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Background:The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is a global viral pandemic that originated in East Asia (China) and is quickly spreading to every corner of the globe. In Bangladesh, no research has been conducted on olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19 infected patients and its associated factors. We aimed to determine the correlation between olfactory dysfunction (OD), particularly anosmia and COVID-19 infected patients' demographic and clinical characteristics. Method(s): We conducted a hospital-based prospective observational study. We collected patients' information, including laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 test results from a COVID dedicated hospital, Square Hospitals Ltd., Dhaka, Bangladesh. We used the Pearson Chi-square test and logistic regression model to assess the associations between demographic and clinical characteristics and OD (i.e. anosmia). Result(s): Out of 600 COVID-19 positive patients, 38.7% were diagnosed with OD. We found that patients' age, smoking status, cough, dyspnea, sore throat, asthenia, and nausea or vomiting were significantly associated with anosmia. We observed smoking patients were 1.73 times more likely to experience anosmia than non-smoking patients Odd ratio (OR)=1.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01-2.98]. Interestingly, our data showed that the risk of developing anosmia was greater in younger patients than in older patients, and this risk decreased as age increased (OR) range for different age groups: 1.26 to 1.08]. In addition, patients who complained of asthenia had a significantly double risk of developing anosmia [OR = 1.96, CI = 1.23-3.06]. Conclusion(s): Our study shows that 38.7% of patients diagnosed with OD. Patients' age, smoking status, and asthenia are significantly positively associated with anosmia. Since anosmia can be a significant marker for the diagnosis of COVID-19, we suggest regular screening of OD in patients with early symptoms of COVID-19, particularly younger patients, smokers, and who complained of asthenia. Copyright © 2023, Ibn Sina Trust. All rights reserved.
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BACKGROUND AND AIM: The ideal biomarker(s) to track evolution and the underlying basis of sepsis remain elusive. We hypothesized that assessing differential mRNA gene expression may aid in tracking sepsis pathogenesis in infants with meningococcal septic shock (MSS). METHOD(S): Temporal paediatric gene expression datasets from Meningococcal Group B sepsis studies in the United Kingdom (MSS1, 29 samples) and Holland (MSS2, 41 samples) underwent Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). RESULT(S): Gene-expression clustering algorithm for both datasets demonstrated a baseline state on admission, an intermediate state, and a final state. Additionally, PCA plots suggested a gene-expression trajectory. The MSS1 study showed that 410 genes differentiated survivors from a nonsurvivor, including the ICAM-3 gene. Moreover GSEA t-Test identified apoptosis to be significantly differently (p = 0.02 and q = 0.15) associated with the fatal case compared to the four survivors in MSS1. Also in MSS1, we identified a genesignature for cytokine production which included 5 genes (CLC, HFE, HLA-F, NLRP3, TNFRSF1B) from the cytokine GSEA gene panel. The genes NLRP3 and TNFRSF1B have been noted in the cytokine storm of Coronavirus infection. Also Transcript Time Course Analysis (TTCA) confirmed differential gene function associated with Coronavirus. CONCLUSION(S): Transcriptomic analysis in two independent datasets in infants with MSS identified a trajectorial pattern. Further, the transcriptome expression differed between survivors and non-survivors, suggesting differences in cytokine signalling. Including the existence of genes associated with the cytokine storm of SARS-CoV2. The exploitability of transcriptome analysis to guide therapy and prognosis requires further investigation. (Figure Presented).
