Chapters authored
Mental Impact of COVID-19 – Fear, Stress, Anxiety, Depression and Sequels
Disease pandemics are known to cause mental impact, COVID-19 is not an exception. The ensuing mental health issues are not only restricted to the patients and their relatives/friends but affect the healthcare workers (HCWs) as well. Home isolated/quarantined patients/care takers experience a greater tendency of fear, stress, anxiety, and depression compared to those admitted in the hospital. Similarly, HCWs posted in COVID-19 designated areas of the hospital display higher levels of mental problems in comparison to those posted in non-COVID areas. Furthermore, long COVID-19 syndrome encompasses another large mental impact after 4-12 weeks of acute illness. Several instruments are available to screen for anxiety, fear, stress and depression, including the PSS 10 and DASS 21 questionnaires. These can be used by any HCW and even by educated patients or their care takers with telemedicine guidance from HCW. Treatment is also simple and cognitive behavioral therapy is a major solution and can be markedly practice with tele-consultation. The high degree of uncertainty associated with novel pathogens like COVID-19, both during acute and chronic effects has a profound effect on the mental state of asymptomatic/suspected/confirmed patients, their care takers, friends, as well as HCWs. However, by accepting pandemic with new-normal life of COVID-19 appropriate behaviors, human mankind can overcome these impacts.
Part of the book: Psychosocial, Educational, and Economic Impacts of COVID-19
Novel Insights into the Use of Biologicals in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies
Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are a set of autoimmune disorders characterized by muscle inflammation and weakness, as well as a variety of extra-muscular presentations. IIMs are remarkably complex and difficult to treat, and glucocorticoid treatment and synthetic immunosuppressants are frequently ineffective. The pathophysiology of IIM has been linked to defects in both the innate and adaptive immune systems. Multiple prospective targets for biologic therapy have been studied because of a greater understanding of the main cytokines, as well as the cell-mediated and antibody effectors of disease. B-cell depletion with rituximab, as well as tumor necrosis factor inhibitors and other biologic treatments, is among the most extensively studied drug in IIM. There is currently no straightforward way to define all of the pharmaceuticals that are classified as biologics. This group of drugs has gained a lot of interest in the recent era for the treatment of various autoimmune and skeletal muscle disorders. This chapter shall address the mechanism of action, side effects, uses, and scope of biologics used in treatment of IIM.
Part of the book: Advances in Skeletal Muscle Health and Disease