COVID-19 and dermatology

The aim of this manuscript is to investigate skin diseases associated with COVID-19 under three main headings: skin problems related to personal protective equipment and personal hygiene measures, skin findings observed in SARS-CoV-2 virus infections, and skin findings due to COVID-19 treatment agents. In PubMed and Google Scholar databases, publications on skin lesions related to personal protective equipment and personal hygiene measures, skin findings observed in SARS-CoV-2 virus infections and skin findings due to COVID-19 treatment agents subjects were searched in detail. Pressure injury, contact dermatitis, pruritus, pressure urticaria, exacerbation of preexisting skin diseases, and new skin lesion occurrence/new skin disease occurrence may be due to personal protective equipment. The incidence of skin lesions due to COVID-19 was reported to be between 0.2% and 29%. Many skin lesions including maculopapular, urticarial, vesicular, chilblain-like, thrombotic/ischemic, etc., are observed in COVID-19 patients. Some authors have stated that there is an absence of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection-specific skin rashes. Many skin lesions may appear as a result of COVID-19. Even in the absence of a COVID-19 diagnosis, skin findings should be evaluated carefully in the pandemic period.

COVID-19 Instance Segmentation Network Based on Semantic Information Generating Proposals

The CT images of lungs of COVID-19 patients have distinct pathological features, segmenting the lesion area accurately by the method of deep learning, which is of great significance for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 patients. Instance segmentation has higher sensitivity and can output the Bounding Boxes of the lesion region, however, the traditional instance segmentation method is weak in the segmentation of small lesions, and there is still room for improvement in the segmentation accuracy. We propose a instance segmentation network which is called as Semantic R-CNN. Firstly, a semantic segmentation branch is added on the basis of Mask-RCNN, and utilizing the image processing tool Skimage in Python to label the connected domain for the result of semantic segmentation, extracting the rectangular boundaries of connected domain and using them as Proposals, which will replace the Regional Proposal Network in the instance segmentation. Secondly, the Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling is introduced into the Feature Pyramid Network, then improving the feature fusion method in FPN. Finally, the cascade method is introduced into the detection branch of the network to optimize the Proposals. Segmentation experiments were carried out on the pathological lesion segmentation data set of CC-CCII, the average accuracy of the semantic segmentation is 40.56mAP, and compared with the Mask-RCNN, it has improved by 9.98mAP. After fusing the results of semantic segmentation and instance segmentation, the Dice coefficient is 80.7%, the sensitivity is 85.8%, and compared with the Inf-Net, it has increased by 1.6% and 8.06% respectively. The proposed network has improved the segmentation accuracy and reduced the false-negatives. © 2022 ACM.

Clinical and histo-pathophysiological features of diffused alveolar lesions (pneumonia) caused by SARS-CoV-2 in patients who need of respiratory support

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and respiratory failure are the main problems in patients with COVID-19. The main reason is primarily a violation of lung perfusion. Anatomical prerequisites for the work of PЕЕР (non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, atelectasis and, consequently, the possibility of recruitment) are absent. Non-invasive lung ventilation can eliminate hypoxemia and reduce inspiratory effort. Otherwise, the use of mechanical ventilation to prevent self-induced lung injury should be considered. These characteristics are associated with a marked violation of the mechanics of respiration, high blood pressure of arterial carbon dioxide. The leading characteristic of COVID-19 progression is the gradual transition from edema or atelectasis to less reversible structural changes in the lungs, namely fibrosis. The mechanics of respiration are disturbed, the pressure of carbon dioxide in the arterial blood increases, the ability of the respiratory muscles decreases and there is no reaction to PЕEP in the abdominal position. © 2022. The Authors. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, CC BY, which allows others to freely distribute the published article, with the obligatory reference to the authors of original works and original publication in this journal.

