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1.
Information, Communication & Society ; 26(7):1452-1469, 2023.
Article in English | Academic Search Complete | ID: covidwho-20245149

ABSTRACT

In efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19, many countries have implemented a variety of lockdown and quarantine measures. With substantially reduced face-to-face interactions, many people may have relied heavily on social media for connection, information, and entertainment. However, little is known about the psychological and physical health implications of social media use during strict lockdown. The current study investigates the associations of social media use with psychological well-being and physical health among Wuhan residents (N = 1214). Our findings showed that non-COVID related self-disclosure was positively associated with psychological well-being, while COVID related information consumption and sharing were negatively associated with psychological well-being. Further, more generic use of social media was associated with lower psychological well-being, which in turn related to more somatic symptoms. Quarantined people used social media more frequently than non-quarantined people. Importantly, the negative association between social media use and psychological well-being was significantly stronger for quarantined people than unquarantined people. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Information, Communication & Society is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

2.
Mathematics ; 11(10), 2023.
Article in English | Web of Science | ID: covidwho-20242480

ABSTRACT

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic's development has presented significant societal and economic challenges. The carriers of COVID-19 transmission have also been identified as asymptomatic infected people. Yet, most epidemic models do not consider their impact when accounting for the disease's indirect transmission. This study suggested and investigated a mathematical model replicating the spread of coronavirus disease among asymptomatic infected people. A study was conducted on every aspect of the system's solution. The equilibrium points and the basic reproduction number were computed. The endemic equilibrium point and the disease-free equilibrium point had both undergone local stability analyses. A geometric technique was used to look into the global dynamics of the endemic point, whereas the Castillo-Chavez theorem was used to look into the global stability of the disease-free point. The system's transcritical bifurcation at the disease-free point was discovered to exist. The system parameters were changed using the basic reproduction number's sensitivity technique. Ultimately, a numerical simulation was used to apply the model to the population of Iraq in order to validate the findings and define the factors that regulate illness breakout.

3.
Journal of Asian Studies ; 82(2):243-244, 2023.
Article in English | Academic Search Complete | ID: covidwho-20241895

ABSTRACT

The book's middle chapters examine the various bold and careful acts of Wuhan residents during the lockdown. A scrupulous student of China's internet, Yang devotes most of his attention to analyzing China's fast-changing internet culture through the lens of the Wuhan lockdown. After the Wuhan lockdown in early 2020, China imposed lockdown in every city where there was an outbreak, until it lifted the zero COVID policy in December 2022. [Extracted from the article] Copyright of Journal of Asian Studies is the property of Duke University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

4.
Computational & Mathematical Methods in Medicine ; : 1-12, 2023.
Article in English | Academic Search Complete | ID: covidwho-20235943

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 is the short name of the coronavirus disease discovered in Wuhan, China, in 2019. In the context of Tanzania, we develop a mathematical model in this work that compares lockdown and quarantine. Again, we provide evidence in favor of local and global stability, with the basic reproduction number, R 0 , determined to be 0.31 at the diagnostic test rates k 1 = k 2 = 0.05. In comparison to the lockdown, it has been discovered that isolating (or quarantining) affected individuals is the most effective way to stop the spread of COVID-19. Additionally, it is advised that governments in Tanzania and other African countries permit their citizens to go about their daily lives as long as they take the necessary precautions, such as donning face masks, washing their hands, and avoiding crowded gatherings in case of a recurrence of any form of COVID-19. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Computational & Mathematical Methods in Medicine is the property of Hindawi Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

5.
Europe-Asia Studies ; 75(5):903-904, 2023.
Article in English | Academic Search Complete | ID: covidwho-20233573
6.
Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, C Physiology & Molecular Biology ; 15(1):375-391, 2023.
Article in English | Academic Search Complete | ID: covidwho-20231663

