COVID-19 Pandemic: Advances in Diagnosis, Treatment, Organoid Applications and Impacts on Cancer Patient Management.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Ye C
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8039300 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Background: Inspired by intense challenges encountered by patients and clinicians, we examined the experiences of living with sarcoidosis in three of the hardest impacted English-speaking cities during the early COVID-19 pandemic: London, New Orleans, and New York. Methods: A multi-disciplinary, multi-national research team including 6 patient leaders conducted qualitative investigations with analyses rooted in grounded theory. Recruitment occurred by self-referral through patient advocacy groups. Results: A total of 28 people living with sarcoidosis participated. The majority of patients had multi-system and severe sarcoidosis. Dominant themes were consistent across groups with differences expressed in spirituality and government and health systems. Racial, gender, and able-bodied inequity were voiced regarding healthcare access and intervention, societal interactions, and COVID-19 exposure and contraction. Agreement regarding extreme disruption in care and communication created concern for disability and survival. Concerns of COVID-19 exposure triggering new sarcoidosis cases or exacerbating established sarcoidosis were expressed. Pre-COVID-19 impediments in sarcoidosis healthcare delivery, medical knowledge, and societal burdens were intensified during the pandemic. Conversely, living with sarcoidosis cultivated personal and operational preparedness for navigating the practicalities and uncertainties of the pandemic. Optimism prevailed that knowledge of sarcoidosis, respiratory, and multi-organ diseases could provide pathways for COVID-19-related therapy and support; however, remorse was expressed regarding pandemic circumstances to draw long-awaited attention to multi-organ system and respiratory conditions. Conclusion: Participants expressed concepts warranting infrastructural and scientific attention. This framework reflects pre- and intra-pandemic voiced needs in sarcoidosis and may be an agent of sensitization and strategy for other serious health conditions. A global query into sarcoidosis will be undertaken.
| S-EPMC8948537 | biostudies-literature
Project description:To combat the COVID-19 pandemic, many European countries have developed a public health strategy involving the use of digital contact tracing (DCT) applications to improve timely tracking and contact tracing of COVID-19 cases. France's independent COVID-19 Control and Society Connection Council (CCL) was established by law in May 2020 to issue advice and recommendations on the national epidemic digital systems. In this paper, we present the recommendations by the CCL, with the objective to increase the uptake and utility of French DCT applications. As the country's most vulnerable population has been subjected to greater virus exposure, a stronger impact of the lockdown, and less access to preventive and health care services, the CCL is particularly aware of health inequalities. The French DCT app TousAntiCovid had been downloaded by 13.6 million users (ie, 20% of the French population) in March 2021. To promote the use of DCT apps, the CCL has recommended that communication about the app's individual and collective objectives be increased. The CCL has also recommended the introduction of clear, simple, accessible, incentivizing, noncoercive information within the digital tools. In addition, the CCL has recommended improving public health policies to address the needs of the underprivileged. The CCL calls for promoting population empowerment with the use of digital tools, improving public health culture for decision-makers dealing with health determinants, taking social considerations into account, and incorporating community participation.
| S-EPMC8500347 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| S-BSST1055 | biostudies-other
Project description:Following the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002 and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2012, the world is now combating a third large-scale outbreak caused by a coronavirus, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). After the rapid spread of SARS-coronavirus (CoV)-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) from its origin in China, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on January 30, 2020. From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant number of studies have been conducted to better understand the biology and pathogenesis of the novel coronavirus, and to aid in developing effective treatment regimens, therapeutics, and vaccines. This review focuses on the recent advancements in the rapidly evolving areas of clinical care and management of COVID-19. The emerging strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease are explored, and the development of effective vaccines is reviewed.
| S-EPMC7883285 | biostudies-literature
Project description:With the continued spread of COVID-19 across the world, rapid diagnostic tools, readily available respurposable drugs, and prompt containment measures to control the SARS-CoV-2 infection are of paramount importance. Examples of recent advances in diagnostic tests are CRISPR technology, IgG assay, spike protein detection, and use of artificial intelligence. The gold standard reverse transcription polymerase chain (RT-PCR) has also been upgraded with point-of-care rapid tests. Supportive treatment, mechanical ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) remain the primary choice, while therapeutic options include antivirals, antiparasitics, anti-inflammatories, interferon, convalescent plasma, monoclonal antibody, hyperimmunoglobulin, RNAi, and mesenchymal stem cell therapy. Different types of vaccines such as RNA, DNA, and lentiviral, inactivated, and viral vector are in clinical trials. Moreover, rapidly deployable and easy-to-transport innovative vaccine delivery systems are also in development. As countries have started easing down on the lockdown measures, the chance for a second wave of infection demands strict and rational control policies to keep fatalities minimized. An improved understanding of the advances in diagnostic tools, treatments, vaccines, and control measures for COVID-19 can provide references for further research and aid better containment strategies.