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BACKGROUND AND AIM: Increased Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGFA) Gene Expression (GE) has been documented in SARS-CoV2 infection. We wished to understand the relationship of VEGFA and VEGF B GE in both Murine SARS-CoV and Human SARS-CoV-2 in-vitro models of infection. METHOD(S): Secondary analysis of datasets from mice given nasal installation of SARS-CoV (MA15), MS1 (GSE33266MCV-1) and MS2 (GSE68820) from pulmonary tissues was undertaken. This allowed viral dose and temporal response analysis, respectively. Also studied were In-vitro Human hACE2 cells infected with SARS-CoV2 (dataset INV, GSE169158). Gene expression (GE) VEGF sub-types were analysed using Qlucore Omics Explorer (QOE) and gene enrichment functional profiling through the g:Profiler online platform. RESULT(S): For Murine studies, MA15 instillation compared to controls in MS1, lead to down-regulation of both VEGFB (MA15 10
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BACKGROUND: In Bangladesh, the rapid spread of COVID-19 virus created a panic situation among the citizen. Specially, the psycho-emotional disorder of the university students is increasing which has not been adequately investigated. AIM: Relating this, the study aimed to assess the psycho-emotional changes of the university students through investigating their level of depression and anxiety during panic and post-panic period of COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. METHOD: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among the university students in Bangladesh from April to July 2020 (panic period, n = 170) and then from August to November 2020 (post-panic period, n = 170). The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaires were used to assess the depression and anxiety levels of the students, respectively. Various univariate and multivariable statistical techniques were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The proportion of depression symptoms was 49.4% and 52.4% during the panic period and post-panic period, respectively. Anxiety symptoms were experienced by 38.2% of students during the panic period, and the percentage was nearly identical in the post-panic interval. In post-panic period, depression levels found a slight increase. Urban students reported significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of depression and anxiety than their counterparts. Female students also exhibited significantly more anxiety symptoms (p < 0.002) than male. Depression symptoms significantly varied by family types and student’s place of residence. CONCLUSIONS: This study compared the depression and anxiety symptoms of the university students during two periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the difference was small, it remains an issue for the university students in Bangladesh due to the disruption to their academic lives. © 2022 Gowranga Paul, Mohammad Meshbahur Rahman, Shayla Naznin, Mashfiqul Chowdhury, Md Jamal Uddin.
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The SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to liver injury and promotes other viral infections such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) in COVID-19 patients. Obesity is involved with an increased risk of mortality in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. In the current study, we analyzed the SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor ACE2 expression patterns in various HCC patients using different public databases on cancer. We found that the ACE2 and TMPRSS2 mRNA expressions are significantly downregulated in HCC tissues compared with the healthy population. Interestingly, high ACE2 expression is positively associated with HCC patient's obesity and age of 61 to 80 years old. A significantly lower survivability rate is revealed in extremely obese and obese HCC patients with high expression of ACE2. In addition, the expression of important innate immune-related genes such as IKBKB, MAVS, IRF3, and RELA are found to be significantly increased in HCC patients. Therefore, it might be suggested that obesity and age of the HCC patient along with the involvement of innate immune genes, might be the important triggers for COVID-19 pathogenesis.
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Purpose Although corporate social responsibility is a well-researched concept, very few studies have studied organizational social responsibility in the face of internal/external crises. Therefore, this paper aims to examine various firms' organizational social responses to COVID-19 as an external crisis, particularly in terms of the way organizations use their resources to address social problems and the real intention behind these, and the changing organizational drivers influencing such behaviors. Design/methodology/approach The authors explore the initiatives of seven organizations from three different industries in several countries and their actions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A case study approach was taken to collect data and reach a conclusion. A combination of interviews, online communication using semi-structured questionnaires and documentary information available in the public domain was used to collect data and analyze and triangulate the events. Findings Similar internal resources and capacities of the seven organizations resulted in similar responses as they launched proactive initiatives to prepare sanitizers. This research indicates that these organizations pursued other goals besides economic one. When society needed help, these organizations responded quickly, using and reorganizing their resources to assist communities in need. Different organizations from different sectors all behaved in a similar manner, making genuine contributions to the pandemic as each was uniquely capable of doing. These organizations also used their unique capabilities to offer their resources to local communities and governments. Originality/value During the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts by corporate entities to facilitate social reform and recovery have been seen around the globe. The findings could help in understanding the responses of organizations engaging in socially responsible behaviors to overcome external crises. This paper also identifies changing organizational values and their possible impact on society and overall industry philanthropy practices in the future.
