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Watson A, Shah P, Lee D, Liang S, Joshi G, Metitiri E, Chowdhury WH, Bacich D, Dube P, Xiang Y, Hanley D, Martinez-Sobrido L, Rodriguez R. Valproic acid use is associated with diminished risk of contracting COVID-19, and diminished disease severity: Epidemiologic and in vitro analysis reveal mechanistic insights. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0307154. [PMID: 39093886 PMCID: PMC11296636 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has caused unprecedented worldwide infections from persistent mutant variants with various degrees of infectivity and virulence. The elusiveness of a highly penetrant, worldwide vaccination strategy suggests that the complete eradication of SARS-CoV-2 is unlikely. Even with the advent of new antiviral agents, the disease burden worldwide continues to exceed current preventative and therapeutic strategies. Greater interest has been placed towards the development of affordable,broadly effective antiviral therapeutics. Here, we report that the small branched-chain fatty acid Valproic acid (VPA), approved for maintenance of seizure and bipolar disorder, has a novel anti- coronavirus activity that can be augmented with the addition of a long-chain, polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid, Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). An EMR-based epidemiological study of patients tested for COVID-19 demonstrated a correlation exists between a reduced infection rate in patients treated withVPA of up to 25%, as well as a decreased risk of emergency room visits, hospitalization, ICU admission,and use of mechanical ventilation. In vitro studies have demonstrated that VPA modifies gene expression in MRC5 cells. Interestingly, VPA correlates with the inhibition of several SARS-CoV2 interacting genes and the greater inhibition of alpha-coronavirus HCoV-229E (a "common cold" virus) and SARS-CoV2. The VPA-DHA combination activates pre-existing intracellular antiviral mechanisms normally repressed by coronaviruses. Gene expression profiles demonstrate subtle differences in overall gene expression between VPA-treated and VPA-DHA-treated cells. HCoV-229E infection caused an intensely different response with a marked induction of multiple intracellular inflammatory genes. Changes in gene expression took at least 24 hours to manifest and most likely why prior drug screens failed to identify any antiviral VPA activity despite in silico predictions. This report demonstrates an interaction between HDAC inhibition and the potent activation of cellular antiviral responses. A foundation now exists for a low-cost, highly effective antiviral strategy when supplemented with DHA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Watson
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s & Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Pankil Shah
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Doug Lee
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sitai Liang
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Geeta Joshi
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ediri Metitiri
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Wasim H. Chowdhury
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Dean Bacich
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Peter Dube
- Boehringer Ingelheim in Ames, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Yan Xiang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Daniel Hanley
- Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Ronald Rodriguez
- Department of Medical Education, and Department of Urology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
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Zendedel E, Tayebi L, Nikbakht M, Hasanzadeh E, Asadpour S. Clinical Trials of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of COVID 19. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 19:1055-1071. [PMID: 37815188 DOI: 10.2174/011574888x260032230925052240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) are being investigated as a treatment for a novel viral disease owing to their immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, tissue repair and regeneration characteristics, however, the exact processes are unknown. MSC therapy was found to be effective in lowering immune system overactivation and increasing endogenous healing after SARS-CoV-2 infection by improving the pulmonary microenvironment. Many studies on mesenchymal stem cells have been undertaken concurrently, and we may help speed up the effectiveness of these studies by collecting and statistically analyzing data from them. Based on clinical trial information found on clinicaltrials. gov and on 16 November 2020, which includes 63 clinical trials in the field of patient treatment with COVID-19 using MSCs, according to the trend of increasing studies in this field, and with the help of meta-analysis studies, it is possible to hope that the promise of MSCs will one day be realized. The potential therapeutic applications of MSCs for COVID-19 are investigated in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Zendedel
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Lobat Tayebi
- Marquett University School of Dentistry, Milwaukee, WI, 53233, USA
| | - Mohammad Nikbakht
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Elham Hasanzadeh
- Immunogenetics Research Center, Department of Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Shiva Asadpour
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
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Rosengarten M. Perplexity as a provocation: revisiting the role of metaphor as a 'place holder' for the potential of COVID-19 antibodies. MEDICAL HUMANITIES 2023; 49:64-69. [PMID: 35636932 PMCID: PMC9195153 DOI: 10.1136/medhum-2021-012343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This article revisits long-standing critiques of the role of metaphor in immunological discourse. Drawing on Alfred North Whitehead's speculative philosophy of organism, I focus on the use of metaphor to explain the process by which COVID-19 vaccine research is able to generate protective antibodies, the challenge of autoimmune disease and dengue fever antibodies. I suggest that metaphors are provoked by the perplexity that arises from presupposing that distinct morphological substances are the first order of reality. I conclude that rather than seeing metaphors as typically skewing conceptions of the body, as has been previously argued, those of memory, recognition and misrecognition may be instructive of a body in transition. Indeed, a process of transition that shows degrees of creativity. When gesturing towards the processual nature of infection and immunity, metaphors invite new modes of shared thinking across the disciplinary divide.
