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India’s daily COVID-19 caseload continues to rise, with the country reporting 2,067 new infections in the previous 24 hours, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday.

In comparison to Tuesday, India recorded 820 more COVID-19 cases today. On Tuesday, the nation recorded 1,247 COVID-19 cases. The number of active cases in the country has risen to 12,340, accounting for 0.03 percent of all cases.

The daily case positive rate increased from 0.31 percent (on Tuesday) to 0.49 percent, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (on Wednesday). The weekly positive rate increased from 0.34 percent (on Tuesday) to 0.38 percent (on Wednesday).

In the previous 24 hours, 1,547 COVID patients recovered, bringing the overall number of recoveries since the pandemic’s inception to 4,25,13,248. The current recovery rate is 98.76 percent. However, the death toll has risen to 522006, with 40 more deaths.

On Wednesday, 4,21,183 samples were examined. So far, 83.29 crore COVID tests have been performed across the country. Meanwhile, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan advised the governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Mizoram to continue monitoring the spread of illness in a letter sent on Tuesday to the governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Mizoram.

Also Read: Union Health Ministry writes to UT, states over surging Covid-19 cases

In response to an increase in COVID-19 cases across the country, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan wrote to the governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Mizoram on Tuesday, expressing concern about the rising positivity rate and cases and urging States and Union Territories to continue monitoring the infection’s spread.

The ministry, in its official release, stated, “India has witnessed a sustained and significant decline in the number of COVID-19 cases over the past 2 months, with the country reporting about 1000 daily new cases for the past few weeks. The weekly positivity rate has remained below 1 per cent.” “Recently, there are a few States which are reporting a higher contribution to India’s cases and higher positivity. This Ministry has advised all the States/UTs to follow a risk assessment-based approach on the opening of economic and social activities without losing the gains made so far in the fight against the pandemic,” it read.

Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Mizoram are the states and union territories. The ministry recommended the states/UTs to continue monitoring the spread of illness and to take the necessary procedures for early and efficient COVID-19 treatment.

“The five-fold strategy. i.e. Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination and adherence to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour with particular emphasis on wearing of masks in crowded areas should be followed,” the ministry said.

The ministry recommended states and territories to monitor clusters of new COVID-19 cases and implement the necessary containment measures to stop the spread of illness. Furthermore, the health ministry informed states and territories that appropriate testing in accordance with norms is essential, and that further actions must be taken in regions with a high case positive rate.

States and UTs should prioritise routine monitoring of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) patients in all health institutions to detect early warning signs of infection transmission, according to Bhushan.

Also Read: Majority of Covid-19 positive hospitalized children in Delhi had comorbidities

Bhushan stated that genomic sequencing for mandated samples of international travellers, collection of samples from sentinel sites (designated health facilities as well as sewage samples), and local clusters of cases must all be assured.

The ministry recommended that eligible populations be vaccinated against COVID-19, including primary immunisation and the provision of prophylactic doses.

The Health Ministry said that it is essential for States/UTs to maintain a strict watch and take pre-emptive action if required in areas of concern to control any emerging spread of infection. “Testing and Surveillance still remain important to track the virus, its spread and evolution,” Bhushan said.

The ministry pointed out that laxity at any level may nullify the gains in pandemic management so far. “Regular monitoring and prompt follow up action in emerging areas of concern is crucial. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will continue to provide requisite support to the States in this ongoing and collective effort,” the letter read.

According to a study conducted on mice, a heat-stable Covid-19 vaccine being developed in India that does not require cold chain storage has induced a significant antibody response against coronavirus variations such as Delta and Omicron.

The vaccine candidate, developed by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru and biotech start-up Mynvax, makes advantage of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the viral spike protein, which allows the virus to interface with the host cell and infect it.

Most vaccinations require refrigeration to be effective, according to the team, which included experts from Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The heat-tolerant Covid-19 vaccine candidate can be kept at 37°C for four weeks and at 100°C for up to 90 minutes.

In comparison, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccination, called as Covishield in India, must be stored at temperatures ranging from 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, while the Pfizer preventative requires specialised cold storage at minus 70 degrees Celsius. The most recent study, published in the journal Viruses, looked at the efficiency of vaccinated mice sera (blood samples) against major coronavirus variations including Delta and Omicron.

The researchers discovered that mice immunised with various vaccine formulations produce high titres (units to quantify amount or concentration) of antibodies that neutralise SARS-CoV-2 variants VIC31 (reference strain), Delta, and Omicron coronaviruses.

In comparison to VIC31, one formulation of the Mynvax vaccine had a 14.4-fold reduction in neutralisation against the Omicron variant while another formulation had a 16.5-fold reduction. According to the study, the equivalent values for decrease in neutralisation against the Delta variation were 2.5 and 3.

”The average 14.4- or 16.5-fold reduction in neutralisation against Omicron BA.1.1 for the monomeric and trimeric formulations, respectively, compares favourably with equivalent reductions observed with leading Covid-19 vaccines,” the authors of the study noted.

