Comparison of the Effectiveness of Different Covid-19 Vaccines among Plwh

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated promising serologic responses in PLWH receiving a third dose of vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. However, real-world clinical effectiveness, especially during the pandemic caused by B.1.1.529 variant, remains less investigated. Method(s): PLWH seeking HIV care at our hospital from 2021/6 to 2022/6 were included and advised to receive the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals were excluded from this study if they had been previously diagnosed with COVID-19. Different types of COVID-19 vaccines were available in the vaccination program, including BNT162b2, mRNA-1273 (either 50 or 100 mug), MVC-COV1901 and NVX-CoV2373 vaccines. PLWH were screening for the occurrence of COVID-19 through the reporting system of notifiable diseases of Taiwan CDC, and were tested for anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) IgG every 1 to 3 months. Participants were followed for 180 days until the fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccination, occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, seroconversion of anti-N IgG, death, or loss to follow-up, whichever occurred first. Result(s): 1,496 PLWH were included: 631 (42.2%) receiving 100 mug mRNA-1273 vaccine, 468 (31.3%) 50 mug mRNA-1273 vaccine, and 328 (21.9%) BNT162b2 vaccine, 65 (4.3%) MVC-COV1901 vaccine, and 4 (0.3%) NVX-CoV2373 vaccine for the third dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. 297 (19.9%) PLWH were diagnosed with COVID-19 during the follow-up period, including 92 (14.6%) who received 100 mug mRNA-1273, 111 (23.7%) 50 mug mRNA-1273, 79 (24.1%) BNT162b2 and 15 (21.7%) either MVC-COV1901 or NVX-CoV2373;in addition, 98 PLWH had seroconversion of anti-N IgG during follow-up, including 23, 50, 19 and 6 PLWH who received 100 mug mRNA-1273, 50 mug mRNA-1273, BNT162b2, and either MVC-COV1901 or NVX-CoV2373, respectively. Similar rates of new infection with SARS-CoV-2 or seroconversion of anti-N IgG were demonstrated regardless the vaccine type of the third dose (log-rank test, p=0.46). Factors associated with a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and seroconversion of anti-N IgG included an age >50 years (aOR, 0.67;95% CI, 0.49-0.91) and newly infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) (aOR, 1.41;95% CI, 1.09-1.83). Conclusion(s): Our study demonstrated that clinical effectiveness of the third dose of different vaccines available to PLWH was similar in preventing SARSCoV- 2 infection or seroconversion of anti-N IgG Taiwan. PLWH aged less than 50 years and those with newly diagnosed HCV infection were at higher risk of acquiring COVID-19. Kaplan-Meier survival curve for acquiring COVID-19 or seroconversion of anti-N IgG in PLWH receiving different COVID-19 vaccination of the third dose (log-rank test, 4 groups, p = 0.46).

Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on the HIV testing and health care delivery at a university hospital in Taiwan, 2020-2021

Background: To contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, non-pharmacologic interventions, including lockdown and social distancing, may have adverse impact on access to HIV testing and care. This study investigated the impact of Covid-19 on HIV testing and care at a major hospital in Taiwan in 2020-2021. Method(s): The numbers of clients seeking anonymous HIV voluntary counseling and testing were compared 2 years before (2018-2019) and 2 years after Covid-19 outbreak (2020-2021). People living with HIV (PLWH) who sought care at the hospital during 2018-2021 were included to examine the status of HIV care delivery and disposition. Result(s): The annual number of HIV screening tests performed had significantly decreased from 2507 to 2794 in 2018 and 2019, respectively, to 2161 and 1737 in 2020 and 2021, respectively. The rate of discontinuation of HIV care among PLWH was 3.7% in 2019, which remained unchanged in 2020 (3.7%) and 2021 (3.8%). The respective percentage of annual plasma HIV RNA testing <2 times increased from 8.4% to 7.8% in 2018 and 2019 to 7.0% and 10.7% in 2020 and 2021, so was that of annual syphilis testing <2 times (10.1% and 8.8%-7.9% and 12.0%). The rates of plasma HIV RNA <200 copies/ml ranged from 97.0% to 98.1% in 2018-2021. Conclusion(s): During the Covid-19 pandemic, access to HIV counseling and testing was significantly limited. While the number of HIV-related testing decreased, the impact of Covid-19 on the continuity of antiretroviral therapy and viral suppression among PLWH appeared to be minimal in Taiwan. Copyright © 2022

