A New Drug Formula for Pneumonia and Severe Seasonal Flu; a Promising Drug for Eradicate COVID19.

World Health Organization (WHO) well-known pleiotropic antiviral compounds.This study was designed to evaluate the effects of herbal drug combination in treatment of pneumonia, severe respiratory distress, and severe flu and recently for COVID19.The treatment phase includes 12 days period of herbal drug mixture (X) . Results showed the activity of herbal drug in eradication of COVID19, pneumonia and severe seasonalful.

Patient Characteristics and Predictors of Pulmonary Embolism in Patients Infected with COVID - 19 in Upper Egypt.

Background: A little is known about the risk factors and predictors of pulmonary embolism (PE) in Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infected patients. Therefore, we directed this study to investigate the predictors of PE in patients infected with Covid - 19 in Upper Egypt. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on 297 patients infected with COVID-19, aged ≥ 18 years old. Suspicion of COVID-19 infection was based on the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria and confirmed by nasal and pharyngeal swab for real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. The patient was also determined to have COVID-19 when CT results that were thought to be typical for COVID-19 and clinical data that were compatible were present. Results: PE was diagnosed in 18.2% of patients. We found that the incidence of PE was significantly higher in older patients, females, those with higher BMI, hypertensive patients, diabetics, and patients with co-morbidities. Also, PE was significantly higher in patients presented with dyspnea, chest pain, longer duration of symptoms at hospital admission, and lower oxygen concentration. The mean serum Hb level, platelet count, TLC and absolute lymphocytic count were markedly reduced in those who had PE. All the patients who developed PE had a CO-RADS scale five on their CT chest scan. Age > 65, BMI > 25, DM, and associated co-morbidities were the independent patients' characteristics associated with the development of PE after the multivariate regression analysis. Conclusion: PE is a common complication of Covid 19 infection. PE is associated with a variety of clinical and laboratory parameters in univariate analysis, but age > 65, BMI > 25, DM, and associated co-morbidities were the independent patients' characteristics associated with the development of PE in those infected with Covid-19.

Tanshinone IIA loaded bioactive nanoemulsion for alleviation of lipopolysaccharide induced acute lung injury via inhibition of endothelial glycocalyx shedding.

Acute lung injury (ALI) and its more serious form; acute respiratory distress syndrome are major causes of COVID-19 related mortality. Finding new therapeutic targets for ALI is thus of great interest. This work aimed to prepare a biocompatible nanoformulation for effective pulmonary delivery of the herbal drug; tanshinone-IIA (TSIIA) for ALI management. A nanoemulsion (NE) formulation based on bioactive natural ingredients; rhamnolipid biosurfactant and tea-tree oil, was developed using a simple ultrasonication technique, optimized by varying oil concentration and surfactant:oil ratio. The selected TSIIA-NE formulation showed 105.7 nm diameter and a PDI âˆ¼ 0.3. EE exceeded 98 % with biphasic sustained drug release and good stability over 3-months. In-vivo efficacy was evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI model. TSIIA-NE (30 µg/kg) was administered once intratracheally 2 h after LPS instillation. Evaluation was performed 7days post-treatment. Pulmonary function assessment, inflammatory, oxidative stress and glycocalyx shedding markers analysis in addition to histopathological examination of lung tissue were performed. When compared to untreated rats, in-vivo efficacy study demonstrated 1.4 and 1.9-fold increases in tidal volume and minute respiratory volume, respectively, with 32 % drop in wet/dry lung weight ratio and improved levels of arterial blood gases. Lung histopathology and biochemical analysis of different biomarkers in tissue homogenate and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid indicated that treatment may ameliorate LPS-induced ALI symptoms thorough anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory effects and inhibition of glycocalyx degradation. TSIIA-NE efficacy was superior to free medication and blank-NE. The enhanced efficacy of TSIIA bioactive nanoemulsion significantly suggests the pharmacotherapeutic potential of bioactive TSIIA-NE as a promising nanoplatform for ALI.

Cardiovascular risk factors and clinical outcomes of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia in Somalia.

