic and procoagulant effects of PF4. We conclude that SP upregulates TYMP expression, and TYMP inhibition or knockout mitigates SP-enhanced thrombosis. These findings indicate that inhibition of TYMP may be a novel therapeutic strategy for COVID-19-associated thrombosis.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.02.23.581661v1" target="_blank">Thymidine Phosphorylase Mediates SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Enhanced Thrombosis in K18-hACE2TG Mice</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>A specific phosphorylation-dependent conformational switch of SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein inhibits RNA binding</strong> -
<div>
The nucleoprotein (N) of SARS-CoV-2 encapsidates the viral genome and is essential for viral function. The central disordered domain comprises a serine-arginine-rich domain (SR) that is hyperphosphorylated in infected cells. This modification is thought to regulate function of N, although mechanistic details remain unknown. We use time-resolved NMR to follow local and long-range structural changes occurring during hyperphosphorylation by the kinases SRPK1/GSK-3/CK1, thereby identifying a conformational switch that abolishes interaction with RNA. When 8 approximately uniformly-distributed sites are phosphorylated, the SR domain competitively binds the same interface as single-stranded RNA, resulting in RNA binding inhibition. Phosphorylation by PKA does not prevent RNA binding, indicating that the pattern resulting from the physiologically-relevant kinases is specific for inhibition. Long-range contacts between the RNA-binding, linker and dimerization domains are also abrogated, phenomena possibly related to genome packaging and unpackaging. This study provides insight into recruitment of specific host kinases to regulate viral function.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.02.22.579423v1" target="_blank">A specific phosphorylation-dependent conformational switch of SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein inhibits RNA binding</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>A pan-tissue, pan-disease compendium of human orphan genes</strong> -
<div>
Species-specific genes are ubiquitous in evolution, with functions ranging from prey paralysis to survival in subzero temperatures. Because they are typically expressed under limited conditions and lack canonical features, such genes may be vastly under-identified, even in humans. Here, we leverage terabytes of human RNA-Seq data to identify thousands of highly-expressed transcripts that do not correspond to any Gencode-annotated gene. Many may be novel ncRNAs although 80% of them contain ORFs that have the potential of encoding proteins unique to Homo sapiens (orphan genes). We validate our findings with independent strand-specific and single-cell RNA-seq datasets. Hundreds of these novel transcripts overlap with deleterious genomic variants; thousands show significant association with disease-specific patient survival. Most are dynamically regulated and accumulate selectively in particular tissues, cell-types, developmental stages, tumors, COVID-19, sex, and ancestries. As such, these transcripts hold potential as diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets. To empower future discovery, we provide a compendium of these huge RNA-Seq expression data, and RiboSeq data, with associated metadata. Further, we supply the gene models for the novel genes as UCSC Genome Browser tracks.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.02.21.581488v1" target="_blank">A pan-tissue, pan-disease compendium of human orphan genes</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Allosteric modulation by the fatty acid site in the glycosylated SARS-CoV-2 spike</strong> -
<div>
The trimeric spike protein plays an essential role in the SARS-CoV-2 virus lifecycle, facilitating virus entry through binding to the cellular receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and mediating viral and host membrane fusion. The SARS-CoV-2 spike contains an allosteric fatty acid (FA) binding site at the interface between two neighbouring receptor-binding domains. This site, also found in some other coronaviruses, binds free fatty acids such as linoleic and oleic acid, and other small molecules. Understanding allostery and how this site modulates the behaviour of different regions in this protein could potentiate the development of promising alternative strategies for new coronavirus therapies. Here, we apply dynamical nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (D-NEMD) simulations to investigate allosteric effects and identify the communication pathways in the fully glycosylated spike in the original SARS-CoV-2 ancestral variant. The results reveal the allosteric networks that connect the FA site to important functional regions of the protein, including some more than 40 Angstroms away. These regions include the receptor binding motif, an antigenic supersite in the N-terminal domain, the furin cleavage site, the regions surrounding the fusion peptide and a second allosteric site known to bind heme and biliverdin. The networks identified here highlight the complexity of the allosteric modulation in this protein and reveal a striking and unexpected connection between different allosteric sites. Notably, 65% of amino acid substitutions, deletions and insertions in the Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma and Omicron variants map onto or close to the identified allosteric pathways.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.11.06.565757v2" target="_blank">Allosteric modulation by the fatty acid site in the glycosylated SARS-CoV-2 spike</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>The wide spectrum anti-inflammatory activity of andrographolide in comparison to NSAIDs: a promising therapeutic compound against the cytokine storm</strong> -
