SARS-CoV-2 Virus Research Articles

Repurposing of antimycobacterium drugs for COVID-19 treatment by targeting SARS CoV-2 main protease: An in-silico perspective

The global mortality rate has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS CoV-2 virus. Although the pursuit for a potent antiviral is still in progress, experimental therapies based on repurposing of existing drugs is being attempted. One important therapeutic target for COVID-19 is the main protease (Mpro) that cleaves the viral polyprotein in its replication process. Recently minocycline, an antimycobacterium drug, has been successfully implemented for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. But it’s mode of action is still far from clear. Furthermore, it remains unresolved whether alternative antimycobacterium drugs can effectively regulate SARS CoV-2 by inhibiting the enzymatic activity of Mpro. To comprehend these facets, eight well-established antimycobacterium drugs were put through molecular docking experiments. Four of the antimycobacterium drugs (minocycline, rifampicin, clofazimine and ofloxacin) were selected by comparing their binding affinities towards Mpro. All of the four drugs interacted with both the catalytic residues of Mpro (His41 and Cys145). Additionally, molecular dynamics experiments demonstrated that the Mpro-minocyline complex has enhanced stability, experiences reduced conformational fluctuations and greater compactness than other three Mpro-antimycobacterium and Mpro-N3/lopinavir complexes. This research furnishes evidences for implementation of minocycline against SARS CoV-2. In addition, our findings also indicate other three antimycobacterium/antituberculosis drugs (rifampicin, clofazimine and ofloxacin) could potentially be evaluated for COVID-19 therapy.

To assess the impact of covid-19 on maintenance haemodialysis patients: A retrospective study in a tertiary care hospital in south Kerala

COVID-19 was started as a global pandemic in March 2020. It is an infectious disease caused by the SARS COV-2 virus and it has affected the care and outcomes of patient treated with dialysis. Patients with CKD could be more vulnerable to a severe form of COVID-19. Higher risk of mortality caused by COVID-19 in haemodialysis patient is detected with older age, comorbidities and impaired immune response. Clinical presentation of COVID-19 on haemodialysis patient is fluctuating from asymptomatic or mild disease to severe life threatening illness. Initially, common symptoms were presented including fever, dry cough, fatigue, diarrhea and dyspnea. On computerized tomography scan patients had shown bilateral ground-glass opacities revealing that COVID-19 predominantly affected the respiratory system. Maintenance haemodialysis is the most widely used treatment for end stage CKD patients and it has the higher risk of initial mortality from coronavirus 2019. CKD is a severe medical entity with a higher prevalence of comorbid conditions, mostly including diabetes, hypertension, disproportionally affecting older adults. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of COVID-19 on maintenance haemodialysis patient and the objective of the study is to assess the mortality of COVID-19 on maintenance haemodialysis patient and risk factors associated with it and also the severity of COVID19 on maintenance haemodialysis patient. We performed a retrospective cross sectional study using 39 samples. The samples were collected from the case files of the patients who fulfill the inclusion criteria and then the collected data was statistically interpreted using SPSS software version 22.0 and then the severity and mortality of the COVID-19 on maintenance haemodialysis patient was analyzed. The final analysis included 39 patient who met the inclusion criteria .Here the incidence of COVID-19 on maintenance haemodialysis patient is more prone on 41-60 years of age.

Coinfection with SARS-CoV-2 and parainfluenza virus in an elderly patient: a case report

COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the WHO on 11th March 2020. Influenza usually occurs in winters, and the burden of the disease is determined by several factors, including the effectiveness of the vaccine that season, the characteristics of the circulating viruses, and how long the season lasts. Host factors and comorbidities also play an integral role in determining the outcome of the disease. Both the viral diseases present with an acute influenza like illness which may progress in certain individuals to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. It is essential to understand that coinfection with viruses may occur and it is important to diagnose them as some require antivirals and some supportive and symptomatic management. Here, we present the case of an elderly lady with bilateral bronchiectasis who was infected with both SARS-CoV2 virus and parainfluenza 3.

