The COVID-19 pandemic exposed and exacerbated persistent health inequities in perinatal populations, resulting in disparities of maternal and fetal complications. In this narrative review, we present an adapted conceptual framework of perinatal social determinants of health in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic and use this framework to contextualize the literature regarding disparities in COVID-19 vaccination and infection. We synthesize how elements of the structural context, individual socioeconomic position, and concrete intermediary determinants influence each other and perinatal COVID-19 vaccination and infection, arguing that systemic inequities at each level contribute to observed disparities in perinatal health outcomes. From there, we identify gaps in the literature, propose mechanisms for observed disparities, and conclude with a discussion of strategies to mitigate them.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly destructs the rhythm of global modern human civilization but worldwide lockdown radically recovers the health of the total environment. The Himalayan trans-boundary rivers provide huge provisional, regulatory and cultural ecosystem services to millions of people throughout the year but in the recent years the water quality is being deteriorated due to multiple reasons. In the last decade, India-Bangladesh political relationship has been slightly broken down due to water sharing and environmental flow of rivers.The COVID-19 lockdown offered a great scope to execute the comparative study among pre, lockdown and unlock phase. The research attempts to investigate the spatiotemporal water quality of trans-boundary rivers through WAWQI and irrigation water quality indices such as Sodium absorption ratio, Soluble sodium percentage, Potential salinity, Magnesium hazard and Kelly\'s index considering eighteen water quality parameters (pH, EC, TDS, TSS, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na²⁺, K⁺, F-, Cl-, NO3-, SO₄²-, PO43-, DO, T, TUR, COD and BOD). The result shows the strong positive correlation between EC and TDS during three phases. Significant reduction of BOD, COD and TUR has been noticed almost 70% stations during lockdown compared with prelockdown while augmentation of DO has been recorded around 40% stations. WQI of most of the stations shows around 80% improvement of water quality during lockdown period. Moreover, worst kind of WQI was found in the Mathabhanga-Churni river followed by Mahananda. During lockdown, the striking results show that SAR and MH were significantly amplified in most of the stations due to agricultural run-off.

Asymptomatic subjects account for 25 to 45% of SARS-CoV-2 infections, and in particular, subjects on mild immunosuppressive therapy may have symptoms masked and could spread virus for an extended period of time. To determine the cumulative incidence of symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections and associated risk factors, we conducted a prospective clinical and serological survey in a cohort of 278 liver transplant recipients (LTRs) from Central Italy. Three different serology tests were performed every 4 months in 259 LTRs between April 2020 and April 2021: one based on raw extract of whole SARS-CoV-2 virus and two on specific viral antigens (nucleoprotein and receptor binding domain) to detect specific IgG, IgM and IgA. Hundred fifteen LTRs who reported symptoms or close contact with a SARS-CoV-2-positive subject, or had a positive serological result underwent molecular testing by standard screening procedures (RT-PCR on naso-pharyngeal swab). Thirty-one past or active SARS-CoV-2 infections were identified: 14 had positive molecular test (64% symptomatic), and 17 had positive serology only (18% symptomatic). SARS-CoV-2 infection was not statistically related to gender, age, obesity, diabetes, renal impairment, type of anti-rejection therapy or time from transplant. Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 cases (61.3%) were more frequent in males and in those with glomerular filtrate rate >50 ml/min. Overall, the addition of repeated serology to standard diagnostic molecular protocols increased detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection from 5.1% to 10.9%. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among our LTRs (11.2%) is comparable to the general population of Central Italy, considered a medium-impact area. Only one asymptomatic subject (6%) was found to carry SARS-CoV-2 in respiratory tract at the time of serological diagnosis.

The 2019 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine is a major weapon in the fight against the severe acute respiratory syndrome brought about by coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The vaccine significantly reduces the risk and severity of infection by SARS-CoV-2. Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) need protection from vaccine-preventable diseases including COVID-19. SLE patients have higher rates of severe infections due to immunosuppressive therapies and multiple immunologic defects - both of which are capable of blunting the immune responses after vaccination. In the management of COVID-19, recommendations have been developed to guide adjustments and/or continuation of immunosuppressive therapies for an effective immune response following vaccination with mRNA-based or viral vector-delivered vaccines. Monoclonal antibodies have also become available since December 2021. Here we present three cases of SLE patients who contracted COVID-19 after vaccination. One was managed in ambulatory settings and two required inpatient hospital admission.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gasotransmitter of great significance to developing the innate immune response to many bacterial and viral infections, while also modulating vascular physiology. The generation of NO from the upregulation of endogenous nitric oxide synthases serves as an efficacious method for inhibiting viral replication in host defense and warrants investigation for the development of antiviral therapeutics. With increased incidence of global pandemics concerning several respiratory-based viral infections, it is necessary to develop broad therapeutic platforms for inhibiting viral replication and enabling more efficient host clearance, as well as to fabricate new materials for deterring viral transmission from medical devices. Recent developments in creating stabilized NO donor compounds and their incorporation into macromolecular scaffolds and polymeric substrates has created a new paradigm for developing NO-based therapeutics for long-term NO release in applications for bactericidal and blood-contacting surfaces. Despite this abundance of research, there has been little consideration of NO-releasing scaffolds and substrates for reducing passive transmission of viral infections or for treating several respiratory viral infections. The aim of this review is to highlight the recent advances in developing gaseous NO, NO prodrugs, and NO donor compounds for antiviral therapies; discuss the limitations of NO as an antiviral agent; and outline future prospects for guiding materials design of a next generation of NO-releasing antiviral platforms.

