Reviewing the availability, efficacy and clinical utility of Telepsychology in dialectical behavior therapy (Tele-DBT).

BACKGROUND: Telepsychology is increasingly being implemented in mental health care. We conducted a scoping review on the best available research evidence regarding availability, efficacy and clinical utility of telepsychology in DBT. The review was performed using PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Our aim was to help DBT-therapists make empirically supported decisions about the use of telepsychology during and after the current pandemic and to anticipate the changing digital needs of patients and clinicians. METHODS: A search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, PsycARTICLES and Web of Science. Search terms for telepsychology were included and combined with search terms that relate to DBT. RESULTS: Our search and selection procedures resulted in 41 articles containing information on phone consultation, smartphone applications, internet delivered skills training, videoconferencing, virtual reality and computer- or video-assisted interventions in DBT. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of research about telepsychology in DBT has focused on the treatment mode of between-session contact. However, more trials using sophisticated empirical methodologies are needed. Quantitative data on the efficacy and utility of online and blended alternatives to standard (i.e. face-to-face) individual therapy, skills training and therapist consultation team were scarce. The studies that we found were designed to evaluate feasibility and usability. A permanent shift to videoconferencing or online training is therefore not warranted as long as face-to-face is an option. In all, there is an urgent need to compare standard DBT to online or blended DBT. Smartphone apps and virtual reality (VR) are experienced as an acceptable facilitator in access and implantation of DBT skills. In addition, we have to move forward on telepsychology applications by consulting our patients, younger peers and experts in adjacent fields if we want DBT to remain effective and relevant in the digital age.

Modular capsid decoration boosts adenovirus vaccine-induced humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2.

Adenovirus vector vaccines have been widely and successfully deployed in response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, despite inducing potent T cell immunity, improvement of vaccine-specific antibody responses upon homologous boosting is modest compared with other technologies. Here, we describe a system enabling modular decoration of adenovirus capsid surfaces with antigens and demonstrate potent induction of humoral immunity against these displayed antigens. Ligand attachment via a covalent bond was achieved using a protein superglue, DogTag/DogCatcher (similar to SpyTag/SpyCatcher), in a rapid and spontaneous reaction requiring only co-incubation of ligand and vector components. DogTag was inserted into surface-exposed loops in the adenovirus hexon protein to allow attachment of DogCatcher-fused ligands on virus particles. Efficient coverage of the capsid surface was achieved using various ligands, with vector infectivity retained in each case. Capsid decoration shielded particles from vector neutralizing antibodies. In prime-boost regimens, adenovirus vectors decorated with the receptor-binding domain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike induced >10-fold higher SARS-CoV-2 neutralization titers compared with an undecorated vector encoding spike. Importantly, decorated vectors achieved equivalent or superior T cell immunogenicity against encoded antigens compared with undecorated vectors. We propose capsid decoration using protein superglues as a novel strategy to improve efficacy and boostability of adenovirus-based vaccines and therapeutics.

Geographic variations in opioid overdose patterns in Pennsylvania during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The convergence of the opioid epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic has created new health challenges throughout the United States. Since the onset of the pandemic, media attention and scholarly research have drawn attention to the intersections of addiction and COVID-19. However, there remain few empirical studies that examine the direct impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic for opioid overdose patterns. Even fewer have integrated quantitative and qualitative methods to detail the place-specific dynamics shaping opioid overdose and addiction treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article measures and maps change in the age-adjusted rate of opioid-related overdose incidents at the county level from 2018 to 2020. These analyses are combined with interviews conducted since December 2020 with public health providers in the state of Pennsylvania to identify the key factors influencing opioid misuse and transformations in addiction treatment practices.

