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Introduction and Aim: Job and stress are not mutually exclusive;in fact, stress is inherent to job. In the present era of COVID pandemic, working as health care providers may entail highest levels of stress leading to burnout. Thus, affecting work efficiency of faculty, in turn reflecting on students' performance and health care services to patients. However, de-stressors like yoga and art-based interventions are scarce and not well documented to date. Hence, the present study was undertaken to determine the efficacy of stress alleviating yoga and creative art therapy through interprofessional collaborative approach. Method(s): Sixty medical faculty of either gender aging 30-60 years, were randomly divided into two equal groups-control and intervention group. The intervention group underwent yoga and creative art therapy for 10 days duration each. International stress management association (ISMA) stress questionnaire and Kessler's psychological distress (K-10) scale were administered before and post-intervention, to compare the stress levels. Blood pressure (BP), pulse rate, body mass index (BMI) and waist hip ratio (WHR) were also measured. Comparative analysis of pre-post test scores was done using Student's paired 't' test. Result(s): According to ISMA and K-10 scores, the intervention group showed statistically significant (p <= 0.05) decrease in stress levels among faculty. However, BP, BMI and WHR didn't show any significant change after the intervention. Conclusion(s): Yoga and art therapy were proved to be beneficial in reducing the stress levels among faculty significantly. Comparative analysis also showed significant reduction irrespective of their gender and specialty.Copyright © 2023, Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists. All rights reserved.
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Background: Patients with cancer can be considered more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection with severe disease and higher mortality rate. This can be attributed to the weaker immune system as a consequence of the malignancy and its treatment. The present study was undertaken to estimate the rate of COVID-19 infection in cancer patients, assess the severity of COVID-19 infection and mortality in cancer patients while on anticancer therapy. Method(s): All patients who were diagnosed with cancer and receiving anticancer treatment on outpatient basis or admitted for anticancer treatment and diagnosed with COVID-19 infection were analysed. The severity of COVID-19 infection was made according to World health organisation guidelines. The study period was between March 2020 and February 2022. Result(s): A total of 4420 patients were seen between March 2020 and February 2022, of which 4.1% (n=184) were diagnosed to have COVID-19 infection. The median age was 46 years (range, 5-76). Male to female ratio was 1.5:1. The incidence was more common in the second wave (46.7%) compared to first (32.6%) and third wave (20.6%). Patients with hematological malignancies (70.6%) were infected more than those with solid tumors (39.4%). Most common presentation was fever (79.3%), followed by cold (47.2%) and cough (39.6%). Around 75% (n=138) patients had mild illness, moderate illness and severe illness were seen in 15.22% (n=28) and 9.79% (n=18) respectively. Thirty seven percent (n=68) patients required hospitalization, of which 52% (n=36) required oxygen supplementation and treatment with Remdesivir. Mortality attributed to COVID-19 was seen in 3.8% (n=7) patients of which non-hodgkin lymphoma was the commonest underlying malignancy seen in 1.6% (n=3) patients out of which 2 were on Rituximab therapy. Conclusion(s): Though COVID-19 infection can cause severe implications in cancer patients, prompt identification and timely management can reduce its repercussions and improve outcomes especially in patients with haematological malignancies. Legal entity responsible for the study: The authors. Funding(s): Has not received any funding. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest. Copyright © 2022
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F. Kapadia and K. R. de Camargo Jr oversaw peer reviewer selection and evaluated peer reviews, and Alfredo Morabia, AJPH Editor-in-Chief, made final decisions on editorials selected for inclusion in the supplement. All editors jointly reviewed the main research articles, and commissioned and invited the accompanying editorials. Ryan McNeil, Marie Jauffret-Roustide, and Helena Hansen authored the introductory editorial "Reducing Drug-Related Harms and Promoting Health Justice Worldwide During and After COVID-19: An AJPH Supplement". © 2022 American Public Health Association Inc.. All rights reserved.
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Purpose The recent pandemic of COVID-19 has posed challenges for delivering essential and desirable health-care services for the masses. Digital health-care services initiated by several hospitals and health practitioners promise efficient and safe health care in the new normal post-COVID era but need a supportive enabling ecosystem. Therefore, this study aims toward identifying and modeling the key enabling factors for digital health-care services. Design/methodology/approach A total of nine factors were identified from the literature review and verified by the domain experts which can enable the wider acceptance of digital health-care services. The identified factors were then modeled with the help of the total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) approach and fuzzy Matrices d'Impacts Croises Multiplication Appliquee a un Classement (MICMAC) and a meaningful contextual relationship were developed for the factors. Findings This study reflects that the trust of patients is required for the acceptance of digital health care. Quality of patient care and affordability cum accessibility of online services will define mass engagement. Hospital staff resilience, hospital care service capacity, strategic partnerships and collaborations supported by technology and regulatory structure are the major factors defining the enabling ecosystem. Originality/value This study has its uniqueness in the way the TISM approach and fuzzy MICMAC are used for modeling the enabling factors toward growth and acceptance of digital health-care services in the days to come in developing nations. The focus of this study can be considered as relevant for the study interested in investigating the role of cognitive dimensions in influencing actors' behaviors and decisions.
