{"title":"Comparing India's Second COVID Wave with the First Wave-A Single-Center Experience.","authors":"Mayank Kapoor, Budha O Singh, Prasan Kumar Panda, Pathik Dhanger, Anant Kataria","doi":"10.2174/2772434417666220628153110","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/2772434417666220628153110","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic has resurfaced in India as a hardhitting second wave. This study aims to compare the clinical profile of the first wave (April-June 2020) and the second wave (March-May 2021) of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 pandemic (SARS-CoV-2) in a single tertiary care center in India.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this retrospective observational study, we examined the demographic profile, symptoms at presentation, severity of illness, baseline investigations, treatments received, underlying comorbidities, and outcomes of the COVID-19 patients belonging to the first (W1) and the second wave (W2) of the pandemic in India.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The age group affected most in the W2 is 50.5 (17.7) versus 37·1 (16·9) years for W1. The baseline oxygen saturation is lower in W2, being 84·0 (13·4) % compared with 91·9 (7·4) % in W1 [SpO2 < 90% OR 14.3 (6.1-33), P < 0.0001]. 70.2 % of the cases belonged to the severe category in W2 compared to 37.5% in W1. W2 has worse outcomes. Incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) [48.7% v/s 6.45%; OR 15.4 (6.5-35.7), P<0.0001], Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) [18% v/s 2.4%; OR 6 (1.7- 22.2), P = 0.005], Acute Liver Injury (transaminitis) [12.8% v/s 6.4%, OR 7.3 (3.7- 14.3), P < 0.0001], and deaths (29% v/s 9.6%, standardized mortality ratio 3.5) is higher in W2. Similarly, the CT severity score for W2 [29.5 (6.7)] was higher than W1 [23·2 (11·5), P < 0.05]. The proportion of patients requiring oxygen [81.8% v/s 11.2%; OR 125 (40-333.3), P < 0.0001], high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) (11.4% v/s 5.6%), Non- Invasive Ventilation (NIV) (41.2% v/s 1.5%), invasive ventilation [24.5% v/s 0.9%; OR 22.72 (2.94-166.6), P = 0.003], as well as ICU/HDU admissions [56.4% v/s 12.0%; OR 10.5 (5.3-21.2), P < 0.0001] was higher for W2 as compared with W1. Cough, invasive ventilation, inotrope requirement, and ARDS are significantly related to higher mortality in the W2 than W1.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Higher age, oxygen requirement, ventilator requirement, ICU admission, and organ failure are more prevalent in the admitted COVID-19 cases during the second wave that hit India than in the first wave and are associated with more fatalities. Strategy for another wave should be planned accordingly.</p>","PeriodicalId":74643,"journal":{"name":"Recent advances in anti-infective drug discovery","volume":"17 3","pages":"178-186"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10369651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nandita Sharma, Mahendra Singh, Pradeep Aggarwal, Yogesh Bahurupi, P K Panda, Gaurika Saxena
{"title":"COVID-19 Infection After Vaccination Among Healthcare Workers at a Tertiary Level Health Care Center in Northern India: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Nandita Sharma, Mahendra Singh, Pradeep Aggarwal, Yogesh Bahurupi, P K Panda, Gaurika Saxena","doi":"10.2174/2772434417666221011095128","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/2772434417666221011095128","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>COVID-19 vaccines are now accessible to all Indian citizens. Infection with COVID-19, on the other hand, continues to spread constantly. Our study aimed to determine the number of persons who had COVID-19 infections despite receiving the recommended number of doses of the COVID-19 vaccination at AIIMS Rishikesh, a tertiary care facility in Uttarakhand, India.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analysed meticulously preserved data regarding COVID-19 vaccination, COVID-19 infection, clinical symptoms, and RT-PCR testing among all HCWs in our healthcare institution from 16 January 2021 to 30th June 2021.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>During this period, 5273 (90.3%) HCWs received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 566 (9.7%) received only one dose. 628 HCWs (10.8%) were BBV152 recipients and 5211 (89.2%) were AZD1222 (ChAdOx1-S) recipients. 423 HCWs (7.2%, confidence interval of 95% - 13.8, 22.0) reported COVID-19 infections. 274 (5.19% of total vaccinated HCWs) breakthrough infections and 149 non-breakthrough COVID-19 infections were reported in HCWs who had previously received a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccination.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Viral infections, especially breakthrough infections, following adequate vaccination, are a cause for concern, but there is a lack of data on these infections in the actual world. Therefore, the primary focus of research should be on the emergence of illness in India following the completion of a full vaccine course.