Psychological Trauma And PTSD During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review

@#As of August 9, 2021, there have been around 203 million confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (2019) COVID-19, including 4.3 million deaths. Adverse psychological effects are expected to be long-lasting in vulnerable groups, especially among frontline healthcare workers, given the magnitude of the crisis. Observing strict quarantine and social distancing measures, while being an important strategy to curb the spread, have also led to a significant negative impact on mental health indicators; the long-term consequences are yet to be assessed on a global scale. A medical crisis may become a mental health crisis and the updated findings are reviewed in this paper to provide an updated brief for immunological, occupational, socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, psychological predictors while commenting on care recommendations to prevent psychological trauma from progressing to PTSD.

Heterologous expression and enhanced production of ß-1, 4-glucanase of Bacillus halodurans C-125 in Escherichia coli

Background: Recombinant DNA technology enables us to produce proteins with desired properties and insubstantial amount for industrial applications. Endo-1, 4-ß-glucanases (Egl) is one of the major enzyme involved in degradation of cellulose, an important component of plant cell wall. The present study was aimed at enhancing the production of endo-1, 4-ß-glucanases (Egl) of Bacillus halodurans in Escherichia coli. Results: A putative Egl gene of Bacillus Halodurans was expressed in E. coli by cloning in pET 22b (+). On induction with isopropyl-b-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside, the enzyme expression reached upto ~20% of the cell protein producing 29.2 mg/liter culture. An increase in cell density to 12 in auto-inducing LB medium (absorbance at 600 nm) enhanced ß-glucanase production up to 5.4 fold. The molecular mass of the enzyme was determined to be 39 KDa, which is nearly the same as the calculated value. Protein sequence was analyzed by CDD, Pfam, I TASSER, COACH, PROCHECK Servers and putative amino acids involved in the formation of catalytic, substrate and metal binding domains were identified. Phylogenetic analysis of the ß-glucanases of B. halodurans was performed and position of Egl among other members of the genus Bacillus producing endo-glucanases was determined. Temperature and pH optima of the enzyme were found to be 60°C and 8.0, respectively, under the assay conditions. Conclusion: Production of endo-1, 4 ß-glucanase enzymes from B. halodurans increased several folds when cloned in pET vector and expressed in E. coli. To our knowledge, this is the first report of high-level expression and characterization of an endo-1, 4 ß-glucanases from B. halodurans.

Traumatic events for house officers and their coping strategies

Objective: To determine the major stresses of house officers, causes of these stress and the coping strategies

Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted in 13 different tertiary care hospitals of Karachi in both government and private sectors from Oct to Nov 2017

Material and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study with multistage random sampling technique was done in which a self-designed and self-explanatory questionnaire was used. Results were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences [SPSS] version 20

Results: About 300 questionnaires were distributed to interns. From the total, 83.9 percent participants were female. The mean age of the participants was 24 years. Out of the total respondents, 9.4 percent participants stated no any significant medical mistake. Issues arising due to lack of knowledge or incompetency leading to mis diagnosis of patients were reported by 20.5 percent respondents. One of the common mistakes reported was wrong drug administration; either route, dosage or incorrect medicine, committed by about 25.3 percent of doctors participated. The most reported reason thought to be the underlying cause of mistakes was work overload that was about 36.3 percent

Conclusion: It can be concluded by the present study that house officers are susceptible to stress which affects their overall work performance and it leads to significant medical mistake due to which patient suffer and because of this pressure it's very hard both physically and mentally for a doctor to cope up

Connotation of Oro-Dental disorders with food and social customs

Objective: To evaluate the existing correlation between Oro-Dental disease occurrences with dietary and social habits among the local dental patients

Methodology:This 30-day cross sectional study was conducted at Baqai Dental College Hospital Outpatient Clinic, Karachi, using pre- designed questionnaires. During the study, age, gender, types of oral disorders [identified by calibrated dental professional], and dietary preferences were looked. After informed consent and ethical approval, prospective and consecutive data of 115 subjects was collected and 15 were excluded because of inconclusive pathological oro-dental condition

Results: Oral lesions were reported as dental pain with bleeding, dental pain with swelling, dental pain only or dental pain with both swelling and bleeding. Only 32% participants admitted to consume Naswar/ Chalia and smoking. 21% patients admitted to consume all types of foods. 67% were suffering from tooth decay. Naswar/ chalia eaters and smokers presented with pain alone, and pain with swelling. Surprisingly those who claimed vegetable consumption were noted to have more dental decay as well as pain

Conclusions: This study suggested that in the absence of dominant abnormal social habits and food, suffering from Oro-Dental disorders may be related to poor quality of vegetables, water, host.s characteristics or activated HPA

axis in the development of pathogenic dental process.

Anti-diarrheal effects of methanol extract of curcuma longa

Objective: To evaluate the anti-diarrheal effect of Methanol extract of Curcuma Longa, and to compare it with Loperamide in albino rats

Methodology: This experimental animal study was performed in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Basic Medical Sciences Institute [BMSI], Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center [JPMC], Karachi, in collaboration with BMSI Animal house, from May 2013 to December 2014. Dried rhizomes of Curcuma longa were purchased from local market of Karachi and soaked in 100% methanol, which was later evaporated to yield a semisolid extract. Seventy-two albino rats were used, which were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 24 rats. Each group was further divided into 4 subgroups. In each group, one subgroup was control, one was standard [loperamide group] and two subgroups were given 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg of methanol extract of Curcuma Longa orally. Anti-diarrheal effect was assessed by counting total number of feces after castor oil-induced diarrhea, castor oil-induced enteropooling and gastrointestinal motility test