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Almeida B, Domingues C, Mascarenhas-Melo F, Silva I, Jarak I, Veiga F, Figueiras A. The Role of Cyclodextrins in COVID-19 Therapy-A Literature Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:2974. [PMID: 36769299 PMCID: PMC9918006 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) emerged in December 2019 and quickly spread, giving rise to a pandemic crisis. Therefore, it triggered tireless efforts to identify the mechanisms of the disease, how to prevent and treat it, and to limit and hamper its global dissemination. Considering the above, the search for prophylactic approaches has led to a revolution in the reglementary pharmaceutical pipeline, with the approval of vaccines against COVID-19 in an unprecedented way. Moreover, a drug repurposing scheme using regulatory-approved antiretroviral agents is also being pursued. However, their physicochemical characteristics or reported adverse events have sometimes limited their use. Hence, nanotechnology has been employed to potentially overcome some of these challenges, particularly cyclodextrins. Cyclodextrins are cyclic oligosaccharides that present hydrophobic cavities suitable for complexing several drugs. This review, besides presenting studies on the inclusion of antiviral drugs in cyclodextrins, aims to summarize some currently available prophylactic and therapeutic schemes against COVID-19, highlighting those that already make use of cyclodextrins for their complexation. In addition, some new therapeutic approaches are underscored, and the potential application of cyclodextrins to increase their promising application against COVID-19 will be addressed. This review describes the instances in which the use of cyclodextrins promotes increased bioavailability, antiviral action, and the solubility of the drugs under analysis. The potential use of cyclodextrins as an active ingredient is also covered. Finally, toxicity and regulatory issues as well as future perspectives regarding the use of cyclodextrins in COVID-19 therapy will be provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Almeida
- Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Cátia Domingues
- Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Filipa Mascarenhas-Melo
- Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Inês Silva
- Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ivana Jarak
- Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Francisco Veiga
- Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Figueiras
- Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
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Chatterjee A, Saha R, Mishra A, Shilkar D, Jayaprakash V, Sharma P, Sarkar B. Molecular determinants, clinical manifestations and effects of immunization on cardiovascular health during COVID-19 pandemic era - A review. Curr Probl Cardiol 2022:101250. [PMID: 35577079 PMCID: PMC9098920 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2022.101250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has enveloped the world into an unprecedented pandemic since 2019. Significant damage to multiple organs, such as the lungs and heart, has been extensively reported. Cardiovascular injury by ACE2 downregulation, hypoxia-induced myocardial injury, and systemic inflammatory responses complicate the disease. This virus causes multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children with similar symptoms to adult SARS-CoV-2-induced myocarditis. While several treatment strategies and immunization programs have been implemented to control the menace of this disease, the risk of long-term cardiovascular damage associated with the disease has not been adequately assessed. In this review, we surveyed and summarized all the available information on the effects of COVID-19 on cardiovascular health as well as comorbidities. We also examined several case reports on post-immunization cardiovascular complications.
