Search

As the protective mask available in the market claims only for bacterial filtration efficiency and does not guarantee the virus protection since the size of the virus is much smaller than the pore of the material used in the mask. An effective virus protective face mask was developed using activated nano silver technology. The five layers mask was developed wherein the first and fifth layer was coated with activated nanosilver to impart the antibacterial and antiviral properties. The developed mask (RR+++ 108) has been tested for a reduction in various pathogens. It was found that the developed mask has 99.9% bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE);; 96.3% particulate filtration efficiency (PFE);; 99.4% virus reduction efficiency (VRE);; 99.9% virus filteration efficiency (VFE);; 64.8 % fungus reduction efficiency;; and also resistance to MILD DEW and ROT up to 96 hours. It has also been found to be very effective against H3N2 INFLUENZA A VIRUS, HCOV 229E, which are from the enveloped family similar to SARS COV 2. The developed mask has shown virus reduction in just 30 seconds only. It is comfortable to wear for a long duration of time up to 8hrs and is Hypoallergenic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conceptualize a decentralized software application as one constituted from autonomous agents that communicate via asynchronous messaging. Modern software paradigms such as microservices and settings such as the Internet of Things evidence a growing interest in decentralized applications. Constructing a decentralized application involves designing agents as independent local computations that coordinate successfully to realize the application’s requirements. Moreover, a decentralized application is susceptible to faults manifested as message loss, delay, and reordering. We contribute Mandrake, a programming model for decentralized applications that tackles these challenges without relying on infrastructure guarantees. Specifically, we adopt the construct of an information protocol that specifies messaging between agents purely in causal terms and can be correctly enacted by agents in a shared-nothing environment over nothing more than unreliable, unordered transport. Mandrake facilitates (1) implementing protocol-compliant agents by introducing a programming model; (2) transforming protocols into fault-tolerant ones with simple annotations; and (3) a declarative policy language that makes it easy to implement fault-tolerance in agents based on the capabilities in protocols. Mandrake’s significance lies in demonstrating a straightforward approach for constructing decentralized applications without relying on coordination mechanisms in the infrastructure, thus achieving some of the goals of the founders of networked computing from the 1970s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pneumocystis jirovecii (P. jirovecii) is increasingly identified on lower respiratory tract specimens of COVID-19 patients. Our narrative review aims to determine whether the diagnosis of pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) in COVID-19 patients represents coinfection or colonization based on the evidence available in the literature. We also discuss the decision to treat COVID-19 patients with coinfection by PJP. Methods: A literature search was performed through the Pubmed and Web of Science databases from inception to March 10, 2021. Results: We identified 12 COVID-19 patients suspected to have PJP coinfection. All patients were critically ill and required mechanical ventilation. Many were immunosuppressed from HIV or long-term corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive agents. In both the HIV and non-HIV groups, severe lymphocytopenia was encountered with absolute lymphocyte and CD4+T cell count less than 900 and 200 cells/mm, respectively. The time to PJP diagnosis from the initial presentation was 7.8 (range 2–21) days. Serum lactate dehydrogenase and beta-D-glucan were elevated in those coinfected with PJP. All patients were treated with anti-PJP therapy, predominantly sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim with corticosteroids. The overall mortality rate was 41.6%, and comparable for both HIV and non-HIV groups. Conclusion: As the current evidence is restricted to case reports, the true incidence, risk factors, and prognosis of COVID-19 patients with PJP coinfections cannot be accurately determined. Comorbidities of poorly controlled HIV with lymphocytopenia and multiple immunosuppressive therapies are likely predisposing factors for PJP coinfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• COVID-19 pneumonia and organizing pneumonia can manifest with subacute respiratory symptoms and cause delayed respiratory failure, often indistinguishable based on radiological features. • Histopathological findings of organizing pneumonia cannot confidently rule out COVID-19 pneumonia as organizing pneumonia is a known complication of many viral diseases, resulting from the immunologic response towards viral-induced lung injury. • Identifying organizing pneumonia as a complication of COVID-19 pneumonia as opposed to two distinct entities is vital as COVID-19 patients diagnosed with secondary organizing pneumonia require a high dose and prolonged duration of corticosteroid therapy. • Secondary organizing pneumonia in COVID-19 patients remained under-recognized, leading to a high rate of relapses during the weaning and cessation of corticosteroid therapy. Multiple observational studies have described the similarities between COVID-19 pneumonia and organizing pneumonia (OP). These two entities clinically manifest with mild and subacute respiratory symptoms, often with a delayed diagnosis due to the atypical ARDS and silent hypoxemia presentation. Radiological features are often indistinguishable between the two. With the increase in antemortem lung biopsies and autopsies being performed, more histopathological findings of OP and its variant, acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP), are being diagnosed. These entities are known complications of viral infections as a delayed immunological process, explaining the favorable response to corticosteroids. Clinicians should be vigilant to diagnose this under-recognized entity of secondary OP in people with COVID-19 when clinical deterioration occurs, especially with compatible radiologic findings and recent cessation of corticosteroids. Despite the proven benefits of corticosteroids in treating COVID-19, treatment approaches can be more effective as OP often requires higher doses and a more prolonged therapy duration for remission and preventing relapses. The purpose of our narrative review is to compare the similarities between COVID-19 pneumonia and OP, emphasizing the clinical, radiological, and histopathological features based on the evidence available in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The incidence of pneumothorax is low at 0.3% in hospitalized COVID-19 patients but increases to 12.8–23.8% in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients. • Age, pre-existing lung diseases, and active smoking status are not risk factors for developing COVID-19-related pneumothoraces. However, COVID-19-related pneumothorax likely signify greater disease severity. • The time to pneumothorax diagnosis is around 9.0–19.6 days from admission and 5.4 days after IMV. • COVID-19-related pneumothoraces are associated with prolonged hospitalization, increased likelihood of ICU admission and death, especially among the elderly. Pneumothorax has been frequently described as a complication of COVID-19 infections. In this systematic review, we describe the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of COVID-19-related pneumothorax. Studies were identified through MEDLINE, Pubmed, and Google Scholar databases using keywords of "COVID-19," "SARS-CoV-2," "pneumothorax," "pneumomediastinum," and "barotrauma" from January 1st, 2020 to January 30th, 2021. Among the nine observational studies, the incidence of pneumothorax is low at 0.3% in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. However, the incidence of pneumothorax increases to 12.8–23.8% in those requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) with a high mortality rate up to 100%. COVID-19-related pneumothorax tends to be unilateral and right-sided. Age, pre-existing lung diseases, and active smoking status are not shown to be risk factors. The time to pneumothorax diagnosis is around 9.0–19.6 days from admission and 5.4 days after IMV initiation. COVID-19-related pneumothoraces are associated with prolonged hospitalization, increased likelihood of ICU admission and death, especially among the elderly. COVID-19-related pneumothorax likely signify greater disease severity. With the high variability of COVID-19-related pneumothorax incidence described, a well-designed study is required to better assess the significance of COVID-19-related pneumothorax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]