2 Noida hospitals begin key research on virus pattern

Noida: To understand the novel coronavirus better, two major government hospitals in the city, Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) and Super Speciality Paediatric Hospital & Post Graduate Teaching Institute (SSPHPGTI) or Child PGI, have initiated research projects on the virus pattern and the response of patients to it.
While convalescent plasma therapy trials under ICMR are common to both, GIMS in Greater Noida is also undertaking a repository study of blood that includes a research of virus pattern on the blood collected from Covid patients on Day 0, 7, 14 and so on.
Besides, it is also doing a study on how the virus behaves, what are the inflammatory markers as against standard treatment, a genome study (a study of genes) of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Covid virus. GIMS is also collecting data to see if BMI/obesity is the reason for co-morbidity in Covid patients.
GIMS director Brigadier (retd) Dr RK Gupta said, “We have undertaken various research projects related to Covid-19. Apart from being the first centre in Noida to undertake and implement convalescent plasma therapy under national trials of ICMR, we are also studying patients’ behaviour to Covid-19 virus on various aspects. While some studies are looking at what are the inflammatory markers of the spread of the virus in an individual, another study is looking at whether we can predict if a patient will turn serious by means of some tests. Also, a repository study of blood collected from Covid patients is being conducted. In another, we are studying the use of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and D-Dimer to evaluate severe Covid -19 pneumonia in hospitalised adults.” IL-6 is an inflammatory cytokine whereas D-dimer is a small protein subunit that results from the degradation of fibrin following blood clots (clots found in Covid patients).
At Child PGI, some of the projects underway include the attitude of voluntary blood donors, depression in healthcare workers and how psychological resilience to pandemic can be attained through Rajyoga meditation through digital platforms.
Child PGI is also analysing epidemiological and clinical characterisation of Covid. While no observations are available as yet, all studies require a minimum of six months to a year to complete.
Dr DK Gupta, Child PGI director, said that numerous research projects related to Covid-19 are underway.
“So far, we have had a 100% survival rate of Covid patients and with the new RT-PCR lab we are conducting more tests. Sometimes the reports are available in 8-12 hours, which usually takes more than 24 hours.”
Giving details of the projects, he said one was epidemiological and clinical characterisation of Covid-19 patients, while another was a pilot randomised control trial to reduce stress and improve psychological resilience due to the Covid-19 outbreak in healthy adults through Rajyoga meditation.
Dr Satyam Arora, assistant professor (transfusion medicine) at Child PGI said that most projects are in-house and will take about six months to a year to complete.
“We may have some sort of observation on some in-house research projects by mid-August. Overall, it’s too preliminary a stage to comment,” he said.
The studies are being carried on Covid patients admitted at the two centres early March onwards.