scholarly journals Comprehensive pathway enrichment analysis workflows: COVID-19 case study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Agapito ◽  
Chiara Pastrello ◽  
Igor Jurisica
Keyword(s):  
Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
World Health ◽  
Pathway Enrichment Analysis ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Pathway Enrichment ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak due to the novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been classified as a pandemic disease by the World Health Organization on the 12th March 2020. This world-wide crisis created an urgent need to identify effective countermeasures against SARS-CoV-2. In silico methods, artificial intelligence and bioinformatics analysis pipelines provide effective and useful infrastructure for comprehensive interrogation and interpretation of available data, helping to find biomarkers, explainable models and eventually cures. One class of such tools, pathway enrichment analysis (PEA) methods, helps researchers to find possible key targets present in biological pathways of host cells that are targeted by SARS-CoV-2. Since many software tools are available, it is not easy for non-computational users to choose the best one for their needs. In this paper, we highlight how to choose the most suitable PEA method based on the type of COVID-19 data to analyze. We aim to provide a comprehensive overview of PEA techniques and the tools that implement them.

Exponential growth impact of COVID-19 pandemic-world scenario, preventive measures and drug preferences (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aneesh Kumar K V
Keyword(s):  
Exponential Growth ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Infected People ◽  
The Public ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization (WHO) declared 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 30 January 2020 and pandemic on 11 March 2020. As of today, 17 May 2020 around 3,16,520 death and 47,99,266 coronavirus infected cases are reported worldwide. There is about 26,25,463 active cases are now under treatment and several lakhs of people are under quarantine. Therefore, an attempt has been made to explain briefly about the characteristics of the virus, current review, COVID-19 symptoms, precautions, available vaccines etc. In addition, a case study was also conducted to provide the dangerous picture of drastic growth of infected people around the world during the span of time. OBJECTIVE World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the COVID-19 outbreak as a global public health emergency and pandemic, spreading fast with an increasing number of infected patients worldwide. At present, no vaccines are available for the treatment of patients with COVID_19 disease. A case study was conducted to provide the dangerous picture of exponential growth of infected people around the world to inculcate the awareness of maintaining social distancing and hand hygiene. This effort is made in view of providing awareness to the public effectively to understand and deal with the novel coronavirus situation worldwide. It is also anticipated to provide a reference to future advances in medical anti-virus related studies. METHODS A case study was conducted to provide the dangerous picture of exponential growth of infected people around the globe. For our study, we preferred five most coronavirus effected countries in the world viz., China, Itali, USA, Spain, India in the month of February and March 2020, and later extended to 17 May 2020. Based on the current published evidence, we precisely summarize the disease, characteristics of the virus, current world scenario, available treatment options and preventive measures to be taken against COVID-19. RESULTS Effort is made in view of providing awareness to the public effectively to understand and deal with the novel coronavirus situation worldwide.The medicines like Remdesivir, Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine, Ritonavir/Lopinavir and combined with Interferon beta are the experimental treatments currently being researched. Treatment with Lopinavir and Ritonavir or Chloroquine should be recommended in older patients with serious symptoms. The main risk factor of COVID-19 is travel and exposure to the virus. Lockdown, quarantine and thereby maintaining the ‘social distancing’ are the suitable method for controlling the out spread of coronavirus. Moreover, it is individual’s responsibility to take prompt measures to control the fast spreading of this virus disease. CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 disease is spreading fast uncontrolled with an increasing number of infected patients worldwide. Our case study details the dangerous picture of exponential growth of infected people around the globe. The exact source, characteristics of the virus is unknown and no suitable drugs have been developed as of today. Symptomatic treatments are available and the list is provided, no need to panic. Conclusion is to inculcate the awareness of maintaining social distancing and hand hygiene. Anticipated to provide a reference to future advances in medical antivirus related studies.

scholarly journals The scientific community in COVID-19 global pandemic: A systematic update on recent progress and challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-234
Author(s):  
Zeba Firdaus ◽  
Sushil Kumar Singh ◽  
Tryambak Deo Singh ◽  
Meenakshi Singh
Keyword(s):  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

The novel coronavirus, which emerged in China in late December 2019, is officially named as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The rapid spread of the virus across the continent has disrupted human life in every aspect leading to health and economic crises. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus outbreak as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. In spite of complete lockdown and quarantine efforts in many countries, the occurrence of infections continues to rise, with more than 88 million laboratory-confirmed cases and over 1.9 million deaths worldwide as on January 10, 2021. Since the beginning of the outbreak, lot of intriguing studies about the phylogenetic evolution, epidemiology, pathogenesis, transmission, clinical characteristics, and possible treatment of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been published. This review aims to provide an insight into the progress in this regard and provides a reference for future studies including general awareness. We have discussed the origin, transmission, and infection mechanism of coronaviruses in host cells as well as available treatment options with relevant case studies. Furthermore, the stages of vaccine development, types of vaccines, and candidate vaccines with their phases of clinical trial are also incorporated. In a nutshell, the article is an attempt to retrieve the latest information available on virus behavior, efficacy of the available drugs, and development of candidate vaccines on SARS-CoV-2.