Approach for the Study of COVID-19 Infection and Vaccine Development using Mice Model: A Narrative Review

COVID-19 global pandemics have called for researchers to design a suitable non-primate animal model as a tool for the study of pathogenesis, drug, and vaccine candidates. Studies using rodents have recently been developed and conducted to provide insights for various possible approaches to studying COVID-19. Here, we discussed the rodent model of COVID-19, primarily utilizing mice with strains of BALB/c and C57BL to understand the course of the and vaccine efficacy research. We searched for several online databases that studied the SARS-CoV-2 infection in rodents and vaccine development. We then appraised and discussed animal models to enhance drug development and vaccine studies on COVID-19. We appraised, discussed, and summarized 13 papers regarding the administration routes, observations, and indications for the study and further discussed the benefits and limitations of the studies. We found that researchers have successfully produced a transgenic animal model transfected with human ACE2 (hACE2), a good model of COVID-19 related high viral load with clinicopathology mimicking humans. We also found that the aged mice model presented a more serious disease than the less mature ones. Description and characterization of transgenic mice strains should also be applied to acquire a suitable animal model for COVID-19. Furthermore, SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to promote the number of pathogenic inflammation processes in BALB/c mice, which can be used for cytokines characterization, needed in drug and vaccine efficacy. © 2022 American Institute of Physics Inc.. All rights reserved.

Cannabis dispensary online marketing practices in response to COVID-19 lockdowns.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been accompanied by increases in cannabis consumption, which might relate to dispensary marketing activities. As part of an ongoing project monitoring cannabis dispensary websites in Northern California and Reno, Nevada, we noticed many websites added announcements and "pop-up" communications in response to lockdowns. This brief report describes the cannabis dispensary website communications related to COVID-19 with the aim to provide insight into emerging marketing messages that may increase cannabis consumption in times of crisis. Methods: Content analysis of COVID-19 announcements present on cannabis dispensary websites in San Francisco/Alameda Counties (n = 32), and the Reno area (n = 15) in April-May 2020 shortly after lockdowns were implemented. Results: COVID-19 announcements were present on 25/32 (78%) of dispensary websites in San Francisco/Alameda and 9/15 (60%) of websites in the Reno area. Almost all COVID-19 announcements (88% San Francisco/Alameda, 89% Reno) announced operational changes such as delivery or curbside pickup services, 72% and 56% respectively announced patron/employee safety measures. Health related messages were present; about half of website announcements referred to government/health authorities, 44% of Reno area announcements used healthcare rhetoric, and some San Francisco/Alameda announcements included suggestions for using cannabis to mitigate infection risk or manage anxiety. Conclusions: Most cannabis dispensaries in the study region implemented COVID-19 pandemic operational changes to maintain product availability, and many positioned their identity with health - either by referring to health authorities, or using health rhetoric, and a minority gave health advice. Cannabis dispensary websites provide a timely snapshot of marketing practices that may contribute to increases in cannabis use during stressful events.

Daphnoretin from Carthamus tinctorius as a Potential Inflammatory Inhibitor in COVID-19 by Binding to Toll-like Receptor-4: An in silico Molecular Docking Study

BACKGROUND: Cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients has contributed to many morbidities and mortalities in patients. Studies have found that toll-like receptors (TLRs) and some Fc receptors play essential roles in the hyperactivation of the immune system. Up to date, researchers are still in progress to discover effective and safe drugs to alleviate the hyperinflammatory state in COVID-19. The previous studies had shown that Carthamus tinctorius and its bioactive compounds might have anti-inflammatory activities in animal models. AIM: We aimed to investigate the possible interactions of several flavonoids from C. tinctorius with several immune system components using a biocomputational approach. METHODS: Molecular docking was done using the AutoDock program based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) COVID-19 pathway. The most suitable receptors found were studied to study the interactions with several flavonoids from C. tinctorius. RESULTS: TLR4, TLR8, and FcγRIIa were found to bind with SARS CoV2 inflammatory pathway and further selected as macromolecules for potential interactions study with 22 flavonoids from C. tinctorius. Of the 22 flavonoids studied, daphnoretin showed the best binding affinity with TLR4 and Rutin was shown to attach best with FcγRIIa. Unlike its excellent binding to TLR4, daphnoretin showed weak binding to TLR8. CONCLUSION: Daphnoretin showed an excellent affinity with TLR4 and might be a good candidate as an inhibitor in hyperinflammatory reactions in COVID-19 DTLR8.

