COVID-19 anti-vaccine attitude and hesitancy.

High vaccination rates are required around the world to create herd immunity and terminate the current COVID-19 pandemic growth. With the steady rise in COVID-19 vaccine supplies, hesitancy and rejection to be vaccinated has become a problem worldwide for large vaccine coverage. Understanding the causes of vaccine avoidance or hesitancy can help to increase vaccination intentions in the general population. A number of factors contributed to increasing hesitancy. Some causes of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy include anti-vaccine myths and confusing messages about some severe side effects of few vaccines, confusion over protection levels, poor health literacy (lack of accurate knowledge about vaccines and virus), deficient legal liability from the vaccine manufacturers, political and economic intentions, mistrust and suspicion of medical companies, concern of efficacy against to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants, safety concerns (elderly, people with preexisting comorbidities) and some socio-demographic factors. Urgent interventions and policies targeting the corresponding factors are needed. Recognizing obstacles to vaccine uptake helps in the development of effective solutions to solve them. Evidence-based and behaviorally guided approaches should be used to achieve high acceptance and uptake. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-022-01018-y.

Haplotypic variants of COVID-19 related genes are associated with blood pressure and metabolites levels.

The genetic association of COVID-19 with its complications has not been fully understood. This study aimed to identify variants and haplotypes of candidate genes implicated in COVID-19 related traits by combining the literature review and pathway analysis. In order to explore such genes, the protein-protein interactions and relevant pathways of COVID-19-associated genes were assessed. A number of variants on candidate genes were identified from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) which were associated with COVID-19 related traits (p˂10-6 ). Haplotypic blocks were assessed using haplotypic structures among the 1000 Genomes Project (r2 ≥0.8, D'≥0.8). Further functional analyses were performed on the selected variants. The results demonstrated that a group of variants in ACE and AGT genes were significantly correlated with COVID-19 related traits. Three haplotypes were identified to be involved in the blood metabolites levels and the development of blood pressure. Functional analyses revealed that most GWAS index variants were expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) and had transcription factor binding sites, exonic splicing enhancers, or silencer activities. Furthermore, the proxy haplotype variants, rs4316, rs4353, rs4359, and three variants, namely rs2493133, rs2478543, and rs5051, were associated with blood metabolite and systolic blood pressure, respectively. These variants exerted more regulatory effects compared with other GWAS variants. The present study indicates that the genetic variants and candidate haplotypes of COVID-19 related genes are associated with blood pressure and blood metabolites. However, further observational studies are warranted to confirm these results. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

COVID-19 anti-vaccine attitude and hesitancy

High vaccination rates are required around the world to create herd immunity and terminate the current COVID-19 pandemic growth. With the steady rise in COVID-19 vaccine supplies, hesitancy and rejection to be vaccinated has become a problem worldwide for large vaccine coverage. Understanding the causes of vaccine avoidance or hesitancy can help to increase vaccination intentions in the general population. A number of factors contributed to increasing hesitancy. Some causes of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy include anti-vaccine myths and confusing messages about some severe side effects of few vaccines, confusion over protection levels, poor health literacy (lack of accurate knowledge about vaccines and virus), deficient legal liability from the vaccine manufacturers, political and economic intentions, mistrust and suspicion of medical companies, concern of efficacy against to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants, safety concerns (elderly, people with preexisting comorbidities) and some socio-demographic factors. Urgent interventions and policies targeting the corresponding factors are needed. Recognizing obstacles to vaccine uptake helps in the development of effective solutions to solve them. Evidence-based and behaviorally guided approaches should be used to achieve high acceptance and uptake. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-022-01018-y.

VDR gene polymorphisms are associated with the increased susceptibility to COVID-19 among iranian population: A case-control study.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but the pathogenesis is unclear. Host genetic background is one of the main factors influencing the patients' susceptibility to several viral infectious diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association between host genetic polymorphisms of two genes, including vitamin D receptor (VDR) and vitamin D binding protein (DBP), and susceptibility to COVID-19 in a sample of the Iranian population. This case-control study enrolled 188 hospitalized COVID-19 patients as the case group and 218 suspected COVID-19 patients with mild signs as the control group. The VDR (rs7975232, rs731236 and rs2228570) and DBP (rs7041) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped by Polymerase Chain Reaction Restriction - Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. A significant association between rs2228570 SNP in the VDR gene and the susceptibility of COVID-19 was found between case and control groups. The CT genotype (Heterozygous) of rs2228570 C > T polymorphism showed significant association with a 3.088 fold increased odds of COVID-19 (p < .0001; adjusted OR: 3.088; 95% CI: 1.902-5.012). In addition, a significant association between CC genotype of rs2228570 CT polymorphism and increased odds of COVID-19 in male and female groups (p = .001; adjusted OR: 3.125; 95% CI: 1.630-5.991 and p = .002; adjusted OR: 3.071; 95% CI: 1.485-6.354 respectively) were determined. Our results revealed no significant differences in the frequency of genotype and allele of VDR (rs7975232 and rs731236) and DBP (rs7041) between SARS-CoV-2-infected patients and controls (p > .05). Our results showed that polymorphism of VDR (rs2228570) probably could influence individual susceptibility to COVID-19. The polymorphisms of VDR (rs7975232 and rs731236) and DBP (rs7041) were not associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection susceptibility.

Diabetes and COVID-19: a bitter nightmare.

Initial studies found a bidirectional interaction between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and diabetes. In this article we intend to review the association and consequences of COVID-19 in the future of diabetes in case of prevalence and treatment. There is substantial evidence that COVID-19 may result in the new-onset of hyperglycaemia. Therefore, it seems that COVID-19 will change the predictions for the prevalence of diabetes. Moreover, it raises numerous challenges for the clinical management of diabetes. In COVID-19 patients, new-onset hyperglycemia is associated with a poor prognosis. Diabetes mellitus and other comorbidities should be strictly controlled. But, with the emergence of COVID-19 disease, the future of diabetes mellitus in terms of prevalence and treatment will change and policymakers should consider developing new management strategies in this regard. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-022-00994-5.

Diabetes and COVID-19: a bitter nightmare

Initial studies found a bidirectional interaction between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and diabetes. In this article we intend to review the association and consequences of COVID-19 in the future of diabetes in case of prevalence and treatment. There is substantial evidence that COVID-19 may result in the new-onset of hyperglycaemia. Therefore, it seems that COVID-19 will change the predictions for the prevalence of diabetes. Moreover, it raises numerous challenges for the clinical management of diabetes. In COVID-19 patients, new-onset hyperglycemia is associated with a poor prognosis. Diabetes mellitus and other comorbidities should be strictly controlled. But, with the emergence of COVID-19 disease, the future of diabetes mellitus in terms of prevalence and treatment will change and policymakers should consider developing new management strategies in this regard. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-022-00994-5.