scholarly journals Scientifically unproven treatments for COVID-19

Bionatura ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 1295-1296
Author(s):  
Martín S. Marcial-Coba
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Antiviral Activity ◽  
Antiviral Drug ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Safety And Efficacy ◽  
Robust System ◽  
First Time

Detected for the first time in late December 2019, a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is the causative agent of an international outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In late August 2020, approx. 24 000 000 cases, including 815 038 deaths, have been confirmed worldwide1. The WHO declared the outbreak of COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and it has been proposed that its spread may be interrupted by early detection, isolation, the implementation of a robust system to trace contacts, and a prompt treatment2. Nevertheless, there has not yet been any vaccine or effective treatment that has received approval3. Despite this, the FDA has recently issued an emergency use authorization for the investigational antiviral drug Remdesivir to treat COVID-19 in patients with severe disease4. Although there is still limited information regarding the safety and efficacy of this novel prodrug, it has shown potent in vitro antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 isolates, and therapeutic efficacy in animal models5.

scholarly journals Antiviral activity of 5-aminolevulinic acid against variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

2022 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mya Myat Ngwe Tun ◽  
Takaya Sakura ◽  
Yasuteru Sakurai ◽  
Yohei Kurosaki ◽  
Daniel Ken Inaoka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Antiviral Activity ◽  
Aminolevulinic Acid ◽  
Antiviral Drug ◽  
Antiviral Effect ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Ferrous Citrate ◽  
Virus Inhibition

Abstract Background Genetic variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) began to emerge in 2020 and have been spreading globally during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite the presence of different COVID-19 vaccines, the discovery of effective antiviral therapeutics for the treatment of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 are still urgently needed. A natural amino acid, 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), has exhibited both antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities. In a previous study, we demonstrated an in vitro antiviral effect of 5-ALA against SARS-CoV-2 infection without significant cytotoxicity. In the present study, we sought to investigate whether 5-ALA with or without sodium ferrous citrate (SFC) can inhibit in vitro both the original SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain and its variants, including the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta strains. Methods The antiviral activity of ALA with or without SFC was determined in Vero-E6 cell. The virus inhibition was quantified by real time RT-PCR. Results Co-administration of 5-ALA and SFC inhibited the Wuhan, Alpha and Delta variants of SARS-CoV-2 with IC50 values of 235, 173 and 397 µM, respectively, and the Beta and Gamma variants with IC50 values of 1311 and 1516 µM. Conclusion Our study suggests that 5-ALA with SFC warrants accelerated clinical evaluation as an antiviral drug candidate for treating patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 variants.

scholarly journals Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Strategies and Nucleoside Analogues

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 667
Author(s):  
Robert J. Geraghty ◽  
Matthew T. Aliota ◽  
Laurent F. Bonnac
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Broad Spectrum ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Fast Response ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Nucleoside Analogues ◽  
The Family ◽  
Antiviral Nucleoside

The emergence or re-emergence of viruses with epidemic and/or pandemic potential, such as Ebola, Zika, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 1 and 2 (SARS and SARS-CoV-2) viruses, or new strains of influenza represents significant human health threats due to the absence of available treatments. Vaccines represent a key answer to control these viruses. However, in the case of a public health emergency, vaccine development, safety, and partial efficacy concerns may hinder their prompt deployment. Thus, developing broad-spectrum antiviral molecules for a fast response is essential to face an outbreak crisis as well as for bioweapon countermeasures. So far, broad-spectrum antivirals include two main categories: the family of drugs targeting the host-cell machinery essential for virus infection and replication, and the family of drugs directly targeting viruses. Among the molecules directly targeting viruses, nucleoside analogues form an essential class of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs. In this review, we will discuss the interest for broad-spectrum antiviral strategies and their limitations, with an emphasis on virus-targeted, broad-spectrum, antiviral nucleoside analogues and their mechanisms of action.

COVID 19 and its management

2021 ◽  
pp. 117-121
Author(s):  
Subhashis Debnath ◽  
Runa Chakravorty ◽  
Donita Devi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽  
Respiratory Distress ◽  
Distress Syndrome ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

In December 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2, a novel coronavirus, initiated an outbreak of pneumonia from Wuhan in China, which rapidly spread worldwide. The outbreak was declared as “a public health emergency of international concern” by the WHO on January 30, 2020, and as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The disease is transmitted by inhalation or contact with infected droplets and the incubation period ranges from 2 to 14 d. The symptoms are usually fever, cough, sore throat, breathlessness, fatigue, malaise among others. The disease is mild in most people; in some (usually the elderly and those with comorbidities), it may progress to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multi organ dysfunction. Many people are asymptomatic. The virus spreads faster than its two ancestors the SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), but has lower fatality.