THE CONTRIBUTION OF AIR EMISSION TO THE ENVIRONMENT OF GEELONG BASED ON THE PMF RECEPTOR MODEL*

The research aimed to evaluate the gas pollutant emission in a relatively closed and stable environment, specifically in the Geelong area on Corio Bay, Victoria state, Australia, under the circumstances of the global respiratory epidemic. During this pandemic, owing to the small local population and a limited number of travelers, industrial emissions have become the only vital factor to interfere with air quality, excluding the impact of ordinary daily traffic. PM10 (ug/m3) data were measured every hour by the Victorian Government, uninterruptedly from 2017 Janu-ary 1st to 2020 December 31th. The emission of industrial waste gas and the leakage of fossil oil jointly determine local air conditions, which can be reflected in the numerical value of the PM10 in the Geelong area. Sample data of PM10 were analyzed through the US EPA Positive Matrix Factorization model (PMF 5.0) to show the tested factor and contribution output. The results demonstrate the actual air condition in a local environment, which reflects the impact of regional factories on the environment. In addition, the model result will be compared to the annals data to testify its accuracy and precision;moreover, it will forecast the next year’s air condition, which is of practical significance for treatment of waste gas emissions from factories and for the development of environmental protection. © 2021, Polish Society Magnesium Research. All rights reserved.

Mechanism of the development of thrombotic thrombocytopenia in COVID-19 infected patients and after vaccination

Background: Abnormal coagulation profiles were frequently observed in severe Covid-19 infected patients while Covid-19 vaccine-induced unusual thrombotic events and thrombocytopenia. A high incidence of developing platelet-activating antibodies has been detected in these patients. However, the mechanism of what triggers the bodies to produce these antibodies and what else contributes to the development of this abnormal coagulation have not yet been revealed. Aims: We provide a mechanism to describe the development of thrombotic thrombocytopenia in Covid-19 infected patients and after vaccination Methods: We used Dynamic light scattering (DLS), Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), and Single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) to prove that Covid-19-Spike glycoprotein (SP) cluster platelet factor 4 (PF4). The response of platelets to the resulting PF4/SP complexes was investigated in platelet aggregation tests and visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Based on binding features of PF4 to Covid-19-SP and current reports, we proposed a novel mechanism describing factors that trigger the bodies to produce platelet-activating PF4-antibodies and cause abnormal coagulation. Results: We found that Covid-19-Spike glycoprotein (SP) cluster platelet factor 4 (PF4) and switched the surface zeta potential of PF4 from positive to negative values. The binding of Covid-19-SP to PF4 is as strong and stable as binding to PF4/Heparin complexes. Importantly, the resulting PF4/SP complexes induced platelet aggregation at a critical concentration ratio. We notice many similar binding features of PF4/Covid-19-SP complexes as compared with auto heparin-induced thrombocytopenia antibodies. Our findings allow us to i) propose a mechanism that describes the development of platelet-activating PF4-antibodies in Covid-19 infected and vaccinated patients and ii) explain the abnormal clotting disorder in patients. Conclusions: We concluded that not only platelet-activating antibodies but also PF4/Covid-19-SP complexes activate platelets. PF4 binds stably to the virus explain also the fact that causes a higher frequency of blood clots observed after AstraZeneca vaccination as compared with that of Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.

[Development and outlook on human challenge trial of vaccine].

Human challenge trial (HCT) is a test in which human volunteers are intentionally infected with pathogens in order to evaluate the efficacy of candidate preventive or therapeutic drugs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the HCT of vaccines has aroused people's attention due to its significant advantages over clinical trial. This paper introduces the concept, development and application of HCT, the advantages and limitations of HCT for vaccine evaluation, and the consideration of future HCT of COVID-19 vaccine in China.