ABSTRACT

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which first appeared in Wuhan and quickly spread around the world. The Middle-East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreaks in 2003 and more recently have demonstrated how lethal CoVs can be when they infect humans across the species barrier. The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has threatened the world in many ways (SARS-CoV-2). Zonulin is a member of a protein family whose first member, pre-haptoglobin 2 (HP2), was discovered nearly ten years ago. (Rittirsch D 2013). Materials and Methods: A total of 120 Covid-19 patients' serum samples were collected and an apparently healthy group (n=60) with an age range (of 35-75) years, was admitted from ALAmal Hospital. Zonulin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (kit. Metabolic parameters were measured by enzymatic spectrophotometer methods. The correlation coefficients between serum Zonulin levels and age, BMI, Elements and electrolytes were also evaluated. Results: Serum Zonulin, CRP, D-dimer and ferritin levels were significantly higher in Patients with COVID-19 (324.4±12.46) vs in control (79.69±11.77), (42.67±1.84) vs in control (3.36±0.25), (4188.21±198.73) vs in control (289.43±251) and (738±20.09) vs in control (130.66±9.2) (P <0.001). The correlation of Zonulin levels in COVID-19 patients was significantly positive with age, CRP, D-dimer and ferritin levels but negative with Iron, Ca and Na levels. The serum of Zonulin levels in moderate COVID-19 patients significantly high compared with the critical and severe patients group. Conclusions: Serum Zonulin levels increased in COVID-19 patients, especially in severe cases. Therefore, Zonulin levels demonstrate a prognostic value for predicting the severity of COVID-19. Continuous Zonulin results throughout the study period revealed that the severe group's values were higher than those of the non-severe group. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, C Physiology & Molecular Biology is the property of Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

7.
Rev Clin Esp ; 223(4): 240-243, 2023 Apr.
Article in Spanish | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2327837

ABSTRACT

More than three years have passed since the first case of a new coronavirus infection (SARS-CoV-2) in the city of Wuhan (Hubei, China). The Wuhan Institute of Virology was founded in that city in 1956 and the country's first biosafety level 4 laboratory opened within that center in 2015. The coincidence that the first cases of infection emerged in the city where the virology institute's headquarters is located, the failure to 100% identify the virus' RNA in any of the coronaviruses isolated in bats, and the lack of evidence on a possible intermediate animal host in the contagion's transmission make it so that at present, there are doubts about the real origin of SARS-CoV-2. This article will review two theories: SARS-CoV-2 as a virus of zoonotic origin or as a leak from the high-level biosafety laboratory in Wuhan.

8.
COVID-19 and a World of Ad Hoc Geographies: Volume 1 ; 1:1563-1588, 2022.
Article in English | Scopus | ID: covidwho-2323159

ABSTRACT

In the post-epidemic era, the trend of digital transformation on consumer services has promoted the fresh industry model upgrade and changed the food market space, and then given rise to diversified life demands. As the significant frontier for the spread of COVID-19 in China, the Wuhan food market is a microcosm of the changes in China's urban space, which is worth pondering. This study interpreted consumers' perception and identity in the food market from the perspective of consumer behavior and explained the connotation development of urban consumer service spatially, taking Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China as the case. The results showed that COVID-19 affected consumers' perception and emotional attitudes toward space, through the direct action on those behaviors and wishes, and reconstructed the spatial identity of Wuhan food markets in the post-epidemic era. In this era, consumers' perception of the food market was being more multi-dimensional and optimistic. They showed less sensitivity to the authenticity of traditional farmers' markets, while more interest in new retail spaces featured with leisure and sociality, such as fresh supermarkets and hypermarkets. They also emphasized more group space identity of small-scale community-level markets. From the Chinese case to the global perspective, this study proposed that the development of urban consumer services in the post-epidemic era was diversified and changeable, while the authenticity and stability of local food culture provided a flexible and extended space for such changes. The results and conclusions of this study will help to identify the Chinese characteristics and trends of consumer behavior in the post-epidemic era and provide a reference for the quality of living and the planning of urban spatial development, and provide China's case for global economic and social recovery after this epidemic. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

9.
Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal ; 25(2), 2023.
Article in English | Web of Science | ID: covidwho-2326615

ABSTRACT

Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2) is the virus causing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19). Apart from respiratory disease, this virus can affect different organs. Objectives: Therefore, multiple mechanisms have been hypothesized for Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in COVID-19. In this study, we evaluate the incidence and prognosis of AKI in COVID-19 patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort study assessed 397 COVID-19 patients hospitalized between April 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021. Patients with a sudden rise of serum creatinine level, more than 0.3 mg/dl in two days or more than 50% of the initial level in one week, were diagnosed with AKI. Demographic, laboratory, and clinical features were compared in AKI patients with patients without AKI. Results: A total of 397 patients with a mean age +/- standard deviation of 55.42 +/- 15.26 years were included in the study. According to diagnostic criteria, 48 (12.1%) patients developed AKI. Old age, a history of hypertension, and chronic renal failure were suggested as risk factors for AKI. High levels of C-Reactive Protein, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Lactate Dehydrogenase, D-dimer, and serum phosphorus upon arrival were also associated with an increased risk of AKI. In addition, the incidence of hypernatremia and hyperkalemia increased mortality in patients with AKI. Conclusion: The incidence of AKI in admitted COVID-19 patients affects the duration of hospitalization, the chance of ICU admission, and mortality. It is important to limit the use of nephrotoxic drugs and to maintain water-electrolyte balance to prevent the incidence of AKI and improve the outcome.

