ABSTRACT
It is striking that East Asian, South East Asian and South Pacific Populations appear relatively unscathed by the second and subsequent waves of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic compared to the rest of the world. This is more so with the more infectious G614 mutation of COVID-19. Adherence to social distancing measures and face protection do not explain the almost 30-fold difference in infection incidence between Asian and European/ American populations. The populations in the Indian Subcontinent are an exception, as infections rates were elevated compared to other Asian countries. Differences in immune responses between European and African populations have been alluded to because of archaic introgression of immune-related Neanderthal genes in the European genome. As opposed to the European genome, the Asian genome has a higher introgression of the Neanderthal’s sister species’ genes, the Denisovan genes, which are more commonly found in East and South East Asia and the South Pacific populations. Contrastingly the Denisonvan genes are scantily found in the populations of the Indian Subcontinent. Lockdown in China and bordering nations, led to significant reductions in atmospheric pollution, which itself significantly attenuates pulmonary immunity. Following lockdown in January the G614 variant emerged in China. With improved immunity following lockdown, the Denisovan immunity-related gene may have been allowed to be expressed more effectively, protecting Asian populations against the more infectious G614 variant of SARS-CoV-2 during the subsequent waves of the pandemic. © 2021 Angelo Pontecorboli Editore - EDK. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic heightened anti-Asian racism towards East Asian diasporas in North America. Experiences of racism encountered by East Asian communities have been documented to negatively impact their mental health. METHODS: A scoping review was undertaken following Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) methodology to (a) map the foci of literature on racism and the mental health of East Asian diasporas in North America and (b) identify gaps in the current literature. RESULTS: A total of 1309 articles were identified in May 2021. Based on the inclusion criteria, 35 records were included. Two distinct mental health foci were found: mental health outcomes and mental healthcare access and utilization. The majority (n = 22) of the articles focused on racism at the interpersonal level. Six articles provided anti-racism solutions at the individual level, such as overcoming biases. Five articles targeted anti-racism solutions from both the individual and institutional levels, while 1 article addressed barriers at the institutional level, such as dismantling sanctioned power hierarchies. CONCLUSION: The expanding knowledge base on COVID-19-related racial discrimination is reminiscent of previous literature examining the history of anti-Asian racism in North America. Greater attention is needed to navigate impactful anti-racism solutions for East Asian populations' mental health in North America.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine has been widely administered against SARS-CoV-2 infection; however, data regarding its immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and potential differences in responses among Asian populations remain scarce. METHODS: 270 participants without prior COVID-19 were enrolled to receive ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination with a prime-boost interval of 8-9 weeks. Their specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, neutralizing antibody titers (NT50), platelet counts, and D-dimer levels were analyzed before and after vaccination. RESULTS: The seroconversion rates of anti-RBD and anti-spike IgG at day 28 after a boost vaccination (BD28) were 100% and 95.19%, respectively. Anti-RBD and anti-spike IgG levels were highly correlated (r = 0.7891), which were 172.9 ± 170.4 and 179.3 ± 76.88 BAU/mL at BD28, respectively. The geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) of NT50 for all participants increased to 132.9 IU/mL (95% CI 120.0-147.1) at BD28 and were highly correlated with anti-RBD and anti-spike IgG levels (r = 0.8248 and 0.7474, respectively). Body weight index was statistically significantly associated with anti-RBD IgG levels (p = 0.035), while female recipients had higher anti-spike IgG levels (p = 0.038). The GMCs of NT50 declined with age (p = 0.0163) and were significantly different across age groups (159.7 IU/mL for 20-29 years, 99.4 IU/mL for ≥50 years, p = 0.0026). Injection-site pain, fever, and fatigue were the major reactogenicity, which were more pronounced after prime vaccination and in younger participants (<50 years). Platelet counts decreased and D-dimer levels increased after vaccination but were not clinically relevant. No serious adverse events or deaths were observed. CONCLUSION: The vaccine is well-tolerated and elicited robust humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 after standard prime-boost vaccination in Taiwanese recipients.