Progress of the development of anti-COVID-19 drugs

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease COVID-19 (also known as 2019-nCoV) caused by SARS-CoV-2 in the end of 2019, it has spread rapidly in worldwide. Besides developing effective vaccines, it is urgent to develop safe and effective anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs to fight this disease. Paxlovid, molnupiravir, sotrovimab and bebtelovimab are urgently authorized by FDA have been proved to be effective against Omicron. This manuscript mainly reviews the recent progress of effective inhibitors against the virus in the world, including receptor inhibitors, antibodies, natural product inhibitors, synthetic inhibitors and broad-spectrum antiviral drugs that are effective against other RNA viruses. © 2023, Chinese Pharmaceutical Association. All rights reserved.

The age of academic integrity in COVID-19: new normal changes to the health professional education

With online examinations prevailing, academic integrity has become a concern. This study is to explore perceptions of online tests among students. An anonymous online survey was conducted among 156 students enrolled in the health professional courses from the CUHK Faculty of Medicine in the academic year 2019-2020. The majority preferred traditional onsite examination (75%) over online format type (25%) because of a less technical requirement (86%), immediate support from invigilators for unanticipated situations (74%), and easiness of focusing (64%);however, some prefer online examinations due to convenience (66%). The pressure and anxiety towards the study do not have significant differences. The reasons for cheating include the desire to pass (42%), peer influence (42%), outstanding grades (38%), and ease of browsing other websites (31%). The application of the blackboard system, Respondus LockDown Browser, with Zoom invigilation minimises the chance of cheating.

Progress of the development of anti-COVID-19 drugs

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease COVID-19 (also known as 2019-nCoV) caused by SARS-CoV-2 in the end of 2019, it has spread rapidly in worldwide. Besides developing effective vaccines, it is urgent to develop safe and effective anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs to fight this disease. Paxlovid, molnupiravir, sotrovimab and bebtelovimab are urgently authorized by FDA have been proved to be effective against Omicron. This manuscript mainly reviews the recent progress of effective inhibitors against the virus in the world, including receptor inhibitors, antibodies, natural product inhibitors, synthetic inhibitors and broad-spectrum antiviral drugs that are effective against other RNA viruses.

Progress of the development of anti-COVID-19 drugs

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease COVID-19 (also known as 2019-nCoV) caused by SARS-CoV-2 in the end of 2019, it has spread rapidly in worldwide. Besides developing effective vaccines, it is urgent to develop safe and effective anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs to fight this disease. Paxlovid, molnupiravir, sotrovimab and bebtelovimab are urgently authorized by FDA have been proved to be effective against Omicron. This manuscript mainly reviews the recent progress of effective inhibitors against the virus in the world, including receptor inhibitors, antibodies, natural product inhibitors, synthetic inhibitors and broad-spectrum antiviral drugs that are effective against other RNA viruses. © 2023, Chinese Pharmaceutical Association. All rights reserved.

Blended peer-assisted learning using a video conference system for anatomy education: student learners' and student facilitators' perspectives

Anatomy education that traditionally relies on face-to-face delivery is disrupted by the outbreak of COVID-19. Due to suspension of face-to-face instruction in schools, our institution adopted a video conferencing system with peer-assisted learning (VCS-PAL). The study objectives are to: 1) report our institutional experience in adopting blended VCS-PAL in anatomy teaching;2) describe perceptions towards this pedagogy during the pandemic among student facilitators and learners. In the mixed-method educational research, 139 year-2 biomedical engineering and pharmacy students were surveyed regarding their VCS-PAL learning experience. A total of 85 returned the survey, with a response rate of 60.7% (85/139). Most students found the live demonstration of plastinated specimens helpful in learning anatomy (82%). The general feedback from both student learners and student facilitators are positive. The blended VCS-PAL approach in anatomy education provides an excellent adjustment opportunity amidst the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Frailty Reduces Vaccine Effectiveness Against SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Test-Negative Case Control Study Using National VA Data.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the variation of vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infection during the Delta wave according to frailty status among U.S. veterans. DESIGN: Test-negative case-control study of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine effectiveness. SETTING: Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical centers. PARTICIPANTS: Veterans 19 years and older who had at least one COVID-19/Flu like symptoms and received a SARS-CoV-2 PCR or antigen test at VHA medical centers between July 25 to September 30, 2021. INTERVENTION: mRNA vaccination. MEASUREMENTS: New SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vaccine effectiveness was defined as 1-odds of vaccination in cases/odds of vaccination in controls, where cases were patients who had a COVID-19 test and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, and controls were those who tested negative. Frailty was measured using the VA frailty index, categorized as robust (0-<0.1), pre-frail (≥0.1-<0.21) and frail (≥0.21). RESULTS: A total of 58,604 patients (age:58.9±17.0, median:61, IQR:45-72; 87.5%men; 68.1%white; 1.3%African American, 8.3%Hispanic) were included in the study. Of these, 27,733 (47.3%) were robust, 16,276 (27.8%) were prefrail, and 14,595 (24.9%) were frail. mRNA vaccine effectiveness against the Delta variant symptomatic infection was lower in patients with frailty, 62.8 %(95%CI:59.8-65.7), versus prefrail 73.9%(95%CI:72.0-75.7), and robust, 77.0 %(95%CI:75.7-78.3). CONCLUSIONS: This test-negative case control study showed that mRNA vaccine effectiveness against infection declined in veterans with frailty. Frailty status is a factor to consider when designing, developing, and evaluating COVID-19 vaccines.

