Evaluation of the efficacy of tongue swab and saliva as samples for testing COVID-19 infection in symptomatic cases in comparison with nasopharyngeal swab.

COVID-19 caused by SARS CoV-2 continues to be a major health concern globally. Methods for detection of the disease are necessary for public health efforts to monitor the spread of this disease as well as for detecting the emergence of new variants. Collection of Nasopharyngeal swab (NPS), the gold standard sample for the detection of COVID-19 infection by RT-qPCR is invasive and requires the expertise of a trained medical provider.

Insulin Plant () Extract Restores Thyroid Hormone Levels in Experimental Hypothyroidism.

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the preventive effect of leaf extract in experimental hypothyroidism.

Materials And Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups with ten rats in each group: Control (C), hypothyroid (H), control+extract (C+E), and hypothyroid+extract (H+E). Rats in C group did not receive any intervention throughout the experimental period.

Ferritin levels predict severe dengue.

Purpose: Currently, no tests are available to monitor and predict severity and outcome of dengue. To find potential markers that predict dengue severity, the present study validated the serum level of three acute-phase proteins α-1 antitrypsin, ceruloplasmin and ferritin in a pool of severe dengue cases compared to non-severe forms and other febrile illness controls.

Methods: A total of 96 patients were divided into two equal groups with group 'A' comprising dengue-infected cases and group 'B' with other febrile illness cases negative for dengue.

Association between proinflammatory cytokines and lipid peroxidation in patients with severe dengue disease around defervescence.

Objectives: Proinflammatory cytokines and the oxidative stress response are reported to be involved in dengue viral disease. The present study investigated the correlation of proinflammatory cytokines and lipid peroxidation with dengue severity.

Methods: Clinical samples from 27 dengue fever (DF) cases, 30 dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) cases, and 24 dengue shock syndrome (DSS) cases were studied around defervescence, along with samples from 30 healthy controls.