Social media information and its association with the adoption of COVID-19 preventive measures in four Latin American countries.

Objective: The study aimed to assess the association between adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures and access to media information related to COVID-19.

Methods: A multi-country, cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted from June to December 2020. The sample included 1,457 participants from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico.

Associations between mental health challenges, sexual activity, alcohol consumption, use of other psychoactive substances and use of COVID-19 preventive measures during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic by adults in Nigeria.

Background: The aims of this study were to assess: 1) the associations among sexual activity, alcohol consumption, use of other psychoactive substances and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic; and 2) the associations between COVID-19 preventive measures, alcohol consumption and use of psychoactive substances.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data collected from adults in Nigeria between July and December 2020. The variables extracted included change in sexual activity, alcohol consumption and use of other psychoactive substances, COVID-19 preventive behaviors (wearing face masks, washing hands, physical distancing), anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sociodemographic variables (age, sex, education, HIV status, employment status).

Fear of contagion, emotional stress and coping strategies used by adults during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has induced high levels of stress. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between emotional stress (COVID-19 related fear, anger, frustration, and loneliness) and the use of coping strategies among adults in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Data from adults aged 18 years and above were collected through an online survey from July to December 2020.

Identification of Transcription Factors Differentially Expressed under Neuroinflammatory Conditions: Analysis of RNA-Seq Datasets Combined with an Unconventional Exploratory Approach.

Neuroinflammation, the inflammatory process of the brain or peripheral nervous system, is mediated by various chemokines, cytokines, and other secondary messengers. Just like any other physiological process, transcription factors (TFs) lie at the core of neuroinflammatory process too due to their direct effects on the control of gene expression. Although targeted studies are being done on some of the already known TFs involved in neuroinflammation, still the gap exists in profiling the whole repertoire from transcriptomics data which was the main aim of this study.

Is self-reported depression, HIV status, COVID-19 health risk profile and SARS-CoV-2 exposure associated with difficulty in adhering to COVID-19 prevention measures among residents in West Africa?

Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether self-reported depression, coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) health risk profile, HIV status, and SARS-CoV-2 exposure were associated with the use of COVID-19 prevention measures.

Methods: This survey collected data electronically between June 29 and December 31, 2020 from a convenient sample of 5050 adults 18 years and above living in 12 West African countries. The dependent variables were: social distancing, working remotely, difficulty obtaining face masks and difficulty washing hands often.

Associations between Emotional Distress, Sleep Changes, Decreased Tooth Brushing Frequency, Self-Reported Oral Ulcers and SARS-Cov-2 Infection during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Global Survey.

This study assessed the association between emotional distress, sleep changes, decreased frequency of tooth brushing, and self-reported oral ulcers, and the association between COVID-19 status and decreased frequency of tooth brushing. Using a cross-sectional online survey, data were collected from adults in 152 countries between July and December 2020. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the associations between dependent (decreased frequency of tooth brushing, oral ulcers, change in sleep pattern) and independent (tested positive for COVID-19, depression, anxiety, frustration/boredom, loneliness, anger, and grief/feeling of loss) variables after adjusting for confounders (age, sex, level of education, employment status).

Associations between COVID-19 testing status, non-communicable diseases and HIV status among residents of sub-Saharan Africa during the first wave of the pandemic.

Background: This study determined if non-communicable disease status, HIV status, COVID-19 status and co-habiting were associated with COVID-19 test status in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: Data of 5945 respondents age 18-years-old and above from 31 countries in sub-Saharan Africa collected through an online survey conducted between June and December 2020, were extracted. The dependent variable was COVID-19 status (testing positive for COVID-19 and having symptoms of COVID-19 but not getting tested).

In silico mutational analysis of ACE2 to check the susceptibility of lung cancer patients towards COVID-19.

Being the second major cause of death worldwide, lung cancer poses a significant threat to the health of patients. This worsened during the era of pandemic since lung cancer is found to be more prone to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Many recent studies imply a high frequency of COVID-19 infection associated severe outcome.

Factors Associated With Experiences of Fear, Anxiety, Depression, and Changes in Sleep Pattern During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Adults in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Multiple facets of the pandemic can be a source of fear, depression, anxiety and can cause changes in sleep patterns. The aim of this study was to identify health profiles and the COVID-19 pandemic related factors associated with fear, depression, anxiety and changes in sleep pattern in adults in Nigeria.

Methods: The data for this analysis was extracted from a cross-sectional online survey that collected information about mental health and well-ness from a convenience sample of adults 18 years and above resident in Nigeria from July to December 2020.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student' sleep patterns, sexual activity, screen use, and food intake: A global survey.

Background: The education sector experienced substantial impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic resulting from worldwide restrictions.

Purpose: To examine differences in the sleep patterns, sexual activity, screen use, and food intake of students and non-students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This was a global cross-sectional study conducted in the second half of 2020 using multiple social media platforms to recruit study participants globally.

Differences in COVID-19 Preventive Behavior and Food Insecurity by HIV Status in Nigeria.

The aim of the study was to assess if there were significant differences in the adoption of COVID-19 risk preventive behaviors and experience of food insecurity by people living with and without HIV in Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study that recruited a convenience sample of 4471 (20.5% HIV positive) adults in Nigeria.

Factors Associated with Financial Security, Food Security and Quality of Daily Lives of Residents in Nigeria during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

An online survey was conducted to identify factors associated with financial insecurity, food insecurity and poor quality of daily lives of adults in Nigeria during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The associations between the outcome (experience of financial loss, changes in food intake and impact of the pandemic on daily lives) and the explanatory (age, sex, education level, anxiety, depression, HIV status) variables were determined using logistic regression analysis. Of the 4439 respondents, 2487 (56.

A computational and bioinformatic analysis of ACE2: an elucidation of its dual role in COVID-19 pathology and finding its associated partners as potential therapeutic targets.

Despite the continued global spread of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the nonavailability of a vaccine or targeted drug against this disease is still prevailing. The most established mechanism of viral entry into the body is considered to be via angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) acting as a receptor for viral spike protein thereby facilitating its entry in the cell. However, ACE2 is also involved in providing the protection from severe pathological changes.