Over the past two years, SARS-CoV-2 has dramatically spread worldwide and emerged as a major pandemic which has left an unprecedented mark on healthcare systems and economies worldwide. As our ...understanding of the virus and its epidemiology continues to grow, the acute phase clinical symptoms and long-term and vaccine-related complications are becoming more apparent. With heterogeneity in presentations, comparisons may be drawn between COVID-19-related sequelae and vaccination related adverse events. The present review article aims to address the currently available literature on the SARS-CoV-2 virus, immune responses, the pathophysiology of clinical presentations, and available vaccinations with its adverse events for the appraisal of its potential impact on the COVID-19 management system.
Sarcopenia, characterized by loss of muscle mass and strength, is common in advanced old age but can be accelerated by chronic disease, malnutrition and physical inactivity. Early initiation of ...intervention to achieve and maintain a higher peak muscle mass and strength may allow for prevention or delay of sarcopenia and facilitate independent living even in old age. In this context, malnutrition, a significant contributor to sarcopenia, is often overlooked among the Indian population. Maintenance of an optimal energy and protein balance with adequate physical activity level is essential to preserve physical function in the aging population. However, research on the role of micronutrients in muscle maintenance, is still in its infancy. This narrative review, therefore, aims to explore the current status of International and Indian research on the role of nutrition in sarcopenia mitigation and the way forward.
The study aims to define the sex-based reference data for muscle mass and strength among healthy young Indians and to compare the data from the present study with available literature. Healthy Indian ...adults (n = 100) aged between 18 and 40 years were recruited. The assessment of muscle mass and strength was performed. The body cell mass (BCM), fat-free mass, and muscle strength parameters were significantly higher among males compared to females (P < 0.001). A comparison of the current study data with the available literature showed that though BCM was comparable, Indians demonstrated a significantly lower isometric peak torque (P < 0.001 for both sexes). These findings suggest that Indians tend to have a lower muscle strength compared to the Western population, despite having a comparable BCM content.
Dietary protein plays a crucial role in the modulation of several physiological processes to sustain health and well‐being. There is robust evidence of enhanced muscle protein synthesis, improved ...physical fitness, body composition, and performance contributed by protein supplementation combined with exercise among trained individuals or athletes. Evidence of the efficacy of such intervention on healthy adults having a sedentary lifestyle is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of 12 g of additional protein in the form of a protein supplement compared to a placebo combined with a simple exercise program on plasma amino acid level, body composition, and muscle strength among healthy Indian adults having a relatively sedentary lifestyle. This double‐blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted on sedentary healthy adults 20–45 years of age, with a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 27.9 kg/m 2 . Eighty‐two participants were randomized into either the protein (intervention) or placebo (control) group. The exercise regime was the same for both groups. Out of 82 randomized participants, 58 completed the intervention. Blood tests were conducted for the amino acid OMICS measurement followed by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) for body composition and isokinetic dynamometry for muscle strength. A significant improvement was observed in the lean mass (kg) and appendicular muscle mass (AMM) adjusted for weight in the intervention group compared to the control group ( p < 0.05). The muscle strength and contractile quality were comparable in the 2 groups. Plasma BCAA showed a significant negative association with body fat % ( r = −0.43, p < 0.05 for the intervention group and r = −0.33, p = 0.07 for the control group) and a positive association with lean body mass % ( r = 0.56, p < 0.01 in the intervention group vs r = 0.29, p = 0.10 in the control group) in the intervention group compared to control. In conclusion, this study highlighted the value of incorporating a lifestyle intervention including protein supplementation with simple exercises to optimize body composition in sedentary healthy individuals. This trial is registered with CTRI/2018/12/016777 .
The Newcastle disease virus (NDV) affects wild and domesticated bird species, including commercial poultry. Although the diversity of NDV in domestic chickens is well documented, limited information ...is available about Newcastle disease (ND) outbreaks in other bird species. We report an annotated sequence of NDV/Vulture/Borjuri/01/22, an avirulent strain of NDV reported from Borjuri, Northeast India, in Himalayan Griffon vulture. The complete genome is 15,186 bases long with a fusion protein (F) cleavage site
112
GRQGR↓L
117
. The phylogenetic analysis based on the F protein gene and the whole genome sequence revealed that the isolate from the vulture belongs to genotype II, sharing significant homology with vaccine strain LaSota. The study highlights the possible spillover of the virus from domestic to wild species through the food chain.
