Melatonin as a potential therapeutic molecule against COVID-19 associated gastrointestinal complications: An unrevealed link

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-435
Author(s):  
Palash Kumar Pal ◽  
Aindrila Chattopadhyay ◽  
Debasish Bandyopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Viral Infections ◽  
Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽  
International Committee ◽  
World Health ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Gastrointestinal Complications ◽  
Specific Receptors ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

Outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first reported in Wuhan, Hubei province of China, in early December 2019 which was later declared as a pandemic by World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses has termed this novel coronavirus as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). According to the report of WHO on 29th April, 2020, 3018681 confirmed cases along with 207973 deaths have been documented globally. COVID-19 was originally reported as a lethal lung disease with fever and cough as the most common symptoms; however, the increasing number of gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain in patients have clearly suggested that gastrointestinal tract (GIT) may also serve as a potential route for SARS-CoV-2 infection. To identify the effective therapies on this pandemic is urgent. Keeping this in mind, we realize that melatonin is a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory molecule and it has been used in diverse diseases and pathophysiological conditions, including respiratory disease and viral infections. Importantly, melatonin specific receptors and its endogenously synthetic machinery are distributed throughout the mammalian gastrointestinal system. Therefore, the therapeutic potentiality of melatonin in SARS-CoV-2 associated digestive symptoms cannot be ignored. In this review, we focus on the clinical implications of melatonin on the digestive complications associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. 

scholarly journals Respiratory Viral Co-infection with Novel Coronavirus in Children: A Case Series

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Hertzberg ◽  
C. Anthoney Lim ◽  
Erick Eiting ◽  
Steven Yung ◽  
Jeranil Nunez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Presentation ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Respiratory Viruses ◽  
World Health ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Surgical Evaluation ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background:The novel coronavirus, COVID-19 was identified in January 2020 initially in Wuhan, China but quickly spread worldwide and was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. There are more than 185 countries impacted and the numbers of cases and deaths continues to rise. The rate of coinfections with COVID-19 in children and the clinical implications are unknown.Case Presentation:We describe the clinical presentation and course of three patients with COVID-19 and coinfections with other common respiratory viruses. Two cases were diagnosed with COVID-19 as well as rhinovirus/enterovirus and the third case was COVID-19 and pertussis. Each case had a unique presentations and hospital courses including an emergency room discharge, urgent surgical evaluation and an intensive care unit admission.Conclusions:This is the first US-based case report to discuss coinfections with COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses. Decisions regarding diagnosis and management of children in the setting of the current pandemic should account for the possibility of coinfections. We also highlight publish health challenged resulting from children with the novel coronavirus.

scholarly journals Practices in Handling Clinical Samples in a COVID-19 Laboratory - An Experience from Chennai, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (39) ◽  
pp. 3508-3510
Author(s):  
Saramma Mini Jacob ◽  
Kanagasabai Sivasangeetha ◽  
Durairaj Anitha ◽  
Singaram Kaplana
Keyword(s):  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽  
World Health ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Respiratory Droplets

In early January 2020, China had started raising concerns of a new contagious disease caused by new strains of coronavirus, Severe Acute Respiratory SyndromeCoronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, had declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic. COVID-19 was transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes, breathing or through contact with a surface that has been contaminated 1 and through aerosols-airborne microdroplets.2 The clinical manifestations of COVID-19 represents a wide spectrum of disease ranging from mild to severe respiratory syndrome influenza-like illness with mainly lower respiratory tract symptoms, complicated by pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), high fever, and headache. In many cases, loss of taste and smell and severe gastrointestinal symptoms were reported, as are cardiac problems, with the latter being perhaps secondary to a cytokine storm such as is seen in the more severely affected patients. 3 WHO COVID-19 dashboard on June 25th 2021 showed 179, 686, 071 confirmed cases worldwide.

scholarly journals Adjunctive Nutraceutical Therapies for COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1963
Author(s):  
Lalita Subedi ◽  
Stephanie Tchen ◽  
Bhakta Prasad Gaire ◽  
Bingren Hu ◽  
Kurt Hu
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Virus ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Appropriate Use ◽  
The World ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
And Function

The novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19), is a worldwide pandemic, as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is a respiratory virus that infects people of all ages. Although it may present with mild to no symptoms in most patients, those who are older, immunocompromised, or with multiple comorbidities may present with severe and life-threatening infections. Throughout history, nutraceuticals, such as a variety of phytochemicals from medicinal plants and dietary supplements, have been used as adjunct therapies for many disease conditions, including viral infections. Appropriate use of these adjunct therapies with antiviral proprieties may be beneficial in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of COVID-19. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of nutraceuticals, such as vitamins C, D, E, zinc, melatonin, and other phytochemicals and function foods. These nutraceuticals may have potential therapeutic efficacies in fighting the threat of the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals A quick look at the latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 030006052094380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling Xue ◽  
Jiao Li ◽  
Lin Wei ◽  
Cuiqing Ma
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Basis ◽  
International Committee ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Comprehensive Understanding ◽  
Isolation And Identification ◽  
The World ◽  
Emerging Virus ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