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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is cause of a global pandemic which is demolishing global health and economy. SARS-CoV-2 infected patients are hospitalized with pneumonia where almost 20-30% of patients are led to kidney failure. The entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the systemic circulation leads to acute kidney injury (AKI) which may develop chronic kidney disease (CKD). In addition, patients who are diagnosed with AKI or CKD are at major risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although a significant number of compounds have been proposed and the existing drugs have also been tested for repurposing, no specific therapy has been approved yet. SARS-CoV-2 invades human cells binding to the receptor of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) via the receptor-binding domain. Cells that express ACE2 are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the proportion of ACE2-positive cells in kidney proximal tubule is approximately 4%, indicating that SARS-CoV-2 might damage the kidney tubules leading to fatal kidney injury. Therefore, a better understanding of the potential mechanisms involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection-mediated kidney disease may unveil a novel therapeutic strategy against kidney diseases during COVID-19. © 2020, Bangladesh Society for Microbiology, Immunology and Advanced Biotechnology. All rights reserved.
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Diverse risk factors intercede the outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We conducted this retrospective cohort study with a cohort of 1016 COVID-19 patients diagnosed in May 2020 to identify the risk factors associated with morbidity and mortality outcomes. Data were collected by telephone-interview and reviewing records using a questionnaire and checklist. The study identified morbidity and mortality risk factors on the 28th day of the disease course. The majority of the patients were male (64.1%) and belonged to the age group 25-39 years (39.4%). Urban patients were higher in proportion than rural (69.3% vs. 30.7%). Major comorbidities included 35.0% diabetes mellitus (DM), 28.4% hypertension (HTN), 16.6% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and 7.8% coronary heart disease (CHD). The morbidity rate (not-cured) was 6.0%, and the mortality rate (non-survivor) was 2.5%. Morbidity risk factors included elderly (AOR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.31-4.99), having comorbidity (AOR = 1.43, 95% CI = 0.83-2.47), and smokeless tobacco use (AOR = 2.17, 95% CI = 0.84-5.61). The morbidity risk was higher with COPD (RR = 2.68), chronic kidney disease (CKD) (RR = 3.33) and chronic liver disease (CLD) (RR = 3.99). Mortality risk factors included elderly (AOR = 7.56, 95% CI = 3.19-17.92), having comorbidity (AOR = 5.27, 95% CI = 1.88-14.79) and SLT use (AOR = 1.93, 95% CI = 0.50-7.46). The mortality risk was higher with COPD (RR = 7.30), DM (RR = 2.63), CHD (RR = 4.65), HTN (RR = 3.38), CKD (RR = 9.03), CLD (RR = 10.52) and malignant diseases (RR = 9.73). We must espouse programme interventions considering the morbidity and mortality risk factors to condense the aggressive outcomes of COVID-19.
Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/mortality , Pneumonia, Viral/mortality , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Bangladesh/epidemiology , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Child , Child, Preschool , Comorbidity , End Stage Liver Disease/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Morbidity , Neoplasms/epidemiology , Pandemics , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/epidemiology , Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/epidemiology , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , SARS-CoV-2 , Young AdultABSTRACT
Since the first recorded case of SARS-CoV-2 in Bangladesh on 8th March 2020, COVID-19 has spread widely through different regions of the country, resulting in a necessity to re-evaluate the delivery of cardiovascular services, particularly procedures pertaining to interventional cardiology in resource-limited settings. Given its robust capacity for human-to-human transmission and potential of being a nosocomial source of infection, the disease has specific implications on healthcare systems and health care professionals faced with performing essential cardiac procedures in patients with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. The limited resources in terms of cardiac catheterization laboratories that can be designated to treat only COVID positive patients are further compounded by the additional challenges of unavailability of widespread rapid testing on-site at tertiary cardiac hospitals in Bangladesh. This document prepared for our nation by the Bangladesh Society of Cardiovascular Interventions (BSCI) is intended to serve as a clinical practice guideline for cardiovascular health care professionals, with a focus on modifying standard practice of care during the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to ensure continuation of adequate and timely treatment of cardiovascular emergencies avoiding hospital-based transmission of SARS-COV-2 among healthcare professionals and the patients. This is an evolving document based on currently available global data and is tailored to healthcare systems in Bangladesh with particular focus on, but not limited to, invasive cardiology facilities (cardiac catheterization, electrophysiology & pacing labs). This guideline is limited to the provision of cardiovascular care, and it is expected that specific targeted pharmaco-therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 be prescribed as stipulated by the National Guidelines on Clinical Management of Corona virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) published by the Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh.