A Cross-sectional Survey to Understand the Public Attitude towards Attributes of COVID-19 Vaccine in the Chhattisgarh State of India

BackgroundandObjectives:Thissurveyisconductedtounderstandtheattitudeofthe population towards vaccination for COVID-19. Perception regarding COVID-19 vaccination such as efficacy, duration of protection, etc can affect the affinity of the population for readiness, enthusiasm, and willingness. Materials and Methods: A qualitative cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted during December 2020 and January 2021 at Chhattisgarh province of India. A bilingual questionnaire consisted of questions on belief, willingness, and attitude to receive future COVID-19 vaccination was developed. The non-probability purposive sample of 1717 respondent (1026 responded online while 691 responses offline) were chosen in this study. Results: 60% and 40% of respondents were male and female respectively. 51.4% of respondents belonged to 31-40yrs of age. 46.1 % of respondents believe that COVID-19 vaccine can prevent COVID-19 illness. In 82% of respondents, willingness was observed for COVID-19 vaccination, and willingness was highly dependent on literacy and qualification. Data support a good belief and willingness of the people from Chhattisgarh province towards the COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusion:The current study annuls the illusion and future hesitancy towards vaccination drive. The government must consider vaccine attributes like cost, the nation of vaccine origin, vaccine booth distances and attitude of the population like education status, occupation, socio-economic status, previous vaccination experience should also be undertaken for the largest single vaccine drive.

A longitudinal study to estimate adverse events following two doses of COVID-19 vaccination

Background: On March 30, 2020, coronavirus disease 19 was declared pandemic and many countries of the world started working on the development of vaccine soon after China released the genetic structure of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Drugs Controller General of India on January 3, 2021, accorded emergency use authorization to Oxford-AstraZeneca's ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine and vaccination drive commenced in India on January 16, 2021. The present study was conducted to determine the incidence adverse event following immunization (AEFI) among recipients of the first and second dose of the vaccine. Materials and Methods: A longitudinal descriptive study was conducted among 2529 vaccine beneficiaries who were asked about the side effects at 24 and 72 h after the first dose and second dose of vaccination with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. Passive surveillance was also done for 4 months. Results: AEFI was reported in 27.59%, 38.4%, and 19.96% of vaccines after both doses, first dose, and second dose, respectively. 14% did not report any AEFI with either dose of vaccine. Younger people had higher rates of AEFIs with both the doses. Pain at injection site and fever <102°F were the most common symptoms. Only three patients required admission after first dose and nil required admission after second dose, all three were discharged after 24 h observation without any complication or sequelae. Conclusion: The results of our study indicate that the vaccine has good safety profile and is recommended for use among 18-60 years. However, since majority of individuals in our study were young, studies may be undertaken in more than 60 years of age, persons with a history of allergy, and comorbidities to further evaluate safety profile of the vaccine among these groups of people. © 2022 Medical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth ;Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow.

Asymptomatic Thyroid Stimulatin Hormone/Growth Hormone Cosecreting Invasive Pituitary Macroadenoma: A Rare Case Report

