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Background and AimsThere is limited data available on longitudinal humoral antibody dynamics following two doses of ChAdOx1-nCOV (CovishieldTM) and BBV-152 (CovaxinTM) vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 among Indians. MethodsWe conducted a 6-month longitudinal study in vaccinated healthcare workers by serially measuring quantitative anti-spike antibody at 3-weeks, 3-months and 6- months after the completion of second dose. Geometric mean titer (GMT) and linear mixed models were used to assess the dynamics of antibody levels at 6 months. ResultsOf the 481 participants, GMT of anti-spike antibody decreased by 56% at 6- months regardless of demographics and comorbidities in 360 SARS-CoV-2 naive individuals, significantly in hypertensives. Participants with past infection had significantly higher GMT at all time points compared to naive individuals. Among SARS-CoV-2 naive cohorts, a significantly higher GMT was noted amongst the Covishield recipients at all time points, but there was a 44% decline in GMT at 6- month compared to peak titer period. Decline in GMT was insignificant (8%) in Covaxin recipients at 6-month despite a lower GMT at all time points vs. Covishield. There was 5.6-fold decrease in seropositivity rate at 6-month with both vaccines. Participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus have a lower seropositivity rate at all the time points. While seropositivity rate was significantly higher with Covishield vs. Covaxin at all time points except at 6-month where Covaxin recipients had a higher seropositivity, although no difference in seropositivity was noted in propensity-matched analysis. ConclusionsThere is waning humoral antibody response following two doses of either vaccine at six months. HighlightsO_LIWe assessed humoral antibody dynamics following two doses of the two vaccines used in India until 6 months. C_LIO_LIOur study of 481 health care workers showed a significant decrease in the anti-spike antibody at 6-months. C_LIO_LIReduction in antibody was regardless of demographics, comorbidities and the vaccine type. C_LIO_LIT2DM cohorts had lowest seropositivity, while hypertensive had significant antibody decline at 6-month. C_LI
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Recent developments in three-dimensional (3D) printing technology offer immense potential in fabricating scaffolds and implants for various biomedical applications, especially for bone repair and regeneration. As the availability of autologous bone sources and commercial products is limited and surgical methods do not help in complete regeneration, it is necessary to develop alternative approaches for repairing large segmental bone defects. The 3D printing technology can effectively integrate different types of living cells within a 3D construct made up of conventional micro- or nanoscale biomaterials to create an artificial bone graft capable of regenerating the damaged tissues. This article reviews the developments and applications of 3D printing in bone tissue engineering and highlights the numerous conventional biomaterials and nanomaterials that have been used in the production of 3D-printed scaffolds. A comprehensive overview of the 3D printing methods such as stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), fused deposition modeling (FDM), and ink-jet 3D printing, and their technical and clinical applications in bone repair and regeneration has been provided. The review is expected to be useful for readers to gain an insight into the state-of-the-art of 3D printing of bone substitutes and their translational perspectives.