<div>
The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted an increasing clinical demand for safe and effective treatment options against an overzealous immune defence response, also known as the "cytokine storm". Andrographolide is a naturally derived bioactive compound with promising anti-inflammatory activity in many clinical studies. However, its cytokine-inhibiting activity, in direct comparison to commonly used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), has not been extensively investigated in existing literature. The anti-inflammatory activities of andrographolide and common NSAIDs, such as diclofenac, aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen were measured on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-{gamma} induced RAW264.7 cells. The levels of PGE2, nitric oxide (NO), TNF- &amp; LPS-induced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines on differentiated human macrophage THP-1 cells were measured against increasing concentrations of andrographolide and aforementioned NSAIDs. The associated mechanistic pathway was examined on NF{kappa}B using flow cytometry on the human endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule (ELAM9) (E-selectin) transfected RAW264.7 cells with green fluorescent protein (GFP). Andrographolide exhibited broad and potent anti-inflammatory and cytokine-inhibiting activity in both cell lines by inhibiting the release of IL-6, TNF- and IFN-{gamma}, which are known to play a key role in the etiology of cytokine storm and the pathogenesis of inflammation. In comparison, the tested NSAIDs demonstrated weak or no activity against proinflammatory mediators except for PGE2, where the activity of andrographolide (IC50 = 8.8 M, 95% CI= 7.4 to 10.4 M) was comparable to that of paracetamol (IC50 = 7.73 M, 95% CI = 6.14 to 9.73 M). The anti-inflammatory action of andrographolide was associated with its potent downregulation of NF{kappa}B. The wide-spectrum anti-inflammatory activity of andrographolide demonstrates its therapeutic potential against cytokine storms as an alternative to NSAIDs.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.02.21.581396v1" target="_blank">The wide spectrum anti-inflammatory activity of andrographolide in comparison to NSAIDs: a promising therapeutic compound against the cytokine storm</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Early acquisition of S-specific Tfh clonotypes after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is associated with the longevity of anti-S antibodies</strong> -
<div>
SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been used worldwide to combat COVID-19 pandemic. To elucidate the factors that determine the longevity of spike (S)-specific antibodies, we traced the characteristics of S-specific T cell clonotypes together with their epitopes and anti-S antibody titers before and after BNT162b2 vaccination over time. T cell receptor (TCR) {beta} sequences and mRNA expression of the S-responded T cells were investigated using single-cell TCR- and RNA-sequencing. Highly expanded 199 TCR clonotypes upon stimulation with S peptide pools were reconstituted into a reporter T cell line for the determination of epitopes and restricting HLAs. Among them, we could determine 78 S epitopes, most of which were conserved in variants of concern (VOCs). After the 2nd vaccination, T cell clonotypes highly responsive to recall S stimulation were polarized to follicular helper T (Tfh)-like cells in donors exhibiting sustained anti-S antibody titers (designated as “sustainers”), but not in “decliners”. Even before vaccination, S-reactive CD4+ T cell clonotypes did exist, most of which cross-reacted with environmental or symbiotic bacteria. However, these clonotypes contracted after vaccination. Conversely, S-reactive clonotypes dominated after vaccination were undetectable in pre-vaccinated T cell pool, suggesting that highly-responding S-reactive T cells were established by vaccination from rare clonotypes. These results suggest that de novo acquisition of memory Tfh-like cells upon vaccination may contribute to the longevity of anti-S antibody titers.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.06.06.543529v3" target="_blank">Early acquisition of S-specific Tfh clonotypes after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is associated with the longevity of anti-S antibodies</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Integrating population-level and cell-based signatures for drug repositioning</strong> -
