An overview of COVID-19 in solid organ transplantation

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the field of solid organ transplantation (SOT) in many ways. COVID-19 has led to programmatic impacts and changes in donor and recipient selection. Several studies have evaluated the course, optimal treatment, and prevention of COVID-19 in SOT recipients.ObjectivesTo review the literature on COVID-19 in SOT recipients.SourcesPubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched. The search was restricted to articles published between January 1, 2019 and December 1, 2021.ContentThe COVID-19 pandemic initially led to a decreased volume of solid organ transplants. However, transplant volumes at most centres have rebounded. Donor selection remains an incompletely defined issue. Several reports suggest that donor-derived SARS-CoV-2 infections occur only in lung transplant recipients and that other organs from SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive donors could potentially be safely used. However, these data are limited to case series. Transplantation for end-stage lung disease after COVID-19 infection is increasingly common and has been performed with acceptable outcomes. In acute COVID-19 in a transplant candidate, transplantation should be delayed when feasible. After adjustment, mortality after COVID-19 appear similar in SOT recipients compared to the general population, with notable increased use of antiviral and anti-inflammatory treatment options. Prevention of COVID-19 is key in SOT recipients. Vaccination of SOT recipients and anyone who is in contact with SOT recipients is one of the cornerstones of prevention. Nonpharmacological interventions such as face coverings, hand hygiene, and physical distancing remain ever important as well.ImplicationsThe COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an important impact on SOT candidates and recipients. Prevention of infection is the most important measure and requires careful attention to approaches to vaccination and messaging of the ongoing need for face coverings, physical distancing, and hand hygiene.     

Impact on mental health of the COVID-19 outbreak among community pharmacists during the sanitary lockdown period

ObjectivesCOVID-19 outbreak can impact mental health including health care workers. The aim of this study was to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 in French community pharmacists.Material and methodsWe carried out a postal-based survey to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 in French owner community pharmacists based on three validated self-report questionnaires: Perceived Stress scale, Impact of Event Scale-revised and Maslach Burnout Inventory.ResultsThe sample consists of 135 community pharmacists. Twenty-three pharmacists reported significant post-traumatic stress symptoms (17%). High burnout symptoms were found in 33 (25%), 46 (34.9%) and 4 (3%) participants. Females scored higher than males for all questionnaires (P = 0.01).ConclusionsThis study is the first study which showed the psychological impact of COVID-19 in community pharmacists. Based on validated self-report questionnaires, up to 35% of pharmacists reported psychological disturbances. Interventions to promote psychological well-being of healthcare workers need to be developing.     

Evaluation of five circulating strains of variant infectious bursal disease virus (varIBDV) for their immunogenicity as broiler breeder vaccines and protective efficacy in neonatal broiler chicks

The majority of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) strains circulating in the broiler chicken industry in Canada are variant strains (varIBDV). Despite high levels of maternally derived antibodies (MtAb), the circulating varIBDVs can establish infection and cause severe immunosuppression in broiler chicks. The objective of this study was to evaluate circulating varIBDVs as broiler breeder vaccine candidates and investigate their protective efficacy against varIBDV challenge in their progeny chicks. Six groups of breeders (20 females/group) were vaccinated with varIBDV strains, SK09, SK10, SK11, SK12, and SK13 or saline at the age of 13 weeks and antibody response was determined by ELISA at 3–7-, and 20- weeks post-vaccination. We also included commercial chicks for the comparison. Results showed that SK-09 is the most antigenic strain, followed by SK-10, SK-12, and SK-13. In contrast, SK-11 showed the lowest antibody response, and over time, antibody titers steadily decreased. Eggs from breeders were collected at 21-week post-vaccination and incubated to produce their respective progenies. The serum antibody titer in day-old chicks showed a successful MtAb transfer. Progeny chicks (n = 40/group) were orally challenged with varIBDV-SK-09 strain at 6 days of age and serum antibody titer (19 d and 35 d of age), bursa to body weight ratio (19 d and 35 d of age), bursal viral load (9 d and 19 d of age) was examined to assess the protection against IBDV. Following the challenge, we found a significant increase in the antibody titers in MtAb-free and commercial vaccine groups than in the varIBDV groups, both at 19 d and 35 d of age. The BBW ratio and viral load data indicated a significant homologous and heterologous protection against varIBDV-SK-09 challenge by SK-09 and SK-10 MtAbs, respectively. Overall, this study demonstrated the feasibility of developing breeder vaccines using circulating varIBDV as candidate vaccine antigens.     

