Low-cost dexamethasone reduces death by up to one third in hospitalised patients with severe respiratory complications of COVID-19
The scientists have been sceptic over the rationale for prolonged corticosteroid treatment in the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) caused by COVID-19....
Humans would not have existed without viruses because viral protein plays a key role in the development of human embryo. However, at times, they pose existential threats in the form of diseases as in the case of current COVID-19...
Routine sero-surveillance of the population to estimate presence of antibodies to COVID-19 is required to understand the development of herd immunity in a population. Data from the sero-surveillance study of population in the Ischgl town of Austria throws light on this aspect...
The infection fatality rate (IFR) is more reliable indicator of the extent of the infection. In this study, the researchers found the actual infection rate for COVID-19 in Heinsberg to be five-fold higher than the number officially reported using...
Easily correctable condition of Vitamin D Insufficiency (VDI) has very severe implications for COVID-19. In countries worst affected by COVID-19 such as Italy, Spain and Greece, Vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) rates were high in the range of 70-90%.; on...
A plasmid DNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 has been found to induce immunity in animal trials. Few other DNA based vaccine candidates are at early stages of clinical trials. Interestingly, plasmid DNA vaccines can be developed in a short period of time....
The containment scheme based on 'quarantine' or 'social distancing' has emerged as the main tool in fight against COVID-19. But, there are concerns about economic and psychological costs. A researcher offers ''social containment'' as an alternative which seems to...
WHO doesn't recommend face masks generally to the healthy people. However, CDC has now laid down new guideline and say ''people should wear cloth masks when they go outside''. New evidence suggest that the usage of surgical face masks...
Social interaction and vaccination both contribute to development of herd immunity however development of herd immunity as a result of social interaction is directly proportional to the number of secondary infections that arise from the primary cases. Herd immunity...
Laboratory tests for diagnosis of COVID-19 currently in practice as advised by the international bodies of experts are reviewed and evaluated.
The COVID-19 disease, that originated in Wuhan China, has affected more than 208 countries till now. The scientific community...
Molnupiravir, a nucleoside analog of cytidine, a drug that has shown excellent oral bioavailability and promising results in Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials, could prove to be a magic bullet acting as an anti-viral agent against SARS-CoV2 in humans. Major...
There is no clarity on the natural origin of SARS CoV-2 as no intermediate host has been found yet that transmits it from bats to humans. On the other hand, there are circumstantial evidences to suggest a laboratory origin...
The disease caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has been given new name COVID-19 by the international body WHO which makes no reference to any of the people, places or animals associated with this virus.
The disease caused by the...
Several studies indicate that activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is responsible for acute respiratory distress syndrome and/or acute lung injury (ARDS/ALI) seen in severely ill COVID-19 patients which often result in death due to multiple organ failure. This suggests NLRP3...
In countries like UK, USA and Italy which are badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, the life expectancy has reduced by at least 1.2-1.3 years.
Diseases and risk factors lead to premature deaths and disabilities and result in ‘burden’ on the...
Clinical Trials to evaluate effectiveness of anti-malarial drug, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and antibiotic, Azithromycin in treating older people with COVID-19 begins in the UK and USA with an aim to reducing the severity of symptoms and avoiding hospitalization
Of late, there...
Convalescent plasma therapy holds key for the immediate treatment of severely sick COVID-19 patients. This article discusses effectiveness of this therapy and its present status about its use in treating COVID-19
The COVID-19 disease has engulfed the entire world with...
There are overwhelming evidences to confirm that the dominant route of transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is airborne. This realisation has significant implications for fine-tuning of strategies to manage the pandemic, particularly in terms of importance...
The researchers at the Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center have successfully completely Phase I trials for the use of CD24 protein delivered in exosomes to treat COVID-19.
Scientists at the Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center have devised a bio-therapeutic agent based on exosomes (membrane bound vesicles) carrying CD24 protein....
A type of virus that preys on bacteria could be harnessed to combat bacterial infections in patients whose immune systems have been weakened by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the COVID-19 disease, according to an expert at the University...
The assay time is considerably reduced from about an hour to few minutes by the newly reported RTF-EXPAR method which uses reverse transcriptase-free (RTF) approach for conversion of RNA into DNA followed by EXPAR (Exponential Amplification Reaction) for amplification at...
For quicker lifting of lockdown, the innovators or entrepreneurs holding IP rights over novel technologies with potential to improve diagnostics and therapeutics for COVID-19, who may otherwise be unable to launch the products at scaled up level due to...
COVID-19 pandemic has caused a major economic impact all over the globe and has resulted in disruption of “normal” life. Countries across the world are battling to find solutions to this disease that includes strengthening the immune system and...
The preliminary report of findings from the clinical trial NCT02735707 reported in preprint suggests that Tocilizumab and Sarilumab, the interleukin-6 receptor antagonists are effective in treating critically ill COVID-19 patients and improve survival.
Severely ill COVID-19 patients receiving intensive care support responded well to...
A number of ingredients have been used as carriers to successfully deliver vaccines and to enhance their immune response. These include peptides, liposomes, lipid nanoparticles and polymers to name a few. Recently, Lam et al describe the use of...
