Ginger ring compounds as an inhibitor of spike binding protein of alpha, beta, gamma and delta variants of SARS-CoV-2: An in-silico study

The available drugs against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVOD-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), are limited. This study aimed to identify ginger-derived compounds that might neutralize SARS-CoV-2 and prevent its entry into host cells. Ring compounds of ginger were screened against spike (S) protein of alpha, beta, gamma, and delta variants of SARS-CoV-2. The S protein FASTA sequence was retrieved from Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) and converted into ".pdb” format using Open Babel tool. A total of 306 compounds were identified from ginger through food and phyto-databases. Out of those, 38 ring compounds were subjected to docking analysis using CB Dock online program which implies AutoDock Vina for docking. The Vina score was recorded, which reflects the affinity between ligands and receptors. Further, the Protein Ligand Interaction Profiler (PLIP) program for detecting the type of interaction between ligand-receptor was used. SwissADME was used to compute druglikeness parameters and pharmacokinetics characteristics. Furthermore, energy minimization was performed by using Swiss PDB Viewer (SPDBV) and energy after minimization was recorded. Molecular dynamic simulation was performed to find the stability of protein-ligand complex and root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) as well as root-mean-square fluctuation (RMSF) were calculated and recorded by using myPresto v5.0. Our study suggested that 17 out of 38 ring compounds of ginger were very likely to bind the S protein of SARS-CoV-2. Seventeen out of 38 ring compounds showed high affinity of binding with S protein of alpha, beta, gamma, and delta variants of SARS-CoV-2. The RMSD showed the stability of the complex was parallel to the S protein monomer. These computer-aided predictions give an insight into the possibility of ginger ring compounds as potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 worthy of in vitro investigations. © 2023, School of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala. All rights reserved.

Frequency of Respiratory Complications in Post COVID-19 Patients After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Objective: To determine the frequency of post-operative pulmonary complications after (coronary artery bypass grafting) CABG surgery and to compare the respiratory complications of post COVID and comparison group Study Design: Analytical Cross-sectional study Study Place and Duration: Study was conducted in Adult Intensive Care Unit, Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Sep 2021 to Mar 2022. Methodology: 40 patients were selected, and divided into two groups using non-Probability consecutive sampling. Group-A had history of COVID-19 infection and Group-B was a comparison group and had no history of COVID-19 infection. Patients presenting for elective On-Pump (coronary artery bypass grafting) CABG surgery and known history of COVID-19 were included in our study. Patients of age ranging 30 to 70 years irrespective of gender were included in the study. Any patient who had cardiopulmonary bypass time of more than 120 min, respiratory illness like asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), history of smoking, or requiring post-operative re-ventilation due to cardiac or neurological complication, were excluded from the study. After patients were received from Operation theatre, they were monitored for the respiratory complications and both groups were compared. Results: A total of 40 patients were included in this study having mean age 57.9±7.62 years. Most of the patient population was male 31(77.5%) and only 09(22.5%) were female patients. Study population was equally divided into two groups i.e., 20(50%) in comparison group and 20(50%) in post COVID-19 group. There was no significant difference in age (p=0.714), ventilation time (p=0.068), gender (p=1.000), and re-ventilation (p=0.451) of both groups. While Intensive Care Unit stay (p=<0.0001) and non-invasive ventilation (NIV) were found to be significant (p=0.007). © 2022, Army Medical College. All rights reserved.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Eta VOI among international travelers using COVIDSeq-NGS

Rationale: SARS-CoV-2 has been identified as a highly infective and contagious viral infection. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has been spread worldwide and affected more than 210 countries. Globally, the fast spread of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants has been mostly attributed to international travel. Patient concerns: We are reporting the genomic evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Eta VOI among two international travelers. Both travelers were males from Nigeria aged 24 and 34 years and both were asymptomatic. Diagnosis: The nasopharyngeal swab samples were in both travelers positive by real-time RT-PCR followed by COVIDSeq-NGS. Interventions: Paracetamol 3 times daily for 5 days. Outcomes: Patient recovered completely within 10 days and discharged after 14 days of quarantine duration. Lessons: This report highlights genomic variation of SARS-CoV-2 among the travelers. For managing the present health crisis, molecular identification of viral variants present in different geographical locations will be very helpful.

