gracelive

REVIEWER & COMMENTER: SEOK WOO YANG, MD & PhD

CONTACT: E.mail: soplab@outlook.kr

DATE: 2020.03.25

CONTENT:

 Casanova et al demonstrated fecally contaminated liquid droplets of SARS cases are a potential vehicle for contagion besides respiratory droplets. This study reported that SARS coronaviruses remained infectious in water and sewage for days to weeks.[1]

 For this reason, waterborne infection of COVID-19 coronaviruses should be checked meticulously to prevent further spread of COVID-19. 

 In addition to facial masks for blocking respiratory droplets, drinking water should be sterilized. At home, we must boil water or mix bitter herbs or lemons with water before drinking.

 The government should pay attention to sterilize water supply source.

REFERENCE:

Casanova L, Rutala WA, Weber DJ, Sobsey MD. Survival of surrogate
coronaviruses in water. Water Res. 2009 Apr;43(7):1893-8.

AUTHOR: SEOK WOO YANG, MD & PhD

CONTACT: E.mail; soplab@outlook.kr

DATE: 2020.03.17

CONTENT:

 About the usefulness of megadose vitamin C in common colds or flu-like symptoms, there have been many debates.

 With the high potency of the antioxidant effect in vitamin C, vitamin C seems to be a healthful nutrient to suppress the inflammatory reaction in cancer or infection, including viral respiratory diseases.

 Gorton & Jarvis reported that vitamin C use in the early phase of virus-induced respiratory infections can be helpful to prevent further disease progression or to relieve symptoms of common colds or flu-like symptoms.[1]   

 In contrast, Douglas et al analyzed that vitamin C plays some role in respiratory defense mechanisms, but vitamin C at the onset of common colds did not show clinically significant benefit.[2] 

 In summary, the beneficial role of vitamin C in common colds or virus-induced respiratory infections has not been clearly established.

 But Oudemans-van Straaten et al commented that vitamin C can restore vascular responsiveness to vasoconstrictors, preserve endothelial barrier by maintaining cyclic guanylate phosphatase and occludin phosphorylation and preventing apoptosis. Furthermore, they mentioned the role of high-dose vitamin C in augmenting antibacterial defense. With this context, they argued that vitamin C can be applied for ischemia/reperfusion injury and sepsis.[3] 

 Although there are many conflicting reports on the beneficial role of vitamin C in common colds, at least vitamin C can be used as an antioxidant to maintain vascular integrity and plausibly to prevent aggravation of secondary bacterial infection.

REFERENCE:

1. Gorton HC, Jarvis K. The effectiveness of vitamin C in preventing and
relieving the symptoms of virus-induced respiratory infections. J Manipulative
Physiol Ther. 1999 Oct;22(8):530-3. 

2. Douglas RM, Hemila H, D'Souza R, Chalker EB, Treacy B. Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004 Oct
18;(4):CD000980. 

3. Oudemans-van Straaten HM, Spoelstra-de Man AM, de Waard MC. Vitamin C
revisited. Crit Care. 2014 Aug 6;18(4):460.