Anticipatory Guidance through Online Motivational Interviewing for Mothers on Early Childhood Caries among Young Children of Age 9–24 Months amidst Pandemics: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a multifactorial disease with known etiologic factors and can be very devastating to the oral and general well-being of a child, including psychological impact on a growing child. The irony is among the different factors responsible for milk that is wholesome nutrition, if fed in a wrong pattern, can be the main factor that helps this type of rampant caries spread within no time, leading to pulp exposures and complicating proceedings. Awareness is the mainstay in prevention, and creating it becomes our sole responsibility as a pediatric dentists. A multidisciplinary approach with the involvement of mothers as a main stakeholder in this front becomes a very promising move, so this project is phase two of interprofessional collaboration involving mothers in prevention;the aim of the study is to create awareness among mothers during COVID lockdown so as to prevent ECC in this COVID pandemic. Materials and methods: A total of 222 mothers with 9–24 months old children were selected and added to the e-groups. The allocated mothers were given a pretest questionnaire and collected back with a photo of their child's oral health, and anticipatory guidance and in-depth interviewing were given to them. Follow-up is done in 2, 4, and 6 months. Awareness is evaluated by pre-and posttest questionnaires. Reversal of the white spot is evaluated through indices, and progression is noted. Statistical analysis: The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 13. Result: Pretest and postquestionnaire analysis were done using the Chi-squared test. The test shows the marked raise in knowledge, attitude, and practice of mothers on their children after postintervention, which was given through motivational interviewing (MI). Conclusion: In summary, the MI intervention appeared to improve maternal knowledge but had no effect on oral health behaviors or on the progression of early childhood caries (ECC). © The Author(s). 2023 Open Access.

Special Issue: COVID-19, part 3. (Special Issue: COVID-19, part 3.)

This special issue contains 63 articles focusing on the oral manifestations of COVID-19. The articles offer a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on the subject, encompassing the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of oral lesions associated with COVID-19. Additionally, the articles explore the potential role of the oral cavity in COVID-19 transmission, along with the impact of the pandemic on oral health care delivery.

Scurvy in a Pediatric Patient Unable to Bear Weight: A Case Report.

Pediatric scurvy is uncommon in the twenty-first century but cases have been reported in children with neurodevelopmental issues and restricted diets. We are reporting a two-year and nine-month-old boy who had a coronavirus disease (COVID) infection and then presented with a refusal to walk. By careful history-taking, he was found to have a restricted diet, speech delay, and gum bleeding suggestive of scurvy, which was confirmed by extremely low levels of ascorbic acid. In this case, the diagnosis of scurvy was established before establishing the diagnosis of neurodevelopmental delay. Treatment with ascorbic acid resulted in a remarkable improvement in his symptoms. This case highlights the importance of collecting a thorough history, connecting exam findings to the history, and including scurvy in differential diagnoses for the presentation of inability to bear weight.

A Case Report of COVID-19-Related Dactylitis Combined with Chilblain-Like Acral Lesions

This case report describes the occurrence of symmetrical dactylitis of toes combined with chilblain-like acral lesions in a 32-year-old female patient 19 days after a mild coronavirus infection. The article addresses existing problems of managing patients after COVID-19 in daily clinical practice. Scientific evidence is pointing to a growing number of cases of articular and skin involvement associated with COVID-19. However, it remains unclear what approaches to use in the treatment of such patients.

Development of prognostic models to estimate the probability of lung injury one year after COVID-19-related hospitalization-a prospective study.

Background: Long-term effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) infection still under study. The objectives of this study were to identify persistent pulmonary lesions 1 year after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalization and assess whether it is possible to estimate the probability that a patient develops these complications in the future. Methods: A prospective study of ≥18 years old patients hospitalized for SARS-COV-2 infection who develop persistent respiratory symptoms, lung function abnormalities or have radiological findings 6-8 weeks after hospital discharge. Logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic factors associated with a higher risk of developing respiratory problems. Models performance was assessed in terms of calibration and discrimination. Results: A total of 233 patients [median age 66 years [interquartile range (IQR): 56, 74]; 138 (59.2%) male] were categorized into two groups based on whether they stayed in the critical care unit (79 cases) or not (154). At the end of follow-up, 179 patients (76.8%) developed persistent respiratory symptoms, and 22 patients (9.4%) showed radiological fibrotic lesions with pulmonary function abnormalities (post-COVID-19 fibrotic pulmonary lesions). Our prognostic models created to predict persistent respiratory symptoms [post-COVID-19 functional status at initial visit (the higher the score, the higher the risk), and history of bronchial asthma] and post-COVID-19 fibrotic pulmonary lesions [female; FVC% (the higher the FVC%, the lower the probability); and critical care unit stay] one year after infection showed good (AUC 0.857; 95% CI: 0.799-0.915) and excellent performance (AUC 0.901; 95% CI: 0.837-0.964), respectively. Conclusions: Constructed models show good performance in identifying patients at risk of developing lung injury one year after COVID-19-related hospitalization.

