The aim was to investigate if there is synergy in HIV infection and COVID-19 in their influence on human immunity, if there is an exacerbation of HIV patients’ immune status caused by SARS-CoV-2; and if HIV infection without antiretroviral therapy (ART) leads to a more serious COVID-19 course than HIV infection with ART. Anonymised blood samples and clinical data were collected in 47 hospitals, clinics and medical centres in six Russian cities/regions in the period from 20 March to 15 June 2020. Three hundred and seventy-six HIV/COVID-19 patients were studied (171 without ART and 205 with ART). The control group consisted of 382 SARS-CoV-2-positive patients without HIV infection. Lymphocyte and cytokine amounts were measured by flow cytometry and ELISA. This work is a retrospective study. COVID-19 led to rapid augmentation of the process of T-cell exhaustion initially caused by HIV, and this T cell degradation was most pronounced in patients without ART. A rise in IL-10 and TGFβ serum concentrations was observed. Diminishing CD4+/CD8+ cell and Th1/Th2 cell ratios characteristic for HIV progression were accompanied by a surge in exhausted T cell count with simultaneous exacerbation of COVID-19-related respiratory distress. HIV infection without ART may be a very serious comorbidity of COVID-19, whereas immunity of HIV/COVID-19 patients with proper ART is not generally affected by SARS-CoV-2. HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 are likely to exhibit a synergic effect, and exhausted T lymphocyte dynamics may be its effective marker.

• SIR compartmental model of COVID-19 spread may help to evaluate efficiency of lockdown measures. • Epidemiological data collected in fifteen european countries, are taken as input parameters. • Herd immunity level and the time of its formation are considered as factors indicating efficiency of lockdowns. • Lockdown and no-lockdown mode of containment lead to roughly similar results. Lockdowns do not stop COVID-19 spread. • Rationale for lockdowns is avoidance of healthcare system overburdening. • Reliance on lockdowns as the only administrative measures that may contain a pandemic, is a misstep that should be avoided in the future.

Background: Since the time of global SARS‐CoV‐2 spread across the earth in February 2020, most of countries faced the problem of massive stress of their healthcare systems. In many cases, the structural stress was a result of incorrect allocation of medical care resources. In turn, this misallocation resulted from fear and apprehensions that superseded thorough calculations. A key role in exacerbating the healthcare sector overburdening was played by misleading information on the virus and disease caused by it. In the current paper, we study the situation in Russian healthcare system and advance recommendations how to avoid further crises.Materials and methods: (a) Surveying the medical personnel (231 doctors, 317 nurses and 355 ambulance medical workers of lower levels) in five hospitals and six ambulance centres in Moscow. (b) Content analysis of 3164 accounts in Russian segment of social networks (VKontakte, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Odnoklassniki); official and unofficial media (TV, informational webpages).Results: We revealed positive‐feedback loop that threatened the sustainability of Russian care sector. The main knot was occupied by incorrect/exaggerated media coverage of COVID‐19. General public scared by misinformation in media and social networks, started to panic. This negative social background undermined the productivity of a significant part of medical workers who were afraid of COVID‐19 patients.Conclusions: The most serious problems of Russian healthcare sector related to COVID‐19 pandemic, were informational problems. The exaggerated information on COVID‐19 had big negative influence upon Russian society and healthcare system, despite SARS‐CoV‐2 relatively low epidemiological hazard.

This study was conducted to assess the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Russia and the adaptation of the population to the virus in March to June 2020. Two groups were investigated: 1) 12 082 individuals already proven positive for SARS-CoV-2 (clinical information was studied); 2) 7864+4458 individuals with suspected respiratory infections (polymerase chain reaction [PCR] tests and clinical information were studied). In the latter, SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals comprised 5.37% in March and 11.42% in June 2020. Several viral co-infections were observed for SARS-CoV-2. Rhinoviruses accounted for the largest proportion of co-infections (7.91% of samples were SARS-CoV-2-positive); followed by respiratory syncytial virus (7.03%); adenoviruses (4.84%); metapneumoviruses (3.29%); parainfluenza viruses (2.42%); enterovirus D68 (1.10%) and other viruses (entero-, echo-, parecho-) (<1%). Average SARS-CoV-2 case fatality rate in the group of 12 537 individuals was determined to be 0.6% (in contrast to official Russian government statistics of 1.5% mortality). This rate is within the range of mortality caused by other common seasonal respiratory viruses (0.01-2.21% in Russia in 2012 to 2020). Most fatalities occurred in individuals with comorbidities, as for other respiratory viruses. The proportion of SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic carriers was 56.68% in March and 70.67% in June 2020. This new pathogen presents a substantial risk to human beings as it was not contained at the start of its outbreak in Wuhan and spread worldwide. However, surveillance, prevention and treatment must be strictly evidence-based and not dictated by fear. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.

The total vaccination rate remains relatively low in Russia as of March 2022 (around 55%, with around 20% in some regions). In the paper, we study the reasons for it. We communicate the results of our survey aimed at detecting reasons for the relatively low anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination rate in Russia (47.1% as of mid-January 2022) and suggest potential measures to increase the level of confidence in the Russian vaccination campaign. A total of 14,310 users exhibited interest to participate in the research (16.84% of the total number of invitations sent in the Russian social network VKontakte). After the sample set repair, only 5822 (40.68% of those who agreed to participate) responses were suitable for the research, and they composed the final set. The age range of the respondents was 16–51 years old (y.o.) with a mean of 29.1 ± 10.6 y.o. The proportion of the female gender in responses was 44.23%. A total of 2454 persons (42.15%) expressed their hesitant, cautious, or negative attitude towards vaccine uptake. Of the 2454 persons with cautious attitude towards vaccination, only 928 (37.82%) were concerned about the quality of the Russian vaccines. A total of 1323 individuals (53.91%) supported one or more conspiracy beliefs. A total of 5064 (86.98% of the whole set) showed cautious or negative attitude towards the planned introduction of a nationwide system of vaccination certification/verification based on QR codes. The main social factors that hinder the Russian vaccination campaign are: vexation over the lack of desire of officials to receive feedback from the general population regarding vaccination, wide support for conspiracy beliefs, and controversy over the QR code-based digital system. To elevate the vaccination rate in Russia, the following steps may be taken: social encouragement of those who support vaccination, increase in transparency of the vaccination campaign, acceptance of both digital and paper vaccination certificates, increase in participation of society in vaccination-related discussions, public disclosure of vaccine composition, and avoidance of excessive digitalization of data in the vaccination campaign.

Infrared-absorption spectroscopy and electron spin resonance are used to study the role of boron impurity in the activation of free charge carriers in layers of porous silicon that have been exposed...