Covid-19 is now a 6.0 months old disease. After its first identification and early encounter, many speculations about its natural course and various pathogenesis mechanisms have been made. From ACE-II Rs mediated viral attachment to pneumocyte damage, and diffuse endotheliitis, still a lot is left to answer on pathogenesis, immunity and other important aspects of this disease. What we have now is some studies, observational lab and clinical data only that keeps us guessing what is going on with this novel disease.

Background and purposes: Coronary artery anomalies (CAA), although rare in the general population, are common in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). CAA can be the cause of sudden cardiac death; thus, the childhood diagnosis of CAA is essential in patients suffering from CHD. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of CAAs in pediatric patients with CHD in Iran. Materials and Methods: We recruited children with CHD (one day to 21 years old), who were referred to the CT Department of Shahid Rajaei Hospital (Tehran, Iran) to undergo CT angiography (CTA) for various reasons between 2011 and 2013. We recorded age, gender, and underlying heart diseases, as well as the CTA findings, reported by a radiologist and a cardiologist. We classified CAAs using the most commonly used classification of CAA based on anatomical considerations. Results: Among a total of 219 patients with CHD, 112 (51.1%) were male, and 107 (48.9%) were female with the mean age of 3.5 ± 2.4 years. The prevalence of CAAs was 8.7% (19 patients) with no significant difference based on gender (P-value >0.05). All 19 patients had CAAs of origin; the most common CAAs were anomalous origin of right coronary artery (RCA) from left sinus (31.6%) and anomalous origin of left main coronary artery (LMCA) from pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) (21.0%), respectively. Conclusion: We observed a high prevalence of CAA in children with CHD, which emphasizes the importance of raising awareness about CAAs and improving the screening methods in the pediatric population suffering from CHD.

Background and objectives: Congenital thoracic vascular anomalies are associated with great risk of mortality and morbidity. Their growing incidence is assumed to originate mainly from the increased accuracy of the diagnostic methods used. Although classic angiography is considered the gold standard diagnostic method, various diagnostic methods have been proposed. Dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) angiography is the most recently introduced CT technology with confirmed diagnostic accuracy in adult population. The present study is aimed to determine the diagnostic value of DSCT in children with congenital thoracic vascular anomalies compared with the gold standard CTA. Materials and methods: The present cross-sectional study investigated the diagnostic accuracy of DSCT in 100 pediatric patients who referred to Shahid Rajaie Heart Center with congenital anomaly of major thoracic vessels and underwent DSCT and angiography from March 2011 to September 2014. DSCT images were reviewed by one radiologist to confirm the accuracy of reports. Next, parameters of diagnostic value of these methods were compared using IBM SPSS version 22. Results: A total of 142 cardiovascular anomalies were diagnosed by angiography. The diagnostic accuracy of DSCT was 97.1%, considering 2 cases of left superior vena cava and 2 patent ductus arteriosus missed by DSCT among the 142 anomalies diagnosed by angiography. DSCT also provided important additional findings (n = 26) which were not reported by angiography. Conclusion: DSCT is a highly accurate diagnostic method for detecting congenital vascular anomalies, obviating the need for invasive modalities.

Background: The aim of this study was to describe the experience with minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery (MICS) by evaluating the costs and clinical outcomes in a university hospital in Bogotá, Colombia. As a comparison, a series of patients submitted to open heart surgery (OHS) was used. Methods: Through a retrospective analysis of clinical records, from January 2014 to September 2018, data from 56 patients submitted to either MICS or OHS were collected. A comparison between these two types of approaches evaluating relevant clinical outcomes and demographic differences was performed. Direct costs for each hospitalization were analyzed and discriminated by categories. Costs are presented in 2018 US dollars (USD). Results: Thirty-four patients were included in the MICS group, with ages ranging from 17 to 63 years; 22 patients were included in the OHS group, with ages from one to 74. The mean length of stay was 6.9 days (SD 3.4) in the MICS group and 10.3 (SD 6.5) in the OHS (p = 0.046). The average cost for MICS was $8 345 ± 2 522 and for OHS was $9 422 ± 3 090 (p=0.08). Higher costs in procedures in MICS where compensated by lower costs in hospital stay, laboratory tests, medications and transfusions. Conclusion: MICS can be performed safely in a middle-income country like Colombia, at a fraction of the costs incurred in developed countries, while improving hospital bed turnover rate.

As of 8 June 2020, World Health Organization reports that there were 6 931 000 COVID-19 cases, 400 857 deaths worldwide. India has 256 611 COVID-19 cases and 7135 deaths. The current situation demands more effective preventive and therapeutic agents. Siddha medicine is one of the oldest Indian systems of medicine. And it is most commonly practiced in India. Siddha medicine, a traditional form of indigenous medical system uses specific polyherbal formulations for the treatment of such infections with considerable success. Disparate modern medicine that doesn’t have an impact on the host immunity, Siddha medicine has various immuno-modulatory effects. Various herbs used in siddha medicine such as Amukkara, Nilavembu augments and reinstates the human immunity ensuing its antiviral action.