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Introduction: Large number of health care workers (HCW) were infected and died due to COVID-19 infection. It is needed to know the actual seroprevalence of COVID in HCWs to assess the risk and to take protective measures. This study was aimed to measure IgG antibodies against nucleocapsid protein (N) of COVID as a serological marker for detection of viral status in risk prone HCW of Bangladesh and possible association with reno-cardio-metabolic risk factors Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted from May 2021 to January 2022 among physicians and non-physician health care workers (HCW) in three non- COVID designated tertiary hospitals in Bangladesh. Participants' demographic data, medical history and information on past COVID-19 infection and vaccination status were collected. Serial blood samples were collected at 1.5 month in all (n=633) later at 3, 6 and 9 months in vaccinated group. A qualitative measurement of IgG antibody against nucleocapsid protein (N) of SARS-CoV-2 was done by was done by CMIA developed by Abbott (FDA-EUA approved). Result(s): The mean age was 35+/-10years where70% were female. Physician 32%, Nurse 45% and others was 23%. Diabetics were 9.5%, hypertensive 9% and asthma in 5.1%. The two doses of vaccine against COVID-19was completed in 56%. History of past COVID-19 infection was found among 20% participants at recruitment, out of which 13% was diagnosed by rt-PCR. History of past COVID-19 infection was found among 18% participants based on 1gG against N protein. But the subjects in two groups were different. Combination of RTPCR and N protein igG showed 35% seropositive for covid. Comparisons between covid infection positive vs. negative showed only age was different (37+/-11 vs. 34+/-9, years p<0.001) but other risk factors like BMI, SBP, DBP, S Albumin, glucose, hemoglobin were not different (P=NS) between the two groups. Further comparisons for eGFR cut-offs showed higher infection in lower eGFR (infection present vs. absent for >90ml/min group was 17% & 83% and in 60-90 ml/min group 32% &. 68 %). Prevalence of COVID 19 infection based on presence of N antibody (cutoff value >1.5) among vaccinated HCWs at 1.5, 6 and 9 month was 13.6%, 8.8% and 7.7% respectively. The mean titer of IgG (against N protein) >1.5 among vaccinated HCWs at 1.5 month was 3.1+/-1.5 and reduced to 0.87+/-0.96 at month 6 (p<0.001). Conclusion(s): The prevalence of COVID-19 infection in HCWs during the second wave was 35% based on test for RTPR or IgG against N protein positivity. In vaccinated persons, based on antibody against N protein, re-infection rate was around 8% up to 9 months post vaccine. Although no difference was seen for covid infection for cardio-metabolic risk factors, there seems to have some relation of higher infectivity with decreased GFR level. No conflict of interestCopyright © 2023
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In orthodontics, the two primal snags encountered by orthodontists during the end stage of treatment are, loss of anchorage and relapse of treatment. Prevention of post treatment tooth movement would provide an immense relief to the practitioners. Therefore, this review is intended to serve as a resource in the aforementioned direction. It includes therecent developments in approaches like use of pharmacological agents,vibration &low-level laser therapy (LLLT). The impact of COVID-19 on approaches to orthodontic retention have also been discussed. Copyright © 2022, Anka Publishers. All rights reserved.
