Profile of distress callers and service utilisation of tele-counselling among the population of Assam, India: an exploratory study during COVID-19

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected people globally by causing psychological, social, and economic chaos. The Assam Police, India started telephone helplines to address the psychological issues. Aims: To evaluate the sociodemographic profile of the distress callers, their psychosocial concerns, the interventions provided by the service provider, and whether the service users were satisfied with the intervention(s) or not. Method: It was a cross-sectional study done during the period of lockdown (7-24 April 2020). All the callers who called the helpline were screened for anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts (when required), and the psychosocial issues which they were facing were explored. They were provided the psychological intervention(s) at the appropriate time, and they were asked to rate their experience at the end. Results: A total of 239 callers used the tele-counselling services. The majority of callers were male (79.1%). Most of the callers were between 19-35 years of age group (66.5%), married (52.5%), and graduates (31%). Two-thirds of the callers called to seek guidance for their own issues and one-third for their relatives or friends. Callers had anxiety (46%), depressive disorder (8.3%), and depressive symptoms not qualifying for depressive disorder (14%), and suicidal thoughts (5.44%). The commonest intervention provided to the callers was supportive (77.8%), followed by psychoeducation (30.5%), cognitive behaviour therapy (24.7%), relaxation (23.6%) and behaviour therapy (13.4%). Most of the callers utilised more than one type of therapy. Overall, most of the callers were satisfied and appreciated the tele-counselling services. Conclusion: The findings could help in formulating psychological interventions to improve the mental health of vulnerable groups in the post-COVID-19 period to reduce psychiatric morbidity and mortality.

Investigating The Role Of Nf-Κb, Cox-1, Cox-2, Comt, Il-10, Il-6 And Tnf-Α In Modulating Anti-Nociceptive Activity Of Methanolic Extract Of Entada Phaseoloides

Objective: To investigate the analgesic activity of methanolic extract of Entada phaseoloides (MEEP) along with its molecular mechanistic pathway. Methods: Swiss albino female mice and Wistar rats of either sex were administered orally with MEEP extracts (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) and pentazocine, tramadol and diclofenac sodium, as standard drugs. Following administration, anti-nociceptive activity was evaluated using an acetic acid-induced writhing test, Eddy’s hot plate, and hot water immersion test. Serum was collected for molecular expression of various proteins and genes using Reverse Transcriptase PCR and Western Blotting. Results: Acetic acid writhing test, a frequently used method to assess peripheral analgesic activity, revealed that MEEP reduced peripherally induced pain in a dose-dependent manner. Likewise, Eddy’s hot plate and hot water immersion methods, often implicated for testing central analgesic activities, showed that MEEP is bestowed with the capability to counteract analgesia in a dose and time-dependent manner. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and factors like COX-2, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-κB that cause inflammatory responses and pain were significantly reduced, suggesting its analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential. This analgesic and the anti-inflammatory role played by MEEP is also supported by the up-regulation of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and COMT and COX-1 enzyme demonstrated no significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: The study revealed the weak peripheral and potent central analgesic property MEEP by modulating pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory pathways.

Evaluation of phytoconstituents and assessment of adaptogenic activity in vivo in various extracts of Rhododendron arboreum (leaves).

Natural products particularly of plant origin with antistress property and nutraceutical value have become the focus of scores of scientific investigation in recent times. Against this background the present study was carried out to analyse the phytochemical components and adaptogenic activity of Rhododendron arboreum which grow in high altitudes. Adaptogenic activity of the plant extract was evaluated in vivo in rat and mice animal models. Methanol, hydroethanol and aqueous extract of the leaves were prepared and preliminary screening of the phytochemical constiteunts was carried out. The important phytoconstituents viz. flavonoids and phenolics were estimated and amount of gallic acid and quercetin were evaluated by HPTLC. Adaptogenic activity of the extract was studied in vivo using rat and mice as test animals. The criteria taken were forced swimming test in rat and mice and tail suspension test in mice. Methanol extract showed the presence of diterpenes, triterpenes, flavonoids, steroids, tannin, phenolics. Hydroethanol extract showed the presence of diterpenes, triterpenes, saponin, glycosides, alkaloids, tannin and aqueous extract showed the presence of tannin, glycosides, triterpenes, flavonoids, diterpenes. Quantitative analysis exhibited that the methanol extract have the highest amount of flavonoid and phenolics. The HPTLC profile of methanol extract showed the presence of highest amount of quercetin. Gallic acid was detected only in methanol extract. In vivo study in test animals revealed that the methanol extract of R. arboreum exhibited potent anti stress activity. Hence, presence of these compounds which are known to have strong anti-oxidant activity in high quantity might be responsible for adaptogenic activity.

