Impact of prolonged wearing of face masks - medical and forensic implications.

Since December 2019, the global outbreak of coronavirus disease had a significant impact on humanity. Because of the large number of casualties worldwide, the WHO (World Health Organization) declared the coronavirus disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 a pandemic. Since the start of the pandemic, facial masks have become essential as well as mandatory to protect ourselves from COVID-19. As a result of the pandemic, healthcare professionals (HCPs) have been required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) for extended periods. Wearing face masks for an extended period has been shown to have several negative effects on HCPs. Additionally, face masks have hampered the use of digital techniques for facial identification. This paper examines the effects of wearing face masks for an extended period, as well as the effect of wearing face masks on facial identification technology. The Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases were searched and screened for relevant studies. According to the current review, prolonged use of masks was found to be associated with adverse effects on the face and skin, including acne, redness, rashes, and itching. The use of masks also resulted in headaches, hypoxic conditions, and changes in voice and speech parameters. This communication in no way intends to advocate the discontinuation of wearing masks, on the contrary, the primary goal of this article is to spread awareness about the adverse effects associated with prolonged use of facial masks (N95, KF94, or surgical). This will help in increasing compliance with mask mandates by helping to develop preventive solutions to the problems that tend to deter the general public. This also demonstrates how the use of masks has become a challenge for facial recognition technologies.

An SBQ-R assessment of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of young adults in North India.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: During the COVID-19 pandemic in India, an increase in the number of suicides was observed in India. Therefore, the present study aims to explore various factors affecting the mental health of an individual and their consequences. Moreover, it has been attempted to assess the suicidal risk in the population of North India by using the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R). METHODOLOGY: The young adults from the North Indian population belonging to the age group of 18 to 35 years (24.93±4.42 years) have been incorporated into the study. A total of 190 responses (102 males and 88 females) were recorded through online mode. The present questionnaire has incorporated the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R) and some of the parameters taken from the psychology today online survey. RESULTS: The demographic characteristics of the respondents were described by using frequencies and percentages, means, and standard deviations. Cronbach's alpha, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO), and the Bartlett sphericity were calculated. The mean SBQ-R score was recorded to be 4.62±1.5. Further, during the factor analysis with the principal component method, seven factors have explained the 70.797% of the cumulative variance with an eigenvalue of 1. CONCLUSIONS: The SBQ-R assessment revealed a minimal risk of suicidal behavior but the frequency distribution of the parameters taken for the psychological assessment has highlighted that anxiousness or worriedness has a significant impact on the mental health of the population at risk. Therefore, it is recommended that some precautionary measures, such as online mental health services, should be taken by the health ministry to keep the population healthy.

COVID-19 pandemic: a reminder to develop forensic radiology facility.

COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in a substantial morbidity and mortality, and has put the health system under tremendous stress. A need for devising and adopting newer methods and techniques is being emphasized in the healthcare facilities to combat the effects of the SARS-CoV-2. Besides patient care, focus needs to be laid on the effective and dignified management of the deceased and medico-legal services provided by the hospitals and medical institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the likelihood of forensic experts and autopsy personnel being exposed to SARS-CoV-2 inadvertently during the autopsy, it is recommended to resort to safer and minimally invasive techniques of postmortem examination of the dead. In this regard, employing radiological techniques for postmortem examination appears to be a promising option during the COVID-19 pandemic. An inherent advantage of postmortem radiography over conventional autopsies is the minimization of the risk of transmission of infection to the health care workers. Our correspondence highlights on the possibility of using radiological facilities as an effective replacement of high-risk conventional autopsy procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 pandemic and "survival of the fittest".

Occurrence and recurrence of COVID-19 cases have been observed globally. The complex relationship of host-pathogen and the environment plays a vital role in understanding the widespread recurrence of the SARS-CoV-2 among humans. Though the pathobiology of the disease is not completely understood, it is well established that COVID-19 poses a greater threat to individuals with co-morbidities and a weakened immune system. The article deals with the notion of innate immunity, natural selection, and the survival of the fittest during the COVID-19 outbreak. The article also attempts to introduce the concept of "lifestyle and cultural immunity" that needs to be addressed and incorporated at an early stage of childhood to boost up the human immune system. The communication further discusses the role of vaccination and micro-organisms pre-existing in the environment which are required to enhance the immunity of an individual.

