COVID-19

Psychological Distress in Patients with Autoimmune Arthritis during the COVID-19 Induced Lockdown in Italy

Lockdowns imposed by governments worldwide as a way to limit the spread of severe atypical respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2) have had heavy psychological and economic consequences. Arthritis patients are a vulnerable population at an increased risk of peritraumatic stress. This could be due to several reasons, including the fear of shortage of medicine and difficulty receiving periodical medical checks. In the present case-control study, psychological distress in patients with autoimmune arthritis during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic were investigated.

No evidence of sars-cov-2 circulation in rome (Italy) during the pre-pandemic period: Results of a retrospective surveillance

In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the COVID-19 outbreak recorded over the previous months could be characterized as a pandemic. The first known Italian SARS-CoV-2 positive case was reported on 21 February. In some countries, cases of suspected “COVID-19-like pneumonia” had been reported earlier than those officially accepted by health authorities. This has led many investigators to check preserved biological or environmental samples to see whether the virus was detectable on dates prior to those officially stated.

SARS-CoV-2 spread in northern Italy. what about the pollution role

The recent epidemic of the new SARS-CoV-2 in the northern regions of Italy is putting the organization of the Italian health system under serious attack. The current emergency requires all possible efforts to stem the spread of the virus. In this context, it is clear that we have the urgent need to rely upon etiopathogenetic data, in order to do all possible efforts to block the epidemic. However, observing the trend of the infections in China and the geographic areas of the main outbreaks, it could be hypothesized that air pollution plays a role.

Cytokine release syndrome in COVID-19 patients, a new scenario for an old concern. The fragile balance between infections and autoimmunity

On 7 January 2020, researchers isolated and sequenced in China from patients with severe pneumonitis a novel coronavirus, then called SARS-CoV-2, which rapidly spread worldwide, becoming a global health emergency. Typical manifestations consist of flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, and dyspnea. However, in about 20% of patients, the infection progresses to severe interstitial pneumonia and can induce an uncontrolled host-immune response, leading to a life-threatening condition called cytokine release syndrome (CRS).

From the Information Units to the Collective Intelligence: a Viable Systems Perspective for Managing Knowledge in the Digital Era

Nowadays, the development of data management technologies has deeply contributed to make
immediate and effective the activity of gathering and processing large amounts of data with
reference to specific process or performance indicators. The Big Data phenomenon along with
Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques represent a new era in information exploration and
utilization, by offering new perspectives in the decision-making processes, especially in complex
and fragmented situation. In this way, the emerging knowledge derived pushes toward new models

Combining Big Data and Artificial Intelligence for Managing Collective Knowledge in Unpredictable Environment—Insights from the Chinese Case in Facing COVID-19

The increasing fluidity of social and business configurations made possible by the opportunities provided by the World Wide Web and the new technologies is questioning the validity of consolidated business models and managerial approaches. New rules are emerging and multiple changes are required to both individuals and organizations engaged in dynamic and unpredictable paths.

Evaluation of the effect of different policies in the containment of epidemic spreads for the COVID-19 case

The paper presents a new mathematical model for the SARS-CoV-2 virus propagation, designed to include all the possible actions to prevent the spread and to help in the healing of infected people. After a discussion on the equilibrium and stability properties of the model, the effects of each different control actions on the evolution of the epidemic spread are analysed, through numerical evaluations for a more intuitive and immediate presentation, showing the consequences on the classes of the population.

Anti-Viral Potential and Modulation of Nrf2 by Curcumin: Pharmacological Implications

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an essential transcription factor that maintains the cell's redox balance state and reduces inflammation in different adverse stresses. Under the oxidative stress, Nrf2 is separated from Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), which is a key sensor of oxidative stress, translocated to the nucleus, interacts with the antioxidant response element (ARE) in the target gene, and then activates the transcriptional pathway to ameliorate the cellular redox condition.

Should ACE2 be given a chance in COVID-19 therapeutics: a semi-systematic review of strategies enhancing ACE2

The severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in almost 28 million cases of COVID-19 (Corona virus disease-2019) and more than 900000 deaths worldwide since December 2019. In the absence of effective antiviral therapy and vaccine, treatment of COVID-19 is largely symptomatic. By making use of its spike (S) protein, the virus binds to its primary human cell receptor, angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) which is present in the pulmonary epithelial cells as well as other organs. SARS-CoV-2 may cause a downregulation of ACE2.

Media e informazione alla prova dell’emergenza Covid. Note dalla ricerca “Media for Democracy Monitor 2020”

Questo contributo si pone quale output dell’edizione 2020 di Media for Democracy Monitor (MDM), con particolare riferimento ai risultati di ricerca inerenti all’impatto dell’emergenza Covid-19 sul sistema dei media e sull’industria del giornalismo nei diciotto Paesi coinvolti nella ricerca (Australia, Austria, Belgio, Canada, Cile, Danimarca, Finlandia, Germania, Grecia, Hong Kong, Islanda, Italia, Paesi Bassi, Portogallo, Svezia, Svizzera, Corea del Sud e Regno Unito).

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