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is one of the major global public health concerns. The incidence of T2D is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years globally as well as in India. Development of T2D ...is a result of desensitization of peripheral tissue to stimulation of insulin. Skeletal muscle is responsible for the majority of postprandial glucose uptake and is of the utmost importance to maintain glucose homeostasis. T2D is manifested by structural, functional, and metabolic impairment of skeletal muscle and is characterized as the primary site of insulin resistance in T2D patients. T2D patients exhibit impaired insulin-stimulated muscle glucose uptake, fat metabolic abnormality, increased accumulated muscle fat, and a dysbalance in muscle protein synthesis and breakdown. Skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction also plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. Skeletal muscle fiber shift and diabetes-associated loss of muscle mass and strength further worsen insulin sensitivity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of skeletal muscle pathophysiological changes in diabetes and discusses the potential therapies targeting skeletal muscle pathophysiology to ameliorate diabetes.
PURPOSE OF REVIEWThe article summarizes recent research advances on the role of gut microbiome in primary and secondary sarcopenia. This article also explores the potential contribution of gut ...dysbiosis to suboptimal sarcopenia management with special focus on factors contributing to gut dysbiosis among Asian Indians.
RECENT FINDINGSAging and chronic diseases contribute to gut dysbiosis and intestinal barrier dysfunction allowing enhanced microbial translocation that may negatively affect muscle strength, physical function, and frailty. Gut microbiome of Asian Indians has shown a unique composition that is affected by multiple factors, such as socioeconomic status, poor hygiene, high rate of infection and infestations, antibiotic overuse and transition towards a westernized eating pattern. Current management approach for sarcopenia (exercise and/or protein supplementation) fails to address gut dysbiosis and intestinal barrier dysfunction. Incorporating a prebiotic or probiotic element to the intervention strategy may improve gut dysbiosis, inflammation and muscle function.
SUMMARYGut dysbiosis and intestinal barrier dysfunction appear to be a significant limitation in sarcopenia management, thus gut centric intervention may be perceived as a (co)intervention strategy to be tested in appropriate clinical trials.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a significant public health concern in India with high prevalence and associated disability, morbidity, mortality. The progression of COPD is not ...confined to the lungs but includes extrapulmonary involvement that reduces the functional capacity and quality of life. Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) is an evidence-based intervention, targeting multiple domains of pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations, and therefore, is recommended as an integral part of COPD management. The practical implementation of PR in India is poor. In this review, we have summarized the latest pieces of evidence in support of PR and highlight the challenges and potential solutions for PR implementation in India.
SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) have threatened COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine, predominantly against the delta (B.1.617.2) ...variant, in addition to the cellular immune response to vaccination.
We did a test-negative, case-control study at two medical research centres in Faridabad, India. All individuals who had a positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 infection between April 1, 2021, and May 31, 2021, were included as cases and individuals who had a negative RT-PCR test were included as controls after matching with cases on calendar week of RT-PCR test. The primary outcome was effectiveness of complete vaccination with the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The secondary outcomes were effectiveness of a single dose against SARS-CoV-2 infection and effectiveness of a single dose and complete vaccination against moderate-to-severe disease among infected individuals. Additionally, we tested in-vitro live-virus neutralisation and T-cell immune responses to the spike protein of the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and VOCs among healthy (anti-nucleocapsid antibody negative) recipients of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine.
Of 2379 cases of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, 85 (3·6%) were fully vaccinated compared with 168 (8·5%) of 1981 controls (adjusted OR aOR 0·37 95% CI 0·28–0·48), giving a vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infection of 63·1% (95% CI 51·5–72·1). 157 (6·4%) of 2451 of cases and 181 (9·1%) of 1994) controls had received a single dose of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (aOR 0·54 95% CI 0·42–0·68), thus vaccine effectiveness of a single dose against SARS-CoV-2 infection was 46·2% (95% CI 31·6–57·7). One of 84 cases with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 was fully vaccinated compared with 84 of 2295 cases with mild COVID-19 (aOR 0·19 95% CI 0·01–0·90), giving a vaccine effectiveness of complete vaccination against moderate-to-severe disease of 81·5% (95% CI 9·9–99·0). The effectiveness of a single dose against moderate-to-severe disease was 79·2% (95% CI 46·1–94·0); four of 87 individuals with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 had received a single dose compared with 153 of 2364 participants with mild disease (aOR 0·20 95% CI 0·06–0·54). Among 49 healthy, fully vaccinated individuals, neutralising antibody responses were lower against the alpha (B.1.1.7; geometric mean titre 244·7 95% CI 151·8–394·4), beta (B.1.351; 97·6 61·2–155·8), kappa (B.1.617.1; 112·8 72·7–175·0), and delta (88·4 61·2–127·8) variants than against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 (599·4 376·9–953·2). However, the antigen-specific CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses were conserved against both the delta variant and wild-type SARS-CoV-2.
The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine remained effective against moderate-to-severe COVID-19, even during a surge that was dominated by the highly transmissible delta variant of SARS-CoV-2. Spike-specific T-cell responses were maintained against the delta variant. Such cellular immune protection might compensate for waning humoral immunity.
Department of Biotechnology India, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research India, and Fondation Botnar.
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