COVID-19 is a viral disease that can manifest acutely in the respiratory tract and other organs. In this study, we aimed to investigate potential long-term damage to the heart from COVID-19. For this study, we divided 97 consecutive unselected COVID-19 patients aged 18-80 years at a cardiology practice in Cologne, Germany, into two groups based on the severity of their infection. We performed a resting ECG and a resting transthoracic echocardiography three and six months after SARS-CoV2 infection. The key discriminator determining disease severity was bed confinement or hospital admission. Group 1 included patients with less severe COVID-19, whereas group 2 contained more severe cases. Heart rate as the primary ECG endpoint was lower by a statistically significant amount for the entire study population (p=0.024), subdivided by gender (pwomen <0.001, pmen <0.001) and in group 1 p =0.003 compared to three months. QTc time and repolarization disturbances as primary ECG endpoints and the echocardiographic primary endpoints, left ventricular ejection fraction, and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), showed no relevant difference between the subgroups at three and six months or between the measurements taken at each point. In contrast, LVEDD normalized to body surface area was statistically significantly lower at six months in women in group 1 compared to group 2 (p=0.048) and in the overall study population at six months compared with the data after three months (p=0.034). E/E\' was statistically lower at six months than at three months in the whole population (p=0.004) and in women (p=0.031). All measured echocardiographic and electrocardiographic mean values were within the normal range in all groups and follow-up controls. Overall, the prospective study conducted showed no significant evidence of long-term cardiac damage from COVID-19 disease, as evidenced by electrocardiographic and echocardiographic examinations at three and six months after infection.

Over three years since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic, it is still a global burden. Vaccines against COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, are available and effective for preventing disease. However, their protective effects are not 100%. Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved a limited number of inpatient treatments for COVID-19, such as remdesivir, baricitinib, and tocilizumab. These medications have indications and contraindications applicable to a select patient population. Finding additional effective therapies that are widely available with limited risk could be vital in optimizing treatment strategies for this viral illness. Some vitamins and supplements have been identified as potential options for managing COVID-19. Vitamin D (VD) deficiency has been associated with respiratory tract infections. Moreover, alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a powerful antioxidant and helps reduce inflammatory responses in many pathologic conditions. This review aims to analyze the current evidence regarding the effectiveness of VD and alpha-lipoic acid in COVID-19 infection in both outpatient and hospitalized patients. Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified via the PubMed database from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2023. Inclusion criteria were as follows: the study design was a randomized controlled trial (RCT), the usage of a constant dose during the intervention period without any additional boluses, and a research ethics committee approved it. Exclusion criteria included a lack of an outcome or apparent intervention, additional boluses, or a single-dose regimen in all the interventional groups. There were 11 studies with a total sample size of 35,717 patients that met the criteria for this review. A total of 10 RCTs examined the efficacy of VD, and one RCT that reviewed the efficacy of ALA was identified. All of the articles investigated the use of VD or ALA during the treatment of COVID-19. The endpoints of each study varied, including length of stay in hospital, viral load, SARS-CoV-2 infection rate, mechanical ventilation, inflammatory markers, clinical symptoms, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and mortality. In 8/10 VD supplementation trials, significant differences were identified between the interventional and placebo groups in the aforementioned parameters. In 2/10 VD supplementation trials, no significant differences were identified. The ALA supplementation RCT found no differences between the interventional and placebo groups in the SOFA score and 30-day all-cause mortality rate. The current literature suggests that VD can potentially reduce the SARS-CoV-2 infection rate, oxygen requirements, inflammatory markers, clinical symptoms, and mortality. Regarding ALA, although there was a suggestion of benefit, it was not statistically significant. Common limitations among the different studies included relatively small sample sizes, different geographical patient locations among studies, and differences in dosages. Trials investigating the effects of higher doses of VD supplementation on SARS-CoV-2 infection should be conducted. More research is needed to define best practices and optimal dosing protocols for the use of VD in COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Data on mixed mould infection with COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) and COVID-19-associated pulmonary mucormycosis (CAPM) are sparse.
OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the prevalence of co-existent CAPA in CAPM (mixed mould infection) and whether mixed mould infection is associated with early mortality (≤7 days of diagnosis).
METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the data collected from 25 centres across India on COVID-19-associated mucormycosis. We included only CAPM and excluded subjects with disseminated or rhino-orbital mucormycosis. We defined co-existent CAPA if a respiratory specimen showed septate hyphae on smear, histopathology or culture grew Aspergillus spp. We also compare the demography, predisposing factors, severity of COVID-19, and management of CAPM patients with and without CAPA. Using a case-control design, we assess whether mixed mould infection (primary exposure) were associated with early mortality in CAPM.
RESULTS: We included 105 patients with CAPM. The prevalence of mixed mould infection was 20% (21/105). Patients with mixed mould infection experienced early mortality (9/21 [42.9%] vs. 15/84 [17.9%]; p = 0.02) and poorer survival at 6 weeks (7/21 [33.3] vs. 46/77 [59.7%]; p = 0.03) than CAPM alone. On imaging, consolidation was more commonly encountered with mixed mould infections than CAPM. Co-existent CAPA (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 19.1 [2.62-139.1]) was independently associated with early mortality in CAPM after adjusting for hypoxemia during COVID-19 and other factors.
CONCLUSIONS: Coinfection of CAPA and CAPM was not uncommon in our CAPM patients and portends a worse prognosis. Prospective studies from different countries are required to know the impact of mixed mould infection.

