Does BCG Or MMR Or Routine Vaccination Coverage Protect Against COVID Infection And Mortality In India?

Background: The routine vaccinations and acquired immunity by other viral infections were believed to be acting as a protective factor against severe COVID-19 outbreaks in some countries. Objective: This study is overviewing the relationship of routine BCG, MMR vaccinations and reported MMR disease outbreak with reported COVID-19 infection across the Indian states. Methods: The data on vaccination coverage and respiratory disease infection was obtained from Univer-sal immunization program and Integrated disease surveillance project reports. Spearman rank correla-tion has been used to assess the relationship of routine vaccination and COVID-19 infection. Results: The result did not find any relationship of routine vaccination with BCG and MMR or exposure to MMR infection on COVID-19 infections in India. Conclusion: The exposure to BCG or MMR vaccination did not have a non-specific protection against COVID-19 infection. The results imply that a larger proportion of the Indian population is still vulnerable to COVID-19 infection.

Variability and Genetic Diversity Studies in Redgram [Cajanus Cajan (L.) Millsp.

An investigation was carried out with 50 accessions of pigeon pea to identify diverse genotypes. They were evaluated for ten yield and yield attributing characters using Mahalanobis D2 statistics. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters studied. Maximum range of variation was recorded for seed yield per plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance has been recorded for seed yield per plant and number of pods per plant, seed weight and primary branches. Based on the genetic distance all the 50 genotypes were grouped under seven different clusters. The maximum inter-cluster distance was recorded between clusters II and IV. Seed yield per plant contributed maximum to the total divergence. Seed yield, number of pods per plant and seed weight can be given due weight in selection and improvement of pigeonpea, Crossing between the genotyptes of Cluster II and IV is expected to exhibit high heterosis and give wider spectrum of variability.

A convenient first aid kit for chemical and biological agents and for radiation exposure.

The chemical and biological warfare agents are extremely toxic in nature. They act rapidly even in very small quantities and death may occur in minutes. Hence, physical and medical protection must be provided immediately to save life or avoid serious injury. A first aid kit has thus been developed for providing immediate relief from chemical and biological warfare agents (FAKCBW) with the objective of easy detection, personal decontamination, antidote for chemical warfare agents (like nerve agents, sulphur mustard, phosgene, cyanide, radiation exposure and bacterial agents), along with basic medication aid for pain, fever and inflammation. The kit box also includes a user friendly handbook with a simple standard operating procedure. In addition, the kit is rugged to withstand normal jerks, vibration and is water-proof.

Aminopyridine-induced contracture in frog ventricle is due to calcium released from intracellular stores.

The aim of the study is to demonstrate the presence of intracellular calcium store in frog ventricle based on contractures induced by 4-aminopyridine in calcium-free media. Frog-ventricular strips were subjected to field stimulation at 0.2 Hz and the force of contraction was recorded after stabilization. The preparation was then kept quiescent for some time in solutions with different sodium concentrations, containing 0 or 1 mmol/L calcium. Caffeine, 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), or tetraethylammonium chloride was then added. Frog skeletal muscle preparations were used as positive controls for the caffeine experiments. Frog ventricular preparations did not develop contractures (sustained contractions) in the presence of caffeine (25 mmol/L), while frog skeletal muscle preparations developed caffeine-induced contractures. However, 4-AP (16 mmol/L) was able to induce contractures in quiescent frog ventricular preparations, even when they were superfused with calcium-free solution. 4-AP contractures in frog ventricle were seen in the presence of nifedipine also. Amplitude of 4-AP evoked contractures in frog ventricle were much larger in low sodium (30 mmol/L) and sodium-free (sodium substituted by lithium) solutions than in normal sodium solution, suggesting that the route of extrusion of the cytosolic calcium (released from intracellular stores by 4-AP) is the sodium calcium exchanger, which gets reversed in low sodium solutions. Tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) was not able to induce contractures in frog ventricle suggesting that the contracture evoked by 4-AP is not due to its potassium channel blocking effect. In quiescent frog skeletal muscle preparations, caffeine as well as 4-AP induced contractures in calcium-free solutions. We therefore conclude that there is a caffeine-insensitive, 4-AP sensitive intracellular calcium store in the frog ventricle.

Achieving asepsis of banana leaves for the management of toxic epidermal necrolysis.

BACKGROUND: Banana leaf is used in many centers in India during the care of patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and other extensive blistering disorders. Sepsis is an important cause of death in TEN patients and use of banana leaf may be a source of such infection. AIMS: We conducted this study to detect the bacterial flora of the banana leaf and to examine various methods of rendering the leaf aseptic. METHODS: Five pieces of banana leaf, 2 x 2 cm in size, were cultured separately in blood agar as follows: One piece was heated over a flame and one was soaked in boiling water and one was autoclaved. Methylated spirit was applied over one piece and ignited. One piece was placed on the media, 'as is.' The Petri dishes were incubated examined after 48 h. RESULTS: All the pieces except the autoclaved specimen of the leaf grew coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS) when aseptic precautions were not maintained and aerobic spore bearers when all aseptic measures were subsequently instituted during the procedure. CONCLUSION: We recommend measures to prevent possible transmission of bacterial infection by the leaf. Autoclaved and aseptically handled banana leaves may be used to reduce chance of infection in the treatment of TEN.

