Scientists identify two antibodies from llamas that can neutralise coronavirus

Scientists have demonstrated that two small, stable antibody variants derived from the South American mammals llamas can neutralise the novel coronavirus in lab-cultured cells, an advance which may lead to the development of new therapeutics against COVID-19. The study, published in the journal Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, noted that the nanobodies can prevent infection with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 by blocking its interaction with the protein ACE2, which it uses as a gateway to enter and infect cells.According to the scientists, including those from The Rosalind Franklin Institute in the UK, passive immunisation, which involves giving a patient virus-neutralising agent -- either from people previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 or purified antibodies -- can be a useful therapy for COVID-19. ....read more

CMAAO Coronavirus Facts and Myth Buster: COVID in Children, Neurology

With inputs from Dr Monica Vasudev9743: Minutes of Virtual Meeting of CMAAO NMAs on “COVID in children & COVID and Neurology”11th July, 2020, Saturday, 9.30am-10.30am,Participants, Member NMAs: Dr KK Aggarwal, President CMAAO, Dr Yeh Woei Chong, Singapore Chair CMAAO, Prof Ashraf Nizami, Pakistan, First Vice President CMAAO, Dr N Gnanabaskaran, President Malaysian Medical Association, Dr Marthanda Pillai, Member World Medical Council, Dr Alvin Yee-Shing Chan, Hong Kong, Treasurer CMAAO, Dr Koh Kar Chai, Malaysia Co Chair CMAAO, Dr Marie Uzawa Urabe, Japan Medical Association, Dr Qaisar Sajjad, Secretary Pakistan Medical Association, Dr Prakash Budhathoky, Nepal Medical Association ,Invitees: Dr Russell D’Souza, UNESCO Chair in Bioethics, Australia, Dr Sanchita Sharma, Editor IJCP Group ....read more

World Covid Meter 14th July: India Number 3, 213 Countries Affected

Cases: 1M April 2, 2M April 15, 3M April 27, 4M May 8, 5M May 20, 6M May 30, 7M June 7, 8M June 15, 9M June 22, 10M June 29, 11M July 4, 12M July 10 ,Ground Zero: Wuhan - in live animal market or cafeteria for animal pathogens: 10th January; Total cases are based on RT PCR, 67% sensitivity ,Doubling time India 21 days, USA 33 days, Brazil 13 days, Russia 18 days, Spain 47 days, UK 35 days, Italy 55 days, France 49 days, Turkey 37 days ,Likely minimum deaths (575466 + 58881 x 15 == 8832) = 584298 ,Coronavirus Cases: 13,234,687,Deaths: 575,466,Recovered: 7,695,922 ....read more

Relieve Stress by Changing the Interpretation

Stress is the reaction of the body or the mind to the interpretation of a known situation. Stress management, therefore, involves either changing the situation, changing the interpretation or taming the body the yogic way in such a way that stress does not affect the body. ,Every situation has two sides. Change of interpretation means looking at the other side of the situation. It is something like half glass of water, which can be interpreted as half empty or half full. ,Studies have shown that anger, hostility and aggression are the new risk factors for heart disease. It has been shown that even recall of anger can precipitate a heart attack. ....read more

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Healthcare News Monitor

Fire breaks out at pharmaceutical unit near Visakhapatnam

HT

A major fire broke out following an explosion at a pharmaceutical unit near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh on Monday night, police sources said. ,The incident triggered panic among the residents in the Paravada area as it came just a couple of months after styrene vapour leak in the LG Polymers plant in the region. ,An explosion was first heard at the Pharma City, following which there was a huge fire, according to sources. ,No casualties have been reported so far, and the fire and emergency services personnel could not immediately reach the spot as the blaze has engulfed the area, police sources said.

Biophore ramps up Made-In-India Favipiravir production for Covid-19

Express Pharma

Hyderabad-based Biophore India Pharmaceuticals has announced that it has successfully completed the validation of favipiravir and scaled-up its production. Favipiravir is the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) that can be used in the finished formulation of an antiviral drug approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for mild to moderate cases of Covid-19.Biophore has received the DCGI license to manufacture the API in India and has been cleared for export as well. It has also received approval in Turkey in collaboration with a local Turkish partner. Additionally, the company is in talks with several Indian partners to commercialize the product in India and with Bangladesh and Egypt-based companies for its export.

AIIMS doctors to generate e-prescriptions to treat patients at home

Livemint

After the Covid-19 pandemic brought a halt to the outpatient departments (OPD) services to a halt, the department has opened again after a gap of over three months at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).And with most of the patients at home with Covid-19 cases increasing in India almost every day, Doctors at AIIMS have come up a real time telemedicine dashboard to treat OPDs.According to a report in Hindustan Times, with this real time dashboard patients will be able to consult doctors and will be able to get e-prescriptions, while doctors will be able to access patients’ test reports and conduct on-line classes.

Indian Boxing Team Doctor Tests Positive For COVID-19

India.com

A doctor attached with the Indian boxing team on Monday tested positive for COVID-19 even as all the pugilists who have assembled for training in Patiala came out negative but stared at a possible suspension of the proposed camp due to the development. Also Read - Maharashtra Lockdown News: Second Phase of Shutdown in Pune From July 18, Essential Services AllowedThe 11 boxers, including Asian Games champion and world silver-medallist Amit Panghal, will be retested as they were at the same quarantine facility with the doctor. Also Read - IIT-Kanpur Develops Ultraviolet Sanitising Device Shudh to Disinfect Room in 15 Minutes“Dr Amol (Patil) was in quarantine in a centre outside the main campus of national Institute of Sports (NIS) Patiala. As per protocol, before he is allowed to enter main hostel and sports arena, he was given the COVID test on the 7th day (of quarantine) and tested positive,” the Sports Authority of India said in a statement to PTI when asked about the development. Also Read - Odisha Migrant Worker Dule Rocker Makes Waves on Internet For Rap Songs on Bitter Truth of COVID-19 Lockdown