An epidemic context elicits more prosocial decision-making in an intergroup social dilemma.

Societal challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic have the quality of a social dilemma, in that they compel people to choose between acting in their own interests or the interests of a larger collective. Empirical evidence shows that the choices people make in a social dilemma are influenced by how this decision is framed. In four studies, we examined how context of an epidemic influences resource allocation decisions in a nested social dilemma task, where participants share resources between themselves, their subgroup, and a larger collective. Participants consistently allocated more resources to the collective in the context of the Ebola epidemic than in the context of a neighborhood improvement project, and these choices were strongly associated with prescriptive social norms. Together, the findings provide an experimental demonstration that the context of a quickly spreading disease encourages people to act more prosocially.

Biosurfactants in respiratory viruses and the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

The world is facing one of its largest Pandemics ever, “The COVID-19”! The giant leaps taken in medicine and research have bowed down before a teeny tiny virus. This has conveyed to mankind that the armamentariums we possess against viruses are futile. Most of the drugs provide symptomatic relief only with few unswervingly being able to destroy the virus. Nonetheless, the scientific community is on the overtime for new boulevards of research and ways to defeat this threat. Biosurfactants (BSs) were stumbled upon as a plausible gold mine! In fact, its antimicrobial and antiadhesive properties have been well accepted. It is now postulated to be of aid in preventing the spread of viruses, that is, as a disinfecting agent, as an antiviral by curing symptoms occurring in the incubation period, killing directly the virus-infected cells and also as a drug delivery system. This chapter aims to provide an insight into what BSs are and their enormous potentials in dealing with Respiratory viruses especially the severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Practice based small group learning during a pandemic: an evaluation from Defence Primary Healthcare.

The educational benefits of Practice-Based Small Group Learning (PBSGL) are well known. The Ministry of Defence in the United Kingdom employs a salaried healthcare workforce across the globe with staff frequently moving. Given the success of PBSGL in Canada and Scotland, PBSGL was introduced as a large pilot to assess it as a continuous professional development (CPD) resource. A survey gathering quantitative and qualitative was distributed to the pilot population after using PBSGL for 12 months. This showed the favoured types of CPD were PBSGL and taught CPD update courses. Themes identified from free-text comments were: developing professional educational networks during Covid; evolving themes of CPD; applying learning to practice; practical aspects of delivering CPD to Defence promoting a positive learning environment; human interaction is therapeutic. These were similar to educational and non-educational benefits found in previous evaluations, but with the added benefit of providing a professional educational network during the COVID pandemic. Benefits were preserved when the sessions were run remotely using video-conferencing, although some of the human interaction was lost. As CPD, it was highly valued. For Defence, who need to consider the CPD requirements of their workforce, provision of PBSGL alongside taught CPD updates may satisfy the learning needs of the majority of the workforce.

THE ROLE OF VACCINES IN PUBLIC HEALTH

The development and usage of vaccines depend on the assessment of their benefits and risks, primarily by regulatory bodies as well as by physicians and patients. The immunization programs have helped to increase life expectancy, reduce parental fears of life-threatening childhood diseases, eradication of certain destructive epidemics from the community, and pecuniary savings by prevention of disabilities and diseases. Different types of vaccines are currently in use against various life-threatening diseases and those which have the potential of emerging in previously unaffected regions of the world. For certain globally infectious diseases like Yellow Fever, Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue, Influenza, Pneumonia, Rotaviral Gastroenteritis and Hepatitis B, effective human vaccines have already been developed, while for Gonorrhoea, Melioidosis and Tuberculosis (apart from the BCG vaccine) several effective vaccines are in development. Research advancements and most modern technologies are being applied in the development of several modern vaccines through the support of proteomics, genomics, comparative genomics, structural vaccinology, transcriptomics, mRNA based technologies and most recently vaccinomics. The rate of vaccine refusal or delay has been reported to increase in developed countries due to several reasons, leading to variation in vaccine coverage rates and reemergence of vaccinepreventable diseases. Use of combination vaccines increases vaccination rates, provide better coverage and timeliness of vaccination, improve the efficiency of healthcare practice, and reduce costs for the healthcare system. Veterinary vaccines are important for animal health and welfare, food production and public health by preventing animal diseases, reducing transmission of zoonotic and food borne infections to people and finally by enhancing the efficiency of food production. According to WHO, the pandemic COVID-19 is a serious threat to our health and well-being. Recently different countries have developed and are still developing several vaccines in order to combat this lifethreatening disease. Currently, while widespread vaccination is the only strategy that is effective in preventing the transmission of COVID-19, questions remain about the degree and duration of protection that will be offered from the COVID-19 vaccines. Recent studies report the emergence of an anti-vaccination culture among public and its spread through social media, which consequently may result in reduction of herd immunity and the spread of infectious diseases. © 2022 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