Phylogenetic Analysis and Mutation of Sars-Cov-2 in Bats in Karst Malang City, Indonesia

Introduction: A group of people in China were hospitalized with an initial diagnosis of pneumonia of unknown cause. The patients were linked to a wholesale wet seafood and animal market in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The disease has spread to other provinces in China, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea in less than a month. SARS-CoV-2 was found to originate from bats. Therefore, this research aims to analyze SARS-CoV-2 mutation in bats in Malang Karst, Indonesia. Methods: Other bat body parts used as research samples include the brain, liver, kidneys, intestines, pancreas, fetus, blood, lungs, and ectoparasites. The samples were taken separately and placed in a container containing 10% PBF. For further analysis, we used RNA Extraction, Real-Time PCR, Sequencing, and CoV Gisaid mutation analysis software to analyze the sequencing data. Then, EMBL software will be used to analyze the phylogenetically. Results and Discussion: There was 1 sample that showed a positive result for Covid-19, namely the intestine of the Cynoptera brachyotis species. There were differences between SARS-CoV-2 in bats in Malang Karst in Indonesia compared to SARS-CoV from 2000 to 2019. The spike protein's receptor binding domain (RBD) is the most variable part of the coronavirus genome. Conclusion: From the research results, one positive sample was obtained using Real-Time PCR, and based on mutation analysis, mutations were found in SARS-CoV-2 against the SARS-CoV virus from 2000-2019. Further research is needed, especially regarding SARS-CoV-2 as a vaccine.

Development of a highly stable, active small interfering RNA with broad activity against SARS-CoV viruses

Treatment options for COVID-19 remain limited. Here, we report the optimization of an siRNA targeting the highly conserved leader region of SARS-CoV-2. The siRNA was rendered nuclease resistant by the introduction of modified nucleotides without loss of activity. Importantly, the siRNA also retained its inhibitory activity against the emerged omicron sublineage variant BA.2, which occurred after the siRNA was designed and is resistant to other antiviral agents such as antibodies. In addition, we show that a second highly active siRNA designed against the viral 5′-UTR can be applied as a rescue molecule, to minimize the spread of escape mutations. We therefore consider our siRNA-based molecules to be promising broadly active candidates for the treatment of current and future SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Knowledge, attitudes, and adherence of the Cape Verdean population to the COVID-19 vaccine

BackgroundThe spread of the COVID-19 pandemic at the end of 2019, with its well-known consequences in terms of morbidity and mortality, has triggered an intense mobilization of the scientific community in the search for knowledge about the SARS-Cov2 virus and the development of a vaccine. ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and intentions of the resident Cape Verdean population regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. MethodsThis was a descriptive, cross-sectional, and analytical study involving 1704 resident Cape Verdeans, whose ages ranged from 16 to 60 years old and the majority of participants were male (52.6%). The data was collected using the Google form platform between March 9 and 15, 2021. ResultsThe data indicated that the majority of participants (95.8%) knew of at least one approved vaccine against COVID-19, and this knowledge (74.9%) was obtained from television, radio, and newspapers. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was the best known (54.1%) among the study subjects and the majority of respondents (69.7%) had enough information to consciously decide whether or not to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The majority (68.0%) of participants were in favor of the COVID-19 vaccine being administered to all interested people. About 59% of participants considered the COVID-19 vaccine to be safe and 49.6% of participants intended to get vaccinated when the time came. The greatest vaccine hesitancy was related to fear of side effects (21.4%), followed by the fact that it was developed too quickly (12.8%). Health professionals were seen as the priority group (81.5%) to be vaccinated. ConclusionsThe results show that the Cape Verdean population had a good level of knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccine. Despite initial hesitation, the vast majority of participants were willing to get vaccinated. These data suggest that awareness-raising, education, and information campaigns about the COVID-19 vaccine should be strengthened to reduce hesitation and increase confidence and adherence to the COVID-19 vaccine among Cape Verdean residents.