<div>
Genetics-informed drug repositioning presents a streamlined and cost-efficient way to broaden therapeutic options. However, leveraging the full spectrum of molecular signatures remains underexplored. We introduce TReD (Transcriptome-informed Reversal Distance), integrating population-level disease signatures robust to reverse causality and cell-based drug-induced response profiles. TReD embeds the disease signature and drug profile in a high-dimensional normed space, quantifying the reversal potential of candidate drugs in a disease-related cell screen assay. For illustration, we apply TReD to COVID-19 and type 2 diabetes (T2D). We identify 37 potential drugs against COVID-19, over 70% (27/37) with prior associations, and eight supported by clinical trials. For T2D, we observe reversal signals for 86 compounds on multiple disease signatures, with more than 40% supported by published literature. In summary, we propose a comprehensive genetics-anchored framework integrating population-level signatures and cell-based screens that can accelerate the search for new therapeutic strategies.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.10.25.564079v2" target="_blank">Integrating population-level and cell-based signatures for drug repositioning</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Changes in risk perception during the COVID-19 pandemic in Southeast Alaska: Self-identified determinants of risk and protective behaviors</strong> -
<div>
Social and cultural context shapes how communities perceive health, well-being, and risk. Risk perception can change over time as a product of new information and improved understanding. We investigate risk perception and protective behaviors in Southeast Alaska during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Surveys were circulated at two time points: (1) April-June 2020, before COVID-19 reached epidemic levels in the region, and (2) November 2020-February 2021. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models were used to analyze how demographic characteristics of the respondent population influenced risk perception. OLS models were again used to predict how individuals engaged in protective behaviors while controlling for risk perceptions. Controlling for demographic characteristics, risk perception increased as age increased for perceived risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19, males perceived lower risk in general for all tested variables, and Alaska Native respondents perceived higher risk than non-Alaska Native respondents. Controlling for risk perception, results for protective behaviors were mixed; however, the strongest association identified was that knowing someone with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis increased protective behaviors. Between the two time points, risk perceptions increased significantly for variables related to oneself, others, and community members becoming infected with COVID-19. Protective behaviors like traveling less than normal, buying more cleaning products, and engaging in more subsistence gathering significantly increased. Identifying patterns of risk perception and protective behaviors, and especially how they change over time, are critical to developing place-specific public health recommendations, action, and preparedness plans against future infectious threats.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://osf.io/4avp7/" target="_blank">Changes in risk perception during the COVID-19 pandemic in Southeast Alaska: Self-identified determinants of risk and protective behaviors</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Physical distancing and the perception of interpersonal distance in the COVID-19 crisis</strong> -
<div>
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been mandated to keep enlarged distances from others. We interviewed 136 German subjects over five weeks from the end of March to the end of April 2020 during the first wave of infections about their preferred interpersonal distance (IPD) before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the pandemic, subjects adapted to distance requirements and preferred a larger IPD. This enlarged IPD was judged to persist after the crisis partially. People anticipated keeping more IPD to others even if there was no longer any risk of a SARS-CoV-2 infection. We also sampled two follow-up measurements, one in August, after the first wave had been flattened, and one in October 2020, at the beginning of the second wave. We discuss our findings in light of proxemic theory and an indicator for socio-cultural adaptation beyond the course of the pandemic.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/95n3p/" target="_blank">Physical distancing and the perception of interpersonal distance in the COVID-19 crisis</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Maturing neutrophils of lower density associate with thrombocytopenia in Puumala orthohantavirus-caused hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome</strong> -
<div>
