Current evidence for the risk of PR prolongation, QRS widening, QT prolongation, from lopinavir, ritonavir, atazanavir, and saquinavir: A systematic review

Awareness on current status of usage of ritonavir in the management of covid among dental students

Ritonavir's pharmacodynamics raise questions regarding whether medication concentrations high enough to block the SARS-CoV-2 proteases can be obtained. Ritonavir may have a therapeutic benefit at any stage of the disease, although pharmacodynamic issues and the absence of clinical benefit data among hospitalized COVID-19 patients cast doubt on this claim. To study the awareness on current status of usage of ritonavir in the management of COVID among dental students. This study, which is survey-based, involved a sample of 100 individuals and was carried out on the website Survey Planet. The study included undergraduate and graduate dental students. The dental students were given a questionnaire containing 10 questions. Their responses were gathered. The number and percentage were used to summarize the data. Dental students from Chennai showed adequate knowledge of COVID-19 in the medical environment. Postgraduate students were more aware about the current status of usage of Ritonavir for COVID-19. This study demonstrates the urgent necessity for all health-care workers to regularly implement educational interventions and training program on infection control procedures for COVID-19.

Interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with cardiomyocytes: Insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms of cardiac injury and pharmacotherapy

SARS-CoV-2 causes respiratory illness with a spectrum of systemic complications. However, the mechanism for cardiac infection and cardiomyocyte injury in COVID-19 patients remains unclear. The current literature supports the notion that SARS-CoV-2 particles access the heart either by the circulating blood cells or by extracellular vesicles, originating from the inflamed lungs, and encapsulating the virus along with its receptor (ACE2). Both cardiomyocytes and pericytes (coronary arteries) express the necessary accessory proteins for access of SARS-CoV-2 particles (i.e. ACE2, NRP-1, TMPRSS2, CD147, integrin α5β1, and CTSB/L). These proteins facilitate the SARS-CoV-2 interaction and entry into the pericytes and cardiomyocytes thus leading to cardiac manifestations. Subsequently, various signaling pathways are altered in the infected cardiomyocytes (i.e. increased ROS production, reduced contraction, impaired calcium homeostasis), causing cardiac dysfunction. The currently adopted pharmacotherapy in severe COVID-19 subjects exhibited side effects on the heart, often manifested by electrical abnormalities. Nonetheless, cardiovascular adverse repercussions have been associated with the advent of some of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines with no clear mechanisms underlining these complications. We provide herein an overview of the pathways involved with cardiomyocyte in COVID-19 subjects to help promoting pharmacotherapies that can protect against SARS-CoV-2-induced cardiac injuries.