Capital, Capitalism and Health

The Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to increased scholarly attention to an important ‘human need': good health. This article is about the relation between workers' health and capitalist production, as Marx examines it in his magnum opus. While Marx's main focus in Capital Volume 1 is on the production of surplus value by workers and its appropriation by capitalists, he does provide insights into how capitalism ruins the health of workers themselves, although these insights are scattered. In this article, I systematically re-articulate and analyse Marx's thoughts about workers' health in relation to some of the key-categories of his political economy: the value of labour power relative to wages;employment precarity;long working day;hidden abode of production;capitalists' despotic control over workers;and the capitalist transformation of nature. I briefly relate Marx's ideas about workers' health from Capital Volume 1 to some contemporary research on the social dimensions of health. I also show that Marx's explicit ideas about workers' health, which are my main focus, point to a broader approach to the topic that is only implicit in his thinking. I draw out some practical implications of this approach.

Unveiling the Potentiality of Shikonin Derivatives Inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease by Molecular Dynamic Simulation Studies.

Shikonin, a phytochemical present in the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, is well-known for its broad-spectrum activity against cancer, oxidative stress, inflammation, viruses, and anti-COVID-19 agents. A recent report based on a crystallographic study revealed a distinct conformation of shikonin binding to the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), suggesting the possibility of designing potential inhibitors based on shikonin derivatives. The present study aimed to identify potential shikonin derivatives targeting the Mpro of COVID-19 by using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. A total of 20 shikonin derivatives were screened, of which few derivatives showed higher binding affinity than shikonin. Following the MM-GBSA binding energy calculations using the docked structures, four derivatives were retained with the highest binding energy and subjected to molecular dynamics simulation. Molecular dynamics simulation studies suggested that alpha-methyl-n-butyl shikonin, beta-hydroxyisovaleryl shikonin, and lithospermidin-B interacted with two conserved residues, His41 and Cys145, through multiple bonding in the catalytic sites. This suggests that these residues may effectively suppress SARS-CoV-2 progression by inhibiting Mpro. Taken together, the present in silico study concluded that shikonin derivatives may play an influential role in Mpro inhibition.

Binding mechanisms of Shikonin derivatives targeting SARS‐CoV‐2 main protease

Shikonin, a well‐known bioactive chemical present in the dried roots of Lithospermum erthrorhizon, is recognized for its broad‐spectrum activities against cancer, oxidative stress, inflammation, virus, and anti‐COVID‐19 agent. In recent discovery, the crystallographic study of Shikonin bound Main protease (Mpro) of SARS CoV‐2 revealed different conformation, suggesting the possibility of designing Shikonin derivatives as potential inhibitors of Covid. Towards the goal, the present study is carried out to explore insights of Shikonin derivatives and find out the possibility of Shikonin derivatives targeting Mpro of Covid by using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. A total of 25 Shikonin derivatives are introduced in this study, from where seven derivatives showed higher binding affinity than Shikonin, while four derivatives obtained the highest binding energy in MM‐GBSA binding energy calculation. According to Molecular dynamics simulation results, all compounds interact with two conserved His41 and Cys145 residues through multiple bonding in the catalytic sites, suggesting that these derivatives may effectively terminate SARS COV‐2 progression via Mpro inhibition. Taken together, the present in silico study concluded that Shikonin derivatives might play an influential role against Mpro inhibition.

Capital, Capitalism and Health

The Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to increased scholarly attention to an important ?human need?: good health. This article is about the relation between workers? health and capitalist production, as Marx examines it in his magnum opus. While Marx?s main focus in Capital Volume 1 is on the production of surplus value by workers and its appropriation by capitalists, he does provide insights into how capitalism ruins the health of workers themselves, although these insights are scattered. In this article, I systematically re-articulate and analyse Marx?s thoughts about workers? health in relation to some of the key-categories of his political economy: the value of labour power relative to wages;employment precarity;long working day;hidden abode of production;capitalists? despotic control over workers;and the capitalist transformation of nature. I briefly relate Marx?s ideas about workers? health from Capital Volume 1 to some contemporary research on the social dimensions of health. I also show that Marx?s explicit ideas about workers? health, which are my main focus, point to a broader approach to the topic that is only implicit in his thinking. I draw out some practical implications of this approach.