Puumala orthohantavirus-caused hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (PUUV-HFRS) is characterized by strong neutrophil activation. Neutrophils are the most abundant immune cell type in the circulation and are specially equipped to rapidly respond to infections. They are more heterogenous than previously appreciated, with specific neutrophil subsets recently implicated in inflammation and immunosuppression. Furthermore, neutrophils can be divided based on their density to either low-density granulocytes (LDGs) or "normal density" polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) fractions. In the current study we aimed to identify and characterize the different neutrophil subsets in the circulation of PUUV-HFRS patients. PMNs exhibited an activation of antiviral pathways, while circulating LDGs were increased in frequency following acute PUUV-HFRS. Furthermore, cell surface marker expression analysis revealed that PUUV-associated LDGs are primarily immature and most likely reflect an increased neutrophil production from the bone marrow. Interestingly, both the frequency of LDGs and the presence of a "left shift" in blood associated with the extent of thrombocytopenia, one of the hallmarks of severe HFRS, suggesting that immature neutrophils could play a role in disease pathogenesis. These results imply that elevated circulating LDGs might be a general finding in acute viral infections. However, in contrast to the COVID-19 associated LDGs described previously, the secretome of PUUV LDGs did not show significant immunosuppressive ability, which suggests inherent biological differences in the LDG responses that can be dependent on the causative virus or differing infection kinetics.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.02.19.580937v1" target="_blank">Maturing neutrophils of lower density associate with thrombocytopenia in Puumala orthohantavirus-caused hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Confirmation of Covid Infection Status and Reporting of Long Covid Symptoms in a Population-Based Birth Cohort: No Evidence of a Nocebo Effect</strong> -
<div>
Some patients with COVID-19 develop symptoms after the acute infection, known as Long COVID. We examined whether or not confirmation of COVID-19 infection status could act as a nocebo, using data from questionnaires distributed to the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children cohort. We examined associations between confirmation of COVID-19 infection status (confirmed by a positive test versus unconfirmed) and reporting of Long COVID symptoms. We explored the roles of sex and anxiety as potential moderators. There was no clear evidence of a strong association between confirmation of COVID-19 infection status and the Long COVID composite score, physical or psychological symptoms, or duration of symptoms. There was no clear evidence of moderation by sex or anxiety. We therefore found no evidence of a nocebo effect. Our data suggest that this psychological mechanism does not play a role in the medical symptomatology experienced by patients with Long COVID.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/pwq9b/" target="_blank">Confirmation of Covid Infection Status and Reporting of Long Covid Symptoms in a Population-Based Birth Cohort: No Evidence of a Nocebo Effect</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Affordable private rental supply and demand: short-term disruption (20162021) and longer-term structural change (19962021)</strong> -
<div>
This research analyses the ABS Census to reveal changes in the supply of private rental housing affordable and available to lower-income households (Q1 and Q2 households) over both the short term (201621) and the longer term (19962021). It also provides analysis of how COVID-19 policy and population responses temporarily altered the long-run structural trajectory of the private rental sector (PRS) in Australia. In 2021, the Australian PRS housed more than 2.363 million households, a 17 per cent increase of nearly 340,000 households since the 2016 Census. This growth has been greater than total household growth in each intercensal period since 1996. Between 2016 and 2021 PRS growth was concentrated at mid-market levels; in dwellings renting from around $300$530 per week ($2021). This continues a major change trend first established in 2011, reinforcing the structural shift to a market concentration of dwellings renting at mid-to-higher levels. The long-term shift in the national distribution of PRS household incomes reveals the growth of households with incomes at mid to high levels ($1,246 a week and above). In 1996, these wealthier households comprised 40 per cent of all PRS households (or 489,000 households); in 2021, they comprised 64 per cent (or 1,519,000 households), a 211 per cent increase. In comparison, the total number of PRS households increased by 91 per cent between 1996 and 2021 (from 1,234,000 households to 2,362,000). Over the same time frame, there has been a relatively constant total number of lower income renters in the PRS; 508,000 households in1996 and 488,000 in 2024. Nevertheless, there was a shortage of 348,000 affordable and available private rental homes for very-low income (Q1) households in 2021 and that, as a result, 82 per cent of Q1 PRS households paid unaffordable rents.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://osf.io/preprints/socarxiv/h3tfk/" target="_blank">Affordable private rental supply and demand: short-term disruption (20162021) and longer-term structural change (19962021)</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>COVID-19 and Changes in Young Adults Weight Concerns</strong> -
