A comprehensive update on the structure and synthesis of potential drug targets for combating the coronavirus pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2.

The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic COVID-19 created by its severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant, known for producing a very severe acute respiratory syndrome, has created an unprecedented situation by its continual assault around the world. The crisis caused by the SARS-CoV-2 variant has been a global challenge, calling to mitigate this unprecedented pandemic that has engulfed the whole world. Since the outbreak and spread of COVID-19, many researchers globally have been grappling to find new clinically trialed active drugs with anti-COVID-19 activity, from antimalarial drugs to JAK inhibitors, antiviral drugs, immune suppressants, and so forth. This article presents a brief discussion on the activity and synthesis of some active molecules such as favipiravir, hydroxychloroquine, pirfenidone, remdesivir, lopinavir, camostat, chloroquine, baricitinib, molnupiravir, and so forth, which are under trial.

Dyke-Davidoff-Masson Syndrome- a rare cause of refractory epilepsy.

Dyke-Davidoff-Masson Syndrome (DDMS) is a syndrome associated with refractory epilepsy. DDMS is a rare syndrome characterized by seizures, facial asymmetry, contralateral hemiplegia and mental retardation. The characteristic radiologic features are cerebral hemiatrophy with homolateral hypertrophy of the skull and sinuses. The case was an 18 years old female with seizures, hemiparesis of the right side and mental retardation who was diagnosed with DDMS based on computed tomography.

Comparative study of efficacy of l-5-hydroxytryptophan and fluoxetine in patients presenting with first depressive episode.

INTRODUCTION: Role of l-5-hydroxytryptophan (l-5-HTP) in depression is relatively less studied but the literature has shown its robust role in depression. The present randomized double blind study was undertaken to assess the role of l-5-HTP as an antidepressant and to compare its antidepressant efficacy with fluoxetine in first depressive episode patients of Indian population. METHODS: A total of 70 patients of first depressive episode, all of whom were diagnosed with ICD-10 criteria, were recruited but only 60 patients completed the study and were randomly divided into two groups, receiving l-5-HTP and fluoxetine, respectively, for a period of 8weeks. All patients were administered Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) to assess severity of depression at baseline, 2weeks, 4weeks and 8weeks. The efficacy of treatment was assessed by comparing HAM-D scores obtained at these examinations with the baseline examination; final evaluation of both efficacy and tolerance was assessed using the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale at the end of study. RESULTS: Both treatment groups showed significant and nearly equal reduction in HAM-D scores beginning at week two and continuing through week eight. Twenty-two patients (73.33%) in the l-5-HTP group and 24 patients (80%) in the fluoxetine group showed positive response at the end of the study. CONCLUSION: l-5-HTP has definitely got antidepressant effect in patients of depression. Antidepressant effect was seen within 2weeks of treatment and was apparent in all degrees of depression. The therapeutic efficacy of l-5-HTP was considered as equal to that of fluoxetine.

Quality of life in post-traumatic orthopedically handicapped patients.

OBJECTIVES: The study was planned to assess quality of life (QOL) and factors affecting it in post-traumatic orthopedically handicapped patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is hospital-based cross-sectional study which involves 68 patients with traumatic orthopedic handicapped injury in the Department of Orthopaedeics, Rehabilitation center and Psychiatry, Government Medical College, Patiala between May 07 and Aug 08. Details of injury were taken on semistructured proforma. All patients underwent detailed psychiatric assessment using International Classification of Disease-10 (ICD-10) and divided into two groups. Group A contains handicapped patients with psychiatric morbidity and remaining patients without psychiatric morbidity were included in Group B. Further, both groups were subjected to Quality Of Life Scale (QOLS) to assess QOL. RESULTS: QOL was poor in handicapped patients and was affected by severity of injury. Temporal association was seen between psychiatric morbidity and QOL in handicapped patients. CONCLUSION: The QOL must be assessed at every stage of treatment for better adjustment of handicapped patients.