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During the second phase of SARS-CoV-2, an unknown fungal infection, identified as black fungus, was transmitted to numerous people among the hospitalized COVID-19 patients and increased the death rate. The black fungus is associated with the Mycolicibacterium smegmatis, Mucor lusitanicus, and Rhizomucor miehei microorganisms. At the same time, other pathogenic diseases, such as the Monkeypox virus and Marburg virus, impacted global health. Policymakers are concerned about these pathogens due to their severe pathogenic capabilities and rapid spread. However, no standard therapies are available to manage and treat those conditions. Since the coptisine has significant antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal properties; therefore, the current investigation has been designed by modifying coptisine to identify an effective drug molecule against Black fungus, Monkeypox, and Marburg virus. After designing the derivatives of coptisine, they have been optimized to get a stable molecular structure. These ligands were then subjected to molecular docking study against two vital proteins obtained from black fungal pathogens: Rhizomucor miehei (PDB ID: 4WTP) and Mycolicibacterium smegmatis (PDB ID 7D6X), and proteins found in Monkeypox virus (PDB ID: 4QWO) and Marburg virus (PDB ID 4OR8). Following molecular docking, other computational investigations, such as ADMET, QSAR, drug-likeness, quantum calculation and molecular dynamics, were also performed to determine their potentiality as antifungal and antiviral inhibitors. The docking score reported that they have strong affinities against Black fungus, Monkeypox virus, and Marburg virus. Then, the molecular dynamic simulation was conducted to determine their stability and durability in the physiological system with water at 100 ns, which documented that the mentioned drugs were stable over the simulated time. Thus, our in silico investigation provides a preliminary report that coptisine derivatives are safe and potentially effective against Black fungus, Monkeypox virus, and Marburg virus. Hence, coptisine derivatives may be a prospective candidate for developing drugs against Black fungus, Monkeypox and Marburg viruses.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has become the most devastating pandemic of the 21st century since its appearance in December 2019. Like other RNA viruses, continuous mutation is common for coronavirus to create several variants and subvariants. The main reason behind this mutation and evolvement of SARS-CoV-2 was its structural spike (S) glycoprotein. Coronavirus has become a threat to global public health due to its high mutation capability and antibody neutralizing capacity. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 5 major variants of concern (VOC) are Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Omicron (B.1.1.529). Recently, different Omicron subvariants have gained worldwide dominance, such as BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, and BA.5. However, there is a discernible drop in this symptomatic sickness globally due to the success of numerous monoclonal antibodies and vaccinations. Here we also discussed the currently dominant Omicron subvariants and the effectiveness of antiviral agents and vaccines. Based on the available data and our knowledge, we can suggest that the global healthcare organizations can decide on the declaration of the end of the pandemic phase of COVID-19 soon; however, the covid-19 will continue.
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Scientists identified SARS-CoV-2 in December 2019 in Wuhan city of China. Soon after its identification, Covid-19 spreads almost everywhere. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Covid-19 outbreak as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Countries are facing multiple waves due to the different variants of the coronavirus. Personal preventive measures, vaccines, and antiviral drugs are the approaches to control Covid-19. However, these approaches are being implemented in different countries at different levels because of the availability of personal protective measures and antiviral agents. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of practicing measures to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Here we searched relevant literature from PubMed and Scopus using the keywords such as personal protective measures, antiviral agents, and vaccine effectiveness. According to the present findings, protective measures were found comparatively less effective. Nevertheless, these measures can be used to limit the spreading of Covid-19. Antiviral agents can reduce the hospitalization rate and are more effective than personal protective measures. The most effective strategy against Covid-19 is early vaccination or multiple vaccination dose. The respective authorities should ensure equal distribution of vaccines, free availability of antiviral drugs, and personal protective measure in poor and developing countries. We recommend more studies to describe the effectiveness of practicing preventive measures and antiviral agents against recent variants of the coronavirus.
