Favipiravir and its potentials in COVID-19 pandemic: An update

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused millions of deaths and hundreds of millions of confirmed infections worldwide. This pandemic has prompted researchers to produce medications or vaccines to reduce or stop the progression and spread of this disease. A variety of previously licensed and marketed medications are being tested for the treatment and recurrence of SARS-CoV2, including favipiravir (Avigan). Favipiravir was recognized as an influenza antiviral drug in Japan in 2014, and has been known to have a potential in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2, in addition to its broad therapeutic safety scope. Favipiravir was recently approved and officially used in many countries worldwide. Our review provides insights and up-to-date knowledge of the current role of favipiravir in the treatment of COVID-19 infection, focusing on preclinical and ongoing clinical trials, evidence of its efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19, side effects, anti-viral mechanism, and the pharmacokinetic properties of the drug in the treatment of COVID-19. Due to its teratogenic effects, favipiravir cannot be offered to expectant or pregnant mothers. The practical efficacy of such an intervention regimen will depend on its dose, treatment duration, and cost as well as difficulties in application.

Polygonatum kingianum rhizome extract alleviates collagen antibody-induced arthritis by modulating proinflammatory cytokine production in mice

To evaluate the anti-arthritic effects of Polygonatum kingianum rhizome extract using both in vitro and in vivo models. Methods: Lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages were treated with an ethanol extract of Polygonatum kingianum rhizomes at different concentrations to determine nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. For in vivo study, Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract was further investigated for its antiinflammatory effect in a mouse model with collagen antibodyinduced arthritis. Phytochemical study of Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract was also performed. Results: Saponins (142 mg/g total yield) was the main component in the Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract. 5a,8a-ergosterol peroxide, (E,E)-9-oxooctadeca-10,12-dienoic acid and 3-(2'- hydroxy-4'-methoxy-benzyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-8-methyl-chroman-4- one were isolated from the extract. Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract exhibited potential anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting nitric oxide and PGE2 production in RAW 264.7 cells in a dosedependent manner. The level of arthritis in mice with collagen antibody-induced arthritis was significantly reduced (P0.01) after treatment with Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract, particularly at a dose of 1 000 mg/kg body weight. Besides, the extract demonstrated the regulatory effects on serum tumor necrosis factoralpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 in treated mice. Conclusions: Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract has beneficial effects on inflammatory cytokine regulation and PGE2 inhibition in an experimental mouse model with collagen antibody-induced arthritis. The phytochemical screening reveals that the saponin, as the main component, and sterols (daucosterol and 5a,8a-ergosterol peroxide) from Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract may contribute to its promising in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities.

Study Design for the 2016 Baseline Survey of a Health System Strengthening Project in Quoc Oai District, Hanoi, Vietnam

BACKGROUND: In order to provide essential scientific evidence on the population's health status and social health determinants as well as the current capacity of the health care system in Vietnam to health policy makers and managers, Vietnam Ministry of Health, Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, and Ho Chi Minh University of Medicine and Pharmacy collaborated with Seoul National University (Korea) and conducted a health system survey in the Quoc Oai district (of Hanoi capital) that represented northern rural Vietnam. METHODS: The study design was a cross-sectional study. The survey covered different topics (more than 200 questions) and was administered in three separate questionnaires: 1) Basic information of all household members; 2) Household characteristics; and 3) Individual characteristics. Socio-demographic characteristics among the households and individuals were collected from 2,400 households sampled by multi-stage cluster sampling method: more than 200 questions. RESULTS: The household size of Quoc Oai was larger than the national average and there was no significant difference in gender composition. In addition, the proportions of pre-elderly, age 55–64, and elderly group (65 years old and over) were higher than the national population statistics. In this context, demographic transition has begun in Quoc Oai. CONCLUSION: This study design description provides the basic information about a baseline survey of a future prospective cohort (as a part of a collaborative project on strengthening the health system in Vietnam) to the prospective data user of this survey.

The current state of play of research on the social, political and legal dimensions of HIV / O estado atual da pesquisa sobre as dimensões sociais, políticas e legais do HIV / Estado actual de la investigación sobre las dimensiones sociales, políticas y legales del VIH

This paper offers a critical overview of social science research presented at the 2014 International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, Australia. In an era of major biomedical advance, the political nature of HIV remains of fundamental importance. No new development can be rolled out successfully without taking into account its social and political context, and consequences. Four main themes ran throughout the conference track on social and political research, law, policy and human rights: first, the importance of work with socially vulnerable groups, now increasingly referred to as "key populations"; second, continued recognition that actions and programs need to be tailored locally and contextually; third, the need for an urgent response to a rapidly growing epidemic of HIV among young people; and fourth, the negative effects of the growing criminalization of minority sexualities and people living with HIV. Lack of stress on human rights and community participation is resulting in poorer policy globally. A new research agenda is needed to respond to these challenges.

