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Covid-19 virus variants identified so far are due to viral genetic diversity, genetic evolution, and variable infectivity, suggesting that high infection rates and high mortality rates may be contributed by these mutations. And it has been reported that the targeting strategies for innate immunity should be less vulnerable to viral evolution, variant emergence and resistance. Therefore, the most effective solution to Covid-19 infection has been proposed to prevent and treat severe exacerbation of patients with moderate disease by enhancing human immune responses such as NK cell and T cell. In previous studies, we demonstrated for the first time that gamma-PGA induced significant antitumor activity and antiviral activity by modulating NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Especially intranasal administration of gamma-PGA was found to effectively induce protective innate and CTL immune responses against viruses and we found out that gamma-PGA can be an effective treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1 through phase 2b clinical trial. In this study, the possibility of gamma-PGA as a Covid-19 immune modulating agent was confirmed by animal experiments infected with Covid-19 viruses. After oral administration of gamma-PGA 300mug/mouse once a day for 5 days in a K18-hACE2 TG mouse model infected with SARS-CoV-2 (NCCP 43326;original strain) and SARS-CoV-2 (NCCP 43390;Delta variant), virus titer and clinical symptom improvement were confirmed. In the RjHan:AURA Syrian hamster model infected with SARS-CoV-2 (NCCP 49930;Delta variant), 350 or 550 mug/head of gamma-PGA was administered orally for 10 days once a day. The virus for infection was administered at 5 x 104 TCID50, and the titer of virus and the improvement of pneumonia lesions were measured to confirm the effectiveness in terms of prevention or treatment. In the mouse model infected with original Covid-19 virus stain, the weight loss was significantly reduced and the survival rate was also improved by the administration of gamma-PGA. And gamma-PGA alleviated the pneumonic lesions and reduced the virus titer of lung tissue in mice infected with delta variant. In the deltavariant virus infected hamster model, gamma-PGA showed statistically significant improvement of weight loss and lung inflammation during administration after infection. This is a promising result for possibility of Covid-19 therapeutics along with the efficacy results of mouse model, suggesting gammaPGA can be therapeutic candidate to modulate an innate immune response for Covid-19.
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Compound Qinlan Oral Liquid (,CQOL) is derived from Yinqiao San (), which is composed of Jinyinhua (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus) and Banlangen (Isatidis Radix). It is a common clinical herbal medicine for clearing heat and detoxification, and has antiviral effects. By reviewing the active ingredients of CQOL and the research progress on its anti-influenza virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) efficacy, with view to providing a basis for the clinical use of CQOL in treatment of respiratory diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2.Copyright © 2023 Editorial Office of Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. All rights reserved.
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Introduction: Patients' negligence and difficult access to healthcare have an impact on the worsening of emergency conditions, which require immediate treatment due to the possibility of exacerbation in a short period of time. Untreated intra- and extraoral abscesses can have serious consequences on the patient's health and in many cases are life-threatening conditions increasing risk of respiratory obstruction, thrombophlebitis, meningitis, mediastinitis and septicemia. Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of the pandemic and the resulting impediments to accessing medical care on the incidence and type of emergencies in the Oral Surgery Department. Material and methods: This was a retrospective study of 85375 patients aged 2 months to 90 years old with diagnosed intra- and extraoral abscesses before COVID-19 pandemic (2018,2019), and during pandemic (2020, 2021) in the Department of Oral Surgery of the Medical University in Lublin. The obtained results were statistically analyzed with the use of a computer program. Conclusions: The fewest patients were admitted in 2020, and the most in 2021, where we can already see the effects of the pandemic. Emergencies occurred most frequently in people aged 21-30, then 31-40. In 365 cases, tooth extraction was performed, and only in 28 cases, root canal treatment was attempted. Conclusions. Oral health service provision has been significantly affected by COVID-19. Patients came to their appointments too late, which in most cases resulted in the necessity of tooth extraction without attempting root canal treatment.