</p>","PeriodicalId":74643,"journal":{"name":"Recent advances in anti-infective drug discovery","volume":"17 3","pages":"223-231"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10385892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Vigilance Needed in Treating Leprosy Patients in Accordance with WHO's AWaRe.","authors":"Pugazhenthan Thangaraju, Hemasri Velmurugan, Sree Sudha Tanguturi Yella, Sajitha Venkatesan","doi":"10.2174/2772434417666220720111849","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/2772434417666220720111849","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Leprosy is a highly stigmatized disease that can range from a minor skin lesion to life-threatening conditions such as deformities and disability. The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a tool called \"Access, Watch, and Reserve\" (AWaRe) to reduce antibiotic misuse and abuse.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>The purpose of this review is to determine whether the drugs used in the leprosy treatment regimen are complied with the AWaRe programme, in order to improve the quality of hospital antibiotic use and reduce the incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We started by looking for antibiotics that are used in the treatment and chemoprophylaxis of leprosy, as defined by the WHO's AWaRe classification. Furthermore, we look for studies on antibiotics that showed sensitivity or less resistance after antimicrobial sensitivity testing (AST) on isolates from infected leprosy ulcers, as well as their AWaRe category.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 32 studies found, but only 5 of them met the inclusion criteria. They consisted of four cross-sectional studies and one descriptive retrospective study. A total of 19 antibiotics were identified in 5 studies, with 9 (47.4%) antibiotics in the access category, 8 (42.1%) antibiotics in the watch group, and 2 (10.5%) antibiotics in the reserve group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>As per our knowledge, this is the first study to explore antibiotics in leprosy treatment, chemoprophylaxis, and complications such as ulcer compliance with the AWaRe programme. Antimicrobial resistance is on the rise, which is a global issue that continues to pose challenges to clinical practices. This review may provide physicians with an overview of the current state of drug prescribing trends in leprosy, whether in accordance with the AWaRe classification in selecting the right drug when the use of antimicrobials is indicated and may also aid in rational drug prescribing.</p>","PeriodicalId":74643,"journal":{"name":"Recent advances in anti-infective drug discovery","volume":" ","pages":"95-102"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40615356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Atorvastatin Efficacy in the Management of Mild to Moderate Hospitalized COVID-19: A Pilot Randomized Triple-blind Placebo- controlled Clinical Trial.","authors":"Sepideh Hejazi, Farzam Mircheraghi, Sepideh Elyasi, Najmeh Davoodian, Davoud Salarbashi, Hassan Mehrad-Majd","doi":"10.2174/2772434417666220902153823","DOIUrl":"10.2174/2772434417666220902153823","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Statins are first-line lipid-lowering agents with tolerable adverse reactions, low cost, and high availability worldwide. The potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-thrombotic and immunomodulatory effects of statins propose them as an option against COVID-19 infection.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>In this randomized triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, we have investigated the atorvastatin efficacy in the management of mild to moderate hospitalized COVID-19 patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, 52 mild to moderate hospitalized COVID-19 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were allocated to the treatment group to receive 40 mg atorvastatin orally once daily for two weeks (n=26) or the placebo group (n=26). Patients' symptoms and laboratory investigations were assessed at baseline and during the follow-up period. We also evaluated the duration of hospitalization and supplemental oxygen therapy as endpoints.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After 14-day of follow-up, the oxygen saturation (SaO2) was significantly higher, and the serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level was lower in the treatment group compared to the placebo group. Moreover, at the end of the followup in the treatment group, the lymphocyte count was higher, and the duration of symptom resolution was shorter but not significant. Additionally, in the treatment group, the length of supplemental oxygen therapy and hospitalization duration were meaningfully shorter. Our results revealed that the mortality rate was almost twice higher in the placebo group compared to the treatment group, without any significant adverse drug reaction.