scholarly journals The Rationale for Potential Pharmacotherapy of COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maha Saber-Ayad ◽  
Mohamed A. Saleh ◽  
Eman Abu-Gharbieh

On 11 March 2020, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was defined by the World Health Organization as a pandemic. Severe acute respiratory syndrome-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the newly evolving human coronavirus infection that causes COVID-19, and it first appeared in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and spread rapidly all over the world. COVID-19 is being increasingly investigated through virology, epidemiology, and clinical management strategies. There is currently no established consensus on the standard of care in the pharmacological treatment of COVID-19 patients. However, certain medications suggested for other diseases have been shown to be potentially effective for treating this infection, though there has yet to be clear evidence. Therapies include new agents that are currently tested in several clinical trials, in addition to other medications that have been repurposed as antiviral and immune-modulating therapies. Previous high-morbidity human coronavirus epidemics such as the 2003 SARS-CoV and the 2012 Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) prompted the identification of compounds that could theoretically be active against the emerging coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, advances in molecular biology techniques and computational analysis have allowed for the better recognition of the virus structure and the quicker screening of chemical libraries to suggest potential therapies. This review aims to summarize rationalized pharmacotherapy considerations in COVID-19 patients in order to serve as a tool for health care professionals at the forefront of clinical care during this pandemic. All the reviewed therapies require either additional drug development or randomized large-scale clinical trials to be justified for clinical use.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Safaet Alam ◽  
Md. Moklesur Rahman Sarker ◽  
Sadia Afrin ◽  
Fahmida Tasnim Richi ◽  
Chao Zhao ◽  
...  

SARS-CoV-2 is the latest worldwide pandemic declared by the World Health Organization and there is no established anti-COVID-19 drug to combat this notorious situation except some recently approved vaccines. By affecting the global public health sector, this viral infection has created a disastrous situation associated with high morbidity and mortality rates along with remarkable cases of hospitalization because of its tendency to be high infective. These challenges forced researchers and leading pharmaceutical companies to find and develop cures for this novel strain of coronavirus. Besides, plants have a proven history of being notable wellsprings of potential drugs, including antiviral, antibacterial, and anticancer therapies. As a continuation of this approach, plant-based preparations and bioactive metabolites along with a notable number of traditional medicines, bioactive phytochemicals, traditional Chinese medicines, nutraceuticals, Ayurvedic preparations, and other plant-based products are being explored as possible therapeutics against COVID-19. Moreover, the unavailability of effective medicines against COVID-19 has driven researchers and members of the pharmaceutical, herbal, and related industries to conduct extensive investigations of plant-based products, especially those that have already shown antiviral properties. Even the recent invention of several vaccines has not eliminated doubts about safety and efficacy. As a consequence, many limited, unregulated clinical trials involving conventional mono- and poly-herbal therapies are being conducted in various areas of the world. Of the many clinical trials to establish such agents as credentialed sources of anti-COVID-19 medications, only a few have reached the landmark of completion. In this review, we have highlighted and focused on plant-based anti-COVID-19 clinical trials found in several scientific and authenticated databases. The aim is to allow researchers and innovators to identify promising and prospective anti-COVID-19 agents in clinical trials (either completed or recruiting) to establish them as novel therapies to address this unwanted pandemic.


2002 ◽  
Vol 6 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
A M Molesworth ◽  
N Noah

This year, a total of 11 899 cases of meningococcal disease (1368 deaths) have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from Burkina Faso (as of 28 April 2002). The epidemic, now on the decline, began in January and has subsequently affected over half the country (1,2). An epidemic of this scale is not in itself unusual in this part of Africa; the major global burden of meningococcal disease is associated with frequent large scale and irregular dry season epidemics in the Sahelian ’meningitis belt,’ causing high morbidity and mortality often in two or three successive years.


2021 ◽  
pp. 104365962110469
Author(s):  
Giorgia Rudes ◽  
Claudia Fantuzzi

Introduction: The World Health Organization states that suicide is the second leading cause of death among youngs, and racism has been proven to have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. These two plagues represent a public health priority, especially for susceptible minorities. Method: This systematic review analyzed 23 studies from multiple database searches, to understand the relationship between racism and suicidality in young minority groups. Results: The review demonstrated the correlation between racism and suicidality with the consequent development of mental disorders. There is strong evidence that the main suicide risk factor is acculturation, interpreted as the assimilation of the dominant culture with the loss of values from one’s cultural background. Discussion: Health care professionals should not underestimate the risk of suicidality associated with racism. Prevention is crucial and it should be implemented from a young age, in schools, through a joint intervention with children and their families, aiming toward integration without acculturation.


Author(s):  
N. I. Mikshis ◽  
P. Yu. Popova ◽  
A. P. Semakova ◽  
V. V. Kutyrev

High pathogenicity of anthrax agent combined with unique insensitivity of its spore forms to environmental stresses class it among extremely dangerous biological agents. Registered and effectively used anthrax vaccines made invaluable contribution to the improvement of epidemiological situation around the world. Nevertheless, neglect of non-specific prophylaxis may result in dramatic scenarios and require large-scale measures on rectification of the consequences. Efforts on the development of next-generation vaccines are aimed at safety build-up, decrease in frequency of administration, and enhancement of manufacturing technologies. The review contains the key information on licensed anthrax vaccines designed for medical use, both in the territory of the Russian Federation and abroad. Among multiple experimental developments emphasized have been preparations manufactured by various biopharmaceutical companies in compliance with GMP standards, at different phases of clinical trials in 2016.


