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Published on: Nov 13, 2020
1 minute read
By: Dr Rajan ( Medical Second Opinion Cell)

Using The Cellular Handshake Against The Virus

Using the cellular handshake against the virus

In early November an interesting study was published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, describing the treatment of a severe COVID-19 patient with human recombinant soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme-2. By using the treatment, it was possible to see the disappearance of the virus swiftly from the patient's serum, nose, and lungs, as well as a reduction in the patients’ inflammatory markers. How was this achieved? And why is this so intriguing.

When we look at treating viruses, there are several strategies at work. You can prevent its spread by the use of social distancing or masks, you can use medications that prevent its replication (such as Tamiflu). Or you can stop the virus from entering the cells, the first step in viral replication.

SARS-CoV-2 appears to enter human cells through the ACE2 receptor. ACE2 is a protein in the cell membrane found across the human body, especially the lungs, heart, kidney and small intestine. It function is related to the Renin-Angiotensin System, a mechanism by which the kidneys control your blood pressure.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme converts angiotensin 1 to angiotensin 2, a hormone that causes blood vessels to constrict. ACE 2 instead converts it to a protein that causes dilation of blood vessels. This likely protects these critical organs and ensure they receive sufficient blood to perform their tasks. ACE2 is being investigated as a possible target for blood pressure medications.

The study used a genetically modified soluble form of ACE2 that mimics the protein found on human cell membranes. By increasing its availability in the blood, the SARS-CoV-2 virus binds to this protein, resulting in its inactivation, rather than entering lung cells and causing lung injury. Lab studies have shown that it can reduce viral growth by as much as 1000 to 5000 times, and phase 1 studies show it to be safe to use in people.

The actual described case was in a 45-year-old woman, hospitalized with COVID, suffering from severe shortness of breath, cough and fatigue. She was first treated with hydroxychloroquine and anticoagulants, but this proved ineffective, and the virus was causing increasing damage to her lungs. Nine days after her symptoms started, she received the ACE2 treatment for a week, with no side effects. This resulted in an increase in ACE2 activity (seen from her blood results), but also a marked decrease in multiple inflammatory markers associated with COVID-19, as well as a sharp decrease in COVID 19 numbers. Indeed, the viral load dropped from 32,000 per mL to just 270 per mL two days after treatment started. She was also able to produce antibodies against the virus, so this did not impair her from getting immunity.

It is certainly a very interesting case, though questions remain on how feasible it would be (as well as how expensive) to manufacture large quantities of this protein receptor for treatment use, as well as how it fairs in clinical trials.

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Digital Health Data Security Challenges India: Securing the Future of Digital Healthcare

Digital Health Data Security Challenges India: Securing the Future of Digital 2Healthcare

As India rapidly digitizes its healthcare infrastructure-telemedicine platforms, electronic health records (EHRs), AI systems, and wearable data-security risks have escalated. Digital health data security challenges India are now a top priority because healthcare has become the number one target of cyberattacks worldwide.

A 2024 CERT-In report revealed that cyberattacks on Indian healthcare systems increased by 278% in a single year, making hospitals, telemedicine platforms, and diagnostic networks highly vulnerable.

SecondMedic recognizes the seriousness of these threats and has invested deeply in security infrastructure to protect patient data end-to-end.

1. Why Health Data Is the Most Valuable Target

Medical records contain:

Identity details
Medical history
Financial data
Prescriptions
Insurance information

This makes them more valuable on the dark web than credit card data.

Attackers use stolen health data for:

Fraudulent insurance claims
Blackmail
Illegal medical purchases
Identity theft

2. Major Digital Health Data Security Challenges in India

1. Cyberattacks on Hospitals and Telemedicine Platforms

India saw multiple ransomware attacks affecting:

AIIMS (Delhi)
State health servers
Diagnostic chains

These attacks disrupted services for days.

2. Weak Security in EHR Systems

Many clinics use outdated software with:

Weak passwords
No encryption
No access logs

This makes patient data vulnerable.

3. Telemedicine Data Exposure

Unsecured video calls, unencrypted chats, and public Wi-Fi create high-risk environments.

4. Wearable Device Vulnerabilities

Wearables send data to cloud servers.
Without secure APIs, this data can be intercepted.

5. Lack of Standardized Regulations

Though ABDM is improving the framework, India still lacks:

Standardized encryption enforcement
Strict penalties for breaches
Uniform hospital compliance

3. Compliance Requirements Under ABDM and DPDP Act

India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP 2023) mandates:

Patient consent for data usage
Secure processing
Limited access control
Breach notifications

ABDM governs:

Health IDs
Secure health data exchange
Interoperability standards

SecondMedic follows both frameworks.

4. How SecondMedic Ensures End-to-End Data Security

1. Encryption of All Patient Data

AES-256 encryption
Multi-layer secure cloud storage
Encrypted telemedicine communications

2. Role-Based Access Control

Doctors, administrators, and technical staff have different access rights.

3. Secure API Integrations

Data from labs, wearables, and pharmacies flows through secure, resistant APIs.

4. Regular Security Audits

Pen-testing and vulnerability assessments ensure new threats are patched.

5. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Prevents unauthorized access.

6. Secure Prescription & Report Handling

Digital prescriptions are encrypted and tamper-proof.

5. Building Digital Trust for India’s Healthcare Future

Patients now expect:

Transparency
Security
Clear data usage policies

SecondMedic maintains strict data protection protocols, ensuring that every patient interaction-whether teleconsultation, diagnostic review, or preventive health plan-remains secure and confidential.

Conclusion

Digital health data security challenges India are real and growing. However, with stronger frameworks, advanced encryption, compliance with DPDP and ABDM, and dedicated platforms like SecondMedic prioritizing patient security, India is building a safer digital healthcare ecosystem. Protecting health data is not just a compliance requirement-it is the foundation of patient trust and the future of Indian healthcare.

References

CERT-In Cybersecurity Report 2024
DPDP Act 2023
ABDM Health Data Framework
NITI Aayog - Digital Health Roadmap
Kaspersky Healthcare Cyber Threat Report
Economic Times - Healthcare Cyberattacks India

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