Upcoming Phase I human clinical trials

“Our findings suggest that monomeric formulations are suitable for upcoming Phase I human clinical trials and that there is potential for increasing the efficacy with vaccine matching to improve the responses against emerging variants,” they wrote in the journal.

The terms monomeric and trimeric formulations relate to the many forms and combinations that can be utilised in the development of the vaccine. The CSIRO’s assessment of the various Mynvax formulations will aid in the selection of the best candidate and dose for planned human clinical studies in India.

The vaccine’s heat tolerance and capacity to tolerate transient thermal shocks are particularly promising for addressing the vaccination disparity that affects the majority of low- and lower-middle-income nations, according to the researchers. Over 10 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses have been delivered globally, with 51 nations reaching more than 70% of their population. However, in low-income nations, this figure is merely 11%.

A new research from the University of Gothenburg has prepared the path for the first sleep apnea drug treatment. Breathing pauses decreased by more than 20 per hour on average for those administered the medication compared to previously.

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibition has been investigated as a therapy. CA is an enzyme that helps the body maintain a balance of carbonic acid and carbon dioxide. Several medicines having CA inhibitory effects are currently on the market and are used to treat glaucoma, epilepsy, and other conditions.

Previous research has not rigorously investigated whether CA inhibitors may be utilised to treat obstructive sleep apnea. The current study was a randomised double-blind clinical experiment that included 59 participants with moderate to severe sleep apnea. Patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups: one that got either 400 or 200 mg of the CA inhibitor, and one that received placebo. The research lasted four weeks.

Overall, the medication reduced the number of breathing pauses and increased oxygenation over the night, according to the findings. A few individuals reported adverse symptoms such as headaches and shortness of breath, which were more prevalent in those who received the highest dose.

The findings of the trial, together with proven safety data for the medication sulthiame, justify further investigation into CA inhibition as a new possible therapy for obstructive sleep apnea.

“Among the patients who received the higher dosage of the drug, the number of breathing pauses decreased by approximately 20 per hour. For just over a third of patients in the study, only half of their breathing pauses were left, and in one in five the number fell by at least 60 percent,” says Jan Hedner, Professor of Pulmonary Medicine.

The availability of multiple licenced medications in the CA inhibitor category on the market allows for the rapid creation of an approved therapy for sleep apnea. Sulthiame, a medication used to treat epilepsy in children, was employed in this clinical investigation.

Today, treatment for a patient with sleep apnea is either an oral appliance therapy or a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) mask. Both help to maintain airway patency during sleep.

“These therapy options take time to get used to and, since they frequently are perceived as intrusive or bulky. Insufficient user time is therefore common. If we develop an effective drug, it will therefore make life easier for many patients and, in the long run, potentially also save more lives,” says Ludger Grote, Senior Lecturer at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.

Source: University of Gothenburg

Exercising has been found in studies to help protect brain cells. A new study looking at the processes involved in this link reveals that the function exercise plays in managing insulin and BMI levels may help protect brain volume and hence help prevent dementia. The findings will be published in the online edition of Neurology®, the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology, on April 13, 2022.

“These results may help us to understand how physical activity affects brain health, which may guide us in developing strategies to prevent or delay age-related decline in memory and thinking skills,” said study author Géraldine Poisnel, PhD, of Inserm Research Center in Caen, France. “Older adults who are physically active gain cardiovascular benefits, which may result in greater structural brain integrity.”

In contrast, researchers discovered that insulin and body mass index (BMI) levels had no effect on the link between exercise and glucose metabolism in the brain. Dementia patients have decreased glucose metabolism in the brain.

The research included 134 participants with no memory issues, with an average age of 69. People completed surveys regarding their physical activities throughout the previous year. They had brain scans to determine volume and glucose metabolism. BMI and insulin levels, as well as cholesterol, blood pressure, and other variables, were all collected.

Those who were the most active also exhibited a greater average rate of glucose metabolism in the brain than those who were the least active.

Higher levels of physical activity were not related to the amount of amyloid plaque in people’s brains. Amyloid plaque is an indicator of Alzheimer’s disease.

Poisnel said more research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind these relationships. “Maintaining a lower BMI through physical activity could help prevent disturbed insulin metabolism that is often seen in aging, thus promoting brain health,” Poisnel said.

According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India recorded 975 new COVID cases in the previous 24 hours, with a daily case positive rate of 0.32 percent.

The case positive rate for the week is 0.26 percent. The active caseload in the country is 11,366 cases, accounting for 0.03 percent of all cases. In the previous 24 hours, 796 COVID patients recovered, bringing the overall number of recoveries since the start of the epidemic in the nation to 4,25,07,834.

The current recovery rate is 98.76 percent. During this time, four patients were killed. With this, the country’s dead toll has risen to 5,21,747.

In the previous 24 hours, 3,00,918 COVID samples were examined. So far, 83.14 crore tests have been performed across the country. In the previous 24 hours, 6,89,724 doses of COVID vaccine were provided as part of the ongoing Nationwide Vaccination Drive. The overall number of immunizations given out in the country has increased by 1,86,38,31,723.