Does COVID-19 Affect the Accessibility of Outdoor Sports Venues? A Case Study in Nanchang, China

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a great challenge to society, the economy, and population health. It has become a significant public health event and social problem. Exploring the impact of COVID-19 on the accessibility of outdoor sports venues is crucial for people's health. Based on spatial theory, the quantitative and qualitative analyses of outdoor sports venues' spatial distribution and accessibility were conducted, and the epidemic's impact on them was analyzed. The results show that: (1) The existing outdoor sports venues in Nanchang show a distribution pattern of 'sparse in the north and south, and strong aggregation in the middle';. (2) As a result of the epidemic, the center of the standard deviation ellipse in outdoor sports sites shifted to the southeast, while the number of open venues decreased by 68%. (3) Before COVID-19, the entire study area could achieve full coverage by driving for 17 min, riding for 70 min, or walking for 119 min. After COVID-19, the time increased to 29, 109, and 193 min, respectively. (4) Under the high-risk scenario of COVID-19, the average walking time for people to reach outdoor sports venues increased from 6.2 min to 14.0 min in the study area, with an increase of 126%. Finally, according to the findings of this study, recommendations were made on how government departments could build or re-open outdoor sports venues during and after this epidemic.

Comparison of BNT162b2-, mRNA-1273- and Ad26.COV2.S-Elicited IgG and Neutralizing Titers against SARS-CoV-2 and Its Variants.

Because the vaccine-elicited antibody and neutralizing activity against spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 are associated with protection from COVID-19, it is important to determine the levels of specific IgG and neutralization titers against SARS-CoV-2 elicited by the vaccines. While three widely used vaccine brands (Pfizer-BNT162b2, Moderna-mRNA-1273 and Johnson-Ad26.COV2.S) are effective in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and alleviating COVID-19 illness, they have different efficacy against COVID-19. It is unclear whether the differences are due to varying ability of the vaccines to elicit a specific IgG antibody response and neutralization activity against spike protein of the virus. In this study, we compared the plasma IgG and neutralization titers against spike proteins of wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and eight variants in healthy subjects who received the mRNA-1273, BNT162b2 or Ad26.COV2.S vaccine. We demonstrated that subjects vaccinated with Ad26.COV2.S vaccine had significantly lower levels of IgG and neutralizing titers as compared to those who received the mRNA vaccines. While the linear regression analysis showed a positive correlation between IgG levels and neutralizing activities against SARS-CoV-2 WT and the variants, there was an overall reduction in neutralizing titers against the variants in subjects across the three groups. These findings suggest that people who received one dose of Ad26.COV2.S vaccine have a more limited IgG response and lower neutralization activity against SARS-CoV-2 WT and its variants than recipients of the mRNA vaccines. Thus, monitoring the plasma or serum levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG titer and neutralization activity is necessary for the selection of suitable vaccines, vaccine dosage and regimens.

Problematic Mobile Phone Use and Life Satisfaction Among University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Shanghai, China.

Objective: This study examined problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) and its relationship with life satisfaction in Chinese university students during the pandemic. Methods: An anonymous online survey was conducted in a university in China. The Mobile Phone Addiction Index (MPAI) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were used to assess the severity of problematic mobile phone use and life satisfaction, respectively. Data on demographic and health-related factors were also collected. Results: A total of 1,491 undergraduate students (73.3% were male) completed the survey. On average, students in the survey reported spending 7.4 ± 4.3 h/day on phone use. Their MPAI score was 38.1 ± 13.3 and SWLS score was 24.9 ± 6.8, respectively. After controlling for confounding factors, the MPAI score was significantly associated with lower life satisfaction. Multiple linear regression revealed that higher monthly allowances, frequent insomnia, longer phone use duration were significantly associated with PMPU. Conclusion: University students in China spend nearly half of their waking hours on mobile phone use, significantly longer than before the COVID-19 pandemic. PMPU is associated with insomnia, lower life satisfaction and higher allowances. If the trend continues after the pandemic, interventions may be needed. Increase in-person interactions, limiting online social and gaming time, awareness campaign may be effective in reducing the impact of PMPU and improve life satisfaction.

Endothelial Immunity Trained by Coronavirus Infections, DAMP Stimulations and Regulated by Anti-Oxidant NRF2 May Contribute to Inflammations, Myelopoiesis, COVID-19 Cytokine Storms and Thromboembolism.

To characterize transcriptomic changes in endothelial cells (ECs) infected by coronaviruses, and stimulated by DAMPs, the expressions of 1311 innate immune regulatomic genes (IGs) were examined in 28 EC microarray datasets with 7 monocyte datasets as controls. We made the following findings: The majority of IGs are upregulated in the first 12 hours post-infection (PI), and maintained until 48 hours PI in human microvascular EC infected by middle east respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) (an EC model for COVID-19). The expressions of IGs are modulated in 21 human EC transcriptomic datasets by various PAMPs/DAMPs, including LPS, LPC, shear stress, hyperlipidemia and oxLDL. Upregulation of many IGs such as nucleic acid sensors are shared between ECs infected by MERS-CoV and those stimulated by PAMPs and DAMPs. Human heart EC and mouse aortic EC express all four types of coronavirus receptors such as ANPEP, CEACAM1, ACE2, DPP4 and virus entry facilitator TMPRSS2 (heart EC); most of coronavirus replication-transcription protein complexes are expressed in HMEC, which contribute to viremia, thromboembolism, and cardiovascular comorbidities of COVID-19. ECs have novel trained immunity (TI), in which subsequent inflammation is enhanced. Upregulated proinflammatory cytokines such as TNFα, IL6, CSF1 and CSF3 and TI marker IL-32 as well as TI metabolic enzymes and epigenetic enzymes indicate TI function in HMEC infected by MERS-CoV, which may drive cytokine storms. Upregulated CSF1 and CSF3 demonstrate a novel function of ECs in promoting myelopoiesis. Mechanistically, the ER stress and ROS, together with decreased mitochondrial OXPHOS complexes, facilitate a proinflammatory response and TI. Additionally, an increase of the regulators of mitotic catastrophe cell death, apoptosis, ferroptosis, inflammasomes-driven pyroptosis in ECs infected with MERS-CoV and the upregulation of pro-thrombogenic factors increase thromboembolism potential. Finally, NRF2-suppressed ROS regulate innate immune responses, TI, thrombosis, EC inflammation and death. These transcriptomic results provide novel insights on the roles of ECs in coronavirus infections such as COVID-19, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), inflammation, transplantation, autoimmune disease and cancers.

Cellular mechanisms underlying neurological/neuropsychiatric manifestations of COVID-19.

Patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection manifest mainly respiratory symptoms. However, clinical observations frequently identified neurological symptoms and neuropsychiatric disorders related to COVID-19 (Neuro-SARS2). Accumulated robust evidence indicates that Neuro-SARS2 may play an important role in aggravating the disease severity and mortality. Understanding the neuropathogenesis and cellular mechanisms underlying Neuro-SARS2 is crucial for both basic research and clinical practice to establish effective strategies for early detection/diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. In this review, we comprehensively examine current evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in various neural cells including neurons, microglia/macrophages, astrocytes, pericytes/endothelial cells, ependymocytes/choroid epithelial cells, and neural stem/progenitor cells. Although significant progress has been made in studying Neuro-SARS2, much remains to be learned about the neuroinvasive routes (transneuronal and hematogenous) of the virus and the cellular/molecular mechanisms underlying the development/progression of this disease. Future and ongoing studies require the establishment of more clinically relevant and suitable neural cell models using human induced pluripotent stem cells, brain organoids, and postmortem specimens.