Omicron variant in COVID-19 current pandemic: a reason for apprehension.

COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China, but was caused by the original coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2). In early 2020, there was a widespread breakout of cases well over world, resulting in an epidemic that rapidly escalated to become a pandemic. This abruptly shook the global healthcare system. The emergence of the alpha, beta, and delta SARS-CoV-2 were associated with new waves of infections, sometimes across the entire world but until this month i.e., between Nov-Dec, 2021, Delta variant reigned supreme until the emergence of a newer variant i.e., Omicron (B.1.1.529) of SARS-CoV-2. Delta had 13 mutations. Of these, nine are in the spike protein, the protrusion on the surface of the virus that helps it latch onto human cells. Specifically, two are in a molecular hook, called the "receptor-binding domain". Omicron, a creation caused by monstrous mutations. At least 32 mutations are in the spike protein and 10 in the receptor-binding domain. was designated a COVID-19 variant of concern (VoC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 26th November 2021. Structurally, the omicron variant has shown too mutated at antibody binding sites which would leverage them for escaping the possible immune response by the body. We don't yet know much about the other alterations and how they might affect the virus's behavior. Omicron COVID-19 strain after identifying individuals with symptoms that were not the same as those seen in the Delta form. People with night sweats have also been reported. The new omicron variant has more mutations than the prevailing rampant delta virus. This makes the newer variant more transmissible, better able to evade itself from various vaccines readily available in the current scenario. These overall increases in the percentage changes in a single day cases of COVID-19 reported cases can be attributed to the beginning of third wave or can be speculated as newer surge of omicron variant cases. Yet another new variant has been detected in France with 46 mutations and 37 deletions in its genetic code, many affecting the spike protein. 'B.1.640.2' is the current nomenclature for this variation.

Rare Clinical Presentation in a Case of Pediatric Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Rehabilitation Outcome.

Nearly half of patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) have cranial nerve involvement. Ocular muscle weakness or ophthalmoplegia occurs in ~10% of these patients. Patients presenting with bilateral ptosis, with or without ophthalmoplegia, is a rare finding. Anti-GQ1b antibody has been found in Miller Fisher syndrome and GBS with ophthalmoplegia variants. We report a case of GBS in a young boy presenting with rare presentation of tetraplegia, bilateral ptosis, and facial palsy, no ataxia but ophthalmoplegia with seronegative anti-GQ1b antibody. Patient showed recovery in cranial nerves involvement as well as with motor and functional recovery after 3 weeks of inpatient rehabilitation (Barthel Index score improved to 60/100 at the time of discharge from 20/100 at the time of admission). He was independent for most of the activity of daily livings including ambulation at the time of discharge from rehabilitation unit ( p < 0.001).

Assessment of periodontitis and its role in viridans streptococcal bacteremia and infective endocarditis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the role of periodontitis in viridans group streptococci (VGS) bacteremia and infective endocarditis (IE). METHODS: A total of 200 subjects including two groups. Group A- 34 subjects undergoing tooth extraction with periodontitis, 46 subjects undergoing tooth extraction without periodontitis and 40 healthy controls. Group B: 40 confirmed cases of IE (17 with and 23 without periodontitis) and 40 healthy controls. Subgingival plaque and blood samples were obtained and processed by standard procedures. RESULTS: A total of 53 blood samples (66.25%) yielded positive cultures after tooth extraction. The relationship between the presence of periodontitis and a positive blood culture was significantly higher (p=0.05) for tooth extraction cases with periodontitis (79.40%) than tooth extraction cases without periodontitis (56.50%). Periodontitis was observed in 42.5% of IE cases. Out of the 40 patients of IE, the blood samples yielded 40 different isolates, majority were viridans streptococci 15 (37.5%) and staphylococci nine (22.5%). No statistically significant difference was observed between the subgingival plaque and blood isolates of periodontitis in both the groups, indicating similarity of biotypes of viridans streptococci isolated from the blood and the subgingival plaque. Similarity was also observed between the antibiogram profiles of viridans streptococci from both the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Periodontitis enhances viridans streptococcal bacteremia and may be a potential risk factor for IE.

Morbidity pattern and its sociodemographic determinants among elderly population of Raichur district, Karnataka, India.

CONTEXT: India is an "aging nation" with 7.7% of its population being above 60 years of age. It has resulted in a rise of both physical and mental health morbidities. AIMS: This study aimed to gather information regarding the morbidity pattern and its sociodemographic determinants among the elderly residing in the rural villages of Raichur, to understand the need for geriatric health-care facilities. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in six rural villages of Raichur District, of which 230 elderly were selected randomly. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The data were collected using a questionnaire, clinical history, examination, and cross-checking of medical records. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were analyzed using Epi Info version-3.5.3. RESULTS: The prevalence of morbidity was 91.7% with an average of 3/person. Females (58.9%) had more morbidities than men (41.1%). The 3 most common morbidities were orthopedic (50.5%), cataract (50.4%), and respiratory (31.3%). 26.6% suffered from gastrointestinal morbidities while 23.9% had dental problems. 20.9% had hypertension with equal prevalence among both sexes. Only 17.4% were diabetics with majority being women. Central nervous system morbidities were 14.2% while 9.6% suffered from hearing loss and varicose veins. 8.2% had genitourinary-urinary morbidities and incontinence (1.7%) was common among both sexes. Depression (71.1%) and dermatological morbidities (4.7%) were prevalent among women. Only 3.5% suffered from cardiac morbidity and 0.4% from cancer. Significant association was found between age and morbidity and also between socioeconomic class and morbidity pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Geriatric care should become an integral part of primary health care. Regular screening and Information, Education, and Communication activities need to be provided early in life for ensuring healthy aging.

Comparison of lip prints in two different populations of India: Reflections based on a preliminary examination.

BACKGROUND: Dental records, fingerprint, and DNA comparisons are probably the most common techniques used for a person's identification, allowing fast and secure identification processes. However, sometimes it is necessary to apply different and less known techniques such as lip prints. The potential of lip prints to determine sex has been well exhibited and documented. However, very few studies have been conducted using lip prints for population identification. OBJECTIVE: To determine the predominant lip print patterns in males and females in relation to Kerala and Manipuri population and also to compare the lip print patterns between these populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample comprised of 60 subjects, which included 30 each from Kerala and Manipuri. Lipstick was applied evenly, and the lip print was obtained by dabbing a strip of cellophane. The classification scheme proposed by Tsuchihashi was used to classify the lip print patterns and the data were statistically analyzed using the z-test for proportions. RESULTS: Type 4 and Type 5 lip print patterns were predominant in males, whereas in females it was Type 1 and Type 1'. Type 1 pattern was most common in both the populations, with an incidence of 28.33%. Furthermore, Type 1 pattern was found to be more in Kerala females and Manipuri males when compared to their counterparts. Type 1 was most common in upper right, upper left, and lower left quadrants whereas in lower right quadrant, Type 1' and Type 4 were predominant in Kerala and Type 5 in Manipuri population. CONCLUSION: Difference between the lip print patterns in two populations exists, although subtle. However, larger sample size is necessary to derive concrete conclusions.