SARS-CoV-2 has spread very quickly from its first reported case on 19 January 2020 in the United Stated of America, leading WHO to declare pandemic by 11 March 2020. RNA viruses accumulate mutations following replication and passage in human population, which prompted us to determine the rate and the regions (hotspots) of the viral genome with high rates of mutation. We analyzed the rate of mutation accumulation over a period of 11 weeks (submitted between 19th January to 15 April 2020) in USA SARS-CoV-2 genome. Our analysis identified that majority of the viral genes accumulated mutations, although with varying rates and these included NSP2, NSP3, RdRp, helicase, Spike, ORF3a, ORF8, and Nucleocapsid protein. Sixteen mutations accumulated in Spike protein in which four mutations are located in the receptor binding domain. Intriguingly, we identified a fair number of viral proteins (NSP7, NSP9, NSP10, NSP11, Envelop, ORF6, and ORF7b proteins), which did not accumulate any mutation. Limited changes in these proteins may suggest that they have conserved functions, which are essential for virus propagation. This provides a basis for a better understanding of the genetic variation in SARS-CoV-2 circulating in the US, which could help in identifying potential therapeutic targets for controlling COVID-19.

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The present study evaluates the anti-inflammatory and antigranuloma activity of CLHE in experimental models, viz. carrageenan-induced paw edema, subcutaneous cotton pellet implantation-induced granuloma formation, and complete Freund's adjuvant-induced stimulation of peritoneal macrophages in rats. Serum TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1 beta levels were estimated as markers for global effects of inflammation. TNF-R1 protein expression was estimated in stimulated peritoneal macrophages. There was a significant reduction (P < 0.05) of paw edema in the CLHE-treated groups as compared to control. In the cotton pellet-induced granuloma model, there was a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the dry granuloma weight and serum TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1beta levels in the CLHE-treated group as compared to control. Immunoblot analysis for TNF-R1 also demonstrated a significant reduction in the receptor protein expression on stimulated macrophages. Result of the present study thus demonstrates and validates the antigranuloma activity of CLHE.

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Ectopic position of teeth is not rare. The presence of teeth have been reported in ovaries, testes, anterior mediastinum, and pre-sacral regions. In the maxillofacial region, teeth have been found in maxillary sinus, mandibular condyle, coronoid process, chin, nose, and even orbit. Approximately 50 cases of a tooth in the nasal cavity have been reported in literature. However, an intranasal tooth in cases of cleft lip and palate is comparatively rare. Intranasal teeth can cause problems such as nasal obstruction, chronic rhinorrhea and speech problems. Sometimes however, they are totally symptom-free. We present here an interesting case of an intranasal tooth in a four year-old-boy, who was operated on for cleft lip and alveolus at 6 months of age. The intranasal tooth did not cause any symptoms. The tooth was extracted under general anaesthesia when it was found to be very loosely attached to the nasal mucosa. The case is discussed in the light of relevant literature on intranasal teeth in cases of cleft lip and palate.