Lung Aspergillus niger infection after SARS-CoV2

A 64-year-old never-smoker man, with professional exposure, presented to Marius Nasta Pneumophtisiology Institute for fatigability to effort, in the context of severe SARS-COV2 infection one month previously. His medical history includes pulmonary tuberculosis (55 years ago) and newly diagnosed type II diabetes (261 mg/dL glycemia). The thoracic tomography computer in the immediate post-COVID period (Fig. 1A) revealed the presence of glass ground lesions and a 3 cm nodule with cystic degeneration in the upper left lobe. A gross examination of the specimen identified a condensation area of 2.5 cm diameter, brown-grey colored, with necrosis and central ulceration. Microscopic examination showed the presence of bronchiectasis with squamous metaplasia of the epithelium, which appears ulcerated;numerous calcium oxalate crystals with adjacent foreign body granulomatous reaction;endobronchial are present fibrinous and inflammatory debris, brown-black pigment, and septate, dichotomous branching hyphae, suggestive of Aspergillus spp. A periodic acid-Schiff stain was performed, identifying the fungal hyphae. The histopathological diagnosis was bronchiectasis supra-infected and colonized with fungal filaments (Aspergillus niger).

CT findings and dynamic changes of COVID-19 in the patients younger than 18 years old infected with SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant

Objective: To investigate the chest computed tomography (CT) manifestations and dynamic changes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the patients younger than 18 years old infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant, and to provide a basis for determining the chest CT changes and efficacy of COVID-19 caused by Omicron virus variant in patients younger than 18 years old. Methods The clinical and imaging data of 30 cases of patients younger than 18 years old infected with COVID-19 Omicron variant, who admitted to the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen from February 11 to March 26, 2022 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. The clinical manifestations, imaging features and dynamic changes of lesions were summarized. Results A total of 41 intrapulmonary lesions in 30 patients with COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. The main manifestations were patchy or nodular ground-glass opacities and/or consolidation, with focal subpleural distribution, lesions mainly occur in the right lung (70.73%, 29/41). There were 42 lesion morphologies, with 22 (52.38%) striped shadows and 16 (38.10%) nodular shadows, with small lamellar and patchy shadows predominating. There were 36 lesion density variations, with ground glass shadows being the most common, with a total of 24 ground glass shadows (66.66%) in each lobe of the lung, and also 6 consolidation lesions (16.67%) and 6 mixed ground glass opacity and consolidation lesions (16.67%). With the progression of the disease, lesions gradually enlarged, appeared on the 2nd day (312.93 mm3), peaked on the 9th day (1 837.18 mm3). The average absorption time of the lesions was (16+or-3) days, and there was no significant difference between the absorption time of patchy and nodular lesions (ground glass and/or consolidation) (t=0.853, P > 0.05). The lesions showed focal ground-glass opacity in the early stage, 77.78% lesions were absorbed after treatment in the late stage. Inflammatory nodules were absorbed slowly (9-19 days), without residual fibrotic changes. Conclusions The imaging manifestations of COVID-19 in patients younger than 18 years old infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant have certain characteristics, showed patchy or nodular ground glass opacities and/or consolidation, mainly distributed in the subpleural area, with small and few lesions and slow change, didn't remain fibrosis. Being familiar with its clinical and imaging manifestations can assist in early diagnosis, but confirming the diagnosis requires a combination of epidemiological history, clinical symptoms, SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid and radiological manifestations.

Changing patterns in the distribution of skin lesions of scabies during the COVID-19 pandemic - a cross-sectional observational study

BACKGROUND: An ectoparasitic disease, scabies, caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis. Some of the predisposing factors are overcrowding, unhygienic surroundings, immunocompromised status, dementia, homelessness, and sexual contact. In this study, we wanted to evaluate the changed distribution of lesions of scabies during pandemic. METHODS: A cross sectional study was performed on 600 patients attending the skin department of our tertiary care hospital over a period of 6 months. The sites of the scabies lesions were noted along with types of lesions. Demographic data and history of regular hand washing and sanitization were also documented. RESULTS: Our study revealed an important correlation between change in pattern of distribution of scabies lesions from being less frequent on finger webs (19%) to being more frequent on abdomen (periumbilical area) (73%) and groins (67%) due to regular hand washing and frequent sanitization, in this pandemic era. CONCLUSIONS: A significant change in distribution of skin lesions in scabies can be noticed during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Infectious Lesions of the Central Nervous System

