Practical Strategies Against the Novel Coronavirus and COVID-19-the Imminent Global Threat

Evaluation of IFNAR2 and TYK2 transcripts' prognostic role in COVID-19 patients: a retrospective study

Background and objectives

This study aimed to investigate the possible prognostic significance of interferon alpha-beta receptor subunit 2 (IFNAR2) and tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) expressions.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study including COVID-19 adult patients. All blood samples were collected before any interventions. The expressions of IFNAR2 and TYK2 were assessed using real-time PCR in venous blood samples of 54 cases and 56 controls. The transcript quantities of IFNAR2 and TYK2 genes were assessed using a Delta-Ct method.

Results

Our findings show no significant differences in gene expression levels for IFNAR2 and TYK2 between patients who required oxygen (O2) therapy and those who did not (p-value = 0.732 and p-value = 0.629, respectively). Likewise, there were no significant differences in IFNAR2 and TYK2 expressions between patients hospitalized for less than 7 days and those hospitalized for 7 days or more (p-value = 0.455 and p-value = 0.626, respectively). We also observed a weak correlation between IFNAR2 expression and CRP (p-value = 0.045, r = 0.192). There was a negative correlation between the expression levels of IFNAR2 and TYK2 transcripts in COVID-19 patients (p-value = 0.044; partial correlation coefficient = -0.283). Additionally, IFNAR2 and TYK2 were significantly downregulated in the COVID-19 group compared to healthy subjects (p-value = 0.002 and p-value = 0.028, respectively). However, neither IFNAR2 nor TYK2 expression was significantly different between the case subgroups based on COVID-19 severity. The IFNAR2 ΔΔCt (B = -0.184, 95% CI: -0.524-0.157, p-value = 0.275) and the TYK2 ΔΔCt (B = 0.114, 95% CI: -0.268-0.496, p-value = 0.543) were not found to be significant predictors of hospitalization duration. The area under the curve (AUC) for IFNAR2 expression is 0.655 (p-value = 0.005, 95% CI: 0.554-0.757), suggesting its poor discriminative value.

Conclusion

We were unable to comment definitively on the prognostic power of IFNAR2 and TYK2 expressions in COVID-19 patients, and larger-scale studies are needed. The principal limitations of this study included the lack of longitudinal analysis and limited sample size.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on tobacco use: A population-based study

BACKGROUND

Various aspects of lifestyle seem to change during confinement, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study examines confinement's effects on tobacco smoking habits (SH).

METHODS

A survey was distributed among adults living in Jordan (age >18 years) of both genders during April-May of 2020, of which 1925 responded to the survey.

RESULTS

The prevalence of smoking was 33.3%, 46.1%, and 21.1% for cigarettes (Cg), waterpipe (Wp), and E-cigarettes (ECg), respectively. Among the smokers, 38.5-45.8% reported a "no-change," while 32.1-41.7% reported a "decrease" in SH during confinement. On the other hand, 18.0-22.1% reported an "increase" in the SH. However, concerning the factors that might affect SH, the results showed that age, gender, income, and job sector contribute to the observed changes.

CONCLUSIONS

Changes in the SH during COVID-19 have been reported in about 50% of participants who smoke tobacco, with a more reported decrease than increase in use. Studies and interventions are needed to confirm further and understand the current results and discourage smoking during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mobile cabin hospital compulsory quarantine for mild patients can serve as an alternative treatment for COVID-19: the Chinese experience

OBJECTIVE

To explore the application value of mobile cabin hospitals in combating COVID-19 outbreak.

METHODS

The basic clinical data, the number of admission, CT scan, novel coronavirus nucleic acid testing results were collected and calculated. The operational elements of running this temporary hospital were reviewed from its construction to closing.