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6
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Rasouli M, Vakilian F, Ranjbari J. Therapeutic and protective potential of mesenchymal stem cells, pharmaceutical agents and current vaccines against covid-19. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 17:166-185. [PMID: 34530719 DOI: 10.2174/1574888x16666201221151853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
It has been almost 18 months since the first outbreak of COVID-19 disease was reported in Wuhan, China. This unexpected devastating phenomenon, raised a great deal of concerns and anxiety among people around the world and imposed a huge economic burden on the nations' health care systems. Accordingly, clinical scientists, pharmacologists and physicians worldwide felt an urgent demand for a safe, effective therapeutic agent, treatment strategy or vaccine in order to prevent or cure the recently-emerged disease. Initially, due to lack of specific pharmacological agents and approved vaccines to combat the COVID-19, the disease control in the confirmed cases was limited to supportive care. Accordingly, repositioning or repurposing current drugs and examining their possible therapeutic efficacy received a great deal of attention. Despite revealing promising results in some clinical trials, the overall results are conflicting. For this reason, there is an urgent to seek and investigate other potential therapeutics. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) representing immunomodulatory and regenerative capacity to treat both curable and intractable diseases, have been investigated in COVID-19 clinical trials carried out in different parts of the world. Nevertheless, up to now, none of MSC-based approaches has been approved in controlling COVID-19 infection. Thanks to the fact that the final solution for defeating the pandemic is developing a safe, effective vaccine, enormous efforts and clinical research have been carried out. In this review, we will concisely discuss the safety and efficacy of the most relevant pharmacological agents, MSC-based approaches and candidate vaccines for treating and preventing COVID-19 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Rasouli
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. Iran
| | | | - Javad Ranjbari
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. Iran
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7
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Bhandari R, Khanna G, Kaushik D, Kuhad A. Divulging the Intricacies of Crosstalk Between NF-Kb and Nrf2-Keap1 Pathway in Neurological Complications of COVID-19. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:3347-3361. [PMID: 33683626 PMCID: PMC7938034 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02344-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The severity of COVID-19 infection is surging day by day. With the cases increasing daily, it is becoming more and more essential to understand the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the severity of the disease. It is now well known that the infection manifests itself primarily as respiratory, but the involvement of the other organ systems has now been documented in many studies. SARS-CoV-2 can invade the nervous system by a multitude of proposed mechanisms that have been discussed in this review. NF-κB and Nrf2 are transcription factors that regulate genes responsible for inflammatory and anti-oxidant response respectively. Specific focus in this review has been given to NF-κB and Nrf2 pathways that are involved in the cytokine storm and oxidative stress that are the hallmarks of COVID-19. As the immune injury is an important mechanism of neuro-invasion and neuroinflammation, there is the possible involvement of these two pathways in the neurological complications. The crosstalk mechanisms of these signaling pathways have also been discussed. Immuno-modulators both synthetic and natural are promising candidates in catering to the pathologies targeted in the aforementioned pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranjana Bhandari
- Pharmacology Research Laboratory, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UGC-Centre of Advanced Study, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160 014, India.
| | - Garima Khanna
- Pharmacology Research Laboratory, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UGC-Centre of Advanced Study, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160 014, India
| | - Dhriti Kaushik
- Pharmacology Research Laboratory, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UGC-Centre of Advanced Study, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160 014, India
| | - Anurag Kuhad
- Pharmacology Research Laboratory, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UGC-Centre of Advanced Study, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160 014, India.
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8
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Klassen SA, Senefeld JW, Senese KA, Johnson PW, Wiggins CC, Baker SE, van Helmond N, Bruno KA, Pirofski LA, Shoham S, Grossman BJ, Henderson JP, Wright RS, Fairweather D, Paneth NS, Carter RE, Casadevall A, Joyner MJ. Convalescent Plasma Therapy for COVID-19: A Graphical Mosaic of the Worldwide Evidence. