Background: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which had become a global pandemic leading to a great loss of lives and severe social and economic disruption. Accurate identification of the infected individuals is needed to control and reduce the spread of infection. Recently, an advisory has been issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for using extraction free dry swab (EFDS) protocol to detect SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) with the aid of real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Materials and methods: During the study, we have done a comparison of two methods on 500 clinical samples. Results obtained with EFDS were compared using the extraction-dependent viral transport medium (VTM) as a comparative method for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. Results: The overall performance of the EFDS method while compared with the comparative method showed 59 discordant results with a sensitivity of 85.65% and specificity of 98.47% with an accuracy of 92.48%. Conclusion: This study shows that the EFDS shows comparable results with extraction-dependent VTM as a comparative method for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, dry swab method reduces and simplifies the workflow, reduces turnaround time, and is cost-effective.

Acid peptic disorders are a group of disorders that include gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastric ulcer, and duodenal ulcer. The most common causes are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and Helicobacter pylori infection. If not treated adequately, it may lead to life-threatening complications like gastrointestinal bleeding and intestinal perforation. H⁺K⁺-ATPase enzyme in parietal cells is involved in the final step of gastric acid secretion through a conformational change from E₁ to E₂ form. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly used drugs for the treatment of acid peptic disorders. Proton-pump inhibitors have some limitations such as irreversible inhibition, it is a prodrug. Continuous attempts are made to develop newer targets that overcome these limitations of PPIs in treating acid peptic disorders. Vonoprazan, a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) approved by the FDA for H. pylori infection in combination with antibiotics, could be a potential alternative to PPI in the management of acid peptic disorders. This review mainly highlights the pharmacology of Vonoprazan.

Introduction: Electrocardiographic abnormalities were seen in dengue hemorrhagic fever in approximately 30–75% of cases. They are mostly sinus bradycardia and conduction defects. The most common cardiac arrhythmia in practice is supraventricular tachycardia atrial fibrillation (AF). It is mostly seen in structural heart disease. Supraventricular arrhythmia is very rare in dengue fever. Methods: We present a case of supraventricular tachycardia AF caused by dengue hemorrhagic fever. Results: Patients with dengue fever need very close electrocardiographic monitoring. All the laboratory results were found to be normal. Conclusion: Dengue prevalence is high in India. Physicians should be aware.

Malaria is an acute febrile illness caused by plasmodium parasites, which are endemic in India. Malaria is caused by the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. There are five parasite species that cause malaria in humans. Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax are having higher complications. The malaria parasite, P. falciparum, causes shock and multiorgan failure. This causes hypovolemia, excessive hemolysis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, or multiorgan failure. Another uncommon complication of P. falciparum malaria infection is rhabdomyolysis. This causes metabolic acidosis and renal failure. Rhabdomyolysis is quite common in P. vivax malaria. We report a case of P. vivax malaria infection causing severe rhabdomyolysis, which leads to acute renal failure.

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has compelled the national public health authorities to formulate an outbreak response and even take stringent measures to reduce the rate of transmission of the disease. In the Eastern Mediterranean region, a cumulative total of more than 23 million cases and 0.35 million deaths has been reported since the start of the outbreak. In order to flatten the curve of the disease in the Eastern Mediterranean region, the onus is on the national leaders, public health authorities, other stakeholders, and the community. In conclusion, the Eastern Mediterranean region has to up-scale its preparedness and formulate a comprehensive action plan and all this has to happen in an accelerated manner. We have to realize that our window of opportunity is closing very fast and if we don't act now, our health facilities will be overwhelmed and we have to pay the price for the infection in the form of loss of lives of our near and dear ones.