Association between social isolation and reduced mental well-being in Swedish older adults during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of cardiometabolic diseases.

Social isolation has been recommended as a strategy for reducing COVID-19 risk, but it may have unintended consequences for mental well-being. We explored the relationship between social isolation and symptoms of depression and anxiety in older adults during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and assessed the role of cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) in this association. Between May and September 2020, 1,190 older adults from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen were surveyed about their behaviors and health consequences during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 913 (76.7%) participants reported socially isolating at home to avoid infection during this period. Social isolation was associated with a greater likelihood of reduced mental well-being (i.e., feelings of depression or anxiety) (OR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.15-2.65). In joint exposure analysis, there was a significant likelihood of reduced mental well-being only among people who were socially isolating and had CMDs (OR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.22-3.71) (reference: not isolating, CMD-free). In conclusion, social isolation as a COVID-19 prevention strategy was related to reduced mental well-being in an urban sample of Swedish older adults, especially among individuals with CMDs.

Recent advances in methods for the diagnosis of Corona Virus Disease 2019.

Since the beginning of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, it has been clear that effective methods for the diagnosis of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) are the key tools to control its epidemic. The current gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19 is the real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), which is a sensitive and specific method to detect SARS-CoV-2. Other RNA-based methods include RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), droplet digital reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (ddRT-PCR), reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR). The serological testing of antibodies (IgM and IgG), nanoparticle-based lateral-flow assay, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) can be used to enhance the detection sensitivity and accuracy. Because antibodies are usually detected a week after the onset of symptoms, these tests are used to assess the overall infection rate in the community. Sine the fact that healthcare varies from country to country across the world, different types of diagnosing COVID-19 imaging technologies including chest computed tomography (CT), chest radiography, and lung ultrasound are used in different degrees. Besides, the pooling test is an important public health tool to reduce cost and increase testing capacity in low-risk area, while artificial intelligence (AI) may aid to increase the diagnostic efficiency of imaging-based methods. Finally, depending on the type of samples and stages of the disease, a combination of information on patient demographics and histories, clinical symptoms, results of molecular and serological diagnostic tests, and imaging information is highly recommended to achieve adequate diagnosis of patients with COVID-19.

Analysis and Identification Genetic Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Infections to Alzheimer's Disease Patients by Integrated Bioinformatics.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis which results in millions of deaths and causes long-term neurological sequelae, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the interaction between COVID-19 and AD by integrating bioinformatics to find the biomarkers which lead to AD occurrence and development with COVID-19 and provide early intervention. METHODS: The differential expressed genes (DEGs) were found by GSE147507 and GSE132903, respectively. The common genes between COVID-19 and AD were identified. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and protein-protein interactions (PPI) network analysis were carried out. Hub genes were found by cytoscape. A multivariate logistic regression model was constructed. NetworkAnalyst was used for the analysis of TF-gene interactions, TF-miRNA coregulatory network, and Protein-chemical Interactions. RESULTS: Forty common DEGs for AD and COVID-19 were found. GO and KEGG analysis indicated that the DEGs were enriched in the calcium signal pathway and other pathways. A PPI network was constructed, and 5 hub genes were identified (ITPR1, ITPR3, ITPKB, RAPGEF3, MFGE8). Four hub genes (ITPR1, ITPR3, ITPKB, RAPGEF3) which were considered as important factors in the development of AD that were affected by COVID-19 were shown by nomogram. Utilizing NetworkAnalyst, the interaction network of 4 hub genes and TF, miRNA, common AD risk genes, and known compounds is displayed, respectively. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 patients are at high risk of developing AD. Vaccination is required. Four hub genes can be considered as biomarkers for prediction and treatment of AD development caused by COVID-19. Compounds with neuroprotective effects can be used as adjuvant therapy for COVID-19 patients.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on household disinfectant consumption behaviors and related environmental concerns: A questionnaire-based survey in China.

Considering the potential hazardous effects of disinfectant residues on environment, organisms and biodiversity, the sharp rise in use of disinfectants during COVID-19 pandemic has been considered highly likely to cause worldwide secondary disasters in ecosystems and human health. This questionnaire-based survey investigated the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on household disinfectant product consumption levels and behavior of 3667 Chinese residents. In particular, in the context that no strategy is currently available to minimize the disinfectant pollution, based on the similarities between disinfectants and pharmaceuticals, we proposed a perspective of ecopharmacovigilance (EPV), which is an effective measure to minimize the environmental risks posed by pharmaceuticals using drug administration protocols, for disinfectant environmental risk management. The public's environmental perceptions, attitudes and the related practices regarding household disinfectant consumption from an EPV perspective were also included in the study. The results showed that the COVID-19 outbreak caused a tremendous rise in the public's household disinfectant consumption and usage levels in China. After the COVID-19 outbreak, the chlorine-based and alcohol-based disinfectants were considered as the most preferred products for household disinfection and hand sanitization, respectively. Importantly, the Chinese public's environmental perceptions and practice on disinfectants were poor. Less than half respondents had positive attitudes toward the source control of disinfectant pollution. The population groups including females, the middle aged adults, those having healthcare professional background, as well as the higher-educated could be focused on to develop targeted efforts for the future control of disinfectant pollution in environment.

