Fabrication of Fe(III)-doped mesoporous silica nanoparticles as biocompatible and biodegradable theranostic system for Remdesivir delivery and MRI contrast agent.

Coronavirus causes the majority of common colds and is spread in the same way that all viruses attack the respiratory system. Despite the trials and efforts to produce a suitable vaccine, there are solutions for the quick, effective and efficient use of existing drugs to prevent infections and improve the condition of patients. In this study, we synthesized mSiO2 NPs doped with Fe(III) (Fe(III)-mSiO2) and loaded with Rd, and then the NPs coated with PDA as gatekeeper. The several surface methods successfully approved fabrication of the nanosystem. Finally, the application of nanosystem as theranostic system was studied. The DLS measurements showed the average sizes of 115 ± 2 and 124 ± 3.6 nm for Fe-SiO2 and Fe-SiO2@PDA NPs, respectively, suitable for theranostic intentions. The drug release experiments, the in-vitro MRI measurements and MTT test were accomplished, respectively, to show applicability of the nanosystem as a biodegradable Rd delivery system, MRI contrast agent, and the biocompatibility nanocarrier. The results achieved through in-vitro tests exhibited that the Fe-SiO2 system has potential application as a contrast agent in MRI with relaxivity (r1) of 14 ± 1 mM-1 s-1. The Rd drug was released from the Fe-SiO2(Rd)load@PDA system more efficient and faster than SiO2(Rd)load@PDA at 7.4, supporting the doping of Fe in SiO2 induces a biodegradability feature in that. The in-vitro biocompatibility studies showed that the Fe-SiO2 NPs (without drug) is not toxic.

Detection of COVID-19 in tears of ICU-admitted patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

PURPOSE: Upon the outbreak of 2019, novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic confirmed the cases surpassed 20 million. Despite a few reports identified the association of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with ocular manifestations, it may assess the ocular symptoms of patients with the COVID-19 by ophthalmologists facilitate the diagnosis and prevent transmission. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with the COVID-19 admitted to Baghiatallah hospital from March 2020 to May 2020 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed for the ocular manifestations, blood tests, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2 using nasopharyngeal and conjunctival swabs. RESULTS: Among 60 included patients with clinically confirmed COVID-19, the median age 58.36 years (IQR: 30-88 years), 27 (45%) were male. Furthermore, 29 (48%) and 5 (8%) patients yielded positive for SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR from nasopharyngeal swabs and conjunctival specimens, respectively. Among 60 patients, 10 (16%) and 3 (5%), respectively, had the ocular manifestations and positive results for SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR from conjunctival and nasopharyngeal swabs. CONCLUSION: Although the positive rate of tear RT-PCR rate is not noticeable as nasopharyngeal swabs yet, COVID-19 transmission through the eyes is biologically plausible.

A patient affected by critical COVID-19 pneumonia, successfully treated with convalescent plasma.

We present a critically ill patient affected by COVID-19, whose chest computed tomography (CT) scan featured lung consolidations and severe patchy ground-glass opacitie. On day 3 since hospital admission the patient was placed on convalescent plasma treatment. A combined treatment with supportive care, hemoperfusion and convalescent plasma successfully managed to save the patient's life. Convalescent plasma probably contributed to heal this patient and should always be considered in the management of critically ill COVID-19 cases.

Clinical efficacy of convalescent plasma for treatment of COVID-19 infections: Results of a multicenter clinical study.

Since Dec. 2019 the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has infected millions and claimed life of several hundred thousand worldwide. However, so far no approved vaccine or drug therapy is available for treatment of virus infection. Convalescent plasma has been considered a potential modality for COVID-19 infection. One hundred eighty-nine COVID-19 positive patients including 115 patients in plasma therapy group and 74 patients in control group, registered in the hospitals with confirmed COVID-19 infection, entered this multi-center clinical study. Comparison of outcomes including all-cause mortality, total hospitalization days and patients' need for intubation between the two patient groups shows that total of 98 (98.2 %) of patients who received convalescent plasma were discharged from hospital which is substantially higher compared to 56 (78.7 %) patients in control group. Length of hospitalization days was significantly lower (9.54 days) in convalescent plasma group compared with that of control group (12.88 days). Only 8 patients (7%) in convalescent plasma group required intubation while that was 20 % in control group. This clinical study provides strong evidence to support the efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in COVID-19 patients and recommends this treatment for management of these patients. Clinical efficacy, immediate availability and potential cost effectiveness could be considered as main advantages of convalescent plasma therapy.