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Students' severe affective mental distress has emerged as significant public health attention globally because of the disastrous effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The current study aimed at exploring the prevalence of two alarming psychological distresses, depression and anxiety, among university students following a prolonged shutdown of educational institutions in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional online-based study was conducted by deploying two standard scales to assess the depression and anxiety among Bangladeshi students from various universities amid the 2nd stream of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 568 Bangladeshi university students participated in this questionnaire-based survey through various social media platforms. Frequency and percentage distribution as univariate, chi-square (χ2) test as bivariate, and logistic regression as multivariate analyses were applied to investigate the prevalence of depression and anxiety and their associated various sociodemographic factors. After cleaning and eliminating the partial data, we analyzed 465 responses, where 42% were female and 64.3% were from public universities. Both mental disorders were prevalent in more than 50% of Bangladeshi university students. The students from the private universities were two times and 2.7 times more depressed and anxious, respectively than the students from the public universities. In addition, the students who became incomeless had significantly more anxiety (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.711;p = 0.018) than those who did not lose income source during the COVID-19 lockdown. The present study revealed that more than 50% of Bangladeshi university students were suffering from depression and anxiety. Several effective measures must be assured by the concerted efforts of university authorities, educationalists, and the Government to alleviate these distressing mental health burdens.
RESUMEN
Scientists identified SARS-CoV-2 in December 2019 in Wuhan city of China. Soon after its identification, Covid-19 spreads almost everywhere. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Covid-19 outbreak as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Countries are facing multiple waves due to the different variants of the coronavirus. Personal preventive measures, vaccines, and antiviral drugs are the approaches to control Covid-19. However, these approaches are being implemented in different countries at different levels because of the availability of personal protective measures and antiviral agents. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of practicing measures to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Here we searched relevant literature from PubMed and Scopus using the keywords such as personal protective measures, antiviral agents, and vaccine effectiveness. According to the present findings, protective measures were found comparatively less effective. Nevertheless, these measures can be used to limit the spreading of Covid-19. Antiviral agents can reduce the hospitalization rate and are more effective than personal protective measures. The most effective strategy against Covid-19 is early vaccination or multiple vaccination dose. The respective authorities should ensure equal distribution of vaccines, free availability of antiviral drugs, and personal protective measure in poor and developing countries. We recommend more studies to describe the effectiveness of practicing preventive measures and antiviral agents against recent variants of the coronavirus.
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[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10890.].
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Background and Aims: Problematic internet use (PIU) by children and adolescents is a concern for many parents. Several factors, including students' education level, the method of instruction, the dependence on the internet, and their intended use of the internet, could all be contributing factors to PIU and depression. Disturbed mental health may be attributed to the cancellation of physical education classes because of the COVID-19 outbreak. This study aimed to assess the association of COVID-19 pandemic with PIU and depressive symptoms in adolescent students. Methods: We performed this cross-sectional study among 491 school-going adolescents of 10 to 16 years. Self-administered questionnaires were applied to collect sociodemographic information and the internet usage pattern of the participants. We measured the prevalence of PIU and depressive symptoms using the PIU questionnaire (PIUQ-SF-6) and patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Results: The estimations of the risk group for PIU and depressive symptoms among school-going adolescents were 80.04% and 77.80%, respectively. The latent profiling of PIU scores for obsession, neglect, and control sub-groups were 5.82, 6.12, and 6.35, respectively. Moreover, we observed mild, moderate, and severe depressive symptoms in 48.68%, 27.70%, and 1.43% of cases. Age, education level, medium of education, financial impression, internet connection, the device used, the purpose for internet use, and the living status of respondents were significantly associated with the PIU. Reported mental health issues was associated with education level, medium of education, financial impression, and internet connection. Conclusion: The present study revealed an association of PIU and depressive symptoms with sociodemographic factors and internet usage patterns. Therefore, these results might have practical implications in clinical psychology, psychiatry, and psychotherapy. The healthcare professional can develop a context-specific comprehensive clinical intervention plan for children and adolescents.