Achieving Health Equity: Examining Telehealth in Response to a Pandemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic necessitated social distancing mandates, the conservation of personal protective equipment, and the prioritization of health care resources, thus prompting the rapid scale-up of telehealth services. The COVID-19 pandemic illustrates the importance of taking a broader view of health policy that facilitates the optimal conditions in which patient-centered care occurs and health equity is pursued. This article examines the use of telehealth during the pandemic as a case for demonstrating the necessity for advanced practice nurses to engage in broad policy initiatives to address social determinants of health care.     

Telehealth Billing for Nurse Practitioners During COVID-19: Policy Updates

Telehealth is a growing valuable strategy to assist patients accessing needed care when unable to get to a health care setting for one of several reasons. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020, many health care practices were forced to implement telehealth services to meet patient and practice needs. In 2020, several temporary waivers, exceptions, and telehealth policy changes emerged across the nation. Many telehealth policies are state or federal specific. This report provides a general overview of essential telehealth policies and legislative updates along with resources and websites to guide and support nurse practitioners with contemporary regulations regarding telehealth billing.     

网络药理学及分子对接法探讨三仁汤主要成分对新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）的机制研究

目的通过网络药理学及分子对接法探讨三仁汤主要成分对新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)的作用机制。方法通过中药系统药理学分析平台(TCMSP)及中医整合药理学研究平台V2.0(TCMIP V2.0)获得三仁汤君药(苦杏仁、白蔻仁、薏苡仁)全部化学成分并筛选,结合相关文献筛得主要活性成分。借助Uni Port数据库查询活性成分对应靶标蛋白,Cytoscape3.7.2构建成分-靶点网络。通过STRING网站构建PPI蛋白互作网络,运用cytoHubba分析关键子网络。CTD数据库对三仁汤君药活性成分靶蛋白进行GO、KEGG富集分析。以三仁汤君药活性成分及洛匹那韦等相关化学药物为配体,通过CB-Dock网站分别与新型冠状病毒(SARS-CoV-2)3CL水解酶进行分子对接。结果三仁汤君药共有39个活性成分,对应有效靶标168个。GO功能富集分析筛得生物学过程(BP)、细胞组成(CC)、分子功能(MF)分别为25条、14条及2条。KEGG富集筛得先天免疫系统(innate immune system)、免疫系统中的细胞因子信号转导(cytokine signaling in immune system)及白介素信号通路(signaling by interleukins)等信号通路,共36条。分子对接提示三仁汤君药活性成分白桦脂酸、枣素及齐墩果酸与SARS-CoV-2 3CL水解酶结合性较好,三者的Vina得分与3CLpro抑制剂洛匹那韦及Rd Rp抑制剂瑞德西韦的得分相近。结论三仁汤君药可能通过调控炎症因子,参与炎症相关信号通路,以多成分、多靶点、多途径参与COVID-19的多种生理过程,对治疗COVID-19发挥一定的干预作用,且其活性成分具有潜在抗SARS-CoV-2的可能性。     

Gastrointestinal and hepatic manifestations of COVID-19 infection: Lessons for practitioners

Originating from Wuhan in China, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread globally within months and was declared a pandemic by World Health Organization in March 2020, making it one of the biggest healthcare calamities of our time. As more data on COVID-19 infection became available, what was initially thought to be a simple respiratory illness was found to be more complex. Many extra-pulmonary manifestations are now frequently reported for COVID-19 in available literature, most commonly gastrointestinal and hepatopancreato-biliary manifestations. Due to early scarcity of data, extra pulmonary manifestations were initially overlooked and may have contributed to nosocomial spread of the infection. Practitioners, especially gastroenterologists, who frequently encounter patients with these symptoms, need to be aware of them. This can not only help minimize the nosocomial spread, ensure safety of provider but also help conserve already stretched-thin healthcare resources. A tremendous amount of COVID-19 related literature is getting added to the growing pool every day, making it difficult for providers to follow. The aim of our review is to summarize the available evidence for gastrointestinal and hepatopancreatobiliary manifestations of COVID-19. We here briefly discussed the possible pathophysiologic mechanism for these manifestations and summarized the recommendations put forward by multiple gastrointestinal societies regarding safe and effective clinical practice during the ongoing pandemic.