PANDEMICS AND ETHNOMEDICINE

The term “Pandemic” is generally taken to refer to a widespread epidemic of transmissible disease throughout the whole of a country or one or more continents at the same time. Key features of pandemics are wide geographic extension, disease movement, high attack rates and explosiveness, minimal population immunity, novelty, infectiousness, contagiousness, and severity. The appearance and spread of pandemics occurred regularly throughout history. Major pandemics and epidemics that struck the human race rigorously were plague, cholera, flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).The world is currently affecting the new deadly disease, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which is caused by SARS-Cov-2 Virus. This pathogenic virus spread all over the world. As it is a virus, it can extend easily and cause severe illness to humans. Several improved tactics have been taken in scientific and medicinal concern;we must consider the medicinal values of plantbased medicines to prevent many pandemic diseases. © 2022 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

The Use of Tocilizumab and Remdesivir in SARS- CoV-2 Patients in El Paso Texas: A Longitudinal Comparative Observational Study

Background. Currently, the management of SARS-CoV-2 varies with no definitive clinical guidelines, as scientific evidence across the globe differs in therapeutic options. This study intends to provide some clarity to the insufficient data based on the role of monotherapy with tocilizumab (TCZ) and combination therapy with remdesivir (RDV) and TCZ among patients in El Paso, Texas. Methods. 154 SARS-CoV-2-positive patients from four different hospitals in El Paso, Texas, were screened, with 113 eligible for this longitudinal comparative observational study (2/1/2020-10/31/2020). Group 1 (80 patients) were given TCZ within the first 24 hours of hospitalization, followed by methylprednisolone for 72 hours, and Group 2 (33 patients) received TCZ as detailed in the single therapy group, plus RDV within the first 24 hours. Mann Whitney U test assessed Median differences in laboratory biomarkers and Bivariate Logistic Regression assessed the odds of risk. An observation is said to be statistically significant if P-value is ≤ 0.05. Results. A statistically significant increased median IL-6 values were noted among those given only TCZ compared to those that received TCZ plus RDV (511.33 vs. 199.0) with a P-value (0.007). Patients in Group 1 had statistically significant lower odds for ventilation use than Group 2 (OR=0.34, 95%CI=0.12-0.95, p=0.034), although no statistically significant difference in mortality outcomes was observed across groups (OR=0.43, 95%CI:0.13-1.39, p=0.269). Table 1. Laboratory biomarkers and treatment groups (Mann Whitney U test) Table 2. Clinical outcomes and treatment groups using the Bivariate Logistic regression (OR) Conclusion. This study population is unique as it reflects a predominantly Hispanic demographic population in El Paso with different genetics, background characteristics, and predisposition to diabetes, and obesity than the rest of the United States (US). We concluded that the use of TCZ in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients in El Paso, with or without RDV, reported no mortality benefit. However, some minimal/non-use of ventilation benefit was observed in Group 1. Our study design is considered the first of its kind using TCZ and RDV in a longitudinal comparative observational study. Nonetheless, a randomized controlled trial study is recommended to ultimately determine the combination role of TCZ and RDV among this highly vulnerable group of patients.

Dexamethasone and Remdesivir for the Mitigation of COVID-19 Symptoms in Pregnant Patients

