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.

Expand All
Entries
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. 
  • 1.2K
  • 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. 
  • 1.3K
  • 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. 
  • 1.2K
  • 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.
  • 797
  • 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.
  • 839
  • 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
  • 1.1K
  • 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.
  • 912
  • 07 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Infection and Inflammation Interplay in Pediatric Long COVID
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in children and adolescents has generated repercussions, especially a few weeks after infection, for symptomatic patients who tested positive, for asymptomatic ones, or even just the contacts of an infected person, and evolved from severe forms such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) to multifarious clinical manifestations in long COVID (LC). Referred to under the umbrella term LC, the onset of persistent and highly heterogeneous symptoms such as fatigue, post-exertion malaise, cognitive dysfunction, and others have a major impact on the child’s daily quality of life for months. 
  • 912
  • 06 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Current Regulation of Anti-COVID-19 mRNAs
COVID-19 vaccines were developed and approved rapidly in response to the urgency created by the pandemic. No specific regulations existed at the time they were marketed. The regulatory agencies therefore adapted them as a matter of urgency. Now that the pandemic emergency has passed, it is time to consider the safety issues associated with this rapid approval. The mode of action of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines should classify them as gene therapy products (GTPs), but they have been excluded by regulatory agencies.
  • 1.4K
  • 27 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Diagnosis of Heart Failure in Patients after COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It can lead to myocardial damage. Heart failure (HF) is a significant global health concern and is characterized as a clinical syndrome with symptoms caused by structural and/or functional abnormalities of the heart, confirmed by elevated natriuretic peptide levels and evidence of pulmonary or systemic congestion. The relationship between COVID-19 and heart failure is complex. SARS-CoV-2 can cause cardiac damage through the activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Understanding the interactions between the disease and viruses is crucial for optimal patient care. However, the validity of screening for cardiovascular complications after COVID-19 remains unconfirmed, and individualized diagnosis procedures are necessary based on the patient's clinical symptoms.
  • 1.2K
  • 19 Jun 2023
  • Page
  • of
  • 74

Other Entry Collections

>>