ABSTRACT
Background: COVID-19, a global pandemic, has disrupted pharmacy education in Africa, due to unpreparedness to migrate to online Learning. Aim(s): To assess outcomes and challenges facing migration to online pharmacy education. Method(s): An evaluation of implementation of online learning in the Bachelor of Pharmacy programme in Namibia using key informant feedback. The outcomes were outputs and challenges facing migration to online learning, and its impact on pass rates and scores. Result(s): The pooled mean score was higher in 2020 (66.2%), compared to 2019 (63.4%) and 2018 (62.1%), (p=0.076). A variety of platforms were used as alternatives or supplements to Moodle. The main challenges included inequalities in internet connectivity, monitoring and quality assurance, implementation of experiential learning, and reliability of online assessment. Conclusion(s): Whilst migration to online learning did not impact on pass rates, there is need for policies and systems to address programmatic challenges to eliminate inequalities in online pharmacy education.Copyright © 2020 FIP.
ABSTRACT
Background: The discovery of a novel strain of coronavirus in 2019 (COVID-19) has triggered a series of tragic events in the world with thousands of deaths recorded daily. Despite the huge resources committed to the discovery of vaccines against this highly pathogenic virus, scientists are still unable to find suitable treatments for the disease. Understanding the structure of coronavirus proteins could provide a basis for the development of cheap, potent and, less toxic vaccines. Objective(s): This study was therefore designed to model coronavirus spike (S) glycoprotein and envelope (E) protein as well as to carry out molecular docking of potential drugs to the homologs and coronavirus main protease (Mpro). Method(s): Homology modeling of coronavirus spike (S) glycoprotein and envelope (E) protein was car-ried out using sequence deposited in the Uniprot database. The topological features of the model's catalytic site were evaluated using the CASTp server. Compounds reported as potential drugs against COVID-19 were docked to S glycoprotein, E protein, and coronavirus main protease (Mpro) to determine the best ligands and the mode of interaction. Result(s): Homology modeling of the proteins revealed structures with 91-98% sequence similarity with PDB entries. The catalytic site of the modeled proteins contained conserved residue involved in ligand binding. In addition, remdesivir, lopinavir, and ritonavir have a high binding affinity for the three proteins studied interacting with key residues in the protein's catalytic domain. Conclusion(s): Results from the study revealed that remdesivir, lopinavir, and ritonavir are inhibitors of key coronavirus proteins and therefore qualify for further studies as a potential treatment for coronavi-rus.Copyright © 2021 Bentham Science Publishers.
ABSTRACT
The development of efficacious therapeutic agents with relatively low or no level of toxicity was necessitated due to the reemergence of coronavirus. The present study investigated the inhibitory potentials of 4-aminoquinolines (amopyroquine, mefloquine, amodiaquine, bispyroquine, quinine, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine hydrochloride, chloroquine sulfate, cycloquine, and quinacrine) against selected structural and nonstructural proteins of SARS-CoV-2. The 4-aminoquinolines with higher binding affinities were selected for physicochemical properties, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) analysis. The binding energies were computed with Autodock vina screening software while physicochemical properties and ADME parameters were predicted through SwissADME server. Amopyroquine, mefloquine, bispyroquine, and quinine had the highest binding affinities with the amino acids in the pocket of the SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins (envelope, membrane, nucleocapsid, and spike) and nonstructural proteins (3-chymotrypsin-like protease, papain-like protease, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase) compared with chloroquine and other 4-aminoquinolines used in this study. In addition, the pharmacokinetics and physicochemical parameters revealed that amopyroquine, mefloquine, bispyroquine, and quinine demonstrated good drug-like properties with relatively low toxic effects. The data from this study provide evidence that some of the 4-aminoquinolines can be repurposed and further developed as therapeutic agents with potentials to inhibit coronavirus cellular entry and replication. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The novel human coronavirus (COVID-19) began in Wuhan China as an interstitial pneumonia of unidentifiable origin in December 2019 and thereafter spread its tentacles all over the world. There is a need for radiology departments in both government and private facilities to be prepared to meet this crisis. Their efforts should be geared not only toward diagnosis, but also to preventing patient-to-patient, staff-to-patient, and staff-to-staff transmission of infection by utilizing social distancing measures and personal protective equipment (PPE). Aim: To evaluate the preparedness of radiologic departments of government hospitals and private centers, by assessing the outlay of the facility and likelihood to attend to COVID patients, type of equipment in the centers, and plans in place for protection of staff and the public. Materials and Methods: The radiology departments of government and private facilities in each geopolitical zone of the country were randomly selected to discuss radiology preparedness in Nigeria using preset guidelines which were sent to radiologists at the facilities. Written informed consent was obtained from the radiologists at the participating centers. Ethical approval was also obtained from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital Health Research Ethics Committee. Results: A total of twelve centers were included in the study, comprising eight government and four private centers. All had plans in place to attend to COVID patients;majority were in the process of developing standard operating procedures (SOPs). Majority of the government facilities lacked mobile equipment and adequate PPEs, with only one computed tomography machine and no holding area in some of the facilities for symptomatic patients unlike the private facilities. They, however, had infection control teams in place. Conclusion: Private radiological centers appear better prepared and more equipped to cope with the crisis than government hospitals. Adequate PPEs, mobile equipment, and isolation rooms need to be provided for the government facilities. Radiology information systems should be installed for remote viewing. Training and retraining on COVID management and decontamination should be conducted periodically. SOPs should be drafted universally and modified for each facility.