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In general, local emissions and long-range transport will dictate the pollution levels over a given place. The former source will be based on the location whether it is urban/rural but there are no boundaries to the latter source. During most of the time in a year, long-range transport will decide the pollution levels. Here we present the experimental evidence for regional (long-range) transport impacts on the total OX (NO2 + O3) concentration at a tropical rural location. Two major independent events of the year 2020 in India, the COVID-19 lockdown and Deep depression in Bay of Bengal (BoB2) have been used to demonstrate the known fact of mixing of aged and freshly emitted ozone precursors on the total OX concentration and their influence on observed total OX. COVID-19 lockdown event happened in the summer season whereas the BoB2 event happened during the post-monsoon period. Air mass transport during events at the observational site is completely different which brings the regional transport influence. Further, total OX observed has no local contribution and is controlled entirely by the regional contribution. These observations have been well supported by the CWT analysis and wind circulation patterns during the events. This study provides a clear demonstration of the regional pollution transport influence on the total OX at a rural environment (which control the oxidative capacity of the rural atmosphere). Thus, caution is advised in designating the location as rural/urban based on local emissions alone.
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With increase in average age of population and increasing trend of nuclear families, old age homes are fast becoming a norm in India. The COVID-19 pandemic has made nutritionists revisit the health status of our elderly living in different family set ups. The present study was carried out with the objective to compare the health and risk of malnutrition among elderly (? 60 yrs in age) living in three different residential set ups i.e. old age homes, urban family or rural family. The study was carried out in Hisar district of Haryana state in Northern India. In this cross-sectional study, sixty subjects each (N=180) from the three residential set ups were selected randomly and assessed for depression, level of independence in daily activities and risk for malnutrition. Standard scales viz. Geriatric Depression Scale, Barthel Index and Mini Nutritional Assessment Scale were used. The PAR (Physical Activity Ratio) values for activities performed in a day were aggregated over the period i.e. 24 hours to yield physical activity level. It was observed that respondents from rural family set up were more active as compared to their counterparts in urban family set up or old age homes. Osteoporosis (94.44%), joint pain (87.78%), loss of appetite (85.56%) and anemia (80.56%) were the most commonly reported problems. Per cent prevalence of most problems was higher in old age home respondents. The level of independence for most activities was lowest in old age home respondents as compared to other two residential set ups. Depression was evident in 36.67 per cent of total respondents with higher per cent prevalence in residents of old age home. It may be concluded that elderly people from old age homes have higher risk of malnutrition and depression as compared to urban or rural family setup. Interventions are highly recommended for mental and nutritional well-being of elderly specially those living in old age homes. Considering the increasing trend of old age homes, deeper studies are required on their living conditions. There should be stringent SOP's for all old age homes and elderly care.