Introduction: Thyrotropin (TSH)/growth hormone (GH) pituitary adenoma is rare and often characterized by specific signs and clinical presentations. The most common presentation of cosecreting TSH/GH pituitary adenomas is a combination of altered facial appearance (84%), goiter (91%) followed by hyperhidrosis (75%), hyperphagia (58%), trembling hands (50%), and vision impairment (50%). The patient with TSH and GH-producing pituitary adenoma had a lower surgical complete remission rate and a worse prognosis. Our case is unique in many ways in terms of the initial presentation, without having the specific signs and symptoms of TSH/GH-producing pituitary adenoma. Case Description: A 42-year-old diabetic man presented with decreased vision in the left eye for 1 month associated with the headache and nasal block during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, a CECT of the brain was done which revealed a mass lesion in the pituitary fossa eroding the sphenoidal sinus, so a biopsy was done to rule out mucormycosis. The biopsy report is suggestive of a pituitary lesion with immunohistochemistry (IHC) the tumor cell is diffusely positive for GH with a high MIB labeling index of 15%. Subsequently, he had an MRI of the pituitary region showing a large heterogeneously mass of size (3.7 x 3.3 x 3.2) cm. So, he was referred to endocrinology for further evaluation. On examination BP 120/80;pulse rate 100/min. His blood sugar was under control with oral diabetic agents. General and systemic examination was unremarkable. No tremor, exophthalmos, acromegalic feature, or neck swelling. As mentioned earlier he was incidentally picked up as a pituitary mass by CECT during the evaluation of headache and vision loss. A biopsy along with IHC showed pluripotent pituitary adenoma with tumor cells diffusely positive for GH, focal positivity for TSH and occasional cells were prolactin positive. So, he was evaluated for the functionality of pituitary adenoma. His hormonal evaluation showed elevated IGF-1 395 ng/mL with nonsuppression of postglucose GH of 5.73 ng/dL associated with raised FT4 and FT3 with inappropriate elevated TSH which confirmed cosecretion of GH and TSH from the pituitary adenoma. Serum cortisol and prolactin were normal with low LH, FSH, and low testosterone. He underwent transsphenoidal excision of the tumor;postsurgery his thyroid profile was normal but his IGF1 and GH still remained high during subsequent follow-up. He was asked to follow up after 3 months to reimage and reevaluate his hormonal status and the next plan of treatment. Discussion(s): Most of the cases of GH/TSH-producing adenoma reported in the literature are symptomatic with some clinical features of acromegaly and thyrotoxicosis. Our case is asymptomatic GH/TSH producing invasive pituitary macroadenomas that picked up incidentally. Hence it may be necessary to do the IHC to find out the type of tumor cells harboring by pituitary adenoma as the cosecreting TSH/ GH tumor is usually aggressive and warrants prompt treatment. Copyright © 2022

The economic impact of covid-19 and the role of AI

The present article is being written against the backdrop of the worldwide microeconomic crisis, which has raised a question mark on our very existence. Of course, during the last few centuries, several epidemics and pandemics have ravaged this world. The COVID-19 infection has spread its tentacles far and wide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries worldwide resorted to lockdown to break the chain of viral infection. Confinement of people to four walls has staged the micro economy to its belly button. The crisis has opened a new theme to anchor globally to recognize the migrant laborers and understanding their capabilities, developing an artificially intelligent data trust and cognitive response system to address the ongoing challenge. The present chapter is outlined to address the latent psychological response of migrant laborers, the potential for establishing micro skill clusters and the role of artificial intelligence (AI) to combat Covid-19. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Prediction of Used Car Prices Using Machine Learning

As the Indian auto-industry entered BS-VI era from April 2020, the value proposition of used cars grew stronger, as the new cars became expensive due to additional technology costs. Moreover, the unavailability of public transport and fear of infection force people toward self-mobility during the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. But, the surge in demand for used cars made some car sellers to take advantage from customers by listing higher prices than normal. In order to help consumers aware of market trends and prices for used cars, there comes the need to create a model that can predict the cost of used cars by taking into consideration about different features and prices of other cars present in the country. In this paper, we have used different machine learning algorithms such as k-nearest neighbor (KNN), random forest regression, decision tree, and light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) which is able to predict the price of used cars based on different features specific to Indian buyers, and we have implemented the best model by comparing with other models to serve our cause. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

Then and Now: COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown Misfire Atmospheric Methane over India

COVID-19 lockdown resulted in the revival of the environment due to reduced emissions of various pollutants globally. In particular, aerosols, NOx and SO2 showed significant reductions at most places. However, the greenhouse gases are not necessarily following this reduction everywhere. In most areas, a decrease in NOx increases methane (CH4) concentration by enhancing the lifetime, but also results in decreased concentrations with reduced emissions. Analyzing the atmospheric CH4 variations during the COVID-19 lockdown over India is crucial as India is one of the regions with high seasonal variability of CH4. The present study has analyzed the tropospheric CH4 trends over India during the pre-monsoon season (March-May) for 2003-2021 using AIRS data. The study analyzed the lockdown variations (24 March-31 May) of tropospheric CH4 over India with the same period of 2019 and 2021 using TROPOMI to find the changes in CH4 concentrations over different regions of India due to lockdown. Our results capture the undeviating north (low)-south (high) gradient in the CH4 concentration with anticipated regional intensifications, likely, in the eastern and western coastal regions, with more comprehensive details than it ever has been presented before.