Persistence and distribution of SARS-CoV-2 in the aerosol and on the surfaces.

ABSTRACT: The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has created havoc worldwide ever since its emergen-ce in December 2019. The current evidence indicates that the virus remains viable in aerosols for hours and on fomites for few days. A little information is available on the topic, the present communication reviews the perseverance and distribution of the novel coronavirus in the aerosol and on various inanimate surfaces so that the appropriate safety measures can be undertaken and the virus protection guidelines may be framed accordingly.

Workplace safety concerns in medico-legal death investigations related to COVID-19.

The personnel involved in the management of COVID-19 affected dead bodies, including law enforcement personnel at the scene of crime, personnel involved in transportation of the dead bodies, forensic practitioners, autopsy pathologists, mortuary personnel, as well as the family members of the dead, etc. are at risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Post-mortem examination is a high-risk procedure, considering that it involves aerosol generating procedures, and exposure to body fluids. The safety of the forensic practitioners and support staff in the management of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 deaths hence, is of extreme importance, especially in the absence of pre-autopsy testing for COVID-19 and due to non-availability of adequate first-hand medical history of the deceased. This communication aims to highlight the current practices and advises certain guidelines in ensuring occupational health and safety in view of these risks in medico-legal death investigations.

COVID-19 and the need for stringent rules on data sharing.

This communication refers to the retractions of the two high profile COVID-19 papers of the top medical journals when the data analytics company declined to share the raw data of the papers. In this commentary, we emphasize that it is very pertinent for the journals to mandatorily ask the authors for sharing of the primary data. This will ensure data integrity and transparency of the research findings, and help in negating the publication frauds.

Inexplicable COVID-19! Would pathological autopsy be the panacea?

SARS-CoV-2 has swamped the entire world, unfolding into a COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts are on to develop an understanding of the various aspects related to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. A pathological autopsy can play a vital role in understanding the pathophysiology of the disease, which may be vital in evolving effective management strategies. Despite its significance in the present circumstances, only a limited number of pathological autopsies are being conducted worldwide. The paper stresses on the need for taking up pathological autopsies globally and discusses its present status and the way forward, along with international perspectives and recommendations for consideration of pathological autopsy.

Agony of the laborers and daily wagers during the COVID-19 induced lockdown in India.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only brought the global health crisis but it also triggered the distressing effects on the social and economic life of the people. This pandemic has affected all segments of the population but the most vulnerable sections and occupations are suffering a lot. The communication traces the stipulation and misery of the labourers and daily wagers in India during lockdown, which was implemented as a necessary preventive measure to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

Exploring the emergence of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2: A Rapid Review.

Novel Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for the global pandemic of COVID-19. It has been shown to spread through respiratory droplets, direct contact and environmental fomites. The possibility of its spread by other modes viz. airborne, fecal-oral, vertical, etc. is being explored and can have implications in planning preventive strategies and disease management. A systematic analysis was carried out using the keywords; "COVID 19 vertical transmission", "SARS-CoV-2 pregnancy", and "SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission", and the cases suggestive of possible vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 were studied in detail. The available evidences point at a possibility of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

COVID-19 Sets off Mass Migration in India.

The communication discusses COVID-19 triggered reverse migration in India. India has witnessed the second largest mass migration in its history after the Partition of India in 1947, where more than 14 million people were displaced and migrated to India and Pakistan respectively, depending on their religious faiths. The opinion describes the trend of migration and related effects on the migrants as well as the nation at large.

Perils of human remains examination in COVID-19 times.

The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 has surged globally bringing the whole world virtually to a standstill. Due to its highly contagious nature, various guidelines, protocols and preventive strategies have been devised for the safety of healthcare workers during management of the living as well as the dead. However, guidelines and precautions to be followed during the examination of the human skeletal remains are largely lacking. The present communication intends to address the issue of safe handling of human remains during medicolegal investigations in the COVID-19 pandemic times.

Post-mortem ultrasonography: a safer alternative to autopsies in COVID-19 deaths.