10.
International Journal of Infectious Diseases ; 130:S83-S83, 2023.
Article in English | Academic Search Complete | ID: covidwho-2326124

ABSTRACT

EpiCore was launched in 2013 and is a tool designed to supplement traditional infectious disease surveillance efforts by bringing together human, animal, and environmental experts on a digital platform to provide field-based verification efforts of global public health events1,2. Public health professionals from organizations around the globe, including Ending Pandemics, HealthMap, Geosentinel, MSF-OCBA, ProMED, and EDIS-RSOE, are trained as Moderators and are able to send Requests for Information (RFIs). Moderators utilize nontraditional resources, such as social media and news articles, to identify potential health events. Through EpiCore, moderators send out a RFI to EpiCore members located in a geographic area where a new or known health event is occurring. Health experts who receive the RFI may anonymously respond with information about the health event. A moderator reviews the responses and determines whether the information verifies a new event or updates a known ongoing event. Verified and updated events are summarized and published on the EpiCore public dashboard and shared with WHO EIOS. The study period was January 2020 - July 2022. In the study period, 231 RFIs were sent requesting signals about potential health events;111 of those RFIs received responses with information that allowed moderators to confirm or negate a suspected event, or update a known ongoing event. 82% of those RFIs were responded to within 24 hours. EpiCore is a resource for public health professionals and organizations to supplement traditional infectious disease surveillance efforts. For example, information collected through EpiCore was used to provide timely details on the emerging COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China in January 2020. Additionally, responses to RFIs supported surveillance efforts of the 2022 global monkeypox outbreak. Future efforts include outreach and engagement with existing and new members to expand EpiCore's member base in countries with few to no members. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of International Journal of Infectious Diseases is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

11.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results ; 14(3):1242-1249, 2023.
Article in English | Academic Search Complete | ID: covidwho-2320522

ABSTRACT

The recent pandemic caused by the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) first surfaced in Wuhan, China in December 2019. This paper presents an expert system for the diagnosis of COVID-19 based on its symptoms to aid people in taking precautionary measures. When experts are not available, an expert system that can effectively diagnose the disease is crucial. It takes the place of one or more experts in decision-making and problem-solving. An expert system for diagnosis of COVID-19 is a system developed to recognize early COVID-19 symptoms that individuals may experience by allowing users to directly check the disease with results that can serve as a foundation for additional testing. This study's primary goal is to identify useful COVID-19 detection patterns or knowledge by examining the historical data we have obtained from the Kaggle dataset. The patterns are presented as rules, which are given to the expert system after consultation with a domain expert. A total of 1,048,575 pieces of data were used for model training and testing. To detect COVID-19 disease, we employ a PART rule-based algorithm, which performed 92.47% accurately in a 10-fold cross-validation test. We can therefore draw the conclusion that the algorithm produces a promising result and that the expert system aids in the diagnosis of the disease. The system offers a suggestion in line with the identified symptom. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results is the property of ResearchTrentz and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

12.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results ; 14(3):3237-3244, 2023.
Article in English | Academic Search Complete | ID: covidwho-2319999

ABSTRACT

A bacterial infection in the lungs can cause viral pneumonia, a disease. Later the middle of December 2019, there have been multiple episodes of pneumonia in Wuhan City, China, with no known cause;it has since been discovered that this pneumonia is actually a new respiratory condition brought on by coronavirus infection. Humans who have lung abnormalities are more likely to develop high-risk conditions;this risk can be decreased with much quicker and more effective therapy. The symptoms of Covid-19 pneumonia are similar to those of viral pneumonia;they are not distinctive. X-ray or Computed Tomography (CT) scan images are used to identify lung abnormalities. Even for a skilled radiologist, it might be challenging to identify Covid-19/Viral pneumonia by looking at the X-ray images. For prompt and effective treatment, accurate diagnosis is essential. In this epidemic condition, delayed diagnosis can cause the number of cases to double, hence a suitable tool is required is necessary for the early identification of Covid-19. This paper highlights various AI techniques as a part of our contribution to swift identification and curie Covid-19 to front-line corona. The safety of Covid-19 people who have viral pneumonia is a concern. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN), two AI technologies from Deep Learning (DL), were utilized to identify Covid-19/Viral pneumonia. The Algorithm is taught utilizing non-public local hospitals or Covid-19 wards, as well as X-ray images of healthy lungs, fake lungs from viral pneumonia, and ostentatious lungs from Covid-19 that are all publicly available. The model is also validated over a lengthy period of time using the transfer learning technique. The results correspond with clinically tested positive Covid-19 patients who underwent Swap testing conducted by medical professionals, giving us an accuracy of 78 to 82 percent. We discovered that each DL model has a unique expertise after testing the various models. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results is the property of ResearchTrentz and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