BACKGROUND: Although there are some data regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and in in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, its potential impact in terms of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels has not been evaluated prospectively. This study aimed to assess the effect of COVID-19 vaccine and IgG levels on IVF outcomes.
METHODS: This observational, cohort study was conducted at a referral IVF unit. Couples undergoing IVF treatment during the COVID-19 vaccination period were recruited from March-April 2021. The study compared 38 women who had received the Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccination to 10 women who had not and were not infected by the virus. We also compared pre- and post-vaccination IVF treatments for 24 women. The relation between serologic titers and IVF treatment outcomes was also assessed.
RESULTS: No significant difference was found between the vaccinated and unvaccinated/uninfected groups regarding the main outcome measures. However, there was a trend toward a higher pregnancy rate for the unvaccinated group (57% vs. 23%, p = 0.078) but no difference in delivery rate (p = 0.236), gestational week (p = 0.537) or birth rate (p = 0.671).
CONCLUSIONS: We cautiously state that the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine does not affect fertility outcomes, including fertilization, pregnancy and delivery rates, obstetric outcomes, and semen parameters, regardless of measured IgG levels.

The worldwide spread of the novel coronavirus originating from Wuhan, China led to an ongoing pandemic as COVID-19. The disease being a contagion transmitted rapidly in India through the people having travel histories to the affected countries, and their contacts that tested positive. Millions of people across all states and union territories (UT) were affected leading to serious respiratory illness and deaths. In the present study, two unsupervised clustering algorithms namely k-means clustering and hierarchical agglomerative clustering are applied on the COVID-19 dataset in order to group the Indian states/UTs based on the pandemic effect and the vaccination program from the period of March, 2020 to early June, 2021. The aim of the study is to observe the plight of each state and UT of India combating the novel coronavirus infection and to monitor their vaccination status. The research study will be helpful to the government and to the frontline workers coping to restrict the transmission of the virus in India. Also, the results of the study will provide a source of information for future research regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in India.

The contemporary situation of the world is very pathetic due to the spread of COVID-19. In this article, we have prepared a decision making model on COVID-19 pandemic patients with the help of the neutrosophic similarity measures. The model is to predict the COVID-19 patents for testing positive and testing negative. The decision making is based on the testing result of the COVID-19 cases. We have used the neutrosophic similarity measure theory and the distance function. We have used the C-programming for finding the result of the suspected patients.

The Corona VIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is one of the significant medical disaster that changed the life of humankind in the 21st century. The deadly virus is transmittable from infected person, through his nasal droplets, to surrounding people among whom, the healthcare personnel are the utmost affected. The present article brings out an innovative chamber, which is used for collection of throat, or nasal swabs/samples for diagnosis of COVID-19 suspected persons. The chamber, called COVid SAmple Collection Kiosk (COVSACK), eliminates the transmission of the deadly virus to the health care personnel while collecting the sample. The kiosk is designed based on CFD simulations for effective spread of disinfectant in fine droplet form, built with a lightweight composite that is sustainable in extreme weather conditions and the kiosk can be easily sanitized within 3 min after sample collection. The chamber is first positioned in ESI Hospital, Hyderabad, and other hospitals and diagnostics centres across India, extensively being used for testing the COVID-19 patients at a faster rate, with a drastic reduction in use of personal protection equipment (PPE). This technological innovation, to certain extent, has changed the way the testing of COVID-19 patients carried out in the country.

