Latent tuberculosis and COVID-19 disease

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, there has been chaos in the world. With the COVID-19 cases rising, many other medical diseases have been ignored and not prioritized. One of these crucial diseases is Tuberculosis (TB). TB is a highly infectious bacterial respiratory disease. Every year there are millions of cases that are registered all around the world. TB is seen in two forms, an active and a latent form. In both of the states, the individual with TB is immunocompromised. This is of great importance, as COVID-19 is known to readily infect individuals in an immunocompromised state more than those with a healthy immune system. Although a little investigation about coexisting infections with COVID-19 and TB is conducted, it is important to consider many factors that can be beneficial to help treat these patients with both conditions effectively and promptly. A few of these factors are pathophysiological relation, diagnostic measurements, effects of each condition on the other, and approaches to treatment. Through a literature review of available information, we summarized the knowledge regarding the correlation between Latent TB infection and COVID-19 infection. The main objective of this publication is to provide a brief overview of how the two conditions overlap with one another. The article also provides a clinical review of how to approach these two conditions in a scenario where an individual is found to be infected with both Latent TB and COVID-19.

Role of Selenium in Viral Infections with a Major Focus on SARS-CoV-2

Viral infections have afflicted human health and despite great advancements in scientific knowledge and technologies, continue to affect our society today. The current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has put a spotlight on the need to review the evidence on the impact of nutritional strategies to maintain a healthy immune system, particularly in instances where there are limited therapeutic treatments. Selenium, an essential trace element in humans, has a long history of lowering the occurrence and severity of viral infections. Much of the benefits derived from selenium are due to its incorporation into selenocysteine, an important component of proteins known as selenoproteins. Viral infections are associated with an increase in reactive oxygen species and may result in oxidative stress. Studies suggest that selenium deficiency alters immune response and viral infection by increasing oxidative stress and the rate of mutations in the viral genome, leading to an increase in pathogenicity and damage to the host. This review examines viral infections, including the novel SARS-CoV-2, in the context of selenium, in order to inform potential nutritional strategies to maintain a healthy immune system.

Changes in Dietary Patterns and Clinical Health Outcomes in Different Countries during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to an excess in community mortality across the globe. We review recent evidence on the clinical pathology of COVID-19, comorbidity factors, immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and factors influencing infection outcomes. The latter specifically includes diet and lifestyle factors during pandemic restrictions. We also cover the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through food products and the food chain, as well as virus persistence on different surfaces and in different environmental conditions, which were major public concerns during the initial days of the pandemic, but have since waned in public attention. We discuss useful measures to avoid the risk of SARS-CoV-2 spread through food, and approaches that may reduce the risk of contamination with the highly contagious virus. While hygienic protocols are required in food supply sectors, cleaning, disinfection, avoidance of cross-contamination across food categories, and foodstuffs at different stages of the manufacturing process are still particularly relevant because the virus persists at length on inert materials such as food packaging. Moreover, personal hygiene (frequent washing and disinfection), wearing gloves, and proper use of masks, clothes, and footwear dedicated to maintaining hygiene, provide on-site protections for food sector employees as well as supply chain intermediates and consumers. Finally, we emphasize the importance of following a healthy diet and maintaining a lifestyle that promotes physical well-being and supports healthy immune system function, especially when government movement restrictions (“lockdowns”) are implemented.

A Concise Review of Immune System and Natural Immune Modulators

Immunity is defined as resistance offered by the host against microbes and other foreign substances that prevent them from illness caused by these offending agents. The immune system is responsible for the identification and elimination of pathogens that invade the body before sickness and prevent the damage caused by them. Immunity to a particular disease is obtained by the presence of specific antibodies against that disease. Antibodies are proteins that the body produces to neutralize or kill pathogens or species carrying diseases. Antibodies are unique to diseases. A healthy immune system is highly essential and to strengthen the immunity, several dietary and lifestyle changes can reinforce the natural defences of the body and help fight injurious pathogens or organisms that cause sickness. Being a vast topic, full details of all mechanisms of the immune responses and immune therapies are beyond the scope of this article. This article aimed to provide the basic information and mechanisms involved in functioning of the immune system and its importance in health and disease. This review article highlights on basics of immunity and substances that can act as natural immunity boosters.

