Effect of increased screen time on eyes during COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose: The objective of the study was to assess the effect of increased screen time on ocular health during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis. Materials and Method: An online pretested, self-reported questionnaire with relevant details was generated through Google form and sent to participants. Chi-square or Fisher's exact test was used to investigate the associations between the qualitative variables. The associated risk factors of number and frequency of ocular health problems were analysed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Result: A total of 435 responses were considered where 48.5% (N = 211) were female participants and 51.5% (N = 224) were male. Average age of the participants was 35 years. 89% of the participants reported an increase in the screen time during the during the lockdown period. Younger age group reported to have greater screen time than the older participants (p = 0.001) and hence experienced more symptoms of digital eye strain (DES) (p = 0.003). The most common symptoms associated with digital eye strain in our study were eyestrain 52.8% (N = 230) and headache 31.3% (N = 136). In total, 81.37% (354/435) of participants had experienced at least one symptom related to digital screen usage. Conclusion: DES is non-vision-threatening but discomfort caused due to it can have implications on overall physical, mental, and social well-being. The study highlights the increase in digital screen time during the pandemic and the resultant eye strain. There is need of spreading awareness regarding the adverse effects of digital device use and the preventive measures to safeguard our ocular health.

Selection of Ideal Reference Genes for Gene Expression Analysis in COVID-19 and Mucormycosis.

Selection of reference genes during real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) is critical to determine accurate and reliable mRNA expression. Nonetheless, not a single study has investigated the expression stability of candidate reference genes to determine their suitability as internal controls in SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM). Using qRT-PCR, we determined expression stability of the nine most commonly used housekeeping genes, namely, TATA-box binding protein (TBP), cyclophilin (CypA), ß-2-microglobulin (B2M), 18S rRNA (18S), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α), glucuronidase beta (GUSB), hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase 1 (HPRT-1), ß-ACTIN, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) in patients with COVID-19 of various severities (asymptomatic, mild, moderate, and severe) and those with CAM. We used statistical algorithms (delta-CT [threshold cycle], NormFinder, BestKeeper, GeNorm, and RefFinder) to select the most appropriate reference gene and observed that clinical severity profoundly influences expression stability of reference genes. CypA demonstrated the most consistent expression irrespective of disease severity and emerged as the most suitable reference gene in COVID-19 and CAM. Incidentally, GAPDH, the most commonly used reference gene, showed the maximum variations in expression and emerged as the least suitable. Next, we determined expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-15 using CypA and GAPDH as internal controls and show that CypA-normalized expression matches well with the RNA sequencing-based expression of these genes. Further, IL-6 expression correlated well with the plasma levels of IL-6 and C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation. In conclusion, GAPDH emerged as the least suitable and CypA as the most suitable reference gene in COVID-19 and CAM. The results highlight the expression variability of housekeeping genes due to disease severity and provide a strong rationale for identification of appropriate reference genes in other chronic conditions as well. IMPORTANCE Gene expression studies are critical to develop new diagnostics, therapeutics, and prognostic modalities. However, accurate determination of expression requires data normalization with a reference gene, whose expression does not vary across different disease stages. Misidentification of a reference gene can produce inaccurate results. Unfortunately, despite the global impact of COVID-19 and an urgent unmet need for better treatment, not a single study has investigated the expression stability of housekeeping genes across the disease spectrum to determine their suitability as internal controls. Our study identifies CypA and then TBP as the two most suitable reference genes for COVID-19 and CAM. Further, GAPDH, the most commonly used reference gene in COVID-19 studies, turned out to be the least suitable. This work fills an important gap in the field and promises to facilitate determination of an accurate expression of genes to catalyze development of novel molecular diagnostics and therapeutics for improved patient care.

COVID-19 infection in patients with haematological disease - A tertiary centre experience from north India.

This retrospective study was aimed to understand the clinical, laboratory, radiological parameters and the outcome of COVID-19 patients with underlying haematological disease. All patients with known haematological disease admitted with COVID-19-positive status from April to August 2020 in the COVID-19 facility of a tertiary care centre in north India, were included. Their medical records were analyzed for outcome and mortality risk factors. Fifty four patients, 37 males, were included in the study. Of these, 36 patients had haematological malignancy and 18 had benign disorder. Fever (95.5%), cough (59.2%) and dyspnoea (31.4%) were the most common symptoms. Nine patients had severe disease at diagnosis, mostly malignant disorders. Overall mortality rate was 37.0 per cent, with high mortality seen in patients with aplastic anaemia (50.0%), acute myeloid (46.7%) and lymphoblastic leukaemia (40.0%). On univariate analysis, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status >2 [odd ratio (OR) 11.6], COVID-19 severity (OR 8.2), dyspnoea (OR 5.7) and blood product transfusion (OR 6.4) were the predictors of mortality. However, the presence of moderate or severe COVID-19 (OR 16.6, confidence interval 3.8-72.8) was found significant on multivariate analysis. The results showed that patients with haematological malignancies and aplastic anaemia might be at increased risk of getting severe COVID-19 infection and mortality as compared to the general population.

Repercussions of COVID-19 on small restaurant entrepreneurs: The Indian context

Abstract In the pre-COVID period, the restaurant industry had significantly grown in India in the past decade due to rapid urbanization and modernization. In the post-COVID period, the small restaurant entrepreneurs are fighting for their survival due to the lack of funds, a shift in the consumers' behaviour and perception, and negative cash flows. It has led to the closure of restaurants, loss of employment, and adversely affected the allied industries. The small restaurant entrepreneurs are exploring some new opportunities amid the crisis and adopting innovative approaches, technological and digital interventions to meet the consumers' need for a contact-less dining experience. However, a joint effort on the part of entrepreneurs and government bodies will facilitate and fuel the restaurant industry's growth again.