Investigating thyroid dysfunction in the context of COVID-19 infection

COVID-19 is a contagious viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Sars-CoV-2). One of the key features of COVID-19 infection is inflammation. There is increasing evidence pointing to an association between cytokine storm and autoimmunity. One autoimmune disease of interest in connection to COVID-19 is hyperthyroidism. COVID-19 has been shown to decrease TSH levels and induce thyrotoxicosis, destructive thyroiditis, and de novo Graves' disease. It has also been suggested that the immune response against SARS-CoV-2 antigens following vaccination can cross-react through a mechanism called molecular mimicry which can elicit autoimmune reactivity, potentially leading to potential thyroid disease post vaccine. However, if the COVID-19 vaccine is linked to reduced COVID-19 related serious disease, it could potentially play a protective role against post COVID-19 hyperthyroidism (de novo disease and exacerbations). Further studies investigating the complex interplay between COVID-19 or COVID-19 vaccine and thyroid dysfunction can help provide substantial evidence and potential therapeutic targets that can alter prognosis and improve COVID-19 related outcomes in individuals with or without preexisting thyroid disease. </p

The revival of telemedicine in the age of COVID-19: benefits and impediments for Pakistan

Defined as “the use of information and telecommunication technologies (ICT) in medicine, telemedicine intends to provide appropriate healthcare at a distance, hence eliminating the need for direct contact between a patient and physician. It can be classified according to the type of interaction (pre-recorded or real-tie) and type of format in which information is conveyed (videos, pictures, audio, etc.). Particularly in the setting of a natural or man-made disaster, telemedicine is known to function as a key component in the emergency response, enabling people to access routine care and health support despite widespread disruptions in health services. </div

Investigating discrepancies in demand and access for bariatric surgery across different demographics in the COVID-19 era

Obesity affects over 650 million adults worldwide and increases the risk of cardiovascular events, diabetes, and hypertension. While lifestyle recommendations are popular management options, bariatric surgery has emerged as a standard of care in refractory cases, reported to cause at least a 30% reduction in mortality. In addition, it mitigates obesity-related complications leading to a significant improvement in the quality of life for morbidly obese patients (BMI >40). Despite the numerous benefits, demand and access to bariatric surgery vary across different demographics such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status. This demand and access were further reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has resulted in cancellations of elective surgeries such as weight loss procedures and promotes a sedentary lifestyle which has short-term and long-term detrimental consequences on the health of obese patients. In the context of the prevalent epidemiological trends, this reduction in bariatric services will disproportionately affect the elderly, males, low SES, and African Americans. This editorial highlights the prevalent discrepancies in demand and access to bariatric surgery amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and possible recommendations to improve overall access and utilization of bariatric services in morbidly obese patients belonging to all demographics. </p

Data_Sheet_1_Recognizing novel drugs against Keap1 in Alzheimer’s disease using machine learning grounded computational studies.xlsx

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in the world, affecting an estimated 50 million individuals. The nerve cells become impaired and die due to the formation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Dementia is one of the most common symptoms seen in people with AD. Genes, lifestyle, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, obesity, infections, and head injuries are some of the factors that can contribute to the development and progression of AD. There are just a few FDA-approved treatments without side effects in the market, and their efficacy is restricted due to their narrow target in the etiology of AD. Therefore, our aim is to identify a safe and potent treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. We chose the ursolic acid (UA) and its similar compounds as a compounds’ library. And the ChEMBL database was adopted to obtain the active and inactive chemicals against Keap1. The best Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model was created by evaluating standard machine learning techniques, and the best model has the lowest RMSE and greatest R2 (Random Forest Regressor). We chose pIC50 of 6.5 as threshold, where the top five potent medicines (DB06841, DB04310, DB11784, DB12730, and DB12677) with the highest predicted pIC50 (7.091184, 6.900866, 6.800155, 6.768965, and 6.756439) based on QSAR analysis. Furthermore, the top five medicines utilize as ligand molecules were docked in Keap1’s binding region. The structural stability of the nominated medications was then evaluated using molecular dynamics simulations, RMSD, RMSF, Rg, and hydrogen bonding. All models are stable at 20 ns during simulation, with no major fluctuations observed. Finally, the top five medications are shown as prospective inhibitors of Keap1 and are the most promising to battle AD.</p