13.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results ; 14(3):517-523, 2023.
Article in English | Academic Search Complete | ID: covidwho-2317643

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan city, China. Following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, to restrict the spread of virus, the Government has imposed strict measures with subsequent lockdowns as a result the home environment has become a workplace for many. Of all sectors the software domain is the most affected. Limited resource facility, work - engagement, work-life balance, family conflicts, stress management have been the challenges faced by these IT professionals working from home Aim: To analyze the impact of Covid 19 on health status and quality of life among software professionals in Covid pandemic through validated online questionnaires using google forms. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional e-survey was conducted using validated questionnaires through google forms following approval of the Institutional Ethics Committee. The questionnaire consisted of 4 open ended and 21 close ended questions.Job-stress, physical and mental well-being, work life balance, work engagement was assessed.The google form was posted in social media channel groups of software professionals for a period of 2 weeks following which the data was collected.Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 22.0. Results: A total of 154 software professionals participated in the study. Of which 80 were females and belonged to the 26-30 years age group. 83% software professionals preferred working in hybrid mode. This study shows that working hours increased with increased work pressure in a home-based work setting (61%). Both work life balance and work engagement were fair in a home-based work setting (p-0.0001). Anxiety, depression and emotional problems affected work engagement and work life balance. Some professionals developed physical ailments such as hair fall, vision problems and back ache in a home-based work set up. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggests that emotional well-being, sleep quality,decision latitude,limited resource facilities and job stress affected work engagement and work life balance. Hence undertaking appropriate measures proactively to enhance these factors under crisis conditions may mitigate the negative consequences of home-based work setting and improve the quality of life of software developers in the covid pandemic. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results is the property of ResearchTrentz and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

14.
Journal of Contemporary China ; : 1-21, 2023.
Article in English | Academic Search Complete | ID: covidwho-2315270

ABSTRACT

During the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in China in 2019 and 2020, the Wuhanese suffered tremendous public stigmatization. Why and how did the general public in China develop such strong feelings against the Wuhanese? To address these questions and understand the social forces underlying this phenomenon, a moral panic analysis was conducted. Using a mixed-method design, this research examined the scale and mechanisms of the public stigmatization of the Wuhanese as ‘the folk devil' of a moral panic and identified the social factors (social media, the collective memory of SARS, and the influence of close relations) which produced and facilitated the initial panic and subsequent public stigmatization. Through its presentation and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, this article explains how public stigmatization has served as an effective social control instrument in China during the COVID-19 outbreak, used to contain the disease, garner strong public support for the government authorities, legitimize extreme methods used to implement containment policies, and monitor and restrict the population. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Contemporary China is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

15.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results ; 14(3):1435-1446, 2023.
Article in English | Academic Search Complete | ID: covidwho-2314778