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Atorvastatin significantly reduces supplemental oxygen need, hospitalization duration, and serum hs-CRP level in mild to moderate hospitalized COVID-19 patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":74643,"journal":{"name":"Recent advances in anti-infective drug discovery","volume":"17 3","pages":"212-222"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10385371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Clinical Profile, Risk Factors, and Therapeutic Outcome of Cavitating Fungal Pneumonia Coinfection in COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Analysis.","authors":"Arjun Kumar, Mayank Mishra, Saikat Banerjee, Lokesh Kumar Saini, Prakhar Sharma, Ruchi Dua, Girish Sindhwani","doi":"10.2174/2772434417666220720122042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/2772434417666220720122042","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>An end to the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic appears to be a distant dream. To make matters worse, there has been an alarming upsurge in the incidence of cavitating invasive fungal pneumonia associated with COVID-19, reported from various parts of the world including India. Therefore, it remains important to identify the clinical profile, risk factors, and outcome of this group of patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Out of 50 moderate to severe COVID-19 inpatients with thoracic computed tomographic (CT) evidence of lung cavitation, we retrospectively collected demographic and clinical data of those diagnosed with fungal pneumonia for further investigation. We determined the association between risk factors related to 30-day and 60-day mortality.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 50 COVID-19 patients with cavitating lung lesions, 22 (44 %) were identified to have fungal pneumonia. Most of these patients (n = 16, 72.7 %) were male, with a median (range) age of 56 (38-64) years. On chest CT imaging, the most frequent findings were multiple cavities (n = 13, 59.1 %) and consolidation (n = 14, 63.6 %). Mucormycosis (n = 10, 45.5 %) followed by Aspergillus fumigatus (n = 9, 40.9 %) were the common fungi identified. 30-day and 60-day mortalities were seen in 12 (54.5 %) and 16 (72.7 %) patients, respectively. On subgroup analysis, high cumulative prednisolone dose was an independent risk factor associated with 30-day mortality (p = 0.024).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>High cumulative prednisolone dose, baseline neutropenia, hypoalbuminemia, multiple cavities on CT chest, leukopenia, lymphopenia and raised inflammatory markers were associated with poor prognosis in severe COVID-19 patients with cavitating fungal pneumonia.</p>","PeriodicalId":74643,"journal":{"name":"Recent advances in anti-infective drug discovery","volume":"17 3","pages":"167-177"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10370056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nikita Gladyshev, Maria Taame, Askhab Ibiliev, Yuriy Grukhin, Viacheslav Kravtsov
{"title":"Colonization by Various Morphological Forms of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> in the Gingival Sulcus and Antrum of the Stomach.","authors":"Nikita Gladyshev, Maria Taame, Askhab Ibiliev, Yuriy Grukhin, Viacheslav Kravtsov","doi":"10.2174/2772434417666220903093339","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/2772434417666220903093339","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy can be considered effective if the result of its implementation is removed including all roots and rootlets from which surviving H. pylori can repopulate in the gastric mucosa. One of the reasons for the ineffectiveness of eradication therapy can be the continuous presence of viable coccoid forms of H. pylori in the oral cavity. Therefore, anti-Helicobacter eradication therapy should be supplemented by the sanitation of the oral cavity.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The objective of this study is to determine the frequency of occurrence of H. pylori in the gastric mucosa and in the oral cavity in patients with chronic periodontitis or with chronic gastritis using immunocytochemical method and to evaluate the pathophysiological relationship between periodontitis and HP-associated acid-dependent stomach diseases mediated by H. pylori.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A group of patients with chronic gastritis (70 participants, 46 women, 24 men, age: 24 - 55 years) and another group with chronic periodontitis before the start of surgical treatment (61 participants, 30 women, 31 men, age: 20 - 60 years) were examined for НР bacterial cells using immunocytochemical methods of staining gastric biopsy and exfoliate samples from the gingival sulcus surface. The participants did not take any antimicrobial medication before and during the examination. Routine staining was also performed to view microbiota in smears for both groups. The participants signed a voluntary consent agreement to undergo routine medical examinations and join the study at the Nikiforov Russian Centre of Emergency and Radiation Medicine, EMERCOM of Russia, where the ethical committee was made.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Immunocytochemical method could identify all stages of bacillary-coccoid transformation of H. pylori which accounted for 63.4-67.5% of cases. HP-antigenpositive bacteria were found in the oral cavity in both groups of examined patients. It was apparent that spiral forms of H. pylori were dominant over coccoid forms in the gastric mucosa in the antrum of the stomach, whereas coccoid forms of H. pylori were frequently found more in the oral cavity. Helicobacteriosis in the oral cavity was identified in chronic periodontitis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We found certain pathogenetic connections between inflammatory lesions of the oral cavity and diseases of the internal organs of the gastrointestinal tract. Accordingly, we suggest the necessity to use proper medication for oral cavity sanitation along with anti-Helicobacter eradication therapy to influence the HP reservoir in the oral cavity and gingival sulcus. Additionally, bacterial cells of HP reside in the oral cavity in coccoid forms; therefore, the coccoid form of HP should become the second principal target in treating HP.</p>","PeriodicalId":74643,"journal":{"name":"Recent advances in anti-infective drug discovery","volume":"17 3","pages":"199-211"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10385370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zintle Mbese, Margo Nell, Youmbi T Fonkui, Derek T Ndinteh, Vanessa Steenkamp, Blessing A Aderibigbe