Qua pote quisque, in ea conterat arte diem: COVID-19 and Australian and New Zealand intensive care

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-104
Author(s):  
Andrew Udy ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Health Care Practice

The current global severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has thrust intensive care medicine to the forefront of health care practice in Australia and New Zealand. Indeed, reports from other countries and jurisdictions convey highly confronting statistics about the scale of this public health emergency, particularly in terms of the demand on intensive care unit (ICU)services. Whether this occurs here remains to be seen, although if such a scenario does eventuate, it will represent an unprecedented challenge to our community. In parallel, these events offer the opportunity for greater coordination, improved communication, and innovation in clinical care, which are principles that in many ways define our specialty.

scholarly journals Is hydroxychloroquine beneficial for COVID-19 patients?

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing Li ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
Patrizia Agostinis ◽  
Arnold Rabson ◽  
Gerry Melino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Emergency Care ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Effective Drugs

Abstract The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in December 2019. As similar cases rapidly emerged around the world1–3, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020 and pronounced the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic on March 11, 20204. The virus has reached almost all countries of the globe. As of June 3, 2020, the accumulated confirmed cases reached 6,479,405 with more than 383,013 deaths worldwide. The urgent and emergency care of COVID-19 patients calls for effective drugs, in addition to the beneficial effects of remdesivir5, to control the disease and halt the pandemic.

scholarly journals Is there an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on male fertility? The ACE2 connection

2020 ◽  
Vol 318 (6) ◽  
pp. E878-E880 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johnny S. Younis ◽  
Zaid Abassi ◽  
Karl Skorecki
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme ◽  
Reproductive System ◽  
Male Fertility ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Converting Enzyme ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Main Host

The viral pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), generated by a novel mutated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), has become a serious worldwide public health emergency, evolving exponentially. While the main organ targeted in this disease is the lungs, other vital organs, such as the heart and kidney, may be implicated. The main host receptor of the SARS-CoV-2 is angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a major component of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). The ACE2 is also involved in testicular male regulation of steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis. As the SARS-CoV-2 may have the potential to infect the testis via ACE2 and adversely affect male reproductive system, it is essential to commence with targeted studies to learn from the current pandemic, with the possibility of preemptive intervention, depending on the findings and time course of the continuing pandemic.

scholarly journals Ribavirin InhibitsIn VitroHepatitis E Virus Replication through Depletion of Cellular GTP Pools and Is Moderately Synergistic with Alpha Interferon

2013 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 267-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yannick Debing ◽  
Suzanne U. Emerson ◽  
Yijin Wang ◽  
Qiuwei Pan ◽  
Jan Balzarini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antiviral Activity ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Clinical Effectiveness ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Alpha Interferon ◽  
Chronic Infections ◽  
Genotype 3 ◽  
Subgenomic Replicon ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACTHepatitis E virus (HEV) is a common cause of acute hepatitis that results in high mortality in pregnant women and may establish chronic infections in immunocompromised patients. We demonstrate for the first time that alpha interferon (IFN-α) and ribavirin inhibitin vitroHEV replication in both a subgenomic replicon and an infectious culture system based on a genotype 3 strain. IFN-α showed a moderate but significant synergism with ribavirin. These findings corroborate the reported clinical effectiveness of both drugs. In addition, the antiviral activity of ribavirin against wild-type genotype 1, 2, and 3 strains was confirmed by immunofluorescence staining. Furthermore, thein vitroactivity of ribavirin depends on depletion of intracellular GTP pools, which is evident from the facts that (i) other GTP-depleting agents (5-ethynyl-1-β-d-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carboxamide [EICAR] and mycophenolic acid) inhibit viral replication, (ii) exogenously added guanosine reverses the antiviral effects, and (iii) a strong correlation (R2= 0.9998) exists between the antiviral activity and GTP depletion of ribavirin and other GTP-depleting agents.

scholarly journals Antiviral Activity of Favipiravir (T-705) against a Broad Range of ParamyxovirusesIn Vitroand against Human Metapneumovirus in Hamsters

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (8) ◽  
pp. 4620-4629 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Jochmans ◽  
S. van Nieuwkoop ◽  
S. L. Smits ◽  
J. Neyts ◽  
R. A. M. Fouchier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antiviral Activity ◽  
Measles Virus ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Antiviral Drug ◽  
Specific Effect ◽  
Human Metapneumovirus ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Emerging Viruses ◽  
Syncytial Virus

