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COVID-2019 has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization due to the global spread of 2019-nCOV at an exponential rate (WHO). Scientists have hypothesized the reduction in transmission rate at warm and humid environment whereas facilitate rapid transmission at cold and dry environment. Hence in this work, we examine the combined impact of environmental and demographic factors along with the implementation of lockdown by the Government of India on the transmission rate of 2019-nCoV. Our analyses indicated a lower mortality rate in spite of higher population density in India compared to other countries and lower exponential growth factor after lockdown compared to before lockdown. The containment of transmission and mortality rate may be attributed to the favorable environment and median population age, respectively. Even though, to significantly reduce the outbreak, individuals, the media, and healthcare organizations are necessary to work together. © 2023 Author(s).
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For many years, proper biomedical waste (BMW) management in line with the rules was among the overlooked components of health care. Biomedical waste presents a series of environmental contamination. As a result, it must be treated using extreme caution and disposed of properly. There are a few gaps in the handling of biological generated waste, and the coronavirus epidemic has made it very hard. The virus's quick breakout resulted in a massive increase in the amount of biohazardous matter. The COVID-19 epidemic's devastation has altered global waste generation trends, needing special attention. Sudden variations in trash generation and volume need a dynamic response from authorities. This study highlights the problems that the collection and recycling business faces even after a pandemic, as well as the basic possibility to eliminate current framework faults. The study covers specific situations for handling medical waste, polymeric garbage, and recycling bins, which were all major causes of concerns all through this time period. We also go over successful stakeholder involvement and teamwork.The existence of illness sewage treatment in regular effluent created offers significant dangers and liabilities to hygiene workers. Small metal usage is predicted to recover as a result of rising hygiene concerns, particularly from items used for safety precautions and medication. The research further underlines the significance of creating localized, streamlined supply channels to deal with these kinds of situations in the case of unanticipated devastating catastrophes. Despite presenting unique solutions to existing recycling challenges, the paper also presents numerous crucial recommendations to regulators to enable them to cope with any potential outbreaks in a holistic way. © 2023 Author(s).
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Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of preventive measures against COVID-19 infection among pregnant women. It is our understanding that assessing healthcare needs and healthcare education form the pillars for better healthcare thereby this study was conducted. Methodology: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in which 150 antenatal women were included. Face-to-face interview was conducted by using a self-developed internally validated semi-structured questionnaire based on 3 major domains, Knowledge (10), Attitude (10) and Practice (4), with close ended questions. Each response-correct was allotted score 1 & incorrect allotted score of 0. The responses were described as frequencies and percentages. Scoring system-Poor score<60%, Fair score 60-75%, Good score > 75% of total score in each domain. Result(s): 103(68.7%) had good knowledge and 121(80.7%) had poor attitude, regarding COVID affecting their pregnancy, antenatal visits and unborn baby. 113(75.3%) were practicing preventive habits. Conclusion(s): Our study showed the anxiety and fear related to Covid-19 affected mental health of women and their adherence to antenatal care which needs to be addressed in providing antenatal care services.Copyright © 2023, Dr Yashwant Research Labs Pvt Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Guillain barre syndrome (GBS) is a rare autoimmune condition that has a prevalence of 1-2 per 100,000 people each year. Cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (CSVT) occurs at a rate of three to four cases per one million individuals annually. Both have variable clinical presentation with significant morbidity. The therapeutic management of CSVT and GBS presents unique challenges due to peculiar relationship and overlap in presentation. Reports suggest that psychosis may result from autoimmune encephalitis after receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. Hereby the reported case is of a female who is 18 years of age presenting with acute psychotic and catatonic symptoms following covid 19 vaccination with weakening of limbs which suspected an underlying organic pathology. Magnetic resonance imaging was normal but magnetic resonance venogram showed transverse and sigmoid sinus thrombosis and later GBS with CSVT after Covid-19 vaccination was diagnosed. The case was chosen to report a rare condition with an atypical
