scholarly journals Convalescent Plasma Transfusion for the Treatment of COVID-19 in Adults: A Global Perspective

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 849
Author(s):  
Saly Kanj ◽  
Basem Al-Omari

More than one year into the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, healthcare systems across the world continue to be overwhelmed with soaring daily cases. The treatment spectrum primarily includes ventilation support augmented with repurposed drugs and/or convalescent plasma transfusion (CPT) from recovered COVID-19 patients. Despite vaccine variants being recently developed and administered in several countries, challenges in global supply chain logistics limit their timely availability to the wider world population, particularly in developing countries. Given the measured success of conventional CPT in treating several infections over the past decade, recent studies have reported its effectiveness in decreasing the duration and severity of COVID-19 symptoms. In this review, we conduct a literature search of published studies investigating the use of CPT to treat COVID-19 patients from January 2020 to January 2021. The literature search identified 181 records of which 39 were included in this review. A random-effects model was used to aggregate data across studies, and mortality rates of 17 vs. 32% were estimated for the CPT and control patient groups, respectively, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.49. The findings indicate that CPT shows potential in reducing the severity and duration of COVID-19 symptoms. However, early intervention (preferably within 3 days), recruitment of donors, and plasma potency introduce major challenges for its scaled-up implementation. Given the low number of existing randomized clinical trials (RCTs, four with a total of 319 patients), unanticipated risks to CPT recipients are highlighted and discussed. Nevertheless, CPT remains a promising COVID-19 therapeutic option that merits internationally coordinated RCTs to achieve a scientific risk–benefit consensus.

2021 ◽  
Vol 07 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saurabh Kumar ◽  
Sakshi Sudha ◽  
Madhu Chopra ◽  
Famida Khan ◽  
Kanupriya Sharma

Background: Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), a highly contagious ssRNA +Ve sense virus that emerged in late 2019, has created a global panic. With no effective therapy available, the virus has significantly affected the world population causing millions of death. Therefore, it is the utmost need to look towards all the possible strategies to benefit the community. Objectives: In view of the current global pandemic, we tried to discuss the potential benefits of two cost-effective alternative approaches, i.e., physical exercise and yoga. Method: The editorial is based on a literature search available on PubMed, Google Scholar, and WHO portal. Search terminologies include “yoga”, “physical exercise”, “COVID-19”, “viral infections”, and a combination of these words. Results: A literature search defines yoga and physical exercise efficacy in different viral diseases, including HIV, influenza, and HSV. It ameliorates the quality of life (QoL) by improving both the physical and mental wellbeing of an individual. This is mainly done by promoting the better functioning of the immune system (increases CD4+ and CD8+ cells and reduces pro-inflammatory response). Conclusions: Regular involvement of these activities in day-to-day life may limit latent virus reactivations and reduce infection chances.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-76
Author(s):  
A. Gunst ◽  
◽  
D. Ventus ◽  
J. Antfolk ◽  
A. Kärnä ◽  
...  

Objective: Female sexual dysfunctions (FSDs; difficulties related to sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and pain) are prevalent and associated with both relationship quality and overall wellbeing. Psychobehavioral interventions are widely used to treat FSDs; however, little is known about the effectiveness of these interventions. Our objective was to conduct a meta-analysis on existing randomized clinical trials of psychobehavioral treatment interventions for FSDs. Design and Method: We used the electronic databases PubMed and PsycINFO in the search of relevant studies. One researcher conducted the literature search in June 2015. The search yielded 1235 hits in PubMed and 789 hits in PsycINFO. Abstract and/or title analysis reduced the possibly relevant studies to 104. A review of the reference lists in these studies was subsequently carried out. Data of interest were coded by one researcher. In order to evaluate the accuracy of the coding, an interrater reliability test was carried out on a randomly selected part of the data. Before analyzing, another search was carried out in order to find studies published after the original literature search. Results: We calculated effect sizes expressing the difference between treatment and control group scores. At present, data analyses are still in progress. Conclusions: This is, to our knowledge, the first meta-analysis of psychobehavioral treatment for FSDs that includes more recent studies, published after 2009.


Author(s):  
Hong Huang ◽  
Yi Wang ◽  
Zhenfeng Wang ◽  
Zhenzhen Liang ◽  
Shugen Qu ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amritpal Kaur ◽  
Gaurav Chaudhary ◽  
Pargat Singh ◽  
Sandeep Arora ◽  
Rajwinder Kaur

