Articles: coronavirus.
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Most COVID-19 infected individuals present with mild flu-like symptoms; however, 5-10% of cases suffer from life-threatening pneumonia and respiratory failure. The pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and its pathology of associated acute lung injury (ALI), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), sepsis, coagulopathy and multiorgan failure is not known. SARS-CoV-2 is an envelope virus with S (spike), M (membrane), N (nucleocapsid) and E (envelop) proteins. ⋯ Herein, we present arguments underlying our hypothesis that IL-1β and NETs, mediated via NLRP3 inflammasomes, form a feed-forward loop leading to the excessive alveolar and endothelial damage observed in severe cases of COVID-19. Considering such assertions, we propose potential drug candidates that could be used to alleviate such pathologies. Considering that recent efforts to ascertain effective treatments of COVID-19 in severe patients has been less than successful, investigating novel avenues of treating this virus are essential.
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Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic on 11 March 2020. Scientists and clinicians must acknowledge that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has the potential to attack the human body in multiple ways simultaneously and exploit any weaknesses of its host. A multipronged attack could potentially explain the severity and extensive variety of signs and symptoms observed in patients with COVID-19. ⋯ Initial multiple organ involvement may present with vague signs and symptoms to alert health care professionals early in the course of COVID-19. Another example of an ongoing, yet neglected element of the syndromic features of COVID-19, are the reported findings of loss of smell, altered taste, ataxia, headache, dizziness, and loss of consciousness, which suggest a potential for neural involvement. In this review, we further deliberate on the neuroinvasive potential of SARS-CoV-2, the neurologic symptomology observed in COVID-19, the host-virus interaction, possible routes of SARS-CoV-2 to invade the central nervous system, other neurologic considerations for patients with COVID-19, and a collective call to action.
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J Coll Physicians Surg Pak · Oct 2020
ReviewChloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19: Practice Implications for Healthcare Professionals.
Chloroquine (CQ) and its derivatives such as hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) remain mainstay of therapy for malaria. These drugs are also approved for certain autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus. The antiviral activities of these drugs and their mechanisms have been studied in vitro previously against various viruses including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). ⋯ The authors used the keywords to find the relevant studies, like COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, pandemic, complications, repositioning, toxicity, overdose, treatment plan, implication strategies, prevention, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, clinical trials, drug interactions, and practices advice, etc., in Pubmed and Google Scholar. This review aims to provide a detailed insight of practice implications related to these drugs, which would aid healthcare professionals to ensure the safe use of these drugs during the management of patients with COVID-19 disease. Key Words: Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Practice implications.
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Best Practice Recommendations for Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Patients with Suspected COVID-19.
Lung point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a critical tool for evaluating patients with dyspnea in the emergency department (ED), including patients with suspected coronavirus disease (COVID)-19. However, given the threat of nosocomial disease spread, the use of ultrasound is no longer risk free. ⋯ Lung POCUS can offer valuable clinical data when evaluating patients with COVID-19. Scanning protocols such as that presented here, which target clinical utility and decreased nosocomial disease spread, must be prioritized.
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Diabetes Obes Metab · Oct 2020
Meta AnalysisPrevalence of co-morbidities and their association with mortality in patients with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
To estimate the prevalence of both cardiometabolic and other co-morbidities in patients with COVID-19, and to estimate the increased risk of severity of disease and mortality in people with co-morbidities. ⋯ In individuals with COVID-19, the presence of co-morbidities (both cardiometabolic and other) is associated with a higher risk of severe COVID-19 and mortality. These findings have important implications for public health with regard to risk stratification and future planning.