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Background: A severe antibody-mediated inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system is neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Azathioprine (AZA) and Rituximab (RTX) were used to treat NMO-SD patients though not FDA approved yet. Aim of the study: To compare the effectiveness and safety of rituximab treatment versus azathioprine in treating individuals with NMOSDs. Methods: Seventy four Egyptian individuals with NMOSDs in this retrospective observational study and collecting their medical records from multiple sclerosis (MS) clinics, Neurology Departments, El-Maadi Military Hospital, and Cairo University hospitals. Fourty four patients received either treatment over two year duration, Group 1 (rituximab group) consisted of 19 patients, while group 2 (azathioprine group) consisted of 25 patients. Their full medical history, general and neurological examination, MRI brain and spinal cord results, and laboratory investigation were collected including immune assays and AQP-4 antibody. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of brain MRI data at the baseline and outcomes. Between the two groups, there were statistically significant differences in last observer spinal MRI (p=0.025), annual relapse rate before treatment with RTX group (P=0.021), EDSS pretreatment (p=0.005), annual relapse rate post-treatment. When it came to the number of relapses after treatment, there was a high statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.016), with group 1 (RTX group) having zero relapses. There was a statistically significant decrease comparing EDDS scores pre-and post-treatment regarding the RTX group (p=0.003). Adverse events were Infusion rate reaction (5.3%) and pneumonic COVID (9.5%) of patients. Conclusion: RTX is more helpful and less harmful for NMO-SD patients than AZA.
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Background: Antibodies (Abs) are produced by B cells after infection with the SARS/COVID-19 virus. The presence of neutralizing antibody is an indicator of protective immunity for most viral infections. But, we still don’t know how long and how effectively this immune protection will cover. Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the antibodies level in PCR-confirmed COVID-19 subjects in non vaccinated healthcare personnel. Methods: SARS-CoV-2 specific total Abs (IgG and IgM), IgG of nucleocapsid (N) protein and spike (S) protein levels were estimated using two clinically validated and widely used serological assays, detecting antibodies against the Total Antibody, nucleocapsid(N) and spike(S) proteins. Results: A total 130 subjects with PCR-confirmed SARSCoV- 2 infection were included in this study and all subjects were symptomatic and blood samples were collected between 3 to 24 weeks. Of all participants, about 52% were female and mean age was 43.2 years. The study found that the Total Abs, IgG of N protein and neutralizing Abs of S protein were developed 100%, 74.6% and 93.8% respectively. The study also found that the IgG titers of the N protein peaked at about 19 weeks after onset and decreased thereafter. The study also found that the neutralizing Abs of S protein were gradually increasing in the second phase of (9wks-19wks) weeks and in the third phase of (19wks -24wks) weeks after disease onset than compared to the first phase of weeks (3wks- 9wks) and it was significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: The study concluded that the antibodies, total Abs, IgG titer of N protein and neutralizing Abs of S protein were developed 100%, 74.6% and 93.8% respectively. The study also observed that IgG of N protein was decreasing within 19-24 weeks and neutralizing Abs of S protein peaked at 19-24 weeks after the onset of disease. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Bangladesh College of Physicians & Surgeons is the property of Bangladesh College of Physicians & Surgeons and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)
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This work is reporting the advocation of a public Malaysia University for the environmental protection through sustainable waste practices ever since its ban on the use of the "White Coffin " initiative in circa 2008, a flagship for environmental activism on its different campuses targeting to get rid of polystyrene containers. This initiative was not halted but served as a spark of flare for a sustainability journey up to this very day. The effort to realise a sustainable tomorrow as the vision of higher education sector, including the studied Malaysian University has been integrating efforts from various parties. This includes the formation of "Kampus Sejahtera " (wellness campus), regional centre of expertise, sustainability course, and more recently the sustainability month, sustainability network, and most importantly, the local NGO-industrial-academia collaboration in the path toward a sustainable tomorrow. The work in this article delineates a case study in implementing sustainable waste practice from the start to the status, in one of the Malaysian public universities which is ranked 39th in Times Higher Education University in Global Impact Ranking 2021, and top in Malaysia. More emphasis will be placed on the current initiative of the local NGO-industrial-academia collaboration as case study in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has significantly affected the provision of medical services. The hemodialysis (HD) facilities together with other medical facilities faced challenges in safely providing clinical care to patients and staff during the pandemic. Objective: To describe our experience during the COVID-19 pandemic as regard infection, mortality rate, clinical manifestations, illness duration and the efficacy of our local infection control measures in our Hemodialysis Unit, Ain Shams University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Patients and Methods: followed the interim guidance provided by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) together with the European Renal Association– European Dialysis Transplantation Association (ERA-EDTA) for dealing with the emerging COVID19 pandemic in HD centers. The study included 238 patients on regular HD from Dialysis Unit in Ain Shams University Hospitals. We monitored all patients and staff members for any symptoms or signs of respiratory tract infection and those confirmed to have COVID-19 infection were followed up through their illness. Results: 42 out of total 238 patients were diagnosed to have COVID19 infection by combination of symptoms, chest imaging and SARS COV PCR. Their mean age was 49.8 ± 8.9 years, 19 were males, the mean ± SD total illness duration for all COVID-19 positive patients was 17 ± 8.7. Patients were further subdivided based on survival into cure group (34 patients) and death group (8 patients). CRP and D-dimer were all significantly higher in death group while O2% were significantly lower in death group compared to cure group. Conclusion: COVID 19 pandemic still a major health problem worldwide with significant morbidity and mortality among hemodialysis patients. © 2021, Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine. All rights reserved.
