September 12, 2020 | News

We summarize all the latest pieces of evidence on dental aerosol procedures. We also trace the evidence back to 2003 SARS times when the aerosols were studied first. Despite weak evidence, dental aerosol-generating procedures have been termed risky.

September 7, 2020 | News

A lot has been written on the role of vitamin D in the prevention & management of SARS-CoV-2 infection & COVID-19 disease. Interest in Vitamin D therapy has increased multifold after the recent bradykinin hypothesis successfully answered the questions that had been left unanswered by the cytokine storm hypothesis. The bradykinin hypothesis also proposed that Vitamin D therapy may control the bradykinin storm. However, the literature lacked a clinical trial in this regard. This article covers the results of a preliminary trial that has shown promising results with Vitamin D therapy in preventing complications in hospitalized Covid-19 patients.

September 6, 2020 | News

Many patients are refusing to co-operate and not allowing the doctors to record temperatures using infrared thermometers - all thanks to a fake Facebook post and an illogical Whatsapp video. The aim of this article is to bring the facts to you and assure you that infrared guns are absolutely safe.

September 4, 2020 | News

A growing body of evidence now links COVID-19 outcomes with vitamin D status. Subhasree Ray, a clinical and public health nutritionist, analyses the literature and makes her evidence-based recommendations.

August 27, 2020 | News

This article aims to remove all the existing confusions on Covid-19 antigen tests. Also, explains the difference between the results obtained from antigen tests vs RT PCR tests.

August 26, 2020 | News

Today the use of face masks has become necessary and ubiquitous due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Even though a face mask protects the user from SARS-CoV-2 infection, it has certain adverse effects. One of the new and recently noticed side effect is on the oral health of the wearer known as ‘Mask Mouth’. This includes symptoms like caries, gingivitis, halitosis, candidiasis and angular cheilitis. But a positive aspect of the mask-mouth is that it can be easily prevented and treated. In this article, we will see this new phenomenon, its aetiology, symptoms and prevention.

August 24, 2020 | News

Currently, all SARS-CoV-2 detection measures make use of RT-PCR test, and its results are generally reported as either positive or negative, which tells us if a person is infected. However, to contain the pandemic, what we need to know is whether that person is infectious or in other words, 'can he spread the disease?' It's important to know that the RT-PCR test does provide an additional measure of the viral load in the sample. This reading is called the cycle threshold (Ct) value. Evidence suggests that reporting this Ct value (calculated viral load) can assist in a better interpretation of the condition, and also in taking clinical decisions.

August 21, 2020 | News

One of the most critical questions the world is waiting for an answer is if the human body can mount a protective response that provides a lasting immunity against SARS-CoV-2. This understanding is crucial to the success of vaccines, the successful return of recovered patients to their pre-pandemic lifestyle, and also, how readily the world can overcome the fear of pandemic spread.

August 19, 2020 | News

Recently all mainstream media houses screamed: "Malaysia Detects New Coronavirus Strain 'D614G' Which is 'Ten Times' Deadlier." and the fear-mongering strategy tried to scare people with a question: "Worse to come?". This article analyses two mutations - D614G and Δ382. The evidence shows that the infection is only getting milder and less deadly. We present clinical, immunological, genomic and evolutionary perspectives.

August 18, 2020 | News

Vaccine development against SARS-CoV-2 would be greatly facilitated by the identification of immunological parameters that correlate with protection in humans. However, to date, most studies on protective immunity have only been performed in animal models and correlates of protection have not been established in humans. This study provides the first direct evidence that SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies protect against SARS-CoV-2 re-infection in humans.

August 18, 2020 | News

The currently available SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests with their traditional serological approaches just tell us - yes or no, which has resulted in an underestimation of asymptomatic and mild infections. The next-generation serologic tests with a broader landscape of antibody responses to a wide range of viral proteins may help us establish the timing of infections too. This editorial describes a recent study (Nature, 17th Aug 2020) that gives an idea about the future of antibody testing in Covid-19.

August 16, 2020 | News

This editorial describes all the major studies done from 1985 until 2020 and describes the mechanisms by which the body may reduce the effectiveness of a vaccine in overweight and obese people.

August 14, 2020 | News

According to the latest research from IIT Bombay, masks and PPE materials with hydrophilic surfaces could help the respiratory droplets dry faster, thus minimising the risk of infection spread.

August 12, 2020 | News

Immunotherapy is once again an emerging trend in cancer therapeutics, as an effective measure to reduce the mortality & morbidity rates. Evidence is evolving at a faster rate on the potential role of immunotherapy in the complete recovery from a tumour and its possible recurrence. T cell-based immunotherapy has been recognized for its role in curbing the tumour progression rate. However, the role of B cells is still controversial. This new book by Dr Smitha T & Anela Thomas explores the pro-tumourigenic & anti-tumorigenic roles of B lymphocytes in a tumour microenvironment.

August 6, 2020 | Business

BREA, Calif., U.S.: Dental practices are struggling during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and so too are the companies that supply them with equipment and consumables. Envista Holdings cut its operating costs by more than $100 million (€84 million) between April and June and still posted an operating loss of close to $108 million. Staggering drops in earnings are the current reality for Envista and its competitors, but the dental giant said that recovery in dental markets is picking up pace.

August 4, 2020 | News

Nano-formulations of dexamethasone administered either IV or via inhalation may help to improve COVID-19 treatment outcomes. This editorial summarizes how we can improve our Covid-19 treatment options further by potentiating the already established anti-edema activity and anti-fibrotic effects of free dexamethasone via nanomedicine.

August 3, 2020 | News

BRUSSELS, Belgium: In 2018, the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) released a new global classification system for periodontal health, diseases and conditions—the outcome of a joint workshop held by the EFP and the American Academy of Periodontology the previous year. Following up on this, the EFP has now released an evidence-based treatment guide for periodontitis, with the aim of improving periodontal treatment throughout Europe and beyond.

July 20, 2020 | News

This guest editorial by Dr Sanjiv Hyoju talks about a possible connection between a diet-induced disturbance in the gut microbiome equilibrium and its impact on our immune response to viral infections like SARS-CoV-2. Dr Hyoju is a surgeon and researcher from University of Chicago, with his research focused on Microbiome, Sepsis, Obesity, Bowel leak, Infections, Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Dr Hyoju's article on the same topic has been published in Medical Hypotheses (Nov, 2020).