The changing trend of fungal infection in invasive rhinosinusitis in the COVID era.

SARS-COV virus operates as a significant risk factor for invasive fungal aspergillosis and mucormycosis. Successful management of this fulminant infection requires early recognition of the disease and aggressive medical or surgical interventions to prevent the high morbidity and mortality associated with the disease process. 1. To isolate and identify different species of fungi among acute rhinosinusitis patients. 2. To assess the association of risk factors causing fungal rhinosinusitis. 3. To assess the changing trend in fungal rhinosinusitis during the COVID era. This is a retrospective observational study conducted from May 2020 to October 2022, attending the ENT department and relevant data were collected from the medical records department of ABVIMS and Dr RML Hospital, New Delhi, a Tertiary Care Referral Centre in India. The major risk factors studied were age, gender, COVID-19 infection and underlying diseases (such as diabetes mellitus, ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, malignancies, chronic kidney DISEASES, etc.); details of corticosteroid use of all patients were recorded in the datasheet. The pandemic data was divided into three distinct time periods/waves/eras, i.e., first, second, and third waves, each of which included ten months, to examine the changing trend in fungal rhinosinusitis in the pandemic era of COVID-19. A total of 412 patients out of which 236 patients were clinically diagnosed with fungal sinusitis based on revised EORTC criteria. The most common site involved was the orbit with paranasal sinus and eye 86/236 (36.4%), followed by involvement of nasal and paranasal sinus alone 68/236 (28.8%). The most prevalent age range affected was 40 to 50 years. The most commonly associated comorbidity was diabetes mellitus (DM) in 176 (74.5%), followed by head and neck malignancies in 22 (9.32%) patients. Thirty-eight (50.6%) Rhizopus species and 18 (24%) Aspergillus flavus were the most common isolated fungal species on culture, followed by Mucor spp. 14 (18.6%) and Aspergillus fumigatus 5 (6.6%) in the period. In the second wave of COVID, there was a surge in Zygomycetes cases 36 (45%) and after the second wave, the Aspergillus cases increased by 14 (19%) during Jan-Oct 2022. With the continuing coronavirus pandemic, there is an unprecedented and discernible rise in the prevalence of acute invasive fungal sinusitis certainly a spike in cases of Aspergillus infection was observed, probably due to unprecedented usage of Amphotericin B for the treatment of mucormycosis during the third wave This underlines the importance of the need to tailor our treatment protocol as per the etiological agents hence the right antifungal drugs combined with urgent surgical procedures on a case-to-case basis may certainly increase the chances of survival.

Novel synthesis of new triazine sulfonamides with antitumor, anti-microbial and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities

Novel approach for synthesizing triazine sulfonamide derivatives is accomplished via reacting the sulfaguanidine derivatives with N-cyanodithioiminocarbonate. Further reaction of the novel triazine sulfonamide analogues with various secondary amines and anilines generated various substituted triazine sulfonamide analogues of promising broad-spectrum activities including anti-microbial, anti-tumor, and anti-viral properties. The in vitro anti-proliferative activities of most of the novel compounds were evaluated on the NCI-60 cell line panel. The antifungal and antibacterial activities of the compounds were also estimated. The anti-viral activity against SARS CoV-2 virus was performed using MTT cytotoxicity assay to evaluate the half-maximal cytotoxic concentration (CC50) and inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) of a representative compound from the novel triazine sulfonamide category. Compound 3a demonstrated potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 with IC50 = 2.378 µM as compared to the activity of the antiviral drug remdesivir (IC50 = 10.11 µM). Our results indicate that, upon optimization, these new triazine sulfonamides could potentially serve as novel antiviral drugs.