UNASSIGNED: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to physical and psychological complications and social consequences in the form of illness-related stigma. This study aimed (1) to assess the sociodemographic and clinical variable, as well as COVID-19 related knowledge and perception of persons admitted for COVID-19/Suspected COVID-19 in Nepal, (2) to determine their levels of COVID-19- related internalized stigma, depression, and anxiety symptoms, and (3) to evaluate the correlates of COVID-19- related internalized stigma.
UNASSIGNED: It was a cross-sectional exploratory study with a convenience sample of 395 participants (306 confirmed cases, 89 suspected cases) conducted between July-October 2020 in four health facilities in Madhesh and Lumbini provinces of Nepal. We used a semi-structured questionnaire to assess sociodemographic details, clinical information, COVID-19-related knowledge, perception, COVID-19-related internalized stigma, and the Hamilton Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) in Nepali language. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and linear regression analyses were performed. The level of statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05.
UNASSIGNED: Around 23.3% of the patients had anxiety symptoms, 32.9% had depressive symptoms, and 20.3% had high COVID-19-related internalized stigma (mean ISMI score: 2.51-4.00). Linear regression analyses showed a significant positive association of COVID-19-related internalized stigma total score, with the following eight factors, i.e., no income in the past one month (p = 0.013), below average socioeconomic status (p = 0.004), anxiety symptoms (p = <0.001), depressive symptoms (p = <0.001), recent testing positive for COVID-19 (p = <0.001), involuntary admission (p = <0.001), prior experience of being in isolation and quarantine (p = 0.045), and those who blame others for COVID-19 (p = 0.025).
UNASSIGNED: COVID-19 survivors and suspects are vulnerable to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and COVID-19-related internalized stigma. For the first time from Nepal, our data suggests that COVID-19-related internalized stigma is associated with anxiety and depression symptoms, perceived below-average socioeconomic status, involuntary admission, prior experience of being in isolation and quarantine, recent COVID-19 positive report, self-blame, below-average socioeconomic status and no income in the past one month. Mitigating and preventing internalized stigma associated with a public health crisis such as COVID-19 is imperative by diagnosing and treating such mental health issues early and designing interventions and policies especially targeting vulnerable populations focusing on their economic background and socio-cultural beliefs.

In this review out of 300 selected articles 70 articles were evaluated, and the most significant compounds impacting COVID-19 and their mechanism of action were introduced. The compounds belong to four categories as follow: Phenolic, Flavonoid, Terpenoid, and Alkaloid compounds. In the phenol groups, the most effective compounds are scutellarin (suppressor of COVID-19 virus), thymol and carvacrol (the most inhibitory effect on COVID-19 virus), in the flavonoid groups, hesperdin (a strong inhibitor on COVID-19), in the terpenoids, methyl tanshinonate and sojil COVID-19 inhibitory effect) and 1,8-cineol (COVID-19 inhibitory effect) and in the last group, niglidine and quinoline alkaloid compounds (COVID-19 inhibitory effect) have been identified and introduced. These compounds have shown promising results due to their structure and effective mechanisms on COVID-19, so it can be an idea for researchers in this field to try to produce drugs by using natural compounds against the COVID-19 and Corona viruses.

It has been suggested that a corona virus infection is linked to chronic periodontitis (COVID-19). Our objectives were to look at the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) in periodontal compartments containing periodontal infections to determine if ACE2 is directly or indirectly responsible for the inflammation in periodontal tissues getting worse. In this study, six non-COVID-19 periodontitis patients without diabetes served as controls, and 23 hospitalized periodontitis patients were admitted with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 with diabetes mellitus (Group 1/G1, n = 10), and without diabetes (Group 2/G2, n = 13). We evaluated the mRNA expression of ACE2, IL-6, IL-8, complement C3, and LL-37, as well as the relative proportion of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Veillonella parvula to represent the dysbiosis condition in periodontal microenvironment using subgingival plaque and gingival crevicular fluids (GCF) samples and quantitative real time PCR (qPCR). Every analysis was done to ascertain how they related to one another. The area under the curve (AUC) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of inflammatory indicators. All the grouped patients had ACE2 detected, according to our findings, but only the G1 patients had a positive correlation (p < 0.05) between ACE2 expression and the inflammatory markers. The combination of IL-6 and C3 mRNAs was found to be 0.78 and 0.55 for the G1 group and the G2 group, respectively, based on the ROC and AUC values. According to our research, the relationship between complement C3 and IL-6 may be able to predict the degree of periodontal inflammation in COVID-19 patients who also have diabetes.