Early Trends to Show the Efficacy of Cordyceps militaris in Mild to Moderate COVID Inflammation.

Background/objective Cordyceps enhances animal survival against influenza by boosting the immune system. In animal studies, it also had anti-inflammatory and preventive properties. Cordyceps stimulates the immune system by increasing the activity and production of various immune cells. Some studies have shown the role of Cordyceps in the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to other respiratory diseases caused by the Picorna viruses, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and Influenza viruses. However, it remains unknown whether this food supplement is safe and has anti-inflammatory effects in patients with COVID-19. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the use and efficacy of Cordyceps capsules as an adjunct to standard treatment in patients with mild (symptomatic) to moderate COVID-19 infection. Methods A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Cordyceps capsules (a food supplement) 500 mg as adjuvant therapy in patients with COVID-19. The rationale for dose selection was as per the existing evidence from toxicity studies. The inclusion criteria were patients with either a mild or moderate COVID-19 infection. Clinical features suggestive of dyspnoea or hypoxia, fever, and cough, including SpO2 <94% (range 90-94%) on room air and a respiratory rate ≥24 per minute, were also included. Results Sixty-five patients were recruited for the study, with 33 in the Cordyceps group and 32 in the placebo group. Out of 58 evaluable patients, 33 recovered on day 5, 49 on day 10, and 58 on days 16 and 30. The recovery of patients steadily increased from 56.9% on day 5 to 100% on day 30. The time to clinical recovery was shorter in the Cordyceps group than in the placebo group (mean 6.6 vs. 7.3 days; p > 0.05) overall and for mild disease. However, there was no difference in the time to recovery (time from day 1 to the resolution of all symptoms) for moderate disease. A lower frequency of normal chest X-rays on day 1 and a higher number on day 16 in the treatment group than in the placebo group suggest an improvement in the number of normal chest X-rays with Cordyceps. Significant changes were seen in biomarkers MCPIP, CxCL10, and IL-1ß for overall (both mild and moderate patients) on days 5 and 10 as compared to baseline, and in biomarkers CRP and CxCL10 in moderate category patients on days 5 and 10, respectively. There were no statistically significant changes in IL-6, ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), or D-dimer levels between baseline and day 5/10 in patients taking Cordyceps capsules and also between the treatment and placebo groups. Conclusion Cordyceps capsules administered at a dose of 500 mg three times a day along with supportive treatment showed effectiveness in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 infection, as evidenced by the proportionately higher number of recoveries on day 5, the relatively shorter time for improvement of clinical symptoms, and the proportionately higher number of patients showing negative RT-PCR tests on day 10. Thus, Cordyceps appears to be a safe immunological adjuvant for the treatment of patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Future studies with a larger sample size would shed more light on the evidence, as there are limitations in the generalizability of the results from the present study due to the small sample size.

Wall eyed bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia (WEBINO) syndrome as a false localising sign in intracranial haemorrhage due to snake bite.

A 48-year-old woman presented with sudden-onset altered sensorium 2 days after a snake bite (unidentified species) and was found to have a large right frontal intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) with transtentorial herniation (TTH) causing brain stem compression. A day later, neurological examination revealed internuclear ophthalmoplegia (INO) fitting the clinical description of wall eyed bilateral INO syndrome. INO is a rare ocular motor sign, the most common causes being brain stem infarction, haemorrhage or demyelinating disease. It rarely acts as a false localising sign, such as in this case, and in an even rarer cause for ICH, that is, haemotoxic snake bite without initial evidence of coagulopathy. An emphasis needs to be laid on detailed physical examination, often considered a lost art nowadays, to help detect subtle clinical signs which could herald ominous complications of conditions like TTH and help in early diagnosis and treatment of the same.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy in a Case of Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Case Report.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy may present like acute coronary syndrome and is characterized by reversible left ventricular (LV) apical ballooning in the absence of any significant underlying coronary artery disease. A 65-year-old lady presented to the ED with history of sudden onset left-sided weakness of body. Head CT scan was suggestive of right gangliocapsular intracerebral bleed with intraventricular extension. 2D Echo showed characteristic LV apical ballooning with hypokinesia and LV ejection fraction of 25%-30%. Diagnosing Takotsubo cardiomyopathy includes resolution in electrocardiogram (ECG) changes and reversible LV dysfunction on two-dimensional echocardiogram, and a normal coronary angiography.

Ellis van Creveld syndome.

Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (EVC) or chondroectodermal dysplasia is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. It is a tetrad of chondrodysplasia, ectodermal dysplasia, polydactyly, and congenital heart disease. In several case reports, dysplasia involving other organs has also been identified. The exact prevalence is unknown, but the syndrome seems more common among the Amish community. Many Indian cases have also been reported. This report describes a classical case of EVC syndrome in a 22 year old woman of Indian origin born of a consanginous marriage. The patient had chondrodysplasia of tubular bones resulting in disproportionate dwarfism, postaxial polydactyly, severely dystrophic nails, partially absent teeth, pectus excavatum with narrow chest, knock knees and AV canal defect.