Evaluation of hepatic enzymes activities in COVID-19 patients.
SARS-CoV-2 or Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak which caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome, has rapidly spread over the world. The exact mechanism how this virus will affect the liver remained elusive. The aim of this study was to evaluate the liver function in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and potential causes of hepatic enzymes disease in these patients. Clinical characteristics and laboratory findings were collected from patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to the corona center in Erbil city/Kurdistan region of Iraq, from March 10 to July 10, 2020. Serum was collected from patients with COVID-19 and liver enzyme tests were measured. Liver alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin (TBIL) were analyzed in these patients. Of the 74 patients, 25 (34.7%) had abnormal ALT activity, 28 (40%) had abnormal AST activity, 12 (20.3%) had abnormal ALP activity, and 39 (52.7%) had abnormal total bilirubin P-value < 0.05. The inflammatory biomarkers CRP and IL-6 in COVID-19 patients with abnormal liver function test (4.9 ± 1.0 mg/dl) and (231.2 ± 35.7 pg/ml) respectively. The levels of both biomarkers were statistically significantly higher than COVID-19 patients with normal liver function test (2.1 ± 0.5 mg/dl) and (2.1 ± 0.5 mg/dl) respectively, P-value < 0.05. However, CRP and IL-6 were not statistically significant different between male and female COVID-19 patients P-value < 0.05. In conclusion, we found that most of the patients with SARS-CoV-2 have abnormal hepatic enzyme activities and that is might related to virus replication in the liver.
Rundk Hwaiz, Mohammed Merza, Badraldin Hamad, Shirin HamaSalih, Mustafa Mohammed, Harmand Hama
Atividade física e CoViD-19 – implicações biopsicofisiológicas: uma resenha do artigo de revisão de Woods et al.
coronavirus, saúde, Exercício físico, MEDICINA PREVENTIVA, sistema imunológico
Introdução: Como parte da Edição Especial de 2020 I, a Revista de Educação Física / Journal of Physical Education (REF/JPE) está trazendo aspectos científicos da prática de atividade física relacionados à pandemia de CoViD-19. Objetivo: Apresentar e indicar aos leitores da REF/JPE, a leitura o estudo de revisão sistemática de Woods et al., publicado em um periódico internacional sobre as implicações de mecanismos celulares, efeitos do envelhecimento, nutrição adequada e atividade física regular no contexto da CoViD-19. Conclusão: A CoViD-19 afeta, principalmente, os sistemas respiratório e imunológico. A recomendação para indivíduos saudáveis é a de que devem permanecer fisicamente ativos, ainda que em distanciamento social a fim de promover sua saúde. Recomenda-se a leitura do trabalho de Woods et al.
Modification effect of fenofibrate therapy, a longitudinal epigenomic-wide methylation study of triglycerides levels in the GOLDN study
methylation, TG, repeated-measures, mixed models, interaction, GSEA
Abstract Background Identification of interactions between epigenetic factors and treatments might lead to personalized intervention of diseases. This paper aims to examine the modification effect of fenofibrate therapy on the association of methylation levels and fasting blood triglycerides (TG), and the related biological pathways among methylation sites. Results Mixed-effects models were employed to assess pre- and posttreatment associations and drug modification effects simultaneously. Five cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites were found to be associated with TG levels before and after the fenofibrate therapy: cg00574958, cg17058475, and cg01082498 on CPT1A gene, chromosome 11; cg03725309 on SARS, chromosome 1; and cg06500161 on ABCG1, chromosome 21. In addition, fenofibrate therapy modified the methylation levels on the following 4 CpG sites: cg20015535 (gene EGLN1, chromosome 1); cg24870738 (gene RNF220, chromosome 1); cg06891775 (gene LOC283050, chromosome 10); and cg00607630 (gene USP7, chromosome 16). Further, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) identified cancer- and metabolism-related pathways that were associated with TG-related CpG sites. Conclusions We identified modification effects of fenofibrate on the associations between blood TG levels and several CpG sites. Pathway enrichment analysis indicated the alternations in some metabolism and cancer-related pathways. Our findings have important implications for future research in pharmacoepigenetics and personalized medicine.