Background: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a potentially life-threatening illness with no established treatment. Cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) exacerbate COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Objective: To determine the prevalence of CRF and clinical outcomes of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in a tertiary hospital in Somalia. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients aged 18 years or older with a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 hospitalized at the De Martino Hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia, between March and July 2020. Results: We enrolled 230 participants; 159 (69.1%) males, median age was 56 (41-66) years. In-hospital mortality was 19.6% (n = 45); 77.8% in the intensive care unit (ICU) compared with 22.2%, in the general wards (p < 0.001). Age ⩾ 40 years [odds ratio (OR): 3.6, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-10.6, p = 0.020], chronic heart disease (OR: 9.3, 95% CI: 2.2-38.9, p = 0.002), and diabetes mellitus (OR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.6-6.2, p < 0.001) were associated with increased odds of mortality. Forty-three (18.7%) participants required ICU admission. Age ⩾ 40 years (OR: 7.5, 95% CI: 1.7-32.1, p = 0.007), diabetes mellitus (OR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.6-6.3, p < 0.001), and hypertension (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.2-5.2, p = 0.014) were associated with ICU admission. For every additional CRF, the odds of admission into the ICU increased threefold (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.2-5.2, p < 0.001), while the odds of dying increased twofold (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3-3.2, p < 0.001). Conclusions: We report a very high prevalence of CRF among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Somalia. Mortality rates were unacceptably high, particularly among those with advanced age, underlying chronic heart disease, and diabetes.

Mental health impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare workers in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a multi-country study.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers (HCWs) fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic are under incredible pressure, which puts them at risk of developing mental health problems. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among HCWs responding to COVID-19 and its associated factors. METHODS: A multi-country cross-sectional study was conducted during July-August 2020 among HCWs responding to COVID-19 in nine Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries. Data were collected using an online questionnaire administered using KoBo Toolbox. Mental problems were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). RESULTS: A total of 1448 HCWs from nine EMR countries participated in this study. About 51.2% were male and 52.7% aged ≤ 30 years. Of all HCWs, 57.5% had depression, 42.0% had stress, and 59.1% had anxiety. Considering the severity, 19.2%, 16.1%, 26.6% of patients had severe to extremely severe depression, stress, and anxiety, respectively. Depression, stress, anxiety, and distress scores were significantly associated with participants' residency, having children, preexisting psychiatric illness, and being isolated for COVID-19. Furthermore, females, those working in a teaching hospital, and specialists had significantly higher depression and stress scores. Married status, current smoking, diabetes mellitus, having a friend who died with COVID-19, and high COVID-19 worry scores were significantly associated with higher distress scores. CONCLUSIONS: Mental problems were prevalent among HCWs responding to COVID-19 in EMR. Therefore, special interventions to promote mental well-being among HCWs responding to COVID-19 need to be immediately implemented.

No evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Rousettus aegyptiacus bat in Egypt.

Bats are considered ideal reservoirs for zoonotic viruses with emerging capabilities over the past two decades and spotted evidence points out that they may play a role as a reservoir host for SARS-CoV-2. To investigate the possible role of bats as part of SARS-CoV-2 anthropozoonotic spill-over infections in Egypt, a total of 800 samples obtained from 200 Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 using quantitative RT-PCR assay (RT-qPCR). RT-qPCR analysis of RNA extracted from bat tissues showed no positive results for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid. These findings suggest that during the study period, the Rousettus aegyptiacus bat was not a reservoir or amplifying host for SARS-CoV-2 infection in Egypt. The lack of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid in Egyptian fruit bats is thought to make a significant contribution to SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology.

Risk Factors of COVID-19 Critical Outcomes in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Multicountry Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: The establishment of empirical evidence in the Eastern Mediterranean Region necessitates the implementation of wide-scale studies to describe the demographic, clinical features, and severity profile of patients with COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the patterns of COVID-19 severity and mortality in seven countries, and to determine the risk factors of COVID-19 severity and mortality. METHODS: This multicountry study was based on a retrospective review of medical records of hospitalized patients confirmed to have COVID-19. This study includes data from Iraq, Pakistan, Sudan, Somalia, Morocco, Egypt, and Yemen. All demographic and clinical data were extracted from hospital records (paper files) by trained data collectors. RESULTS: A total of 4141 patients were included in this study from seven countries. Comorbidities were reported by nearly half of the patients, with hypertension (n=1021, 24.7%) and diabetes (n=939, 22.7%) being the most common. Older age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and heart diseases were significantly associated with COVID-19 severity and mortality. Ever smoking and renal diseases were significantly associated with severity but not mortality, while male gender, respiratory diseases, and malignancy were significantly associated with mortality but not severity. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms the role of comorbidities and demographic features on the severity and mortality of COVID-19. Understanding the contributing factors ensures attentive care and informs clinical management of patients with poorer prognoses in the early stages of diseases.