Big Data Mining and Analysis of Hot Issues in International Education-Based on K-means algorithm of cluster analysis

in the era of big data, international education has accumulated a lot of relevant data, which can produce various research values. The Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) seriously affects the development of international education. This paper starts with the hot spots of international education and international higher education. Moreover, based on xinhuanet.com database and CSSCI database, and through K-means algorithm in data mining clustering analysis algorithms, the Cite Space visual software is used to make keywords analysis, emotional color analysis, and centrality analysis, thus getting the hot issues in international education and the frontier focus. Furthermore, combined with COVID-19 spread globally, these problems are analyzed, the future direction and development of international education are discussed, and reasonable and scientific suggestions and thinking are proposed. © 2020 IEEE.

Weathering the COVID-19 storm: Lessons from hematologic cytokine syndromes

A subset of patients with severe COVID-19 develop profound inflammation and multi-organ dysfunction consistent with a "Cytokine Storm Syndrome" (CSS). In this review we compare the clinical features, diagnosis, and pathogenesis of COVID-CSS with other hematological CSS, namely secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH), idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD), and CAR-T cell therapy associated Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS). Novel therapeutics targeting cytokines or inhibiting cell signaling pathways have now become the mainstay of treatment in these CSS. We review the evidence for cytokine blockade and attenuation in these known CSS as well as the emerging literature and clinical trials pertaining to COVID-CSS. Established markers of inflammation as well as cytokine levels are compared and contrasted between these four entities in order to establish a foundation for future diagnostic criteria of COVID-CSS.

The impacts on bystander and dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation during COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose: The impact of emerging infections disease pandemic such as COVID-19 on bystander CPR performance is not well known. Materials-and-methods: This was an observational database prospectively collected from National Registry for DACPR (dispatcher-assisted CPR), a continuous quality control for OHCA by audio records analyses of EMS calls. The performance of DACPR before and after the COVID-19 epidemic was compared among four individual EMS systems (three metropolitan and one suburban). The bystander chest compressions (BCC) rate prior to the call, successful delivery of BCC after dispatcher-assisted, and the continuity of CC until hand-over by the paramedics after arrival (HCC) as the categorical indicators, and the operational time interval corresponding to call-to-compression were evaluated and analyzed using Pearson's chi-squared test, Independent t-test, and Kruskal–Wallis test with SPSS Version 22. Results: In a total of 3263 eligible patients from four EMS systems, for patients already receiving BCC prior to the call, though showing a tendency of decrease, there were no significant differences after the epidemics (A: 3.6% vs. 5.7%, p = 0.13;B: 4.5% vs. 6.1%, p = 0.46;C: 6.0% vs. 6.6%, p = 0.71;D: 6.8% vs. 10.7%, p = 0.59;Total: 4.9% vs. 6.4%, p = 0.11). For dispatcher-assisted BCC delivery, a metropolitan (B) significantly decreased and the suburban (D) significantly increased (A: 55.0% vs. 56.1%, p = 0.72;B: 41.8% vs. 52.3%, p = 0.03;C: 60.6% vs. 56.5%, p = 0.19;D: 83.0% vs. 60.2%, p < 0.01;Total: 56.8% vs. 55.6%, p = 0.53). For continuity of HCC, a metropolitan(C) and the suburban (D) both significantly increased as well as the total cases (A: 43.9% vs. 46.4%, p = 0.43;B: 28.5% vs. 31.0%, p = 0.56;C: 54.0% vs. 40.0%, p < 0.01;D: 77.4% vs. 59.3%, p = 0.02;Total: 47.4%vs.41.3%, p < 0.01). For call-to-compression interval, all regions showed a tendency to be faster without significance (A: 185 vs. 189 s, p = 0.8;B: 141 vs. 156 s, p = 0.19;C: 173 vs. 182 s, p = 0.12;D: 156 vs. 171 s, p = 0.27;Total: 164 vs. 172 s, p = 0.19). Conclusions: The impacts of COVID-19 pandemic showed a tendency to decrease BCC prior to dispatcher-assisted, and were significantly varied for dispatcher-assisted BCC among different EMS systems, however the timely BCC would not be delayed. Continuity of BCC even significantly increased under the national continuous auditing.