Herbal Sources of Magnesium as a Promising Multifaceted Intervention for the Management of COVID-19

The coronavirus-disease 2019 (COVID-19) was announced as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), and it affected all human groups. Severe COVID-19 is characterized by cytokine storms, which can lead to multiorgan failure and death, although fever and cough are the most typical symptoms of mild COVID-19. Plant-based diets provide a 73% lower risk of moderate-to-severe COVID-19. Additionally, the association between low levels of some micronutrients and the adverse clinical consequences of COVID-19 has been demonstrated. So, nutritional therapy can become part of patient care for the survival of this life-threatening disease (COVID-19) also short-term recovery. Magnesium as an essential micronutrient due to its anti-inflammatory and beneficial effects can effectively prevent COVID-19 pandemic by playing a role in the treatment of comorbidities such as diabetes and cardiovascular disorders as major risk factors for mortality. Sufficient magnesium to stay healthy is provided by a proper daily diet, and there is usually no need to take magnesium supplements. Considering that almost half of the dietary magnesium comes from fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains, it seems necessary to pay attention to the consumption of edible plants containing sufficient magnesium as part of the diet to prevent severe COVID-19. In this study, we have described the beneficial effects of sufficient magnesium levels to control COVID-19 and the importance of plant-based magnesium-rich diets. Additionally, we have listed some edible magnesium-rich plants.

Depression and Behavioral Changes Associated with Social Media Dependency During COVID-19 Pandemic Among University Students in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: With its rapid spread, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a detrimental effect on students' psychological well-being, depression, and behavioral changes due to indefinite educational leaves, lockdowns, restricted outdoor activities, and excess use of social media. This study aims to assess the relationship of social media exposure with the psychological well-being, depression, and behavioral changes of Bangladeshi university students. Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey was carried out on 530 students from June 17 to July 10, 2020, to evaluate psychological well-being, depression, behavioral changes, and social media exposure via self-reported measures. Results: The prevalence of factors were as follows: poor psychological well-being was 24.9%;moderate to severe depression was 56.6%;severe behavioral changes was 32.1%;and of moderate to severe addiction to social media exposure was 38.3%. All factors were positively associated with social media exposure. Multivariate logistic regression showed that the addiction of participants to social media was 7.488 times higher with severe behavioral changes (OR: 7.488;95% CI 4.708-11.909), 2.299 times higher with poor psychological functioning (OR: 2.299;95% CI 1.421-3.721), 30.54 times higher with severe depressed (OR: 30.54;95% CI 15.0-62.177) than that of individuals without such symptoms. Conclusions: The above findings imply that the government needs to pay greater attention to improve the overall situation of Bangladeshi university students.

Management of mental health during covid-19 pandemic: Possible strategies

In the 21st century, any pandemic, especially, SARS-CoV-2 is a global burden due to high incidence, mortality, and mutation rate. Although several techniques have already been identified to control the pandemic or treat patients and causes of adverse impact on mental health, relatively only, fewer researchers have little concern about finding effective mitigation strategies to improve mental health. Therefore, this study aimed to find some common and unique approaches to manage mental health during a pandemic. Some strategies for the better management of mental health induced by SARS-CoV-2 infections are required for all classes of peoples. Early management is vital, and those must be associated with frontline workers and people staying at home, particularly in isolation centers and already identified as active cases. Experts have pointed out the need to pay specific attention to proper daily life. To manage abnormal mental conditions, such as anxiety, mood, personality, and psychotic disorder during the pandemic;social media, meditation, and psychological motivation with adequate diet, exercise, and sleep have significant roles in regulating some biological mechanism, incredibly immune, hormonal, and neural process. Management of mental health is mandatory for all at the time of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We can consider all of the strategies mentioned above to treat mental health during and after the COVID-19 pandemic condition. © 2021,Bangladesh Society for Microbiology, Immunology and Advanced Biotechnology. All rights reserved.