{"title":"Hybrid Compounds Containing Carvacrol Scaffold: <i>In Vitro</i> Antibacterial and Cytotoxicity Evaluation.","authors":"Zintle Mbese, Margo Nell, Youmbi T Fonkui, Derek T Ndinteh, Vanessa Steenkamp, Blessing A Aderibigbe","doi":"10.2174/1574891X16666220124122445","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1574891X16666220124122445","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The design of hybrid compounds is a distinct approach for developing potent bioactive agents. Carvacrol, an essential oil, exhibits antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anticancer activity, making it a good precursor for the development of compounds with potent biological activities. Some patents have reported carvacrol derivatives with promising biological activities.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to prepare hybrid compounds containing a carvacrol scaffold with significant antibacterial and anticancer activity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Esterification reactions between carvacrol and known pharmacophores were performed at room temperature and characterized using <sup>1</sup>H-NMR, <sup>13</sup>CNMR, and UHPLC-HRMS. In vitro antibacterial study was determined using the microdilution assay and cytotoxicity evaluation using sulforhodamine B staining assay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The FTIR spectra of the carvacrol hybrids revealed prominent bands in the range of 1612-1764 cm<sup>-1</sup> and 1014-1280 cm<sup>-1</sup> due to (C=O) and (C-O) stretching vibrations, respectively. The structures of the carvacrol hybrids were confirmed by <sup>1</sup>H-NMR, <sup>13</sup>C-NMR, and UHPLC-HRMS analysis, and compound 5 exhibited superior activity when compared to the hybrid compounds against the strains of bacteria used in the study. The in vitro cytotoxicity evaluation showed that compound 3 induced cytotoxicity in all the cancer cell lines; MDA (16.57 ± 1.14 μM), MCF-7 (0.47 ± 1.14 μM), and DU145 (16.25 ± 1.08 μM), as well as the normal breast cells, MCF-12A (0.75± 1.30 μM). Compound 7 did not induce cytotoxicity in the cell lines tested (IC<sub>50</sub> > 200 μM).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The modification of carvacrol through hybridization is a promising approach to develop compounds with significant antibacterial and anticancer activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":74643,"journal":{"name":"Recent advances in anti-infective drug discovery","volume":"17 1","pages":"54-68"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39858726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Potential Role of the Serotonin Transporter as a Drug Target against Parasitic Infections: A Scoping Review of the Literature.","authors":"Mahbobeh Montazeri, Mahdi Fakhar, Masoud Keighobadi","doi":"10.2174/1574891X16666220304232301","DOIUrl":"10.2174/1574891X16666220304232301","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Several in vitro and in vivo biological activities of serotonin, 5- hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), as a bioactive molecule, and its transporter (5-HT-Tr) were evaluated in parasitic infections.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>Herein, the roles of 5-HT and 5-HTR in helminths and protozoan infections with medical and veterinary importance are reviewed.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We searched information in 4 main databases and reviewed published literature about the serotonin transporter's role as a promising therapeutic target against pathogenic parasitic infections between 2000 and 2021.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Based on recent investigations, 5-HT and 5-HT-Tr play various roles in parasite infections, including biological function, metabolic activity, organism motility, parasite survival, and immune response modulation. Moreover, some of the 5-HT-TR in Schistosoma mansoni showed an excess of favorite substrates for biogenic amine 5-HT compared to their mammalian hosts. Furthermore, the main neuronal protein related to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) was identified in S. mansoni and Echinococcus granulosus, playing main roles in these parasites. In addition, 5-HT increased in toxoplasmosis, giardiasis, and Chagas disease. On the other hand, in Plasmodium spp., different forms of targeted 5-HTR stimulate Ca<sup>2+</sup> release, intracellular inositol triphosphate (ITP), cAMP, and protein kinase A (PKA) activity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This review summarized the several functional roles of the 5-HT and the importance of the 5-HT-TR as a drug target with minimal harm to the host to fight against helminths and protozoan infections. Hopefully, this review will shed light on research regarding serotonin transporter-based therapies as a potential drug target soon.