Effect of ceiling fan in mitigating exposure to airborne pathogens and COVID-19

Ceiling fans are the ubiquitously used electrical appliance in indoor spaces that affect the local airflow pattern and, consequently, transmission of airborne pathogens and respiratory droplets. This study numerically investigated the effect of airflow induced by the ceiling fan and ventilation rate on aerosol distribution to mitigate exposure to airborne pathogens and COVID-19. A full-scale room with a ceiling fan, natural ventilation and an occupant was modelled through transient computational fluid-particle dynamics (CFPD). To analyze the relationship between the ceiling fan rotation speed and the aerosol distribution, a ceiling fan was operated with 160, 265 and 365 revolutions per minute (RPM). The effect of the ceiling fan on particles was analyzed for particles of different sizes. The increasing ceiling fan rotation speed, the percentage deposition of the aerosol particles with diameters >40 μm was increased. The effect of different ventilation rates on aerosol distribution was evaluated. The increased ventilation rate, the percentage of the total aerosol particles flushed out was increased. The effectiveness of the mask in mitigating the exposure risk of airborne pathogens was also investigated. In combination with the natural ventilation and mask, the ceiling fan was demonstrated to have the potential to reduce airborne pathogen transmission in indoor spaces.

Comprehensive Telerobotic Ultrasound System for Abdominal Imaging: Development and in-vivo Feasibility Study

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the lives of healthcare professionals are at significant threat because of the enormous workload and cross-infection risk. Ultrasound (US) imaging plays a vital role in the diagnosis and follow-up of COVID-19 patients;however, it requires a close-physical contact by the sonographer. In this context, this paper presents a Telerobotic Ultrasound (TR-US) system for complete remote control of the US probe, thereby preventing direct physical contact between patients and sonographers. The system consists of a 6-DOF robot arm at the remote site and a haptic device at the doctor's site. The control architecture precisely transmits the intended position and orientation of the US probe to the remote location for transversal and sagittal plane scanning. This architecture, when integrated with an admittance controller-based force modulation and feedback transmission, enables the radiologists to obtain high-quality images for diagnosis. The advantages and effectiveness of the system are demonstrated by conducting in-vivo feasibility study at AIIMS, Delhi, for imaging abdomen organs (liver, spleen, kidneys, bladders). The system provides image quality equivalent to a manually-guided probe, can identify various pathology and reports high acceptability among volunteers and doctors from a questionnaire survey.

Vaccination against COVID-19 in Bangladesh: Perception and Attitude of Healthcare Workers in COVID-dedicated Hospitals

Healthcare professionals are the crucial and influencing source of information for vaccines and their communication among patients and communities that can accelerate successful vaccination in a country. This cross-sectional study was one of the first and foremost ones in Bangladesh to observe the basic perception and attitudes towards vaccination against COVID-19 among the healthcare workers (HCWs) - doctors, interns, nurses, ward boys, cleaners, and medical technologists of major COVID-dedicated hospitals. The cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted in February 2021 among 550 HCWs to assess the perception and attitude towards vaccination against COVID-19. The study participants were targeted as the priority group for COVID-19 vaccination, working in two major COVID-dedicated hospitals, Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College Hospital (HF-center), and Sheikh Russel National Gastro-liver Institute and Hospital (SR-center) in Dhaka, Bangladesh during the pandemic. The questionnaire was structured with a three-point scale of responses from 'true', 'false', and 'do not know'. The responses were calculated on point-score as +1 for the correct response, -1 for the wrong response, and 0 for 'do not know' with an overall highest and the lowest possible score of +5 to -5. Absolute (n) and relative frequencies (%) were presented for qualitative variables, while quantitative variables were presented as mean (+/- standard deviation). Chi-square test was done for univariate analysis of qualitative variables and Student's t-test for quantitative variables. With the 95.27% response rate, including 204 males and 320 were female and the male: female ratio was 1: 1.56. The majority of the participants were doctors (45.8%) followed by nurses (27.9%), and MLSS (26.3%) respectively. The respondents were between 18 to 64 years of age with a mean of 36.17+/-10.94 years. Most of the respondents (95.99%) responded correctly about the cost-free availability of a vaccine against COVID-19 in the country, 87.40% preferred vaccination as safe and effective. Again 29.77% HCWs think the vaccine might not be safe or effective due to emergency authorization. Only 38.93% of respondents could respond correctly about the necessity of vaccines for children, 31.10% think the vaccination was not required instead of natural immunity. The positive perception and attitude of the frontline HCWs in COVID-dedicated hospitals in Bangladesh are crucial which will positively influence motivation and wide acceptance among the general population for the attainment of the nationwide vaccination program, and adopt effective strategic modification to minimize the gaps for a low-middle income country like Bangladesh with its resource constrain.