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Impaired wound recovery can fail to local hypoxia or tissue necrosis and ultimately result in abnormality or even death. Several factors can influence the wound healing environment, including bacterial or fungal infections, different disease states, desiccation, edema, and even systemic viral infections such as COVID-19. Silk fibroin, the fibrous structural-protein component in silk, has emerged as a promising treatment for these impaired processes by promoting functional tissue regeneration. Silk fibroin's dynamic properties allow for customizable nanoarchitectures, which can be tailored for effectively treating various wound healing impairments. Wound dressing materials designed from biocompatible and biodegradable polymersare widely used in wound healing. The present investigation deals withthe preparation of a unique blend of Silk Fibroin (SF)-Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) composite film (SF-PVAZnO NPs). The comparison of blend of SF- PVA and SF-PVA-ZnO Ps composite films were studied. The physical-chemicalcharacterizations of synthesized ZnO NPs and prepared composite films (SF-PVA and SF-PVA-ZnO) were studied. The field emission scanning electron microscopy confirmed the ZnO NPs embedded into SF-PVA composite film. The SF-PVA-ZnO NPs composite film showed enhanced mechanical property due to ZnO NPs. Antibacterial activity of the prepared composite filmsreveals that embedded ZnO NPs shows excellent antibacterial activity against wound infection-causing microorganisms. SF-PVA-ZnO composite film showed enhanced swelling behavior and faster blood clotting ability compared to control SF-PVA composite film. In-vitro cytocompatibility study exhibits the nontoxic nature of the synthesized SF-PVA-ZnO composite film. These studies confirm the designed composite film holds a huge potential to be used in dressing material for infected wound. © 2023 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
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Background Late complications of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are uncommon. We present a patient two-years post TAVR with recurrent strokes. Case A 56-year-old male with history of TAVR and pacemaker first presented with left-sided weakness found to have acute right MCA strokes and COVID. TTE showed a non-thickened valve with normal gradients and device interrogation revealed no arrhythmias. Six months later, he presented with acute left MCA strokes as well as new murmur, leukocytosis, and splenic infarcts on CT. TTE demonstrated a prosthetic aortic valve mean gradient of 43mmHg. TEE confirmed leaflet thrombosis with severe prosthetic aortic stenosis and mobile thrombus (Figure 1). Multiple sets of blood cultures were negative. Decision-making He was first treated with therapeutic anticoagulation but switched to broad spectrum antibiotics with increasing evidence for infection. He underwent Ross procedure with intra-operative evidence of multiple aortic root abscesses (Figure 1). PCR sequencing of the vegetation revealed staphylococcus species related to S. Haemolyticus. His course may be best explained by embolic stroke caused by progressive TAVR thrombosis in the setting of COVID-associated coagulopathy and subsequent superinfection leading to endocarditis and septic emboli. Conclusion Late TAVR thrombosis and endocarditis are rare complications. TAVR patients presenting with stroke merit prompt evaluation with dedicated echocardiographic imaging. [Formula presented]Copyright © 2023 American College of Cardiology Foundation
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Purpose: The on-going pandemic has impacted the use of anesthesia and the operating room frequency thereby affecting the brachytherapy treatment in various institutions due to the COVID-19 protocols. This has led to single applications of Intracavitary brachytherapy (ICRT) being used to deliver entire treatment boost in cervix cancer. We present our dosimetric and early clinical outcomes comparing traditional weekly three-fractions ICRT with single application/ two-applications ICRT Material(s) and Method(s): In this retrospective analysis conducted in our department, a total of 39 cases, treated between January 2021 to January 2022 were evaluated for the study. Of these, 15 cases were treated with the traditional once a week applicator insertion for 3 fractions and 24 cases underwent lesser application - 20 cases underwent 2 insertions and 4 cases single insertion (all receiving total 3 fractions of 7Gy each). The dosimetric parameters were compared including CTV D90 and D95 along with rectum, sigmoid and bladder D2cc, 1cc and 0.1cc respectively. The acute toxicity assessment was done using the RTOG scale. The follow-up was undertaken as per the institutional protocol and Mann-Whitney U-test were applied to compare the cohorts. Result(s): With a median follow-up of 6 months, the median CTV was D90%: 81.2 vs. 80.9 Gy and the median CTV volume was 44.3 vs 42.9 cc respectively. The 0.1 cm3 and 2 cm3 to bladder, rectum, and sigmoid were 105.6 vs 104.2 Gy and 85.5 vs 85.9Gy, 89.4Gy vs 