The Current Status And Perspectives For The Emerging Pandemic: Covid-19

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the extremely communicable viral infection coronavirus disease 19 (covid-19). Initially the virus was found at Wuhan, china which spread across the world exponentially and in a very short span. This outbreak has turned out to be a global health crisis and recently WHO regarded it as pandemic. The origin of the virus is predicted as either the natural selection in animal host prior to the transfer of the pathogen from animals to humans or the natural selection in humans and following transfer. Nevertheless, there is an extensive spread of virus by human to human transfer in the form of droplets. A few antiviral drugs are at the stage of clinical trials to eradicate the covid-19. In this review, a comprehensive approach is put forth to scrutinise the etiology, pathogenicity and transmission of SARS CoV-2. The review also deliberates broadly on the diagnosis and status of therapeutic treatment developed. It also focuses on the preventive and controlling measures from different sectors of the society. The review covers the details reported in 70 studies which were chosen after keyword searches carried out leading to over 884 resulting articles.

The Effect of Obesity on Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients who have Undergone Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases in Sri Lanka. Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG) is considered as the main revascularization procedure in patients with CAD. Cardiac rehabilitation is a multiphasic and multi-disciplinary program and is considered as a significant component of postoperative management after CABG. Objective: To study the effect of obesity on Cardiac Rehabilitation Program II (CRPII), a 1-month period of cardiac rehabilitation following discharge from the hospital, in patients who have undergone CABG. Methods: This was a prospective analytical study involving a convenient sample of 100 patients after CABG surgery. The patients (age: 40-70 years, both males and females) were selected from the cardiac rehabilitation program of the Cardiology Unit at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. Data collection was done using 5 interviewer based questionnaires: socio-demographic characteristics using socio-demographic questionnaire, cardio-vascular endurance and fatigue levels using 6 minute-walk test (6MWT) and Borg scale (BS), anxiety and depression levels using Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HAD) and overall quality of life using quality of life questionnaire cardiac version (QOL). Data collection 1 was done on the first day of CRPII and data collection 2 was done on the final day of the program. Results: There were 33% obese and 67% non-obese patients in the study population. Both groups showed a statistically significant improvement (p<0.0001) of 6MWT, BS, HAD and QOL after CRPII. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the improvement of 6MWT in the non-obese group compared to the obese group and there was no difference in BS, HAD and QOL between obese and non-obese groups. Conclusions: CRPII led to an improvement in cardiovascular endurance, anxiety/depression and overall quality of life in patients who underwent CABG. Non-obese patients showed a better improvement in cardiovascular endurance compared to obese patients after CRPII.

Pattern of congenital anomalies in newborns in a tertiary level hospital in Bangladesh

To find out frequency of various congenital malformations in neonates in a tertiary care hospital. Descriptive study. Department of Neonatology, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital [MMCH], Mymensingh, Bangladesh from April 2011 to March 2012. A total 6040 babies were studied in the neonatal period immediately after admission and all cases with congenital anomalies were enrolled. A detailed history for any risk factor was taken. A thorough physical examination was performed. Confirmation of internal defect was done by various imaging modalities; i.e., radiography, ultrasound, echocardiography and CT scan. A detailed history was taken regarding maternal age, gestational age, and previous history of delivery of abnormal baby. A total of 106 neonates had one or more congenital anomalies accounting to a frequency of 1.75% malformation. The number of congenital anomalies were more in males [M:F=1.2:1] and in neonates of young and elderly mothers. The pattern of congenital anomalies related to head and neck, chest and gastrointestinal tract [20.75%], nervous system [19.81%], cardiovascular system [18.87%], musculoskeletal system [12.26%], genitourinary system [11.32%], chromosomal abnormalities [6.6%] and others [10.37%]. Overall frequency of congenital anomalies remained low. Most frequent anomalies were related to nervous system and cardiovascular system.

Effect of Oral Zinc Supplementation on the Growth of Preterm Infants.

Objective: To compare the effect of oral zinc supplementation on growth of preterm infants. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Dhaka Shisu Hospital (Tertiary care hospital). Subjects: 100 appropriate for date preterm infants weighing between 1000 to 2500g were randomized to receive zinc and multivitamin supplement (Group I; n=50) or only multivitamin supplement (Group II). Intervention: Zinc supplementation was given 2mg/kg/ day for 6 weeks along with multivitamin in Group I and only multivitamin to Group II. Primary outcome variable: Increment of weight and length. Results: At enrollment, serum zinc (62.1±12.4μg/dL in Group I and 63.1±14.6μg/dL in Group II) and hemoglobin levels (14.9±2.4g/dL in Group I and 14.4±1.7g/dL in Group II) were almost similar in both groups. Serum zinc levels were in lower limit of normal range. After supplementation, serum zinc and hemoglobin levels were significantly higher in Group I (105±16.5μg/dL) than Group II (82.2±17.4μg/dL) (P<0.05). Weight, length and head circumference were comparable in both groups at enrollment. Significant differences in weight gain and increment in length were found in first and second follow up between two groups but OFC increments were not significant (P>0.05). Reduction of morbidity was apparent in zinc supplemented group. No serious adverse effect was noted related to supplementation therapy. Conclusion: Zinc supplementation for preterm low birth weight babies is found effective to enhance the growth in early months of life.