This book discusses all aspects infectious CNS pathology, including different bacterial, viral, fungal, mycoplasma and protozoan pathogens, accompanied by illustrations that show macro-and histopathological changes. It also presents microbiological, epidemiological and clinical data, with a particular focus on meningitis and encephalitis of different bacterial and viral aetiologies, influenza, COVID-19 and other viral and bacterial generalized infections. Further, the book explores the importance of mixed infections, including those in the late stages of HIV infection, as well as pathological changes in different age groups including newborns. A special chapter is devoted to the probable role of biological pathogens in noninfectious brain pathology. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

SARS-CoV-2, vaccination or autoimmunity as causes of cardiac inflammation. Which form prevails?

The causes of cardiac inflammation during the COVID-19 pandemic are manifold and complex, and may have changed with different virus variants and vaccinations. The underlying viral etiology is self-evident, but its role in the pathogenic process is diverse. The view of many pathologists that myocyte necrosis and cellular infiltrates are indispensable for myocarditis does not suffice and contradicts the clinical criteria of myocarditis, i.e., a combination of serological evidence of necrosis based on troponins or MRI features of necrosis, edema, and inflammation based on prolonged T1 and T2 times and late gadolinium enhancement. The definition of myocarditis is still debated by pathologists and clinicians. We have learned that myocarditis and pericarditis can be induced by the virus via different pathways of action such as direct viral damage to the myocardium through the ACE2 receptor. Indirect damage occurs via immunological effector organs such as the innate immune system by macrophages and cytokines, and then later the acquired immune system via T cells, overactive proinflammatory cytokines, and cardiac autoantibodies. Cardiovascular diseases lead to more severe courses of SARS-CoV­2 disease. Thus, heart failure patients have a double risk for complicated courses and lethal outcome. So do patients with diabetes, hypertension, and renal insufficiency. Independent of the definition, myocarditis patients benefitted from intensive hospital care, ventilation, if needed, and cortisone treatment. Postvaccination myocarditis and pericarditis affect primarily young male patients after the second RNA vaccine. Both are rare events but severe enough to deserve our full attention, because treatment according to current guidelines is available and necessary.

COVID-19 psychosis versus psychosis due to cytotoxic lesion of the corpus callosum (CLOCC): A case report and review.

Background: Cytotoxic lesions of the corpus callosum syndrome (CLOCC) is an inflammatory disorder caused by various etiologies such as medications, malignancies, seizure, metabolic abnormalities, and infections, especially COVID-19. It presents on MRI as an area of restricted diffusion in the corpus callosum. We present a case of psychosis and CLOCC in a patient with mild active COVID-19 infection. Case: A 25-year-old male with a history of asthma and unclear past psychiatric history presented to the emergency room with shortness of breath, chest pain, and disorganized behavior. His-COVID-19 PCR was negative, and he was voluntarily admitted to psychiatry for management of unspecified psychosis. Overnight, he spiked a fever and was diaphoretic with headache and altered mental status. Repeat COVID-19 PCR at this time was positive and cycle threshold indicated infectivity. A brain MRI showed a new restricted diffusion within the midline of the splenium of the corpus callosum. Lumbar puncture was unremarkable. He continued to have flat affect and exhibit disorganized behavior with unspecified grandiosity, unclear auditory hallucinations, echopraxia, and poor attention and working memory. He was started on risperidone, with an MRI after 8 days showing complete resolution of the lesion in the corpus callosum and symptoms. Conclusion: This case discusses diagnostic difficulties and treatment options for a patient presenting with psychotic symptoms and disorganized behavior in the context of active COVID-19 infection and CLOCC and highlights differences between delirium, COVID-19 psychosis and neuropsychiatric symptoms of CLOCC. Future research directions are also discussed.

