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COVID-19 has caused widespread morbidity and mortality, with its effects extending to multiple organ systems. Despite known risk factors for severe disease, including advanced age and underlying comorbidities, patient outcomes can vary significantly. This variability complicates efforts to predict disease progression and tailor treatment strategies. While diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are still under debate, RNA sequencing (RNAseq) has emerged as a promising tool to provide deeper insights into the pathophysiology of COVID-19 and guide personalized treatment. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. We employed Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and relevant keywords to identify studies that explored the role of RNAseq in COVID-19 diagnostics, prognostics, and therapeutics. RNAseq has proven instrumental in identifying molecular biomarkers associated with disease severity in patients with COVID-19. It allows for the differentiation between asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals and sheds light on the immune response mechanisms that contribute to disease progression. In critically ill patients, RNAseq has been crucial for identifying key genes that may predict patient outcomes, guiding therapeutic decisions, and assessing the long-term effects of the virus. Additionally, RNAseq has helped in understanding the persistence of viral RNA after recovery, offering new insights into the management of post-acute sequelae, including long COVID. RNA sequencing significantly improves COVID-19 management, particularly for critically ill patients, by enhancing diagnostic accuracy, personalizing treatment, and predicting therapeutic responses. It refines patient stratification, improving outcomes, and holds promise for targeted interventions in both acute and long COVID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainable utilization of biomass-derived bioactives addresses the growing demand for natural health products and supports sustainable development goals by reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals in healthcare. Cannabis sativa biomass, in particular, has emerged as a valuable resource within this context. This study focuses on the hydroethanolic extract of C. sativa leaves (CSE), which exhibited significant levels of phenolic compounds contributing to robust antioxidant activity. Evaluation using potassium ferricyanide, ABTS, and DPPH methods revealed potent radical scavenging activity comparable to the Trolox standard. UPLC-MS/MS profiling identified cannabinoids as the predominant secondary metabolites in CSE, with flavonoids also present in substantial quantities. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of CSE on RAW 264.7 macrophages and IL-1β-stimulated C-20/A4 immortalized human chondrocytes, demonstrating protective effects without cytotoxic or mutagenic effects. Mechanistically, CSE reduced inflammation by inhibiting the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. In silico approaches showed the ability of CSE's main metabolites to bind and influence MAPK and NF-κB activity, confirming in vitro evidence. Incorporating C. sativa leaf extract into a hyaluronic acid-based formulation showed biotechnological promise for treating joint inflammation. Future research should aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects and explore the potential of CSE-derived compounds in mitigating osteoarthritis progression. This approach highlights the significance of utilizing annually increasing biomass waste for sustainable bioactivity and environmental impact reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cells are the fundamental units of biological systems and exhibit unique development trajectories and molecular features. Our exploration of how the genomes orchestrate the formation and maintenance of each cell, and control the cellular phenotypes of various organismsis, is both captivating and intricate. Since the inception of the first single-cell RNA technology, technologies related to single-cell sequencing have experienced rapid advancements in recent years. These technologies have expanded horizontally to include single-cell genome, epigenome, proteome, and metabolome, while vertically, they have progressed to integrate multiple omics data and incorporate additional information such as spatial scRNA-seq and CRISPR screening. Single-cell omics represent a groundbreaking advancement in the biomedical field, offering profound insights into the understanding of complex diseases, including cancers. Here, we comprehensively summarize recent advances in single-cell omics technologies, with a specific focus on the methodology section. This overview aims to guide researchers in selecting appropriate methods for single-cell sequencing and related data analysis., Competing Interests: Compliance and ethics. The author(s) declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© 2024. Science China Press.)