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:684151. [PMID: 34164419 PMCID: PMC8215127 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.684151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Convalescent plasma has been used worldwide to treat patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and prevent disease progression. Despite global usage, uncertainty remains regarding plasma efficacy, as randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have provided divergent evidence regarding the survival benefit of convalescent plasma. Here, we argue that during a global health emergency, the mosaic of evidence originating from multiple levels of the epistemic hierarchy should inform contemporary policy and healthcare decisions. Indeed, worldwide matched-control studies have generally found convalescent plasma to improve COVID-19 patient survival, and RCTs have demonstrated a survival benefit when transfused early in the disease course but limited or no benefit later in the disease course when patients required greater supportive therapies. RCTs have also revealed that convalescent plasma transfusion contributes to improved symptomatology and viral clearance. To further investigate the effect of convalescent plasma on patient mortality, we performed a meta-analytical approach to pool daily survival data from all controlled studies that reported Kaplan-Meier survival plots. Qualitative inspection of all available Kaplan-Meier survival data and an aggregate Kaplan-Meier survival plot revealed a directionally consistent pattern among studies arising from multiple levels of the epistemic hierarchy, whereby convalescent plasma transfusion was generally associated with greater patient survival. Given that convalescent plasma has a similar safety profile as standard plasma, convalescent plasma should be implemented within weeks of the onset of future infectious disease outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A. Klassen
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Jonathon W. Senefeld
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Katherine A. Senese
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Patrick W. Johnson
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Chad C. Wiggins
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Sarah E. Baker
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Noud van Helmond
- Department of Anesthesiology, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Cooper University Health Care, Camden, NJ, United States
| | - Katelyn A. Bruno
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Liise-anne Pirofski
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Shmuel Shoham
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Brenda J. Grossman
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Jeffrey P. Henderson
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - R. Scott Wright
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Human Research Protection Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - DeLisa Fairweather
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Nigel S. Paneth
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Rickey E. Carter
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Arturo Casadevall
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Michael J. Joyner
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
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9
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Raiten DJ, Combs GF, Steiber AL, Bremer AA. Perspective: Nutritional Status as a Biological Variable (NABV): Integrating Nutrition Science into Basic and Clinical Research and Care. Adv Nutr 2021; 12:1599-1609. [PMID: 34009250 PMCID: PMC8483963 DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmab046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The field of nutrition has evolved from one focused primarily on discovery of the identities, metabolic functions, and requirements for essential nutrients to one focused on the application of that knowledge to the development and implementation of dietary recommendations to promote health and prevent disease. This evolution has produced a deeper appreciation of not only the roles of nutrients, but also factors affecting their functions in increasingly complex global health contexts. The intersection of nutrition with an increasingly more complex global health context necessitates a view of nutritional status as a biological variable (NABV), the study of which includes an appreciation that nutritional status is: 1) not limited to dietary exposure; 2) intimately and inextricably involved in all aspects of human health promotion, disease prevention, and treatment; and 3) both an input and an outcome of health and disease. This expanded view of nutrition will inform future research by facilitating considerations of the contexts and variability associated with the many interacting factors affecting and affected by nutritional status. It will also demand new tools to study multifactorial relations to the end of increasing precision and the development of evidence-based, safe, and effective standards of health care, dietary interventions, and public health programs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gerald F Combs
- Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA,
USA
| | | | - Andrew A Bremer
- Pediatric Growth and Nutrition Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Tafler L, Danilevsky A, Seth D. Azithromycin in the Successful Management of COVID-19: A Family Physician's Perspective. Cureus 2021; 13:e14574. [PMID: 34035996 PMCID: PMC8135656 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.14574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2), causing coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), has been responsible for approximately 75 million cases and 1.6 million deaths globally as of December 22, 2020. Currently, no treatment modalities or management options have been recommended by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) prior to patient hospitalization and supplemental oxygen requirement. This poses a unique challenge for outpatient primary care physicians, who are often tasked with initial care of patients early on in their disease course. During the pandemic, our family practice provided medical care to approximately 2,000 families located in the surrounding Brooklyn community. With only telemedicine at our disposal, our clinic was tasked with treating patients presenting remotely who may or may not have had COVID-19 - a large clinical diagnosis was made given the absence of in-person testing. Often co-administered, Azithromycin was considered a supportive agent that may or may not have increased the benefit of hydroxychloroquine. However, Azithromycin may perform well on its own for various reasons as it has been shown to have antiviral activity against other RNA viruses, anti-inflammatory properties, and antiviral effects within bronchial epithelial cells. Azithromycin has also shown efficacy as an add-on treatment for reducing asthma exacerbations - pertinent to the pro-inflammatory pulmonary conditions