RESULTS

Wuhan Hanyang Mobile Cabin Hospital was transformed from Hall B1 of Wuhan International Expo Center. With a total of 930 beds in this temporary hospital, 1,028 patients were admitted, among them, 598 patients were cured, and 430 patients were transferred to designated hospitals in the special period. Totally, 1,206 mobile CT scan were conducted. 2,295 novel coronavirus nucleic acid tests were performed, among which, 1,032 tests showed two continuous negative results, 924 tests with one negative, while 302 tests with positive result (13.16%). No nosocomial infection of working staff was found due to the conduction of multiple measures. The patients' livelihoods were well safeguarded in mobile cabin hospitals.

CONCLUSION

The mobile cabin hospital compulsory quarantine for mild patients can serve as an alternative method to combat COVID-19.

Air pollution in five Indian megacities during the Christmas and New Year celebration amidst COVID-19 pandemic

Urban air quality and COVID-19 have been considered significant issues worldwide in the last few years. The current study highlighted the variation in air pollutants (i.e., PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, and SO₂) profile between Christmas and new year celebrations in 2019, 2020, and 2021. It can be seen that the concentration of selected air pollutants shows a substantially higher concentration in celebration periods in all reported years. The results indicate that air pollutants values are always higher than permissible limits. This observation indicates that people gather and reunite during Christmas and new year celebrations than the preceding years (2020 and 2021) amidst the pandemic. In the pandemic year, a higher margin enhanced the transportation and firework-induced air pollutant load in urban city Jodhpur, Rajasthan. In all states, a significant tendency was observed to retain the concentration profile of air pollutants in baseline concentration for almost more than one week after the celebration. This study addresses the pandemic situation, but it also dealt with the air pollutant parameter that brings down the sustainable quality of the environment due to the high usage of private vehicles, and crackers. In addition, a study on COVID-19 (cases and death rate) indicates a clear picture of the increasing trend after the event in probably all states. Thus, this approach suggested that stringent law enforcement is needed to ameliorate gatherings/reunions and pollution levels due to such events.

Panel Associations Between Newly Dead, Healed, Recovered, and Confirmed Cases During COVID-19 Pandemic

Background

Currently, the knowledge of associations among newly recovered cases (NR), newly healed cases (NH), newly confirmed cases (NC), and newly dead cases (ND) can help to monitor, evaluate, predict, control, and curb the spreading of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to explore the panel associations of ND, NH, and NR with NC.

Methods

Data from China Data Lab in Harvard Dataverse with China (January 15, 2020 to January 14, 2021), the United States of America (the USA, January 21, 2020 to April 5, 2021), and the World (January 22, 2020 to March 20, 2021) had been analyzed. The main variables included in the present analysis were ND, NH, NR, and NC. Pooled regression, stacked within-transformed linear regression, quantile regression for panel data, random-effects negative binomial regression, and random-effects Poisson regression were conducted to reflect the associations of ND, NH, and NR with NC. Event study analyses were performed to explore how the key events influenced NC.

Results

Descriptive analyses showed that mean value of ND/NC ratio regarding China was more than those regarding the USA and the World. The results from tentative analysis reported the significant relationships among ND, NH, NR, and NC regarding China, the USA, and the World. Panel regressions confirmed associations of ND, NH, and NR with NC regarding China, the USA, and the World. Panel event study showed that key events influenced NC regarding USA and the World more greatly than that regarding China.

Conclusion

The findings in this study confirmed the panel associations of ND, NH, and NR with NC in the three datasets. The efficiencies of various control strategies of COVID-19 pandemic across the globe were compared by the regression outcomes. Future direction of research work could explore the influencing mechanisms of the panel associations.