Author(s):  
Afsaneh Noormandi ◽  
Mohammad Fathalipour ◽  
Reza Daryabeygi-Khotbehsara ◽  
Soheil Hassanipour

Background and objective: COVID-19 has since been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), infecting millions worldwide. The use of Interferon (INF) subtypes previously examined in the treatment of SARS and MERS is also being initiated in some clinical trials. Although different clinical trials were evaluated IFNs in the treatment of COVID-19, their efficacy and safety remain unknown. Therefore, this study aims to systematically assess IFNs efficacy and safety in treating patients with COVID-19. Methods: The protocol has been registered in the PROSPERO International Prospective Register (CRD42020200643) on 24 July 2020. This protocol has been arranged according to the PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols) 2015 checklist. Discussion: Due to lack of approved medication for the covid-19 treatment and also various mutations of this virus, evaluated the efficacy and safety of medications by various studies could help for finding treatments with high effectiveness. IFNs are one of the medications that have been administered in covid-19 infection.  Moreover, the best time of administration and dose of this medication was unknown. Although meta-analysis is a potent source for assessing the accuracy of subjects, heterogeneity of articles is a potent limitation of our work.


1989 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Cohen

This article examines the meaning of appropriate technology in the World Health Organization's comprehensive definition of primary care. The author concludes that broad-ranging aspects of health maintenance, such as public health, personal lifestyles, and scientific research, as well as traditional diagnostic and therapeutic practices, need to be subjected to clear and careful scrutiny. It is vital that the results of these technology assessment studies be disseminated as widely as possible to both health care professionals and the public.


Author(s):  
Innocent K. Besigye ◽  
Jude Onyango ◽  
Fred Ndoboli ◽  
Vincent Hunt ◽  
Cynthia Haq ◽  
...  

Background: The World Health report (2008), the World Health Assembly (2009) and the Declaration of Astana (2018) acknowledge the significant contribution of family physicians (FPs) in clinical and primary healthcare. Given the lack of resources and low numbers of FPs coupled with the contextual nature of family medicine (FM), the scope of practice of African FPs is likely to differ from that of colleagues in America and Europe. Thus, this study explored the roles of Ugandan FPs and the challenges they face.Methods: This cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted through in-depth interviews with FPs who are working in Uganda. Participants who work in public and private healthcare systems including non-governmental organisations and in all geographical regions were purposively selected. Interviews were conducted from July 2016 to June 2017. Qualitative thematic content analysis of the transcripts was performed using a framework approach.Results: The study team identified three and six thematic roles and challenges, respectively, from the interview transcripts. The roles were clinician, leadership and teaching and learning. Challenges included lack of common identity, low numbers of FPs, conflicting roles, unrealistic expectations, poor organisational infrastructure and lack of incentives.Conclusion: The major roles of FPs in Uganda are similar to those of their counterparts in other parts of the world. Family physicians provide clinical care for patients, including preventive and curative services; providing leadership, management and mentorship to clinical teams; and teaching and learning. However, their roles are exercised differently as a result of lack of proper institutionalisation of FM within the Uganda health system. Family physicians in Uganda have found many opportunities to contribute to healthcare leadership, education and service, but have not yet found a stable niche within the healthcare system.


Author(s):  
Swati Chaudhary ◽  
Supriti Agrawal

Background: A physician offers treatments to prevent, treat, and manage sickness and to maintain mental and physical well-being. According to the World Health Organization, health care includes all raw materials and services aimed to enhance health, including "preventative health, therapeutic, and supportive interventions, either aimed to people either to nations." Stem cell is one of the innovations of health care industry. Stem cells are used to treat over 130 diseases throughout the world, and more than 500 clinical trials are ongoing to develop stem cell treatments. Henceforth, this paper aim is to enhance the stem cell role in health care industry and to find the health professional attitude towards stem cell management. Methods: For the study purpose both primary and secondary data are used. The cross sectional study conducted among 140 doctors of the Delhi-NCR for the primary data. The secondary data collected from records of the WHO, various journals, scientific study and clinical trials. The data were analysis by the using the correlation and t-test by SPSS 21 software to find the attitude of doctors towards stem cell management. Results: The study found that 97% of doctors are aware about the stem cell and 86% doctors have knowledge about the sources of stem cell and only 25% doctors collect the stem cell from umbilical cord. The study determine that the attitude of the health professional are positive towards stem cell management in India and they need government takes necessary action to developed the stem cell management for better health sector in India. Conclusions: Thus it can be concluded that with the increases of the cases the scientists try to find the use of stem cell in the treatment of various diseases. It does clearly indicate that stem cell boost the immune system. The data analysis of the study confirms that doctors in India have a positive view toward stem cell management. As a result, if sufficient initiative is made by healthcare professionals and the government, stem cell management has a wide range of adoption and acceptance opportunities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 562-570
Author(s):  
Dina V. Baimukhambetova ◽  
Anastasia O. Gorina ◽  
Mikhail A. Rumyantsev ◽  
Anastasia A. Shikhaleva ◽  
Yasmin A. El-Taravi ◽  
...  

Despite the impressive progress in diagnosis and management of acute COVID-19, data regarding the consequences of this infection are just emerging. The World Health Organization has proposed the term post-COVID condition (PCC) to describe the wide range of sequelae of acute COVID-19. With more than 200 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, PCC may develop into a major problem for many years to come for the millions of COVID-19 survivors worldwide. Few studies were conducted in primary care, and very few studies have focused exclusively on children and adolescents.Objective. To review existing data on PCC. Analysis of manuscripts published in peer-reviewed journals and clinical protocols. PCC is characterized by a wide range of systemic, cardio-pulmonary, gastrointestinal, neurological, and psychosocial symptoms.Conclusion. Although PCC prevalence is difficult to estimate due to methodological limitations of the existing studies, there is no doubt that this problem is a significant healthcare burden. There is a need for further observational and interventional studies to establish optimal PCC prevention and management strategies.


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