ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a worldwide health emergency caused by the coronavirus 2 (severe acute respiratory illness) (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 has a wide range of symptoms, making a definitive diagnosis difficult. The shortage of equipment for testing technology COVID-19 has resulted in long queues for COVID-19 testing, which is a major problem. COVID-19 testing is currently performed using sluggish and costly technology like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The gold standard test for diagnosing COVID-19 is real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which necessitates highly skilled workers and has a lengthy turnaround time. However, rapid and affordable immunodiagnostic techniques (antigen or antibody tests) are also available with some trade off accuracy. Optical sensors are frequently employed in a variety of applications, because of their increased sensitivity, strong selectivity, rapid reaction times, and outstanding resolution. The use of photonic crystal fibre (PCF) is advantageous for the quick detection of the new coronavirus and is suggested with the use of a PCF-based (Au/BaTiO3/graphene) multilayered surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor. The proposed sensor can quickly detect the COVID-19 virus in two different ligand-analyte environments: (i) the virus spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) as an analyte and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) as a probe ligand, and (ii) monoclonal antibodies (IgG or IgM) as an analyte and the virus spike RBD as a probe ligand. The finite element method (FEM) is used to quantitatively examine the performance of the PCF-based multilayered SPR sensor.
ABSTRACT
The consequences of COVID-19 are not limited to physical health deterioration; the impact on neuropsychological well-being is also substantially reported. The inter-regulation of physical health and psychological well-being through the psychoneuroendocrineimmune (PNEI) axis has enduring consequences in susceptibility, treatment outcome as well as recuperation. The pandemic effects are upsetting the lifestyle, social interaction, and financial security; and also pose a threat through perceived fear. These consequences of COVID-19 also influence the PNEI system and wreck the prognosis. The nutritional status of individuals is also reported to have a determinative role in COVID-19 severity and convalescence. In addition to energetic demand, diet also provides precursor substances [amino acids (AAs), vitamins, etc.] for regulators of the PNEI axis such as neurotransmitters (NTs) and immunomodulators. Moreover, exaggerated immune response and recovery phase of COVID-19 demand additional nutrient intake; widening the gap of pre-existing undernourishment. Mushrooms, fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, and legumes are few of such readily available food ingredients which are rich in protein and also have medicinal benefits. BRICS nations have their influences on global development and are highly impacted by a large number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths. The adequacy and access to healthcare are also low in BRICS nations as compared to the rest of the world. Attempt to combat the COVID-19 pandemic are praiseworthy in BRICS nations. However, large population sizes, high prevalence of undernourishment (PoU), and high incidence of mental health ailments in BRICS nations provide a suitable landscape for jeopardy of COVID-19. Therefore, appraising the interplay of nutrition and PNEI modulation especially in BRICS countries will provide better understanding; and will aid in combat COVID-19. It can be suggested that the monitoring will assist in designing adjunctive interventions through medical nutrition therapy and psychopsychiatric management.
ABSTRACT
Since the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in 2002, coronaviruses have become a major public health concern. In 2012, coronaviruses were again highlighted with the emergence of middle east respiratory syndrome - CoV (MERS-CoV) outbreak. Currently the world is facing yet another outbreak of CoV named as SARS-CoV-2, a causative agent of severe viral pneumonia and respiratory illness similar to SARS and MERS, and the disease has been eventually named as corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Initial cases of COVID-19 were identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and the number of cases has been mounting since then. As of 23rd July 2020, the disease has spread worldwide affecting 215 countries with a total of 15,379,943 confirmed cases and 630,313 deaths (overall case fatality 4.2%). Although the fatality rate of SARS-CoV-2 is currently lower than SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, but it is highly contagious. Lack of timely implementation of the containment policies has resulted such rapid inter-continental transmission of the disease. However, in India the transmission dynamics are slightly different from China, United States of America and European countries particularly with respect to climatological conditions, population densities and age of the patients. This article gives an overview about SARS-CoV-2, its origin, transmission dynamics, overall current scenario, role of critical care medicine, public health response to contain it and the overall Indian perspective of the same. The future of human CoV outbreaks will not only depend on how the viruses will evolve, but will also depend on how efficiently and effectively we implement the prevention and treatment strategies to contain the contagion.
ABSTRACT
The severity of the recent pandemic and the absence of any specific medication impelled the identification of existing drugs with potential in the treatment of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Curcumin, known for its pharmacological abilities especially as an anti-inflammatory agent, can be hypothesized as a potential candidate in the therapeutic regimen. COVID-19 has an assorted range of pathophysiological consequences, including pulmonary damage, elevated inflammatory response, coagulopathy, and multi-organ damage. This review summarizes the several evidences for the pharmacological benefits of curcumin in COVID-19-associated clinical manifestations. Curcumin can be appraised to hinder cellular entry, replication of SARS-CoV-2, and to prevent and repair COVID-19-associated damage of pneumocytes, renal cells, cardiomyocytes, hematopoietic stem cells, etc. The modulation and protective effect of curcumin on cytokine storm-related disorders are also discussed. Collectively, this review provides grounds for its clinical evaluation in the therapeutic management of SARS-CoV-2 infection.