An Analysis of Length of Hospital Stay of COVID-19 Patients Admitted in a Dedicated COVID-19 Hospital

Background: The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed an unprecedented strain on Indian healthcare systems, with rapidly increasing demand for life-saving equipment and intensive care unit beds. The present study presents an analysis of average length of stay (LOS) as per different demographic and clinical factors in a dedicated COVID hospital. As the pandemic escalates, average LOS in COVID hospital will form the basis of determining the optimum requirement for healthcare resources (beds, staff, and equipment), which is a key priority for bolstering a strong public health response against COVID-19. Materials and Methods: Using the medical records at a dedicated COVID-19 hospital, the demographic details and select clinical characteristics of 342 admitted patients (from July 13, 2020, to August 30, 2020) were ed. Hospital LOS, calculated from the actual admission and discharge dates, was compared within the categories of demographic and clinical characteristics using Student's test and analysis of variance. SPSS version 20 was used for descriptive as well as inferential statistics. Results: The mean LOS was 9.93 +/- 4.45 days with a range of 3-37 days. LOS increased with increasing age, with maximum being for >61 years (12.69 +/- 7.14) and minimum for the younger age category of <40 years (8.88 +/- 1.95) (P = 0.001). As COVID-19 severity increased, LOS increased, with longest being for severe patients (25.59 +/- 7.30) and shortest being for Mild patients (8.74 +/- 1.80) (P = 0.001). LOS was also longer for patients having multiple comorbidities (13.00 +/- 7.96) and shortest for those with no comorbidities (9.33 +/- 2.96) (P = 0.001). Conclusion: LOS is significantly affected by age, severity, and comorbidities. The actual duration and factors influencing LOS are crucial for health administrators and policymakers to better allocate the already scarce health resources.

Control strategies and behavioural changes in the elimination of covid-19 from India

The massive spread of the novel coronavirus and its associated disease COVID 19 as a pandemic around the world has gripped the international community, crippled healthcare systems and raised enormous public health concerns. The universe attempts to restrict the virus until now have yielded little fruit because of the zoonotic transmission ability of the virus. Countless healthcare professionals have already become infected with the disease and dentists are considered to be especially vulnerable. This article reviews the origins of the virus, its modes of transmission, symptoms and the recommendation provided to the dentists to diagnose and manage a patient confirmed/ suspected of COVID 19 in the dental office.

Development and validation of a low-cost electronic stethoscope: Diy digital stethoscope)