OBJECTIVE: To report a series that involves the use of dexamethasone and remdesivir to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 in pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Patients in our series had moderate to severe disease and met the criteria for hospitalization. All patients had oxygen saturation <95% and chest CT changes compatible with COVID-19. All patients were treated with remdesivir and dexamethasone after extensive counseling and informed consent by the patient. All patients were also treated with low-molecular-weight heparin, and patients with suspected bacterial pneumonia were treated with ceftriaxone. Our objective was to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 and avoid further decompensation of the maternal-fetal unit. RESULTS: On average, participants were 27.2 years old, the gestational age was 31.0 weeks, gravidity was 3, and BMI was 31.73. None of the patients had a history of diabetes, chronic hypertension, pulmonary disease, or other comorbidities. The average total hospital stay was 7.2 days (range, 6–10 days). CONCLUSION: Nine pregnant patients hospitalized with moderate to severe COVID-19 were treated with dexamethasone and remdesivir, the use of which has yet to be established in pregnancy. All patients recovered and none displayed any lasting adverse effects from this treatment. None of the patients required anything other than supplemental oxygen at the beginning of their treatment. Patients with suspected bacterial pneumonia were treated with ceftriaxone and showed a good response. There were no cases of coagulopathy or other complications. (J Reprod Med 2021;66:321–326). © 2021, Journal of Reproductive Medicine, Inc.. All rights reserved.

Is there enough evidence to avoid remdesivir use in patients with severe renal impairment? A review of the pharmacological and clinical literature

Although patients with severe renal impairment (SRI) typically experience more critical symptoms once infected with novel coronavirus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2, this population has often been excluded from randomized controlled trials (RCT) for Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) treatment strategies. Of particular note, all RCTs for remdesivir (Veklury®), the only antiviral treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration for COVID-19 intervention, excluded patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 30 ml/min. Regardless, some physicians have ventured to utilize this drug on patients with SRI, positing that the benefits might outweigh the risks of its use. The intent of this literature review was to examine the pharmacology of remdesivir and evaluate the published clinical literature on the topic to determine more definitively whether it might be safe to use in this population. A total of 59 articles were evaluated, seven of which contained descriptions of SRI patients treated with remdesivir for COVID-19, for a total of 176 patients. Interestingly, none of the patients experienced severe adverse reactions attributable to the use of remdesivir, and none of the investigators recommended against its use. While there is not yet clear evidence to suggest improvement in mortality, decreased morbidity and duration of illness are likely to lower mortality rates among these patients. Therefore, these findings suggest that, for patients with SRI diagnosed with COVID-19, the benefits of using remdesivir likely outweigh the risks. RCTs are urgently needed to further elucidate outcomes among this population.

A prospective observational study of the outcome of treatment with kabasura kudineer among patients with SARS-nCoV-2 infection

Introduction: The novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been considered a major life-threatening danger to the human population worldwide. The traditional Indian medicines also play an important role as possible novel therapeutic approaches, exclusively targeting SARS-CoV-2 and its pathways. Among the Siddha medicines, Kabasura kudineer is a formulation composed of 15 ingredients used against fever caused by respiratory infections. Aim: To determine the outcome of Kabasura kudineer, among SARS CoV-2 patients admitted in a tertiary care hospital of Tamil Nadu with mild to moderate symptoms or asymptomatic patients.

The potential of remdesivir against sars COV 2: A review

Covid 19, the pandemic originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, had the entire world conquered. The structure and transmission of the causative organism, Coronavirus is well studied. Remdesivir, the product of Gilead pharmaceuticals, was effective against many viral infections, including Ebola and SARS. It comes under the category of nucleoside prodrug and has given promising results in the early trials against SARS COV 19. In depth, research is taking place at a rapid pace, so that Remdesivir will be available to the therapeutic community as an effective remedy for the pandemic caused by SARS COV2. If this meets success, the darkest era in the modern history of mankind may become a memory in the near future.

The importance of (shared) human values for containing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic poses an exceptional challenge for humanity. Because public behaviour is key to curbing the pandemic at an early stage, it is important for social psychological researchers to use their knowledge to promote behaviours that help manage the crisis. Here, we identify human values as particularly important in driving both behavioural compliance to government guidelines and promoting prosocial behaviours to alleviate the strains arising from a prolonged pandemic. Existing evidence demonstrates the importance of human values, and the extent to which they are shared by fellow citizens, for tackling the COVID-19 crisis. Individuals who attach higher importance to self-transcendence (e.g., responsibility) and conservation (e.g., security) values are likely to be more compliant with COVID-19 behavioural guidelines and to help others who are struggling with the crisis. Further, believing that fellow citizens share one's values has been found to elicit a sense of connectedness that may be crucial in promoting collective efforts to contain the pandemic. The abstract nature of values, and cross-cultural agreement on their importance, suggests that they are ideally suited to developing and tailoring effective, global interventions to combat this pandemic.