Este artigo oferece uma perspectiva crítica da pesquisa em ciências sociais apresentada na Confe-rência Internacional de AIDS de Melbourne, Aus-trália, em 2014. Em tempos de grandes avanços no campo biomédico, a natureza política do HIV permanece de importância fundamental. Nenhuma inovação será bem-sucedida na prática se desconsiderar o contexto sociopolítico e suas consequências. Quatro temas emergiram da Conferência nos campos do direito, dos direitos humanos e da pesquisa social e política: (1) a importância do trabalho com grupos socialmente vulneráveis, crescentemente chamado de "populações chaves"; (2) o reconhecimento de que ações e programas devem ser sob medida para cada local e contexto; (3) a urgência da resposta a uma epidemia crescendo muito rapidamente entre adolescentes; (4) o efeito negativo da crescente criminalização de minorias sexuais e pessoas vivendo com HIV. Globalmente, a falta de ênfase nos direitos humanos e da participação comunitária tem como resultado políticas públicas de pior qualidade. Precisamos de uma nova agenda de pesquisa para responder a esses desafios.

El artículo ofrece una perspectiva crítica de la investigación en ciencias sociales, presentada en la Conferencia Internacional de SIDA en Melbourne (Australia), 2014. En tiempos de enormes avances biomédicos, la naturaleza política del VIH sigue siendo muy importante. Ninguna innovación será exitosa sin considerar el contexto sociopolítico y sus consecuencias. Cuatro temas surgieron de la conferencia en el campo legal y derechos humanos, además de investigación social y política: (1) la importancia del trabajo con grupos socialmente vulnerables, crecientemente denominados "poblaciones claves"; (2) el reconocimiento de que las acciones y programas deben ser adaptados a un contexto local; (3) la urgencia de una respuesta a una epidemia con crecimiento rápido entre adolescentes; (4) el efecto negativo de la creciente criminalización de las minorías sexuales y personas viviendo con VIH. Globalmente, un limitado énfasis en los derechos humanos y la participación comunitaria tiene como consecuencia peores políticas públicas. Necesitamos una nueva agenda de investigación para responder a estos desafíos.

Effects of varying dilutions, pH, temperature and cations on spermatozoa motility in fish Larimichthys polyactis.

The objectives of this present study were to assess the effects of varying dilutions, pH, temperature and cations on spermatozoa motile parameters (SMPs) in fish Larimichthys polyactis. Optimal SMPs were observed when semen was diluted in artificial seawater (ASW) at a ratio of 1 to 100, with temperature of 10oC and pH 8.0. The spermatozoa of L. polyactis were immotile in distilled water and motile in solution containing different cations. Maximum SMPs were obtained in each solution containing 0.4 mol NaCl, 0.4 mol KCl, 0.2 mol CaCl2 and 0.2 mol MgCl2. This study provides baseline knowledge of L. polyactis spermatozoa sensitivity of pH, temperature and cationic effects.

Asswss the effects of high-dose steroids in the management of traumatic optic neuropathy

This study was carried out in 47patients (47 eyes) with traumatic optic neuropathy admitted Cho Ray Hospital from March 2003 to March 2004, among them 39 cases were treated by high-dose corticoids. The percentage of traumatic optic neuropathy was 0.32% of all head trauma cases. Among 47 patients, there were 44 males, 3 females, mean age: 30 years old, lesions were in 18 right eyes and 29 left eyes, traffic accidents were in 46 cases (97.9%), mainly were motorcycle accidents. The mean duration for finding lesions is 20 hours and mean duration for treating is 37 hours. Visual acuity was severely decreased: 76.6% patients with no light perception, 85% patients with no light perception and light perception. Concomitant traumas included injuries in ear, nose and throat trauma (51.1%), teeth (40.4%), head (38.3%). CT scan finding revealed fractures of orbit in 19 cases (40.4%), of optic canal in 6 cases (15%). Treatment with high-dose corticoids (methyl-prednisolone IV 500mg-1999mg a day) for 39 cases had more effective than no treatment or low-dose corticoids (< 500mg) in 8 cases. The percentage of vision recovery in high-dose corticoid group was 38.5%, with 2 cases had complications of high glycaemia (5.1%). Early treatment within 8 hours after trauma could give higher rate of recovery. Prognostic factors for no recovery included vision acuity after trauma was no light perception, 4-grade soft tissue lacerations and no response after 48 hours of high-dose corticoids. In the optic neuropathy, the rate of vision recovery in high-dose corticoid group was 38.5%, and treating by high-dose corticoids had few complications, more effective than low-dose corticoids (p<0.05)