<div>
The COVID-19 pandemic introduced fundamental challenges to nearly all aspects of college students lives, yet changes in key domains of their health, including weight concerns, remain untested. The current study utilized a longitudinal project comprised of 355 young-adult college students (Mage=19.5, 66.8% female, 33.2% male) oversampled for recent substance use behavior. Participants completed multiple assessments (mode=5) from September 2017 to September 2021. Piecewise growth-curve models tested whether COVID-19 onset was associated with changes in the trajectories of young adults weight concerns. Analyses also examined participants sex as a moderator of these trajectories. On average, participants reported a significant increase in weight concern levels around the start of COVID-19, although weight concern slopes were not significantly different before and after COVID-19. Additionally, moderation analyses showed that females (but not males) had a significant increase in weight concern levels after COVID-19 onset.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://osf.io/wuhvb/" target="_blank">COVID-19 and Changes in Young Adults Weight Concerns</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Mathematical Modeling of Impacts of Patient Differences on Renin-Angiotensin System and Applications to COVID-19 Lung Fibrosis Outcomes</strong> -
<div>
Patient-specific premorbidity, age, and sex are significant heterogeneous factors that influence the severe manifestation of lung diseases, including COVID-19 fibrosis. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a prominent role in regulating the effects of these factors. Recent evidence suggests patient-specific alteration of RAS homeostasis with premorbidity and the expression level of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) during COVID-19. However, conflicting evidence suggests decreases, increases, or no changes in RAS after SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, detailed mechanisms connecting the patient-specific conditions before infection to infection-induced RAS alteration are still unknown. Here, a mathematical model is developed to quantify the systemic contribution of heterogeneous factors of RAS during COVID-19. Three submodels are connectedan ABM COVID-19 in-host lung tissue model, a RAS model, and a fibrosis model to investigate the effects of patient-group-specific factors in the systemic alteration of RAS and collagen deposition in the lung. The model results indicate cell death due to inflammatory response as a major contributor to the reduction of ACE and ACE2. In contrast, there are no significant changes in ACE2 dynamics due to viral-bound internalization of ACE2. Reduction of ACE and ACE2 reduces the homeostasis of RAS, including angiotensin II (ANGII), in the lung tissue. At the same time, the decrease in ACE2 increases systemic ANGII and results in severe lung injury and fibrosis. The model explains possible mechanisms for conflicting evidence of RAS alterations in previously published studies, and simulated results are consistent with reported RAS peptide values for SARS-CoV-2-negative and SARS-CoV-2-positive patients. We observed decreased RAS peptides for all patient groups with aging in both sexes. In contrast, large variations in the magnitude of reduction were observed between male and female patients in the older and middle-aged groups. We also predicted that feedback of ANGII{middle dot}AT1R to renin could restore ANGI homeostasis but fails to restore homeostasis values of RAS peptides downstream of ANGI. In addition, the results show that ACE2 variations with age and sex significantly alter RAS peptides and lead to collagen deposition with slight variations depending on age and sex. This model may find further applications in patient-specific calibrations of tissue models for acute and chronic lung diseases to develop personalized treatments.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.06.515367v2" target="_blank">Mathematical Modeling of Impacts of Patient Differences on Renin-Angiotensin System and Applications to COVID-19 Lung Fibrosis Outcomes</a>
