Traditional remedies have been used for thousand years for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, particularly in developing countries. Of growing interest, the plant Artemisia annua, known for its malarial properties, has been studied for its numerous biological activities including metabolic, anti-tumor, anti-microbial and immunomodulatory properties. Artemisia annua is very rich in secondary metabolites such as monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and phenolic compounds, of which the biological properties have been extensively studied. The purpose of this review is to gather and describe the data concerning the main chemical components produced by Artemisia annua and to describe the state of the art about the biological activities reported for this plant and its compounds beyond malaria.

Humoral immunity is critically important to control COVID-19. Long-term antibody responses remain to be fully characterized in hospitalized patients who have a high risk of death. We compared specific Immunoglobulin responses against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) between two groups, intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU hospitalized patients over several weeks. Plasma specific IgG, IgM, and IgA levels were assessed using a commercial ELISA and compared to an in-house cell-based ELISA. Among the patients analyzed (mean (SD) of age, 64.4 (15.9) years, 19.2% female), 12 (46.2%) were hospitalized in ICU. IgG levels increased in non-ICU cases from the second to the eighth week after symptom onset. By contrast, IgG response was blunted in ICU patients over the same period. ICU patients with hematological malignancies had very weak or even undetectable IgG levels. While both groups had comparable levels of specific IgM antibodies, we found much lower levels of specific IgA in ICU versus non-ICU patients. In conclusion, COVID-19 ICU patients may be at risk of reinfection as their specific IgG response is declining in a matter of weeks. Antibody neutralizing assays and studies on specific cellular immunity will have to be performed.

Introduction: Blood transfusion is a common and essential therapeutic intervention in intensive care units (ICUs), particularly for managing anemia and hemorrhagic conditions. This study aimed to evaluate transfusion practices, requirements, and outcomes in the ICU of Analankininina University Hospital, Toamasina, Madagascar. Methods; A monocentric descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over a 12-month period. All patients who received at least one blood transfusion during their ICU stay were included. Data were collected from medical records and analyzed using standard statistical methods. Results: Among 562 ICU admissions, 11.6% (n=65) of patients received transfusions. The mean age was 40 ± 16.9 years, with a female predominance (sex ratio M: F = 2: 3). Hemorrhagic syndromes were the leading indication (41.5%). A total of 135 blood units were requested, of which 79.3% were available. The mean delay between prescription and transfusion was 1h53 ± 1h42. Adverse reactions occurred in 6.2% of patients. Conclusion: Blood transfusion needs in this setting were moderate but constrained by limited availability. Strengthening coordination with blood banks and promoting voluntary donation could improve transfusion efficiency and patient outcomes.