Pharmabuzz

 

 

The current standard laboratory test for COVID-19 diagnosis is RT-PCR which identifies the viral genomic RNA has several disadvantages being time-consuming, expensive and high requirements of laboratory. A meta-analysis study by Zhang Z.L et al (2020) and Lisboa Bastos M et al (2020) reveals the diagnostic efficacy of RT-PCR test remains unclear. This leads to search of urgently identifying tests with better diagnostic accuracy.  Gold Immunochromatography assay (GICA) might be used as preferred method for obtaining accuracy and efficacy. GICA test has following advantages that it can be widely used (blood, serum and plasma can be detected); fast detection (10-15 minutes for whole process); simple operation (no professional technical personnel required for the equipment); low cost and easy to use. Through the study conducted by Shen B et al (2020); found that IgM/IgG test demonstrated high sensitivity 71.1% and specificity 96.2% in 150 suspect COVID-19 cases taking RT-PC...

COVID-19 caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Co V-2) which first emerged in China on December 2019 has spread worldwide with a reported 58,03,416 confirmed cases and 3,59,791 deaths as of 29 th May 2020. The infection is typically characterized by respiratory symptoms, which indicate droplet transmission. However, many studies recently have reported the gastrointestinal symptoms observed in patients with SARS-Co V-2 infection with viral RNA present in faeces which suggests another possible route might be faecal-oral transmission. According to the review done by Tian Y et al and team suggests that an incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms which includes anorexia, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and gastrointestinal bleeding. Diarrhoea was the common gastrointestinal symptom exhibited before and after the diagnosis of the virus. Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 and virus nucleocapsid protein was detected in gastrointestinal cells. Infectio...

Every 40 seconds, someone loses their life to suicide.   10 th October every year is celebrated as “World Mental Health Day” by the World Federation for Mental Health to raise the awareness on mental health education.  Theme for this year is: Mental Health promotion and suicide prevention . Suicidal behavior has increased gradually in all parts of the world and, in the past few decades, has reached alarming statistical levels.   This has turn to be the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds globally . Every suicide is a tragedy that affects families, communities and entire countries and has long-lasting effects on the people left behind. Every year close to 800 000 people take their own life and there are many more people who attempt suicide. Another interesting fact is that, 79% of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries. 20% of people who suicide use pesticide self-poisoning as a way to end their life. ARE ...

Introduction: Causative organism:  Mycobacterium tuberculosis . Tuberculosis  ( MTB , TB ) is an  infectious disease  usually caused by the bacterium  Mycobacterium tuberculosis . Tuberculosis generally affects the  lungs , but can also affect other parts of the  body.  Tuberculosis is  spread through the air  when people who have active TB in their lungs cough, spit, speak, or sneeze.  People with latent TB do not spread the disease. Active infection occurs more often in people with  HIV/AIDS  and in those who smoke. Diagnosis of active TB is based on  chest X-rays , as well as  microscopic  examination and  culture  of body fluids. Diagnosis of latent TB relies on the  tuberculin skin test  (TST) or blood tests. Prevention of TB involves screening those at high risk, early detection and treatment of cases, and  vaccination  with the  bacillus Calmette-Guérin ...

IBRANCE is targeted for post-menopausal women with advanced disease IBRANCE® (palbociclib) is the first and only FDA-approved medication in a new class of treatment for postmenopausal women with ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer. Pfizer's IBRANCE  (palbociclib) inhibits molecules that play a role in the growth of cancer cells. It is intended for postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative metastatic  breast cancer  who have not yet received endocrine-based therapy, the FDA said. IBRANCE is taken in combination with letrozole , a commonly used hormone therapy.  A combination of IBRANCE with LETROZOLE delayed disease progression 2X longer than letrozole alone.  Common side effects of IBRANCE: Low white and red blood cell counts, fatigue, nausea, upper respiratory infection, diarrhea, vomiting, hair loss, inflammation of the lining of the mouth, decreased appetite, noseble...

Zika virus: i s a member of the  Flaviviridae  virus  family  and the  Flavivirus   genus . Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites.   The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are: Fever  Rash Joint pain Conjunctivitis (red eyes) The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. A mother already infected with Zika virus near the time of delivery can pass on the virus to her newborn around the time of birth, but this is rare. This leads to microcephaly. What is microcephaly? Microcephaly is condition where a baby’s head is much smaller than expected. During pregnancy, a baby’s head grows because the baby’s brain grows. Microcephaly can occur because a baby’s brain has not developed properly during pregnancy or has stopped growing after birth, which results in a smaller head size. Microcephaly can be an isolated condition, meaning that it can occur with no other major birt...

November 14 - World Diabetes Day