ABSTRACT
Objective: Severe disease onset of COVID-19 may result in alveolar injury and respiratory failure. Apoptosis and inflammation are the main causes of respiratory distress syndrome. Berberine is used in medicine as an analgesic, anti-asthmatic, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral. In the current investigation, the effect of berberine on COVID-19 outpatients was studied. Materials and Methods: The present clinical trial was performed on 40 outpatients who were randomly assigned to berberine (300 mg, TID, 2 weeks) (n=19) or placebo groups (n=21). Both groups received standard therapy and they were monitored on days 3, 7, and 14 after the beginning of the therapy for clinical symptoms' improvement, quantitative CRP, lymphopenia, CBC, and SpO2. The severity and frequency of these symptoms and the level of the parameters were statistically compared between the two groups. Results: On days 0, 3, 7, and 14, there was no significant difference between the berberine and placebo groups in the improvement of clinical symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, nausea, loss of smell and taste, diarrhea, dizziness, sore throat, stomachache, body aches, and body temperature), quantitative CRP, lymphopenia, WBC, neutrophils, platelets, or SpO2. Conclusion: Berberine (300 mg, TID, two weeks) is ineffective in treating COVID-19. More research with a larger sample size is needed to investigate different berberine dosages in other pharmaceutical formulations.
ABSTRACT
The biological system of the oral cavity provides a number of protective mechanisms that fight pathogenic factors that arise due to a decrease in local immunity. This problem is found in patients after Covid-19. There is a violation of the blood supply to all organs and systems, including the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. As a result, patients have an increased risk of ulcers, plaques, fungal infections of the oral cavity, cracks, and spot hemorrhages. Due to a decrease in immune reactions in the oral cavity, the risk of caries in all groups of teeth increases, the permeability of enamel increases, and mineral substances exit from the hard tissues of the tooth.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: The study aimed at evaluating orthodontics and dental emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: An online-questionnaire survey was developed using google form and sent to orthodontists and dental surgeons in Nepal, practicing during the pandemic. Responses were collected and statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 16.0. Result: It was seen that the most frequently encountered orthodontic emergencies were due to, loose brackets (60%) and poking wires (47.6%) followed by loose bands (31.4%) and debonded loose buccal tubes (30.5%). Most frequently reported dental emergencies were broken or loose removable prosthesis and broken or loose crowns and/or bridges (13.3%) followed by bleeding while brushing (41.9%), swelling due to periodontal origin (33.1%), and severe pain due to tooth decay (44.8%). Conclusion: Loosening of brackets and poking wires were the most frequently reported orthodontic emergencies while, broken or loose prosthesis were reported commonly during the pandemic. © 2022 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
ABSTRACT
Pathogen transmission is a widespread threat to global human health. Vaccines are very important during the outbreak of a pandemic. Destructive fractures caused by a sudden outbreak of COVID-19 have spurred vaccine production at an unprecedented rate. The strategy of an effective vaccine delivery system is opening up novel probabilities to make more immunization. Indeed, vaccination is the most successful way to prevent deaths from infectious diseases. In order to optimal immune response production or improvement in the effectiveness of vaccines, delivery systems or adjuvants are required. Natural polymers such as chitosan, alginate, hyaluronic acid, gums, and ß-glucan with antiviral activity have good potential as adjuvant or delivery systems for vaccine formulation development and design vaccine delivery devices. According to the antiviral performance and immunomodulation of these biopolymers, they will play significant characters in the anti-COVID-19 field. In this mini-review, the recent progress in vaccine development by using biopolymers is presented which, provides a reference for their research on anti-COVID-19 drugs and vaccines.