In December 2019, a new respiratory disease manifesting as viral pneumonia emerged in Wuhan, China. Isolation and identification of the virus showed that the pathogen causing this disease was a novel coronavirus. On January 12, 2020, the World Health Organization named the novel coronavirus causing the outbreak 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The disease caused by the virus was named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Later, the Coronavirus Study Group of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses formally named this virus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus shows strong infectivity and high lethality, arousing widespread concern. As an emerging virus, a comprehensive understanding of SARS-CoV-2 is missing. To provide a reference and a theoretical basis for further study of SARS-CoV-2, recent advances in our understanding of the virus are summarized in this review.

scholarly journals Pulmonary rehabilitation of patients with coronavirus infection COVID-19, clinical examples

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 715-722
Author(s):  
N. N. Meshcheryakova ◽  
A. S. Belevskiy ◽  
A. V. Kuleshov
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Rehabilitation ◽  
Skeletal Muscles ◽  
International Committee ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Republic Of China ◽  
Coronavirus Infection ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The City

At the end of 2019, an outbreak of a new coronavirus infection was identified in the People’s Republic of China centerd in the city of Wuhan. The official name COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease 2019) was assigned to the infection caused by the novel coronavirus by the World Health Organization on February 11, 2020. The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses assigned the name to the causative agent of the infection – SARS-CoV-2 on February 11, 2020. The bilateral pneumonia is currently known to be the most common clinical manifestation of the variant of coronavirus infection. The development of acute respiratory distress syndrome was found in 3 – 4% of patients. As a result of pneumonia, patients develop ventilation and perfusion disorders, weakness of skeletal muscles. To recover patients after viral pneumonia, methods of pulmonary rehabilitation should be applied. This article represents the methods of pulmonary rehabilitation aimed to improve the blood circulation in the lungs, the ventilation-perfusion ratios, and to the restoration of the skeletal muscles.

scholarly journals Potential of CRISPR/Cas13 System in Treatment and Diagnosis of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir Khodavirdipour ◽  
Motahareh Piri ◽  
Sarvin Jabbari ◽  
Mohammad Khalaj-kondori
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Tool ◽  
Human Kidney ◽  
World Health ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Rapid Action ◽  
Antiparasitic Drug ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Treatment And Diagnosis

AbstractThe novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) belongs to coronaviridae families, like sarbecovirus (SARS), and causes pyrexia, pertussis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in major. Started from Wuhan, China now forced the World Health Organization (WHO) to call it a pandemic. These dreadful figures elevate the need for rapid action for a rapid diagnostic tool, an efficacious therapy, or vaccine for such widespread disease. Here we reviewed all the latest research and trials including conventional antiviral medicines that have a narrow and finite effect on COVID-19. Recently, some advances have been made by a nucleotide/nucleoside analogues (NUC) inhibitor (remdesivir), ivermectin (antiparasitic drug), and convalescent plasma, the later one has more recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition, a clinical-grade soluble human angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2), named hrsACE2, was able to inhibit the infection of human blood vessel organoids, as well as the human kidney organoids, by the virus. As of now, innovative therapeutics based on the CRISPR/Cas13d might overcome the challenge of COVID-19 either as a treatment option or precise and rapid diagnostic tool due to its rapid and precise nature. In this updated comprehensive rapid review, we try to cover all recent findings in terms of genomics, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

scholarly journals Viability of Bacillus subtilis Cells in Airborne Bioaerosols on Face Masks

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1496
Author(s):  
Eun-Hee Lee ◽  
Yunsoo Chang ◽  
Seung-Woo Lee
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Fine Dust ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Viable Cells ◽  
Mask Material ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Sand Dust