Abstract P223: Long Term Impact of COVID19 Pandemic on Estimated Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Physical Activity Level in South American Adults: Results From the Lown Scholars PAFIT Network Online Survey

Background: While restriction measures helped to control the further transmission of the SARS-cov2 virus, they also produced undesirable repercussions on physical activity level (PAL) and, potentially, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). However, the extent to which CRF has returned to pre-pandemic levels in the current time has yet to be consistently evaluated, especially in South America. Objective: We aimed to assess changes in PAL and estimated CRF (eCRF) from before the COVID-19 pandemic until the current time using an online survey with validated questionnaires and identifying the determinants of the observed changes. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey using Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) to assess physical activity and sedentary time on a convenience sample of 1934 adults (68.7% women) from Argentina (n = 484), Brazil (n = 405), Chile (n = 279), Colombia (n = 343) and Uruguay (n = 423). We asked participants questions regarding their physical activity, body weight, socioeconomic status, education and cardiovascular risk factors before the start of the pandemic (Feb/Mar 2020) and at the time of the survey (Jul-Sep 2022). We calculated the eCRF before the pandemic and at the current time using a Brazilian equation including age, sex, body mass index, arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia, current smoking, physical inactivity, and diabetes. To adjust for age, we also calculated eCRF using only the current time age. Results: The participants reported a significant increase in the prevalence of self reported hypertension (12.9% to 16.5%), diabetes (6.8% to 9.8%), dyslipidemia (18.9% to 24%), and obesity (15.4% to 18.2%) comparing pre-COVID-19 period to the time of the survey. In contrast, they reported a significant decrease in PAL at work (median 936.5 to 864.6 METs/min/week; p < 0.032) and within active transportation domains (median 502.6 to 460.3 METs/min/week; p < 0.008). No significant changes were reported in leisure time physical activity. The median sedentary time on weekdays increased by 60 minutes (360 to 420; p < 0.001) post pandemic and eCRF was reduced (mean difference, -1.17 mL/min/kg; p < 0.001). When adjusted for age, the differences remained statistically significant. (-0.50; mL/min/kgmL/min/kg; p 0.001). Conclusion: Social restriction policies aimed at controlling pandemics may lead to reduction in physical activity level and cardiorespiratory fitness in the long term.

Transmembrane conformation of the envelope protein of an alpha coronavirus, NL63.

The envelope (E) proteins of coronaviruses (CoVs) form cation-conducting channels that are associated with the pathogenicity of these viruses. To date, high-resolution structural information about these viroporins is limited to the SARS-CoV E protein. To broaden our structural knowledge of other members of this family of viroporins, we now investigate the conformation of the E protein of the human coronavirus (hCoV), NL63. Using two- and three-dimensional magic-angle-spinning NMR, we have measured 13 C and 15 N chemical shifts of the transmembrane domain of E (ETM), which yielded backbone (ϕ, ψ) torsion angles. We further measured the water accessibility of NL63 ETM at neutral pH versus acidic pH in the presence of Ca2+ ions. These data show that NL63 ETM adopts a regular α-helical conformation that is unaffected by pH and the N-terminal ectodomain. Interestingly, the water accessibility of NL63 ETM increases only modestly at acidic pH in the presence of Ca2+ compared to neutral pH, in contrast to SARS ETM, which becomes much more hydrated at acidic pH. This difference suggests a structural basis for the weaker channel conductance of α-CoV compared to β-CoV E proteins. The weaker E channel activity may in turn contribute to the reduced virulence of hCoV-NL63 compared to SARS-CoV viruses.

Factors associated with COVID-19 among hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory infections in Serbia, 2022-2023: A test negative case-control study.

Severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) are estimated to be the cause of death in about 19% of all children younger than 5 years globally. The outbreak of coronaviral disease (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2, increased considerably the burden of SARI worldwide. We used data from a vaccine effectiveness study to identify the factors associated with SARS CoV-2 infection among hospitalized SARI patients. We recruited SARI patients at 3 hospitals in Serbia from 7 April 2022-1 May 2023. We collected demographic and clinical data from patients using a structured questionnaire, and all SARI patients were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR. We conducted an unmatched test negative case-control study. SARS-CoV-2 infected SARI patients were considered cases, while SARS CoV-2 negative SARI patients were controls. We conducted bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis in order to identify variables associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. We included 110 SARI patients: 74 were cases and 36 controls. We identified 5 factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity, age (OR = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.01-1.07), having received primary COVID-19 vaccine series (OR = 0.28; 95% CI = 0.09-0.88), current smoking (OR = 8.64; 95% CI = 2.43-30.72), previous SARS CoV-2 infection (OR = 3.48; 95% CI = 1.50-8.11) and number of days before seeking medical help (OR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.64-1.02). In Serbia during a period of Omicron circulation, we found that older age, unvaccinated, hospitalized SARI patients, previously infected with SARS CoV-2 virus and those who smoked, were more likely to be SARS-CoV-2-positive; these patient populations should be prioritized for COVID vaccination.