Embarazo como factor de riesgo de hospitalización y muerte en la pandemia por influenza A (H1N1) en Paraguay / Pregnancy as a risk factor for hospitalization and death during influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in Paraguay

La influenza A (H1N1) se ha identificado como la causa de epidemia de Infección Respiratoria Aguda en Paraguay y en el mundo. Se analizaron los factores de riesgo asociados a la morbimortalidad en embarazadas con sospecha de infección por H1N1 notificadas a la Dirección General de Vigilancia de la Salud (DGVS) del MSPBS durante los primeros cuatro meses de la pandemia, en comparación con mujeres en edad fértil no embarazadas con sospecha de infección por H1N1. A partir del 28 de abril de 2009, la DGVS comenzó sistemáticamente la vigilancia de H1N1 en todas sus unidades notificadoras, siendo la notificación inmediata y por planilla individual basándose la notificación en la definición de casos confirmado establecidas por el país. Hasta el 25 de agosto del 2009 fueron notificadas 2268 mujeres con sospecha de H1N1, de las cuales 1120 tenían entre 15 a 40 años, y de ellas 117 estaban embarazadas. El 68% (79/117)de las embarazadas requirió hospitalización y la mortalidad fue de 21% (25/117), mientras que en grupo de las no embarazadas el 21% se hospitalizó (288 /1003) y la mortalidad fue de 1,5% (16/1003). Todos los casos fallecidos desarrollaron Infección Respiratoria Aguda Grave caracterizado por un síndrome de distrés respiratorio que en algunos casos requirieron asistencia respiratoria mecánica (ARM). Ninguna de las embarazadas refirió antecedente de co-morbilidad. El 22% (26/117) de las embarazadas y 2,9% (30/1003) de las no embarazadas recibieron Oseltamivir como tratamiento. Se evidencian que la infección produce alta morbimortalidad en embarazadas en comparación con mujeres del mismo grupo de edad, los cuales apoyan la recomendación de un tratamiento antiviral precoz en gestantes, así como un seguimiento clínico cercano.

Influenza A (H1N1) has been identified as the cause of the Acute Respiratory Infection epidemic in Paraguay and the world. Risk factors associated to morbid-mortality in cases of pregnant women with suspicion of H1N1 infection and notified to the General Direction of Health Surveillance (DGVS in Spanish) of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare (MSPBS in Spanish) during the fourth first months of the pandemic were analyzed in comparison to non-pregnant fertile women with suspicion of H1N1 infection. From April28, 2009 the DGVS started a systematic surveillance of H1N1 in all its notifying units, being the notification immediate and by individual spreadsheet basing the notification inthe case definition established by the country. Until August 25, 2009 2,268 cases of women with suspicion of H1N1 were notified, 1,120 of them were between 15 to 40 years and from them 117 were pregnant. Sixty eight percent (79/117) of the pregnant women required hospitalization and mortality was 21% (25/117) while in the non-pregnant women, 21% were hospitalized (288 /1003) and mortality was 1.5% (16/1003). All deceased cases developed Serious Acute Respiratory Infection characterized by a respiratory distress syndrome that, in some cases, required mechanical respiratory assistance (MRA). None of the regnant women referred history of co-morbidity. Twenty two percent (26/117) of the pregnant women and 2.9% (30/1003) of the non-pregnant women received Oseltamivir as treatment. These results show that the infection produces high morbid-mortality in pregnant women in comparison to women of the same age group, supporting the recommendation of an early antiviral treatment in pregnant women as well as a close clinical follow-up.

Gnathostomiasis of the anterior chamber.

Ocular involvement with Gnathostoma spinigerum occurs years after the initial infection that is acquired by ingestion of poorly cooked, pickled seafood or water contaminated with third stage larvae. Here we report a case of gnathostomiasis of the left eye of a 32-year-old lady hailing from Meghalaya, India. Her vision had deteriorated to hand movement. Slit lamp examination revealed a live, actively motile worm in the anterior chamber, which was extracted by supra temporal limbal incision and visual acuity was restored.