Hepatitis C virus associated ALT, AST, GGT, Bili T, HB, HBA1C, CREAT, PT, aPPT, AFP, CEA, CA 125, CA 19-9, iPTH biomarkers, computed tomography and HCV burden of disease during pre COVID-19 era (2018-2019) and post COVID-19 era (2020-2022) in Pakistan

The national burden of HCV has significantly mounted over the period of last few decades placing Pakistan at the worst placement of second largest burden of HCV globally. Herein for the first time from Pakistan, we examined clinical correlation of potential biomarkers with HCV. Nation-wide study was conducted on 13,348 suspected HCV patients during 2018-2022. During pre-COVID-19 era of 2018-2019, prevalence of HCV remained 30%. During 2018, among HCV positive patients, 91% of ALT, 63% of AST, 67% of GGT, 28% of Bili T, 62% of HB, 15% of HBA1C, 25% of CREAT, 15% of PT, 15% of aPTT and 64% of AFP were abnormal. During 2019, among HCV infected 74.47% of ALT, 63.54% of AST, 70.24% of GGT, 24.71% of Bili T, 8.77% of HB and 75% of AFP were raised. CT/CAT scan revealed 4.65% liver complications (mild 13.04%, moderate 30.43% and severe 56.52%). During 2020, HCV prevalence remained 25%. 65.17% of ALT, 64.20% of AST, 68.75% of GGT, 31.25% of Bili T, 20.97% of HB, 4.65% of CREAT and 73.68% of AFP levels were raised. CAT analysis revealed liver complications among 4.41% (14.81% mild, 40.74% moderate, and 44.44% sever). 85.71% of participants diabetes was out of control. During 2021, HCV prevalence remained 27.1%. ALT (73.86%), AST (50.6%), GGT (67.95%), Bili T (28.21%), HB (20%), CREAT (5.8%) and AFP (82.14%) levels were abnormal. During 2022, the levels of ALT (56.06%), AST (56.36%), GGT (56.6%), Bili T (19.23%), HB (43.48%), HBA1C (14.81), CREAT (18.92%), AFP (93.75%) were abnormal. CAT analysis revealed 7.46% liver complications (25% mild, 30.36% moderate, and 42.86% sever). During 2021-2022, 83.33% of subject's diabetes was not controlled.

The effect of social movements on COVID-19 case increases and death in Turkey

Objectives

This study aimed to determine whether there is a correlation between COVID-19 cases and deaths because of COVID-19 and community movements in Turkey and to develop a strategy for future outbreaks.

Methods

The study's data covers COVID-19 cases and deaths between March 11, 2020, and December 16, 2021, and Turkey's Google community movements between these dates. The COVID-19 cases and deaths were obtained from Turkey's Ministry of Health COVID-19 Information Platform. Community mobility collated by Google is retail and recreation, supermarket and pharmacy, parks, public transport, workplaces visits, and residential. The data were transferred via "SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) for Windows 25.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL" and statistical analysis was performed. The Spearman correlation test was used as a statistical method. In the Kruskal-Wallis Test, categorical variables were created using increases and decreases in community movements based on the baseline.

Results

A weak positive correlation between daily COVID-19 deaths and supermarket and pharmacy activity (r = 0.28 p < 0.01). A weak negative correlation with park activity (r = -0.23 p < 0.01). A weakly positive and significant relationship with workplace visits mobility (r = 0.10 p < 0.05). There was a weak positive significant relationship with public transport mobility (r = 0.10 p < 0.01), including a weak positive significant relationship with residential (r = 0.12 p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Social distancing measures (such as reducing community mobility) and educating people on viral transmission in possible epidemics will save us time developing new diagnostic tests and vaccine studies.

Reinforced Sputnik-V Induced Spike Protein Antibody Levels in Pakistan: An Edge of Sputnik-V Over Sinopharm and SinoVac as Commercially Available COVID-19 Vaccines

Background: Despite several challenges, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is still not over. Rapid mass-scale immunization is critical to prevent further COVID-19-associated deaths. Objectives: Herein, we aimed to evaluate the rapid ramp-up effects of spike antibodies in response to Sputnik V, Sinopharm, and SinoVac first dose administration in the general public of Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 2000 participants to examine Sputnik V, Sinopharm, and SinoVac first dose effects 21 days post-administration. From 1200 real-time PCR negative subjects, the samples were subjected to SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody levels using electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) (Elecsys, # 09289267190 Roche, USA). Results: SARS-CoV-2 spike protein positivity was detected highest at 87% among participants receiving SputnikV with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibodies > 1.5 AU/mL compared to 47.6% and 25% in individuals receiving Sinopharm and SinoVac, respectively. Also, 36.04% of the Sputnik-administered individuals depicted antibody levels > 250 AU/mL. Of the participants, 55% had a previous history of COVID-19. Also, 14.86%, 4.76%, and 0% of the SputnikV, Sinopharm, and SinoVac administered subjects showed antibodies > 100 AU/mL, respectively, while > 25 AU/mL antibodies were found in 10.70% of SputnikV, 19.04% of Sinopharm and 10.71% of SinoVac administered individuals. Moreover, > 1.5 - 2.5 AU/mL antibodies levels were found in 25.10%, 23.80%, and 14.28% of participants with SputnikV, Sinopharm, and SinoVac administered vaccines, respectively. The antibody titers of < 1.5 AU/mL were detected among 13.30%, 52.38%, and 46.42% of subjects administered with SputnikV, Sinopharm, and SinoVac vaccines, respectively. Conclusions: Even before administrating the second booster dose of SputnikV, a significantly higher number of patients depicted rapid ramp-up of SARS-CoV-2 specific spike antibodies, which can significantly contribute to rapid mass-immunization. Despite all challenges, persistent antibody plateau monitoring is critical to attaining humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infections.