Ubuntu Philosophy as a Humanistic–Existential Framework for the Fight Against the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ubuntu has been identified by several scholars as a philosophy that provides a framework to fight health disasters such as COVID-19. Ubuntu refers to the African worldview of seeing oneself through others. It refers to the pattern of interconnectedness between people in the form of a philosophy or worldview. Ubuntu explores concerns about cosmic and global context of life. This article stipulates that Ubuntu can provide ways to deal with challenges that emerge with the COVID-19 pandemic. Ubuntu fosters the integrated components of humanity as it appreciates the biological, psychosocial, spiritual, and environmental aspects of life. The article explores several themes such as self-awareness and societal responsibility, holism, spirituality, health promotion, food security, social justice and human rights, generosity, sharing, and teamwork. Others have advanced that Ubuntu is a philosophy to adopt in the fight against epidemics, and we seek to broaden the debate by exploring Ubuntu axiological and ontological humanistic–existential themes. Finally, the article calls for the adoption of Ubuntu philosophy in psychological and social work interventions in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is It "Aging" or Immunosenescence? The COVID-19 Biopsychosocial Risk Factors Aggravating Immunosenescence as Another Risk Factor of the Morbus. A Developmental-clinical Social Work Perspective

COVID-19 has proliferated ageism. The impetus of this article is to show that immunosenescence is a risk factor to COVID-19 and not aging per se. Based on the idea that some older people are also healthier than younger ones, the emphasis of this article is on immunosenescence and not aging as a risk factor of COVID-19 complications. The paper utilizes a biopsychosocial approach to expound on the link between immunosenescence and COVID-19 risk factors. The article explores biological factors such as malnutrition, comorbidities, substance abuse, and sex. It also expands on psychosocial factors such as mental health disorders, homelessness, unemployment, lack of physical exercises, stigma, and discrimination. The article calls for gerontological social work to assume a developmental-clinical social work perspective to prevent the early onset and progression of immunosenescence. It calls for gerontological social work to prevent factors that promote unhealthy aging. The article promotes a preventative stance to practice and not just curative approaches. Treatment involves primary prevention which emphasizes on avoiding the onset of unhealthy aging. It is this approach that gerontological social work should aim also to address in building resilience in the face of pandemics.

Effect of H2O2 Antiseptic on Dispersal of Cavitation-Induced Microdroplets

The persisting outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 has posed an enormous threat to global health. The sustained human-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via respiratory droplets makes the medical procedures around the perioral area vulnerable to the spread of the disease. Such procedures include the ultrasonic dental cleaning method, which occurs within the oral cavity and involves cavitation-induced sprays, thus increasing the risk of pathogen transmission via advection. To understand the associated health and safety risks for patients and clinicians, it is critical to understand the flow pattern of the spray cloud around the operating region, the size and velocity distribution of the emitted droplets, and the extent of fluid dispersion until ultimate deposit on surfaces or escape through air vents. In this work, the droplet size and velocity distributions of the spray emerging from the tip of a free-standing common ultrasonic dental cleaning device were characterized via high-speed imaging. Deionized water and 1.5% and 3% aqueous hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) solutions were used as working fluids, with the H₂O₂-an established oxidizing agent-intended to curb the survival of virus released in aerosols generated from dental procedures. The measurements reveal that the presence of H₂O₂ in the working fluid increases the mean droplet size and ejection velocity. Detailed computational fluid dynamic simulations with multiphase flow models reveal benefits of adding small amounts of H₂O₂ in the feed stream of the ultrasonic cleaner; this practice causes larger droplets with shorter residence times inside the clinic before settling down or escaping through air vents. The results suggest optimal benefits (in terms of fluid spread) of adding 1.5% H₂O₂ in the feed stream during dental procedures involving ultrasonic tools. The present findings are not specific to the COVID-19 pandemic but should also apply to future outbreaks caused by airborne droplet transmission.

Predicting the dynamical behavior of COVID-19 epidemic and the effect of control strategies