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Aims: To upskilling PN to undertake diabetes clinics and ensure high quality healthcare for our patients by maintain the nursing workforce in primary care. Method(s): The programme was delivered over two days, one month apart with follow up day's at six months and 1 year. During Covid-19 we had adapted the session to 4 half days over a 2 month period and are waiting to do our follow up day face to face. The programme included a broad range of topics and skills required to undertake diabetes clinics. Result(s): 13 PN attended from different geographical areas in our healthboard;having a various amount of experience as a PN from 16 yrs to 1 month but limited diabetes experience. Through anonymous questionnaire responses we showed an improvement in confidence across a broad range of core skills and management. Asked if they felt individually confident pre and post course -new diabetes diagnosis (38% to 92%), hypoglycaemia (53% to 92%), pens and meters (8% to 76%), sick day rules (30% to 84%), foot screening (61% to 92%) and advising on oral medication (30% no confidence improving to 84%). Increasing PN knowledge will ultimately improve patient's care thus reducing the risk of complications. preceptorship throught the course was offered by experience Diabetes Specialist Nurses. Conclusion(s): Even in these challenging times we have to maintain a skilled workforce by delivering education and preceptorship to PN. The Supporting prActice Nurses in Diabetes, Revalidation and Appraisal programme provides PN the tools to undertake diabetes clinics with confidence and ensure excellent patient care.
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The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology advocated replacing OGTT with HbA1c for gestational diabetes (GDM) screening for women with risk factors during the Covid-19 pandemic. HbA1c >=48mmol/mol/random plasma glucose (RPG) >=11.1mmol/l at booking indicated diabetes, and 41-47mmol/ mol/9-11mmol/ l prediabetes or possible GDM. Testing was repeated at 26 weeks if normal previously, with HbA1c >=39mmol/mol, fasting PG >=5.6mmol/l, or RPG >=9mmol/l diagnostic for GDM. A) At her clinic booking visit at 10 weeks gestation, 36 year-old South Asian female had HbA1c 55mmol/mol/RPG 9.5mmol/l suggesting undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. Initially managed with dietary advice and home blood glucose monitoring, metformin was added when self-monitored glucose above pregnancy targets (fasting and pre-meal <5.3mmol/l or 1 h post meal <7.8mmol/l) but insulin was required later. Metformin and insulin were stopped after delivery at 38 weeks with HbA1c 50mmol/mol three months postpartum, supporting the earlier diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. B) 32 year-old White Caucasian female was screened for GDM on booking at 11 weeks as BMI 38 kg/m2. HbA1c 44mmol/mol and RPG 6.9mmol/l confirmed GDM which was managed by dietary/lifestyle changes with glucose and pregnancy targets achieved until 28 weeks when metformin added. Normal delivery at 40 weeks with HbA1c 40mmol/mol three months postpartum triggered advice on long-term dietary/lifestyle changes and annual HbA1c checks. HbA1c was useful during the pandemic but most centres reverted to OGTT for GDM screening due to a significant fall in diagnoses using HbA1c >=39mmol/mol at 26 weeks. But, HbA1c testing was advantageous at booking to diagnose type 2 diabetes earlier.
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What can be the contribution of oral history to the interpretation of tangible cultural assets? Starting from this conceptual question, this article focuses on the case study of the experiences Second World War in Naples bomb shelters, recently included within the Underground Built Heritage (UBH) class. The hypothesis of the research is that bomb shelters are very significant elements in the subsoil of Naples but that, due to the lack of distinctive elements and dedicated storytelling, they are only partially exploited in the context of urban parks or generic itineraries Naples's subsoil. The thesis of the research is that the memories of those children that took refuge there during World War II (WWII), which were collected with the adoption of the oral history methodology, can integrate their value as elements of local cultural heritage and eventually support their interpretation for the benefit of the new generations. The methodology adopted was the collection, via structured and unstructured interviews, of the direct testimonies of those who took refuge in Naples' underground during the alarms. Twenty-three interviews were carried out, and all the issues introduced have been classified according to the various themes addressed during the narration in order to allow the reconstruction of dedicated storytelling in the future. The research was carried out immediately after the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, an event that claimed many victims belonging to the generation of our witnesses, whose memories were at risk of being lost forever. © 2023 by the author.
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INTRODUCTION. The aetiology of Kawasaki disease (KD) remains unknown. Changes in infectious exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic owing to infection prevention measures may have affected the incidence of KD, supporting the pathogenic role of an infectious trigger. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence, phenotype and outcome of KD before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark. METHODS. This was a retrospective cohort study based on patients diagnosed with KD at a Danish paediatric tertiary referral centre from 1 January 2008 to 1 September 2021. RESULTS. A total of 74 patients met the KD criteria of whom ten were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark. Alof these patients were negative for SARS-CoV-2 DNA and antibodies. A high KD incidence was observed during the first six months of the pandemic, but no patients were diagnosed during the following 12 months. Clinical KD criteria were equally met in both groups. The fraction of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) non-responders was higher in the pandemic group (60%) than in the in the pre-pandemic group (28.3%), although the rate of timely administered IVIG treatment was the same in both groups (>= 80%). Coronary artery dilation was observed in 21.9% in the pre-pandemic group compared with 0% in KD patients diagnosed during the pandemic. CONCLUSION. Changes in KD incidence and phenotype were seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients diagnosed with KD during the pandemic had complete KD, higher liver transaminases and significant IVIG resistance but no coronary artery involvement.Copyright © 2023, Almindelige Danske Laegeforening. All rights reserved.