ABSTRACTThe clinical impact of infections with respiratory viruses belonging to the familyParamyxoviridaeargues for the development of antiviral therapies with broad-spectrum activity. Favipiravir (T-705) has demonstrated potent antiviral activity against multiple RNA virus families and is presently in clinical evaluation for the treatment of influenza. Here we demonstratein vitroactivity of T-705 against the paramyxoviruses human metapneumovirus (HMPV), respiratory syncytial virus, human parainfluenza virus, measles virus, Newcastle disease virus, and avian metapneumovirus. In addition, we demonstrate activity against HMPV in hamsters. T-705 treatment inhibited replication of all paramyxoviruses testedin vitro, with 90% effective concentration (EC90) values of 8 to 40 μM. Treatment of HMPV-challenged hamsters with T-705 at 200 mg/kg of body weight/day resulted in 100% protection from infection of the lungs. In all treated and challenged animals, viral RNA remained detectable in the respiratory tract. The observation that T-705 treatment had a significant effect on infectious viral titers, with a limited effect on viral genome titers, is in agreement with its proposed mode of action of viral mutagenesis. However, next-generation sequencing of viral genomes isolated from treated and challenged hamsters did not reveal (hyper)mutation. Polymerase activity assays revealed a specific effect of T-705 on the activity of the HMPV polymerase. With the reported antiviral activity of T-705 against a broad range of RNA virus families, this small molecule is a promising broad-range antiviral drug candidate for limiting the viral burden of paramyxoviruses and for evaluation for treatment of infections with (re)emerging viruses, such as the henipaviruses.

scholarly journals Dual Inhibition of Human Rhinovirus 2A and 3C Proteases by Homophthalimides

1998 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 916-920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. May Wang ◽  
Robert B. Johnson ◽  
Louis N. Jungheim ◽  
Jeffrey D. Cohen ◽  
Elcira C. Villarreal
Keyword(s):  
Antiviral Activity ◽  
Viral Replication ◽  
Enzyme Inhibitor ◽  
Antiviral Drug ◽  
3C Protease ◽  
Dependent Inhibition ◽  
Dual Inhibition ◽  
2A Protease

ABSTRACT The 2A and 3C proteases encoded by human rhinoviruses (HRVs) are attractive targets for antiviral drug development due to their important roles in viral replication. Homophthalimides were originally identified as inhibitors of rhinovirus 3C protease through our screening effort. Previous studies have indicated that the antiviral activity of certain homophthalimides exceeded their in vitro inhibitory activity against the viral 3C protease, suggesting that an additional mechanism might be involved. Reported here is the identification of homophthalimides as potent inhibitors for another rhinovirus protease, designated 2A. Several homophthalimides exhibit time-dependent inhibition of the 2A protease in the low-micromolar range, and enzyme-inhibitor complexes were identified by mass spectrometry. Compound LY343814, one of the most potent inhibitors against HRV14 2A protease, had an antiviral 50% inhibitory concentration of 4.2 μM in the cell-based assay. Our data reveal that homophthalimides are not only 3C but also 2A protease inhibitors in vitro, implying that the antiviral activity associated with these compounds might result from inactivation of both 2A and 3C proteases in vivo. Since the processing of the viral polyprotein is hierarchical, dual inhibition of the two enzymes may result in cooperative inhibition of viral replication. On the basis of the current understanding of their enzyme inhibitory mechanism, homophthalimides, as a group of novel nonpeptidic antirhinovirus agents, merit further structure-action relationship studies.

scholarly journals Combined Homeopathy and Allopathy Treatment for COVID-19: A Review

2020 ◽  
pp. S38-S45
Author(s):  
Md Irfanul Haque ◽  
Aqib Adnan Shafin ◽  
Md Mahmud
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Causative Agent ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
Treatment Approaches ◽  
Novel Virus ◽  
Health Organization

At the end of 2019, an outburst of a novel virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was observed in Wuhan, China. World Health Organization proclaimed this upsurge as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30th January 2020. In this article, epidemiology, the causative agent, pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and its treatment approaches like homeopathy and allopathy are reviewed. However, our main focus was to collect and visualize some data which bring evidence that combined homeopathy and allopathy treatment can help to cure COVID-19. Bangladesh Journal of Infectious Diseases, October 2020;7(suppl_2):S38-S45

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