Dissemination Strategies and Usage of Psychological Assistance Hotlines During the COVID-19 Outbreak in China
mental health, covid-19, dissemination, service utilization, hot line
When the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was rapidly spreading in China in early 2020, China's National Health Commission quickly responded to the psychological crisis by issuing guidelines for establishing mental health intervention systems, including providing psychological assistance hotlines. However, recent critiques have emphasized China's lack of pre-established mental health interventions which resulted in an inefficient response. This is the first empirical study to systematically examine mental health service use in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. The current study focused on the use of mental health hotlines in a Northern Chinese region. This region originally had a regional level hotline. During the outbreak, 12 out of its 16 sub-regional juridical areas started providing their own hotlines. Data regarding the regional level hotline and the 12 sub-regional level hotlines were obtained, including daily number of calls received, strategies for disseminating hotline services, and callers' expressed concerns. Confirmed COVID-19 cases in China, in the region, and in each of the sub-regional juridical area were also recorded daily during China's peak period of COVID-19. Analyses of these data revealed that the mental health hotlines tended to have low usage overall. Hotlines that merely provided their numbers to community centers and quarantine centers tended to receive few calls. Hotlines that encouraged individuals to advertise the service on personal social media accounts tended to receive more calls. The daily number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country was closely related the number of phone calls received at the regional hotline. Sub-regional hotline operators reported that a significant proportion of callers had concerns about contracting COVID-19, negative emotions from prolonged social isolation, and family conflicts while stay-at-home policies were implemented. It was also observed that the sub-regional level hotlines did not start until COVID-19 cases in the country started to decline. Overall, the psychological assistance hotlines provided during COVID-19 satisfied some mental health needs. However, consistent with recent commentaries, the hotline services were not established during the time that demand likely peaked. Future studies are warranted to determine the best strategies to improve the accessibility of mental health hotline services.
Ruofan Ma, Ruofan Ma, Rin Nguyen, Jonathan M. Oakman
Risks posed by Covid-19 to healthcare workers.
Rupert Muiry, Vaughan Parsons, Ira Madan
Recent Developments in Enzymatic Antioxidant Defence Mechanism in Plants with Special Reference to Abiotic Stress
Stressors, antioxidant enzymes, reaction mechanism, reactive oxygen species, secondary metabolites
The stationary life of plants has led to the evolution of a complex gridded antioxidant defence system constituting numerous enzymatic components, playing a crucial role in overcoming various stress conditions. Mainly, these plant enzymes are superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferases (GST), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), which work as part of the antioxidant defence system. These enzymes together form a complex set of mechanisms to minimise, buffer, and scavenge the reactive oxygen species (ROS) efficiently. The present review is aimed at articulating the current understanding of each of these enzymatic components, with special attention on the role of each enzyme in response to the various environmental, especially abiotic stresses, their molecular characterisation, and reaction mechanisms. The role of the enzymatic defence system for plant health and development, their significance, and cross-talk mechanisms are discussed in detail. Additionally, the application of antioxidant enzymes in developing stress-tolerant transgenic plants are also discussed.
Rupesh Kumar Singh, Krishan K. Verma, Vishnu D. Rajput, Tatiana Minkina, Svetlana Sushkova, Saglara Mandzhieva, Lav Sharma, Harish ., Francisco Roberto Quiroz-Figueroa, Mukesh Meena, Vinod Singh Gour
Advances in Entomopathogen Isolation: A Case of Bacteria and Fungi
Bacillus thuringiensis, Beauveria, Hypocreales, Metarhizium, Serratia
Entomopathogenic bacteria and fungi are quite frequently found in soils and insect cadavers. The first step in utilizing these microbes as biopesticides is to isolate them, and several culture media and insect baiting procedures have been tested in this direction. In this work, the authors review the current techniques that have been developed so far, in the last five decades, and display brief protocols which can be adopted for the isolations of these entomopathogens. Among bacteria, this review focuses on Serratia spp. and bacteria from the class Bacilli. Among fungi, the review focuses those from the order Hypocreales, for example, genera Beauveria, Clonostachys, Lecanicillium, Metarhizium, and Purpureocillium. The authors chose these groups of entomopathogenic bacteria and fungi based on their importance in the microbial biopesticide market.
