SARS-CoV-2 S protein harbors furin cleavage site located in a short loop between antiparallel β-strand.

Furin cleavage site (FCS) of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein, which connects the S1/S2 junction, is essential for facilitating fusion with the host cells. Wild-type (Wt) SARS-CoV-2 S protein, PDB ID: 6yvb, lacks a sequence of amino acid residues, including the FCS that links the S1/S2 junction. For the first time, we demonstrated that a stretch of 14 amino acid residues (677QTNSPRRARSVASQ689) forms an antiparallel β-sheet comprising of PRRAR sequence in the FCS within a short loop.

New Onset Diabetes After COVID 19 (NODAC) is predominantly due to exacerbated Insulin Resistance (IR) rather than beta cell dysfunction: Lessons from tertiary care hospital data during confluence of two epidemics.

Purpose: To investigate determinants of new onset diabetes after COVID-19 (NODAC) and its recovery at 6 months.

Methods: This was an observational follow up study conducted from August, 2020 to July, 2023, recruiting patients with preexisting DM and COVID 19 patients with no history of DM. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the factors responsible for severity of COVID 19 infection in preexisting DM group.

The critical impacts of cytokine storms in respiratory disorders.

Cytokine storm (CS) refers to the spontaneous dysregulated and hyper-activated inflammatory reaction occurring in various clinical conditions, ranging from microbial infection to end-stage organ failure. Recently the novel coronavirus involved in COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) has been associated with the pathological phenomenon of CS in critically ill patients. Furthermore, critically ill patients suffering from CS are likely to have a grave prognosis and a higher case fatality rate.

Simultaneous Detection of Influenza A/B, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, and SARS-CoV-2 in Nasopharyngeal Swabs by One-Tube Multiplex Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction.

The treatment and outcome of respiratory virus infections differ. SARS-CoV-2, as well as other respiratory viruses such as influenza virus (A and B) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), require simultaneous, cost-effective, and rapid differential detection. We used a gold standard five-target single-step RT-PCR to detect influenza viruses, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2, and this method can be extended to detect influenza virus subtypes.

Clinical Characterization and Outcomes of Patients with Hypercreatinemia Affected by COVID-19.

The present study evaluated the clinical presentation and outcome of COVID-19 patients with underlying hypercreatinemia at the time of hospitalization. A retrospective observational study was conducted from the 23rd of March 2020 to the 15th of April 2021 in 1668 patients confirmed positive for COVID-19 in the Chest Disease Hospital in Srinagar, India. The results of the present study revealed that out of 1668 patients, 339 with hypercreatinemia had significantly higher rates of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), severe manifestations of the disease, need for mechanical ventilation, and all-cause mortality.

Evaluation of Convalescent Plasma in the Management of Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients (with No Detectable Neutralizing Antibodies Nab) in Kashmir, India.

Background: For centuries, convalescent plasma (CP) has been recommended to treat a diverse set of viral diseases. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of CP in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Methods And Materials: From 23 March 2021 to 29 December 2021, an open-label, prospective cohort, single-centre study was conducted at Chest Disease Hospital, Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar.

Clinical characteristics among patients with COVID‑19: A single‑center retrospective study.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical features and laboratory parameters of hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and assess the characteristics between severe and non-severe cases. The study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 1,096 patients, of which, 626 (57.11%) and 470 (42.

Mucormycosis an added burden to Covid-19 Patients: An in-depth systematic review.

As of 25th July, 2022, global Disease burden of 575,430,244 confirmed cases and over 6,403,511 deaths have been attributed to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Co-infections/secondary infections continue to plague patients around the world as result of the co-morbidities like diabetes mellitus, biochemical changes caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) especially significant elevation in free iron levels, immune suppression caused by SARS-CoV-2, and indiscriminate use of systemic corticosteroids for the treatment of severe COVID-19 disease. In such circumstances, opportunistic fungal infections pose significant challenge for COVID-19 disease therapy in patients with other co-morbidities.

Resistance Pattern in Mostly Gram-negative Bacteria Causing Urinary Tract Infections.

Purpose: The antimicrobial prescription in urinary tract infections (UTI) is driven by local data on its pathogenic spectrum and the resistance pattern exhibited by the disease-causing pathogens. We aimed to determine the bacteriological diversity of UTI causing pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in mostly gram-negative bacteria.

Methods: This retrospective hospital-based cross-sectional study analyzed the culture and sensitivity reports of urine samples from a referral centre in the Aljouf region of Saudi Arabia.

Relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and symptom severity in Covid-19 patients: the mediating role of illness perception and Covid-19 fear.

The dynamic nature of coronavirus-19 (Covid-19) has caused a wreaked havoc globally, with millions of confirmed cases and deaths. Therefore, it is important to understand the psychological impact of the Covid-19 on the patients. In the present study, we examine whether intolerance of uncertainty was related to the severity of symptoms and whether this relationship is mediated by perception of illness and covid-19 fear.

MiRNAs in Lung Cancer: Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Potential.

Lung cancer is the dominant emerging factor in cancer-related mortality around the globe. Therapeutic interventions for lung cancer are not up to par, mainly due to reoccurrence/relapse, chemoresistance, and late diagnosis. People are currently interested in miRNAs, which are small double-stranded (20-24 ribonucleotides) structures that regulate molecular targets (tumor suppressors, oncogenes) involved in tumorigeneses such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, and angiogenesis via post-transcriptional regulation of mRNA.

