scholarly journals Saliva—Friend and Foe in the COVID-19 Outbreak

Diagnostics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pingping Han ◽  
Sašo Ivanovski

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a global ongoing pandemic. Timely, accurate and non-invasive SARS-CoV-2 detection in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, as well as determination of their immune status, will facilitate effective large-scale pandemic control measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Saliva is a biofluid whose anatomical source and location is of particularly strategic relevance to COVID-19 transmission and monitoring. This review focuses on the role of saliva as both a foe (a common mode of viral transmission via salivary droplets and potentially aerosols) and a friend (as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for viral detection and immune status surveillance) in combating COVID-19.

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Richard Avoi ◽  
Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim ◽  
Mohammad Saffree Jeffree ◽  
Visweswara Rao Pasupuleti

  Since the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic unfolded in China (Huang et al., 2020) back in December 2019, thus far, more than five million people were infected with the virus and 333,401 death were recorded worldwide (WHO, 2020b). The exponential increase in number shows that COVID-19 spreads faster compared to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). A study (Zou et al., 2020) has shown that high viral loads of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are detected in symptomatic patients soon after the onset of symptoms, wherein the load content is higher in their nose than in their throat. Furthermore, the same study has revealed similar viral loads between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Therefore, these findings may suggest the possibility of COVID-19 transmission earlier before the onset of symptoms itself. In the early stages of the pandemic, the control measures carried out have focused on screening of symptomatic person; at the time, the whole world thought that the spread of SARS-Cov-2 would only occur through symptomatic person-to-person transmission. In comparison, transmission in SARS would happen after the onset of illness, whereby the viral loads in the respiratory tract peaked around ten days after the development of symptoms by patients (Peiris et al., 2003). However, case detection for SARS (i.e. screening of symptomatic persons) will be grossly inadequate for the current COVID-19 pandemic, thus requiring different strategies to detect those infected with SARS-CoV-2 before they develop the symptoms.


Author(s):  
Oleg Viktorovich Solopov

This article is dedicated to examination of the characteristics of the doctrine of Raja yoga in interpretation Of M. V. Lodyzhensky. The goal consists in the analysis and reconstruction of the system of Raja yoga within the religious-ethical philosophy of the thinker. In the course of this research, the author resolves a number of problems: examines the system of primary elements of religious-ethical philosophy of M. V. Lodyzhensky; analyzes the sources that affected the formation of views of the philosopher upon Raja yoga; reveals main characteristics of the system of Raja yoga within Lodyzhensky’s philosophy; determines the peculiarities of religious-mystical practice of Raja yoga in the philosophy of M. V. Lodyzhensky; defines the role of Raja-yoga within the system of religious-ethical philosophy of the thinker. The novelty lies in determination of the novel in comparison to the existing in scientific literature categories of M. V. Lodyzhensky’s philosophy and their analysis in the context of system of fundamental sections of philosophical knowledge (ontology, theology, anthropology, epistemology, axiology, ethics); as well as in comprehensive study of the system of Raja yoga in interpretation Of M. V. Lodyzhensky and determination of its role within the structure of his philosophy. It is established that the “core” of the system of religious-ethical philosophy of M. V. Lodyzhensky is the ethics develop ethics and axiology of Hesychasm developed by him. It is proven that the system of metaphysical categories and ideas of the thinker is of synthetic nature and leans on various cultural trends and traditions. The article demonstrates that special role within the system of Lodyzhensky’s philosophy is played by the apologetics of Hesychasm that implies critical review of the non-Christian mystical practices, among which is the examination of Raja yoga. The author underlines the uniqueness of interpretation of Raja yoga in the philosophy M. V. Lodyzhensky, as well as provides critical assessment to his interpretation of the system of Raja yoga.


2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 2001483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Lonergan ◽  
James D. Chalmers

By 21 May 2020, severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) had caused more than 5 million cases of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) across more than 200 countries. Most countries with significant outbreaks have introduced social distancing or “lockdown” measures to reduce viral transmission. So the key question now is when, how and to what extent these measures can be lifted.Publicly available data on daily numbers of newly confirmed cases and mortality were used to fit regression models estimating trajectories, doubling times and the reproduction number (R0) of the disease, before and under the control measures. These data ran up to 21 May 2020, and were sufficient for analysis in 89 countries.The estimates of R0 before lockdown based on these data were broadly consistent with those previously published: between 2.0 and 3.7 in the countries with the largest number of cases available for analysis (USA, Italy, Spain, France and UK). There was little evidence to suggest that the restrictions had reduced R far below 1 in many places, with France having the most rapid reductions: R0 0.76 (95% CI 0.72–0.82) based on cases, and 0.77 (95% CI 0.73–0.80) based on mortality.Intermittent lockdown has been proposed as a means of controlling the outbreak while allowing periods of increased freedom and economic activity. These data suggest that few countries could have even 1 week per month unrestricted without seeing resurgence of the epidemic. Similarly, restoring 20% of the activity that has been prevented by the lockdowns looks difficult to reconcile with preventing the resurgence of the disease in most countries.


2020 ◽  
Vol 217 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars M. Koenig ◽  
Daniel F.R. Boehmer ◽  
Philipp Metzger ◽  
Max Schnurr ◽  
Stefan Endres ◽  
...  

