SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) Variant: A Challenge with COVID-19.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there have been multiple peaks of the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus virus 2) infection, mainly due to the emergence of new variants, each with a new set of mutations in the viral genome, which have led to changes in the pathogenicity, transmissibility, and morbidity. The Omicron variant is the most recent variant of concern (VOC) to emerge and was recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 26 November 2021. The Omicron lineage is phylogenetically distinct from earlier variants, including the previously dominant Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant. The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, rapid antigen assays, and chest computed tomography (CT) scans can help diagnose the Omicron variant. Furthermore, many agents are expected to have therapeutic benefits for those infected with the Omicron variant, including TriSb92, molnupiravir, nirmatrelvir, and their combination, corticosteroids, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor blockers. Despite being milder than previous variants, the Omicron variant threatens many lives, particularly among the unvaccinated, due to its higher transmissibility, pathogenicity, and infectivity. Mounting evidence has reported the most common clinical manifestations of the Omicron variant to be fever, runny nose, sore throat, severe headache, and fatigue. This review summarizes the essential features of the Omicron variant, including its history, genome, transmissibility, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, management, and the effectiveness of existing vaccines against this VOC.

Vaccination status and outcomes of COVID-19 patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Iran during the dominant Delta variant period.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the characteristics, vaccination status, and outcomes of confidence interval (COVID-19) patients, admitted to a tertiary hospital in Iran during the predominant severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta variant period. METHODS: This retrospective study assessed the medical records of all hospitalized COVID-19 patients, who were admitted to a tertiary hospital from July 10 to September 15, 2021. Adjusted binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine factors associated with poor outcomes. RESULTS: More than 25% of hospitalized patients received at least one vaccine dose of SARS-CoV-2. The Sinopharm BIBP vaccine (China) was the most commonly received vaccine (73.3%). After adjusting for age and comorbidities, the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for poor outcomes was significantly lower in hospitalized patients who received Remdesivir compared to those not receiving Remdesivir (AOR: 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.15, 0.78; p < .010). Besides, age ≥50 years (AOR: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.38, 4.59; p < .003), low educational level (AOR: 3.99; 95% CI: 1.17, 13.53; p < .027), work outside in the past year (AOR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.02, 3.00; p < .041), and diabetes mellitus (AOR: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.66, 3.26; p = .011) were associated with more poor outcomes. CONCLUSION: Based on the present results, the risk of mortality and the risk of poor outcomes were lower in patients who received Remdesivir compared to those not receiving Remdesivir. The number of vaccinated patients was smaller than the unvaccinated among hospitalized patients. It is important to emphasize that vaccination reduced the need for hospitalization and that only vaccinated patients with comorbidities required hospitalization.

Androgens' Role in Severity and Mortality Rates of COVID-19.

By the end of December 2019 new corona virus began to spread from Wuhan, China and caused a worldwide pandemic. COVID-19 deaths and prevalence represented sex discrepant patterns with higher rate of deaths and infection in males than females which could be justified by androgen-mediated mechanisms. This review aimed to assess the role of androgens in COVID-19 severity and mortality. Androgens increase expressions of Type II transmembrane Serine Protease (TMPRSS2) and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2), which both facilitate new corona virus entry into host cell and their expression is higher in young males than females. According to observational studies, prevalence of COVID-19 infections and deaths was more in androgenic alopecic patients than patients without androgenic alopecia. The COVID-19 mortality rates in aged men (>60 years) were substantially higher than aged females and even young males caused by high inflammatory activities such as cytokine storm due to hypogonadism in this population. Use of anti-androgen and TMPRSS2 inhibitor drugs considerably modified COVID-19 symptoms. Androgen deprivation therapy also improved COVID-19 symptoms in prostate cancer: overall the role of androgens in severity of COVID-19 and its associated mortality seemed to be very important. So, more studies in variety of populations are required to define the absolute role of androgens.

COVID-19 vaccination challenges: A mini-review.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has led to the infection of many people across the globe, over six million deaths, and has placed an unprecedented burden on public health worldwide. The pandemic has led to the high-speed development and production of vaccines against the COVID-19, as vaccines can end the pandemic. At the beginning of the program, vaccinations were initially targeted only at high-risk groups, such as the elderly, those with comorbidities, or healthcare workers. Although most of the mentioned populations have received the two recommended doses, limited resources have left many authorities with an effective vaccine undersupply. Therefore, policies have been implemented to manage the available doses of the vaccines more efficiently. As there is no universally agreed consensus on this topic, we discuss the different recommendations and guidelines regarding the time interval between the two vaccine doses and explain the different scenarios for applying the two doses.