The importance of myocarditis in Covid‐19

Antiviral Potential of Melissa officinalis L.: A Literature Review

The use of synthetic drugs has increased in recent years; however, herbal medicine is yet more trusted among a huge population worldwide; This could be due to minimal side effects, affordable prices, and traditional beliefs. Lemongrass (Melissa officinalis) has been widely used for reducing stress and anxiety, increasing appetite and sleep, reducing pain, healing wounds, and treating poisonous insect bites and bee stings for a long time. Today, research has shown that this plant can also fight viruses including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) through various mechanisms such as inhibiting HSV-1 from binding to host cell, inhibiting HSV-1 replication during the post-adsorption or inhibiting main protease and spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, furthermore, be effective in treating related diseases. This Review investigated the antiviral properties of Melissa officinalis and its effect on viral diseases. More in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to determine Melissa officinaliss underlying mechanism, and more randomized controlled trials should be done to identify its effect in humans. Also, due to the usefulness and lack of side effects, it can be used more as a complementary medicine.

The influence of the COVID pandemic on the epidemiology of Achilles tendon ruptures in east Shropshire, United Kingdom

OBJECTIVES

Management strategies of the COVID pandemic included isolation to prevent transmission. This study aimed to determine if the pandemic of 2020 influenced the epidemiology of Achilles tendon rupture (ATR).

METHODS

The demographics of presentations from the local population to Princess Royal Hospital, Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital NHS Trust hospital, Shropshire, United Kingdom, with an ATR were analysed and compared together with the season, month, and year of the injury.

RESULTS

From 2009 to 2019, there was no significant change in the incidence of ATR over time with a mean (SD) incidence of 13.3 per 100,000. In 2020, there was a decrease in injuries with an incidence of 8.4 per 100,000, with an increase in 2021 to 22.4 per 100,000. In 2021, there was an increase in injuries from March with numbers maintained until October. The most common activity of ATR was team sport (36.2%), followed by the activities of daily living (28.9%), other physical activities (21.0%), and racket sports (13.9%). In 2020, there was the lowest number of injuries sustained in team and racket sports; however, in 2021, they accounted for over half of injuries.

CONCLUSIONS

There were significantly more patients sustaining ATR in 2021, the year after the COVID pandemic and mandatory isolation. This was considered to be related to altered activity and team and racket sports during 2020.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE

IV case series.

Case Report: Successful Treatment of a Child With COVID-19 Reinfection-Induced Fulminant Myocarditis by Cytokine-Adsorbing oXiris® Hemofilter Continuous Veno-Venous Hemofiltration and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

BACKGROUND

Indirect cardiomyocyte damage-related hyperinflammatory response is one of the key mechanisms in COVID-19-induced fulminant myocarditis. In addition to the clinical benefit of using cytokines absorption hemofiltration, the effectiveness of instituting veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support for cardiac compromise has been reported. However, current literature enunciates a paucity of available data on the effectiveness of these novel modalities.

CASE PRESENTATION

We reported a 9-year-old boy with recurrent COVID-19 infection-causing fulminant myocarditis, who was treated successfully by using novel modalities of oXiris ^® hemofilter continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) and VA-ECMO. The patient made a full recovery without any sequelae.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the novel highly-absorptive hemofilter CVVH and VA-ECMO may be effective treatment modalities in managing SARS-CoV-2-induced fulminant myocarditis. Our report highlights the need for further well-designed investigations to confirm this extrapolation.