in COVID-19 progression - and may even prevent or treat bacterial co-infection in patients with SARS-COV-2. In order to investigate the association between Azithromycin and the COVID-19 disease process, our clinical study retrospectively identified patients who were prescribed Azithromycin (500 mg on day one + 250 mg on days two to five) during the peak months of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City from March 2020 through May 2020. All patients prescribed Azithromycin with suspicion of COVID-19 infection were interviewed via telephone regarding their constellation of symptoms, compliance with the prescribed antibiotic for the intended course, symptom duration prior to and following antibiotic course initiation, as well as any further complications of their illness, if present. Ultimately, the majority of the patients who were interviewed over the phone concluded that a full course of Azithromycin helped improve their symptoms during their infection with COVID-19. Outcomes and complications in patients treated with Azithromycin were noteworthy in that there were no reports of pulmonary complications or deterioration of pulmonary function after treatment (e.g., no shortness of breath, wheezing, dyspnea, etc.), although some patients did experience residual coughing and nasal discharge post-treatment. We believe further study of this treatment in the setting of experimental, randomized controlled trials may reveal the benefits of Azithromycin in terms of reducing infection severity, length, and limiting the incidence of complications in patients with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonid Tafler
- Primary Care, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York, USA
| | | | - Divya Seth
- Family Medicine, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York, USA
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11
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Dash P, Mohapatra S, Ghosh S, Nayak B. A Scoping Insight on Potential Prophylactics, Vaccines and Therapeutic Weaponry for the Ongoing Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic- A Comprehensive Review. Front Pharmacol 2021; 11:590154. [PMID: 33815095 PMCID: PMC8015872 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.590154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of highly virulent CoVs (SARS-CoV-2), the etiologic agent of novel ongoing "COVID-19" pandemics has been marked as an alarming case of pneumonia posing a large global healthcare crisis of unprecedented magnitude. Currently, the COVID-19 outbreak has fueled an international demand in the biomedical field for the mitigation of the fast-spreading illness, all through the urgent deployment of safe, effective, and rational therapeutic strategies along with epidemiological control. Confronted with such contagious respiratory distress, the global population has taken significant steps towards a more robust strategy of containment and quarantine to halt the total number of positive cases but such a strategy can only delay the spread. A substantial number of potential vaccine candidates are undergoing multiple clinical trials to combat COVID-19 disease, includes live-attenuated, inactivated, viral-vectored based, sub-unit vaccines, DNA, mRNA, peptide, adjuvant, plant, and nanoparticle-based vaccines. However, there are no licensed anti-COVID-19 drugs/therapies or vaccines that have proven to work as more effective therapeutic candidates in open-label clinical trial studies. To counteract the infection (SARS-CoV-2), many people are under prolonged treatment of many chemical drugs that inhibit the PLpro activity (Ribavirin), viral proteases (Lopinavir/Ritonavir), RdRp activity (Favipiravir, Remdesivir), viral membrane fusion (Umifenovir, Chloroquine phosphate (CQ), Hydroxychloroquine phosphate (HCQ), IL-6 overexpression (Tocilizumab, Siltuximab, Sarilumab). Mesenchymal Stem Cell therapy and Convalescent Plasma Therapy have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy against SARS-CoV-2 virion. On the other hand, repurposing previously designed antiviral agents with tolerable safety profile and efficacy could be the only promising approach and fast response to the novel virion. In addition, research institutions and corporations have commenced the redesign of the available therapeutic strategy to manage the global crisis. Herein, we present succinct information on selected anti-COVID-19 therapeutic medications repurposed to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection. Finally, this review will provide exhaustive detail on recent prophylactic strategies and ongoing clinical trials to curb this deadly pandemic, outlining the major therapeutic areas for researchers to step in.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Bismita Nayak
- Immunology and Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha, India
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COVID-19 Vaccines (Revisited) and Oral-Mucosal Vector System as a Potential Vaccine Platform. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9020171. [PMID: 33670630 PMCID: PMC7922043 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9020171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
There are several emerging strategies for the vaccination of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) however, only a few have yet shown promising effects. Thus, choosing the right pathway and the best prophylactic options in preventing COVID-19 is still challenging at best. Approximately, more than two-hundred vaccines are being tested in different countries, and more than fifty clinical trials are currently undergoing. In this review, we have summarized the immune-based strategies for the development of COVID-19 vaccines and the different vaccine candidate platforms that are in clinical stages of evaluation, and up to the recently licensed mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines of Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna's. Lastly, we have briefly included the potentials of using the 'RPS-CTP vector system' for the development of a safe and effective oral mucosal COVID-19 vaccine as another vaccine platform.
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