Dengue fever coinfection in COVID-19 era: A public health concern.

Background and Aim: Dengue and SARS-CoV-2 coinfection is commonly encountered and constantly reported in particularly the dengue-endemic regions thus posing a co-epidemic threat. Coinfection is also significantly associated with morbidity and mortality. Comorbidity risk during a coinfection is of a greater concern. Although the pathophysiologies of the two infections vary, their identical clinical symptoms during coinfection result in diagnostic and therapeutic complexities. Methods: A literature search for the current relevant reports was carried out. The searched databases were Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar and the Web of Science, with health agencies like the WHO. Based on the selection criteria, the most recent and pertinent reports published in English language were included for the ease of understanding, deciphering and analysing the secondary data. Results: A delay in proper diagnosis of coinfection could result in serious complications with poor patient outcome. Whether it is a standalone dengue or COVID-19 infection or a coinfection, specific biomarkers may be utilized for its foolproof diagnosis. This article highlights the various diagnostic techniques and immune responses from the perspective of prompt and appropriate public health management for patients suffering from COVID-19 and dengue viral coinfections, both being independently or collectively capable of damaging a human body. Conclusion: As coinfection poses significantly large burden on an already-fragile healthcare facility, constant monitoring of a coinfected patient is needed for prompt and suitable therapeutics. Also, to maintain high vigilance and invoke appropriate preventive measures particularly in dengue endemic regions, the government, healthcare authority and the general public need to collaborate and cooperate.

Current approaches in smart nano-inspired drug delivery: A narrative review.

Background and Aim: The traditional drug delivery approach involves systemic administration of a drug that could be nonspecific in targeting, low on efficacy, and with severe side-effects. To address such challenges, the field of smart drug delivery has emerged aiming at designing and developing delivery systems that can target specific cells, tissues, and organs and have minimal off-target side-effects. Methods: A literature search was done to collate papers and reports about the currently available various strategies for smart nano-inspired drug delivery. The databases searched were PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Based on selection criteria, the most pertinent and recent items were included. Results: Smart drug delivery is a cutting-edge revolutionary intervention in modern medicines to ensure effective and safe administration of therapeutics to target sites. These hold great promise for targeted and controlled delivery of therapeutic agents to improve the efficacy with reduced side-effects as compared to the conventional drug delivery approaches. Current smart drug delivery approaches include nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, and hydrogels, each with its own advantages and limitations. The success of these delivery systems lies in engineering and designing them, and optimizing their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics properties. Conclusion: Development of drug delivery systems that can get beyond various physiological and clinical barriers, as observed in conventionally administered chemotherapeutics, has been possible through recent advancements. Using multifunctional targeting methodologies, smart drug delivery tries to localize therapy to the target location, reduces cytotoxicity, and improves the therapeutic index. Rapid advancements in research and development in smart drug delivery provide wider and more promising avenues to guarantee a better healthcare system, improve patient outcomes, and achieve higher levels of effective medical interventions like personalized medicine.

The neglected continuously emerging Marburg virus disease in Africa: A global public health threat.

Background and Aim: Severe viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) is caused by Marburg virus which is a member of the Filoviridae (filovirus) family. Many Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreaks are reported in five decades. A major notable outbreak with substantial reported cases of infections and deaths was in 2022 in Uganda. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported MVD outbreak in Ghana in July 2022 following the detection of two probable VHF patients there. Further, the virus was reported from two other African countries, the Equatorial Guinea (February 2023) and Tanzania (March 2023). There have been 35 deaths out of 40 reported cases in Equatorial Guinea, and six of the nine confirmed cases in Tanzania so far. Methods: Data particularly on the several MVD outbreaks as reported from the African countries were searched on various databases including the Pubmed, Scopus, and Web-of-science. Also, the primary data and reports from health agencies like the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC) were evaluated and the efficacy reviewed. Results: Chiroptera in general and bat species like Rousettus aegyptiacus and Hipposideros caffer in particular are natural reservoirs of the Marburg virus. MVD-infected nonhuman primate African fruit-bat and the MVD-infected humans pose significant risk in human infections. Cross-border viral transmission and its potential further international ramification concerns raise the risk of its rapid spread and a potential outbreak. Occurrence of MVD is becoming more frequent in Africa with higher case fatality rates. Effective prophylactic and therapeutic interventions to counter this deadly virus are suggested. Conclusion: In the face of the lack of effective therapeutics and preventives against MVD, supportive care is the only available option which contributes to the growing concern and disease severity. In view of the preventive approaches involving effective surveillance and monitoring system following the "One Health" model is extremely beneficial to ensure a healthy world for all, this article aims at emphasizing several MVD outbreaks, epidemiology, zoonosis of the virus, current treatment strategies, risk assessments, and the mitigation strategies against MVD.

