COVID-19: Clinical laboratory diagnosis and monitoring of novel coronavirus infected patients using molecular, serological and biochemical markers: A review.

COVID-19, a novel coronavirus disease, has provoked a variety of health and safety concerns, and socioeconomic challenges around the globe. The laboratory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 was quickly established utilizing nucleic acid amplification techniques (NAAT) after the disease causing virus has been identified, and its genetic sequence has been determined. In addition to NAAT, serological tests based on antibodies testing against SARS-CoV-2 were introduced for diagnostic and epidemiologic studies. Other biochemical investigations include monitoring of peripheral blood cells count, platelets/lymphocyte ratio, coagulation profile, cardiac, and inflammatory markers such as cytokines storm are also crucial in combating COVID-19 pandemic. Further, accurate and reliable laboratory results for SARS-CoV-2 play very important role in the initiation of early treatment and timely management of COVID-19 patients, provide support in clinical decision-making process to control infection, and detection of asymptomatic cases. The Task Force on Coronavirus-19 constituted by International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) has recognized informational framework for epidemiology, pathogenesis, and recommended the PCR-based analysis, serological and biochemical assays for analysis, monitoring, and management of disease. This literature review provides an overview of the currently used diagnostic techniques in clinical laboratories for the diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and management of COVID-19 patients. We concluded that each assays differ in their performance characteristics and the utilization of multiple techniques is necessary for the accurate diagnosis and management of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Effects of active isolated stretching on exercise-induced muscle damage in untrained subjects: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To investigate the prophylactic effect of the active isolated stretching technique on exercise-induced muscle damage of wrist flexors. METHODS: The mixed model randomised controlled interventional study was conducted at the University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan, from November 2018 to May 2019, and comprised young adults who were untrained, sedentary and healthy who were randomly divided into intervention group A and control group B. Group A participants received self-assisted active isolated stretching before inducing muscle soreness of wrist flexors by eccentric exercises. Group B did not receive any intervention. The outcome measures were pain intensity, muscle soreness, pressure pain threshold, range of motion, and grip strength. Data were collected at baseline, after one hour, and daily from day 1 to 7 after inducing muscle soreness. Data were analysed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: Of the 60 subjects, there were 30(50%) in each of the two groups. There were 14(23.3%) males and 46(76.7%) females. The overall mean age was 21.47±1.9 years. Group A showed early recovery in pain and muscle soreness compared to group B (p<0.05). Also, a limited deficit in the range of motion, grip strength, and pain pressure threshold was found in group A compared to group B (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Active isolated stretching before strenuous, unaccustomed exercise was found to be useful in ameliorating the symptoms of muscle soreness.

Capsaicin: Plants of the Genus Capsicum and Positive Effect of Oriental Spice on Skin Health.

BACKGROUND: Capsaicin, the main pungent ingredient in hot chili peppers, causes excitation of small sensory neurons. It also provides the basic pungent flavor in Capsicum fruits. SUMMARY: Capsaicin plays a vital role as an agonist for the TRPV1 (transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily V, member 1) receptor. TRPV1 is essential for the reduction of oxidative stress, pain sensations, and inflammation. Therefore, it has many pros related to health issue. Activation and positive impact of TRPV1 via capsaicin has been studied in various dermatological conditions and in other skin-related issues. Past studies documented that capsaicin plays a vital role in the prevention of atopic dermatitis as well as psoriasis. Moreover, TRPV1 is also very important for skin health because it acts as a capsaicin receptor. It is found in nociceptive nerve fibers and nonneural structures. It prompts the release of a compound that is involved in communicating pain between the spinal cord nerves and other parts of the body. Key Messages: Here, we summarize the growing evidence for the beneficial role of capsaicin and TRPV1 and how they help in the relief of skin diseases such as inflammation, permeation, dysfunction, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis and in pain amplification syndrome.

Beat the exercise-induced muscle damage.

Eccentric exercises are being used widely as a strategy to manage sarcopenia. However, eccentric exercises are linked to increased risk of myofibre damage and delayed recovery. There is elevated muscle soreness, decrease muscle strength and increased levels of muscle-specific circulatory protein. There is a huge variation in the severity of the symptoms after eccentric exercise. Several factors affect the degree and severity of muscle soreness. It includes exercise intensity, duration, mode, muscle group, age, gender, genetics and nutritional status. Therefore, designing a specific individual exercise plan is required to overcome injuries, myofibre damage and muscle soreness. At present, we still do not have enough knowledge about the exact sources and factors that trigger muscle soreness linked with strenuous exercise. Deep insight and identification of the risk factors which predispose individuals at an increased risk of muscle soreness after unaccustomed exercises may be a key to help them by prescribing personalised exercise therapy to speed up recovery and adaptation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are being used widely to manage muscle soreness, pain and tenderness linked with post exercise complications. But there is more to it than just treating pain. Is there any substantive gain besides pain relief? Can they improve muscle function? Could they prevent muscle soreness or speed up recovery? The current narrative review was planned to discuss the sources and factors that trigger exercise-induced muscle damage. Furthermore, it also provides a comprehensive analysis of the literature concerning the effectiveness of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in reducing symptom and improving muscle function in exercise induced muscle soreness.

Non-pharmacological interventions to combat exercise-induced muscle damage, a little natural tax on work out.

Debilitating pain, stiffness, tenderness, fatigue, impaired muscle function, lack of strength subsequent to exercise are not welcomed by those not accustomed to it. It may discourage an individual from participating in regular exercise. Numerou s ph armacological and non - pharmacological strategies have been used to alleviate symptoms of muscle soreness, muscle pain, improving muscle function, the range of motion and recovery time. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are suggested to have a beneficial impact on muscle soreness, but fail to rejuvenate muscle weakness and range of motion coupled with muscle soreness. Furthermore, oral antiinflammatory drugs are widely used to mitigate muscle soreness symptoms, but chronic use can lead to different side effects in terms of peptic ulcer and liver toxicity. Non-pharmacological remedies and interventions can be a better choice. This narrative review is intended to provide insight into the non-pharmacological strategies to combat exercise-induced muscle damage.