</div></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-clinical-trials">From Clinical Trials</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>GS-441524 for COVID-19 SAD, FE, and MAD Study in Healthy Subjects</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>: COVID-19 <br/><b>Interventions</b>: Drug: GS-441524; Drug: Placebo <br/><b>Sponsors</b>: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS); Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc.; ICON Government and Public Health Solutions, Inc <br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>UNAIR Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccine INAVAC as Heterologue Booster (Immunobridging Study) in Adolescent Subjects</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>: COVID-19 Pandemic; COVID-19 Vaccines <br/><b>Interventions</b>: Biological: INAVAC (Vaksin Merah Putih - UA- SARS CoV-2 (Vero Cell Inactivated) 5 μg <br/><b>Sponsors</b>: Dr. Soetomo General Hospital; Indonesia-MoH; Universitas Airlangga; PT Biotis Pharmaceuticals, Indonesia <br/><b>Active, not recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Aerobic Exercise Capacity and Muscle Strenght in Individuals With COVID-19</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>: COVID-19 Pneumonia; COVID-19 <br/><b>Interventions</b>: Device: Kardiopulmonary exercise test (Quark KPET C12x/T12x device connected to the Omnia version 1.6.8 COSMED system); Device: Peripheral muscle strength measurement (microFET3 (Hoggan Health Industries, Fabrication Enterprises, lnc) and JAMAR hydraulic hand dynamometer (Sammons Preston, Rolyon, Bolingbrook).; Device: Standard exercise tolerance test (a bicycle ergometer and recorded through the ergoline rehabilitation system 2 Version 1.08 SPI.); Device: Aerobic exercise training (a bicycle ergometer and recorded through the ergoline rehabilitation system 2 Version 1.08 SPI.) <br/><b>Sponsors</b>: Selda Sarıkaya; Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University <br/><b>Completed</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>World Health Organization (WHO) , COVID19 Case Series of Post Covid 19 Rhino Orbito Cerebral Mucormycosis in Egypt</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>: Mucormycosis; Rhinocerebral (Etiology); COVID-19 <br/><b>Interventions</b>: Procedure: debridment <br/><b>Sponsors</b>: Nasser Institute For Research and Treatment <br/><b>Completed</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Treatment of Post-COVID-19 With Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: a Randomized, Controlled Trial</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>: Post-COVID-19 Syndrome; Post-COVID Syndrome; Post COVID-19 Condition; Post-COVID Condition; Post COVID-19 Condition, Unspecified; Long COVID; Long Covid19 <br/><b>Interventions</b>: Drug: Hyperbaric oxygen <br/><b>Sponsors</b>: Erasmus Medical Center; Da Vinci Clinic; HGC Rijswijk <br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Mindfulness-based Mobile Applications Program</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>: COVID-19; Cell Phone Use; Nurse; Mental Health <br/><b>Interventions</b>: Device: mindfulness-based mobile applications program <br/><b>Sponsors</b>: Yu-Chien Huang <br/><b>Completed</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Attention Training for COVID-19 Related Distress</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>: Anxiety <br/><b>Interventions</b>: Behavioral: Attention Bias Modification; Behavioral: Attention Control Training; Behavioral: Neutral training <br/><b>Sponsors</b>: Palo Alto University <br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Correlation of Antibody Response to COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnant Woman and Transplacental Passage Into Cord Blood.</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>: Covid-19 <br/><b>Interventions</b>: Diagnostic Test: COVID-19 Spike Protein IgG Quantitative Antibody (CMIA) <br/><b>Sponsors</b>: Vachira Phuket Hospital <br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>UNAIR Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccine as Homologue Booster (Immunobridging Study)</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>: COVID-19 Pandemic; COVID-19 Vaccines; COVID-19 Virus Disease <br/><b>Interventions</b>: Biological: INAVAC (Vaksin Merah Putih - UA- SARS CoV-2 (Vero Cell Inactivated) 5 μg <br/><b>Sponsors</b>: Dr. Soetomo General Hospital; Universitas Airlangga; Biotis Pharmaceuticals, Indonesia; Indonesia-MoH <br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Safety and Immunogenicity of a Sub-unit Protein CD40.RBDv Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted or Not, as a Booster in Volunteers.</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>: COVID-19 <br/><b>Interventions</b>: Drug: CD40.RBDv vaccin (SARS-Cov2 Vaccin) <br/><b>Sponsors</b>: ANRS, Emerging Infectious Diseases; LinKinVax; Vaccine Research Institute (VRI), France <br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>High-definition Transcranial Direct Current Ctimulation and Chlorella Pyrenoidosa to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>: Cardiovascular Diseases; Long Covid19 <br/><b>Interventions</b>: Other: High Definition-transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; Dietary Supplement: Chlorella Pyrenoidosa <br/><b>Sponsors</b>: Federal University of Paraíba; City University of New York <br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>SGB for COVID-induced Parosmia</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>: COVID-19-Induced Parosmia <br/><b>Interventions</b>: Drug: Stellate Ganglion Block; Drug: Placebo Sham Injection <br/><b>Sponsors</b>: Washington University School of Medicine <br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-pubmed">From PubMed</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Antiviral