Factors affecting telepractice use in COVID-19

Background: The use of telepractice as an alternate method of delivering healthcare to people increased significantly after COVID-19 became a global pandemic. Objective(s): This study aimed to identify factors contributing to the accelerated adoption of telepractice during COVID-19 in Singapore. It also sought to examine whether there are differences in the perspectives of staff in nursing facilities and caregivers in personal homes towards telepractice. Method(s): A cross-sectional mixed method design was used. A survey with 20 items was adapted from the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire and translated into Mandarin. Anonymous responses were obtained from 70 patients and caregivers who had received speech therapy services via telepractice from a restructured hospital before and/or during Singapore's Circuit Breaker period. Analyses were conducted using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Result(s): Sociodemographic variables of age, gender, education level and language preference did not impact user satisfaction and the likelihood of using telepractice again. Service-related factors were more influential. Participants chose to use telepractice as it saved travelling time (24.0%), was easy to use (19.3%), improved healthcare access (17.5%) and reduced waiting time (17.5%). Although all respondents expressed satisfaction in telepractice, 35.5% from personal homes and 37.5% from nursing facilities were not keen to use it again. Amongst caregivers, 26.7% from personal homes and 37.5% from nursing facilities preferred not to continue telepractice use. Technical and logistical disruptions and the lack of 'personal touch' were contributing factors. Conclusion(s): Improving technological infrastructure, providing training for users and developing guidelines would help sustain telepractice as a form of service delivery beyond COVID-19. Copyright © The Author(s) 2022.

Progress of the development of anti-COVID-19 drugs

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease COVID-19 (also known as 2019-nCoV) caused by SARS-CoV-2 in the end of 2019, it has spread rapidly in worldwide. Besides developing effective vaccines, it is urgent to develop safe and effective anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs to fight this disease. Paxlovid, molnupiravir, sotrovimab and bebtelovimab are urgently authorized by FDA have been proved to be effective against Omicron. This manuscript mainly reviews the recent progress of effective inhibitors against the virus in the world, including receptor inhibitors, antibodies, natural product inhibitors, synthetic inhibitors and broad-spectrum antiviral drugs that are effective against other RNA viruses. © 2023, Chinese Pharmaceutical Association. All rights reserved.

Development of Wasted Non-woven Fabric Mask (NFM) Disposal Machine

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, masks have been widely used as a personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent respiratory infection. A major type of masks used is non-woven fabric mask (NFM), which is currently classified as domestic waste and mostly disposed to general rubbish bins then eventually sent to the already saturating landfills. Moreover, the contaminated NFM is not disinfected properly during the disposal, which increases the risks of viral transmission and pollutes the environment. To alleviate the existing pressure to the environment, the amount of used NFM being disposed to landfills should be reduced. This paper studied the feasibility of recycling the used NFM and developed a prototype of disposal machine as the primary recycling process. By inserting the used NFM into the disposal machine, the masks can be shredded, disinfected and packed for further recycling processes. © 2022 IEEE.

THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS ON PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Social isolation and loneliness are related but distinct constructs. A number of studies have examined these two constructs separately;however, the combined and interactive effects of social isolation and loneliness on health outcomes have rarely been studied. Using the most recent data of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS 2020) collected during the pandemic, this study aimed to explore the latent classes of social isolation and loneliness among adults aged 60 and older (N=3,486) and to examine the associated psychological well-being. Social isolation was measured by five indicators, including living alone, no membership in any organizations, and less than once a month contact with children, relatives, and friends. Loneliness was measured by the 3-item UCLA scale. Four classes were identified by the Latent Class Analysis (LCA): neither isolated nor lonely (class 1, 35%), living alone and lonely (class 2, 25%), no social participation and lonely (class 3, 18%), and highly isolated and lonely (class 4, 23%). The results of multivariate regression indicated that compared to respondents who were neither isolated nor lonely, those who were in the class of living alone and lonely and the class of highly isolated and lonely had more depressive symptoms, stress, anxiety, worry, loneliness during the pandemic. The latent class of no social participation and lonely was associated with more depressive symptoms and covid-related stress. This study emphasizes the importance of specialized intervention strategies targeting the unique needs of older adults with different experiences of social isolation and loneliness.

Design and Implementation of a Health Status Reporting System Based on Spring Boot

The "IamOK"online health status reporting system is developed to meet the needs of colleges and universities to grasp the health status of teachers and students during the Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control period. The development and design framework of the system is elaborated by requirements analysis and overall structure design, followed by the introduction of the development method of using JPA, Redis caching technology, Nginx and other key technologies under the Spring Boot framework. © 2020 IEEE.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding COVID-19 among healthcare workers in Henan, China.

The study analysed healthcare workers' (HCWs) knowledge, practices, and attitudes regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A cross-sectional survey was conducted from February 4th to February 8th, 2020, involving a total of 1357 HCWs across 10 hospitals in Henan, China. Of those surveyed, 89% of HCWs had sufficient knowledge of COVID-19, more than 85% feared self-infection with the virus, and 89.7% followed correct practices regarding COVID-19. In addition to knowledge level, some risk factors including work experience and job category influenced HCWs' attitudes and practice concerning COVID-19. Measures must be taken to protect HCWs from risks linked to job category, work experience, working hours, educational attainment, and frontline HCWs.