This paper uses transformed subsystem of ordinary differential equation s e i r s model, with vital dynamics of birth and death rates, and temporary immunity (of infectious individuals or vaccinated susceptible) to evaluate the disease-free D F E X ¯ D F E , and endemic E E X ¯ E E equilibrium points, using the Jacobian matrix eigenvalues λ i of both disease-free equilibrium X ¯ D F E , and endemic equilibrium X ¯ E E for COVID-19 infectious disease to show S, E, I, and R ratios to the population in time-series. In order to obtain the disease-free equilibrium point, globally asymptotically stable ( R 0 ≤ 1 ), the effect of control strategies has been added to the model (in order to decrease transmission rate β , and reinforce susceptible to recovered flow), to determine how much they are effective, in a mass immunization program. The effect of transmission rates β (from S to E) and α (from R to S) varies, and when vaccination effect ρ , is added to the model, disease-free equilibrium X ¯ D F E is globally asymptotically stable, and the endemic equilibrium point X ¯ E E , is locally unstable. The initial conditions for the decrease in transmission rates of β and α , reached the corresponding disease-free equilibrium X ¯ D F E locally unstable, and globally asymptotically stable for endemic equilibrium X ¯ E E . The initial conditions for the decrease in transmission rate s β and α , and increase in ρ , reached the corresponding disease-free equilibrium X ¯ D F E globally asymptotically stable, and locally unstable in endemic equilibrium X ¯ E E .

Diffusion modeling of COVID-19 under lockdown

Viral immune evasion by sequence variation is a significant barrier to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine design and coronavirus disease-2019 diffusion under lockdown are unpredictable with subsequent waves. Our group has developed a computational model rooted in physics to address this challenge, aiming to predict the fitness landscape of SARS-CoV-2 diffusion using a variant of the bidimensional Ising model (2DIMV) connected seasonally. The 2DIMV works in a closed system composed of limited interaction subjects and conditioned by only temperature changes. Markov chain Monte Carlo method shows that an increase in temperature implicates reduced virus diffusion and increased mobility, leading to increased virus diffusion.

Risk Factors and Effects of the Morbus: COVID-19 through the Biopsychosocial Model and Ecological Systems Approach to Social Work Practice

Utilizing the biopsychosocial model and the ecological systems theory, this disquisition explores on the risk factors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The discourse shows the interconnectedness of biological, psychological, and social domains in expatiating on the COVID-19 pandemic. It calls for the need to strengthen the resilience of the global community in the face of health outbreaks such as COVID-19. It emphasizes on the perspectives that pandemics are managed before they emerge through building systems that are resilient. Thus, it appreciates the need for a therapeutic milieu as a building block to resilience. The article calls for the adoption of a developmental stance to analyzing health outbreaks and clinical issues. The adumbration shows the reciprocity effects of the health outbreak [macrocosms] and individual factors [microcosms]. To its end, the paper implies that COVID-19 is a call for integration toward effective health planning between social policy formulators, urban and rural planners, epidemiologists, development practitioners, clinicians, researchers to mention but a few. Ultimately, the paper calls for social workers to consider a developmental-clinical social work approach which helps foster "health in all policies" so as to build resilience against the morbus and limit the proliferation of diseases.

Influence of social isolation caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the psychological characteristics of hospitalized schizophrenia patients: a case-control study

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been classified as a pandemic, and mental hospitals located in epidemic centers have been affected. Social isolation is an important and irreplaceable measure to control the spread of the epidemic. In this study, schizophrenic patients who were subjected to social isolation after close contact with COVID-19 patients were used as participants to explore the impact of social isolation on common inflammatory indicators and psychological characteristics. A total of 30 patients with schizophrenia were recruited from Wuhan Mental Health Center. In addition, 30 ordinary schizophrenic patients were matched with the isolation group and were recruited from another branch of Wuhan Mental Health Center as controls. We compared the differences in common inflammatory indicators and psychological characteristics between the isolated group and the control group, and longitudinal comparison of the differences in the above indicators before and after isolation among the isolation group. The Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS) score, Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) score and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score of the isolation group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p = 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, respectively). The C-reactive protein (CRP) level, CPSS score, HAMA score and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) score of the isolation group were significantly higher after isolation (p = 0.01, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, respectively). Inpatients of schizophrenia suffered from social isolation due to COVID-19 have a severe psychological burden. Social isolation caused patients to develop a weak inflammatory state and led to worse anxiety and sleep quality.

