Self-reported long COVID-19 symptoms are rare among vaccinated healthcare workers.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected healthcare workers (HCWs). Here, we evaluate the occurence of long-COVID-19 symtoms among HCWs. METHODS: This is a questionnaire-based study of HCWs who had COVID-19 in two medical centers in Saudi Arabia and were mostly vaccinated. RESULTS: The study included 243 HCWs with a mean age (+ SD) of 36.1 (+ 7.6) years. Of them, 223 (91.8%) had three doses of COVID-19 vaccine, 12 (4.9%) had four doses, and 5 (2.1%) had two doses. The most common symptoms at the start of the illness were cough (180, 74.1%), shortness of breath (124, 51%), muscle ache (117, 48.1%), headache (113, 46.5%), sore throat (111, 45.7%), diarrhea (109, 44.9%) and loss of taste (108, 44.4%). Symptoms lasted for< one week in 117 (48.1%),> one week and< 1 month in 89 (36.6%),> 2 months and< 3 months in 9 (3.7%), and> 3 months in 15 (6.2%). The main symptoms present> 3 months were hair loss (8, 3.3%), cough (5, 2.1%), and diarrhea (5, 2.1%). A binomial regression analysis showed no relationship between persistence of symptoms for> 3 months and other demographic or clinical symptoms characteristics. CONCLUSION: The study showed a low rate of the occurence of long-COVID> 3 months during the Omicron-wave among mostly vaccinated HCWs with no significant comorbidities. Furhter studies are needed to examine the effect of different vaccines on long-COVID-19 among HCWs.

Nano-Enabled Strategies for the Treatment of Lung Cancer: Potential Bottlenecks and Future Perspectives.

On a global scale, lung cancer is acknowledged to be the major driver of cancer death attributable to treatment challenges and poor prognosis. Classical cancer treatment regimens, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, can be used to treat lung cancer, but the appended adverse effects limit them. Because of the numerous side effects associated with these treatment modalities, it is crucial to strive to develop novel and better strategies for managing lung cancer. Attributes such as enhanced bioavailability, better in vivo stability, intestinal absorption pattern, solubility, prolonged and targeted distribution, and the superior therapeutic effectiveness of numerous anticancer drugs have all been boosted with the emergence of nano-based therapeutic systems. Lipid-based polymeric and inorganic nano-formulations are now being explored for the targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics for lung cancer treatment. Nano-based approaches are pioneering the route for primary and metastatic lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. The implementation and development of innovative nanocarriers for drug administration, particularly for developing cancer therapies, is an intriguing and challenging task in the scientific domain. The current article provides an overview of the delivery methods, such as passive and active targeting for chemotherapeutics to treat lung cancer. Combinatorial drug therapy and techniques to overcome drug resistance in lung cancer cells, as potential ways to increase treatment effectiveness, are also discussed. In addition, the clinical studies of the potential therapies at different stages and the associated challenges are also presented. A summary of patent literature has also been included to keep readers aware of the new and innovative nanotechnology-based ways to treat lung cancer.

Modulatory Impacts of Multi-Strain Probiotics on Rabbits' Growth, Nutrient Transporters, Tight Junctions and Immune System to Fight against Listeria monocytogenes Infection.

Multi-strain probiotics (MSP) are considered innovative antibiotics' substitutes supporting superior gut health and immunity of farmed rabbits. The promising roles of MSP on performance, intestinal immunity, integrity and transporters, and resistance against Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) were evaluated. In the feeding trial, 220 rabbits were fed a control diet or diet supplemented with three MSP graded levels. At 60 days of age, rabbits were experimentally infected with L. monocytogenes and the positive control, enrofloxacin, prophylactic MSP (MSPP), and prophylactic and therapeutic MSP (MSPTT) groups were included. During the growing period, MSP at the level of 1 × 108 CFU/kg diet (MSPIII) promoted the rabbits' growth, upregulated the nutrient transporters and tight-junction-related genes, and modified cytokines expression. Supplementing MSPTT for L. monocytogenes experimentally-infected rabbits restored the impaired growth and intestinal barriers, reduced clinical signs of severity and mortalities, and attenuated the excessive inflammatory reactions. Notably, enrofloxacin decreased L. monocytogenes and beneficial microbial loads; unlike MSPTT, which decreased pathogenic bacterial loads and sustained the beneficial ones. Histopathological changes were greatly reduced in MSPTT, confirming its promising role in restricting L. monocytogenes translocation to different organs. Therefore, our results suggest the use of MSPTT as an alternative to antibiotics, thereby conferring protection for rabbits against L. monocytogenes infection.

