Covid-19: A cure still elusive, but science may find a way

Countries are emerging from lockdowns even as the fear of a second wave of Covid-19 continues with new spikes seen in China and South Korea. India, too, continues to see new cases and is one of the few countries to witness a rise after substantially relaxing lockdown restrictions. Scientists at drug and vaccine companies are making all efforts towards finding a cure for the pandemic. Divya Rajagopal reports on the developments through this week both in India and across the world:Panacea Biotech ties up with Refana New Delhi-based Panacea Biotech has formed a joint venture with Refana, a US-based early stage life sciences company, to develop a whole inactivated virus-based vaccine. The first phase of trials is expected to start in September. The vaccine is expected to be ready for administration within the next 18 months if the first-phase trials are found to be effective....read more

CMAAO Coronavirus Facts and Myth Buster 126: Myocardial injury

946: Myocardial Injury among Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 Associated with Higher Risk of DeathMyocardial injury is prevalent among patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is associated with higher risk of mortality, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.Anuradha Lala, MD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York mentioned that they had found that 36% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 had elevated troponin levels and were at higher risk of death....read more

World Covid Meter 13th June - 213 Countries affected: Wear mask at home

Cases: 1M April 2, 2M April 15, 3M April 27, 4M May 8, 5M May 20, 6M May 30, 7M June 7, 8M by ? June 15Ground Zero: Wuhan - in live animal market or cafeteria for animal pathogens: 10th January; Total cases are based on RT PCR, 67% sensitivityDoubling time India 17 days, USA 33 days, Brazil 13 days, Russia 18 days, Spain 47 days, UK 35 days, Italy 55 days, France 49 days, Turkey 37 daysLikely minimum deaths (428210 + 53887x 15 = 8083) = 436293,Coronavirus Cases: 7,731,721,Deaths: 428,210, Recovered: 3,925,295....read more

Sewa is the best dharma

Offering help is the best service to the humanity. As per Sikhism, Sewa (unconditional service), Simran (meditation) and Satsang (company of good people) is the trio for acquiring happiness and spiritual health.In Sikhism, Sewa is the main path for acquiring spiritualism. In Gurudwara, one even offers sewa by cleaning the shoes of others or by cleaning the entry paths to any Gurudwara.Offering help covers all the paths of being a Satyugi, i.e. truthfulness, unconditional hard work, purity of mind and finally, Daya and Daan. When you offer help, you always do it in a positive state of mind and it involves hard work, mercy and charity....read more

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Loss of smell and taste added as symptoms of Covid-19 by health ministry

Healthcare News Monitor

India to soon begin domestic production of Remdesivir drug to fight COVID-19

ANI

NEW DELHI: India is soon going to have its domestic production of anti-viral Remdesivir drug, which would have safety, efficacy and stability for "restricted emergency use" on COVID-19 patients. Recently, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has given the approval to Remdesivir for "restricted emergency use" on severely ill hospitalised coronavirus patients.For this, the countrys top drug regulator is evaluating the application submitted by four domestic pharma giants who want to seek the approval to manufacture and sell Remdesivir in India.

Sebi censures Astrazeneca Pharmas promoter, Elliot Group

PTI

NEW DELHI: Markets regulator Sebi has strongly "censured" Astrazeneca Pharma India LtdNSE -3.21 %s promoter and Elliot Group for professional misconduct and following unfair trade practices during the companys delisting plan in 2014.The regulator, in a 65-page order, said that Astrazeneca Pharma India Ltds (AZPIL) promoter AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals AB Sweden (AZPAB), and Elliott Group, which held 15.52 per cent stake in the company, had a private arrangement to sail through the delisting process.

Indian-Origin Doctor Performs 1st Lung Transplant In US For COVID-19 Patient

NDTV

Chicago: Surgeons led by an Indian-origin doctor have given a new set of lungs to a young woman with severe lung damage from the coronavirus, a surgery believed to be the first of its kind in the US since the pandemic began.Northwestern Medicine in Chicago said the recipient is the woman in her 20s who would not have survived without the transplant.She is in intensive care and recovering from the operation after being on lung and heart assistance devices for two months, The Washington Post reported.

Tests: Doctors in Gujarat laud loosened control

TNN

AHMEDABAD/SURAT/VADODARA/RAJKOT: The Gujarat governments decision to free Covid-19 testing from government control by allowing tests at private labs on the prescription of doctors with the MD degree has been welcomed by the medical fraternity across the state."This is a good step by the government. If a patient needed an operation or if a woman was about to deliver a baby, they had to go to civil hospitals to get the test done, which is risky," said Rajkots Dr Atul Pandya, the national vice-president, Indian Medical Association (IMA). "Now, on the basis of the doctors prescription, a patient can get the test done at a private laboratory," Pandya said. "If a patient is asymptomatic and silent carrier and a doctor performs a major planned operation, there is the fear of an immunological storm." Dr Bharat Gadhvi, the president of Ahmedabad Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (AHNA), said that the decision to do away with the governments prior approval for testing has helped patients. "On the first day, several patients were sent for testing. The move will benefit hospitals and patients," he said.