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has had a far-reaching effect on the education system, leading to some changes in the conventional education system. Educational institutions are adopting alternative methods to adapt to the changed situation. The purpose of this study is to explore the changes that have taken place in the education system due to the pandemic situation. A qualitative phenomenological approach has been used to conduct the study. To get a complete picture of the shifting paradigm of the education system, two interview methods such as In-depth Interviews (IDI), Key Informant Interviews (KII) have been adopted. Interviews were taken from 15 respondents. A purposive sampling technique has been used to reach the target sample. A semi-structured questionnaire has been developed to collect necessary data. The findings of this study showed that COVID-19 pandemic has led to changes in various components of the education system. Curriculum, syllabus, assessment method, teaching method, learning method, etc., have changed in the education system. The elements of education are shifting from offline to online. The use of online-based learning materials is increasing. The curriculum has been made more flexible with a more compressed and shortened syllabus to suit the students learning under such unforeseen circumstances. Faculty should promote online study groups so that those groups can assist in providing additional support throughout specific courses. The education policy should be changed by the Bangladesh government to adapt to the changed situation.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has tremendously affected the physical and mental health of people at all levels worldwide. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and contributing factors for mental health problems among female university students in the urban area of Bangladesh. We conducted this online cross-sectional study among 451 female university students. Here we assessed the symptomatic prevalence of common mental health problems among the participants. The prevalence rate of loneliness, anxiety, and depressive symptoms among female university students in Bangladesh was 55.88%, 69.18%, and 45.23%, respectively. Also, we noticed that mild, moderate, and severe symptoms of loneliness, generalized anxiety, and depression were 36.90%, 40.48%, and 22.62%; 48.08%, 22.44%, and 29.48%; and 37.31%, 26.87%, and 35.52%; respectively. According to the present study results, marital status, financial condition, education level, and family structure (nuclear/joint) are potential contributing factors to mental health problems among female university students living in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the academic performance and emotional well-being of students in Bangladesh. Also, the closure of university classes for a long time in Bangladesh was responsible for the poor mental health of students. Promoting good mental health has become a vital public health concern during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Female university students residing in urban areas in Bangladesh are more prone to developing mental health problems during any crisis. Therefore, the healthcare authorities of Bangladesh should promote the good mental health of students during and after the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Keeping in touch with students to support them psychologically and mentally during the pandemic is crucial for promoting their good mental health.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has become the most devastating pandemic of the 21st century since its appearance in December 2019. Like other RNA viruses, continuous mutation is common for coronavirus to create several variants and subvariants. The main reason behind this mutation and evolvement of SARS-CoV-2 was its structural spike (S) glycoprotein. Coronavirus has become a threat to global public health due to its high mutation capability and antibody neutralizing capacity. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 5 major variants of concern (VOC) are Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Omicron (B.1.1.529). Recently, different Omicron subvariants have gained worldwide dominance, such as BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, and BA.5. However, there is a discernible drop in this symptomatic sickness globally due to the success of numerous monoclonal antibodies and vaccinations. Here we also discussed the currently dominant Omicron subvariants and the effectiveness of antiviral agents and vaccines. Based on the available data and our knowledge, we can suggest that the global healthcare organizations can decide on the declaration of the end of the pandemic phase of COVID-19 soon;however, the covid-19 will continue.
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The Hijra community is marginalized in social, political, and economic life and especially stigmatized in society. It is their birthright to make use of society's opportunities and amenities. This overview aimed to summarize the stigma, prejudice, exclusions, and discriminatory attitudes toward third-gender populations (Hijra) in Bangladesh from the mainstream society based on a critical assessment of available data and evidence. The paper also explored the socio-economic situation of the third-gender community in Bangladesh regarding income, education, health, housing, social relations, and outcome through a critical literature review. Here, we have highlighted the magnitudes of social exclusion that the Hijra minority group in Bangladesh experiences. The Hijra in Bangladesh faces severe mistreatment due to socio-cultural norms. This minority group suffers from extreme social, cultural, political, and economic exclusion in Bangladesh. Their livelihood is different than other communities in the society. The primary source of income for hijras in Bangladesh is begging and prostitution. They have no access within civil society, even in times of recreational and marital practices. People are unreasonably afraid of their presence in public places. Apart from that, they are physically and psychologically abused and deprived of appropriate medical and civil support. Hijras are deprived of government facilities and are accustomed to miserable lifestyles in Bangladesh. They are the most vulnerable and disadvantaged minority as they lack access to quality services, health care, and employment opportunities. Social recognition and financial independence may be the first step to alleviating discrimination toward the third-gender population. Government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should be concerned about ensuring the rights of the Hijra community must be protected.
