Comparison Of In-Hospital Mortality Of COVID-19 Patients Between Those Who Were Vaccinated And Who Were Not

Background:We compared the mortality rate of patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 who were vaccinated and who were not. Material And Methods:In this retrospective observational study, we collected data of patients who were admitted with moderate to severe COVID-19.The vaccination status and co morbidities of the patients were documented. The incidence and in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients was assessed.Univariate analysis was performed to determine the risk factors of in-hospital mortality.Result:Of 294 patients, 5.1% (n=15) received Covaxin™and 26.5% (n=78) received Covishield™;68.4%(n=201) patientswere unvaccinated.Of patientswho were vaccinated and contracted COVID-19, 24.8%(n=73) had taken the first dose and 6.8%(n=20) had taken the second dose of either vaccine.The in-hospital mortality rate was 13.6% (n=40). No significant association was found with the type of vaccine and the in-hospital mortality (p=0.23). Significant associations with in-hospital mortality were found with the interval before COVID-19 disease andvaccination (OR, 3.02; p=0.01); and the presence ofdiabetes mellitus (OR, 2.13; p=0.02), cardiovascular diseases (OR, 2.11; p<0.001), and malignancy (OR: 2.33; p=0.0325).Conclusion:The mortality rate of unvaccinated patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 was high. There was no significant difference in the effectiveness of Covaxin™ and Covishield™ in terms of the incidence of COVID-19 and in-hospital mortality. Diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and malignancies had a significant association with in-hospital mortality in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19.

Assessment Of Knowledge And Practice Of Personal Hygiene Among School Children In A Government School In Liluah,Howrah: A Cross Sectional Observational Study

Background:Children who possess a goodknowledge and practice of personal hygiene measures such as hand washing have lower incidence of communicable diseases. This study was done to assess the status of personal hygiene and the morbidity pattern among the children of a government school.Material & Methods:A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 3rd and 6th standard students of a government school situated at Liluah, Howrah district of West Bengal, India over a period of 2 weeks in August, 2017with the help of a questionnaire. Results of the study wereanalysed with relevant statisticalmethods.Results:The importance of hand washingwith soap after defecation and before meals was known to 100% and 98% students respectively, however was practised by 98% and 76% students respectively. There is significant association between knowledge and practice of hand washingwith soap after meals (P value 0.04146). Brushingteeth, washing feet and taking daily bath (80.77%) are the most common practices. Most common morbidities were fever with cough (17.3%), worm infestation (13.5%) and dental caries.Conclusion:Personal hygiene practices like hand washing, trimming nails regularly, etc can reduce the incidence of many preventable diseases among children, leading them to a healthy life.

Assessment Of Knowledge And Practice Of Personal Hygiene Among School Children In A Government School In Liluah,Howrah: A Cross Sectional Observational Study

Background:Children who possess a goodknowledge and practice of personal hygiene measures such as hand washing have lower incidence of communicable diseases. This study was done to assess the status of personal hygiene and the morbidity pattern among the children of a government school.Material & Methods:A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 3rd and 6th standard students of a government school situated at Liluah, Howrah district of West Bengal, India over a period of 2 weeks in August, 2017with the help of a questionnaire. Results of the study wereanalysed with relevant statisticalmethods.Results:The importance of hand washingwith soap after defecation and before meals was known to 100% and 98% students respectively, however was practised by 98% and 76% students respectively. There is significant association between knowledge and practice of hand washingwith soap after meals (P value 0.04146). Brushingteeth, washing feet and taking daily bath (80.77%) are the most common practices. Most common morbidities were feverwith cough (17.3%), worm infestation (13.5%) and dental caries.Conclusion:Personal hygiene practices like hand washing, trimming nails regularly, etc can reduce the incidence of many preventable diseases among children, leading them to a healthy life.

Sublethal temperature stress in juvenile Labeo rohita (Ham-Buch.) and Rita rita (Ham.): some physiological changes.