COVID-19 - The Availability of ICU Beds in Brazil during the Onset of Pandemic

Background

Brazil faces some challenges in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, including: the risks for cross-infection (community infection) increase in densely populated areas; low access to health services in areas where the number of beds in intensive care units (ICUs) is scarce and poorly distributed, mainly in states with low population density.

Objective

To describe and intercorrelate epidemiology and geographic data from Brazil about the number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds at the onset of COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The epidemiology and geographic data were correlated with the distribution of ICU beds (public and private health systems) and the number of beneficiaries of private health insurance using Pearson's Correlation Coefficient. The same data were correlated using partial correlation controlled by gross domestic product (GDP) and number of beneficiaries of private health insurance.

Findings

Brazil has a large geographical area and diverse demographic and economic aspects. This diversity is also present in the states and the Federal District regarding the number of COVID-19 cases, deaths and case fatality rate. The effective management of severe COVID-19 patients requires ICU services, and the scenario was also dissimilar as for ICU beds and ICU beds/10,000 inhabitants for the public (SUS) and private health systems mainly at the onset of COVID-19 pandemic. The distribution of ICUs was uneven between public and private services, and most patients rely on SUS, which had the lowest number of ICU beds. In only a few states, the number of ICU beds at SUS was above 1 to 3 by 10,000 inhabitants, which is the number recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Conclusions

Brazil needed to improve the number of ICU beds units to deal with COVID-19 pandemic, mainly for the SUS showing a late involvement of government and health authorities to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Radiation therapy for gynecologic malignancies during the COVID-19 pandemic: International expert consensus recommendations

OBJECTIVE

To develop expert consensus recommendations regarding radiation therapy for gynecologic malignancies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

An international committee of ten experts in gynecologic radiation oncology convened to provide consensus recommendations for patients with gynecologic malignancies referred for radiation therapy. Treatment priority groups were established. A review of the relevant literature was performed and different clinical scenarios were categorized into three priority groups. For each stage and clinical scenario in cervical, endometrial, vulvar, vaginal and ovarian cancer, specific recommendations regarding dose, technique, and timing were provided by the panel.

RESULTS

Expert review and discussion generated consensus recommendations to guide radiation oncologists treating gynecologic malignancies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Priority scales for cervical, endometrial, vulvar, vaginal, and ovarian cancers are presented. Both radical and palliative treatments are discussed. Management of COVID-19 positive patients is considered. Hypofractionated radiation therapy should be used when feasible and recommendations regarding radiation dose, timing, and technique have been provided for external beam and brachytherapy treatments. Concurrent chemotherapy may be limited in some countries, and consideration of radiation alone is recommended.

CONCLUSIONS

The expert consensus recommendations provide guidance for delivering radiation therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific recommendations have been provided for common clinical scenarios encountered in gynecologic radiation oncology with a focus on strategies to reduce patient and staff exposure to COVID-19.

Selective Naked-Eye Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Mediated by N Gene Targeted Antisense Oligonucleotide Capped Plasmonic Nanoparticles

The current outbreak of the pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) demands its rapid, convenient, and large-scale diagnosis to downregulate its spread within as well as across the communities. But the reliability, reproducibility, and selectivity of majority of such diagnostic tests fail when they are tested either to a viral load at its early representation or to a viral gene mutated during its current spread. In this regard, a selective "naked-eye" detection of SARS-CoV-2 is highly desirable, which can be tested without accessing any advanced instrumental techniques. We herein report the development of a colorimetric assay based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), when capped with suitably designed thiol-modified antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) specific for N-gene (nucleocapsid phosphoprotein) of SARS-CoV-2, could be used for diagnosing positive COVID-19 cases within 10 min from the isolated RNA samples. The thiol-modified ASO-capped AuNPs agglomerate selectively in the presence of its target RNA sequence of SARS-CoV-2 and demonstrate a change in its surface plasmon resonance. Further, the addition of RNaseH cleaves the RNA strand from the RNA-DNA hybrid leading to a visually detectable precipitate from the solution mediated by the additional agglomeration among the AuNPs. The selectivity of the assay has been monitored in the presence of MERS-CoV viral RNA with a limit of detection of 0.18 ng/μL of RNA having SARS-CoV-2 viral load. Thus, the current study reports a selective and visual "naked-eye" detection of COVID-19 causative virus, SARS-CoV-2, without the requirement of any sophisticated instrumental techniques.