An exacerbated and unbalanced immune response may account for the severity of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2. In this Viewpoint, we summarize recent evidence for the role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and propose CXCR2 inhibition as a promising treatment option to block neutrophil recruitment and activation.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Vezoli ◽  
Martin Vinck ◽  
Conrado A. Bosman ◽  
Andre M. Bastos ◽  
Christopher M Lewis ◽  
...  

What is the relationship between anatomical connection strength and rhythmic synchronization? Simultaneous recordings of 15 cortical areas in two macaque monkeys show that interareal networks are functionally organized in spatially distinct modules with specific synchronization frequencies, i.e. frequency-specific functional connectomes. We relate the functional interactions between 91 area pairs to their anatomical connection strength defined in a separate cohort of twenty six subjects. This reveals that anatomical connection strength predicts rhythmic synchronization and vice-versa, in a manner that is specific for frequency bands and for the feedforward versus feedback direction, even if interareal distances are taken into account. These results further our understanding of structure-function relationships in large-scale networks covering different modality-specific brain regions and provide strong constraints on mechanistic models of brain function. Because this approach can be adapted to non-invasive techniques, it promises to open new perspectives on the functional organization of the human brain.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Cotten ◽  
Dan Lule Bugembe ◽  
Pontiano Kaleebu ◽  
My V T Phan

Abstract As the world is struggling to control the novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), there is an urgency to develop effective control measures. Essential information is encoded in the virus genome sequence with accurate and complete SARS-CoV-2 sequences essential for tracking the movement and evolution of the virus and for guiding efforts to develop vaccines and antiviral drugs. While there is unprecedented SARS-CoV-2 sequencing efforts globally, approximately 19 to 43% of the genomes generated monthly are gapped, reducing their information content. The current study documents the genome gap frequencies and their positions in the currently available data and provides an alternative primer set and a sequencing scheme to help improve the quality and coverage of the genomes.


Author(s):  
Fera Seferova

The study of interrelation between folklore and literature is one of the most relevant trends in literary studies. Folk poetic symbols as the genetic memory of the nation infiltrate consciousness not only as artistic material, but also as a emotions that awaken the writer’s imagination, giving rise to various associations. The subject of this research is the creative activity of folklore is in the works of the Crimean Tatar children's writers. Examination of the folklore-mythological context, determination of the peculiarities of transformation of folklore motifs in a literary reveals the creative laboratory, allowing determining the specificities of personal reflection of the writer, as well as tracing the psychological patterns of the creative process, and the evolution of artistic thinking overall. The scientific novelty is defined by the absence within Russian literary studies of monographic and significant critical works on determination of the folklore-mythological context, transformation, functionality, and interpretation of folklore elements in works of the writers. The conclusion is made that folklore as part of the culture of a particular nation, is an organic element of the artistic world of the Crimean Tatar writers, such as E. Amit and T. Khalilov. The novel by E. Amit presents the new comprehension of myths, paroemias, and legends. An example of interaction of the mythological views and modern perspective in the novel “Last Chance” is the folk legend on the “happy and unhappy stars”. It also encompasses such ancient forms of folklore as cursing and benevolence, as well as the elements that take roots in the ancient taboos, the period of totemism. In the psychological prose by T. Khalilov, an important role is played by the symbolism of birds and plants. The ancient legend of the winged horse Duldul organically intertwines with the author's creative idea without losing its specificity.


1995 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 300-304
Author(s):  
M. Fini ◽  
G. Vagliani

From September 1992 to February 1994, 1441 men aged between 50 and 70 years underwent screening with PSA and ER measurement for early diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma. A neoplasm was diagnosed in 1.73% (25/1441) of cases, which being found at an early stage, made it possible to perform prostatectomy and radical radiotherapy on 37.5% and 16.6% of patients respectively. The incidence of the disease was higher than in a previous screening with just ER dosage (1.73% vs 1.1%). Combined PSA and ER also gave higher sensitivity, specificity, overall accuracy and predictiveness compared to the methods taken individually. This combination seems preferable, in view of the greater efficacy and “practicability” compared to protocols which involve the use of USTR, which is less practicable on a large scale due to the length of time required and high costs. The utility of periodic determination of PSA levels in those over fifty years old is emphasised, both for oncological screening controls and to increase the diagnostic accuracy of other clinical tests.


Polymers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Wang ◽  
Yu-Ke Wu ◽  
Fang-Fang Ai ◽  
Jie Fan ◽  
Zhao-Peng Xia ◽  
...  

Porous polym er materials have received great interest in both academic and industrial fields due to their wide range of applications. In this work, a porous polyamide 6 (PA6) material was prepared by a facile solution foaming strategy. In this approach, a sodium carbonate (SC) aqueous solution acted as the foaming agent that reacted with formic acid (FA), generating CO2 and causing phase separation of polyamide (PA). The influence of the PA/FA solution concentration and Na2CO3 concentration on the microstructures and physical properties of prepared PA foams were investigated, respectively. PA foams showed a hierarchical porous structure along the foaming direction. The mean pore dimension ranged from hundreds of nanometers to several microns. Low amounts of sodium salt generated from a neutralization reaction played an important role of heterogeneous nucleation, which increased the crystalline degree of PA foams. The porous PA materials exhibited low thermal conductivity, high crystallinity and good mechanical properties. The novel strategy in this work could produce PA foams on a large scale for potential engineering applications.


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