Juveniles of fish L. rohita and R. rita subjected to a rapid (5 min) sublethal temperature increase from 28 to 35 degrees C showed significant increase in cortisol and decrease in interrenal ascorbic acid. Hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia and hyperlactemia were also evident accompanied by increased blood haemoglobin and haematocrit and stable protein levels. Compensatory responses were initiated within 72 hr in both the fishes. R. rita recovered more quickly indicating it to be more resistant to the heat stress than L. rohita. Hence fishes subjected to sublethal temperature stress should be given a metabolic recovery period of 72 hr prior to further stress being applied.

Effect of GABA analogues on various components of maximum electroshock-induced seizures in mice.

Out of fourteen compounds reported here only four [N-valproyl GABA (V.GABA), N-phthaloyl GABA (P.GABA), gamma-phthalimido N-amyl butyramide (PGA) and gamma-phthalimido N-phenyl butyramide (PGP)] gave significant protection to all the four components of maximal electroshock-induced seizures (MES) in mice. It appeared that substitution of either amino or carboxylic or both groups of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) with bulkier groups like aliphatic or aromatic carbons usually produced effective anticonvulsant GABA derivatives. V.GABA and P.GABA were the most effective anticonvulsant GABA derivatives in protecting all the components of MES-induced seizures. They were 2.3 and 1.5 times potent than sodium valproate in molar ratio, but P.GABA has low therapeutic index when compared to V.GABA. The observed anticonvulsant activity may be due to enhanced GABA concentration in the CNS. Probably, the active compound (V.GABA) crossed the blood brain barrier and hydrolysed to GABA and valproic acid to bring about its anticonvulsant action.

Antinociceptive action of GABA-mimetic agent--N-phthaloyl GABA.

N-phthaloyl GABA (P-GABA), a nonselective GABA-ergic drug, showed positive analgesic response in four different models in mice, viz-tail immersion, tail clip, hot plate and writhing-induced by acetic acid. Antinociceptive ED50 (ip in mice) of P-GABA was lowest in tail immersion method (ED50 = 24.27, mg/kg). Though pethidine (10 mg/kg, ip) significantly potentiated the antinociceptive action of P-GABA (20 mg/kg, ip), pretreatment of naloxone (5 mg/kg, im) did not influence the same. Pretreatment with atropine (10 mg/kg, im), picrotoxin (0.08 mg/kg) and 3-mercaptopropionic acid (2 mg/kg) reduced the antinociceptive action of P-GABA significantly. But pretreatment with bicuculline (0.4 mg/kg), a specific GABA antagonist, did not reduce the antinociceptive action of P-GABA.

Antiulcer activity of N-phthaloyl GABA--a new GABA mimetic agent.

N-phthaloyl GABA (P. GABA) inhibited gastric ulceration induced by 3 hr restraint stress at 4 degrees C (CRS) in albino rats. Antiulcer activity of P. GABA was compared with sodium valproate and cimetidine. P. GABA, sodium valproate and cimetidine showed a dose dependent reduction of gastric ulceration. Pretreatment with GABA antagonists-bicuculline methiodide (0.5 mg/kg, im) or 3 mercaptopropionic acid (2 mg/kg, im) reversed the antiulcerogenic activity of both the drugs (P. GABA and sodium valproate). GABA antagonists as such did not induce gastric ulceration in normal rats.

Synthesis and anticonvulsant activity of N-phthaloyl GABA--a new GABA derivative.

A new gamma-aminobutyric acid derivative, N-phthaloyl GABA (P-GABA), was synthesised and its anticonvulsant activity was tested and compared with sodium valproate for efficacy against experimentally induced convulsions in mice. At a dose of 80 mg/kg, P-GABA rendered more protection than sodium valproate. ED50 of P-GABA and sodium valproate against bicuculline-induced convulsion was 96 and 301 mg/kg respectively in mice.