Preparation of Khoa by Traditional and Mechanical Methods

Khoa is a rich source of calcium which helps in strengthening of bones and teeth. It is helpful in osteoporosis and abundance of riboflavin in khoa helps to maintain healthy immune system. . The traditional method of khoa making has a number of drawbacks: It has a limited capacity due to batch operation which results in non-uniform product quality and thus not suitable for large volume production, inefficient use of energy and low heat transfer coefficient results in bulky equipment, large spillage losses, it requires more manual labor and sometimes burning of the product occurs which lowers its quality. In the present study a comparison between preparation of khoa by traditional method as well as mechanical method using steam jacketed khoa pan was carried out. Khoa was prepared by traditional method by stirring the raw milk continuously in a pan over a flame until the raw milk was converted into semi solid stage. The drawbacks such as vary in temperature during the experiment because of non-uniform distribution of flame and burn out of milk solids were identified in this method. This leads to burnt flavour and discolouration of khoa. To overcome these drawbacks of traditional method, khoa was made in a steam jacketed khoa pan installed at Dairy and Food Processing Pilot Plant, College of Agricultural Engineeering, Madakasira at a uniform pressure of about 1.5 kg/cm2. In this mechanical method, the khoa was prepared in less time as well as it has good appearance, flavour, texture etc. compared to khoa prepared by traditional method. In traditional method, about 0.242 kg of of khoa was obtained from 0.94 kg of raw milk with addition of 0.0925 kg of sugar while 11.50 kg of khoa was obtained from 40 litres of raw milk with addition of about 4 kg of sugar when khoa was made in steam jacketed khoa pan. In this mechanical method, the khoa was prepared in less time as well as it has good appearance, flavour, texture etc. compared to khoa prepared by traditional method.

Interferon Regulatory Factor 3 (IRF3) Characterisation in Four Mammalian Species Using Bioinformatics Method

IRF3 has gained recognition as a key transcriptional regulator of type1 interferon (IFN) gene expression which induces response to pathogenic infection. The advancement in technology and molecular biology has led to bioinformatics, this field is widely accepted because it is effective and saves time. This study made use of bioinformatics approach to identify and characterize IRF3 in four mammalian species namely: cattle, rabbit, pig and water buffalo. Evolutionary relationships inferred among the IRF3 of four mammalian and other species showed a high level of relatedness. Leucine was the most abundant residue while serine which plays a major role in maintenance of a healthy immune system was present in all the species. The information obtained in this study could serve as a guide when using the IRF3 gene as a marker to select animals for disease resistance because of the critical role they play in antiviral defense.

New approach to determine the healthy immune variations by combining clustering methods

Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases are characterized by variability in disease presentation and severity but studying it is a challenging task. Defining the limits of a healthy immune system is therefore a prior step to capture variability in disease conditions. The goal of this study is to characterize the global immune cell composition along with their influencing factors. Blood samples were collected from 2 independent cohorts of respectively 389 (exploratory) and 208 (replication) healthy subjects. Twelve immune cells were measured in blood together with biological parameters. Three complementary clustering approaches were used to evaluate if variability related to the immune cells could be characterized as clusters or as a continuum. Large coefficients of variation confirmed the inter-individual variability of immune cells. Considering all subset variations in an overall analysis, it appeared that the immune makeup was organized as a continuum through the two cohorts. Some intrinsic and environmental factors affected the inter-individual variability of cells but without unveiling separable groups with similar features. This study provides a framework based on complementary clustering approach for analyzing inter-individual variability of immune cells. Our analyses support the absence of clusters in our two healthy cohorts. Also, our study reports some influence of age, gender, BMI, cortisol, season and CMV infection on immune variability.

The Effect of Nutrition in Promoting the Immune System Against Diseases as (COVID 19)

A new virus strain spreading from person to person is the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Before you get sick, the diet's role in fostering a healthy immune system starts. Promoting a healthy immune system by eating a regular high-quality diet would make it quicker and easier to fend off disease. Immune function plays an important role in micronutrients and antioxidants, such as iron, zinc, vitamin D, vitamins A, E and C, and phytochemicals, including beta-carotene. A well-working immune system against diseases as COVID 19.

Concept of Rasayana: Unique Ayurvedic Approach in Preventing Infectious Diseases with Special Emphasis on COVID-19

Rasayana is one of the unique branches of Ayurveda & it is suggested to increase ojas. Modern scientific observation’s on Rasayana shows that rejuvenating drugs can protect the body against detrimental effects of the atmosphere in which we survive, by augmenting the individual’s capability to fight against disease-carrying organism through stimulating the immune system. The Rasayana therapy improves the merits of rasa, build up to it with nutrients so one can attain prolonged existence, memories, intellect, freedom from diseases, quality in lustre, complexion and voice, optimal improvement of physique and all sense organs. Rasayana is very useful to increase the immunity of the person to keep him away from disease. Rasayana herbs have antioxidant properties which prevent the damage caused by free radicals. According to Ayurveda, Rasayana brings about proper nourishment, growth &enhanced function of all sevens dhatus (tissues). Rejuvenation therapy affects body &mind at the same time it checks the effect of early ageing on both, and enhance the body’s resistance to disease. Considering the grave situation of COVID -19 where effective medicine is yet to be invented, one should develop a healthy immune system for survival. Rasayana drugs provide nutritional supplementation along with enhancing immunity to fight against viral infections such as COVID -19.