Ultrasonography is known to have many applications in the diagnoses of diseases, as well as in guiding medical practitioners through precise medical procedures. However, its use as a post-mortem radiographic modality has been limited. Post-mortem ultrasonographic techniques are considered to be a safer alternative to high-risk post-mortem procedures, especially in infectious diseases. The present communication discusses the possibilities of using ultrasonography in post-mortem examinations in times of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to minimize the associated risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection of those working in mortuaries during full-body dissection in traditional autopsies. Post-mortem ultrasonography can be useful in reducing the extent of autopsies, thus decreasing the risk of exposure of forensic personnel.

Possible modes of transmission of Novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2: a review.

INTRODUCTION: The widespread outbreak of the novel SARS-CoV-2 has raised numerous questions about the origin and transmission of the virus. Knowledge about the mode of transmission as well as assessing the effectiveness of the preventive measures would aid in containing the outbreak of the coronavirus. Presently, respiratory droplets, physical contact and aerosols/air-borne have been reported as the modes of SARS-CoV-2 transmission of the virus. Besides, some of the other possible modes of transmission are being explored by the researchers, with some studies suggesting the viral spread through fecal-oral, conjunctival secretions, flatulence (farts), sexual and vertical transmission from mother to the fetus, and through asymptomatic carriers, etc. Aim: The primary objective was to review the present understanding and knowledge about the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and also to suggest recommendations in containing and preventing the novel coronavirus. METHODS: A review of possible modes of transmission of the novel SARS-CoV-2 was conducted based on the reports and articles available in PubMed and ScienceDirect.com that were searched using keywords, 'transmission', 'modes of transmission', 'SARS-CoV-2', 'novel coronavirus', and 'COVID-19'. Articles referring to air-borne, conjunctiva, fecal-oral, maternal-fetal, flatulence (farts), and breast milk transmission were included, while the remaining were excluded. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: The modes of transmission linked to SARS-CoV-2 were identified and the available literature on each of these is described in detail in view of the possibilities of viral transmission through various modes of transmission. The review provides updated and necessary information on the possible modes of transmission for the health care workers and the lay public under one umbrella that can also be considered during framing guidelines in order to prevent and control the viral spread.

Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) resistance in African populations: A cause worth exploring.

The pandemic caused by Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 shows its devastating effects all over the world. The American and the European countries are the worst-hit by this COVID-19 pandemic. However, most of the African countries excepting a few are less affected by this virus as far as the number of cases and deaths are concerned. The correspondence proposes that just like the abnormal haemoglobins HbS and HbC are found to provide immunity to the African populations against infectious diseases such as Plasmodium falciparum malaria The possibility of these abnormal haemoglobins offering certain protection against the Novel Coronavirus infection in these populations needs to be explored.

Aerosol and surface persistence: Novel SARS-CoV-2 versus other coronaviruses.

The present communication emphasizes on a very pertinent issue of aerosol transmission, persistence and surface viability of novel SARS-CoV-2. Studies in this regard have been conducted on previously known human coronaviruses, and similarities have been drawn for novel SARS-CoV-2. The communication highlights that caution should be excercised while drawing inferences regarding the persistence and viability of the novel SARS-CoV-2 based on the knowledge of already known human coronaviruses.

Dignity and rights of the dead and their families: A compromise in the time of coronavirus disease 2019.

The biological aspects and economic impact of coronavirus disease 2019 have been extensively discussed in the literature. However the social, cultural and legal aspects of the pandemic, especially regarding the dignity and rights of the deceased and their families - have so far received little attention. This communication discusses restrictions and violations of the rights of the deceased and their families and their privileges to carry out funerary practices and rituals during the pandemic caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Lockdown is an effective 'vaccine' against COVID-19: A message from India.

This communication stresses the importance of the complete lockdown of a developing nation as a powerful tool against COVID-19 acting as a 'vaccine'. India has been under complete lockdown since 24th March 2020 in addition to other measures emphasized by the Indian Government such as promoting hand washing, social distancing, and use of face masks. A strict lockdown is suggested as an effective measure for containing the novel Corona virus infection transmission worldwide.