Evaluation of radiological findings of pediatric cases diagnosed with COVID 19 infection: a retrospective study

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of chest radiography in the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia in pediatric patients. Materials and Methods: Between 2020 and 2021, the radiological findings of pediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19 by polymerase chain reaction test were evaluated retrospectively. 140 patients who had both chest X-ray and thorax tomography were included in the study. The effectiveness of chest radiography in the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia was determined. Thoracic computed tomography scans were compared in cases without pneumonia findings on chest X-ray. Results: COVID-19 pneumonia was detected in 100 of 140 thorax computed tomography scans. An increase in opacity was observed in the chest X-ray of 48 of these 100 patients (48%). Radiographs of the other 52 patients were normal. The reasons for this were low-density opacities (n=26 patients, 50%), small-sized opacities (n=16 patients, 30.7%), opacities adjacent to the diaphragm and liver (n=10 patients, 19.2%). Computed tomography showed consolidation in 36 patients (36%), and pure ground glass appearance in 64 patients (64%). An increase in opacity was observed in the chest X-ray (72.2%) of 26 of 36 patients with consolidation. In 22 (34.3%) of 64 patients with ground glass appearance, increased opacity was observed on chest X-ray. Consolidation detection rate of chest radiography was significantly higher than that of ground glass (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Low-density and small-sized opacities reduce the effectiveness of chest radiography. Although chest X-ray imaging is useful in detecting consolidations in pediatric patients, it was not sufficient to detect ground glass appearances.

Examining The Clinical Symptoms Of The Oral Cavity And Its Severity In Patients With COVID-19 Referred To Imam Reza Hospital In 2019

Introduction: COVID-19 is a viral infection caused by the acute respiratory syndrome virus (SARS-CoV-2), which clinically affects several human body organs. The present study aims to investigate the clinical symptoms of the oral cavity and its severity in patients with COVID-19 referred to Imam Reza Hospital in Tabriz in 1401. Materials and methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 89 patients with COVID-19 positive PCR tests and 89 healthy individuals who met the conditions for inclusion were examined. Patient demographic information, including age, gender, history of underlying diseases, and use of toothbrushes, was recorded. Then the patients were examined by a dentist, and various oral lesions were recorded. Saliva flow rate, lesion intensity, and gingival inflammation rate (based on BOP) were recorded. The results were analyzed by SPSS24 statistical analysis software and the Marie Chi-square test. Results: Oral lesions, including painful and non-painful ulcers in the mucosa, small blisters in the oral mucosa, the presence of petechiae, and the amount of taste disorder in patients with COVID-19 were significantly higher than in healthy individuals. The severity of gingivitis in patients with COVID-19 was significantly higher than in healthy people. The difference in the frequency of oral lesions was observed in both the sick and healthy groups in both men and women and different age groups. Conclusion: COVID-19 can cause aggravation of oral lesions. [ 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.)

Examining the frequency of endoscopic findings in patients with COVID-19 with upper gastrointestinal bleeding referred to al-Zahra Hospital of Isfahan

Background: Gastrointestinal bleeding is one of the consequences of COVID-19, which is associated with increased hospitalization and patient mortality. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of endoscopic findings and the outcome of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with COVID-19 who were hospitalized from September to December 2019 in Al-Zahra Hospital, Isfahan. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, out of 5800 patients who were admitted to Al- Zahra Hospital in Isfahan from September to December 2019 due to COVID-19 (according to the positive PCR test result), 87 patients who underwent endoscopy due to upper gastrointestinal bleeding by a skilled gastroenterologist, were selected and studied. Demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, use of anticoagulants, and laboratory findings were studied and evaluated and finally, the disease was evaluated and compared based on endoscopic findings. Results: Based on the results obtained from this research, the patients with endoscopic lesions had higher average age (P=0.041), lower blood oxygen saturation percentage (P=0.028), and higher bleeding intensity (P=0.018). The frequency of using anticoagulant drugs in the group whose endoscopy results were abnormal was higher but insignificant. Hemoglobin, platelet, lymphocyte, and CRP levels were higher in the group whose endoscopy was normal, and NLR, LDH, and D-dimer levels were higher in the group whose endoscopy was abnormal (P<0.050). Three people (11.55%) from the group with normal endoscopy and 18 people (29.5%) from the group with abnormal endoscopy died, but the frequency of death was not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.070). Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that the COVID patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding who had endoscopic lesions had significant differences in some characteristics such as age, bleeding intensity, and blood oxygen saturation percentage with patients with normal endoscopy. Also, the frequency of death in patients with endoscopic lesions was relatively higher. Therefore, COVID patients with gastrointestinal bleeding should undergo endoscopy as soon as possible and necessary measures should be taken to control and prevent gastrointestinal bleeding.