Objective:: Early in December 2019, a mass of sufferers with Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (SAS-CoV-19) in Wuhan (China) roused worldwide concern. Hardly any drugs showed the light of hope concerning the depletion in the period of treatment and virological suppression is troubled. Furthermore, numerous sufferers have undergone off-label use or compassionate use treatments as well as antiretroviral, antiparasitic agents, anti-inflammatory compounds, and convales-cent plasma in either oral/parenteral route. This study aims to compile and analyze the efficient value of Remdesivir and Hydroxychloroquine and give an insight to their drug profile in the treatment and management of COVID-19 patients. Method:: The literature search from PubMed, Crossref, Springer, Bentham Sciences, Google Scholar, DOAJ, ScienceDirect, and MEDLINE by using keywords like COVID-19, SAS-COV-2, Remdesivir, and hydroxychloroquine was done and ap-propriate peer-reviewed review articles, as well as research articles, were included and compiled in this review paper. The figures were prepared by using ChemOffice 2016 (ChemDraw Professional 2016) and Microsoft Office. Results:: The results of this study indicate that remdesivir in 5/10 studies from collected literature show a reduction in time of recovery and 5/10 shows no variance and having limitations. However, 6/12 shows an increase in the survival/reduction in time of recovery and 6/12 shows no effect or has limitations in the case of hydroxychloroquine. Conclusion:: There is a need to assess more pharmacokinetics and randomized controlled trials (RCT) for both remdesivir and hydroxychloroquine. Furthermore, studies should be conducted in different combinations along with hydroxychloro-quine and remdesivir to get efficient results.


Author(s):  
Ekta Shirbhate ◽  
Preeti Patel ◽  
Vijay K Patel ◽  
Ravichandran Veerasamy ◽  
Prabodh C Sharma ◽  
...  

: The novel coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), a global pandemic that emerged from Wuhan, China has today travelled all around the world, so far 216 countries or territories with 21,732,472 people infected and 770,866 deaths globally (as per WHO COVID-19 update dated August 18, 2020). Continuous efforts are being made to repurpose the existing drugs and develop vaccines for combating this infection. Despite, to date, no certified antiviral treatment or vaccine prevails. Although, few candidates have displayed their efficacy in in vitro studies and are being repurposed for COVID-19 treatment. This article summarizes synthetic and semi-synthetic compounds displaying potent activity in their clinical experiences or studies against COVID-19 and also focuses on mode of action of drugs being repositioned against COVID-19.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Quraish Sserwanja ◽  
Mohammed Bashir Adam ◽  
Joseph Kawuki ◽  
Emmanuel Olal

AbstractThe novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first reported in Sudan on 13 March 2020. Since then, Sudan has experienced one of the highest rates of COVID-19 spread and fatalities in Africa. One year later, as per 22 March 2021, Sudan had registered 29,661 confirmed cases and 2,028 deaths with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 6.8 %. By 12 December 2020, of the 18 states in Sudan, South Kordofan had the fifth highest CFR of 17.4 %, only surpassed by the other conflict affected North (57.5 %), Central (50.0 %) and East (31.8 %) Darfur States. By late March 2021, just three months from December 2020, the number of cases in South Kordofan increased by 100 %, but with a significant decline in the CFR from 17.4 to 8.5 %. South Kordofan is home to over 200,000 poor and displaced people from years of destructive civil unrests. To date, several localities such as the Nubba mountains region remain under rebel control and are not accessible. South Kordofan State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the federal government and non-governmental organizations set up four isolation centres with 40 total bed capacity, but with only two mechanical ventilators and no testing centre. There is still need for further multi-sectoral coalition and equitable allocation of resources to strengthen the health systems of rural and conflict affected regions. This article aims at providing insight into the current state of COVID-19 in South Kordofan amidst the second wave to address the dearth of COVID-19 information in rural and conflict affected regions.


Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 719
Author(s):  
Shahrooz Rahmati ◽  
William Doherty ◽  
Arman Amani Babadi ◽  
Muhamad Syamim Akmal Che Mansor ◽  
Nurhidayatullaili Muhd Julkapli ◽  
...  

The environmental crisis, due to the rapid growth of the world population and globalisation, is a serious concern of this century. Nanoscience and nanotechnology play an important role in addressing a wide range of environmental issues with innovative and successful solutions. Identification and control of emerging chemical contaminants have received substantial interest in recent years. As a result, there is a need for reliable and rapid analytical tools capable of performing sample analysis with high sensitivity, broad selectivity, desired stability, and minimal sample handling for the detection, degradation, and removal of hazardous contaminants. In this review, various gold–carbon nanocomposites-based sensors/biosensors that have been developed thus far are explored. The electrochemical platforms, synthesis, diverse applications, and effective monitoring of environmental pollutants are investigated comparatively.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 126
Author(s):  
Hai-Feng Ling ◽  
Zheng-Lian Su ◽  
Xun-Lin Jiang ◽  
Yu-Jun Zheng

In a large-scale epidemic, such as the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19), there is huge demand for a variety of medical supplies, such as medical masks, ventilators, and sickbeds. Resources from civilian medical services are often not sufficient for fully satisfying all of these demands. Resources from military medical services, which are normally reserved for military use, can be an effective supplement to these demands. In this paper, we formulate a problem of integrated civilian-military scheduling of medical supplies for epidemic prevention and control, the aim of which is to simultaneously maximize the overall satisfaction rate of the medical supplies and minimize the total scheduling cost, while keeping a minimum ratio of medical supplies reservation for military use. We propose a multi-objective water wave optimization (WWO) algorithm in order to efficiently solve this problem. Computational results on a set of problem instances constructed based on real COVID-19 data demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.


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