Coronaviruses - Volume 6, Issue 1, 2025

COVID-19 is a global pandemic that has caused significant mortality. The disease severity varies among individuals, and the factors influencing its course remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the influence of biochemical parameters and familial data on COVID-19 outcomes.

A retrospective analysis of 122 COVID-19 patients was conducted. Patients were categorized into two groups: outpatients with mild symptoms and those admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and intubated. Demographic data, biochemical levels of vitamin D, vitamin B12, and magnesium, and COVID-19 outcomes of first-, second-, and third-degree relatives were collected.

The ICU group had a higher proportion of males (75%) and older patients (average age: 63.18±12.89 years) than the outpatient group (40% males and an average age of 45.13±13.77 years). Both groups had similar BMI, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 levels. However, magnesium levels were significantly higher in the ICU group (mean 2.25±0.3 mg/dL) than in the outpatient group (mean: 1.98±0.2 mg/dL). A significant familial relationship was identified between COVID-19 outcomes and disease course. Among the ICU patients, 25% had first-degree relatives who died from COVID-19, compared to only 10% of the outpatient patients. Similarly, second- and third-degree relatives of ICU patients had a higher mortality rate from COVID-19 than relatives of outpatient patients.

Age, gender, and magnesium levels may influence COVID-19 disease severity. Familial ties (genetic relatedness) may also play a role, suggesting potential genetic predisposition. Further research is needed to validate these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Nine electronic databases were searched, including WanFang Data, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Springer Link, SciFinder, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), regardless of term, and language restrictions. All eligible studies were analyzed and summarized in this review.

“Hypocrellin A” and “Pheophorbide a” were effective for bacterial and SARS-CoV-2 in photodynamic therapy. 99.98% of S. aureus was killed when incubated with the 10^-3 M Hypocrellin A and illuminated a 490 nm in 30 mW/cm² for 120 min. The difference was Pheophorbide a could also inhibit gram-negative bacteria, such as P. aeruginosa with a concentration of 1 μg/ml for 2 hr irradiated of a 671 nm laser in 0.3 W of 1 J, and a nearly 100% suppression rate. “Hypocrellin A” and “Pheophorbide a” with antiviral activity, and virucidal effects for preventing and treating the infection.

Based on previous studies, “Hypocrellin A” and “Pheophorbide a” are photosensitizers used for photodynamic therapy against bacteria or SARS-CoV-2, however, much more works need to be done in the future including the development of a better way for systematic infectious disease, and its correlated infections for the application of photodynamic therapy.

This study aimed to determine the factors related to hospitalization associated with COVID-19.

A total of 1000 patients with confirmed COVID-19 by positive PCR test participated in this study. They were randomly selected from positive test patients during this time. They or their first-degree relatives were contacted over the phone and were asked the questions of the checklist regarding socio-demographics and factors related to the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, symptoms of recent infection with COVID-19, and probable factors affecting patients’ hospitalization. Mean and standard deviation were used for describing quantitative variables and frequency (percent) of qualitative variables. Moreover, logistic regression was applied to determine influential factors related to patients’ hospitalization due to COVID-19.

The mean age of the patients was 46.66±17.39, and 53.6% were men. Moreover, 65.6% suffered from chronic diseases. Cough, nausea, chest pain, and fever were the most common symptoms, which were found in more than 50% of patients. It was found that the chances of hospitalization increased with older ages, having more children, addiction of the patient or spouse, job other than health care provider, not regularly using dairy products, not consuming supplements, recent stressful life events, not obeying physical distancing and hospitalization or dead of family members from COVID-19 during patient’s infection.

Age, number of children, self-addiction or spouse addiction, job, dairy products or supplement consumption, encountering stressful life events, social distancing, and status of COVID-19 in family members were found to be influential factors in the hospitalization during infection by COVID-19. People with risk of hospitalization can benefit from modifying their life styles and preventive interventions.

Coronaviruses are the genetic series of RNA viruses that infect both organisms mammals and birds. Different varieties of illnesses shown in humans as well as in birds are the most common causes ranging from minor to fatal. Common colds which are included in mild and SARS, MERS, and COVID-19 are caused by fatal. After cell entry, the release of RNA into the cytoplasm occurs, which translates viral proteins followed by processed replication.

The survey was based on a comparison study between the purchase of OTC and prescribed drugs for COVID-19 symptoms, including the volume of pharmacies from different zones of Yamunanagar district, Haryana.

The analytical survey involves the different zones of Yamunanagar the pharmacist used in this report. The numerical data is gathered in a methodical investigation which leads to quantitative research. The data investigation was performed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.

The north zone area mostly suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic condition from January 2021 to June 2021 in Yamunanagar and found that most of the OTC drugs purchased by consumers were paracetamol (PCM) and Prescribed drugs (HQCS + Azithromycin) by the public regarding covid-19 symptoms.