Incidence and distribution of findings of chest radiographic in patients positive for COVID-19

Background:The radiologic parameters of covid-19 (corona virus disease-2019) is displayed mainly by CT but the detail report of chest radiographs in accordance with the time period of the disease is absent. Purpose:The objective of this study was to analyze the severity of Covid-19 findings on the chest radiographs and to evaluate the disease time course. The aim of the study also included the evaluation of relation between these findings on chest radiograph and RT-PCR(real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) test for SARS COV-2 nucleic acid. Methodology:This study was retrospective in which admitted Covid-19 patients (during April-June 2020) inCivil Hospital and Khairpur Medical College, Khairpurwere analyzed through chest radiographs and RT-PCR and was approved by institutional review boards. Consents from all participants included in this study was taken. 74 patients were taken from Civil Hospital Khairpur. The positive covid-19 was evaluated through RT-PCR test done on swabs taken from nasopharynx and throat. 42 patients possessed serial results of RT-PCR. The chest radiography was done on all patients except one. The time course of symptoms was acquired from epidemiological data of public given by the Health department. In a-symptomatic patients (11 out of 74 concluding the date of positive RT-PCR test result was added to analyze onset of symptoms. The radiologists scored the radiographs of chest on the basis of ground-glass opacity, consolidation, pleural fluid as well as the location. Severity index of each lung was analyzed, and scores were added to obtain the final severity score. Results:The clinical presentations of 74 patients in which 31 (42%) were males and 43 (58%) were females included in this study. (the mean value of age was 61 years and the range of age was 18 to 80 years). Fever (44 patients;59.4% as well as cough (30 patients;41%) were commonly present in the patients. About 11 patients (15%) presented as asymptomatic. The comorbidities like hypertension were present in 16 patients (22%) and diabetes was present in 10 patients (14%). 49 patients displayed abnormal chest radiographs during their course disease. The baseline radiograph of chest reveals consolidation as commonest presentation in about 34 patients (46%), and ground glass opacity in 25 patients (34%). The common locations were peripheral distribution in 30 patients (41%) and lower zone involvement in 36 patients (49%). 36 out of 74 (49%) patients had bilateral involvement of lungs. Only three patients (4%) presented with pleural effusion. All patients were evaluated through baseline chest radiographs in which 25 patients (34%) presented with normal results. Conclusion:The radiographic examinations of Covid-19 patients revealed bilateral consolidation in lower zones of lungs reaching at peak within 10 to 12 days from the time of onset of the symptoms.

Association of mortality and raised inflammatory markers such as serum LDH, serum ferritin and CRP in hospitalized patient with COVID-19 infection

Objective: The objective of the study was to analyze correlation of serum ferritin, CRP (c-reactive protein) and lactate dehydrogenase with mortality in hospital due to infection caused by covid-19. Also, the aim was to evaluate the best cut off values. Study Design: It was a cross-sectional study carried out in themedicine department ofCivil Hospital and Khairpur Medical College, Khairpur. The study was done between June to September 2020. Methodology: Patients that were admitted due to SARS COV-2 which was positive after PCR testing were the part of this study. Patients that had suggestive findings on radiograph but negative PCR test for SARS COV-2, patients with incomplete data or patients that left hospital against medical advice were not included in this study. At the time of admission, serum levels of ferritin, CRP and LDH were tested. The viral load of SARS COV-2 was analyzed through nasopharyngeal swab. WHO guidelines were used to evaluate the disease severity. Results: In this study, 248 participants were taken with mean age 42.28± 17.84years. 163 patients (65.7%) showed up with mild symptoms, 38 patients (15.32%) revealed moderate while 47 patients (18.95%) were severe cases. 27 patients (10.8%) expired in the hospital. The serum levels of ferritin (124 patients;50%), CRP (86 patients;34.67%) and LDH (179 patients;72.17%) were elevated which was more frequent in patients with moderate or severe conditions and mortality.The 95% confidence interval and the areas in curves associated with receiver operating characteristics for serum levels of ferritin, CRP and LDH were 0.920 (0.840-0.98), 0.91 (0.84-0.95) and 0.87 (0.75-0.92) respectively. CRP (≥45.5 mg/L) had 87.46% sensitivity and 89.10% specificity;ferritin (≥723 ng/ml) had 94.22% sensitivity and 87.60% specificity and the LDH (≥428.5 U/L) had 91.50% sensitivity and 81.65% specificity to predict the mortality. Conclusion: The levels of inflammatory markers at the time of admission will help predict mortality in Covid-19 patients.