ABSTRACT
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions from routine life habits had a tremendous impact on psychological and physical health of youth. It is known that stress, anxiety and depression can be associated with the development of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and known to exacerbate present GI symptoms. The pandemic has forced many changes in the behavior of student population such as the studying in an asocial environment. The aim of this study was to examine and quantify the influence of stress onto the quality of life and GI symptoms in the student population in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), before and during the pandemic lockdown. Methods: A total of 279 students from B&H were assessed for their GI and emotional status in pre-COVID period and during the COVID period using validated instruments: GI symptom rating scale (GSRS), Visceral Sensitivity Index, and the Patient Health Questionnaire 15-item Somatic Symptom Severity Scale. Results: The results showed that moderate and severe GI symptoms were more frequently present among student population at the time of the pandemic than in period before pandemic. The most pronounced symptoms were bloating syndrome and abdominal pain syndrome according to the GSRS. Conclusions: We concluded that concern for one's health and changed way of life are directly related to a worsening of the symptoms of GI disorders in the student population. Further research should go in the direction of early prevention of GI disorders that take root in early youth and later develop into chronic forms. © 2023 Lejla Usanovic, et al.;licensee University of Sarajevo - Faculty of Health Studies. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
ABSTRACT
Background and Aims: To analyze impact of atherosclerotic diseases on mortality in Department for Internal Diseases in Cantonal Hospital Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: Mortality data were collected from hospital medical information system in period January 2018 - June 2020. Followed parameters were: age, sex, leading diagnosis, length of hospital stay. Results: During this period there were 780 intrahospital deaths in Department for Internal Diseases, 422(54%) men and 358(46%) women.Most deaths were recorded in age groups >60 years,as follows:in group 60-69y/o 190 deaths(24,4%), 70-79y/o 266 deaths(34.1%), 80-89y/o 226(29%).There were 14 deaths(1,8%)in age group >90y/o and 16 deaths(2,1%)in younger than 50y/o. Mean duration of hospitalization was 5.09 days,with maximum 47 days in one case and minimum 1 day in 221 cases(28,5%).Leading diagnosis were atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases in 346cases(44,5%), followed with malignancy in 117 cases (15%),renal failure in 75 cases(9,7%),gastrointestinal diseases in 73(9,5%), respiratory diseases in 69 cases(8,9%),sepsis in 30(3,9%) cases, autoimmune diseases in 7(0,9%) cases, unknown etiology in 59(7,6%) cases. During the last 3 months of study (March-June 2020) was beginning of COVID-19 pandemia in our country. It was period of strict lockdown during which was no death cases caused by COVID-19 in our hospital. Conclusions: The leading cause of intrahospital mortality were cardiovascular diseases, almost three times more than malignancy. Although our patients live in industrial area with air pollution, percentage of respiratory deaths was surprisingly low comparing with atherosclerotic causes. Atherosclerosis remains leading cause of death in our hospital and we should expand our efforts in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.
ABSTRACT
At the end of December 2019, first identified cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) started emerging. Ever since the emergence of the first case of infection with SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, it became the hottest research topic of numerous studies, in which scientists are trying to understand the path of infection, transmission, replication and viral action, all in order of finding a potential cure or vaccine applying various fundamental principles and methodologies. Using in silico method via AutoDock Vina 1.1.2., we analysed the binding affinity of six selected compounds from grapefruit seed extract (GSE) (narirutin, naringin, naringenin, limonin, ascorbic acid and citric acid) to SARS-CoV-2 main protease Mpro (PDB ID: 6Y84), using acetoside, remdesivir and gallic acid as a positive controls of binding affinity. Results showed highest affinity (rmsd l.b. 0.000;rmsd u.b. 0.000) for narirutin (-10.5), then for naringin (-10.1), acetoside (-10.0), limonin (-9.9), remdesivir (-9.6), naringenin (-8.2), ascorbic acid (-6.7), citric acid (-6.4) and gallic acid (-6.4), all expressed in kcal/mol. Our findings suggest that selected compounds from grapefruit seed extract represent potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, but further research is needed as well as preclinical and clinical trials for final confirmation of inhibitory functionality of these compounds. © 2021 Authors.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: The global burden of the current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing the corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19) is enormous. No definitive treatment and prophylactic guidelines for COVID-19 currently exist except for physical distancing and aerial barriers between individuals. This work explored the natural compound-binding efficiency of SARS-CoV-2 proteins essential for host cell interaction and infection. Methods: The binding activity of artemisinin to SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (Protein Data Bank (PDB) ID: 6VYB), SARS-CoV-2 main protease (3C-like main protease (3CLpro);PDB ID: 6Y84) and SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro;PDB ID: 6W9C), were tested using in silico methods. Moreover, chloroquine and hesperidin were used as the positive control of binding affinity and proven therapeutic effect, respectively. Results: The highest affinities for binding to all tested SARS-CoV-2 proteins are observed for hesperidin (-5.8,-10.0, and -8.1 kcal/mol), then for artemisinin (-4.8,-8.3, and -6.0 kcal/mol), and the lowest for chloroquine (-4.1,-8.2, and -4.8 kcal/mol). Artemisinin, hesperidin, and chloroquine had similar positioning toward targeted proteins at specific sites when these interactions were visualized. Conclusion: This study shows that artemisinin has the potential to bind and inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, the 3CLpro main protease, and PLpro proteinase similar to hesperidin and chloroquine that have been proven as antivirals in previous preclinical and clinical studies.