Role of baricitinib in COVID-19 patients:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Recent studies have indicated the use of baricitinib in coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)patients.However,the use of baricitinib in COVID-19 patients is unclear so far.AIM To determine the precise role of baricitinib in the mortality of COVID-19 patients.METHODS The relevant studies were searched in PubMed,Google scholar,and Clinical trials registries till July 13,2021 and sorted out based on inclusion and exclusion criteria.The quality of studies was assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.A random-effect model was used,and the pooled estimate was calculated as the odds ratio with a 95%confidence interval using Rev Man 5.RESULTS A total of 11 studies(4 observational and 7 clinical trials)were found relevant for analysis.The overall estimate measure in terms of odds ratio for observational studies was 0.42[0.11,1.67],whereas for clinical trials it was 0.37[0.09,1.46],indicating a non-significant reduction in COVID-19 patient deaths in the baricitinib group versus the non-baricitinib group.CONCLUSION More studies are required to confirm the role of baricitinib in the deaths of COVID-19 patients.

Identification of Oxidative Degradation Products of Lansoprazole by Using High Resolution Mass Spectrometry Spectral Data

The study focused on the application of high-resolution mass spectrometry for the identification of impurities in pharmaceutical small molecules. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled high resolution mass spectrometer (HRMS) was used for identification of oxidative degradation impurities (DIs) of lansoprazole. The utilization of HRMS facilitates to determine the accurate mass of impurities and their fragment/product ions. A fast mass spectrometer (MS) compatible reverse phase chromatography method was used to investigate the oxidative stressed impurities. HPLC column;C18 (50 × 4.6 mm, 3.5 μm) was used with gradient elution. Spectral data acquired using information dependent acquisition (IDA) with real time dynamic background subtraction algorithm (DBS). Three oxidative impurities: DI-I (m/z 386.0781), DI-II (m/z 402.0734) and DI-III (m/z 386.0785), was observed during this study;interpretation of high resolution spectral data of all three impurities was carried out;elemental composition and molecular structure was proposed for major fragments. In this study mass error was found ≤7.7 parts per million (ppm).

Assessment of Diversity in the Genus Ficus L. (Moraceae) of Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh, India

The paper deals with the taxonomy and diversity within the genus Ficus occurring in Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary based on extensive field and herbarium studies. The genus comprises 11 species in the study area contrary to the earlier report of 8 species. Out of which, one species each belongs to herbs (F. assamica) and straggling shrubs (F. hetero- phylla) and the remaining species to shrub to big free standing trees (F. benghalensis, F. hispida, F. palmata subsp. virgata, F. racemosa, F. religiosa, F. retusa var. nitida, F. rumphii, F. semicordata and F. squamosa). F. microcarpa and F. carica have been excluded as they do not occur in the sanctuary but reported in the previous work due to mis- identification. F. repens has been segregated from F. heterophylla and reinstated as a distinct species with a correct name F. assamica. F. retusa var. nitida forms a new record for the sanctuary. In overall gross morphology, F. hispida, F. palmata subsp. virgata, F. assamica and F. heterophylla exhibit maximum diversity especially in their leaves, pe- duncles and figs. Among all species F. hispida has been found more common especially in low land and moist areas in mixed forest whereas F. retusa var. nitida has been seen with only two plants. All species have been critically examined and provided with correct nomenclature, vernacular name, description, phenology, ecology, uses and reference to voucher specimens. A dichotomous bracketed key to the species along with line drawings has also been included for identification.

Prediction studies of the epidemic peak of coronavirus disease in Japan: From Caputo derivatives to Atangana-Baleanu derivatives

New atypical pneumonia caused by a virus called Coronavirus(COVID-19)appeared in Wuhan,China in December 2019.Unlike previous epidemics due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS)and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus(MERS-CoV),COVID-19 has the particularity that it is more contagious than the other previous ones.In this paper,we try to predict the COVID-19 epidemic peak in Japan with the help of real-time data from January 15 to February 29,2020 with the uses of fractional derivatives,namely,Caputo derivatives,the Caputo–Fabrizio derivatives,and Atangana–Baleanu derivatives in the Caputo sense.The fixed point theory and Picard–Lindel of approach used in this study provide the proof for the existence and uniqueness analysis of the solutions to the noninteger-order models under the investi-gations.For each fractional model,we propose a numerical scheme as well as prove its stability.Using parameter values estimated from the Japan COVID-19 epidemic real data,we perform numerical simulations to confirm the effectiveness of used approxima-tion methods by numerical simulations for different values of the fractional-orderγ,and to give the predictions of COVID-19 epidemic peaks in Japan in a specific range of time intervals.

A mathematical study of a tuberculosis model with fractional derivatives

In this work,we use a Predictor–Corrector method to implement and derive an iterative solution of an existing Tuberculosis(TB)model with two fractional derivatives,namely,Caputo–Fabrizio fractional derivative and the new generalized Caputo fractional derivative.We begin by recalling some existing results such as the basic reproduction number R0 and the equilibrium points of the model.Then,we study the global asymptotic stability of disease-free equilibrium of the fractional models.We also prove,for each fractional model,the existence and uniqueness of solutions.An iterative solution of the two models is computed using the Predictor–Corrector method.Using realistic parameter values,we perform numerical simulations for different values of the fractional order.Simulation results permit to conclude that the new generalized Caputo fractional derivative provides a more realistic analysis than the Caputo–Fabrizio fractional derivative and the classical integer-order TB model.