Neurological manifestations in patients with COVID-19

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic represents a challenge for healthcare systems, due to the impact on different systems, such as respiratory, cardiovascular and nervous systems. Background: to describe the neurological manifestations in patients with COVID-19. Methods: a search for information was carried out in the PubMed/Medline, SciELO, EBSCO, Lilacs and Scopus databases. A search strategy was applied by combining terms and using Boolean operators. Thirty references were chosen. Results: olfactory nerves and invasion of peripheral nerve terminals are suggested as routes of entry;the presence of severe neural symptoms associated with lesions of other organs and cytokine storm is also described. Headache was the most common neurological manifestation in patients with COVID-19, and rhabdomyolysis, acute hemorrhagic necrotizing encephalopathy, Guillain Barre syndrome, meningitis and encephalitis are rare neurological entities. In Guillain Barre syndrome, the literature suggests both a post infectious and para-infectious pattern. Conclusions: COVID-19 is associated with different neurological manifestations, including headache, dizziness, vertigo, vomiting, and alterations of consciousness, stroke and others not so frequent. These symptoms as a whole should be evaluated by healthcare personnel, with a view to their rapid detection and management, in order to guarantee the disappearance of sequelae that reduce the quality of life of patients, as well as to reduce the associated mortality records.

Potential Mechanism of Colchicine against COVID-19 and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer based on Network Pharmacology and Bioinformatics Analysis

Colchicine is an alkaloid with antitumor effect isolated from Colchicum autumnale plants, it has been reported in multiple studies as a potential treatment for coronavirus disease-19 and this study applied network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis to explore the potential mechanism of colchicine against non-small cell lung cancer and coronavirus disease-19. The R software was used to determine the differentially expressed genes of non-small cell lung cancer/coronavirus disease-19, and carry out prognostic analysis and clinical analysis of the differentially expressed genes, the targets of colchicine were obtained from various databases, the protein-protein interaction network of intersection targets of colchicine and non-small cell lung cancer/coronavirus disease-19 was constructed, enrichment analysis of gene ontology and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathways was performed by Metascape database and the molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were completed. We obtained a total of 716 differentially expressed genes and identified 13 potential prognostic genes associated with the clinical characterization of non-small cell lung cancer/coronavirus disease-19 patients. C-C motif chemokine ligand 2, toll like receptor 4, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma, interleukin 17A, interferon gamma, angiotensin I converting enzyme, fos proto-oncogene, nuclear factor kappa B inhibitor alpha, TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 and secreted phosphoprotein 1 were core targets. The intersection targets of colchicine and non-small cell lung cancer/coronavirus disease-19 were mainly enriched in biological processes such as inflammatory response, response to cytokine and response to lipopolysaccharide, as well as signal pathways such as interleukin 17 signaling pathway, hypoxia inducible factor 1 signaling pathway and nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-like receptor signaling pathway. The results of molecular docking showed that the colchicine is better combined with the core targets. Analysis of molecular dynamics simulation showed that the protein and ligand form a stabilizing effect. Based on bioinformatics analysis and network pharmacology, we obtained biomarkers that may be used for the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer/coronavirus disease-19 patients and revealed that colchicine may play a potential role in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer/coronavirus disease-19 by regulating multiple targets and multiple signaling pathways and participating in multiple biological processes.

FV-Seg-Net: Fully Volumetric Network for Accurate Segmentation of COVID-19 Lesions From Chest CT Scans

Automated and precise pneumonia segmentation of COVID-19 extends the view of medical supply chains and offers crucial medical supplies to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Deep learning plays a vital role in improving the COVID-19 segmentation from computed tomography (CT) scans. However, the literature lacks a precise segmentation approach on small-size lesions because they often split the CT scan into 2-D slices or 3-D patches, leading to the loss of contextual and/or global information. In order to address this, this article proposes a novel fully volumetric segmentation network, called FV-Seg-Net, that effectively exploits the local and global spatial information and enables the entire CT volume processing at once. The decoder is designed using a computationally efficient recalibrated anisotropic convolution module that can acquire the 3-D semantic representation of the CT volumes with anisotropic resolution. To avoid losing information during down-sampling, we reconstruct the skip-connection using a multilevel multiscale pyramid aggregation module and ensure more effective context fusion that improves the reconstruction capability of the decoder. Finally, stacked data augmentation (StackAug) is presented to magnify the training data and improve the generalizability of FV-Seg-Net. Proof of concept experiments on two public datasets demonstrates that the FV-Seg-Net achieves excellent segmentation performance (Dice score: 85.69 and a surface-dice: 84.79%), outperforming the current cutting-edge studies.