Modular capsid decoration boosts adenovirus vaccine-induced humoral and cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2 (preprint)

Adenovirus vector vaccines have been widely and successfully deployed in response to COVID-19. However, despite inducing potent T cell immunity, improvement of vaccine-specific antibody responses upon homologous boosting is modest compared to other technologies. Here, we describe a system to enable modular decoration of adenovirus capsid surfaces with protein antigens and demonstrate induction of potent humoral immunity against these displayed antigens. Ligand attachment via a covalent isopeptide bond was achieved in a rapid and spontaneous reaction, requiring simple co-incubation of ligand and vector components. We used a recently described protein superglue, DogTag/DogCatcher, which is similar to the widely used SpyTag/SpyCatcher ligation system but performs better in loop structures. DogTag was inserted into surface-exposed loops in the adenovirus hexon protein to allow attachment of DogCatcher-fused ligands on virus particles. Efficient coverage of the capsid surface was achieved using a variety of ligands and vector infectivity was retained in each case. Capsid decoration shielded particles from anti-adenovirus neutralizing antibodies. In prime-boost regimens, proof-of-concept COVID-19 adenovirus vaccines decorated with the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike induced >10-fold higher SARS-CoV-2 neutralization titers compared to an undecorated adenovirus vector encoding spike. Importantly, decorated vectors retained robust T cell immunogenicity to encoded antigens, a key hallmark of adenovirus vector vaccines. We propose capsid decoration via protein superglue-mediated covalent ligation as a novel strategy to improve the efficacy and boostability of adenovirus-based vaccines and therapeutics.

Prediction of mortality in hypertensive covid-19 patients receiving renin angiotensin aldosterone-based therapy: An evidence-based case report

Hypertension is the most common comorbidity found in COVID-19 patients, which might increase the risk of mortality. Inhibitors of the RAAS are among the first-choice agents in hypertension, including ACE-I and ARB. The use of RAAS inhibitors is thought to increase the expression of ACE-2 receptors, facilitating the entry of SARS-CoV-2, which might result in increased mortality, though previous studies got conflicting results. This evidence-based case report was made to answer whether the use of RAAS inhibitors increases the mortality in COVID-19 patients. We explored studies relevant to our clinical question, including only systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and cohort studies that compared mortality rate in hypertensive COVID-19 patients receiving RAAS inhibitors to those who were not. Articles were then selected by title and abstract screening and elimination of articles that did not fit our clinical question and eligibility criteria. The result of selected papers was then critically appraised according to the validity, importance, and applicability of the studies using the critical appraisal form from CEBM. From 191 articles initially found, three studies fit our eligibility criteria (1 systematic review, evidence level 2A, and two cohort studies, evidence level 2B). The systematic review shows an OR of 0.73 ((95% CI 0,56-0,95;p = 0.001) with substantial heterogeneity (I2=74%). The first cohort study shows an HR of 0,97 (95% CI 0,89-1,06) in patients receiving ACE-I and HR of 0,98 (95% CI 0,89-1,06) in patients receiving ARB compared to those who received CCB. The second cohort study shows an OR of OR: 0.623 (95% CI 0.423-0.917;p = 0,016). Findings gathered from various studies showed inconclusive results regarding the use of RAAS inhibitors in hypertensive COVID-19 patients. From our critical appraisal, we found that RAAS inhibitors’ usage tends not to increase the mortality of COVID-19 patients. Thus, we suggest that COVID-19 patients on RAAS inhibitors should continue with their treatment regimen. A large-scale cohort study is still needed to get a conclusion with more robust evidence.

Potential pharmacological options and new avenues using inhaled curcumin nanoformulations for treatment of post-COVID-19 Fibrosis

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 that may lead to adverse respiratory problems and death. As of January 17th, 2021, it has transformed into a global health crisis with 93,194,922 reported cases and 2.2% case fatality rate. Severe form of COVID-19 may progress into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which in turn leads to pulmonary fibrosis. This review aims to investigate the potential use of anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic drugs as well as inhaled curcumin nanoformulations for post-ARDS fibrosis. Anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic drugs can inhibit certain pathways in the development of post-ARDS fibrosis, but there are serious limitations in their use. Since transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is the most important pathway in fibrosis development and is up-regulated in SARS-CoV-2 infection, antifibrotic agents that target it may be an alternative treatment. This property can be found in curcumin. Complexing curcumin with nanoparticles has proven to be safe, cost-effective, and enhances its pharmacodynamic action. Unlike current drugs, curcumin nanoformulations can be generated as inhaled aerosol and given to COVID-19 ARDS patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Future research should clarify the recommended dosing and timing of curcumin aerosol delivery, its safety and efficacy, as well as its long-term effects in the lungs.