88.7Gy and 69.1 vs 67.8Gy, and 84.7 vs 84.1Gy and 71.7 vs 69.9Gy, respectively suggesting no significant difference in the dosimetric outcomes with the two forms of applications. The less than three applications had a shorter overall treatment time with median OTT of 43 days vs. 55 days (p = 0.02). On completion of treatment and 6 months follow-up, local control was achieved in all patients. There was no significant difference in the acute toxicities in terms of cystitis and proctitis in both forms of the application. Conclusion(s): The single application/ twice application ICRT procedure showed similar outcomes as the traditional three-week duration treatment in terms of dosimetric outcomes and acute toxicities and ultimately leading to shortened overall treatment time. It also helped reduce the anesthesia burden and various resources associated with the procedure. Copyright © 2022
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A long clinical testing period is one of the key elements for the COVID-19 pandemic's fast spread. Controlling the spread of COVID-19 requires early detection and diagnosis. Chest X-ray (CXR), for example, is an imaging technology that helps to speed up the identifying procedure of COVID-19 in patients. As a result, our goal is to create an automatic CAD system that can recognize COVID-19 samples from healthy people and COVID patients using CT scans. We used transfer learning (TL) approach, i.e., modified Visual Geometry Group (VGG19) and compared our proposed system results with other machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) approaches in order to discover the best one for this job. The proposed technique and various DL and ML models are tested using the COVID-CT dataset, where 80% of images are utilized for training and 20% for testing purpose. Our proposed TL technique achieves 97.83% classification accuracy with average precision, recall, and F1-score of 98.33, 97.67, and 97.67, respectively. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
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Microsponges are extremely cross-linked, non-collapsible, porous, polymeric microspheres having particle size range from 5 to 300 mum. They are highly effective, stable, non-irritant, nontoxic, non-allergic, non-mutagenic and also minimum side effects with improved patient compliance. Ivermectin is act as an antiparasitic agent and antiviral agent, shows an inhibitory effect on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in primary stage. Ivermectin microsponges is prepared by quasi emulsion-solvent diffusion method by using two polymers in different proportion. Determination of entrapment efficiency and production yield was done for trail batches. Characterization of formulation done by SEM,PXRD and FTIR. Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.
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Purpose: The on-going pandemic has impacted the use of anesthesia and the operating room frequency thereby affecting the brachytherapy treatment in various institutions due to the COVID-19 protocols. This has led to single applications of Intracavitary brachytherapy (ICRT) being used to deliver entire treatment boost in cervix cancer. We present our dosimetric and early clinical outcomes comparing traditional weekly three-fractions ICRT with single application/ two-applications ICRT Materials and Methods: In this retrospective analysis conducted in our department, a total of 39 cases, treated between January 2021 to January 2022 were evaluated for the study. Of these, 15 cases were treated with the traditional once a week applicator insertion for 3 fractions and 24 cases underwent lesser application - 20 cases underwent 2 insertions and 4 cases single insertion (all receiving total 3 fractions of 7Gy each). The dosimetric parameters were compared including CTV D90 and D95 along with rectum, sigmoid and bladder D2cc, 1cc and 0.1cc respectively. The acute toxicity assessment was done using the RTOG scale. The follow-up was undertaken as per the institutional protocol and Mann-Whitney U-test were applied to compare the cohorts. Results: With a median follow-up of 6 months, the median CTV was D90%: 81.2 vs. 80.9 Gy and the median CTV volume was 44.3 vs 42.9 cc respectively. The 0.1 cm3 and 2 cm3 to bladder, rectum, and sigmoid were 105.6 vs 104.2 Gy and 85.5 vs 85.9Gy, 89.4Gy vs 88.7Gy and 69.1 vs 67.8Gy, and 84.7 vs 84.1Gy and 71.7 vs 69.9Gy, respectively suggesting no significant difference in the dosimetric outcomes with the two forms of applications. The less than three applications had a shorter overall treatment time with median OTT of 43 days vs. 55 days (p = 0.02). On completion of treatment and 6 months follow-up, local control was achieved in all patients. There was no significant difference in the acute toxicities in terms of cystitis and proctitis in both forms of the application. Conclusion: The single application/ twice application ICRT procedure showed similar outcomes as the traditional three-week duration treatment in terms of dosimetric outcomes and acute toxicities and ultimately leading to shortened overall treatment time. It also helped reduce the anesthesia burden and various resources associated with the procedure.
