COVID-19: The catastrophe of our time | Author : Md. Moinuddin Sheam, Shifath Bin Syed, Shital Kumar Barman, Md Rockybul Hasan, Dipak Kumar Paul, Rokibul Islam, Sudhangshu Kumar Biswas | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :The most discussed topic in today’s world is COVID-19, an acute respiratory disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) because of its contagious transmission pattern, and morbimortality. The virus was originated by bats and in December 2019, first spread to humans by unknown intermediate species in Wuhan, China. The dramatic acceleration of the occurrence and death toll of COVID-19 with no potential medicine and vaccine are enough to explain its severity. This review summarizes multidisciplinary aspects of COVID-19, including origin, epidemiology, symptoms, transmission, pathogenicity, impact on world economy and advances in the use of modern diagnostic procedures and methods. Further, we analyzed extensively for various therapeutic strategies, potential drug options with prospective vaccine candidates and challenges along the way. All data were accumulated through extensive study of recent peer-reviewed publications and authentic reports until June 7, 2020. Collectively, this review would help to shed light on different dimensions of this ongoing pandemic. |
| Self-confidence as an immune-modifying psychotherapeutic intervention for COVID-19 patients and understanding of its connection to CNS-endocrine-immune axis | Author : Md. Abdul Hannan, Md Nabiul Islam, Md Jamal Uddin | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by
severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
(SARS-CoV-2) not only costs millions of human
lives across the globe but also causes uncountable
damage to mental health. As the incidence of
COVID-19 continues to rise, so does the
psychological burden. COVID-19 patients often
encounter a variety of psychological stresses,
including occupational damage, uncertain future of
the family, and even fear of death which cause
anxiety and distress, compromising the immune
system, and influencing the severity of the disease.
Beyond this, stressed individuals are more likely to
practice unhealthy habits such as indifference to
sleep and food that put them at greater risk. |
| COVID-19: transmission, diagnosis, policy intervention, and potential broader perspective on the rapidly evolving situation in Bangladesh | Author : Fahmida Begum Mina, Mutasim Billah, Md. Siddikur Rahman, Sabuj Das, Sumon Karmakar, Md. Faruk Hasan, Uzzal Kumar Acharjee | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Following the first outbreak of COVID-19 in China, various continents became serious and aware to combat against it, though degraded dramatically preventing it, due to its unique transmission strategy. On March 8, 2020, Bangladesh confirmed its first cases of COVID-19 with three people being infected and the first death was reported on March 18, 2020, until June 29, 2020, the total number of infected people and deaths reached to 141,801 and 1783, respectively. Bangladesh has strengthened its efforts to improve the health care system’s ability, including COVID-19 diagnosis to prevent the crisis, following discovery of the first 100 reported cases of COVID-19 at the start of April. Though, the government of Bangladesh had put in place preventive measures, the country has no remarkable legislative structures for combating COVID-19 in which Bangladesh, the South Asian low-income economic country, is under very precarious conditions and is at the forefront of the threat of disease that can spread to over the 160 million people. The aim of this article is to describe the current Bangladesh situation as well as the consequences in the country due to COVID-19 and to describe how people are confronted with this pandemic. |
| Current knowledge on mechanisms involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection and kidney diseases | Author : MD. Hasanur Rahman, Md. Sarwar Zahan, Tasnin Al Hasib, Kazi Ahsan Ahmed, Mushira Khanam, Md. Sadman Omit, Akhi Moni, Md Jamal Uddin | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is cause of a global pandemic which is demolishing global health and economy. SARS-CoV-2 infected patients are hospitalized with pneumonia where almost 20-30% of patients are led to kidney failure. The entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the systemic circulation leads to acute kidney injury (AKI) which may develop chronic kidney disease (CKD). In addition, patients who are diagnosed with AKI or CKD are at major risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although a significant number of compounds have been proposed and the existing drugs have also been tested for repurposing, no specific therapy has been approved yet. SARS-CoV-2 invades human cells binding to the receptor of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) via the receptor-binding domain. Cells that express ACE2 are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the proportion of ACE2-positive cells in kidney proximal tubule is approximately 4%, indicating that SARS-CoV-2 might damage the kidney tubules leading to fatal kidney injury. Therefore, a better understanding of the potential mechanisms involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection-mediated kidney disease may unveil a novel therapeutic strategy against kidney diseases during COVID-19. |