COVID-19 - 6 million cases worldwide and an overview of the diagnosis in Brazil: a tragedy to be announced

On 1 June 2020, 6 million cases of COVID-19 were recorded with a total of 374,927 deaths worldwide. Brazil, at that point, presented a total of 514,992 cases and 29,341 deaths caused by the COVID-19 disease. At that moment, Brazil appeared in the second position regarding number of cases, fourth in number of deaths, second in number of recovered patients (N = 206,555), second in number of follow-up cases (N = 279,096), third in number of active and serious cases (N = 8,318), 39^th in number of cases per million inhabitants (N = 2,424), and 125^th in number of SARS-CoV-2 real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) exams per million inhabitants (N = 4,378). To beat the pandemic, Brazil needs to optimize the COVID-19 diagnosis through the SARS-CoV-2 identification using RT-PCR tests and adjust its policies to save lives. Brazil is in a crucial moment to minimize the impact of the illness on society by reducing the number of new cases and thus, preventing deaths, mainly of the risk group populations. However, as widely announced, in Brazil the diagnosis using RT-PCR is still scarce and part of the material collected from COVID-19 patients was disposed of and many patients were not tested, regardless of the seriousness of the symptoms, due to errors of medical data records, improper conservation of the samples after collection and/or during transport, which compromised the quality of the material to be tested. Moreover, the federal government has supported the end of the quarantine, while the number of deaths has grown in thousands every day and the cases have been expanding to the interior of the country.

A review of the international early recommendations for departments organization and cancer management priorities during the global COVID-19 pandemic: applicability in low- and middle-income countries

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new virus that has never been identified in humans before. COVID-19 caused at the time of writing of this article, 2.5 million cases of infections in 193 countries with 165,000 deaths, including two-third in Europe. In this context, Oncology Departments of the affected countries had to adapt quickly their health system care and establish new organizations and priorities. Thus, numerous recommendations and therapeutic options have been reported to optimize therapy delivery to patients with chronic disease and cancer.

Obviously, while these cancer care recommendations are immediately applicable in Europe, they may not be applicable in certain emerging and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this review, we aimed to summarize these international guidelines in accordance with cancer types, making a synthesis for daily practice to protect patients, staff and tailor anti-cancer therapy delivery taking into account patients/tumour criteria and tools availability. Thus, we will discuss their applicability in the LMICs with different organizations, limited means and different constraints.

Sofosbuvir as Repurposed Antiviral Drug Against COVID-19: Why Were We Convinced to Evaluate the Drug in a Registered/Approved Clinical Trial?

COVID-19 is a devastating global pandemic around the world. While the majority of infected cases appear mild, in some cases individuals present respiratory complications with possible serious lung damage. There are no specific treatments for COVID-19 as yet, though a number are under evaluation, including experimental antivirals. Sofosbuvir, the clinically approved anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) drug, is also capable of suppressing other families of positive-strand RNA viruses; Flaviviridae and Togaviridae. Coronaviruses are a family of positive-strand RNA viruses with conserved polymerase, so SARS-CoV-2 RdRp is very likely to be effectively inhibited by sofosbuvir. More importantly, sofosbuvir is safe and well tolerated at 400 mg daily in a 24 week therapeutic regimen. Sofosbuvir active metabolite, however, shows an extremely high intracellular stability So, it is hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 infection could also be susceptible to sofosbuvir and we were convinced to design and run a clinical trial to evaluate the effect of sofosbuvir 400 mg (in combination with velpatasvir 100 mg, as add-on treatment, in addition to standard of care) on the COVID-19. However, we believe that this manuscript/correspondence should be made available to the international scientific community as soon as possible, with the help of this esteemed journal.