Summary

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, and the disease now affects nearly every country and region. Caused by SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 continues nearly 18 months later to present significant challenges to health systems and public health in both hemispheres, as well as the economies of every country. The morbidity and mortality of the infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 has been significant, and various waves of disease outbreaks initially overwhelmed many hospitals and clinics and continue to do so in many countries. This influences everyone, and public health countermeasures have been dramatic in terms of their impact on employment, social systems, and mental health. This entry collection aims to gather diverse fields about COVID-19, including in epidemiology, public health, medicine, genetics, systems biology, informatics, data science, engineering, sociology, anthropology, nursing, environmental studies, statistics, and psychology.

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Entries
Topic Review
Gastrointestinal Imaging Findings in the Era of COVID-19
The potentially fatal COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with a largespectrum of clinical presentations. Beyond the classical pulmonary manifestations, gastrointestinal tract-related symptoms suchas nausea, diarrhea, abdominal distention and pain have been observed in patients, as a consequence of the binding of SARS-CoV-19 to Angiotensin-converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Taking into consideration the high possibility of GI tract involvement, it is crucial for radiologists to be aware of the variety of abdominal imaging findings in patients with COVID-19, as early recognition can aid the diagnosis in patients with nonspecific, atypical symptoms.
  • 459
  • 07 Aug 2023
Topic Review
COVID-19-Induced Diabetes
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a significant association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and diabetes, whereby individuals with diabetes are more susceptible to severe disease and higher mortality rates. The association between diabetes and COVID-19 is probably bidirectional, recent findings suggest a reciprocal relationship between COVID-19 and diabetes, wherein COVID-19 may contribute to developing new-onset diabetes and worsen existing metabolic abnormalities.
  • 434
  • 08 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Genetic Variants of SARS-CoV-2 Responsible for Severe COVID-19
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a global pandemic caused by severe acute coronavirus 2 syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). Although “COVID-19 is now an established and ongoing health issue which no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern”, according to the WHO International Health Regulations Emergency Committee, it continues to have major health, economic, and social consequences worldwide.
  • 892
  • 07 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Basophils and Mast Cells in COVID-19 Pathogenesis
Basophils and mast cells are among the principal inducers of Th2 responses and have a crucial role in allergic and anti-parasitic protective immunity. Basophils can function as antigen-presenting cells that bind antigens on their surface and boost humoral immune responses, inducing Th2 cell differentiation. Their depletion results in lower humoral memory activation and greater infection susceptibility. Basophils seem to have an active role upon immune response to SARS-CoV-2. In fact, a coordinate adaptive immune response to SARS-CoV-2 is magnified by basophils. It has been observed that basophil amount is lower during acute disease with respect to the recovery phase and that the grade of this depletion is an important determinant of the antibody response to the virus. Moreover, mast cells, present in a great quantity in the nasal epithelial and lung cells, participate in the first immune response to SARS-CoV-2. Their activation results in a hyperinflammatory syndrome through the release of inflammatory molecules, participating to the “cytokine storm” and, in a longer period, inducing pulmonary fibrosis. 
  • 478
  • 01 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Management of Spike Protein-Related Pathology
In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, a need has arisen to prevent and treat two related conditions, COVID-19 vaccine injury and long COVID-19, both of which can trace at least part of their aetiology to the spike protein, which can cause harm through several mechanisms. One significant mechanism of harm is vascular, and it is mediated by the spike protein, a common element of the COVID-19 illness, and it is related to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Given the significant number of people experiencing these two related conditions, it is imperative to develop treatment protocols, as well as to consider the diversity of people experiencing long COVID-19 and vaccine injury. 
  • 432
  • 26 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Impact of Herbal Therapies on COVID-19 and Influenza
Synthetic antivirals and corticosteroids have been used to treat both influenza and the SARS-CoV-2 disease named COVID-19. However, these medications are not always effective, produce several adverse effects, and are associated with high costs. Medicinal plants and their constituents act on several different targets and signaling pathways involved in the pathophysiology of influenza and COVID-19. Medicinal plants, in different formulations, can help to decrease viral spread and the time until full recovery. Plants reduced the incidence of acute respiratory syndromes and the symptom scores of the illnesses. Moreover, plants are related to few adverse effects and have low costs. In addition to their significance as natural antiviral agents, medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds may exhibit low bioavailability. 
  • 392
  • 25 Jul 2023
Topic Review
COVID-19 Inflammation and Blood Coagulation Biomarkers
In general, an individual who experiences the symptoms of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2 infection is declared as recovered after 2 weeks. However, approximately 10–20% of these survivors have been reported to encounter long-term health problems, defined as ‘long COVID-19’, e.g., blood coagulation which leads to stroke with an estimated incidence of 3%, and pulmonary embolism with 5% incidence. At the time of infection, the immune response produces pro-inflammatory cytokines that stimulate stromal cells to produce pro-hepatocyte growth factor (pro-HGF) and eventually is activated into hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which helps the coagulation process in endothelial and epithelial cells. HGF is a marker that appears as an inflammatory response that leads to coagulation.
  • 281
  • 20 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Drugs Repurposed against SARS CoV-2 Drug Targets
Drug repurposing is a process to identify new roles for existing drugs and is generally considered an efficient and economical approach. Repurposing—also known as re-profiling, re-tasking, repositioning, and rescue of drugs—can help identify new therapies for diseases, at a lower cost and in a shorter time.
  • 307
  • 14 Jul 2023
Topic Review
The Interaction between Pregnancy and COVID-19
Pregnancy does not increase susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection but appears to worsen the clinical course of COVID-19 (e.g., increased risks of intensive care unit [ICU] admission, need for mechanical ventilation and ventilatory support, and death) compared with non-pregnant females of the same age, especially in those who are symptomatic.  The risk of an exacerbation is greatest in the third trimester. Other risk factors associated with being infected and hospitalised with COVID-19 include Black and Asian minority ethnic backgrounds, living in socioeconomically deprived areas, and working in healthcare or other public-facing occupations
  • 360
  • 11 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Pharmaceutical Communication in Spain during COVID-19
This research addresses the scientific production of pharmaceutical communication in Spain around the COVID-19 crisis, in which information overload, amplified by the digital media, evidenced the relevance of communication in the digital society.
  • 379
  • 07 Jul 2023
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