| Health service facilities are positively linked with outcome of COVID-19 patients in majority of the countries: The global situation | Author : Md. Taimur Islam, Anup Kumar Talukder, Muhammad Badruzzaman, Md. Abu Hadi Noor Ali Khan | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Since emergence, coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has extensively spread to >210 countries. Till date, no specific drug or vaccine has been developed against this deadly disease. Thus, all affected countries have been struggling to manage their COVID-19 patients. Here, we aimed to report impact of health service facilities on outcome of COVID-19 patients. As of June 28, 2020, the highest number of COVID-19 patients was reported in USA, which sum up to 2,617,847 with 4.9% death. Likewise, Spain, Italy, UK and France were greatly affected by COVID-19 with 10 to 18% death. Notably, Germany has been affected by COVID-19 in similar to UK and France with a total of 194,771 confirmed cases; however, recovery rate is very high (91.3%) with only 4.6% death. Alternatively, India and Bangladesh reported positive cases of 548,817 and 137,787, respectively. The comparison of health service facilities among different countries shows that Germany and also Russia have the highest number of doctors, hospital beds, ICU and ventilators in proportion to their people, which might contribute to restrict death rate only 1.4 to 4.6% with excellent recovery. USA has better health system with compared to that in China, India and Bangladesh; however, the recovery rate is 41.3 %, because the country is dealing with large number of patients. The limited health service facilities in Bangladesh might result in relatively lower recovery rate (40.4%) of COVID-19 patients. Thus, health service facilities of the nations are likely to be associated with successful management of COVID-19 patients. |
| Japan’s public health and culture, and the ongoing fight against COVID-19 | Author : MH Mahbub , Mohammadullah Khan, Natsu Yamaguchi, Ryosuke Hase, Noriaki Harada , Tsuyoshi Tanabe | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :The rising number of new cases or new waves of COVID-19 infections threaten to overwhelm or collapse the health care system in many countries. The pandemic is likely to make the human sufferings worse. However, unlike many other developed countries, the situation in Japan with respect to COVID-19 remains relatively very good, despite the existence of a number of unfavorable factors that could make the country more vulnerable to COVID-19. Therefore, it seems important to understand and clarify the factors that have helped hold down the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Japan. The purpose of this narrative review was to provide some insights into the public health system and cultural factors that might have significantly contributed to the success of Japan in the fight against COVID-19. In light of the findings and discussion of this review, we suggest that Japan has achieved a remarkable success against COVID-19, by virtue of its strong and effective public health system, and also high standards of ingrained hygiene practices that are deeply influenced by local culture. |
| Prediction of B-cell and T-cell epitopes in the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 in Bangladesh: An in-silico approach | Author : Mohammad Ariful Islam, Md. Maksudur Rahman Shihab, Mehedi Hasan | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :To combat highly infectious Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), scientists and researchers are toiling hard globally to develop effective drugs and vaccines. By exploring the structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2 can be a feasible way to find an effective vaccine. In this study by using in-silico tools, we recommended B-cell and T-cell epitopes of spike protein from a Bangladeshi isolate which can be considered for incorporation into a vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2. Homology modelling, energy minimization process, and finally Ramachandran model was used for the prediction of a more stable conformation of the spike protein. The most important peptides were screened through the VaxiJen server followed by the IEDB server and CTLPred Score predicted and analysed the desired epitopes. In the final analysis, the peptide EVRQIAPGQTGKIADY (starting from 91) showed the highest antigenicity score (1.3837) as a B-cell epitope although GSTPCNGVEGFNCYFP, starting at 161, showed highest score (0.91) in an initial analysis. On the contrary, as a T-cell epitope, 71 KLNDLCFTNV- 80 was found with the highest antigenicity score (2.6927) which was also found as an epitope in further analysis. A combination of B-cell and T-cell epitopes may evoke a humoral and cell-mediated immune response which will possibly lead to an effective vaccine. Further, the various computational analyses will provide valuable information that will pave the way for modelling a novel vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. |