The psychological and emotional impact of coronavirus disease on COVID-19 patients in Najran Province, Saudi Arabia: An exploratory study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a significant mental health crisis and caused a widening economic crisis, growing financial loss, and numerous uncertainties. This pandemic brought alarming implications and overall increased risk for psychiatric illness. This study explores the psychological impact experienced by patients who tested positive from coronavirus in the Najran region, Saudi Arabia. DESIGN AND METHODS: This exploratory analysis included 210 COVID-19 positive patients. The study was conducted during a six-month period starting from March to September 2020, in two tertiary government hospitals in Najran, Saudi Arabia. Samples were selected using purposive sampling; survey questionnaire and face-to-face interview to collect the data. Statistical data were calculated using IBM SPSS v. 2.0 to compute the following statistical formulas: percentage distribution, mean, standard deviation, and Chi-square test of independence. RESULTS: The findings of this study revealed that the majority of COVID-19 positive patients were middle-aged adults (n=98 or 46.7%), male (n=178 or 84.8%), and were non-Saudi nationals (n=132 or 62.9%). It was found out that COVID-19 patients experienced bothersome behaviour at a very high level (x̅=2.63±0.6734). Meanwhile, depression (x̅=2.51±0.7070), worry (x̅=2.23±0.8811), and anxiety (x̅=2.21±0.8719) was only at a high level. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that the majority of participants had high levels of depression, anxiety and bothersome behaviours. However, demographic characteristics like age, sex, and nationality were not significantly related to coronavirus patients' psychological health problems. Assessments and interventions for psychosocial concerns, integration of mental health considerations, and treatment for severe psychosocial consequences must be administered in COVID-19 care facilities.

Balloon-Assisted Percutaneous Thrombin Injection for Treatment of Iatrogenic Left Subclavian Artery Pseudoaneurysm in a Critically Ill COVID-19 Patient.

BACKGROUND: Central venous catheter represents an important tool in the management of critically ill patient. In this report, we described a COVID-19-positive case who had COVID-related complications and iatrogenic left subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm after central venous catheter insertion. Case Presentation. A 58-year-old male patient presented with a high-grade fever, myalgia, and shortness of breath due to COVID-19 infection. He required mechanical ventilation support and hemodialysis. He also developed uneventful deep vein thrombosis and myocardial infarction. As a complication of central line insertion, the patient developed pseudoaneurysm that originated from the subclavian artery with significant bleeding and large hematoma. Balloon-assisted percutaneous thrombin injection was done under ultrasound guidance. The patient was extubated 2 days later with no evidence of flow in the pseudoaneurysm. However, he lost movement in the left arm secondary to the compression of the brachial plexus from the pseudoaneurysm/hematoma, and therefore, 1.5 litres of the hematoma was evacuated in the operating room through a lateral left chest wall incision along the anterior axillary line to relieve the compression over the brachial plexus. The patient declined surgical reconstruction of the brachial plexus, and the flaccid paralysis of the arm did not recover during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: This is a case of unusual complications of COVID infection and iatrogenic left subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm postcentral vein cannulation. Balloon-assisted percutaneous thrombin injection for treatment of left subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm is feasible; however, delayed diagnosis could be associated with long-term or permanent disability.

Predicting COVID-19 cases using bidirectional LSTM on multivariate time series.

To assist policymakers in making adequate decisions to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, accurate forecasting of the disease propagation is of paramount importance. This paper presents a deep learning approach to forecast the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases using bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (Bi-LSTM) network applied to multivariate time series. Unlike other forecasting techniques, our proposed approach first groups the countries having similar demographic and socioeconomic aspects and health sector indicators using K-means clustering algorithm. The cumulative case data of the clustered countries enriched with data related to the lockdown measures are fed to the bidirectional LSTM to train the forecasting model. We validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach by studying the disease outbreak in Qatar and the proposed model prediction from December 1st until December 31st, 2020. The quantitative evaluation shows that the proposed technique outperforms state-of-art forecasting approaches.