UNASSIGNED: To evaluate and compare the prevalence and type of abdominal involvements identified on CT scans in COVID-19 critically ill patients to those observed in critically ill patients with non-SARS-CoV-2 viral pneumonia.
UNASSIGNED: Monocentric IRB approved retrospective study comparing all abdominal CT scans performed for patients admitted in the ICU with COVID-19 and those performed in a historical cohort of ICU patients with non-SARS-CoV-2 viral pneumonia. For each patient, gallbladder abnormality, acute pancreatitis signs, acute adrenal infarction, renal infarcts, bowel wall thickening and CT scan signs of bowel ischemia were assessed. Results were then compared between critically ill COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients (Chi-2 or Fisher exact tests for categorical data and Student t-test or Mann-Whitney U test for continuous data as appropriate).
UNASSIGNED: Ninety-nine COVID-19 patients and 45 non-COVID-19 patients were included.No difference was found between the rate of abnormal findings comparing COVID-19 patients and patients with other viral pneumonia (63/99 [64%] vs 27/45 [61%], p=0.94). Acute pancreatitis signs were more commonly seen in COVID-19 patients but without statistically difference between groups (14/99 [14%] vs 3/45 [6.7%], p=0.31). Bowel wall thickening was slightly more commonly seen in patients with other viral pneumonia (18/99 [18%] vs 11/45 [24%], p=0.52), however ischemic features were observed in higher rate in the COVID-19 group, although without reaching statistically significant differences (7/99 [7.1%] vs 2/45 [4.4%], p=0.75).
UNASSIGNED: The rate and severity of abdominal involvement demonstrated by CT in ICU patients hospitalized for COVID-19 although high were not different to that observed in patients with other severe viral pneumoniae.

