Lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome had taken center-stage as the most
dreaded complications of COVID-19. However, with time, more issues have begun to be discovered. Heart damage has now emerged as another grim outcome in the virus’s repertoire of possible complications.

Cardiology experts say people should not ignore chest pain or exhaustion even if there is no fever. The suggestion was put forth during a discussion on ‘Heart Wellness during Covid-19’ hosted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) in their Illness to Wellness series on Friday.

Experts are of the opinion that people should be on the lookout for symptoms other than a fever for early detection of COVID-19.

Dr. Mohsin Wali, a cardiologist and former physician to president of India, said that the most harmful feature of this virus is its
uncertainty. “The virus either increases the heartbeat or decreases it, even if there is no fever. Patients need to be aware of their normal heart rate, and if they notice any changes, they should inform their doctor. The first symptom of this disease is no symptom. In some people, I noticed they would get tired easily. If we are alert at such a stage, then we can be prepared for further possible damage. In young working professionals, we sometimes notice changes in their chest, even if they received a COVID-negative report the previous day. Patients must reach out to doctors immediately if they notice any symptoms. You needn’t call for help only when you develop symptoms like fever, cough, or severe pneumonia. These might be there, but when you start to feel exhaustion or reduced oxygen levels, you should reach out to a doctor,” he explained.

Dr. Ashok Seth, Chairman of Cardiology Council at Fortis Group of Hospitals, said that coronavirus could damage the heart by causing clots, reducing the efficiency of heart muscles, and rising heart rate. “There are multiple ways in which this virus attacks the heart. The virus tends to form clots in the body. It is one of the ways in which the virus attacks the body. It also forms inflammations which can lead to heart attacks. The formation of clots in young people in the lungs can lead to severe breathlessness, low blood pressure, and low oxygenation. The clotting tendency can even lead to stroke in young people. These are the direct effects of the cardiovascular system. Inflammation can also affect the heart muscles leading to reduced pumping efficiency of the heart and heart rate disturbances,” he added.

Other experts emphasized that citizens must take even greater precautions since India is

on the upward slope of its COVID track where its peak is yet to be reached. One of the precautions is the adoption of an anti-inflammatory diet, said Dr. KK Aggarwal, former president of the Indian Medical Association. “Anything refined is inflammatory and should be avoided. Take up a non-inflammatory diet and add all supplements that are lost by the virus,” he said.

Anil Rajput, Chairperson, ASSOCHAM CSR Council, said, “Coronavirus has set forth a wide range of damages and challenges for
the world that doctors and researches are still struggling to get a grasp on. Therefore, the golden adage of prevention is better than cure, is something all of us must follow.”

To fight against the Covid-19, the scientists have identified a small neutralizing antibody, a so-called nanobody, that has the capacity to block SARS-CoV-2 from entering human cells.

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, suggests that this nanobody has the potential to be developed as an antiviral treatment against Covid-19.

“We hope our findings can contribute to the amelioration of the Covid-19 pandemic by encouraging further examination of this nanobody as a therapeutic candidate against this viral infection,” said study co-author Gerald McInerney from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.

The search for effective nanobodies–which are fragments of antibodies that occur naturally in camelids and can be adapted for humans–began in February when an alpaca (animal) was injected with the new coronavirus’ spike protein, which is used to enter our cells.

After 60 days, blood samples from the alpaca showed a strong immune response against the spike protein.

Next, the researchers cloned, enriched, and analyzed nanobody sequences from the alpaca’s B cells, a type of white blood cell, to determine which nanobodies were best suited for further evaluation.

They identified one, Ty1 (named after the alpaca Tyson), that efficiently neutralizes the virus by attaching itself to the part of the spike protein that binds to the receptor ACE2, which is used by SARS-CoV-2 to infect cells.

This blocks the virus from slipping into the cells and thus prevents infection.

“Using cryo-electron microscopy, we were able to see how the nanobody binds to the viral spike at an epitope which overlaps with the cellular receptor ACE2-binding site, providing a structural understanding for the potent neutralization activity,” said study researcher Leo Hanke.

According to the researchers, nanobodies offer several advantages over conventional antibodies as candidates for specific therapies.

They span less than one-tenth the size of conventional antibodies and are typically easier to produce cost-effectively at scale.

Critically, they can be adapted for humans with current protocols and have a proven record of inhibiting viral respiratory infections.

“Our results show that Ty1 can bind potently to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and neutralize the virus, with no detectable off-target activity,” the study authors wrote.

“We are now embarking on preclinical animal studies to investigate the neutralizing activity and therapeutic potential of Ty1 in vivo,” they noted.