Patent information analysis on traditional Chinese medicine for prevention and treatment of COVID-19

With the wide application and constantly advancing of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in the prevention and control of COVID-19, many innovative achievements have been made in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 by TCM. Analyzing the patent information of related innovations timely will not only help researcher to use patent information more quickly to mine and screen more effective drugs, but also help inspiring R&D personnel to strengthen patent protection for innovations. This article is based on Chinese Clinical Guidance for COVID-19 Diagnosis and Treatment (6th edition) published by National Health Commitssion of the People's Republic of China, analyses related patent information on recommended Chinese patent medicines in medical observation period, and basic prescriptions, recommended prescriptions and recommended Chinese patent medicines in clinical treatment period, describes the patent technology roadmap of recommended prescriptions and recommended Chinese patent medicines, analyzes key patent information, and tries to provide useful reference for scientific research of TCM.

Association between blood pressure categories and cardiovascular disease mortality in China.

BACKGROUND: Blood pressure (BP) categories are useful to simplify preventions in public health, and diagnostic and treatment approaches in clinical practice. Updated evidence about the associations of BP categories with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and its subtypes is warranted. METHODS AND FINDINGS: About 0.5 million adults aged 30 to 79 years were recruited from 10 areas in China during 2004-2008. The present study included 430 977 participants without antihypertension treatment, cancer, or CVD at baseline. BP was measured at least twice in a single visit at baseline and CVD deaths during follow-up were collected via registries and the national health insurance databases. Multivariable Cox regression was used to estimate the associations between BP categories and CVD mortality. Overall, 16.3% had prehypertension-low, 25.1% had prehypertension-high, 14.1% had isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), 1.9% had isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH), and 9.1% had systolic-diastolic hypertension (SDH). During a median 10-year follow-up, 9660 CVD deaths were documented. Compared with normal, the hazard ratios (95% CI) of prehypertension-low, prehypertension-high, ISH, IDH, SDH for CVD were 1.10 (1.01-1.19), 1.32 (1.23-1.42), 2.04 (1.91-2.19), 2.20 (1.85-2.61), and 3.81 (3.54-4.09), respectively. All hypertension subtypes were related to the increased risk of CVD subtypes, with a stronger association for hemorrhagic stroke than for ischemic heart disease. The associations were stronger in younger than older adults. CONCLUSIONS: Prehypertension-high should be considered in CVD primary prevention given its high prevalence and increased CVD risk. All hypertension subtypes were independently associated with CVD and its subtypes mortality, though the strength of associations varied substantially.

Exosomes from adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate histone-induced acute lung injury by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway in endothelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), including adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs), have been shown to attenuate organ damage in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and sepsis; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential roles and molecular mechanisms of action of ADSCs in histone-induced endothelial damage. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 N mice were intravenously injected with ADSCs, followed by histones or a vehicle. The mice in each group were assessed for survival, pulmonary vascular permeability, and histological changes. A co-culture model with primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to histones was used to clarify the paracrine effect of ADSCs. Overexpression and inhibition of miR-126 ADSCs were also examined as causative factors for endothelial protection. RESULTS: The administration of ADSCs markedly improved survival, inhibited histone-mediated lung hemorrhage and edema, and attenuated vascular hyper-permeability in mice. ADSCs were engrafted in the injured lung and attenuated histone-induced endothelial cell apoptosis. ADSCs showed endothelial protection (via a paracrine effect) and Akt phosphorylation in the histone-exposed HUVECs. Notably, increased Akt phosphorylation by ADSCs was mostly mediated by exosomes in histone-induced cytotoxicity and lung damage. Moreover, the expression of miR-126 was increased in exosomes from histone-exposed ADSCs. Remarkably, the inhibition of miR-126 in ADSCs failed to increase Akt phosphorylation in histone-exposed HUVECs. CONCLUSION: ADSC-derived exosomes may exert protective effects on endothelial cells via activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.

A multiple-center clinical evaluation of a new real-time reverse transcriptase PCR diagnostic kit for SARS-CoV-2.

Aim: The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has had serious repercussions worldwide. This study was aimed to evaluate the accuracy of a new kit for detection of SARS-CoV-2 compared with similar detection kit. Materials & methods: A total of 500 subjects were included and tested with both the new test and control kits. Clinical diagnosis results were taken as the reference standard. Results: Compared with clinical diagnosis, the sensitivity of the test kit was 82.64%, specificity was 98.45% and total coincidence rate was 90.80%. The total coincidence rate, sensitivity and specificity between control kit and clinical diagnosis were 89.20%, 78.10% and 99.61%, respectively. Conclusions: The new kit was comparable to the similar detection kit for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in sensitivity, specificity and total coincidence rate.