Geraniin as a potential inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro.

Geraniin is a polyphenolic compound first isolated from Geranium thunbergii. The major protease (Mpro), namely 3 C-like protease (3CLpro), of coronaviruses is considered an attractive drug target as it is essential for the processing and maturation of viral polyproteins. Thus, our primary goal is to explore the efficiency of geraniin on 3CLpro of SARS-CoV-2 using the computational biology strategy. In this work, we studied the anti-coronavirus effect of geraniin in vitro and its potential inhibitory mode against the 3CLpro of SARS-CoV-2. We found that geraniin inhibited HCoV-OC43 coronavirus-infected cells during the attachment and penetration phases. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations exhibited that geraniin had a strong binding affinity and high stable binding to 3CLpro of SARS-CoV-2. Geraniin showed a strong inhibitory activity on coronavirus and may be a potential inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro.

Nutrition Literacy of Middle School Students and Its Influencing Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study in Chongqing, China.

Nutrition literacy plays an important role in children's dietary habits and nutrition. This study aimed to analyse the status of nutrition literacy and its influencing factors amongst middle school students in Chongqing, China. "Nutrition literacy scale for middle school students in Chongqing" was used in 29 districts of Chongqing in September 2020. The scores of nutrition literacy and its' three sub-domains (functional, interactive and critical nutrition literacy) were divided into low and high groups based on their median scores. Binary logistic regression was used to measure the influencing factors of nutrition literacy. A total of 18,660 middle school students were included in this study. The median of nutrition literacy of middle school students was 61.68 (IQR = 14.37). Interactive nutrition literacy had the highest score (median = 70.00, IQR = 20.00), followed by functional nutrition literacy (median = 68.69, IQR = 14.14) and critical nutrition literacy (median = 45.83, IQR = 25.00). Students who were the minority (OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.637-0.785), in senior high school (OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.477-0.548), in rural areas (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.790-0.911), receiving school meal support from the government (OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.591-0.664), with other caregivers' parenting (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.805-0.914), with parents having a low level of education and with an abnormal BMI [thin (OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.837-0.990), overweight (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.785-0.968), and obese (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.767-0.902)] presented less probability of being a high level of nutrition literacy. Our results could assist public health authorities in developing strategies of nutrition literacy promotion for references and theoretical foundations.

Comparison of sleep quality among puerperal women before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey in Lanzhou, China

Purpose Few studies have yet examined sleep quality among puerperal women during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This cross-sectional study aimed to compare the sleep quality of puerperal women before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lanzhou, China. The study exploreed the factors that affect sleep quality among puerperal women. Methods The study population comprised puerperal women who went to the obstetric department of the Gansu Provincial Maternity and Childcare Hospital on the 42nd day after childbirth. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data were collected by doctors in the obstetric department before the COVID-19 pandemic (Oct.–Dec. 2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (Feb.–Apr. 2020) in China. Multiple linear regressions were used to examine the association between the sleep quality of puerperal women and COVID-19 and to identify factors that affect the total PSQI scores. Results In 2019, 546 puerperal women were assessed compared with 655 who were assessed in 2020. Compared with before COVID-19, the total PSQI scores of puerperal women improved during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the influencing factors of sleep quality among puerperal women were the pandemic itself, age, conception method, and postpartum depression (PPD). Conclusions In contrast with other studies, there was no evidence for worsening sleep quality of puerperal women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lanzhou, China. Puerperal women who underwent assisted pregnancy or developed PPD were more likely to experience poor sleep quality.

Comparison of sleep quality among puerperal women before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey in Lanzhou, China.

PURPOSE: Few studies have yet examined sleep quality among puerperal women during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This cross-sectional study aimed to compare the sleep quality of puerperal women before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lanzhou, China. The study exploreed the factors that affect sleep quality among puerperal women. METHODS: The study population comprised puerperal women who went to the obstetric department of the Gansu Provincial Maternity and Childcare Hospital on the 42nd day after childbirth. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data were collected by doctors in the obstetric department before the COVID-19 pandemic (Oct.-Dec. 2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (Feb.-Apr. 2020) in China. Multiple linear regressions were used to examine the association between the sleep quality of puerperal women and COVID-19 and to identify factors that affect the total PSQI scores. RESULTS: In 2019, 546 puerperal women were assessed compared with 655 who were assessed in 2020. Compared with before COVID-19, the total PSQI scores of puerperal women improved during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the influencing factors of sleep quality among puerperal women were the pandemic itself, age, conception method, and postpartum depression (PPD). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast with other studies, there was no evidence for worsening sleep quality of puerperal women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lanzhou, China. Puerperal women who underwent assisted pregnancy or developed PPD were more likely to experience poor sleep quality.

A potential antiviral activity of Esculentoside A against binding interactions of SARS-COV-2 spike protein and angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

The recent emergence of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in a devastating pandemic with global concern. However, to date, there are no regimens to prevent and treat SARS-CoV-2 virus. There is an urgent need to identify novel leads with anti-viral properties that impede viral pathogenesis in the host system. Esculentoside A (EsA), a saponin isolated from the root of Phytolacca esculenta, is known to exhibit diverse pharmacological properties, especially anti-inflammatory activity. To our knowledge, SARS-CoV-2 uses angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to enter host cells. This is mediated through the proteins of SARS-CoV-2, especially the spike glycoprotein receptor binding domain. Thus, our primary goal is to prevent virus replication and binding to the host, which allows us to explore the efficiency of EsA on key surface drug target proteins using the computational biology paradigm approach. Here, the anti-coronavirus activity of EsA in vitro and its potential mode of inhibitory action on the S-protein of SARS-CoV-2 were investigated. We found that EsA inhibited the HCoV-OC43 coronavirus during the attachment and penetration stage. Molecular docking results showed that EsA had a strong binding affinity with the spike glycoprotein from SARS-CoV-2. The results of the molecular dynamics simulation revealed that EsA had higher stable binding with the spike protein. These results demonstrated that Esculentoside A can act as a spike protein blocker to inhibit SARS-CoV-2. Considering the poor bioavailability and low toxicity of EsA, it is suitable as novel lead for the inhibitor against binding interactions of SARS-CoV-2 of S-protein and ACE2.