ABSTRACT

Background:- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by SARS-COV2 and represents the causative agent of a potentially fatal disease that is of great global public health concern. Based on the large number of infected people that were exposed to the wet animal market in Wuhan City, China, it is suggested that this is likely the zoonotic origin of COVID-19. Rates of infection and consequently, mortality have risen rapidly, resulting in a global pandemic. With no evidence- based treatments available, most countries have implemented quarantine measures to mitigate the spread of the virus. The world has largely focused on the physical suffering associated with COVID-19. However, the health sequelae of the pandemic are beginning to gain deserved attention. COVID-19 poses unique challenges to population mental health, given the colossal societal impact of nationwide lockdowns and health services struggling to cope. Mental health and well-being have been adversely affected by direct exposure to the virus (eg, depression, anxiety, grief, suicidality) and from the social and economic upheaval that is occurring at an individual and population level. Aim & Objectives: - The aim of study is to assess the stress disorder between 1st and 2 nd wave of covid-19 pandemic in Indian population. Material And Methodology:- An online study that was directed utilizing google form and link was sent utilizing WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram and one to one interview was done. A self-answered questionnaire survey was utilized for the investigation. The study questionnaire took 4-5 minutes to finish. Total 461 responses were obtained in the specific time. Results & Discussion:- This study aims to understand the impact of stress disorder in COVID-19 infected patients in both the 1st and 2nd waves in India. This study reveals a high prevalence of anxiety and fear of COVID-19 among the people in India from 1 st wave to 2nd wave of pandemic. Among the risk factors, family members affected with COVID19 is one reason that has significantly increased the level of anxiety and stress in participants of the study. Conclusion:- Further analysis is required to help establish the syndrome's boundaries (e.g., are there other main aspects that must be included?) and to see if the syndrome varies significantly across cultures and populations. Additional measures must also be developed and tested. Currently, the COVID Stress Syndrome and Disorder can only be assessed using self-report measures. To enable a better understanding of COVID-19-related distress, clinician-administered question and answer session methods could be developed. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results is the property of ResearchTrentz and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

16.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results ; 14(3):2587-2599, 2023.
Article in English | Academic Search Complete | ID: covidwho-2314328

ABSTRACT

This study has examined the principles of care of the medical staff for the elderly with fracture problems and corona virus in the special care unit. While the Chinese health authorities had previously reported the average age of the disease to be 75 years. Elderly people, especially people with lung problems, have a mortality rate of about 15%. The coronavirus acts like a seasonal flu. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 70 and 85 percent of all flu-related deaths and 50 to 70 percent of flu-related hospitalizations are among people over the age of 65. The most at-risk group is the elderly who live in day care centers. Among recovered patients with coronavirus in China, there is evidence that some of these patients have longterm lung damage. The researchers announced that among the 70 recovered patients, lung damage was observed in 66 of them in the CT scan. These injuries are caused by a build-up of hardened tissue that blocks blood vessels in tiny air sacs called alveoli, said Yuhei Wang, a radiologist at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China. Alveoli absorb oxygen to form tissue debris around them. Tissue lesions can be a chronic symptom of lung diseases, including SARS and MERS, similar injuries were observed in recovered patients. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results is the property of ResearchTrentz and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

17.
Lab Anim Res ; 39(1): 8, 2023 May 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2316445

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Omicron variant has become the most prevalent SARS-CoV-2 variant. Omicron is known to induce milder lesions compared to the original Wuhan strain. Fatal infection of the Wuhan strain into the brain has been well documented in COVID-19 mouse models and human COVID-19 cases, but apparent infections into the brain by Omicron have not been reported in human adult cases or animal models. In this study, we investigated whether Omicron could spread to the brain using K18-hACE2 mice susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. RESULTS: K18-hACE2 mice were intranasally infected with 1 × 105 PFU of the original Wuhan strain and the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. A follow-up was conducted 7 days post infection. All Wuhan-infected mice showed > 20% body weight loss, defined as the lethal condition, whereas two out of five Omicron-infected mice (40%) lost > 20% body weight. Histopathological analysis based on H&E staining revealed inflammatory responses in the brains of these two Omicron-infected mice. Immunostaining analysis of viral nucleocapsid protein revealed severe infection of neuron cells in the brains of these two Omicron-infected mice. Lymphoid depletion and apoptosis were observed in the spleen of Omicron-infected mice with brain infection. CONCLUSION: Lethal conditions, such as severe body weight loss and encephalopathy, can occur in Omicron-infected K18-hACE2 mice. Our study reports, for the first time, that Omicron can induce brain infection with lymphoid depletion in the mouse COVID-19 model.

18.
Ann Glob Health ; 88(1): 83, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2318543

ABSTRACT

The emergence and global spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is critical to understanding how to prevent or control a future viral pandemic. We review the tools used for this retrospective search, their limits, and results obtained from China, France, Italy and the USA. We examine possible scenarios for the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in the human population. We consider the Chinese city of Wuhan where the first cases of atypical pneumonia were attributed to SARS-CoV-2 and from where the disease spread worldwide. Possible superspreading events include the Wuhan-based 7th Military World Games on October 18-27, 2019 and the Chinese New Year holidays from January 25 to February 2, 2020. Several clues point to an early regional circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in northern Italy (Lombardi) as soon as September/October 2019 and in France in November/December 2019, if not before. With the goal of preventing future pandemics, we call for additional retrospective studies designed to trace the origin of SARS-CoV-2.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , COVID-19/epidemiology , China/epidemiology , Humans , Pandemics/prevention & control , Retrospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2
19.
Infektsiya I Immunitet ; 12(6):1113-1122, 2022.
Article in English | Web of Science | ID: covidwho-2309263