Rationalization of Mushroom-Based Preventive and Therapeutic Approaches to COVID-19: Review

Since December 2019, a de novo pattern of pneumonia, later named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has caused grave upset throughout the global population. COVID-19 is associated with several comorbidities;thus, preventive and therapeutic strategies targeting those comorbidities along with the causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), seem imperative. In this state-of-the-art review, edible and medicinal mushrooms are featured in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 pathomanifestations, and comorbid issues. Because this is not an original research article, we admit our shortcomings in inferences. Yet we are hopeful that mushroom-based therapeutic approaches can be used to achieve a COVID-free world. Among various mushroom species, reishi or lingzhi (Ganoderma lucidum) seem most suitable as anti-COVID agents for the global population.

Use of Remdesivir in the Management of COVID-19: A Systematic Review on Current Evidences.

The rapid progression of corona virus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become an unprecedented global concern. This systemic review aimed at evaluating the available evidence on efficacy, safety to identify any promising role for compassionate use of remdesivir in patient suffered for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) as re-purposeful use. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), prospective case series studies and case reports that evaluated use of remdesivir in COVID-19. The outcomes were mortality, recovery rate, length of hospital stay and clinical outcome. Though the drug remdesivir (RDV) is not approved by the FDA, still the "Emergency Use Authorization" (EUA) for compassionate use in severe cases is endorsed. After vigorous searching, screening and sorting of completed and published scientific evidences in electronic database, there were only 2 randomized control trial (RCT), 2 uncontrolled trials found until April 2020. We also included 3 published case reports to analyze the validity use of RDV because of the scarcity of evidence based reports. Remdesivir was thought to be one of the promising options for treating the patients of COVID-19 based on few laboratory experiments and reports from some compassionate use and case reports. The safety and efficacy of this drug in COVID-19 cases require high-quality evidence from well-designed and adequately-powered clinical trials with proper sample size for precise decision.

Systematic Review on Repurposing Use of Favipiravir Against SARS-CoV-2.

The sudden outbreak of a novel coronavirus in 2019 in Wuhan, China, that rapidly provoked a global concern, marked as the third attack of corona virus in the human society that affected the global healthcare system as well as the global economy. Until and unless an effective vaccine is discovered against the virus, the pharmacological intervention by different antivirals is in the run for remedy. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the role of favipiravir along with its safety and efficacy for the patients who are suffering from severe acute respiratory distress syndrome due to CoronaVirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) as re-purposeful use. We searched PubMed, EMBASE for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cilicaltrial.com for registered on going trails to evaluate the pros and cons of using favipiravir in COVID-19. After vigorous searching, screening and sorting of 314 articles for completed and published scientific evidences in electronic database, there were only 2 completed and published randomized control trials (RCT) and 17 ongoing or unpublished trials found until June 2020. The main outcome measures were viral clearance, clinical improvement and adverse events reported and published on 147 patients infected with SARS-CoV2. The 2 completed RCTs showed significantly better treatment effects on disease progression, viral clearance, improved the latency to relief for pyrexia and cough on favipiravir treated patients. Adverse effects caused Favipiravir are mild and manageable. Although 9 more RCTs and cohort studies are supposed to be completed by this time that may unveil some evidence for use of anti-RNA-viral drug favipiravir against influenza or Ebola to re-purposing against COVID-19 as adopted in different treatment guidelines.