| Identification of potential SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors from Ficus Carica Latex: An in-silico approach | Author : Md. Chayan Ali, Anjumana Jannati Nur, Mst. Shanzeda Khatun, Raju Dash, Md Mafizur Rahman, Mohammad Minnatul Karim | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) is the aetiological agent behind the current pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 main protease plays a dynamic role in mediating viral replication and transcription, which is one of the most probable drug targets against SARS-CoV-2. Ficus carica latex encompasses notable bioactive molecules with various biological properties, including antiviral activities. In this study, latex compounds of Ficus carica were screened to find out active phytochemicals against SARS-CoV-2 main protease through molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) profiling. A total of 21 compounds were screened, and the compounds, lupeol, a-amyrin, and luteolin, showed the highest binding affinity and intense interaction with the vital catalytic residue His 41 and Cys 145. The molecular dynamics simulation revealed that the amyrin is the most stable compound with higher binding free energy, suggesting that this compound can compete with the native ligands of the main protease. The ADMET analysis indicated that these phytochemicals have considerable physicochemical, pharmacokinetics, and drug-likeness properties and do not possess any considerable detrimental effects and can be considered as potential drug candidates against SARS-CoV-2. However, further in-vitro, in-vivo, and clinical trials are required to observe the exact efficiency of these compounds. |
| Pathophysiological mechanisms of disease severity in COVID-19: An update | Author : Md. Hasanul Banna Siam , Shah MD Minhajul Abedin, Ahsan Ahmed, Nahida Hannan Nishat, Mohammad Sorowar Hossain | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :The pandemic of COVID-19 has created a confounding global health crisis with more than 25 million cases and 870,000 deaths worldwide. The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, exploits the human ACE2 receptor and potential CD147 to invade a plethora of organ systems including cardiovascular, renal, endocrine, nervous, and gastrointestinal. The pathophysiological mechanisms of COVID-19 infection were found to be associated with the direct viral invasion, dysregulated renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), hypoxia, hyperinflammation, cytokine storm, endotheliopathy, and thrombosis. Emerging evidence suggests that the kinin-kallikrein system, iron dysregulation, and complement component C5a anaphylatoxin have roles in disease severity. In critical patients, the effects manifest as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), lymphopenia, acute kidney injury (AKI), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), hypovolemic shock leading to multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS). In this review, we provided an update on the pathophysiology of COVID-19 with an emphasis on the clinical outcomes in severe patients that will help facilitate a deeper understanding of the disease. |
| Prediction of SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors in medicinal plant-derived compounds by molecular docking approach | Author : Sayma Farabi, Nihar Ranjan Saha, Md. Hasanuzzaman, Noushin Anika Khan, Muhammad Shahidul Haque | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Coronaviruses are endemic in humans and infections typically mild, such as the common cold. Still, the cross-species transmission has produced some unusually virulent strains which now causing viral pneumonia, in severe cases, even acute respiratory distress syndrome and death. SARS-CoV-2 is the most threatening issue which leads the world to an uncertainty alongside thousands of regular death scenes. An effective vaccine to cure this virus is not yet available, so it requires concerted efforts at various scales. The viral Main Protease controls coronavirus replication and is a proven drug discovery target for SARS-CoV-2. Comprehensive computational study e.g., molecular docking and ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion) profiling were employed to predict the efficacy of medicinal plant-based bioactive compounds against SARS-CoV-2 MPP. Paritaprevir and lopinavir-previously approved viral main protease inhibitors were used as standards for comparison. MPP was docked with 90 phytochemical compounds, and the screening revealed that four compounds (azadirachtin, -12.5 kcal/mol; rutin, -9 kcal/mol; theaflavin, -9 kcal/mol; astragalin, -8.8 kcal/mol) showed the highest binding affinity than the controls paritaprevir and lopinavir (-8.7 and -7.9 kcal/mol, respectively). Comparative structural analysis of protein-inhibitor complexes revealed that the compounds have intense interaction with the vital catalytic residue His-41 and Cys-145. Furthermore, the pharmaco-kinetics and drug-likeness properties of the antiviral phytochemicals suggested that the compounds do not have any considerable detrimental effects and can be considered potential drug candidates against SARS-CoV-2. These compounds can be further explored for in vitro experimental validation against SARS-CoV-2. |
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