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Due to the outbreak of COVID 19, an online bilingual curriculum was conducted via "Google Meet." The learning material was developed and implemented by using a smartphone application, STEMUP, based on augmented reality (AR) and automatic speech recognition (ASR) technologies. This study investigated the oral performance and perceptions of learning with STEMUP of ninety non-English major students from several colleges at a technical university in Taiwan. Data were collected from pre- and post-tests and a questionnaire survey. Results indicated that students significantly improved their oral performance and recorded their positive perceptions. Students' oral performance significantly depended on their English proficiency. Their perceptions were not significant related to their English proficiency, gender, or college. Instant feedback and evaluation provided by ASR technology and online "Google" text-to-speech service both embedded in STEMUP helped students notice, modify and improve their listening and speaking skills. They were satisfied with the bilingual curriculum, which helped them increase understanding about content knowledge by the teacher's explanation in Chinese, and improve English listening and speaking skills by learning with STEMUP. This study is a good start in creating an interactive and communicative learning environment where translanguaging is effectively integrated with innovative technologies.
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Aim: SARS-CoV-2 has caused a global pandemic that has negative consequences for many parts of life. To our knowledge, no study has assessed the effect of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on a possible delay in prosthodontic treatments because of a potential concern of contamination in individuals. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess this potential impact of fear, as well as oral health-related quality of life, in partially edentulous patients using questionnaires during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Material(s) and Method(s): A total of 135 partially edentulous patients (74 females and 61 males aged 18-70 years) participated in this study. A complete questionnaire consisting of general knowledge questions on SARS-CoV-2 and the OIDP scale, which evaluates the effect of oral status on daily activities were used in participants. Result(s): Statistical analyzes showed that participants with a history of SARS-CoV-2 and/or who are aware of a member of their social circle with a history of the virus, and/or who is deceased, were unwilling to receive dental care during the pandemic. Most of the participants between the ages of 31 and 60 were more worried about the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during dental treatment. Discussion(s): Concerns about SARS-CoV-2 contamination of patients over 30 years of age may have a negative impact on oral health due to delayed prosthodontic treatments.Copyright © 2022, Derman Medical Publishing. All rights reserved.
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The creation of a vaccine against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has received top focus worldwide. The majority of the COVID-19 vaccine candidates created is given Intramuscularly (IM). Intranasal (IN) vaccines offer a great benefit due to the first involvement of mucosa of the nasal cavity in the due course of disease, also SARS-CoV-2 is spread through respiratory secretions which are infectious, and mucosal immunity due to IN vaccination could contribute significantly to controlling this disease. IN vaccination has been shown in preclinical and clinical investigations to produce significant levels of neutralising antibodies, mucosal IgA, and T-cell responses that protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection in the respiratory pathway. Blocking Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection and transmission requires the immune system response at the initial infection site of the virus. Many IN vaccines are currently under trial for their safety and efficacy, while some are recently approved for use in specific conditions in India and are proven to be protective against the virus and safe also. In this context, this review will provide knowledge of the IN vaccines for their effectiveness and application. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research is the property of JCDR Research & Publications Private Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)
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The respiratory pump that provides pulmonary ventilation includes the respiratory center, peripheral nervous system, chest and respiratory muscles. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of the respiratory center and the respiratory muscles strength after COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease 2019). Methods. The observational retrospective cross-sectional study included 74 post-COVID-19 patients (56 (76%) men, median age - 48 years). Spirometry, body plethysmography, measurement of lung diffusing capacity (DLCO), maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures (MIP and MEP), and airway occlusion pressure after 0.1 sec (P0.1) were performed. In addition, dyspnea was assessed in 31 patients using the mMRC scale and muscle strength was assessed in 27 of those patients using MRC Weakness scale. Results. The median time from the COVID-19 onset to pulmonary function tests (PFTs) was 120 days. The total sample was divided into 2 subgroups: 1 - P0.1 <= 0.15 kPa (norm), 2 - > 0.15 kPa. The lung volumes, airway resistance, MIP, and MEP were within normal values in most patients, whereas DLCO was reduced in 59% of cases in both the total sample and the subgroups. Mild dyspnea and a slight decrease in muscle strength were also detected. Statistically significant differences between the subgroups were found in the lung volumes (lower) and airway resistance (higher) in subgroup 2. Correlation analysis revealed moderate negative correlations between P0.1 and ventilation parameters. Conclusion. Measurement of P0.1 is a simple and non-invasive method for assessing pulmonary function. In our study, an increase in P0.1 was detected in 45% of post-COVID-19 cases, possibly due to impaired pulmonary mechanics despite the preserved pulmonary ventilation as well as normal MIP and MEP values.Copyright © Savushkina O.I. et al., 2023.