</p>","PeriodicalId":74643,"journal":{"name":"Recent advances in anti-infective drug discovery","volume":"7 1","pages":"23-33"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85195634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Utility of Walk Tests in the Progression of Mild COVID-19 Infection at a Tertiary Hospital in North India.","authors":"Souradeep Chowdhury, Tamoghna Ghosh, Aastha Goel, Anupam K Singh, Arvind Kumar, Naveet Wig","doi":"10.2174/2772434417666220630112737","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/2772434417666220630112737","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>There have been 214 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide, with a total death tally of 4.4 million. The current study aims to determine the predictive value of various scores in the assessment of progression of mild COVID-19 infection at a tertiary care hospital in North India.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study population consisted of adults (age more than 18 years) with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 by RT-PCR on nasopharyngeal specimens. Patients with only mild illness were enrolled. After the patients were admitted to the isolation ward, the presenting history, comorbidity status, vital signs and laboratory parameters were recorded. The 3 and 6 minutes walk test was performed daily from admission till discharge or progression of the severity of COVID- 19, and it was used to calculate Borg Dyspnoea Score (BDS) and National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) scores.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our study consisted of 50 patients with 34 (68%) males, and the mean (SD) age of the patient population was 28.1 (6.4) years. The most common symptoms were fever, sore throat, and cough. All laboratory parameters were within normal ranges for all the patients. 96% recovered without progression, while only 4% of them progressed to moderate illness. Results of the 3 and 6 minutes walk tests, BDS and NEWS2 scores showed improvement over the course of the hospital stay.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although the walk tests and the scores improved over time, they failed to predict the disease progression.</p>","PeriodicalId":74643,"journal":{"name":"Recent advances in anti-infective drug discovery","volume":"17 3","pages":"159-166"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10369658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Physicochemical Properties, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Ethiopian Sweet Basil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L.) Leaf and Flower Oil Extracts.","authors":"Getachew Yibeltal, Zekeria Yusuf, Mulugeta Desta","doi":"10.2174/2772434417666220720121051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/2772434417666220720121051","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The occurrence of multidrug resistant pathogenic microbes has initiated the development of natural antimicrobial agents from plants. Oils from herbal sources have drawn scientific interest due to their potential source of bioactive compounds.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study was aimed to examine the physicochemical and biological activities including antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of the oil extracted from basil leaves and flowers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The physicochemical properties of the oil extracts were measured based on oil yield, specific gravity, acid value, free fatty acids and peroxide values whilst the antioxidant activities were assessed by ascorbic acid, DPPH (2, 2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), and hydrogen peroxide free radical scavenging activities. The antimicrobial experiment was conducted based on disc diffusion and broth dilution methods.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The result of antioxidant activity of Ocimum basilicum indicated significantly higher DPPH (86.45%) for leaf oil extract. The strongest antibacterial activity with maximum zone of inhibition (15.47 mm), minimum inhibitory concentration MIC (0.09 μg/ml), and corresponding minimum bactericidal concentration MBC (0.19 μg/ml) was exhibited by the flower oil extract against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC-25923. The strongest antifungal activity with maximum zone of inhibition (15.90 mm), MIC (0.125 μg/ml, the least value), and minimum fungicidal concentration MFC (0.09 μg/ml) were recorded for leaf oil against Candida albicans.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>It can be concluded from the present study that the sweet basil flower and leaf oil extracts can be potential antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal agents.</p>","PeriodicalId":74643,"journal":{"name":"Recent advances in anti-infective drug discovery","volume":" ","pages":"131-138"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40615357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}