Analyzing the emerging patterns of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants for the development of next-gen vaccine: An observational study.

Background and Aim: Understanding the prevalence and impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants has assumed paramount importance. This study statistically analyzed to effectively track the emergence and spread of the variants and highlights the importance of such investigations in developing potential next-gen vaccine to combat the continuously emerging Omicron subvariants. Methods: Transmission fitness advantage and effective reproductive number (R e) of epidemiologically relevant SARS-CoV-2 sublineages through time during the study period based on the GISAID data were estimated. Results: The analyses covered the period from January to June 2023 around an array of sequenced samples. The dominance of the XBB variant strain, accounting for approximately 57.63% of the cases, was identified during the timeframe. XBB.1.5 exhibited 37.95% prevalence rate from March to June 2023. Multiple variants showed considerable global influence throughout the study, as sporadically documented. Notably, the XBB variant demonstrated an estimated relative 28% weekly growth advantage compared with others. Numerous variants were resistant to the over-the-counter vaccines and breakthrough infections were reported. Similarly, the efficacy of mAB-based therapy appeared limited. However, it's important to underscore the perceived benefits of these preventive and therapeutic measures were restricted to specific variants. Conclusion: Given the observed trends, a comprehensive next-gen vaccine coupled with an advanced vaccination strategy could be a potential panacea in the fight against the pandemic. The findings suggest that targeted vaccine development could be an effective strategy to prevent infections. The study also highlights the need of global collaborations to rapidly develop and distribute the vaccines to ensure global human health.

Potential Drugs for the Treatment of COVID-19: Synthesis, Brief History and Application.

Coronaviruses (CoVs) belong to the Betacoronavirus group, an unusually large RNA genome characterized by club-like spikes that project from their surface. An outbreak of a novel coronavirus 2019 (nCOVID-19) already showed a unique replication strategy and infection that has posed significant threat to international health and the economy around the globe. Scientists around the world are investigating few previously used clinical drugs for the treatment of COVID-19. This review provides synthesis and mode of action of recently investigated drugs like Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine, Ivermectin, Selamectin, Remdesivir, Baricitinib, Darunavir, Favipiravir, Lopinavir/ ritonavir and Mefloquine hydrochloride that constitute an option for COVID-19 treatment.

A Perspective on Emerging Therapeutic Interventions for COVID-19.

Coronaviruses are enveloped positive-sense RNA viruses with an unusual large RNA genome and a unique replication mechanism, which are characterized by club-like spikes that protrude from their surface. An outbreak of a novel coronavirus 2019 infection has posed significant threat to the health and economies in the whole world. This article reviewed the viral replication, pathogenicity, prevention and treatment strategies. With a lack of approved treatment options for this virus, alternative approaches to control the spread of disease is in urgent need. This article also covers some management strategies which may be applied to this virus outbreak. Ongoing clinical studies related to possible treatments for COVID-19, potential vaccines, and alternative medication such as natural compounds are also discussed.

Synthesis and Characterization with Antineoplastic, Biochemical, Cytotoxic, and Antimicrobial Studies of Schiff Base Cu(II) Ion Complexes.

Copper(II) complexes containing two Schiff base ligands derived from 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde with 2-aminophenol and 3-aminophenol have been synthesized and characterized by means of analytical, magnetic, and spectroscopic methods. Bacteria, fungus, Entamoeba histolytica, and antineoplastic activities of the synthesized complexes have been determined by monitoring the parameters cell growth inhibition, survival time of tumour mice, time-body relation, causing of intraperitoneal cells and macrophages, alkaline phosphatase activity, hematological effect, and biopsy of tumour.