Objectives: This case series aims to present three cases of pediatric cancer – two acute leukemia and one solid tumor with active COVID-19 infection who underwent chemotherapy Methodology: Three cases of pediatric cancer who tested positive for SARS-CoV2 are presented. All proceeded with scheduled chemotherapy despite active COVID-19 infection. Two had no post-chemotherapy complications, while one had febrile neutropenia and hospital-acquired pneumonia. Results: In this case series, COVID-19 infection in pediatric patients with cancer does not appear to be more severe compared with the general population. The severity of signs and symptoms can be attributed to a lower Cycle Threshold (CT) value and a co-infection. COVID-19 infection did not change the course and post-chemotherapy complications in all cases. Conclusion Patient demographics, comorbidities and type of malignancy played an essential role in the pre- and post-chemotherapy outcome. Individual patient factors including CT values, comorbidities, co-infections, COVID19 disease severity classification, and blood count picture are also instrumental in the management and outcome of these cases. Pediatric cancer treatment should be a priority during active COVID-19 infection.
COVID-19 ; Drug Therapy ; Neoplasms ; Child

COVID-19/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Pandemics

Humans ; COVID-19 ; HIV Infections/drug therapy* ; Risk Factors

Malaria is an ancient infectious disease that threatens millions of lives globally even today. The discovery of artemisinin, inspired by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has brought in a paradigm shift and been recognized as the "best hope for the treatment of malaria" by World Health Organization. With its high potency and low toxicity, the wide use of artemisinin effectively treats the otherwise drug-resistant parasites and helps many countries, including China, to eventually eradicate malaria. Here, we will first review the initial discovery of artemisinin, an extraordinary journey that was in stark contrast with many drugs in western medicine. We will then discuss how artemisinin and its derivatives could be repurposed to treat cancer, inflammation, immunoregulation-related diseases, and COVID-19. Finally, we will discuss the implications of the "artemisinin story" and how that can better guide the development of TCM today. We believe that artemisinin is just a starting point and TCM will play an even bigger role in healthcare in the 21st century.
Artemisinins/therapeutic use* ; COVID-19/drug therapy* ; Drug Repositioning ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Neoplasms/drug therapy*

Chloroquines are the long-established prescription drug, which are often used clinically to treat malaria and connective tissue diseases. Since December 2019, corona virus disease 2019 （COVID-19） outbreaks caused by 2019 novel coronavirus （2019-nCoV） has occurred in China and many countries around the world. Due to the lack of drugs against COVID-19, the disease spreads rapidly and the mortality rate is relatively high. Therefore, specific drugs against 2019-nCoV need to be quickly screened. The antimalarial drug chloroquine phosphate which has already been approved is confirmed to have an anti-2019-nCoV effect and has been included in diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines. However, awareness of the risk of chloroquine phosphate causing acute poisoning or even death should be strengthened. The current dosage recommended in clinical treatment is larger than that in previous treatment of malaria and the period of treatment is longer. Many provinces have required close clinical monitoring of adverse reactions. This paper reviews the pharmacological effects, poisoning and toxicological mechanisms, in vivo metabolism and distribution, and forensic issues of chloroquine drugs, in order to provide help to forensic practice and clinical work.
Betacoronavirus ; COVID-19 ; China ; Chloroquine/therapeutic use* ; Coronavirus Infections/drug therapy* ; Forensic Toxicology ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral/drug therapy* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) seriously endangers people's health. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has been recommended for the treatment of COVID-19 in Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Prevention and Control Strategy, which have made outstanding contributions to the prevention and control of the epidemic. The wide application of Chinese medicine asked the pharmacists and doctors, nurses, and medical technicians in Wuhan and around the country to stand on the front line of COVID-19 treatment, and provide pharmaceutical care services, which has effectively guaranteed the safety and rational use of Chinese medicine. This article will introduce the TCM cognition of the COVID-19, analyze the clinical application of Chinese medicine and the entry point of pharmaceutical care, and clarify that clinical Chinese pharmacists can participate in making medication therapy plan, medication reconciliation, and prescription review, promoting rational drug use, pharmaceutical monitoring, and drug risk management. The participation of clinical Chinese pharmacists in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 is conducive to improving the level of rational use of TCM, by ensuring the effectiveness, and safety.
Betacoronavirus ; COVID-19 ; China ; Coronavirus Infections/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Pandemics ; Pharmaceutical Services/organization & administration* ; Pneumonia, Viral/drug therapy* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment

The epidemic of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 and its variants of concern (VOCs) has been ongoing for over 3 years. Antibody therapies encompassing convalescent plasma, hyperimmunoglobulin, and neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) applied in passive immunotherapy have yielded positive outcomes and played a crucial role in the early COVID-19 treatment. In this review, the development path, action mechanism, clinical research results, challenges, and safety profile associated with the use of COVID-19 convalescent plasma, hyperimmunoglobulin, and mAbs were summarized. In addition, the prospects of applying antibody therapy against VOCs was assessed, offering insights into the coping strategies for facing new infectious disease outbreaks.
Humans ; Antibodies, Viral/therapeutic use* ; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/drug therapy* ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; COVID-19/therapy* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Antibodies, Neutralizing

Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new type of coronavirus pneumonia, which is caused by infection of a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. The virus infects lung cells by binding angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) of cell surface, which leads to leukocyte infiltration, increased permeability of blood vessels and alveolar walls, and decreased surfactant in the lung, causing respiratory symptoms. The aggravation of local inflammation causes cytokine storm, resulting in systemic inflammatory response syndrome. In December 2019, a number of new pneumonia cases were reported by Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, after then a novel coronavirus was isolated and identified as SARS-CoV-2. To the date of Sep. 13th, 2020, COVID-19 is affecting 216 countries or regions, causing 28 637 952 cases, 917 417 deaths, and the mortality rate is 3.20%. This review will summarize the structure of SARS-CoV-2 and the pharmaceutical treatment of COVID-19, and their potential relationships.
Betacoronavirus ; COVID-19 ; Coronavirus Infections/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; SARS Virus ; SARS-CoV-2

BACKGROUND: Propolis and honey have been studied as alternative treatments for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, no study has yet summarized the full body of evidence for the use of propolis and honey in COVID-19 prevention and treatment. OBJECTIVE: This study systematically reviews the mechanisms of propolis and honey against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and current evidence for the use of propolis and honey in COVID-19 prevention and treatment. SEARCH STRATEGY: A systematic search was conducted of electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library from their inceptions to April 2021. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Studies that evaluated the effect of propolis or bee products against SARS-CoV-2 using in silico methods, clinical studies, case reports and case series were included. DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS: A standardized data extraction form was used, and data were extracted by two independent reviewers. Narrative synthesis was used to summarize study results concerning the use of propolis or honey in COVID-19 prevention and treatment and their potential mechanisms of action against SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: A total of 15 studies were included. Nine studies were in silico studies, two studies were case reports, one study was a case series, and three studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In silico studies, using molecular docking methods, showed that compounds in propolis could interact with several target proteins of SARS-CoV-2, including angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, the main protease enzyme, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and spike protein. Propolis may have a positive effect for clinical improvement in mild and moderate-to-severe COVID-19 patients, according to case reports and case series. The included RCTs indicated that propolis or honey could probably improve clinical symptoms and decrease viral clearance time when they were used as adjuvant therapy to standard of care. CONCLUSION In silico studies showed that compounds from propolis could interact with target proteins of SARS-CoV-2, interfering with viral entry and viral RNA replication, while clinical studies revealed that propolis and honey could probably improve clinical COVID-19 symptoms and decrease viral clearance time. However, clinical evidence is limited by the small number of studies and small sample sizes. Future clinical studies are warranted.
COVID-19/drug therapy* ; Honey ; Humans ; Propolis/therapeutic use* ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; SARS-CoV-2

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the third leading cause of death worldwide and one of the most commonly infectious diseases. Its epidemiological characteristics vary with host and immune status, and corresponding pathogen spectrums migrate over time and space distribution. Meanwhile, with the outbreak of COVID-19, some unconventional treatment strategies are on the rise. This article reviewed the epidemiological characteristics, pathogen spectrum and treatment direction of CAP in China over the years, and aimed to provide guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of CAP in clinical practice.
Humans ; COVID-19 ; Pneumonia/diagnosis* ; Community-Acquired Infections/drug therapy* ; Causality ; Risk Factors