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The public's actions will likely have a significant effect on the course of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Human behavior is conditioned and shaped by information and people's perceptions. This study investigated the impact of risk perception on trust in government and self-efficacy. It examined whether the use of social media helped people adopt preventive actions during the pandemic. To test this hypothesis, the researchers gathered data from 512 individuals (students and academics) based in Malaysia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results suggested that risk perception had a significant effect on trust in government and self-efficacy. Moreover, these correlations were stronger when social media was used as a source for gathering information on COVID-19. In some cases, it even helped users avoid exposure to the virus. This study assessed the relationship between risk perception and the awareness gained from using social media during the pandemic and highlighted how social media usage influences trust in government and self-efficacy.
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Background: Physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic are working under relentless stress. This study aimed to identify the impact of the perceived fears of COVID-19 virus infection on the quality of life and the emergence of burnout syndrome among physicians in Egypt during the COVID-19 outbreak. This cross-sectional study was conducted between May 10th and June 9th, 2020, and included 320 Egyptian physicians who were working during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants were interviewed using the Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Maslach Burnout Inventory, and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF) for assessment of the perceived fears of COVID-19 virus infection, associated anxiety and depressive symptoms, burnout symptoms, and quality of life, respectively. Results: Overall, most physicians were females (63%). Ideas about death, moderate-to-severe anxiety, and depressive symptoms were reported by 11, 28, and 29% of physicians, respectively. For burnout symptoms, high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment were reported by 20, 71, and 39% of physicians, respectively. The perceived fear of COVID-19 virus infection was positively correlated with anxiety, depression, and burnout emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization symptoms, and negatively correlated with personal accomplishment and all quality of life domains. Conclusions: Egyptian physicians experienced higher levels of COVID-19-related fears, anxiety, and depressive and burnout symptoms. There was a robust correlation between these perceived fears, and higher burnout symptoms, and poor quality of life among physicians. Specific interventions should be tailored to minimize the physical and mental burdens on the physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2020, The Author(s).
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In epidemic situations such as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, face masks have become an essential part of daily routine life. The face mask is considered as a protective and preventive essential of everyday life against the coronavirus. Many organizations using a fingerprint or card-based attendance system had to switch towards a face-based attendance system to avoid direct contact with the attendance system. However, face mask adaptation brought a new challenge to already existing commercial biometric facial recognition techniques in applications such as facial recognition access control and facial security checks at public places. In this paper, we present a methodology that can enhance existing facial recognition technology capabilities with masked faces. We used a supervised learning approach to recognize masked faces together with in-depth neural network-based facial features. A dataset of masked faces was collected to train the Support Vector Machine classifier on state-of-the-art Facial Recognition Feature vector. Our proposed methodology gives recognition accuracy of up to 97% with masked faces. It performs better than exiting devices not trained to handle masked faces. © 2020 IEEE.