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The alarming increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths calls for an urgent cost-effective pharmacological approach. Here, we examine the inhibitory activity of a group of dietary bioactive flavonoids against the human protease TMPRSS2, which plays a major role in SARS CoV-2 viral entry. After the molecular docking studies of a large number of flavonoids, four compounds with high binding scores were selected and studied in detail. The binding affinities of these four ligands, Amentoflavone, Narirutin, Eriocitrin, and Naringin, at the active site of TMPRSS2 target were investigated using MD simulations followed by MM-PBSA binding energy calculations. From the studies, a number of significant hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions between the ligands and binding site amino residues of TMPRSS2 are identified which showcase their excellent inhibitory activity against TMPRSS2. Among these ligands, Amentoflavone and Narirutin showed MM-PBSA binding energy values of -155.48 and -138.13 kJ/mol respectively. Our previous studies of the inhibitory activity of these compounds against main protease of SARS-COV2 and the present study on TMPRSS2 strongly highlighted that Amentoflavone and Naringin can exhibit promising multi-target activity against SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, due to their wide availability, no side effects and low cost, these compounds could be recommended as dietary supplements for COVID patients or for the development of SARS-CoV-2 treatments.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
Background: During the present pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in spite of providing selfless continuous hours of duties and staying distant from family members and loved ones, contrary, there have been incidences across the nation where health professionals have been assaulted. Apart from that, there have been news that acute shortage of protective gears for doctors and health professionals is putting them at greater risk of COVID-19 exposure. Aims and Objectives: The present study was designed to analyze the working scenario of Indian doctors during the early phase of present emergency situation of pandemic COVID-19 and to make recommendations to stakeholders for future. Materials and Methods: A web-based questionnaire, peer tested by faculty of KGMU, along with informed consent form incorporated into Google Forms was posted on a WhatsApp group which included 400 Indian medical practitioners, selected randomly. Results: The majority of responses (65%) were obtained from physicians in the age group of 20–40 years. About 66% of doctors had stopped running outpatient departments. Whereas 41% did not receive any training for the management of COVID-19, 61% felt that their training was insufficient. About 46% were not trained in protective equipment and infection control for COVID-19. More than 55% of doctors admitted that neither there was any health insurance plan nor any security against the incidences of doctors getting assaulted by patients of COVID-19 and their attendants provided by their institute or state government. Only 21% of doctors reported personal protective equipment in adequate number for all the health care workers at their workplace and triage teams availability by only 51% of doctors. About 50% of doctors were not dealing with patients at all and 30% those attending the patients were undergoing mental distress. About 77% complained that there were no emergency plans for their family and 84% had the grudge that there were no incentives for dealing with patients during the present times of COVID-19 pandemic by their institute. Conclusions: The present study reveals that our preparedness to tackle it in the initial phase was not up to the mark.
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Introduction: Numerous doctors have been infected while treating the patients of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-2019). Expecting doctors to treat without any regard to their safety is an extreme and unrealistic approach. Apart from professional obligations, doctors have personal obligations to their families too. Aim: To understand the barriers of willingness and ability to serve during pandemics for Indian doctors. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, Peer-tested web-based questionnaire, along with informed consent form incorporated into Google form, was posted on a WhatsApp group. Study was conducted from April 2020 to June 2020. The group included 400 Indian medical practitioners, selected randomly. It comprised of total 49 questions, including open and close ended type, in English language. Out of these, 14 questions were pertaining to the present study. The exploratory data analysis was used to analyse and interpret the data. Results: Responses were submitted by 256 doctors (64% response rate) out of which 121 were from males, 134 from females and 1 person preferred not to disclose the gender. Majority (64.8%) of the responses were obtained from doctors in age group of 20-40 years and 49% of the total responses were from faculty in government medical college. It was revealed that 9% doctors were willing to quit medical profession and 23%doctors preferred not to serve patients during pandemic of contagious disease. As many as 58.6% expressed that incidences of doctors facing public harassments abuse and social discrimination dissuaded them from serving COVID-19 patients. A 59.4% and 58.2% of doctors had responsibility of child-care and elderly-care respectively which was acting barrier to ability to serve during the pandemic. As many as 49.2% brought it to light that the infrastructure at their workplace was not up to the mark to deal with COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: This study has brought into light that fear of contracting the disease due to lack of Personal protective equipment (PPE), risking one’s family for getting infected, responsibility of child-care and elderly-care along with social ostracism as untouchables are the major deterrents for willingness to work. Distance from workplace, one’s illness and lack of proper infrastructure at workplace are barriers to ability to work during COVID-19 for Indian doctors.
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The food processing sector is a very prominent section of the international market and increased up to approximately $4.5 trillion by 2024 (Businesswire in Global food processing market report, 2019: trends, forecasts, and competitive analysis (2013–2024), 2019 [1]). The increasing demand for healthy fruits and vegetables, organic processed foods, nutraceuticals and functional foods, seafood with packaged food products like ready-to-eat, and frozen processed foods is expected to drive the market growth after pandemic COVID-19 incidence. During processing and handling of horticultural crops, generate large volumes of wastes annually and become a major concern to the whole world. Fruits and vegetables have many bioactive compounds (polyphenols, flavonoids, organic acids, aroma, and flavoring agents, etc.) which have a positive impact on human health because of anti-inflammation, anti-allergic, anti-cancer, anti-atherogenic, and antioxidants properties, depending upon extraction their methods from wastes, efficacy, and bioavailability to the body. Applications of conventional (soxhlet, maceration, percolation, hydro-distillation) and green techniques (solid-phase, supercritical, accelerated solvent, microwave, and ultrasound extractions) for the valorization of horticultural wastes’ conversion in many bioactive components are followed by the potentiality, scalability, and sustainability of the extraction process and highlight the concept of the circular economy as “Waste to Wealth.” © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.