Stress and undetected hyperglycemia in southern Indian coastal population affected by tsunami.

AIM: Natural calamities are known to result in higher stress conditions and also result in adverse health outcomes including development of non-communicable diseases. The impact of tsunami on mental stress and prevalence of hyperglycemic conditions was assessed in a population affected by the calamity in coastal populations of southern India. METHODS: Two populations similar in demography and physical characteristics, but, one affected by tsunami were selected for a comparative study. Subjects aged 20 years or above were randomly selected (control population n = 1176; tsunami population n = 1184). Details of stress were assessed using Harvard trauma questionnaire and scores were assigned. Glucose tolerance was assessed using 2h capillary blood glucose (75gms glucose load) and diagnosis was made using WHO criteria. RESULTS: Stress score was significantly higher in tsunami population. Although the total prevalence of diabetes was similar (control - 10.0 %; tsunami population - 10.5 %) prevalence of undetected diabetes (5.7 % vs. 3.8 %; Z = 9.54, P < 0.001) and impaired glucose tolerance (9.8 % vs. 8.3 %; Z = 12.83, P < 0.001) higher in the tsunami area. Stress score was higher in women and in the young in the tsunami area. CONCLUSION: Population affected by tsunami was under high stress and also showed a high prevalence of undetected diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance.

Evaluation of different granulated active carbons for removal of Microcystin-LR from contaminated water.

Most frequently encountered freshwater cyanobacterial toxin is Microcystin-LR (MC-LR). Microcystins released from cells into water have been responsible for the death of humans, domestic and wild animals. Removal of microcystin by active carbon has been one of the best methods available so far. This study evaluates three grades of active carbon namely 40, 60 and 80 CTC for their removal efficiency of MC-LR from contaminated water. Kinetics of toxin removal was studied in time course experiments. Protection in mouse model was studied for the samples after the adsorption. Toxin quantitation was done by HPLC method. The MC-LR concentration after 24 hr treatment with 40, 60 and 80 CTC carbons were 4.8, 3.3 and 1.3 microg/ml respectively from an initial concentration of 5.2 microg/ml. Protection in mouse bioassay was seen after 48, 24 and 2 hr of adsorption time respectively for 40, 60 and 80 CTC carbons. 80 CTC carbon was found to be most efficient in removing MC-LR from contaminated water.

Toxins and bioactive compounds from cyanobacteria and their implications on human health.

Many species of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) produce secondary metabolites with potent biotoxic or cytotoxic properties. These metabolites differ from the intermediates and cofactor compounds that are essential for cell structural synthesis and energy transduction. The mass growth of cyanobacteria which develop in fresh, brackish and, marine waters commonly contain potent toxins. Cyanobacterial toxins or cyanotoxins are responsible for or implicated in animal poisoning, human gastroenteritis, dermal contact irritations and primary liver cancer in humans. These toxins (microcystins, nodularins, saxitoxins, anatoxin-a, anatoxin-a(s), cylindrospermopsin) are structurally diverse and their effects range from liver damage, including liver cancer to neurotoxicity. Several incidents of human illness and more recently, the death of 60 haemodialysis patients in Caruaru, Brazil, have been linked to the presence of microcystins in water. In response to the growing concern about the non-lethal acute and chronic effects of microcystins, World Health Organization has recently set a new provisional guideline value for microcystin-LR of 1.0 microg/L in drinking water. Cyanobacteria including microcystin-producing strains produce a large number of peptide compounds, e.g. micropeptins, cyanopeptolins, microviridin, circinamide, aeruginosin, with varying bioactivities and potential pharmacological application. This article discusses briefly cyanobacterial toxins and their implications on human health.

Plastic deformation of forearm.

The unusual occurrence of plastic deformation in an adult is described.

Post traumatic lumbar hernia.

A lumbar hernia which had developed following blunt abdominopelvic trauma is described here. The successful surgical correction is reported.

Does oxidant stress play a role in diabetic retinopathy?

The role of oxidant stress in the causation of chronic tissue damage is being increasingly recognized. Oxidant stress is usually countered by abundant supply of antioxidants. If concomitant antioxidant deficiency occurs, oxidant stress may produce tissue damage. We took up a study on antioxidant status in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients with and without retinopathy and compared them with a control non-diabetic group. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly reduced in all diabetic patients, i.e., those with and without retinopathy. However, the lowest levels were found in the diabetic patients with retinopathy. Vitamin E and vitamin C levels were also markedly lower in the diabetic patients. There was a paradoxical rise in the catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the diabetic patients with retinopathy. This may be a compensatory mechanism by the body to prevent tissue damage by increasing the levels of the two alternative antioxidant enzymes.

Large myofascial fibromatosis involving the shoulder girdle.

An 11 year old girl presented with gradually increasing swelling over left scapular region and limitation of movements. On examination, a mass with firm to hard consistency was found fixed to the scapula. Clinical diagnosis of fibromatosis was confirmed by needle biopsy. Radical excision of the tumor was carried out and the resultant large exposed area was covered by transpositional rotation of trapezius myocutaneous flap. Microscopic examination of excised tumor revealed spindle shaped elongated cells in the form of whorls and trabeculae. The post operative course of the patient was uneventful with no evidence of recurrence at the end of 22 months.