Network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis identified essential genes of Jingulian in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and COVID-19.

Background: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be more susceptible to infection by coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) due to immune system dysfunction. However, there are still insufficient treatment strategies for patients with RA and COVID-19. Since Jingulian is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with anti-viral and immune regulatory functions, our study aims to explore the detailed mechanisms of Jingulian in treating patients with RA and COVID-19. Methods: All the components of Jingulian were retrieved from pharmacology databases. Then, a series of network pharmacology-based analyses and molecular docking were used to understand the molecular functions, core targets, related pathways, and potential therapeutic targets of Jingulian in patients with RA/COVID-19. Results: A total of 93 genes were identified according to the disease-compound-target network. We investigated that the main targets, signaling pathways, and biological functions of Jingulian in RA and COVID-19. Our results indicated that Jingulian may treat patients with RA/COVID-19 through immune processes and viral processes. Moreover, the results of molecular docking revealed that tormentic acid was one of the top compounds of Jingulian, which had high affinity with Janus kinase 1 (JAK1), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in patients with RA/COVID-19. Furthermore, 5 core targets of Jingulian were also identified, including JAK1, Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), STAT3, lymphocyte specific protein tyrosine kinase (LCK), and EGFR. Conclusions: Tormentic acid in Jingulian may regulate JAK1, STAT3, and EGFR, and might play a critical role in RA/COVID-19.

Research on International Cooperative Governance of the COVID-19.

Since the first case of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has quickly spread to all the corners of the world. Amid the global public health threats posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, active cooperative governance has gradually emerged as the most powerful weapon against its spread. To facilitate international cooperation for pandemic governance, this paper applied the evolutionary game theory to analyze the factors influencing active cooperative governance and, based on the results, proposed a series of recommendations for promoting international cooperation. (1) leveraging the role of international organizations to reduce the cost of realizing the strategy of active cooperative governance, (2) promoting the international exchange of related experiences to lower the cost of active pandemic governance, (3) sustaining productive and daily activities during the pandemic in a classified and hierarchical manner to reduce the economic loss incurred by active pandemic governance, and (4) optimizing the incentive measures of international organizations to facilitate the selection of active cooperative governance. Finally, from the four aspects of resource management of pandemic treatment, supply management of living materials, population flow cooperation management, and governance fund cooperation management, this paper gives the path of international pandemic cooperative governance.

Medical resources and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) mortality rate: Evidence and implications from Hubei province in China.

In light of the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, this study aims to examine the relationship between the availability of public health resources and the mortality rate of this disease. We conducted empirical analyses using linear regression, a time-varying effect model, and a regression discontinuity design to investigate the association of medical resources with the mortality rate of the COVID-19 patients in Hubei, China. The results showed that the numbers of hospital beds, healthcare system beds, and medical staff per confirmed cases all had significant negative effects on the coronavirus disease mortality rate. Furthermore, in the context of the severe pandemic currently being experienced worldwide, the present study summarized the experience and implications in pandemic prevention and control in Hubei province from the perspective of medical resource integration as follows: First, hospitals' internal medical resources were integrated, breaking interdepartmental barriers. Second, joint pandemic control was realized by integrating regional healthcare system resources. Finally, an external medical resource allocation system was developed.

Population migration, confirmed COVID-19 cases, pandemic prevention, and control: evidence and experiences from China.

Aim: The virulence of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has facilitated its rapid transition towards becoming a pandemic. Hence, this study aims to investigate the association between population migration and the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in China while investigating its measures for pandemic prevention and control. Subject and methods: A susceptible-exposed-infected-recovered-dormancy (SEIRD) model for the spread of COVID-19 in China was created to theoretically simulate the relationship between the populations migrating from Wuhan and the number of confirmed cases. Data from Baidu's real-time dynamic pandemic monitoring system were elicited to empirically examine the theoretical inferences. Results: Populations migrating from Wuhan to other cities increased the initial number of latently infected cases in these cities, raising the number of confirmed cases. Hence, implementing social distancing between the susceptible and infected populations could effectively lower the number of infected cases. Using data from Baidu's real-time dynamic pandemic monitoring system, the empirical results revealed that an increase of 1000 persons migrating from Wuhan raised the number of confirmed cases by 4.82 persons. Conclusion: This study confirmed the positive association between population migration and the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Based on the theoretical and empirical analysis, China's pandemic prevention and control measures are discussed.