The outcome of this case report reveals that no statistically significant difference exists between the population parameter and sample statistics while the comparison retained the null hypothesis in different zones of Yamunanagar (Haryana), India including the volume of pharmacy and drug category.

The spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2, via its S1-subunit, binds with host angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptors, and its S2-subunit mediates the fusion of the virus to the host cell. The entry of SARS-CoV-2 inside the host cell can be prevented by inhibition of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of S1-subunit of the spike. Anacyclus pyrethrum, a native herb of Algeria, Spain and Morocco has antidepressant, analgesic, antimicrobial, anesthetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac, antidiabetic and immunostimulant effects. But, its antiviral effect has not been established yet.

The present study deals with ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity), molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation based investigation to evaluate the potential of Anacyclus pyrethrum constituents for effective spike RBD inhibition.

ADMET analysis revealed that 10 out of 12 significant constituents belongs to toxicity class 4 to 6 proving least toxicity of the plant extract with high LD50 values. Molecular docking analysis of 10 considered compounds revealed that morphinan-6-one, 4,5.alpha.-epoxy-3-hydroxy-17-methyl, a derivative of morphine (well-known analgesic and anti-inflammatory compound) gave the maximum negative binding energy of -6.9 kcal/mol in best-docked conformation with spike RBD having 2 hydrogen bonds. Molecular dynamic simulation disclosed effective RMSD, RMSF, and Rg values over the simulation trajectory with significant hydrogen bonding proving stable interaction of the compound with that of the spike RBD.

Hence, all these outcomes revealed the outstanding potential of the Anacyclus pyrethrum extract to inhibit the spike RBD of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, further in vitro investigation can develop natural and effective treatments against COVID-19 disease.

Computerized Tomography (CT) was extensively used in the COVID-19 era to confirm the diagnosis and follow the patient's response. The vaccine was rapidly introduced to break the disease chain of infection. The current study primarily aimed to examine the relationship between vaccination status and pulmonary CT findings. Moreover, it also aimed to validate the role of CT scan along with other patient criteria in predicting disease outcomes.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the radiology department of two Iraqi hospitals in Baghdad. The study enrolled all hospitalized patients with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis older than 18 years old. Their data regarding demographic criteria, vaccination criteria (the status and types), and radiological CT-scan parameters (including CT finding and severity score index) were collected.

It was found that 23 percent of COVID-19 patients were immunized. Most of the unvaccinated cases were older than 45 years and were females. There was a significant correlation between the degree and severity of lung involvement and the vaccination status (p < 0.001). The worst radiological sign for severity was the ground glass appearance. The vaccine type showed significant changes in chest CT. Pfizer had the worst severity score, followed by Sinopharm in vaccinated cases. The overall mortality was 4.5%. Moreover, the vaccine significantly reduced mortality among vaccinated vs. non-vaccinated cases (p = 0.03). By logistic regression, the CT score reliably predicted mortality with an odds ratio of 1.31 (1.18 to 1.45; p < 0.001).

Vaccines were found to be significantly effective in protecting vaccinated people against severe infection and limiting lung injury, as evidenced by CT scores. Vaccines had a trend effect on reducing mortality. Moreover, CT scores were reliable in predicting the disease outcome.

The ongoing 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia pandemic continues to pose a serious threat to public health and safety. In response, numerous specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs have been urgently approved for use. Azvudine has been recommended as a priority treatment for COVID-19 patients, but its efficacy and safety in elderly patients remain unexplored.

In this retrospective, single-center, observational study, we assessed the impact of Azvudine treatment on elderly hospitalized patients aged over 70 years. We analyzed parameters such as the time of SARS-CoV-2 negative conversion, clinical outcomes, length of hospital stay, and respiratory support requirements. Additionally, we compared changes in blood routine indicators, liver and kidney function indicators, and the incidence of adverse events before and after Azvudine administration to provide real-world data concerning elderly patients.

The study included 36 elderly patients aged 70 to 95 years. Following Azvudine administration, the average time for SARS-CoV-2 negative conversion was 5.15 days. Clinical outcomes revealed improvement and discharge in 74.3% of the patients, exacerbation in 5.7% of the patients, and mortality in 20% of the patients. Analysis of blood routine indicators and liver function indicators before and after medication showed no clinically significant changes. However, serum creatinine levels (Scr) demonstrated a statistically significant increase (71.12 ± 44.22 vs. 87.88 ± 57.39, p < 0.05).

Although correlation analysis was not conducted, limited by the small sample size and retrospective nature of the study, these findings underscore the importance of monitoring Azvudine’s impact on renal function.