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a general health crisis and has irreversible impacts on human societies. Globally, all people are at risk of being exposed to the novel coronavirus through transmission of airborne bioaerosols. Public health actions, such as wearing a mask, are highly recommended to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases. The appropriate use of masks is necessary for effectively preventing the transmission of airborne bioaerosols. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests washing fabric masks or throwing away disposable masks after they are used. However, people often use masks more than once without washing or disposing them. The prolonged use of a single mask might—as a result of the user habitually touching the mask—promote the spread of pathogens from airborne bioaerosols that have accumulated on the mask. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate how long the living components of bioaerosols can be viable on the masks. Here, we evaluated the viability of airborne Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) in bioaerosols filtered on woven and anti-droplet (non-woven) face masks. As a simulation of being simultaneously exposed to sand dust and bioaerosols, the viability rates of bioaerosols that had accumulated on masks were also tested against fine dust and airborne droplets containing bacteria. The bioaerosols survived on the masks immediately after the masks were used to filter the bioaerosols, and the bacteria significantly proliferated after one day of storage. Thereafter, the number of viable cells in the filtered bioaerosols gradually decreased over time, and the viability of B. subtilis in bioaerosols on the masks varied, depending on the mask material used (woven or non-woven). Despite the reduction in viability, bioaerosols containing living components were still found in both woven and anti-droplet masks even after six days of storage and it took nine days not to have found them on masks. The number of viable cells in bioaerosols on masks significantly decreased upon exposure of the masks to fine dust. The results of this study should provide useful information on how to appropriately use masks to increase their duration of effectiveness against bioaerosols.

scholarly journals A Bittersweet Memoir

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-135
Author(s):  
Anita Y. N. Lim
Keyword(s):  
Video Clip ◽  
Early Period ◽  
General Medicine ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
World Health ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
The Novel ◽  
National University ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract I wrote this journal in March 2020 prior to the World Health Organization declaring the COVID-19 infection as a worldwide pandemic on March 11. The situation in Singapore was unfolding even as public healthcare institutions were tasked to lead the charge to contain the novel coronavirus as it was then called. This journal describes my experiences and impressions during my work in an isolation ward at the National University Hospital during this early period. I was to be catapulted into Pandemic Team 3 in the second and third weeks of February 2020. The urgency of hospital measures to respond to the novel coronavirus meant that the general medicine consultant roster which I was on was hijacked to support the pandemic wards. I thought wryly to myself that it was a stroke of genius to commandeer the ready-made roster of senior physicians; it would have been difficult for the roster monster to solicit senior physicians to volunteer when there were still so many unknowns about this virus. Graphic images of the dire situation in Wuhan, China, were circulating widely on social media. It was heart-wrenching to read of Dr. Li Wen Liang’s death. He had highlighted the mysterious pneumonia-causing virus. The video clip of him singing at a karaoke session that went viral underscored the tragedy of a young life cut short. Questions raced in my mind. “Are we helpless to prevent the spread of this virus?” “Is the situation in China to be replicated here in Singapore?” This seemed incredulous, yet, might it be possible? The immediate responses that jumped up within me was “yes, it’s possible, but let’s pray not. Whatever has to be done, must be done.”

scholarly journals Cutaneous presentation of COVID-19 Case Report

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 01-02
Author(s):  
Khadiga Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Scientific Journals ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Global Spread ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Recent Attention

COVID-19 has high transmissibility and infectivity among human. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) in an effort to slow down the global spread of the virus declared the outbreak, “A global public health emergency of international concern". The skin manifestations of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 were not recognized at the early stages of the pandemic but have received much recent attention in scientific journals. Reported manifestations range from pseudo-chilblains to a morbilliform (measles-like) exanthem, urticaria, vesicular eruptions, a dengue-like petechial rash and ovate scaling macules, and plaques mimicking pityriasis rosea.

A Qualitative Comparison of the Covex Respirator with Face Shield Versus the N95 Respirator

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reid Mimmack ◽  
Elijah Germo ◽  
Garrett Augustine ◽  
Kumar Belani
Keyword(s):  
Filtration Efficiency ◽  
Current Medical ◽  
Pass Rate ◽  
World Health ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Qualitative Comparison ◽  
Medical Standard ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a worldwide pandemic. The pandemic led to concerns of shortages regarding healthcare-related resources, including personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, and more. The uniquely designed COVEX respirator with face shield was engineered and manufactured by Augustine Surgical, Inc. to combat the PPE shortage. The novel COVEX mask is an “all-in-one” face shield and filter with a Viral Filtration Efficiency (VFE) greater than 99%. A standard respirator qualitative fit test was completed on the COVEX respirator as well as the current medical standard 3M N95 respirator. Fit test studies comparing the two masks yielded similar outcomes. The COVEX respirator had a qualitative fit test pass rate of 96.6% and the 3M N95 respirator had a pass rate of 93.3% (n=30). Participants also reported other variables comparing the comfort and fit of each mask, which is described further in the discussion. The COVEX respirator with face shield passed a standardized qualitative fit test at a rate similar to the current medical standard N95 respirator. Our results suggest that the COVEX mask may be a viable PPE option in the future.

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