ABSTRACT
Introduction COVID-19 is a global health crisis for every health professional including radiographers. Adequate knowledge, a good attitude, and safe practice are very important in the present scenario. In this present study, we aim to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of COVID-19 among radiographers in the kingdom of Himalayas, Nepal. Methods An electronic questionnaire survey consisting of 15 questions, 5 questions for each knowledge, attitude, and practice including socio-demographic variables (gender, age, academic qualification, work experience, workplace, and work province) was conducted from January 5 to February 15, 2021. A score of 1 was given for each correct answer and a score of 0 was given for each incorrect answer. The score 0-60% was considered inadequate and above 60% was considered adequate. Data were analysed using SPSS version 27 (IBM Chicago, United States). A non-parametric test was used since the data did not follow a normal distribution. The p-value was set at a 5% level of significance. Results Total 390 radiographers, 262 male, and 128 females, mean age 27.17±5.64 years, range 20 to 50 were included in this study. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice were 4.46±0.54, 89.20%, 3.94±0.96, 78.80%, and 4.40±0.77, 88.00% respectively. There was not a statistically significant difference in knowledge and practice according to socio-demographic variables. However, there was a statistically significant difference in attitude according to gender and work province but was not statistically significant by age group, academic qualification, work experience, and workplace. Conclusion The radiographers in Nepal had adequate knowledge, a good attitude, and safe practice during the COVID-19 crisis.
ABSTRACT
Background: Currently, the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is posing a serious threat to global health. Although approved COVID-19 vaccines have been claimed to provide a high degree of protection against getting seriously ill and dying from the disease, they are not in the approach of all people especially those from the least developed countries like Nepal. Desperation within people has led to increased use of medicinal plants to cure the miscellaneous symptoms of COVID-19 and to prevent infection without proper knowledge of their phytochemical and pharmacological properties. Methods: Based on the online and interpersonal inquiries with 59 COVID-19 survivors and 111 inhabitants of Buddhabhumi Municipality, Kapilvastu, Nepal, the ethnomedicinal data were collected and summarized using descriptive statistics like frequency, percentage tables, and graphs. For each medicinal plant species, the frequency of citation (FC) and relative frequency of citation (RFC) were calculated along with a radar chart for the top 15 cited species with their phytochemical and pharmacological properties. Results: This study documented 41 species of medicinal plants belonging to 24 different families and 37 genera were used. Herbs were predominant among other life-forms and leaves were highly used among other plant parts. Turmeric (Curcuma longa, with the highest frequency of citation of 0.80) was the most frequently used species. Most of the respondents (44%) obtained medicinal plants from their home gardens. Family, friends, and neighbors were the primary sources of information the respondents followed. Interestingly, all of the 15 most frequently cited medicinal plants were reported to have both antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties and 14 of them were proclaimed to be immunomodulatory. Conclusion: Therefore, we conclude from the survey and available literatures that medicinal plants play a significant role against viral infections. © 2021, Ilia State University, Institute of Botany, Department of Ethnobotany. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) induces coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and may increase the risk of adverse outcomes in lung cancer patients. In this study, we investigated the expression and function of mucin 1 (MUC1) after SARS-CoV-2 infection in the lung epithelial cancer cell line Calu-3. MUC1 is a major constituent of the mucus layer in the respiratory tract and contributes to pathogen defense. SARS-CoV-2 infection induced MUC1 C-terminal subunit (MUC1-C) expression in a STAT3 activation-dependent manner. Inhibition of MUC1-C signaling increased apoptosis-related protein levels and reduced proliferation-related protein levels;however, SARS-CoV-2 replication was not affected. Together, these results suggest that increased MUC1-C expression in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection may trigger the growth of lung cancer cells, and COVID-19 may be a risk factor for lung cancer patients.
ABSTRACT
COVID-19, a novel corona virus has affected the life of each and every individual worldwide. Nepal being the neighborhood country of china, though, we had a late case detection. But, since the month of July this virus has spread in an alarming manner in Nepal. Nepal being one of the developing countries, we lack in equipments, manpower resources and also in treatment centers. Looking into the devastating scenario of Covid 19 in China, Italy, New York, Brazil and our neighboring countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh is scary. We wondered how we were going to handle this pandemic if similar circumstances happened in our country too. At the same time being OBGYN residents, we all know pregnancy is very crucial and our patients have faced much difficulties to receive the maternal health services. In this manuscript, we have shared our experience regarding preparedness for COVID-19, management of positive cases and its effect in OBGYN trainee. © 2020, Kathmandu University. All rights reserved.