Introduction: Among the many challenges COVID-19 presented to us, one of them is difficulty in auscultating patients while wearing coveralls. Although ultrasonography has been advocated as an alternative for the information stethoscope provides, the symmetry of breath sounds in intubated patients and wheeze are important findings with therapeutic implications, which cannot be ascertained through ultrasonography. This study aimed to develop and validate a low cost but effective electronic stethoscope that allows auscultation over the PPE or from a safe distance. Materials and methods: While developing the DIY stethoscope, we aimed at good quality auscultation sounds while keeping the assembly simple, affordable, and using components that most physicians would already possess. We tried various permutations of sensors, its placement within a stethoscope, and of the entire assembly. After initial testing, we settled on using commonly available commercial microphones, housed either in the ear-tip or within the tubing of a stethoscope. Data were transmitted to a mobile phone, which ran our customdeveloped app, which amplified the sound, reduced the noise, and transmitted the data for playback to Bluetooth headphones, which the doctor will be wearing over the PPE. To test our device, we conducted a study in Medicine and Pediatrics wards of a tertiary care hospital of North India in November 2020. Residents posted in these wards, auscultated patients using both the DIY stethoscope and a conventional stethoscope. Which stethoscope would be used first was determined through randomization. After auscultation, each device was rated on a scale of 1 to 10 on the following characteristics: Loudness of sound, Sound clarity, Loudness of noise, Interference caused by noise, Satisfaction, Comfort. Any auscultation findings were also recorded. Results: Sixteen residents participated in the study and auscultated a total of 100 patients. DIY stethoscope had significantly higher loudness of the auscultation sounds, with a median (IQR) score of 8 (7, 9) for a DIY stethoscope and 8 (7, 8) for a conventional stethoscope. Discussions: We presented a technique to convert a conventional stethoscope to an electronic one, producing sounds with good clarity and loudness. Although there is more noise in DIY stethoscope as compared to conventional, it does not affect the ability to auscultate patients and identify findings. It also offers louder sounds, ability to record and share auscultation clippings. The app is available free of charge on Google Play Store. As most physicians would already possess most of the components required for assembly of DIY stethoscopes, only the microphone may need to be purchased which drives down the cost of an electronic stethoscope from approximately 500$ to 500rs. Compared to other available attachments for stethoscopes available in the market, not only is it cheaper, but does not require transecting the stethoscope, so it stays unharmed and can be converted back to its original state. Conclusion: DIY stethoscope offers a frugal and effective solution to challenges in auscultating patients in the COVID care area. Further versions of this device should work on improving noise reduction.

An efficient synthesis towards the core of Crinipellin: TD-DFT and docking studies

In this present report, we are describing a novel route for the synthesis of the tetracyclic ring systems, a common core of crinipellin, via oxidative dearomatization, cycloaddition and oxa- di-pi-methane rearrangement. We are also concerned to explore a route to tetracyclic core (1e) of Crinipellin and tricyclic core (1g) of Allicaol B through intermolecular diels alder reaction and photochemically 1,2 acyl shift. Moreover, docking study of compound 13 and 16 is investigated against AcrB multidrug efflux pump of Escherichia coli (PDB ID: 1T9U), main protease of SARS COV-2 (PDB ID: 6W63), DNA gyrase of Streptococcus pneumonia (PDB ID: 4Z2C), human estrogen receptor alpha (PDB ID: 3ERT), human lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase (CYP51)(PDB ID: 3JUS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (Prostaglandin Synthase-2) (PDB ID: 1CX2). The obtained results are important for the exploitation of the therapeutic potential of these derivatives as antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, antifungal or anti-inflammatory agents. In addition, TD-DFT studies of the compounds are also carried out. © 2021 The Author(s)

Laboratory findings in COVID-19 patients and biomarkers for early assessment of severity and mortality

The novel coronavirus-19 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2) pandemic has crossed more than 4,006,257 cases with 278,892 deaths worldwide and 67,152 cases and 2206 deaths in India. The disease has a variable clinical course ranging from mild to severe disease. Although most of the patients are asymptomatic, some patients with comorbidities have a high propensity of clinical worsening and mortality and it is this chunk of patients that we need to recuperate. Studies have shown that a number of laboratory parameters, which are easily available and inexpensive, can adequately predict the disease severity at an early stage. In a resource-limited country like India, where costly investigations cannot be routinely carried out in the magnitude as big as that of this pandemic, it is imperative that patients be monitored with these simple and inexpensive parameters that are elucidated in this review. We carried out an electronic search on PubMed and Google Scholar with keywords “laboratory abnormalities in COVID-19,” “coagulopathy in COVID-19,” “sepsis in COVID-19,” “hematologic abnormalities in COVID-19,” “kidney injury in COVID-19,” “acute respiratory distress syndrome in COVID-19,” “cardiac injury in COVID-19,” “liver injury in COVID-19,” and “severity indicators in COVID-19” till present date (May 11, 2020). All studies that appeared in our search results were scrutinized and 40 studies were selected for the study.