scholarly journals Potential of CRISPR/Cas13 System in Treatment and Diagnosis of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir Khodavirdipour ◽  
Motahareh Piri ◽  
Sarvin Jabbari ◽  
Mohammad Khalaj-kondori
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Tool ◽  
Human Kidney ◽  
World Health ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Rapid Action ◽  
Antiparasitic Drug ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Treatment And Diagnosis

AbstractThe novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) belongs to coronaviridae families, like sarbecovirus (SARS), and causes pyrexia, pertussis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in major. Started from Wuhan, China now forced the World Health Organization (WHO) to call it a pandemic. These dreadful figures elevate the need for rapid action for a rapid diagnostic tool, an efficacious therapy, or vaccine for such widespread disease. Here we reviewed all the latest research and trials including conventional antiviral medicines that have a narrow and finite effect on COVID-19. Recently, some advances have been made by a nucleotide/nucleoside analogues (NUC) inhibitor (remdesivir), ivermectin (antiparasitic drug), and convalescent plasma, the later one has more recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition, a clinical-grade soluble human angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2), named hrsACE2, was able to inhibit the infection of human blood vessel organoids, as well as the human kidney organoids, by the virus. As of now, innovative therapeutics based on the CRISPR/Cas13d might overcome the challenge of COVID-19 either as a treatment option or precise and rapid diagnostic tool due to its rapid and precise nature. In this updated comprehensive rapid review, we try to cover all recent findings in terms of genomics, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

scholarly journals Viability of Bacillus subtilis Cells in Airborne Bioaerosols on Face Masks

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1496
Author(s):  
Eun-Hee Lee ◽  
Yunsoo Chang ◽  
Seung-Woo Lee
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Fine Dust ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Viable Cells ◽  
Mask Material ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Sand Dust

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a general health crisis and has irreversible impacts on human societies. Globally, all people are at risk of being exposed to the novel coronavirus through transmission of airborne bioaerosols. Public health actions, such as wearing a mask, are highly recommended to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases. The appropriate use of masks is necessary for effectively preventing the transmission of airborne bioaerosols. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests washing fabric masks or throwing away disposable masks after they are used. However, people often use masks more than once without washing or disposing them. The prolonged use of a single mask might—as a result of the user habitually touching the mask—promote the spread of pathogens from airborne bioaerosols that have accumulated on the mask. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate how long the living components of bioaerosols can be viable on the masks. Here, we evaluated the viability of airborne Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) in bioaerosols filtered on woven and anti-droplet (non-woven) face masks. As a simulation of being simultaneously exposed to sand dust and bioaerosols, the viability rates of bioaerosols that had accumulated on masks were also tested against fine dust and airborne droplets containing bacteria. The bioaerosols survived on the masks immediately after the masks were used to filter the bioaerosols, and the bacteria significantly proliferated after one day of storage. Thereafter, the number of viable cells in the filtered bioaerosols gradually decreased over time, and the viability of B. subtilis in bioaerosols on the masks varied, depending on the mask material used (woven or non-woven). Despite the reduction in viability, bioaerosols containing living components were still found in both woven and anti-droplet masks even after six days of storage and it took nine days not to have found them on masks. The number of viable cells in bioaerosols on masks significantly decreased upon exposure of the masks to fine dust. The results of this study should provide useful information on how to appropriately use masks to increase their duration of effectiveness against bioaerosols.

scholarly journals A Bittersweet Memoir

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-135
Author(s):  
Anita Y. N. Lim
Keyword(s):  
Video Clip ◽  
Early Period ◽  
General Medicine ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
World Health ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
The Novel ◽  
National University ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract I wrote this journal in March 2020 prior to the World Health Organization declaring the COVID-19 infection as a worldwide pandemic on March 11. The situation in Singapore was unfolding even as public healthcare institutions were tasked to lead the charge to contain the novel coronavirus as it was then called. This journal describes my experiences and impressions during my work in an isolation ward at the National University Hospital during this early period. I was to be catapulted into Pandemic Team 3 in the second and third weeks of February 2020. The urgency of hospital measures to respond to the novel coronavirus meant that the general medicine consultant roster which I was on was hijacked to support the pandemic wards. I thought wryly to myself that it was a stroke of genius to commandeer the ready-made roster of senior physicians; it would have been difficult for the roster monster to solicit senior physicians to volunteer when there were still so many unknowns about this virus. Graphic images of the dire situation in Wuhan, China, were circulating widely on social media. It was heart-wrenching to read of Dr. Li Wen Liang’s death. He had highlighted the mysterious pneumonia-causing virus. The video clip of him singing at a karaoke session that went viral underscored the tragedy of a young life cut short. Questions raced in my mind. “Are we helpless to prevent the spread of this virus?” “Is the situation in China to be replicated here in Singapore?” This seemed incredulous, yet, might it be possible? The immediate responses that jumped up within me was “yes, it’s possible, but let’s pray not. Whatever has to be done, must be done.”

scholarly journals Cutaneous presentation of COVID-19 Case Report

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 01-02
Author(s):  
Khadiga Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Scientific Journals ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Global Spread ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Recent Attention

COVID-19 has high transmissibility and infectivity among human. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) in an effort to slow down the global spread of the virus declared the outbreak, “A global public health emergency of international concern". The skin manifestations of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 were not recognized at the early stages of the pandemic but have received much recent attention in scientific journals. Reported manifestations range from pseudo-chilblains to a morbilliform (measles-like) exanthem, urticaria, vesicular eruptions, a dengue-like petechial rash and ovate scaling macules, and plaques mimicking pityriasis rosea.