The Association of Super Infection with SARS-COV2 Virus Infection

The literature on the association of Co-infection and Super infection in patients with SARS-COV2 infection is reviewed in this paper. Co-infection is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States as an infection that occurs in the human body when the person is already afflicted with multiple diseases. Super infection is another phrase used by the Centers for Sickness Control and Prevention to describe a disease caused by the same virus but with a different strain each time. Over a lengthy period of time, it has been seen that a patient's viral respiratory infection develops to bacterial infection, which can be fatal. However, the association between the two remains a mystery for the researchers. In the case of COVID-19 viruses, comparable results have been obtained. The extensive spectrum of Co-infections and Super infections in Corona patients has been documented in a number of articles.

Nasal delivery of encapsulated recombinant ACE2 as a prophylactic drug for SARS-CoV-2

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is responsible for cell fusion with SARS-CoV viruses. ACE2 is contained in different areas of the human body, including the nasal cavity, which is considered the main entrance for different types of airborne viruses. We took advantage of the roles of ACE2 and the nasal cavity in SARS-CoV-2 replication and transmission to develop a nasal dry powder. Recombinant ACE2 (rhACE2), after a proper encapsulation achieved via spray freeze drying, shows a binding efficiency with spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 higher than 77 % at quantities lower than 5 µg/ml. Once delivered to the nose, encapsulated rhACE2 led to viability and permeability of RPMI 2650 cells of at least 90.20 ± 0.67 % and 47.96 ± 4.46 %, respectively, for concentrations lower than 1 mg/ml. These results were validated using nasal dry powder containing rhACE2 to prevent or treat infections derived from SARS-CoV-2.

Comparative Analysis of Threshold Cycle Results for RNA Extraction in SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR Using Magnetic Beads and Spin Column Methods

Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) belongs to the large family of SARS-CoV viruses, initially emerging in 2002-2003. In humans, this virus triggers respiratory infectious diseases. COVID-19, a new variant of SARS-CoV, was identified in humans following an unprecedented incident in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. This virus typically manifests mild symptoms, including a runny nose, sore throat, cough, and fever. The Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT), specifically the realtime Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) examination, is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for diagnosing COVID-19. This study assessed potential differences in Threshold Cycle results during RNA extraction using magnetic beads compared to spin columns in the SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR method. The population for this study was selected through accidental sampling from nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs of COVID-19 patients obtained between December 2022 and April 2023, with Threshold Cycle values <30,000. The samples were stored at -80°C. The findings revealed that the average N (VIC) was 23.359, and RdRP (FAM) was 25.558 in the Magnetic Beads method, indicating a lower value compared to the average N (VIC) of 29.200 and RdRP (FAM) of 29.661 in the Spin Column method. This suggests that the Magnetic Beads method exhibited greater sensitivity than the Spin Column method. The statistical analysis confirmed these differences, with a P value of 0.003 in N (VIC) and the P value of 0.000 in RdRP (FAM). Consequently, it can be concluded that there is a significant 19.5% difference in the Threshold Cycle during RNA extraction using Magnetic Beads and Spin Column in the examination of the SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR method. Keywords: Sars-CoV-2; rRT-PCR; Magnetic Beads; Spin Column; Threshold Cycle.

The Potential Mechanisms Behind Adverse Effect of Coronavirus Disease-19 on Heart and Liver Damage: A Review.

