Curēus
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In Dec 2019, a novel pathogen emerged, and within weeks, led to the emergence of the biggest global health crises seen to date. The virus called 'SARS-CoV-2', causes coronavirus disease which was named 'COVID-19' by the World Health Organization (WHO). The speedy spread of this infection globally became a source of public worry and several unknowns regarding this new pathogen created a state of panic. ⋯ Mass media has an imperative role in today's world and it can provide a unified platform for all public health communications, comprehensive healthcare education guidelines, and robust social distancing strategies while still maintaining social connections. It can enable equal access to healthcare, end discrimination, and social stigmatization. The role of media and public health communications must be understood and explored further as they will be an essential tool for combating COVID-19 and future outbreaks.
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Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a potentially fatal lung injury that can present with divergent underlying cause across cases. Current treatment options are limited by an incomplete understanding of the disease sequelae, undefined unifying pathology, and lack of reliable diagnostic tools. ARDS is defined as respiratory failure not caused by fluid overload or cardiac failure within one week of a known clinical insult with bilateral opacities on chest imaging, and diagnosis is based on these parameters. Increased understanding of the inflammatory cascade associated with ARDS progression shows promise for identifying potential diagnostic biomarkers and additional treatment options. Here, we review recent studies that point to the unifying inflammatory element(s) of the disease process and the use of agents that decrease inflammation as potentially powerful treatments for ARDS patients.