| S-EPMC7588828 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the timing and substance of conservation research, management, and public engagement in protected areas around the world. This disruption is evident in US national parks, which play a key role in protecting natural and cultural resources and providing outdoor experiences for the public. Collectively, US national parks protect 34 million ha, host more than 300 million visits annually, and serve as one of the world's largest informal education organizations. The pandemic has altered park conditions and operations in a variety of ways. Shifts in operational conditions related to safety issues, reduced staffing, and decreased park revenues have forced managers to make difficult trade-offs among competing priorities. Long-term research and monitoring of the health of ecosystems and wildlife populations have been interrupted. Time-sensitive management practices, such as control of invasive plants and restoration of degraded habitat, have been delayed. And public engagement has largely shifted from in-person experiences to virtual engagement through social media and other online interactions. These changes pose challenges for accomplishing important science, management, and public engagement goals, but they also create opportunities for developing more flexible monitoring programs and inclusive methods of public engagement. The COVID-19 pandemic reinforces the need for strategic science, management planning, flexible operations, and online public engagement to help managers address rapid and unpredictable challenges.
| S-EPMC8459301 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe current COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has emerged as a public health emergency. All nations are seriously challenged as the virus spreads rapidly across the globe with no regard for borders. The primary management of IBD involves treating uncontrolled inflammation with most patients requiring immune-based therapies. However, these therapies may weaken the immune system and potentially place IBD patients at increased risk of infections and infectious complications including those from COVID-19.AimTo summarise the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic, review unique concerns regarding IBD management and infection risk during the pandemic and assess COVID-19 management options and drug interactions in the IBD population.MethodsA literature review on IBD, SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 was undertaken and relevant literature was summarised and critically examined.ResultsIBD patients do not appear to be more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and there is no evidence of an association between IBD therapies and increased risk of COVID-19. IBD medication adherence should be encouraged to prevent disease flare but where possible high-dose systemic corticosteroids should be avoided. Patients should exercise social distancing, optimise co-morbidities and be up to date with influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. If a patient develops COVID-19, immune suppressing medications should be withheld until infection resolution and if trial medications for COVID-19 are being considered, potential drug interactions should be checked.ConclusionsIBD patient management presents a challenge in the current COVID-19 pandemic. The primary focus should remain on keeping bowel inflammation controlled and encouraging medication adherence.
| S-EPMC7267115 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveTo update guidance regarding the management of psoriatic disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.Study designThe task force (TF) includes 18 physician voting members with expertise in dermatology, rheumatology, epidemiology, infectious diseases, and critical care. The TF was supplemented by nonvoting members, which included fellows and National Psoriasis Foundation staff. Clinical questions relevant to the psoriatic disease community were informed by inquiries received by the National Psoriasis Foundation. A Delphi process was conducted.ResultsThe TF updated evidence for the original 22 statements and added 5 new recommendations. The average of the votes was within the category of agreement for all statements, 13 with high consensus and 14 with moderate consensus.LimitationsThe evidence behind many guidance statements is variable in quality and/or quantity.ConclusionsThese statements provide guidance for the treatment of patients with psoriatic disease on topics including how the disease and its treatments affect COVID-19 risk, how medical care can be optimized during the pandemic, what patients should do to lower their risk of getting infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (including novel vaccination), and what they should do if they develop COVID-19. The guidance is a living document that is continuously updated by the TF as data emerge.
| S-EPMC7788316 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The COVID-19 pandemic has led to environmental recovery in some ecosystems from a global "anthropause," yet such evidence for natural resources with extraction or production value (e.g., fisheries) is limited. This brief report provides a data-driven global snapshot of expert-perceived impacts of COVID-19 on inland fisheries. We distributed an online survey assessing perceptions of inland fishery pressures in June and July 2020 to basin-level inland fishery experts (i.e., identified by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations across the global North and South); 437 respondents from 79 countries addressed 93 unique hydrological basins, accounting for 82.1% of global inland fish catch. Based on the responses analyzed against extrinsic fish catch and human development index data, pandemic impacts on inland fisheries 1) add gradation to the largely positive environmental narrative of the global pandemic and 2) identify that basins of higher provisioning value are perceived to experience greater fishery pressures but may have limited compensatory capacity to mitigate COVID-19 impacts along with negative pressures already present.
| S-EPMC7703588 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the municipal essential services, including municipal solid waste (MSW) management. This study has reviewed the literature on MSW and solid medical waste (SMW) management systems, waste management initiatives specific to this pandemic, as well as their impacts now and beyond. Waste segregation and separate treatment of waste streams play important roles in reducing the environmental, health, and social impacts of waste and waste management. The global warming potential of MSW and SMW were found to be varied from -0.64 to 520 kg CO2 equiv/tonne and -52.1 to 3730 kg CO2 equiv/tonne, respectively, which widely depend on the sterilization and disposal processes. Similarly, MSW and SMW disposal costs varied from 90 to $242/tonne and 12 to $1530.0/tonne, respectively. Various changes made to waste collection and management because of the COVID-19 pandemic affected waste segregation and recycling. Since the start of the pandemic, various sectors, including the food, waste management, and healthcare sectors, relied on the increased use of single-use plastics to prevent transmission of COVID-19. An environmentally friendly alternative (biodegradable/compostable) to widely used single-use plastics is desired for easing waste management problems. Although various initiatives are underway to manage growing volumes of MSW and SMW, while controlling the spreading of infectious diseases, the movable grate incineration technology coupled with an adequate disinfection process presents a potential solution in managing the COVID-19 waste challenges. The proper disinfection method and technological choices can mitigate the risk of spreading infections and can improve the waste management system's sustainability, especially the contaminated waste.
| S-EPMC8525346 | biostudies-literature