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Background and Aims: The ongoing public health emergency has created incredible fear of getting the infection and a terrible psychological burden among all levels. The pandemic has severely affected private job holders' economic status and lifestyle factors in Bangladesh. Here we aimed to assess fear and depressive symptoms among private job holders in Bangladesh during the Covid-19 pandemic and associated risk factors. Methods: We conducted this online cross-sectional survey between January 15, 2021, and March 15, 2021, among 510 private job holders aged above 18 years. We followed the convenience sampling method for data collection. We assessed sociodemographic factors and two psychometric parameters. We applied the Fear of Covid-19 Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to assess increased fear and depressive symptoms, respectively. Chi-square test, independent sample t-test, and binary logistic regression analysis were performed for data analysis. Results: The prevalence of increased fear and depressive symptoms were 86.27% and 42.16%, respectively. Factors associated with increased fear among private job holders during COVID-19 were economic class, obesity, on-time salary, company's downsizing policy, salary reduction, home office, and transportation facilities. However, depressive symptoms were associated with marital status, education level, residence area, the organizational practice of health safety rules, company performance, on-time salary, health insurance, downsizing, salary reduction policy, organization type, transportation, and mental health support at work. The present study also noticed some interrelations among the above factors with mental health issues. Conclusion: Based on the present findings, we recommend actionable items to improve the mental health of private job holders in Bangladesh due to the ongoing pandemic. Authorities can develop mental health support programs and efficient Covid-19 response systems. The policymakers and regulatory bodies might take some initiatives to promote mental health in the private sector in Bangladesh.
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We have seen an alarming increase in diarrhea prevalence amid Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) in Bangladesh. Healthcare professionals might face difficulty in diagnosis as these two infectious diseases have some common symptoms. Though there are confirmatory diagnostic tests for individual cases, there are chances of misdiagnosis as co-infections occur. Here we presented distinct clinical features of diarrhea and COVID-19 for differential diagnosis. We demonstrated the common overlapping symptoms of these two infectious diseases to facilitate fast diagnosis of patients. Also, we have discussed possible reasons for this upsurge of diarrheal infections in Bangladesh. Finally, we have made some recommendations based on our findings for managing this upsurge of diarrheal disease during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. The healthcare authorities should take immediate measures before the tremendous twin effects of these two infectious diseases.
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Objectives: This current study aims to assess the prevalence and factors associated with body mass index (BMI), dietary patterns, and the extent of physical activities among university students following the prolonged coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown in Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted between July 10 to August 10, 2021, through a pre-designed Google Form to collect the data from Bangladeshi university students (age: ≥18 years). Informed consent was electronically obtained from each participant, and a simple snowball technique was employed during the sampling. Frequency and percentage distribution, paired t-test, chi-square [χ2] test, and multinomial and binary logistic regression analyses were consecutively applied to analyze the collected data. Results: Among the total participants (n = 1,602), 45.1% were female and 55.6% were 22-25 years' age group students. The BMI (mean ± standard deviation, SD) during the COVID-19 lockdown was 23.52 ± 7.68 kg/m2, which was 22.77 ± 4.11 kg/m2 during the pre-lockdown period (mean difference = 0.753; p < 0.001). The multinomial logistic regression analysis found a significant impact of gender [male vs. female: adjusted relative risk ratio (RRR) = 1.448; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.022, 2.053; p = 0.037], age (years) (<22 vs. >25: RRR =0.389, 95% CI = 0.213,0.710; p = 0.002, and 22-25 vs. >25: RRR = 0.473, 95% CI = 0.290, 0.772; p = 0.003), monthly family income (BDT) (<25,000 vs. >50,000: RRR = 0.525, 95% CI = 0.334,0.826; p = 0.005), university type (public vs. private: RRR = 0.540, 95% CI = 0.369, 0.791; p = 0.002), eating larger meals/snacks (increased vs. unchanged: RRR = 2.401, 95% CI = 1.597, 3.610; p < 0.001 and decreased vs. unchanged: RRR = 1.893, 95% CI = 1.218, 2.942; p = 0.005), and verbally or physically abuse (yes vs. no: RRR = 1.438, 95% CI = 0.977, 2.116; p = 0.066) on obesity during COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, the female students and those who have constant eating habits, were more likely to be underweight. Additionally, the binary logistic regression analysis found that the students from private universities [others vs. private: adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.461, 95% CI = 0.313, 0.680; p < 0.001], urban areas (urban vs. rural: AOR = 1.451, 95% CI = 1.165, 1.806; p = 0.001), wealthier families (<25,000 BDT vs. >50,000 BDT: AOR = 0.727, 95% CI = 0.540, 0.979; p = 0.036), and who were taking larger meals/snacks (increased vs. unchanged: AOR = 2.806, 95% CI = 2.190, 3.596; p < 0.001) and had conflicts/arguments with others (no vs. yes: AOR = 0.524, 95% CI = 0.418, 0.657; p < 0.001), were significantly more physically inactive. Finally, the level of education and smoking habits significantly influenced the eating habits of university students during the extended strict lockdown in Bangladesh. Conclusion: The current findings would be helpful tools and evidence for local and international public health experts and policymakers to reverse these worsening effects on students mediated by the prolonged lockdown. Several effective plans, programs, and combined attempts must be earnestly implemented to promote a smooth academic and daily life.