Rupesh Kumar Singh, Lav Sharma, Nitin Bohra, Vishnu D. Rajput, Francisco Roberto Quiroz-Figueroa, Guilhermina Marques
Critical analysis of acute kidney injury in pediatric COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit.
covid-19, acute kidney injury, Adult, kidney replacement therapy, pediatric, MIS-C
COVID-19 is responsible for the 2019 novel coronavirus disease pandemic. Despite the vast research about the adult population, there has been little data collected on acute kidney injury (AKI) epidemiology, associated risk factors, treatments, and mortality in pediatric COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU. AKI is a severe complication of COVID-19 among children and adolescents. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane Center Trials to find all published literature related to AKI in COVID-19 patients, including incidence and outcomes. Twenty-four studies reporting the outcomes of interest were included. Across all studies, the overall sample size of COVID positive children was 1,247 and the median age of this population was 9.1 years old. Among COVID positive pediatric patients, there was an AKI incidence of 30.51%, with only 0.56% of these patients receiving KRT. The mortality was 2.55% among all COVID positive pediatric patients. The incidence of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) among COVID positive patients was 74.29%. AKI has shown to be a negative prognostic factor in adult patients with COVID-19 and now also in the pediatric cohort with high incidence and mortality rates. Additionally, our findings show a strong comparison in epidemiology between adult and pediatric COVID-19 patients; however, they need to be confirmed with additional data and studies.
Rupesh Raina, Ronith Chakraborty, Isabelle Mawby, Nirav Agarwal, Sidharth Sethi, Michael Forbes
Public Perspective and Adherence to Government Directives in the Face of COVID-19 Situation in India
covid-19, Pandemic, coronavirus disease, public awareness, adherence, government directives
Background: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID -19) is an acute respiratory illness which spread rapidly to many countries including India. The Government of India took several measures to control the spread of the disease including issuing advisories and awareness materials for the public along with nationwide lockdown. Aims: To assess the public perspective of the disease, their behaviour during lockdown and adherence to government directives for its prevention. Materials and Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult population residing in India during the lockdown, using a self-administered online-circulated questionnaire. Snowball sampling technique was followed. Data were collected on awareness regarding the disease and adherence to advisories issued by the government during the lockdown. Results: A total of 404 subjects sent their responses, of whom 73.76% were aged less than 50 years and 51.24% were females. More than 85% knew about the modes of spread of the disease and 97.5% knew its symptoms. Most participants were aware that they had to call the COVID-19 helpline number or visit a doctor/hospital immediately in case they came in contact with an infected person or developed symptoms themselves. Around 79% reported that they went out of their house during lockdown, mostly to buy essential supplies, of whom 8.7% went outside almost every day. More than 90% followed correct handwash practices but approximately 6% of those who went out didn’t use a mask regularly and 2% never used a mask. Conclusion: Majority of the participants across India were aware regarding COVID-19 and were following Government directives.
The COVID-19 Own Risk Appraisal Scale (CORAS): Development and validation in two samples from the United Kingdom.
covid-19, COVID-19 prevention, Perceived risk, fear of covid-19, COVID-19 Own Risk Appraisal Scale, scale validation
Perceived risk is an important determinant of the adoption of preventive behaviours. In this article, the psychometric properties of the COVID-19 Own Risk Appraisal Scale (CORAS), including its development and validation in two samples in the United Kingdom, are described. The CORAS is a measure of perceived personal risk of contracting the disease, incorporating primarily intuitive with some analytic risk estimates. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed on data from 470 participants in the United Kingdom who completed the CORAS, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale and the COVID-19 Preventive Behaviours Index. Results showed that a unidimensional, six-item model fits the data well, with satisfactory fit indices, internal consistency and high item loadings onto the factor. We found no statistically significant differences by age, gender or ethnicity. The CORAS correlated positively with the Fear of COVID-19 Scale and the COVID-19 Preventive Behaviours Index, suggesting good concurrent validity.
Rusi Jaspal, Emanuele Fino, Glynis M Breakwell