Results: The methanol extract of Curcuma Longa showed significant anti-diarrheal activity evidenced by the reduction in defecation, decreased intestinal transit of charcoal meal and decreased enteropooling after castor oil-induced diarrhea

Conclusion: Curcuma Longa had potent anti-diarrheal affect and can replace synthetic drugs like loperamide. These effects were related to phytochemicals present in it

Identification and optimization of a potent and highly selective D3 dopamine receptor agonist / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE Dopamine receptors (DRs) are involved in the development and treatment of many neuropsychiatric disorders. Currently available dopaminergic drugs modulate both DRD2 and DRD3, leading to side effects and uncertainty as to the roles each DR subtype plays physiologically. Our lab employed high throughput screening paradigms to discover highly selective modulators for the DRD3. METHODS The NIH Molecular Libraries Program 400,000 + small molecule library was screened using the Discove RxPathHunter? β- arrestin assay for compounds that activate the DRD3 without effects on the DRD2. Confirmation and counter-screens assessed selectivity and mechanisms of action. We identified 62 potential agonists, and chose the most promising to perform a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study to increase potency while maintaining selectivity. The lead compound identified through this process, ML417, was also characterized using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)-based β-arrestin recruitment and G-protein activation assays as well as p-ERK assays. Potential neuroprotective properties of this compound were assessed using a SHSY5Y neuronal cell model. RESULTS ML417 displays potent, DRD3-selective agonist activity in multiple functional assays. Binding and functional GPCR screens (>165 receptors) show ML417 has limited cross-reactivity with other GPCRs. ML417 also displays superior (compared to the reference compound pramipexole),dose-dependent protection against a decrease in neurite length induced by 10 μmol·L-1 of the neurotoxin, 6-hydroxydopamine, in the SHSY5Y cell model. CONCLUSION We have discovered and characterized ML417, a potent and highly selective DRD3 agonist. This compound will be useful as a research tool, and may prove useful as a therapeutic drug lead.

Obesity as a noticeable cause of physical stress; a study on relationship of physical exertion and cardiovascular parameters

Introduction Physical tension is a response to environmental pressures, needs or demands or any vigorous bodily activity leading in altering physiological responses, is counted as physical stress such as aerobics, work outs, injury or aches. It may also count on physical traumas as cuts, burns, sprains, broken bones, surgery etc. in other words physical stress is bodily response to substantial pressures such as exertion, noise, illness or exercises

Methodology The purpose of this study is to observe the seventy of physical stress in individuals with respect to their BMI, subjects were assessed pre and post for blood pressure and pulse while Physical stress scores were calculated through Sadaf stress scale [SSS], the data was then analyzed using SPSS 19.0

Results showed that physical stress increases with increased BMI while it also shows significant difference in obese individuals presystolic and pre diastolic with post systolic and post diastolic pressures

Conclusion From this study we conclude that BMI is directly proportional to physical stress. So maintenance of normal body weight is the utmost requirement for healthier life

Exercise leads to physical stress, a cross sectional study of Karachi - Pakistan

Exercise has many health benefits but also exercise is a stress situation for which the body must find a new dynamic equilibrium. If workout is performed beyond the limitations than it may disturb normal body homeostasis and results in stress. The basic objective behind this study was to evaluate the relation between Physical activities andPhysical Stress. A cross sectional study was conducted to evaluate physical stress during exertion. All the subjects were randomly selected from Arts, Science, Commerce, Engineering andPharmacy faculty of Karachi University. Serum cortisol, a potential biomarker evaluating stressed condition and finding a correlation with stress scores noted by using sadaf stress scale showed high intensity of stress while other results showed that around 41 percent participants were severely affected with physical stress during performance

High levels of Zinc-α-2-Glycoprotein among Omani AIDS patients on combined antiretroviral therapy

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the levels of zinc-α-2-glycoprotein (ZAG) among Omani AIDS patients receiving combined antiretroviral therapy (cART).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 80 Omani AIDS patients (45 males and 35 females), average age of 36 years, who were receiving cART at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Muscat, Oman, were tested for the levels of ZAG. In addition, 80 healthy blood donors (46 males and 34 females), average age of 26 years, attending the SQUH Blood Bank, were tested in parallel as a control group. Measurement of the ZAG levels was performed using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The ZAG levels were found to be significantly higher among AIDS patients compared to the healthy individuals (P=0.033). A total of 56 (70%) of the AIDS patients were found to have higher levels of ZAG and 16 (20%) AIDS patients were found to have high ZAG levels, which are significantly (P>0.031) associated with weight loss.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>ZAG levels are high among Omani AIDS patients on cART and this necessitates the measurement of ZAG on routine basis, as it is associated with weight loss.</p>

High levels of Zinc-α-2-Glycoprotein among Omani AIDS patients on combined antiretroviral therapy

Objective: To investigate the levels of zinc-α-2-glycoprotein (ZAG) among Omani AIDS patients receiving combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). Methods: A total of 80 Omani AIDS patients (45 males and 35 females), average age of 36 years, who were receiving cART at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Muscat, Oman, were tested for the levels of ZAG. In addition, 80 healthy blood donors (46 males and 34 females), average age of 26 years, attending the SQUH Blood Bank, were tested in parallel as a control group. Measurement of the ZAG levels was performed using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Results: The ZAG levels were found to be significantly higher among AIDS patients compared to the healthy individuals (P=0.033). A total of 56 (70%) of the AIDS patients were found to have higher levels of ZAG and 16 (20%) AIDS patients were found to have high ZAG levels, which are significantly (P > 0.031) associated with weight loss. Conclusions: ZAG levels are high among Omani AIDS patients on cART and this necessitates the measurement of ZAG on routine basis, as it is associated with weight loss.