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Medicinal plants have considerable potential as antimicrobial agents due to the presence of secondary metabolites. This comprehensive overview aims to summarize the classification, morphology, and ethnobotanical uses of Euphorbia neriifolia L. and its derived phytochemicals with the recent updates on the pharmacological properties against emerging infectious diseases, mainly focusing on bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections. The data were collected from electronic databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Semantic Scholar, ScienceDirect, and SpringerLink by utilizing several keywords like 'Euphorbia neriifolia', 'phytoconstituents', 'traditional uses', 'ethnopharmacological uses', 'infectious diseases', 'molecular mechanisms', 'COVID-19', 'bacterial infection', 'viral infection', etc. The results related to the antimicrobial actions of these plant extracts and their derived phytochemicals were carefully reviewed and summarized. Euphol, monohydroxy triterpene, nerifoliol, taraxerol, ß-amyrin, glut-5-(10)-en-1-one, neriifolione, and cycloartenol are the leading secondary metabolites reported in phytochemical investigations. These chemicals have been shown to possess a wide spectrum of biological functions. Different extracts of E. neriifolia exerted antimicrobial activities against various pathogens to different extents. Moreover, major phytoconstituents present in this plant, such as quercetin, rutin, friedelin, taraxerol, epitaraxerol, taraxeryl acetate, 3ß-friedelanol, 3ß-acetoxy friedelane, 3ß-simiarenol, afzelin, 24-methylene cycloarenol, ingenol triacetate, and ß-amyrin, showed significant antimicrobial activities against various pathogens that are responsible for emerging infectious diseases. This plant and the phytoconstituents, such as flavonoids, monoterpenoids, diterpenoids, triterpenoids, and alkaloids, have been found to have significant antimicrobial properties. The current evidence suggests that they might be used as leads in the development of more effective drugs to treat emerging infectious diseases, including the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Asunto(s)
Tratamiento Farmacológico de COVID-19 , Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes , Euphorbia , Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes/tratamiento farmacológico , Etnobotánica , Etnofarmacología , Humanos , Fitoquímicos/farmacología , Fitoquímicos/uso terapéutico , Fitoterapia , Extractos Vegetales/farmacologíaRESUMEN
Students' severe affective mental distress has emerged as significant public health attention globally because of the disastrous effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The current study aimed at exploring the prevalence of two alarming psychological distresses, depression and anxiety, among university students following a prolonged shutdown of educational institutions in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional online-based study was conducted by deploying two standard scales to assess the depression and anxiety among Bangladeshi students from various universities amid the 2nd stream of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 568 Bangladeshi university students participated in this questionnaire-based survey through various social media platforms. Frequency and percentage distribution as univariate, chi-square (χ2) test as bivariate, and logistic regression as multivariate analyses were applied to investigate the prevalence of depression and anxiety and their associated various sociodemographic factors. After cleaning and eliminating the partial data, we analyzed 465 responses, where 42% were female and 64.3% were from public universities. Both mental disorders were prevalent in more than 50% of Bangladeshi university students. The students from the private universities were two times and 2.7 times more depressed and anxious, respectively than the students from the public universities. In addition, the students who became incomeless had significantly more anxiety (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.711; p = 0.018) than those who did not lose income source during the COVID-19 lockdown. The present study revealed that more than 50% of Bangladeshi university students were suffering from depression and anxiety. Several effective measures must be assured by the concerted efforts of university authorities, educationalists, and the Government to alleviate these distressing mental health burdens.