Protein-Protein Interaction Inhibitors</strong> - Continually repeating outbreaks of pathogenic viruses necessitate the construction of effective antiviral strategies. Therefore, the development of new specific antiviral drugs in a well-established and efficient manner is crucial. Taking into account the strong ability of viruses to change, therapies with diversified molecular targets must be sought. In addition to the widely explored viral enzyme inhibitor approach, inhibition of protein-protein interactions is a very valuable strategy. In…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Structural insights into IL-6 signaling inhibition by therapeutic antibodies</strong> - Antibody inhibitors of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling pathway, such as tocilizumab and sarilumab, have been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, chimeric antigen receptor T cell-induced cytokine storm, and severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Here, we solve the cryogenic electron microscopy structures of sarilumab and tocilizumab in complex with IL-6R to resolutions of 3.2 and 3.3 Å, respectively. These structures reveal that both tocilizumab and sarilumab bind to the D3 domain of IL-6R. The binding…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Time Course of the Interaction Between Oral Short-Term Ritonavir Therapy with Three Factor Xa Inhibitors and the Activity of CYP2D6, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4 in Healthy Volunteers</strong> - CONCLUSION: This trial with three microdosed FXaI suggests that at most the rivaroxaban dose should be reduced during short-term ritonavir, and only in patients receiving high maintenance doses. Thorough time series analyses demonstrated differential effects on three different drug-metabolising enzymes over time with immediate profound inhibition of CYP3A4 and only slow recovery after discontinuation.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Naphthoquinone derivatives as potential immunomodulators: prospective for COVID-19 treatment</strong> - Inflammation plays a crucial role in COVID-19, and when it becomes dysregulated, it can lead to severe outcomes, including death. Naphthoquinones, a class of cyclic organic compounds widely distributed in nature, have attracted significant interest due to their potential biological benefits. One such naphthoquinone is 3,5,8-trihydroxy-6-methoxy-2-(5-oxohexa-1,3-dienyl)-naphthanthene-1,4-dione (3,5,8-TMON), a compound produced by fungi. Despite its structural similarity to shikonin, limited…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Cholesterol and COVID-19-therapeutic opportunities at the host/virus interface during cell entry</strong> - The rapid development of vaccines to combat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections has been critical to reduce the severity of COVID-19. However, the continuous emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 subtypes highlights the need to develop additional approaches that oppose viral infections. Targeting host factors that support virus entry, replication, and propagation provide opportunities to lower SARS-CoV-2 infection rates and improve COVID-19 outcome. This includes…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Discovery of an ellipticine derivative as TLR3 inhibitor against influenza A virus and SARS-CoV-2</strong> - Influenza and COVID-19 continue to pose global threats to public health. Classic antiviral drugs have certain limitations, coupled with frequent viral mutations leading to many drugs being ineffective, the development of new antiviral drugs is urgent. Meanwhile, the invasion of influenza virus can cause an immune response, and an excessive immune response can generate a large number of inflammatory storms, leading to tissue damage. Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) recognizes virus dsRNA to ignite the…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Investigating the Antibody Imprinting Hypothesis among Canadian Paramedics after SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Circulation</strong> - Recent research has highlighted the Omicron variants capacity to evade immune protection conferred by wild-type (WT) mRNA vaccines. Despite this observation, the potential involvement of antigenic sin phenomena remains unclear. Our hypothesis posited that a greater number of prior WT vaccine doses might lead to reduced anti-Omicron neutralization Abs following Omicron infection. To investigate this, we analyzed blood samples from human participants in the COVID-19 Occupational Risk,…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The art of hijacking: how Nsp1 impacts host gene expression during coronaviral infections</strong> - Non-structural protein 1 (Nsp1) is one of the first proteins produced during coronaviral infections. It plays a pivotal role in hijacking and rendering the host gene expression under the service of the virus. With a focus on SARS-CoV-2, this review presents how Nsp1 selectively inhibits host protein synthesis and induces mRNA degradation of host but not viral mRNAs and blocks nuclear mRNA export. The clinical