Risk Factors For Heat Related Deaths During The June 2015 Heat Wave In Karachi, Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Mortality as a consequence of heat related illness is a public health concern. Emergency department (ED) experiences increased patients' flow and decreased survival as a consequence of heat stroke during the episodes of heat wave. The present study was conducted to identify the risk factors for mortality among victims of heat wave (17th - 23rd June), 2015 evaluated in the Emergency Department of The Indus Hospital (TIH), Karachi. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study data was retrospectively collected. Out of 2278 patients, 150 patients who satisfied the inclusion criteria (core body temperature >38 °C, dehydrated and CNS dysfunction without infection) were included. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21 (IBM). RESULTS: Among 150 patients included for analysis, the mortality was observed in twenty-four patients (16%). Majority (64.7%) of the patients included in this retrospective study were males and older with median age of 51.5 years. It was identified that non-survivors had significantly lower diastolic blood pressure and oxygen saturation compared to survivors along with higher median reparatory rate, pulse rate, temperature, and length of stay in emergency, shock index, and proportion of unconscious level. CONCLUSIONS: The study concluded that heat stroke patients with decreased diastolic blood pressure and oxygen saturation as well as patients with increased shock index, low conscious level and higher core temperature, respiratory and pulse rate should be considered for more intensive management in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to decrease mortality rate during future heat stroke episodes.

Monitoring of pesticides water pollution-The Egyptian River Nile.

BACKGROUND: Persistent organic pollutants represent about 95 % of the industrial sector effluents in Egypt. Contamination of the River Nile water with various pesticides poses a hazardous risk to both human and environmental compartments. Therefore, a large scale monitoring study was carried on pesticides pollution in three geographical main regions along the River Nil water stream, Egypt. METHODS: Organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction and analyzed by GC-ECD. RESULTS: Organochlorine pesticides mean concentrations along the River Nile water samples were 0.403, 1.081, 1.209, 3.22, and 1.192 µg L-1 for endrin, dieldrin, p, p'-DDD, p, p'-DDT, and p, p'-DDE, respectively. Dieldrin, p, p'-DDT, and p, p'-DDE were above the standard guidelines of the World Health Organization. Detected organophosphorus pesticides were Triazophos (2.601 µg L-1), Quinalphos (1.91 µg L-1), fenitrothion (1.222 µg L-1), Ethoprophos (1.076 µg L-1), chlorpyrifos (0.578 µg L-1), ethion (0.263 µg L-1), Fenamiphos (0.111 µg L-1), and pirimiphos-methyl (0.04 µg L-1). Toxicity characterization of organophosphorus pesticides according to water quality guidelines indicated the hazardous risk of detected chemicals to the public and to the different environmental compartments. The spatial distribution patterns of detected pesticides reflected the reverse relationship between regional temperature and organochlorine pesticides distribution. However, organophosphorus was distributed according to the local inputs of pollutant compounds. CONCLUSIONS: Toxicological and water quality standards data revealed the hazardous risk of detected pesticides in the Egyptian River Nile water to human and aquatic life. Thus, our monitoring data will provide viewpoints by which stricter legislation and regulatory controls can be admitted to avoid River Nile pesticide water pollution.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls Water Pollution along the River Nile, Egypt.

Ten polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were determined in water samples collected along the River Nile using gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD). PCB concentrations ranged from 14 to 20 µg/L, which were higher than those reported in previous studies, indicating serious PCB pollution in the River Nile. PCB congener profiles varied depending on the sampling sties. PCB-138 was the predominant congener accounting for more than 18% of total PCBs. The composition of PCB congeners in the water revealed that highly chlorinated PCB technical mixtures such as Aroclor 1254 was the main PCB production historically used in Egypt. An increasing trend in PCB levels from the upper stream to the Nile estuaries was observed. The calculated flux of PCBs indicated that 6.8 tons of PCBs is dumped into the Mediterranean Sea each year from the River Nile. The hazard quotients and carcinogenic risk caused by PCB pollution in the River Nile were above the acceptable level indicating that PCBs in the River Nile water pose adverse health effects for all age groups. Our findings revealed that PCBs possess a serious risk to the Egyptian population that depends mainly on the River Nile as a source of water. Thus, stricter legislation and regulatory controls should be applied to reduce the risk of PCBs in Egypt.

Diabetic patients and ramadan / Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies

@#More than 50 million people with diabetes mellitus fast during Ramadan, a religious obligation for all healthy adult Muslims. Fasting leads to several physiological changes in the body and these may result in acute complications in persons with uncontrolled diabetes such as hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, dehydration and thrombosis. Evidence from existing literature guides the physicians in their assessment of Muslim patients with diabetes who wish to fast. Assessment should include risk stratification based on existing control of diabetes and its chronic complications. In the light of this assessment medical recommendation is given which includes dose modification of oral medication and insulin, dietary advice and structured patient education.