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As the Corona Virus Disease (COVID) spreads over the globe, nations all over the world are stepping up their efforts to combat the pandemic. To stop the spreading of COVID, a high sensitivity & effective detection approach is required. Using COVID chest X-ray pictures, researchers in this work developed a strategy that combined picture regrouping with Res Net-SVM. An automated technique to detect the COVID pandemic depending upon chest X-rays& CT scan pictures of patients was examined in this research. The Kaggle data repository was used to collect the datasets for this investigation, which comprise COVID chest X-ray (CXR) images of afflicted, normal, & pneumonia patients, as well as CT scan images. Numerous deep learning (DL) techniques have been reviewed in this work and a comparison of algorithms various has been shown in tabular form. Additionally, preprocessing procedures are performed by cleaning the images and then comparing the effectiveness of DL-based convolution neural networks (CNN) models to that of other techniques. © 2022 IEEE.
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Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV‐2), was identified as the causative pathogen of pneumonia cases. The vulnerability of pregnant women and their offspring is well established from the results of prior coronavirus outbreaks. Past human coronavirus outbreaks have shown us that pregnant women and their unborn offspring are particularly susceptible to adverse effects. This study was conducted to look for the maternal and neonatal outcome in COVID-positive mothers. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed their medical data. We used the Coronavirus Pneumonia Prevention's criteria as per guidelines. All of these patients had their throats sampled, and the samples were sent to the lab. Medical records were gathered and independently examined for clinical traits, lab test outcomes, and maternal and neonatal outcomes. Results: Mean age in study group was 26.42±5.26 while in control group was 27.5±7.2 (p=0.3282). in study group complications during pregnancy was 48 (88.89%) while in control group it was 31 (28.18%) (P<0.0001). LSCS was performed in 50 (92.59%) and 85(77.27%) in study group and control group respectively. Preterm delivery was observed in 8(14.81%) in the study group while it was 5(4.55%). Previous morbid conditions were observed in 5(9.26%) in the study group while it was 15(13.64%).. “Key neonatal markers, such as gestational age at birth, the APGAR score at five minutes, and intrauterine fetal distress, did not significantly differ between newborns from the cases and controls”. In this study, we looked for evidence that COVID-19 pneumonia among pregnant women who underwent vaginal or caesarean birth causes significant maternal and newborn problems. The results of laboratory tests had the same profile as pregnant women without pneumonia.
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INTRODUCTION: The ultra-modern new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, that's resulting from the excessive acute breathing syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), is seeing a dramatic upward thrust in inflamed people all around the world. In the aetiology and scientific signs of SARS-CoV2, the host immune reaction seems to be crucial. In sufferers with excessive COVID-19, SARS-CoV2 now no longer handiest turns on antiviral immune responses, however it could additionally cause out of control inflammatory responses characterized with the aid of using excessive ranges of pro-inflammatory cytokines, ensuing in lymphopenia, lymphocyte dysfunction, and granulocyte and monocyte abnormalities. These immunological abnormalities resulting from SARS-CoV2 may want to cause microbial infections, septic shock, and excessive a couple of organ failure. As a result, the approaches underlying immunological abnormalities in COVID-19 sufferers want to be explored if you want to manual scientific care of the disease. Furthermore, sensible law of SARS-CoV2 immune responses, which incorporates growing antiviral immunity at the same time as restricting systemic inflammation, will be important to a hit treatment. CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV2 has produced a global public health emergency, which promotes greater efforts to assess viral transmission, pathogenesis, and immune responses, as well as improve disease prevention and treatment strategies. Data from these scientific endeavors have shown that managing the interaction between the virus and the immune system is important in reducing morbidity and mortality, in addition to opening up the development of vaccines and vaccination processes. © The Electrochemical Society
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The prevalence of Pheochromocytoma in pat ient with hypertension is 0.1 -0.6%. These types of tumours are known for unpredictable perioperative course and hemodynamic instability. Various different drugs and anaesthesia techniques can be used to tackle these situations. Dexmedetomidine is emerged as newer agent with better hemodynamic stability, reducing requirement of other anaesthesia drugs, blunting of sympathoadrenal response in resection of Pheochromocytoma. We report four cases operated between January 2021 to June 2021.Preoperative preparation was done with α and β blockade. Dexmedetomidine was used during induction as 1 mcg/kg over 10 mins followed by 0.7mcg/kg/hr intraoperatively. Combination of Dexmedetomidine, Fentanyl, NTG, Isoflurane and Epidural analgesia was used. IF needed boluses of Esmolol and Labetalol were used during tumor manipulation. All the patients had an uneventful perioperative course. Dexmedetomidine with pre-operative α and β blockade reduce the need of other drugs intraoperatively and can be used as anaesthetic adjunct to maintain steady hemodynamic.