A Qualitative Comparison of the Covex Respirator with Face Shield Versus the N95 Respirator

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reid Mimmack ◽  
Elijah Germo ◽  
Garrett Augustine ◽  
Kumar Belani
Keyword(s):  
Filtration Efficiency ◽  
Current Medical ◽  
Pass Rate ◽  
World Health ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Qualitative Comparison ◽  
Medical Standard ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a worldwide pandemic. The pandemic led to concerns of shortages regarding healthcare-related resources, including personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, and more. The uniquely designed COVEX respirator with face shield was engineered and manufactured by Augustine Surgical, Inc. to combat the PPE shortage. The novel COVEX mask is an “all-in-one” face shield and filter with a Viral Filtration Efficiency (VFE) greater than 99%. A standard respirator qualitative fit test was completed on the COVEX respirator as well as the current medical standard 3M N95 respirator. Fit test studies comparing the two masks yielded similar outcomes. The COVEX respirator had a qualitative fit test pass rate of 96.6% and the 3M N95 respirator had a pass rate of 93.3% (n=30). Participants also reported other variables comparing the comfort and fit of each mask, which is described further in the discussion. The COVEX respirator with face shield passed a standardized qualitative fit test at a rate similar to the current medical standard N95 respirator. Our results suggest that the COVEX mask may be a viable PPE option in the future.

scholarly journals Emergency Radiology During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Canadian Association of Radiologists Recommendations for Practice

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ciaran E. Redmond ◽  
Savvas Nicolaou ◽  
Ferco H. Berger ◽  
Adnan M. Sheikh ◽  
Michael N. Patlas
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Radiology ◽  
World Health ◽  
Guidance Document ◽  
Emergency Setting ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Canadian Association ◽  
Imaging Service ◽  
Emergency Imaging ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the disease caused by the novel coronavirus officially named the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented challenge to emergency radiology practice. The continuity of an effective emergency imaging service for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients is essential, while adhering to best infection control practices. Under the direction of the Board of the Canadian Association of Radiologists, this general guidance document has been synthesized by collaborative consensus of a group of emergency radiologists. These recommendations aim to assist radiologists involved in emergency diagnostic imaging to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and continue to add value to patient care in the emergency setting.

scholarly journals COVID-19: update of the Italian situation

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 834-837
Author(s):  
Carla Prezioso ◽  
Valeria Pietropaolo
Keyword(s):  
Local Level ◽  
National Level ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Northern Regions ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Restrictive Measures ◽  
Italian Territory

AbstractOn the March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak as a pandemic. The first cases in Italy were reported on January 30, 2020, and quickly the number of cases escalated. On March 20, 2020, according to the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS) and National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), the peak of COVID-19 cases reported in Italy reached the highest number, surpassing those in China. The Italian government endorsed progressively restrictive measures initially at the local level, and finally, at the national level with a lockdown of the entire Italian territory up to 3 May 2020. The complete Italian territory closing slowed down the contagion. This review retraces the main numbers of the pandemic in Italy. Although in decline, the new reported cases remain high in the northern regions. Since drugs or vaccines are still not available, the described framework highlights the importance of the containment measures to be able to quickly identify all the potential transmission hotspots and keep control subsequent epidemic waves of COVID-19.

scholarly journals The Online Education Mode and Reopening Plans for Chinese Schools During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mini Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuanzhen Cen ◽  
Dong Sun ◽  
Ming Rong ◽  
Gusztáv Fekete ◽  
Julien S. Baker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Education ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
World Health ◽  
Classroom Teaching ◽  
Full Time ◽  
The Novel ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
And Control

Recently, an unprecedented coronavirus pandemic has emerged and has spread around the world. The novel coronavirus termed COVID-19 by the World Health Organization has posed a huge threat to human safety and social development. This mini review aimed to summarize the online education mode and plans for schools to resume full-time campus study in China during COVID-19. Chinese schools have made significant contributions to the prevention and control of the transmission of COVID-19 by adopting online learning from home. However, normal opening and classroom teaching have been affected. For education systems at all levels, online education may be an effective way to make up for the lack of classroom teaching during the epidemic. To protect staff and students from COVID-19, the timing of students returning to full-time campus study needs to be considered carefully. Reviewing and summarizing of the Chinese education system's response to the virus would be of great value not only in developing educational policy but also in guiding other countries to formulate educational countermeasures.

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