The application of OCT for diagnosis of central serous chorioretinopathy

In the study, 25 consecutive eyes of 25 patients (21 men, 4 women; mean age: 45 ± 8.5 years; range 30 to 58 years) with central serous chorioretinopathy were examined with optical coherence tomography (OCT) during acute phase and after the resolution of the retinal detachment. Cross-sectional retinal images through the center of the fovea were obtained from all eyes by OCT. The retinal thickness at the fovea center was measured. All of patients were conducted fluorescent angiographies. In the acute phase, neurosensory retina was thickened within the area of serous retinal detachment in all 25 eyes. The retinal thickness at the center of the fovea during the acute phase (range, 162 to 273µm; mean ± SD, 192 ±18 µm) was significantly thickened in comparison with that after resolution (range, 98 to 149 µm; mean± SD, 117±12.7µm). The retinal pigment epithelium was focally detached in five eyes

Braca Alessandra: Studies on chemical composition from the leaves of Telosma cordata

Leaves of Telosma cordata were leached with methanol several times at room temperature, after rejecting solvent at low pressure, methanol were tested cytotoxic activities and antioxidant activities. Results: methanol extracts showed in vitro cytotoxic activities against Hep-G2 (heptonema carcinoma), Fl (fibril sarcoma of uterus) and RD (rhabdosarcoma) with the ED values of 39.0%, 12.6% and 5.6%, respectively. Methanol extracts showed antioxidant activities with SC=52.3±0.9% and IC50=56.9µg/ml. Four compounds: luteine (1), 1-dotriacontanol (2), 24E-stigmasta-5,22-dien-3 B-ol (3), and daucosterol (4) were isolated from the n-hexalle extracts

Application of Philadelphia chromosome analyzing technique in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients

From Nov.2001 to July 2003, the analysis of chromosomes of 92 patients with CML evealed the metaphase figure of chromosomes of bone marrow cell which will be obtained easier than blood, but the blood is better Philadelphia chromosome found in 91,25% of cases of success.There is no significant difference between male and female subjects as between various age groups

Notes on the diagnosis and treatment of bone fractures of the limbs with injury of peripheral vessels in the Department of traumatology at Viet Tiep Hospital, Hai Phong city

27 patients with the diagnosis of bone fractures of the limbs with injury of peripheral vessels were treated in Viet Tiep Hospital, Hai Phong city from January 2001 to November 2002. Their majority was male persons of productive age and the main cause was traffic casualties 74%, among them underwent early operation within 6 hours. 6 patients underwent a bone combination with intraspinal nail or Kirchner needle. Among 23 preserved cases, only in 8 cases, the function of the limbs was well rehabilitated, the rest were moderate and bad. In 4 cases, it must undergo an amputation at 2nd time because the late diagnosis and had been missing.

Simultaneous dosage of loratadine and pseudoephedrine sulfate in manufactured tablets by derivative ultra-violet spectrography

A new spectrophotometry was described for the simultaneous analysis of pseudoephedrine sulfate-Ioratadine combination. The derivative spectrophotometry dA/d values were read at zero-crossing point. Mean recoveries were found to be more than 98% for these compound in mixture. The procedure does not require any separation step and proven to be rapid, simple and accurate for determination of the mentioned sample or corresponding multi-component mixture

Effects of deworming on nutritional status, anemia in children 36 to 60 month olds

The effect of deworming on nutritional status and anemia were studied on 277 children aged 30-60 months in 3 rural commune in An Giang province (Mekong Delta). A dose of 500mg of mebendazol improved dramatically the body weight and the weight of children. 6 months after the deworning, in intervened group, the gam of weight and height reached 0.3kg and 0.8cm respectively in comparing with control group. Similarly the change in WAZ and HAZ was also higher in the intervened group than the control group (0.13 and 0.17 units respectively). Anemia incidence decreased by 12.1% while in the control group 5.6%. Mean level of hemoglobine in intervened group was 0.4g/dl higher than control.

Some opinions and study on the protection of the labour force capital and labour market in pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises

Objects: labour force capital and labour market in some pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises during years of 1991-1994. Methods: efficacy of working, labour cost, studying and building a period of business, manufacture. High evaluation on needs of human resource, who were trained to become enough standard for moral and talent in arranged sites and close technical process.