implications of this protein are highlighted by showcasing the pathogenic role of Nsp1…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A case report of QTc prolongation: Drug induced or myocarditis in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2</strong> - Remdesivir is a nucleotide prodrug of an adenosine analog. It binds to the viral Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)-dependent RNA polymerase and inhibits viral replication by terminating RNA transcription prematurely. Remdesivir has demonstrated in vitro and in vivo activity against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2; it also acts in vitro neutralization activity against the Omicron variant and its subvariants. We reported a 54-years-old woman admitted with Coronavirus disease 2019. Considering…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Network analysis-guided drug repurposing strategies targeting LPAR receptor in the interplay of COVID, Alzheimers, and diabetes</strong> - The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has greatly affected global health. Emerging evidence suggests a complex interplay between Alzheimers disease (AD), diabetes (DM), and COVID-19. Given COVID-19s involvement in the increased risk of other diseases, there is an urgent need to identify novel targets and drugs to combat these interconnected health challenges. Lysophosphatidic acid receptors (LPARs), belonging to the G protein-coupled receptor family, have been implicated in…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Synergistic inhibition effects of andrographolide and baicalin on coronavirus mechanisms by downregulation of ACE2 protein level</strong> - The SARS-CoV-2 virus, belonging to the Coronavirus genus, which poses a threat to human health worldwide. Current therapies focus on inhibiting viral replication or using anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory compounds to enhance host immunity. This makes the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine compounds ideal therapies due to their proven safety and minimal toxicity. Previous research suggests that andrographolide and baicalin inhibit coronaviruses; however, their synergistic…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Novel high-yield potato protease inhibitor panels block a wide array of proteases involved in viral infection and crucial tissue damage</strong> - Viruses critically rely on various proteases to ensure host cell entry and replication. In response to viral infection, the host will induce acute tissue inflammation pulled by granulocytes. Upon hyperactivation, neutrophil granulocytes may cause undue tissue damage through proteolytic degradation of the extracellular matrix. Here, we assess the potential of protease inhibitors (PI) derived from potatoes in inhibiting viral infection and reducing tissue damage. The original full spectrum of…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Individual ingredients of NP-101 (Thymoquinone formula) inhibit SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus infection</strong> - Thymoquinone TQ, an active ingredient of Nigella Sativa, has been shown to inhibit COVID-19 symptoms in clinical trials. Thymoquinone Formulation (TQF or NP-101) is developed as a novel enteric-coated medication derivative from Nigella Sativa. TQF consists of TQ with a favorable concentration and fatty acids, including palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids. In this study, we aimed to investigate the roles of individual ingredients of TQF on infection of SARS-CoV-2 variants in-vitro, by utilizing…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 1,2,4a,5-tetrahydro-4H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazino[4,3-d][1,4]oxazine-based AAK1 inhibitors with anti-viral property against SARS-CoV-2</strong> - Coronavirus entry into host cells hinges on the interaction between the spike glycoprotein of the virus and the cell-surface receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), initiating the subsequent clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) pathway. AP-2-associated protein kinase 1 (AAK1) holds a pivotal role in this pathway, regulating CME by modulating the phosphorylation of the μ subunit of adaptor protein 2 (AP2M1). Herein, we report a series of novel AAK1 inhibitors based on previously reported…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Role of epinephrine in attenuating cytokine storm, decreasing ferritin, and inhibiting ferroptosis in SARS-CoV-2</strong> - CONCLUSION: Epinephrine may attenuate CS and inhibit ferroptosis which is an iron-dependent, non-apoptotic mode of cell death. Epi interacts with ferric and/or ferrous iron and built a stable complex that impedes activation of beta-adrenergic receptors. Epi may cause marked decrease of ferritin and other inflammatory markers. Epi may be used to decrease iron overload which is associated with many medical diseases like type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiometabolic diseases such as coronary heart…</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-patent-search">From Patent Search</h1>
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