Impact of age, gender and comorbidities affecting the severity of COVID-19 infection in Kashmir.

Aim: To study the impact of age, gender and comorbidities/risk factors affecting the severity of CoronaVirus Disease 2019/Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19/SARS-COV-2) infection in the Kashmiri community.

Materials And Methods: The present descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Chest Disease Hospital. The study included 957 subjects who were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Managing COPD exacerbation at home- Teleconsultations amid COVID-19.

Background: Due to an enormous health care crisis arising out of COVID-19 pandemic, alternate methods of seeking treatment like tele-consultation proved useful to patients. We assessed the role of teleconsultation in managing COPD exacerbations at home in the times of COVID-19 crisis.

Materials And Methods: A prospective study of 527 diagnosed cases of COPD seeking treatment for exacerbation of their illness telephonically because of difficulty in visiting the hospitals created by the COVID-19 lockdown.

Quantitative Changes in White Blood Cells: Correlation with the Hallmarks of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Background and Objectives: In women of reproductive age, leukocytosis is a risk factor that bridges low-grade chronic inflammation (metabolic inflammation), metabolic changes, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and is a potential early predictor of PCOS. This study aims to explore the predictive role of quantitative changes in white blood cells (WBCs) and neutrophils in PCOS-associated metabolic changes. Materials and Methods: A total number of 176 blood samples were obtained from age-matched women of the reproductive period, comprising 88 PCOS cases and 88 healthy controls.

Vaccine hesitancy and coronavirus disease-19: Where do we stand?

Background: Vaccine hesitancy is seen, globally, as a major factor that will determine future coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) spread and its effective management. This study aimed to identify COVID-19 vaccine perception, acceptance, confidence, hesitancy, and barriers among the general population.

Materials And Methods: This was an online survey which was developed and shared through social media platforms among the general population of Kashmir.

Assessing vaccine hesitancy among health-care workers in Jammu and Kashmir: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The World Health Organization declared vaccine hesitancy as one of the planet's top 10 global health threats in 2019. With the rollout of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccines, a survey was conducted to find out the hesitancy and the apprehensions that come along with taking COVID-19 vaccines among health-care workers (HCWs).

Materials And Methods: This was an online cross-sectional survey which was developed and shared through social media platforms among the HCWs of Kashmir.

Repurposing of Mycobacterium indicus pranii for the severe form of COVID-19 patients in India: A cohort study.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) induces the production of proinflammatory cytokines, which results in a cytokine storm, and immune-modulators like Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP) might ameliorate coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) related cytokine storm. Therefore, the present study evaluates whether MIP offers an advantage in the treatment of severe COVID-19 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. A prospective MIP cohort study was conducted in chest disease hospitals in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Psychiatric comorbidities among COVID-19 survivors in North India: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) emerged from China and rapidly spread to many other countries all over the world. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms among COVID-19 survivors after their discharge from the COVID-19 treatment center.

Materials And Methods: This was a cross-sectional, hospital-based study performed among 119 COVID-19 survivors.

Exploring novel and potent molecules for disrupting DEPTOR-mTOR interaction through structure-steered screening, extra-exactitude molecular docking, prime binding free energy estimation and voguish molecular dynamics.

Dep domain containing mTOR interacting protein (DEPTOR) has critical implications in the development and progression of human malignancies. Increased expression of DEPTOR promotes the growth of tumor cells by inhibiting the mTORC1, which alleviates the negative feedback inhibition by mTORC1 downstream target S6Ks on PI3K/AKT pathway thereby promotes cell survival and prevents apoptosis. This clearly suggests that targetting DEPTOR-mTOR interactions through small molecules may prove as an effective strategy for circumventing distinct cancers.

An update on emerging therapeutics to combat COVID-19.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has demanded effective therapeutic protocol from researchers and clinicians across the world. Currently, a large amount of primary data have been generated from several preclinical studies. At least 300 clinical trials are underway for drug repurposing against COVID-19; the clinician needs objective evidence-based medication to treat COVID-19.

Clinico-Pathological Importance of miR-146a in Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer is a well-known malignant tumor of the respiratory tract, which has caused a significant level of damage to human health in the 21st century. Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are tiny, non-coding RNA stem-loop structures with a length of roughly 20-25 nucleotides that function as powerful modulators of mRNA and protein products of a gene. miRNAs may modulate many biological processes involving growth, differentiation, proliferation, and cell death and play a key role in the pathogenesis of various types of malignancies.

Healthcare Providers on the Frontline: A Quantitative Investigation of the Stress and Recent Onset Psychological Impact of Delivering Health Care Services During COVID-19 in Kashmir.

Background: Frontline healthcare workers (FHCWs) are at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. We aimed to assess the stress and psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among FHCWs.

Methods: This was an exploratory hospital-based study.

Correction: Stigma in coronavirus disease-19 survivors in Kashmir, India: A cross-sectional exploratory study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Stigma in coronavirus disease-19 survivors in Kashmir, India: A cross-sectional exploratory study.

Background: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has not only spawned a lot of stigma and discrimination towards its survivors but also to their corpses. We aimed to assess the magnitude and correlates of stigma in these survivors, on return to their communities.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, hospital-based, exploratory study conducted by the postgraduate department of psychiatry, in collaboration with the postgraduate department of chest medicine, Govt.