Seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and predictors of seropositivity among employees of a teaching hospital in New Delhi, India

Objectives@#Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at a high risk of contracting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) due to the increased likelihood of clinical exposure during patient management. The study objective was to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and its predictors among hospital employees. @*Methods@#The cross-sectional study was conducted at a teaching hospital from August 2020 to September 2020 among 1,401 employees, including 1,217 HCWs, in New Delhi, India. The serum samples were examined for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 using the COVID Kavach-Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibody Detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Data were collected electronically using the EpiCollect mobile platform. A p<0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. @*Results@#A total of 169 participants (12.1%) had detectable IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. The highest seropositivity rate was observed in the administrative staff (20.1%), while it was lowest among medical doctors (5.5%, p<0.001). Male sex and ever having lived in a containment zone were independently associated with past infection with SARS-CoV-2. @*Conclusion@#The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health workers may be lower than in the general population in New Delhi. However, nonpharmaceutical interventions were not associated with a reduction in the risk of acquisition of SARS-CoV-2.

Seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and predictors of seropositivity among employees of a teaching hospital in New Delhi, India

Objectives@#Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at a high risk of contracting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) due to the increased likelihood of clinical exposure during patient management. The study objective was to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and its predictors among hospital employees. @*Methods@#The cross-sectional study was conducted at a teaching hospital from August 2020 to September 2020 among 1,401 employees, including 1,217 HCWs, in New Delhi, India. The serum samples were examined for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 using the COVID Kavach-Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibody Detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Data were collected electronically using the EpiCollect mobile platform. A p<0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. @*Results@#A total of 169 participants (12.1%) had detectable IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. The highest seropositivity rate was observed in the administrative staff (20.1%), while it was lowest among medical doctors (5.5%, p<0.001). Male sex and ever having lived in a containment zone were independently associated with past infection with SARS-CoV-2. @*Conclusion@#The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health workers may be lower than in the general population in New Delhi. However, nonpharmaceutical interventions were not associated with a reduction in the risk of acquisition of SARS-CoV-2.

Performance and carcass characteristics of guinea fowl fed on dietary Neem [Azadirachta indica] leaf powder as a growth promoter

The present work aimed at studying growth pattern and carcass traits in pearl grey guinea fowl fed on dietary Neem [Azadirachta indica] leaf powder [NLP] over a period of 12 weeks. Day old guinea fowl keets [n=120] were randomly assigned to four treatment groups, each with 3 replicates. The first treatment was designated as control [T[0]] in which no supplement was added to the feed, while in treatments T[1], T[2] and T[3], NLP was provided as 1, 2 and 3 g per kg of feed, respectively. The results revealed a significant increase in body weight at 12 weeks; 1229.7 for T[1], 1249.8 for T[2], and 1266.2 g T[3] compared to 1220.0 g for the control group [P<0.05]. The results also showed that the supplementation of NLP significantly increased feed intake [P

Glued Angiocatheter: A Rare Complication of Intrarenal Pseudoaneurysm Glue Angioembolization

Endovascular management of intraparenchymal renal artery pseudoaneurysms is a reasonable and effective therapeutic technique. Endovascular management preserves the maximum amount of renal tissue and reduces the potential risk of nephrectomy. We present the case of an angiocatheter that became stuck in the renal artery following the injection of cyanoacrylate glue for angioembolization of an intrarenal pseudoaneurysm.

Groundwater arsenic contamination and associated health risks in Bihar, India

The extent of groundwater arsenic [As] contamination and associated health-risks were studied in the four villages: Chaukia and Terahrasiya [Vaishali]; Mamalkha and Masharu [Bhagalpur] in Bihar, India. Groundwater samples were tested using the standard Silverdiethyledithiocarbamate method at 520nm by Thermo UV-1 spectrophotometer. The As levels in both the districts exceeded the WHO standard of 10microg/L for drinking water with a maximum value of 20microg/L in Vaishali and 143microg/L in Bhagalpur. However, the FAO standard of 100microg/L of As for irrigation water was only exceeded in Bhagalpur. The calculated range of the hazard index [HI] for Vaishali was 0.9 to 10, and for Bhagalpur was 10.40 to 40.47. Both ranges exceed the accepted normal toxic HI of 1.00. The cancer risk was derived as 1-5/1000 people to 5-16/10,000 people in Vaishali, and 7-21/1000 and 5-16/1000 people in Bhagalpur. Prevalence of skin pigmentation was double in Vaishali in comparison to Bhagalpur. The analysis of principal components showed that only two components had a fundamental role in defining variance for cancer risk assessment. A more extensive screening of As contamination of groundwater and a follow-up clinical study are necessary to accurately assess the likelihood of As-related cancers in these districts

Improved bioavailability through floating microspheres of lovastatin

Lovastatin is an antihyperlipidemic agent which has low bioavailability due to the extensive first pass metabolism. It was sought to increase gastric retention of lovastatin by development of a sustained release gastroretentive drug delivery system leading to reduced fluctuation in the plasma concentration and improved bioavailability. Floating microspheres were prepared by emulsion solvent diffusion technique, using various polymers and their blends. The in vitro performance was evaluated for drug-polymer compatibility, percent yield, particle size, drug entrapment efficiency, in vitro onset and duration of floatation, in vitro drug release as well as in vivo determination of serum cholesterol level. The mean particle size of microspheres was observed to be between 6.9 to 9.5 micro m and the maximum particle size was around 50 micro m. In vivo studies of the selected batches indicated lower level of serum cholesterol compared to the marketed tablet at the same dose but was not significant. The data obtained in this study suggested that a microparticulate floating dosage form of lovastatin can be successfully designed to yield controlled delivery with improved therapeutic efficacy

Unusual presentation of retrovesical hydatid Cyst: report of three cases

Hydatid disease may occur in any organ of the human body, but an isolated retrovesical hydatid [RVH] cyst is rare. We report two cases of isolated RVH cyst - one mimicking an ovarian cyst, the other presenting as acute urinary retention - and a third case of RVH cyst associated with bladder and rectal fistula and a hepatic hydatid cyst

Effect of amendment on phytoextraction of arsenic by Vetiveria Zizanioides from soil

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the growth response of Vetiveria zizanioides amended with organic amendments to arsenic [As] in contaminated soils and its ability to sequester As. The test results indicate that the plants exhibited high tolerance to As in the soils and their normal growth continued even though As concentration reached 500 mg/kg. However, when As concentrations in soils were in the range of 1000-2000 mg/kg the plants could not survive no matter whether the soils were amended. The accumulation of As in roots [185.4 mg/kg] was higher than that in shoots [100.6 mg/kg]. The As level in the contaminated soil was reduced from 500 mg/kg to 214 mg/kg after six months of As phytoextraction. Microbial population was not affected in the As contaminated soil amended with dairy sludge, mycorrhizae and Azotobacter

Hepatoprotective activity of swertia chirata

Different extracts of the whole plant of Swertia chirata were analysed for hepatoprotective activity against CC1[4] induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The alcoholic extract showed significant activity, lowering the serum enzymes GOT and GPT in rats intoxicated with CC1[4]. The activity was comparable to that of silymarin which served the purpose of standard drug in this study