Thinqure20 is a polyherbal, reverse-pharmacology-based formulation that contains Piper longum, Piper nigrum, Zingiber officinale, and rock salt as active ingredients. It is designed to work as an effective antiviral agent and also as a preventive measure against SARS-CoV-2. Clinical and non-clinical studies have established significant safety efficacy and tolerability of Thinqure20 formulation in the treatment of COVID-19 infection.

In vivo human study was conducted on COVID-19 patients for 5 days. A total of 30 Covid-19 patients (n = 30) were enrolled. In vitro, cell line studies were also carried out to evaluate the potential effectiveness of Thinqure20 polyherbal formulation as an antiviral, antifungal, and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) inhibition.

Human studies have demonstrated mean percentage of reduction in viral load from baseline to end of the study visit was found to be 75.4%. The minimum and maximum reduction in viral load was found to be 59.3% and 99% respectively. Viral load testing was carried out by reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) test. In vitro studies of Thinqure, 20 extracts showed potential antiviral activity against MS2 bacteriophage, influenza, and human coronavirus, antifungal activity against Mucor racemosus, and significant ACE2 receptor inhibition.

Thinqure20, a polyherbal formulation, is a potentially effective antiviral agent against non-enveloped viruses (MS2 bacteriophage), enveloped viruses (influenza and human coronavirus), and antifungal agent against mucor strains. It is also proven to be effective in the treatment of COVID-19 and can be attributed to an early recovery by the reduction in viral load.

CTRI/2021/03/032471.

It has been four years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to medical professionals, medical students have also been at the forefront of the fight against this pandemic and, like them, have been highly susceptible to the virus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge of Iranian medical students about COVID-19, preventive behaviors, and their perception of risk in the second year of this pandemic.

The study was conducted from January to October 2021 (during the fourth and fifth waves of COVID-19) on Iranian medical students who were undergoing clinical courses in university hospitals. In this study, an online questionnaire consisting of 48 questions in Persian was provided to the students.

After sending an electronic questionnaire to the students, 401 medical students from Lorestan University of Medical Sciences participated in the survey. Of these, 62.8% were studying medicine in the medical field. About 66.1%, 69.1%, and 54.9% of medical students considered common antiviral drugs, traditional medicine, and the flu vaccine to be ineffective in preventing COVID-19, respectively. To effectively prevent the transmission of COVID-19, 72.6% of medical students used 3-layer surgical masks, 18.7% relied on hand washing and personal hygiene alone, 73.6% advocated for mask usage by all members of the community, and 47.4% believed in using N95 masks during intubation, suction, bronchoscopy, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In terms of information sources, 65.1% of medical students trusted the opinions of doctors and nurses, and 40.6% obtained necessary information about the disease from these healthcare professionals.

The basic and clinical knowledge of medical students was at an average level, indicating the need for retraining courses to update their information and impart current knowledge. The normalization of epidemic conditions for medical staff and the students under their supervision was not prevalent among the students. This not only increases the likelihood of individuals contracting the disease multiple times but also poses a potential source of contamination for society. Therefore, conducting educational workshops in this field can significantly impact compliance with health protocols.

Some pregnancies are affected by liver dysfunction, and differentiating them from possible liver dysfunction caused by COVID-19 in pregnancy will lead to a better therapeutic approach and management.

The current study was conducted with the aim of investigating changes in liver function tests (LFTs) in pregnant women with mild and severe COVID-19.

In this retrospective observational study, 130 pregnant women with COVID-19 were examined in two referral hospitals in Iran in 2021-2022. COVID-19 was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and WHO guidelines. Pregnant women were assigned into two categories of mild and severe COVID-19 based on clinical symptoms and radiologic chest evaluation. Demographic and clinical data of women were recorded. The level of liver enzymes AST, ALT, ALP, total and direct bilirubin was measured in all patients. Fever, oxygen saturation level, preterm delivery, and maternal mortality were reported as final clinical outcomes and compared in two groups.

Forty-nine pregnant women with severe COVID-19 and 81 pregnant women with mild COVID-19 were matched in terms of demographic data. The proportion of women with abnormal AST and ALT in the severe COVID-19 group was significantly higher than in the mild group (p < 0.05). However, the proportion of women with abnormal ALP levels in the mild COVID-19 group was significantly higher than in the severe group. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the proportion of women with abnormal levels of total and direct bilirubin. Most pregnant women with severe COVID-19 (50%) had a hepatocellular abnormality, while most women with mild COVID-19 (42%) had abnormalities in cholestasis (p = 0.003).

According to the present findings, liver dysfunction and increased liver enzymes in pregnant women with COVID-19 were related to the severity of the disease, and most women with severe COVID-19 had hepatocellular abnormality, respectively. Therefore, pregnant women with COVID-19 should be closely monitored for LFTs assessment.