Subject(s)
Biocompatible Materials/chemistry , Bone Substitutes , Nanostructures/chemistry , Printing, Three-Dimensional , Tissue Engineering/methods , Alloys/chemistry , Animals , Bone Substitutes/chemistry , Bone and Bones/physiology , Humans , Lasers , Printing, Three-Dimensional/instrumentation , Regeneration , Stereolithography , Titanium/chemistryABSTRACT
BackgroundWe assessed the humoral immune response after the completion of two doses of both ChAdOx1-nCOV (Covishield) and BBV-152 (Covaxin) vaccines in Indian health care workers (HCW). MethodA Pan-India, Cross-sectional, Coronavirus Vaccine-induced Antibody Titre (COVAT) study was conducted that measured SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike binding antibody quantitatively, 21 days or more after the first and second dose of two vaccines in both severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) naive and recovered HCW. Primary aim was to analyze antibody response (seropositivity rate and median [inter-quartile range, IQR] antibody titre) following each dose of both vaccines and its correlation to age, sex, blood group, body mass index (BMI) and comorbidities. Here we report the final results of anti-spike antibody response after the two completed doses. ResultsAmong the 515 HCW (305 Male, 210 Female), 95.0% showed seropositivity after two doses of both vaccines. Of the 425 Covishield and 90 Covaxin recipients, 98.1% and 80.0% respectively, showed seropositivity. However, both seropositivity rate and median (IQR) rise in anti-spike antibody was significantly higher in Covishield vs. Covaxin recipient (98.1 vs. 80.0%; 127.0 vs. 53 AU/mL; both p<0.001). This difference persisted in 457 SARS-CoV-2 naive cohorts and propensity-matched (age, sex and BMI) analysis of 116 cohorts. While no difference was observed in relation to sex, BMI, blood group and any comorbidities; people with age >60 years or those with type 2 diabetes had a significantly lower seropositivity rates. Both vaccine recipients had similar solicited mild to moderate adverse events and none had severe or unsolicited side effects. In SARS-CoV-2 naive cohorts, sex, presence of comorbidities, and vaccine type were independent predictors of antibody positivity rate in multiple logistic regression analysis. ConclusionsBoth vaccines elicited good immune response after two doses, although seropositivity rates and median anti-spike antibody titre was significantly higher in Covishield compared to Covaxin arm. HighlightsO_LIThis study evaluated the humoral antibody response after 2 doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine Covishield and Covaxin in Indian health-care workers. C_LIO_LICombined results of both vaccines showed 95% seropositivity to anti-spike antibody, 21-36 days after the second completed dose. C_LIO_LISeropositivity rates were higher in Covishield recipients compared to Covaxin in the propensity-matched analysis of SARS-CoV-2 naive cohorts. C_LIO_LIGender, presence of comorbidities and the type of vaccine received were independent predictors of antibody response after the second dose. C_LI
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BackgroundTwo vaccines are currently being administered in India to prevent the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We assessed the humoral immune response after the first dose of two vaccines ChAdOx1-nCOV (Covishield) and BBV-152 (Covaxin) in Indian health care workers (HCW). MethodsThis ongoing, Pan-India, Cross-sectional, Coronavirus Vaccine-induced Antibody Titre (COVAT) study is being conducted amongst HCW, with or without past history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike binding antibody is being assessed quantitatively at four timepoints between 21 days or more after the first dose to 6 months after the second dose. Primary aim is to analyze antibody response following each dose of both vaccines and its correlation to age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and comorbidities. Here we report the preliminary results of anti-spike antibody response after the first dose. ResultsAmongst the 552 HCW (325 Male, 227 Female), 456 and 96 received first dose of Covishield and Covaxin respectively. Overall, 79.3% showed seropositivity after the first dose. Responder rate and median (IQR) rise in anti-spike antibody was significantly higher in Covishield vs. Covaxin recipient (86.8 vs. 43.8%; 61.5 vs. 6 AU/ml; both p<0.001). This difference persisted in propensity-matched (age, sex and BMI) analysis in 172 subjects. No difference was observed with age, gender and BMI. History of hypertension had lower responder rate (65.7 vs. 82.3%, p=0.001). Covishield recipient had more adverse event vs. Covaxin arm (46.7 vs. 31.2%, p=0.006). Presence of comorbidities, past SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccine types used were independent predictors for seropositivity after the first dose, in multiple logistic regression analysis. ConclusionsWhile both vaccines elicited immune response, seropositivity rates to anti-spike antibody were significantly higher in Covishield recipient compared to Covaxin after the first dose. Ongoing COVAT study will further enlighten the immune response between two vaccines after the second dose. HighlightsO_LIThis study evaluated the humoral antibody response of two SARS-CoV-2 vaccines Covishield and Covaxin in Indian health-care workers. C_LIO_LIBoth vaccines showed seropositivity to anti-spike antibody, 21 days or more after the first dose. C_LIO_LIResponder rates were higher in Covishield recipient compared to Covaxin in propensity-matched cohorts. C_LIO_LIPast SARS-CoV-2 infection, presence of comorbidities and vaccine type received were independent predictors of antibody response after the first dose. C_LI
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BACKGROUND: While using radial forearm free flap in palate reconstruction, the pedicle lies in the nasal floor, constantly exposed to the nasal secretions and turbulent air current. To overcome this problem, we have designed a procedure which utilises the adipofascial extension to wrap the pedicle and nasal side of the flap. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was done during 2017 and 2018, 2 years' period. Totally 13 consecutive patients with defect in the palate status post-oncological resection and those in whom local flaps were not enough to cover the defect were included into the study. These patients were divided into two groups. First group in whom adipofascial extension was not used to cover the pedicle and second group in whom adipofascial extension was used to cover the pedicle. The incidence of nasal crusting, secondary haemorrage, blow out and flap necrosis were analysed and compared. RESULTS: In Group 1, we had 2 among 6 (33%) patients with secondary haemorrage. One patient had partial flap loss. On exploring, we noticed thrombosis of cephalic vein. We did not had any incidence of blow out of the pedicle. In Group 2, none of the patients had any secondary haemorrage. All flaps healed well. On doing nasal endoscopy at 6 months of follow-up, all flaps showed complete mucosalisation at the nasal side. CONCLUSION: Use of adipofascial extension while planning a radial forearm free flap to cover the nasal side of the flap and pedicle in the nasal floor helps to reduce the nasal crusting and secondary haemorrhage.