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptability and Adherence to Preventive Measures in Somalia: Results of an Online Survey.

Most countries are currently gravitating towards vaccination as mainstay strategy to quell COVID-19 transmission. Between December 2020 and January 2021, we conducted a follow-up online survey in Somalia to monitor adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures, and COVID-19 vaccine acceptability and reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Adherence was measured via a composite adherence score based on four measures (physical distancing, face mask use, hand hygiene, and mouth covering when coughing/sneezing). We analyzed 4543 responses (mean age: 23.5 ± 6.4 years, 62.4% males). The mean adherence score during this survey was lower than the score during a similar survey in April 2020. A total of 76.8% of respondents were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Flu-like symptoms were more frequently reported in the current survey compared to previous surveys. Multiple logistic regression showed that participants who experienced flu-like symptoms, those in the healthcare sector, and those with higher adherence scores had higher odds for vaccine acceptability while being a female reduced the willingness to be vaccinated. In conclusion, our data suggest that the decreasing adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures may have caused increased flu-like symptoms over time. COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Somalia is relatively high but could be improved by addressing factors that contribute to vaccine hesitancy.

COVID-19 humor in Jordanian social media: A socio-semiotic approach.

The Coronavirus has wrapped the whole universe with a mood of fear, depression, anxiety and loss of hope. It has made countries of the world, west and east, rich and poor, advanced and underdeveloped, all engaged in a common task: facing one 'invisible' enemy; the pandemic. The consequences are conditions that, the UN states, have not been experienced since the horrific conditions of World War II resulting into heavy toils in the number of victims. The normal course of life has now changed. The pressing demand is the adaptation to various new measures including curfews and the restrictions on mass mobility. These conditions managed to alter the long-established rhythm of daily course of life. This paper focuses on how Jordanian social media is contributing in overcoming Pandemic anxiety burdens and offering relief. For this purpose, the study undertakes a two-track task. A survey is compiled to elicit social media users' opinions concerning the effect of humor on people's well-being. Participants were given questions on humor and were also asked to give their impressions on a selection of 20 humorous figures attached as a link within the survey. 1274 participants responded. Likert's five-point scale was adapted to analyze the data. Second, the paper examined these twenty selected memes and caricatures extracted from Jordanian social media websites. The study applied Kress and Leeuween's approach of social semiotics. The objective is to identify and analyze specific semiotic patterns in COVID-19 related caricatures and memes in Jordanian social media in order to demonstrate how humor can be used as means of softening the grim mood created by the Pandemic through examining the data from a social-semiotic perspective.

Exploring optical spectroscopic techniques and nanomaterials for virus detection.

Viral infections pose significant health challenges globally by affecting millions of people worldwide and consequently resulting in a negative impact on both socioeconomic development and health. Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a clear example of how a virus can have a global impact in the society and has demonstrated the limitations of detection and diagnostic capabilities globally. Another virus which has posed serious threats to world health is the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which is a lentivirus of the retroviridae family responsible for causing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Even though there has been a significant progress in the HIV biosensing over the past years, there is still a great need for the development of point of care (POC) biosensors that are affordable, robust, portable, easy to use and sensitive enough to provide accurate results to enable clinical decision making. The aim of this study was to present a proof of concept for detecting HIV-1 pseudoviruses by using anti-HIV1 gp41 antibodies as capturing antibodies. In our study, glass substrates were treated with a uniform layer of silane in order to immobilize HIV gp41 antibodies on their surfaces. Thereafter, the HIV pseudovirus was added to the treated substrates followed by addition of anti-HIV gp41 antibodies conjugated to selenium nanoparticle (SeNPs) and gold nanoclusters (AuNCs). The conjugation of SeNPs and AuNCs to anti-HIV gp41 antibodies was characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and zeta potential while the surface morphology was characterized by fluorescence microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman spectroscopy. The UV-vis and zeta potential results showed that there was successful conjugation of SeNPs and AuNCs to anti-HIV gp41 antibodies and fluorescence microscopy showed that antibodies immobilized on glass substrates were able to capture intact HIV pseudoviruses. Furthermore, AFM also confirmed the capturing HIV pseudoviruses and we were able to differentiate between substrates with and without the HIV pseudoviruses. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the presence of biomolecules related to HIV and therefore this system has potential in HIV biosensing applications.