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Coronaviruses as such are known since last century. The name is derived from their shape which has crown (corona) like radiating spikes. The recent one however is a different one from the Coronavirus involved in SARS (2002–2004) and MERS (2012) in being highly infectious. Initially COVID 19 had a high case fatality rate which has now decreased to a significant extent. Many cases of COVID 19 are asymptomatic with a significant number of positive cases developing a triad of fever, breathlessness and GI symptoms. Recent travel increases the probability of infection. The pathogenesis involves ACE 2 receptors. So, it has been found that there are more cases and mortality among hypertensive individuals. Even higher among the people who use ACE inhibitor in comparison to those who use other anti-hypertensive drugs. Treatment is usually symptomatic. Antiviral drugs and vaccines against COVID-19 are being used. Deranged liver enzymes are common in COVID-19, however, serious liver injury is not much documented. Liver injury is either due to disease itself or due to antiviral drugs. Extra care like strict social distancing, avoiding unnecessary contact is needed for those with autoimmune hepatitis, liver cancer and those who are in immunosuppression because of a scheduled or already liver transplant. Further research is definitely needed in this field. The upcoming researches should also focus on liver injuries associated with disease course and derangements arising as side effects of treatment of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the potential of artificial intelligence in combating COVID-19 pandemic. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar were searched for the term "Artificial intelligence and COVID-19" up to March 31, 2021. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a potential tool to contain the current pandemic. AI can be used in many fields such as early detection and respective diagnosis, supervision of treatment, projection of cases and mortality, contact tracing of individuals, development of drugs and vaccines, reduces workload on health workers, prevention of disease, analysis of mental health of people amid pandemic. AI is being updated and being improved, second by second to be able to interpret like actual human minds. This advancement in AI may lead to a completely different future of COVID-19 pandemic where most of the simpler works may be done by AI and only essential works could be done by health workers in order to increase patient care in current scenario of COVID-19 outbreak. But again one of the main constraint is of limited trustworthy and noise free sources of information. So the need for the hour is to make a free data system where most of the analysed data could be available to feed AI, which could effectively halt the current pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the potential relationship between COVID-19 pandemic and mucormycosis outbreak. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar were searched for the term "COVID-19 and mucormycosis" up to May 31, 2021. After the second wave of COVID-19, the mucormycosis outbreak complicates the natural course of COVID-19. COVID-19 patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus with diabetic ketoacidosis, excessive glucocorticoid use, prolonged neutropenia, malnutrition and any underlying immunocompromised conditions are at risk of developing mucormycosis. Hyperglycaemia impairs the motility of phagocytes and also decreases the oxidative and non-oxidative mechanism of killing the causative pathogen. Chronic hyperglycemia also leads to the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGE), which leads to cross-linking between key proteins of inflammation and connective tissue such as collagen which makes tissue susceptible to immunological dysregulation. The receptor for AGE (RAGE) is expressed on various inflammatory cells including neutrophils and its activation by AGEs leads to activation of many down signaling pathways which ultimately leads to impairment of the inflammatory response. Hyperglycemia also increases serum Nitric Oxide (NO), which decreases neutrophil motility and reduces the synthesis and release of various inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α and IL-1β, IL-6. It also decreases the expression of adhesion molecules such as LFA-1 and ICAM-2, on neutrophils. Steroids cause immunosuppression majorly by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway which is a transcription factor involved in the synthesis of many immunological mediators such as Interleukins, cytokines, chemokines, etc., and various adhesion molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) involves a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors, including abnormal lipids, insulin resistance and hypertension. The aim of the present study is to investigate associations between thyroid profile and the pro-thrombotic mediator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), in MetS and identify associated biochemical markers. Materials and methods: The present study was a case control study and consisted of 50 diagnosed cases of MetS and 50 healthy volunteers as controls. MetS cases were further divided into two groups based on the presence and absence of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). Data collected included demographic profile, clinical history and routine lab investigation. Special investigations included the thyroid function test and serum PAI-1 levels. Results: The mean serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were significantly higher in MetS cases as compared to controls (5.7 ± 1.2 mIU/L vs. 2.3 ± 1.6 mIU/L, p < 0.0001), although the mean triiodothyronine (T3 ) and thyroxine (T4 ) levels were comparable in two groups. The mean levels of serum PAI-1 were significantly higher in MetS cases as compared to controls(231 ± 87 ng/mL vs. 185 ± 96 ng/mL, p = 0.013). TSH and PAI-1 levels were positively correlated with various markers of MetS and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Conclusion: The present study points towards the presence of thyroid dysfunction, in the form of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), in cases of MetS. In the presence of thyroid dysfunction, abnormal adipocytes may release adipokines, such as PAI-1, which lead to increased risk of thrombotic episodes in these patients. Hence, SCH should be appropriately managed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronaviruses as such are known since last century. The name is derived from their shape which has crown (corona) like radiating spikes. The recent one however is a different one from the Coronavirus involved in SARS (2002-2004) and MERS (2012) in being highly infectious. Initially COVID 19 had a high case fatality rate which has now decreased to a significant extent. Many cases of COVID 19 are asymptomatic with a significant number of positive cases developing a triad of fever, breathlessness and GI symptoms. Recent travel increases the probability of infection. The pathogenesis involves ACE 2 receptors. So, it has been found that there are more cases and mortality among hypertensive individuals. Even higher among the people who use ACE inhibitor in comparison to those who use other anti-hypertensive drugs. Treatment is usually symptomatic. Antiviral drugs and vaccines against COVID-19 are being used. Deranged liver enzymes are common in COVID-19, however, serious liver injury is not much documented. Liver injury is either due to disease itself or due to antiviral drugs. Extra care like strict social distancing, avoiding unnecessary contact is needed for those with autoimmune hepatitis, liver cancer and those who are in immunosuppression because of a scheduled or already liver transplant. Further research is definitely needed in this field. The upcoming researches should also focus on liver injuries associated with disease course and derangements arising as side effects of treatment of COVID-19., (© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.)