In silico evaluation of the inhibitory potential of nucleocapsid inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2: a binding and energetic perspective.

The COVID-19 outbreak brought on by the SARS-CoV-2 virus continued to infect a sizable population worldwide. The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein is the most conserved RNA-binding structural protein and is a desirable target because of its involvement in viral transcription and replication. Based on this aspect, this study focused to repurpose antiviral compounds approved or in development for treating COVID-19. The inhibitors chosen are either FDA-approved or are currently being studied in clinical trials against COVID-19. Initially, they were designed to target stress granules and other RNA biology. We have utilized structure-based molecular docking and all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulation approach to investigate in detail the binding energy and binding modes of the different anti-N inhibitors to N protein. The result showed that five drugs including Silmitasterib, Ninetanidinb, Ternatin, Luteolin, Fedratinib, PJ34, and Zotatafin were found interacting with RNA binding sites as well as to predicted protein interface with higher binding energy. Overall, drug binding increases the stability of the complex with maximum stability found in the order, Silmitasertib > PJ34 > Zotatatafin. In addition, the frustration changes due to drug binding brings a decrease in local frustration and this decrease is mainly observed in α-helix, ß3, ß5, and ß6 strands and are important for drug binding. Our in-silico data suggest that an effective interaction occurs for some of the tested drugs and prompt their further validation to reduce the rapid outspreading of SARS-CoV-2.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Impact of COVID-19 on patients awaiting ablation for atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVE: Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation services were significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate a symptom-based clinician prioritisation scheme for waiting list management compared with patient-completed quality of life (QoL) scores. We also sought to understand factors influencing QoL, particularly the impact of COVID-19, on patients awaiting AF ablation, via a bespoke questionnaire. METHODS: Patients awaiting AF ablation were sent two QoL questionnaires (Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy of Life (AFEQT) and EuroQol 5D (EQ5D-5L)) and the bespoke questionnaire. At a separate time point, patients were categorised as C1-urgent, C2-priority or C3-routine by their cardiologist based on review of clinic letters. RESULTS: There were 118 patients included with priority categorisation available for 86 patients. Median AFEQT scores were lower in C2 (30.4; 17.2-51.9) vs C3 patients (56.5; 32.1-74.1; p<0.01). Unplanned admission occurred in 3 patients in C3 with AFEQT scores of <40. Although 65 patients had AF symptoms during the pandemic, 43.1% did not seek help where they ordinarily would have. An exercise frequency of ≥3-4 times a week was associated with higher AFEQT (56.5; 41.2-74.1; p<0.001) and EQ5D (0.84; 0.74-0.88; p<0.0001) scores. CONCLUSION: The QoL of patients awaiting AF ablation is impaired and AFEQT helps to identify patients at risk of admission, over and above physician assessment. COVID-19 influenced patients seeking medical attention with symptomatic AF when they normally would. Regular exercise is associated with better QoL in patients awaiting AF ablation.

The association between distance learning and occurrence of depression and anxiety: a cross-sectional study among male and female medical students at Umm Al-Qura University

The study objective was to explore the association between distance learning and depression and anxiety among medical students at umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the relationship between distance learning and depression and anxiety. A questionnaire was used at Umm Al-Qura University targeting 302 volunteers from medical students to collect the data. Students who were anxious or depressed for other causes were not included. The data was analyzed by Chi-square test. Number of students who had anxiety and/or depression due to distance learning was low (p > 0.05) compared to other groups without anxiety and/or depression. 175 (56.2%) students stated that they had this feeling before applying distance learning. It was found highly significant with gender comparison (p-value: 0.008). Out of 65 respondents aged 19-20, 51 (78.5%) indicated distance learning as a strong predictor of reduced GPA in this age group (p-value: 0.01). Distance learning was a significant predictor of lower GPAs among students in this academic year. The students of age group (21-22) were the most affected group having feeling that they got affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Out of 243, (77.9%) of participants were females, 151 (48.4%) of them said COVID-19 impacted their ability to learn/study, whereas a total of 59 (18.9%) participants were from the second academic year. 48(15.4%) of them said that COVID-19 impacted their ability to learn/study. It is noticed that the age group (19-20) in the second year was the most affected according to age and academic year. While distant education has little to no effect on students' mental health, there were enough number of students who attributed their depression and anxiety to distance education. However, the important factors that might have influenced the results are a lack of medical study experience, a lack of understanding of distance learning, and a lack of an appropriate learning environment.