Coronaviruses (CoVs) belong to the RNA viruses family. The viruses in this family are known to cause mild respiratory disease in humans. The origin of the novel SARS-COV2 virus that caused the coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) is the Wuhan city in China from where it disseminated to cause a global pandemic. Although lungs are the predominant target organ for Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19), since its outbreak, the disease is known to affect heart, blood vessels, kidney, intestine, liver and brain. This review aimed to summarize the catastrophic impacts of Coronavirus disease-19 on heart and liver along with its mechanisms of pathogenesis. The information used in this review was obtained from relevant articles published on PubMed, Google Scholar, Google, WHO website, CDC and other sources. Key searching statements and phrases related to COVID-19 were used to retrieve information. Original research articles, review papers, research letters and case reports were used as a source of information. Besides causing severe lung injury, COVID-19 has also been reported to affect and cause dysfunction of many other organs. COVID-19 infection can affect people by downregulating membrane-bound active angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). People who have deficient ACE2 expression are more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. The patients' pre-existing co-morbidities are major risk factors that predispose individuals to severe COVID-19. The disease severity and its broad spectrum phenotype is a result of combined direct and indirect pathogenic factors. Therefore, protocols that harmonize many therapeutic preferences should be the best alternatives to de-escalate the disease and obviate deaths caused as a result of multiple organ damage and dysfunction induced by the disease.

The Post-pandemic Consumer: Evidence from Empirical Research of Four Generations of Consumers

Objective: The article analyses the changes in Polish consumer behaviour during the pandemic caused by the SARS CoV-2 virus. Changes in behaviour identified in 2022 were also analysed through the crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. Research Design & Methods: Literature studies and original empirical research were conducted. The empirical research – an online survey using the Ariadna National Research Panel – was carried out in two waves, the first in November 2020 on a sample of N = 1,045 consumers and the second in November 2022 on a sample of N = 1,100 consumers. The online survey technique made it possible to reach adult consumers from all regions of Poland. Findings: The research findings confirmed that consumer behaviour changed during the pandemic. Above all, consumers did more things remotely. They also took better care of their health and hygiene, and used payment cards more often than they had. Going out to cultural institutions and using the services of catering establishments were subject to the most radical restrictions. Respondents were mainly unsure of whether the two crises increased their household spending. Implications / Recommendations: Compared to 2020, in 2022 the percentage of consumers undertaking various types of preventive and prudent behaviours due to the pandemic decreased. This may indicate a desire among consumers to return to the lifestyle and behaviours they led before the pandemic. Consumers seem to be slowly forgetting about the pandemic, absorbed by another real threat: the war in Ukraine. Contribution: The conducted research contributes to the development of the theory of consumer behaviour. It shows changes in the behaviours of these entities caused by the pandemic situation, which they have not experienced so far. It complements the research on the behaviour differentiation of individual generations of consumers (Z, Y, X, and BB).

Impact of COVID-19 on antibiotic usage in primary care: a retrospective analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to many changes in the medical practice, including a wider access to tele-consultations. It not only influenced the type of treatment but also shed light on mistakes often made by doctors, such as the abuse of antibiotics. This study aimed to evaluate the antibiotic treatment, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic prescribing during a GP’s visit. The retrospective medical history analysis involved data from a first-contact medical center (Pantamed, Olsztyn, Poland), from 1 January 2018 to 31 May 2023. Quantities of prescribed antibiotics were assessed and converted into the so-called active list for a given working day of adult patients (> 18 years of age). Statistical analysis based on collective data was performed. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a decline in the number of medical consultations has been observed, both remotely via tele-medicine and in personal appointments, compared to the data from before the pandemic: n = 95,251 versus n = 79,619. Also, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a decrease in the total amount of prescribed antibiotics relative to the data before the pandemic (2.44 vs. 4.54; p > 0.001). The decrease in the quantities of prescribed antibiotics did not depend on the way doctor consultations were provided. The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to changing the family doctors’ management of respiratory infections. The ability to identify the etiological agent—the SARS-COV2 virus—contributed to the reduction of the antibiotics use.