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The COVID-19 is a major and wide global issue concern to the health of human being, it can lead to various severe problems created adverse impact on various agro-based sectors including poultry farming. Researchers from different fields have studied about the issues and have addressed the possible impacts of COVID-19 on variety of complex issues and problems associated with the poultry farming. Therefore, the present study aimed at to assessed the condition and challenges of COVID-19 by linking its impact on poultry farming with dependent peoples. The pandemic and lockdown impacted the overall poultry production system. This creates a results in drastic reduced value of consumption of poultry products. The study was conducted based on primary data collection, during the same period and its connection with poultry farming, its production, demand and supply was analyzed. Due to the situation of COVID-19 farmers faced various issues related to their need like low income, labor issues, starting of production, transportation problems, low demand of consumers, financial issues were identified. The present study shows that the impact of COVID-19 and its overall scenario on three different selected poultry farms in Aurangabad district. To assessing the impact on these farming a systematic study carried out with the help of collection of primary data from the study area, which provides the information about the impact on different parameters in the poultry farming.
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Background: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on disease management and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in various ethnic groups is not known. We aimed to study the prevalence of IBD in various ethnic groups and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives of the study were to determine severity of IBD and compliance in various ethnic groups, to compare status at follow-up before the pandemic and recent follow-up during the pandemic. Design: Our records were queried from 2017 to 2021 for diagnostic terms related to inflammatory bowel disease. Retrospective chart review was performed of the cases found in the search results to determine diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. Relevant clinicopathological parameters were recorded including status at follow-up before the pandemic and most recent follow-up during the pandemic. Results: Total of 350 patients with inflammatory bowel disease included 232 White and 118 Black patients with a mean age of 43 years and 36 years respectively. Crohn's disease (CD) was found to be more common than ulcerative colitis (UC), only 5 cases of indeterminate colitis were noted, Table. In both UC and CD, more Black patients presented with anemia and emergency department (ED) visits. Overall Black patients had lower compliance to medication and follow-up appointments, Table. Loss of insurance was most frequently mentioned as the reason for loss of compliance. In CD, Black patients presented with greater severity of disease in the form of more ED visits, hospital admissions, duration of hospital stays, IBD related surgeries, Table. During the pandemic compliance for follow-up appointments significantly decreased for all patients (from 83% to 58% in White patients and from 69% to 48% in Black patients respectively), (p<0.001). No SARS-CoV-2 infection related exacerbation of IBD was reported. Conclusions: Socioeconomical factors and the COVID-19 pandemic influenced access to healthcare and progression of IBD. Reduced compliance to follow-up was noted in all ethnic groups during the pandemic. Greater severity of disease especially in case of CD, and lower compliance to medication in the Black population were noted. No exacerbation of IBD was reported due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Introduction: Increased use of smartphones can lead to smartphone addiction and "no-mobile-phone-phobia " known as nomophobia. During an ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown, to tackle an issue of boredom, many people including undergraduate health sciences students (HSSs) are using smartphones, leading to an increased risk of smartphone addiction and nomophobia. During lockdown, many universities have shifted the mode of learning to e-classes by using an internet-based technology on smartphones, which may contribute to increased exposure to smartphones, leading to an increased risk of smartphone addiction among students. Objective: To assess an impact of COVID-19 lockdown on smartphone addiction and severity of nomophobia among UG HSSs. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted at a rural tertiary health-care center in Maharashtra state of India with a sample size of 412. Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version was used to assess smartphone addiction and Nomophobia Questionnaire was used to assess nomophobia. Results: Majority (69.7%) reported inability to concentrate on studies at home due to increased use of smartphone during the COVID-19 lockdown. Boredom (32.8%) was the most bothering thing during lockdown, and to tackle it, 55.8% reported of using smartphone. 97.6% had nomophobia and 45.1% had smartphone addiction. There was increase in the prevalence of smartphone addiction and nomophobia during the COVID-19 lockdown as compared to the prevalence from studies which were conducted in the pre-COVID-19 lockdown period. Conclusion: Appropriate measures should be taken by health sciences universities and authorities to address an issue of smartphone addiction and nomophobia so that students can concentrate on their studies at home during the COVID-19 lockdown.