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Introduction: Universities represent important Centers for public health assistance. However, in the context of the COVID- 19 pandemic, most Brazilian universities have suspended their academic activities and outpatient care. Objective(s): Describe how the Teleconsultation Program in Oral Medicine of the School of Dentistry, Brazil, remotely contributes to counseling dentistry on diagnosing oral lesions and providing guidance on treating patients in the North Macro-region of Minas Gerais state. Material(s) and Method(s): Teleconsulting takes place remotely;the professional sends by smartphone, via WhatsApp, the case report, clinical images, and complementary exams, if appropriate. Concerning this, the specialist team analyzes the clinical case and returns it to the professional sender, providing information and suggestions on the oral lesions' diagnostic assessment and clinical management. Result(s): Since the beginning of the program, in 19 months, dentists from 40 municipalities were counseled, which resulted in 287 teleconsultations;from these cases, 103 cases were conducted face-to-face consultations in our Oral Diagnosis Service, and 38 cases were hypothesized as malignant lesions in the oral cavity and had their medical treatment conducted and followed by a multidisciplinary team, when appropriate. Conclusion(s): Teleconsultation Program represents an important tool to strengthen the communication between professionals of public health, improve health work processes, and promote better clinical guidance in Oral Medicine.
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The most common causes of acute hepatitis in children are hepatitis A and autoimmune hepatitis. Hepatitis in the course of Wilson's disease is sporadically registered in adolescents. An increase of activity of aminotransferases both in the course of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and in the course of COVID-19 has been observed. Hepatitis is common in children with MIS-C and is associated with a more severe presentation and persistent elevation of liver function tests. To date, no cases of acute hepatitis in children due to COVID-19 have been reported. We present 2 cases of acute hepatitis in children where the only cause seems to be a previous asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.Copyright © 2023 Termedia Publishing House Ltd.. All rights reserved.
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Since the last decade the official representative authorities started to take under consideration the problems of the Global Oral Health. With the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic the situation is going worst mainly for the simple general practitioner in their daily clinical work. The global aim seems to concern imperatively an adapted anamnesis and selected treatment planes. The Dentists are looking for easy and simple's solutions in the limit of the Ethical Principles Starting a follow up of in different countries seems actually necessary. Nigeria, Georgia, USA, Canada, Australia Norway, and Sweden were checked. Different points were relevant the lack of an Oral Health Policy, the difficult access for education a, small adaptation for the new technologies, the ignorance of the population about the basic prevention. Finally, we find great differences between the countries in consequence of a lack of coordination between the profession and the legal authorities. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.
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Drug repurposing is becoming interesting in terms of offering advantages over the traditional drug development, once drug discovery is a costly, time-consuming, and highly risky process. In particular, with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) declared by World Health Organization as a global pandemic, there has emerged a considerable need to develop therapeutic agents capable of preventing viral outbreaks. Concomitantly, well-known and long-used drugs such as acyclovir (Acv) have been tested against COVID-19. Acv is a guanosine analogue that acts as an antiviral drug, commonly used to treat herpes simplex virus (HSV), genital herpes, and varicella zoster virus (VZV). Acv showed to inhibit viral proteases, multiple viral genes expression, and RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase, helping to recover COVID-19 patients. However, ACV is a BCS class III/IV drug, with low permeability and/or slight water solubility (concentration-dependent). Given the repurposing eligibility of Acv, in this work, two new salts of this drug are presented (nitrate and sulfate), with the aim of improving its pharmacokinetic properties. The new salts were evaluated by X-ray diffraction, and thermal and spectroscopic analyses. A third salt, a chloride one, was also characterized and used for comparison.