Ketahanan keluarga pedagang kaki lima dalam pemenuhan kebutuhan di masa pandemi: Studi lapangan pedagang kaki lima di sekitar Kampus UIN Sunan Kalijaga

This article discusses the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. From health to economic factors, including the impact on street vendors in the vicinity of the UIN Sunan Kalijaga campus, The implementation of Work from Home (WFH), in which workers, lecturers, and students conduct lectures via online “Daring,” and schoolchildren learn from home, has had the greatest impact on street vendors on campus. The purpose of this research is to discover how street vendors maintain family resilience. This study is a descriptive analytical field study that provides an overview of family resilience for street vendors via interviews conducted on the UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta campus. According to the study's findings, performing the role and function of maintaining household resilience is an obligation even during the Pandemic. Keywords: Family Resilience;Role;Family Function Tulisan ini menjelaskan tentang Dampak pandemi COVID-19. Mulai dari faktor kesehatan hingga ekonomi, termasuk dampaknya bagi para pedagang kaki lima di sekitar kampus UIN Sunan Kalijaga. Pengaruh paling besar yang dirasakan oleh para pedagang kaki lima di sekitaran kampus ialah pemberlakuan Work from Home (WFH), dimana para pekerja, dosen, dan mahasiswa melakukan kuliah melalui online “Daring”, serta anak-anak sekolah belajar dari rumah. Penelitian ini bertujuan mencari tahu cara para pedagang kaki lima dalam menjaga ketahanan keluarga. Penelitian ini merupakan studi lapangan yang bersifat deskriptif analitis dimana memberikan gambaran tentang ketahanan keluarga bagi pedagang kaki lima melalui hasil wawancara di sekitaran kampus UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta. Hasil penelitian menyatakan bahwa menjalankan peran dan fungsi terjaganya ketahanan rumah tangga adalah kewajiban bahkan di masa Pandemi. Kata Kunci: Ketahanan Keluarga;Peran;Fungsi Keluarga

From Muscles to Wires: Report of Two Cases and Literature Review on COVID-19 Vaccination and Cardiac Conduction Disturbance.

Since the end of 2020, several vaccines have become available as part of the global efforts to contain the adverse health outcomes of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Although research has confirmed their safety on large scales, several post-marketing reports have revealed some rare cardiovascular side effects. Towards the end of the first half of 2021, multiple reports indicate possible links between COVID-19 vaccines (both mRNA-based vaccine and vector-based vaccines) and myopericarditis. Nevertheless, cardiac conduction disease in this context has only rarely been reported. In this report, we present two cases of probable vaccination-induced cardiac conduction disturbances along with a thorough literature review. In addition, we discuss probable pathophysiological mechanisms and insights into the suggested areas for future research. To our knowledge, these are the first published cases to result in permanent pacemaker implantation.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on interventional cardiology fellowship training in the New York metropolitan area: A perspective from the United States epicenter

BACKGROUND: The healthcare burden posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the New York Metropolitan area has necessitated the postponement of elective procedures resulting in a marked reduction in cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) volumes with a potential to impact interventional cardiology (IC) fellowship training. METHODS: We conducted a web-based survey sent electronically to 21 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredited IC fellowship program directors (PDs) and their respective fellows. RESULTS: Fourteen programs (67%) responded to the survey and all acknowledged a significant decrease in CCL procedural volumes. More than half of the PDs reported part of their CCL being converted to inpatient units and IC fellows being redeployed to COVID-19 related duties. More than two-thirds of PDs believed that the COVID-19 pandemic would have a moderate (57%) or severe (14%) adverse impact on IC fellowship training, and 21% of the PDs expected their current fellows' average percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) volume to be below 250. Of 25 IC fellow respondents, 95% expressed concern that the pandemic would have a moderate (72%) or severe (24%) adverse impact on their fellowship training, and nearly one-fourth of fellows reported performing fewer than 250 PCIs as of March 1st. Finally, roughly one-third of PDs and IC fellows felt that there should be consideration of an extension of fellowship training or a period of early career mentorship after fellowship. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant reduction in CCL procedural volumes that is impacting IC fellowship training in the NY metropolitan area. These results should inform professional societies and accreditation bodies to offer tailored opportunities for remediation of affected trainees.