ABSTRACT

The post-COVID-19 recovery period is characterized by persistence of some symptoms, with immunological alterations being of great importance. Development of preventive measures to normalize mucosal immunity after a coronavirus infection determines the relevance of the current study. The aim was to study dynamics of clinical symptoms and level of secretory immunoglobulin A in individuals after a novel coronavirus infection as well as evaluate effectiveness of using IFN alpha-2b. Materials and methods. A study was conducted with patients aged 18 to 60 years old (n = 130), surveyed 1 to 9 months after post-infection, as well as in apparently healthy individuals lacking COVID-19 (n = 15). Previous novel coronavirus infection and post-COVID manifestations were verified based on medical documentation, complaints, anamnesis data, physical examination and questionnaires. The concentration of salivatory and nasopharyngeal mucosal sIgA was measured dynamically prior to and after administration of local therapy with IFN alpha-2b (gel applied intranasally twice a day for 30 days). Results. The acute period of COVID-19 was characterized by fever, anosmia, severe asthenia (fatigue and weakness), muscle and joint pain. Among the post-COVID manifestations at early period (1-3 months), pain in the joints and muscles (75.0%) as well as elevated body temperature (21.2%) were reliably detected, whereas in the long period (6-9 months) there were revealed dominance with the same frequency of shortness of breath, muscle and joint pain (75.8%, respectively). Based on examination data in healthy subjects, there was determined an arbitrary normal range of secretory IgA in saliva - 6.45 +/- 1.81 mg/ml and nasal swabs - 13.43 +/- 3.24 mg/ml. In the group of patients 1-3 months post-infection, therapy with IFN alpha-2b one month later resulted in significantly increased level of secretory IgA in saliva (from 1.84 +/- 0.28 to 5.78 +/- 1.96 mg/ml) and in nasal swabs (from 28.61 +/- 3.0 to 39.83 +/- 3.85 mg/ml) by more than 3-and 1.5-fold, respectively. In the group of patients without therapy was featured with stably sustained decline in sIgA level up to 9 months after COVID-19. In particular, the level of saliva sIgA ranged from 2.36 +/- 0.56 down to 2.16 +/- 0.66 mg/ml, and in nasal smears - from 15.66 +/- 1.32 to 10.23 +/- 1.07 mg/ml that differed insignificantly compared to baseline level. The rate of respiratory diseases prevailed in this group (27.6% of cases), which fully lacked in the group of topically administered IFN alpha-2b. Conclusion. In the post-COVID period, multiple organ disorders persist and reduced sIgA level is registered. Intranasally applied IFN alpha-2b made possible to normalize sIgA level and prevent accumulation of respiratory infectious pathologies.

20.
Sustainability ; 15(6), 2023.
Article in English | Web of Science | ID: covidwho-2308347

ABSTRACT

The research carried out on socioeconomic implication models of (re)emerging infectious diseases triggering pandemics has shown us that these largely depended on infection transmission, conditioned by the type of pathogen and the human host. Also, these depended on certain external factors, such as the phenomenon of globalization, pollution, fragile health systems, modification of human behaviors, expansion of human habitat near the outbreaks, favorable vectors involved in the transmission and development of new pandemics and last but not least of wars or civil revolts. The present research attempts to provide some responses to the following questions: 1. What have been the most recent and important emerging infectious disease pandemics and what were the risk factors? 2. What was the socioeconomic impact generated by these pandemics and what important lessons did we learn/identify? 3. What measures and/or directions must be implemented/addressed to prevent/possibly stop a future wave of infections or a new pandemic? The answers to these questions are substantiated by different indicators (transmission potential and pathogen severity) through which we focused to offer some suggestions/directions regarding the way in which these pandemics could be anticipated or prevent, indicators that otherwise are already used by public authorities in the development and exploration of intervention strategies. However, through the elaboration and staged presentation of how these pandemics acted as well as the socioeconomic implications and human reactions, this research could be useful in leading to the development of new, effective ways to prevent the transmission of (re)emerging infectious diseases.

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