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Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, established best practices in cancer care were modified to diminish the risk of COVID-19 infection among patients and health-care workers. Objective(s): We aimed to study the modifications in cancer-directed therapy during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Material(s) and Method(s): A cross-sectional study of patients with cancers of the head and neck, thoracic, urologic, and central nervous systems who visited the medical oncology department of the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India, between April 22, 2020 and June 01, 2020, was conducted. Data were prospectively collected in an online pro forma and supplemented from the electronic medical records. Result(s): Of a total of 514 patients, 363 (71%) were men. The most common malignancy was lung cancer in 234 patients (46%). Cancer-directed therapy was modified in 83 patients (16%). Deviations consisted of modification of the chemotherapy regimen (48%), temporary discontinuation of chemotherapy in 37%, and interim chemotherapy to delay surgery in 5%. Changes in the chemotherapy regimen included a shift to a less intensive regimen in 45%, changing from intravenous to oral in 40%, and less frequent dosing of immunotherapy in 7%. Considering missed appointments as a deviation from planned cancer therapy, 68% of patients had a deviation in the standard planned cancer care. Conclusion(s): Almost two-thirds of the patients could not reach the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India. Of those who could reach the hospital, one of out every six patients with cancer had a change in their cancer-directed treatment, half of which consisted of a modification in the standard chemotherapy regimens. The effects of these therapy deviations are likely to be long-lasting. (Clinical Trials Registry-India, CTRI/2020/07/026533).Copyright © 2023 Neurology India, Neurological Society of India Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow.
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Aim: Standard diagnosis of gestational diabetes (GDM) is based on the Oral Glucose Tolerance test (OGTT). During the Covid-19 outbreak, due to Covid restrictions, criteria were modified i.e Fasting Blood Glucose >=5.3 and/ or HbA1c >= 39 for diagnosis of GDM. After the lifting of the Covid restrictions, the standard criteria were reimplemented and on analyzing the data, it was highlighted that some of the patients could have tested negative for GDM based on Covid Criteria. Method(s): We analyzed the data of 43 patients based on standard criteria (OGTT and HbA1c) after Covid restrictions, with the following results. Result(s): 11/43(28%) patients who were diagnosed on the basis of standard criteria could have been missed based on Covid criteria. Out of 11 deliveries, 2 babies with weight above 4 kg. There were no admissions to NICU. One patient had postpartum hemorrhage with 670 mL of blood loss. Conclusion(s): This was a retrospective study in which we analyzed the data of 45 pregnant females diagnosed with GDM based on testing using the Covid criteria and compared this to 43 pregnant females who were diagnosed with GDM on the basis of OGTT based on GOLD standard NICE criteria. In addition, we also examined maternal and obstetric outcomes in both groups such as the mode of delivery, the baby's birth weight, the incidence of shoulder dystocia, mean blood loss (MBL), and NICU admission. We understand that Covid GDM diagnosis was a necessity of time. In this study, we want to learn what could have been missed with that diagnostic criteria. For future pandemics, we need to revise our diagnostic criteria to avoid the risk of underdiagnosing GDM and associated complications.
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Youth is a key period of life to ensure future well-being, especially in relation to sexuality. The general objective is to analyze the sexual education of young people today regarding sexual practices and to study the use of contraceptive methods. Material(s) and Method(s): It is a cross-sectional, observational study of cases. Designed a digital questionnaire made with Google consisting of 26 items and 3 blocks: social-demographic data, female sexuality and sexual health. Data analysis the statistical program SPSS 25.0. Result(s): The sample obtained: 1320 women. Social-demographic data: ages between 15 and 29 years and 58.3% of the women had a partner. The most frequent sexual orientation: 77% heterosexual. Female sexuality: for 63.9% of women, sex is an important part of their relationships and 43.3% consider themselves attractive people. The most rejected practices: anal sex, during menstruation or with the light on. 4.7% do not feel prepared to require their sexual partner to use a condom. 9.7% are not able to request sexual practices that they want. 6.2% state that they do not avoid any practice despite the fact that some of them cause discomfort. During the Covid-19 situation, the frequency of sexual relations decreases by 49% and the absent practices of viral transmission via online increase. Regarding sexual education, we observe that the majority have been provided by friends, that is, unqualified personnel. The most explained topics are focused on the traditional aspects of sexual health and human development, therefore it is an education that is not of quality, data confirmed by 58% of women. The contraceptive methods most used by women are condoms and oral contraceptives, whose main purpose is the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (condoms). Its use can have negative connotations such as decreased sexual desire, excitement, sensitivity and orgasm disorders. Conclusion(s): Currently, young women perceive sexuality more and more naturally, talking about it without fear or censorship. Sex educators are mostly not qualified personnel. The SARS-CoV2 (Covid-19) situation increases the number of sexual practices online, decreasing it. The contraceptive methods most used by women are condoms and oral contraceptives.Copyright © 2023