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant containing 15 mutations, including the unique Q493R, in the spike protein receptor binding domain (S1-RBD) is highly infectious. While comparison with previously reported mutations provide some insights, the mechanism underlying the increased infections and the impact of the reversal of the unique Q493R mutation seen in BA.4, BA.5, BA.2.75, BQ.1 and XBB lineages is not yet completely understood. Here, using structural modelling and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we show that the Omicron mutations increases the affinity of S1-RBD for ACE2, and a reversal of the unique Q493R mutation further increases the ACE2-S1-RBD affinity. Specifically, we performed all atom, explicit solvent MD simulations using a modelled structure of the Omicron S1-RBD-ACE2 and compared the trajectories with the WT complex revealing a substantial reduction in the Cα-atom fluctuation in the Omicron S1-RBD and increased hydrogen bond and other interactions. Residue level analysis revealed an alteration in the interaction between several residues including a switch in the interaction of ACE2 D38 from S1-RBD Y449 in the WT complex to the mutated R residue (Q493R) in Omicron complex. Importantly, simulations with Revertant (Omicron without the Q493R mutation) complex revealed further enhancement of the interaction between S1-RBD and ACE2. Thus, results presented here not only provide insights into the increased infectious potential of the Omicron variant but also a mechanistic basis for the reversal of the Q493R mutation seen in some Omicron lineages and will aid in understanding the impact of mutations in SARS-CoV-2 evolution.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a clinically severe lung illness with high incidence rate and mortality. Especially, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses a serious threat to world wide governmental fitness. It has distributed to almost from corner to corner of the universe, and the situation in the prevention and control of COVID-19 remains grave. Traditional Chinese medicine plays a vital role in the precaution and therapy of sicknesses. At present, there is a lack of drugs for treating these diseases, so it is necessary to develop drugs for treating COVID-19 related ALI. Fagopyrum dibotrys (D. Don) Hara is an annual plant of the Polygonaceae family and one of the long-history used traditional medicine in China. In recent years, its rhizomes (medicinal parts) have attracted the attention of scholars at home and abroad due to their significant anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anticancer activities. It can work on SARS-COV-2 with numerous components, targets, and pathways, and has a certain effect on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related acute lung injury (ALI). However, there are few systematic studies on its aerial parts (including stems and leaves) and its potential therapeutic mechanism has not been studied. The phytochemical constituents of rhizome of F. dibotrys were collected using TCMSP database. And metabolites of F. dibotrys\' s aerial parts were detected by metabonomics. The phytochemical targets of F. dibotrys were predicted by the PharmMapper website tool. COVID-19 and ALI-related genes were retrieved from GeneCards. Cross targets and active phytochemicals of COVID-19 and ALI related genes in F. dibotrys were enriched by gene ontology (GO) and KEGG by metscape bioinformatics tools. The interplay network entre active phytochemicals and anti COVID-19 and ALI targets was established and broke down using Cytoscape software. Discovery Studio (version 2019) was used to perform molecular docking of crux active plant chemicals with anti COVID-19 and ALI targets. We identified 1136 chemicals from the aerial parts of F. dibotrys, among which 47 were active flavonoids and phenolic chemicals. A total of 61 chemicals were searched from the rhizome of F. dibotrys, and 15 of them were active chemicals. So there are 6 commonly key active chemicals at the aerial parts and the rhizome of F. dibotrys, 89 these phytochemicals\'s potential targets, and 211 COVID-19 and ALI related genes. GO enrichment bespoken that F. dibotrys might be involved in influencing gene targets contained numerous biological processes, for instance, negative regulation of megakaryocyte differentiation, regulation of DNA metabolic process, which could be put down to its anti COVID-19 associated ALI effects. KEGG pathway indicated that viral carcinogenesis, spliceosome, salmonella infection, coronavirus disease - COVID-19, legionellosis and human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection pathway are the primary pathways obsessed in the anti COVID-19 associated ALI effects of F. dibotrys. Molecular docking confirmed that the 6 critical active phytochemicals of F. dibotrys, such as luteolin, (+) -epicatechin, quercetin, isorhamnetin, (+) -catechin, and (-) -catechin gallate, can combine with kernel therapeutic targets NEDD8, SRPK1, DCUN1D1, and PARP1. In vitro activity experiments showed that the total antioxidant capacity of the aerial parts and rhizomes of F. dibotrys increased with the increase of concentration in a certain range. In addition, as a whole, the antioxidant capacity of the aerial part of F. dibotrys was stronger than that of the rhizome. Our research afford cues for farther exploration of the anti COVID-19 associated ALI chemical compositions and mechanisms of F. dibotrys and afford scientific foundation for progressing modern anti COVID-19 associated ALI drugs based on phytochemicals in F. dibotrys. We also fully developed the medicinal value of F. dibotrys\' s aerial parts, which can effectively avoid the waste of resources. Meanwhile, our work provides a new strategy for integrating metabonomics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking techniques which was an efficient way for recognizing effective constituents and mechanisms valid to the pharmacologic actions of traditional Chinese medicine.

The current, rapidly diversifying pandemic has accelerated the need for efficient and effective identification of potential drug candidates for COVID-19. Knowledge on host-immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, however, remains limited with few drugs approved to date. Viable strategies and tools are rapidly arising to address this, especially with repurposing of existing drugs offering significant promise. Here we introduce a systems biology tool, the PHENotype SIMulator, which -by leveraging available transcriptomic and proteomic databases-allows modeling of SARS-CoV-2 infection in host cells in silico to i) determine with high sensitivity and specificity (both>96%) the viral effects on cellular host-immune response, resulting in specific cellular SARS-CoV-2 signatures and ii) utilize these cell-specific signatures to identify promising repurposable therapeutics. Powered by this tool, coupled with domain expertise, we identify several potential COVID-19 drugs including methylprednisolone and metformin, and further discern key cellular SARS-CoV-2-affected pathways as potential druggable targets in COVID-19 pathogenesis.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly contagious and pathogenic virus that first appeared in late December 2019. This SARS-CoV-2 causes an infection of an acute respiratory disease called \"coronavirus infectious disease-2019 (COVID-19). The World Health Organization (WHO) declared this SARS-CoV-2 outbreak a great pandemic on March 11, 2020. As of January 31, 2023, SARS-CoV-2 recorded more than 67 million cases and over 6 million deaths. Recently, novel mutated variants of SARS-CoV are also creating a serious health concern worldwide, and the future novel variant is still mysterious. As infection cases of SARS-CoV-2 are increasing daily, scientists are trying to combat the disease using numerous antiviral drugs and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive review that summarized the dynamic nature of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, SARS-CoV-2 variants (a variant of concern and variant of interest), antiviral drugs and vaccines utilized against SARS-CoV-2 at a glance. Hopefully, this review will enable the researcher to gain knowledge on SARS-CoV-2 variants and vaccines, which will also pave the way to identify efficient novel vaccines against forthcoming SARS-CoV-2 strains.