Chest X-Ray Severity Index as a Predictor of Requiring Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation in COVID-19 Positive Patients.

The aim of this study is to see the role of the chest X-ray severity index (Brixia score) as a predictor of requiring invasive positive pressure ventilation in COVID-19-positive patients. This descriptive cross-sectional prospective study were carried out in the Department of Pulmonology and Radiology, Mayo Hospital, Lahore. The data were collected from 1st May to 30th July 2020 from 60 consecutive COVID-19 positive patients. Analysis was conducted using each patient's age, gender, clinical presentation, and the report of CXR containing the most elevated score. The mean age of the study participants was 59.43±11.27, and 81.7% of patients had positive Brixia scores (≥8). Brixia score had high sensitivity (93.886) and specificity (90.91%) to predict the need for IPPV using chest X-rays. It showed excellent predictive power, having a high numerical AUC (0.870) and a statistically significant p-value (<0.0001). High Brixia score conferred a high risk of the need for invasive positive pressure ventilation due to COVID-19. Key Words: Chest X-ray, Brixia score, COVID-19, Invasive positive pressure ventilation.

A detailed comparative analysis of codon usage bias in Alongshan virus.

Alongshan virus (ALSV) is an emerging tick-borne pathogen that infects humans, causing febrile disease. ALSV uses Ixodes Persulcatus ticks to infect humans with a wide range of signs, from asymptomatic to encephalitis-like syndrome. There is an increasing public health concern about the ALSV infection. To get insight into the impacts of viral relations with their hosts on viral ability, survival, and evasion from hosts immune systems remain unknown. The codon usage is a driving force in viral genome evolution; therefore, we enrolled 41 ALSV strains in codon usage analysis to elucidate the molecular evolutionary dynamics of ALSV. The results indicate that the overall codon usage among ALSV isolates is relatively similar and slightly biased. Base compositions for the cds were in order of G >A >C >U and in the third position of codons G3 >A3 >C3 >T3. The RSCU values revealed that the more frequently used codons were mostly GC ended. Different codon preferences in ALSV genes in relation to codon usage of H. sapiens and Ixodes Persulcatus genes were found. Neutrality plot was determined to reveal the superiority of natural selection over directional mutation pressure in causing CUB based on GC12 versus GC3 contents. The results of these studies suggest that the emergence of ALSV in China, Russia and Finland may also be reflected in ALSV codon usage. Altogether, the presence of both mutation pressure and natural selection effect in shaping the codon usage patterns of ALSV.

Phytochemical analysis and Enzyme Inhibition Assay of Aerva javanica for Ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Aerva javanica (Burm. f.) Juss. ex Schult. (Amaranthacea) is traditionally used for the treatment of wound healings, cough, diarrhoea, ulcer and hyperglycaemia. The current study was aimed to fractionate and isolate bioactive compounds and ultimately to evaluate their anti-ulcereogenic potential. RESULTS: In order to achieve these aims, the fractionation, purifications and then biological potential determination of the isolated compounds was carried out. For purification purpose, initially extraction of the plant material was done with aqueous MeOH in the order of increasing polarity by using solvent-solvent extraction method. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of three compounds, 3-hydroxy-4 methoxybenzaldehyde (1), ursolic acid (2) and (E)-N-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenethyl)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-ethoxyphenyl) acryl amide (3). Inhibition of urease activity of various fractions revealed that ethyl acetate fraction showed significant activity (P <0.05) as compared to other fractions. (E)-N-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenethyl)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-ethoxyphenyl) acryl amide (3) showed marked anti ulcer activity (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggested the mild potential of A. javanica against ulcer.