The Battle of Antibiotics: A Study of Herbal and Modern Medicine

In Thailand during the pandemic of Covid-19, it was firmly believed that a traditional herb could cure the symptoms and reduce the incubation time of the SARS-COV virus. Despite all that, there are also many other diseases and symptoms that were believed to be cured better by herbal antibiotics. This research aims to investigate the performance of herbal antibiotics, in comparison to the modern antibiotics which are internationally recognized. The research has been done by gathering 6 samples of antibiotics with 3 of modern antibiotics, Amoxicillin, Roxithromycin and Norfloxacin, and 3 of herbal antibiotics, Turmeric, Garlic, Green Chiretta (“Fah Talai Jone” in Thai language.) The medicines are added with recommended dosage per day of each, into serial diluted E. Coli cultures by using the plate pour method. All the samples were incubated for 72 hours and were taken out to collectively count the colonies. The alternative hypothesis of the research was that the modern antibiotics will perform better than the herbal antibiotics. As a result, the alternative hypothesis was proven true. Garlic and Roxithromycin work the best with 100% and the others relatively lesser. Green Chiretta on the other hand, had 32.38% efficiency which was the least.

Cracked Teeth and Vertical Root Fractures in Pandemic Crisis - Retrospective Study.

Dental fatigue fractures are the result of occlusal overloads occurring because of increased intensity of occlusal forces or decreased resistance of dental hard tissues to habitual occlusal forces. In the COVID-19 pandemic, occlusal stress has increased significantly, and so has the number of dental fractures. The study has the aim to determine if the number of cases of dental fatigue fractures during the pandemic crisis was higher than in the immediately preceding period. The retrospective study was carried out in a private dental clinic, selecting from the case series presented during March 2019-March 2021 the cases of dental fatigue fractures presented for diagnosis and treatment. The data collected from the patients included the reason for the presentation, the dental and medical history, and results from dental examination and radiological data. The statistical analysis was carried out with Microsoft Excel and SPSS software. The study included 644 patients, 430 women and 214 men, with ages between 25 and 85 years (61±7.4 years). From a total of 2581 visits, 1534 visits were made to 383 patients between March 2019 and March 2020, and 1047 visits were made to 261 patients between March 2020 and March 2021, the number of visits decreasing by 31.75% during the pandemic. During the pandemic, the number of fractured teeth tripled, increasing from 0.53% to 1.53% (p=0.009). The most affected teeth were the maxillary premolars and the permanent first molar, both mandibular and maxillary. In most cases, the indication for treatment was extraction. The Sars-Cov2 virus pandemic crisis has significantly increased the number of teeth with dental fatigue fractures presented to the dental office for diagnosis and treatment.

Correlation of ABO Blood Group Susceptibility to Disease Severity of SARS-COV-2: An Original Research

ABSTRACT COVID-19, the Ecumenical Pandemic that hit Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in 2019 has instigated an emergency situation all over the globe. Current scientific corroborations highlighted the role of zoonotic cross-over species transmission for the spread of the deadly virus SARSCoV2. The proposition of ABO blood grouping to susceptibility for various infectious diseases has been documented in the past since blood group antigens constitute polymorphic traits that are inherited among humans, therefore are frequent targets in epidemiological studies. Aim: To correlate the ABO blood group susceptibility to disease severity in COVID-19-positive cases among Indian populations. Objectives: Association of ABO blood group patterns to disease severity in COVID-19-positive cases. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study design was conducted among 700 confirmed COVID-19-positive cases admitted to the tertiary health care center in Maharashtra, India. The data collected were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: Blood group ‘A’ positive was frequent (40%) in severe COVID-19 (E group) disease, and ‘O’ positive blood group was frequent in moderate COVID-19 disease (34.62%). Conclusion: ABO Blood grouping can be used as one of the efficient biomarker for COVID-19, thereby providing a new platform for therapeutic applications in the field of research.