An overview on the current available treatment for COVID-19 and the impact of antibiotic administration during the pandemic

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has caused several problems in healthcare systems around the world, as to date, there is no effective and specific treatment against all forms of COVID-19. Currently, drugs with therapeutic potential are being tested, including antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-malarial, immunotherapy, and antibiotics. Although antibiotics have no direct effect on viral infections, they are often used against secondary bacterial infections, or even as empiric treatment to reduce viral load, infection, and replication of coronaviruses. However, there are many concerns about this therapeutic approach as it may accelerate and/or increase the long-term rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We focused this overview on exploring candidate drugs for COVID-19 therapy, including antibiotics, considering the lack of specific treatment and that it is unclear whether the widespread use of antibiotics in the treatment of COVID-19 has implications for the emergence and transmission of multidrug-resistant bacteria.

An overview on the current available treatment for COVID-19 and the impact of antibiotic administration during the pandemic.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has caused several problems in healthcare systems around the world, as to date, there is no effective and specific treatment against all forms of COVID-19. Currently, drugs with therapeutic potential are being tested, including antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-malarial, immunotherapy, and antibiotics. Although antibiotics have no direct effect on viral infections, they are often used against secondary bacterial infections, or even as empiric treatment to reduce viral load, infection, and replication of coronaviruses. However, there are many concerns about this therapeutic approach as it may accelerate and/or increase the long-term rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We focused this overview on exploring candidate drugs for COVID-19 therapy, including antibiotics, considering the lack of specific treatment and that it is unclear whether the widespread use of antibiotics in the treatment of COVID-19 has implications for the emergence and transmission of multidrug-resistant bacteria.

BRAF overexpression is associated with BRAF V600E mutation in papillary thyroid carcinomas.

A common mutation in the BRAF gene, comprising the T1799A nucleotide transversion, which leads to the V600E amino acid substitution in the BRAF protein, has been observed in about 50% of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). However, BRAF protein expression has been rarely examined in such tumors. Clinical studies have shown important associations between BRAF mutation and clinical parameters in PTC, such as progression, invasion, and recurrence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between BRAF protein overexpression and the BRAF V600E mutation in a group of PTC patients. The study group included 116 patients with PTC from Araújo Jorge Hospital, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. Immunohistochemistry was utilized to analyze BRAF protein expression. Presence of the BRAF V600E mutation was determined by polymerase chain reaction amplification and restriction fragment length polymorphism, and confirmed by direct sequencing. The chi-square test with Yates correction and the Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis. BRAF overexpression was detected in 55 patients with PTC (47.4%) and the BRAF V600E mutation was observed in 74 patients (63.8%). In the studied group, significant associations were observed between the BRAF V600E mutation and BRAF protein overexpression (P = 0.0115), and also between BRAF overexpression and extra-thyroid extension of the tumor (P = 0.0111). This study demonstrated a significant association between BRAF overexpression and the BRAF V600E mutation in PTC, highlighting the importance of these molecular events in the process of PTC carcinogenesis.