Historically animal studies and 2D cell culture models have been strengthening biomedical and pharmaceutical research, with many limitations. Currently, new drug development for many diseases like cancer is an important necessity. An organoid is a miniaturized version of an organ produced in vitro that shows realistic micro-anatomy, is capable of self-renewal and self-organization and exhibits similar functionality as the tissue of origin. While their size is small (typically < 3 mm in diameter), organoids are stable model systems of organs and tissues that are amenable to long-term cultivation and manipulation. They are classified into those that are tissue-derived and those that are stem cell-derived. They help in both in vivo and in vitro investigation and represent one of the latest innovations in the research for a model to recapitulate the physiologic processes of whole organisms. They reduce experimental complexity, and are compliant to real-time imaging techniques, and more importantly, they enable the study of aspects of human development and disease, drug toxicity in a clear fashion that is not easily or correctly modelled in animals and 2D cell cultures. However 3D organoids have also had some limitations like vascularity, inflammatory system, etc. Despite these limitations, it is evident that organoids have great potential to revolutionize the way we approach disease modelling, drug discovery, and toxicology.
Introduction: Electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-2019) patients are largely unknown. ECG changes in COVID-19 disease may guide to initiate therapeutic anticoagulation, more so in moderate and severe disease. Aims: To identify various ECG changes in moderate and severe COVID-19 patients and to ascertain the association between initial ECG changes and disease outcome. Materials and Methods: This was retrospective record-based study was conducted in the Department of Internal Medicine, Birsa Munda Medical College, Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh, India, on 216 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in a tertiary care teaching hospital from March 2021 to June 2021. Demographic and clinical data including ECG were extracted from medical records of the patients and if needed, the patients were followed-up till outcome. COVID-19 disease severity was considered based on oxygen saturation at room air (moderate: 94%-90%; severe: <90%). Data were entered using the Epicollect5 mobile application to minimise errors. Results: A total of 216 patients were included (35 to 54 years), the majority were male. Mortality rate was 46.3%. Total 57.4% of ECG changes were classified as abnormal. Sinus tachycardia was the most common abnormality followed by ischaemic changes. Left axis deviation in ECG was more commonly seen than right axis deviation. Total 53.2% of patients with abnormal ECG findings and 36.9% with normal ECG findings died. Mortality was very high in patients with ischaemic changes. Conclusion: COVID-19 patients with ischaemic changes in ECG were significantly associated with increased mortality. Hence, early detection of these changes in COVID-19 patients is vital and will help primary care physicians to intervene early and help in deciding therapeutic anticoagulation requirements in patients with COVID-19.
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