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India is a large and densely populated country; its economy is largely agricultural. Making the best use of the country's manpower has always posed a challenge. Industrialization could become a dominant component of the economy and displace agriculture. Traditional livelihoods of occupational groups are threatened by the practice of disposing untreated industrial waste into rivers and bodies of water. These uncontrolled disposals impact local natural resources with negative long-term effects. Industrialization is the development of intellectual and financial trade that changes a predominantly rustic culture into a modern one. Many industrial units discharge wastewater locally without treatment. Many industries directly discharged their waste into lakes, rivers and ocean. Water contamination impacts the environment. Pesticides, chemical, waste oil and heavy metals are regularly transported into their waters. Humans and other living organisms can accumulate heavy metals from industrial discharges in their tissues. Industrial waste may be reactive, corrosive, flammable, or toxic. When untreated sewage is emptied into rivers, it causes diseases like typhoid, dysentery and cholera. Natural elements and plant supplements like nitrate and phosphates stimulate growth of algae on the water surface. The algae reduce the oxygen in the water and cause eutrophication. It is harmful to the water ecosystem. In Rajasthan proper, there are a number of sites bordering rivers and lakes where the pace of industrialization has proceeded far beyond the ability of regulators to establish and enforce meaningful limits on the amount of point source pollution permitted to the various industrial complexes, which include cement, chemical, fertilizer, textile, mining, quarrying, dyeing and printing facilities. The scale of the problem is obvious to the casual observer, but actual documentation of the total impact remains to be done.
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Industrial Waste , Water Pollution , Environmental Monitoring , Humans , India , Industrial Development , Rivers , Water Pollutants, ChemicalABSTRACT
We analyzed methylotrophs in Bina natural vegetation (BNV), and revegetated overburden dump of four (ROBD4) and 12 years (ROBD12), at Bina coal mine in Sonbhadra district. The cultured strains identified as Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Stenotrophomonas and Cellvibrio (γ-Proteobacteria), Methylophilus, Ralstonia, Burkholderia (α-Proteobacteria) Methylobacterium and Inquilinus (ß-Proteobacteria), Bacillus (Firmicutes) and Flexibacter (Sphingobacteria) in their 16s rRNA gene sequence similarity. The strains differed in citrate, lactose, formate, urea and xylose utilization. Methanol utilization by Stenotrophomonas, Inquilinus, Cellvibrio and Flexibacter is for first time. The preferred N- sources were proline, glutamate and nitrate for most of the strains. All strains tolerated (2.5 % NaCl) and SDS (0.2 %); 16 strains survived in crystal violet (0.01 %) and nine strains in sodium azide (0.02 %. Methylotrophic population trend was BNV > ROBD12 > ROBD4. The presence of majority of strain of BNV at ROBD12 and ROBD4 indicated restoration of soil methylotrophic functional diversity in revegetated dumps.
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Bacteria/classification , Bacteria/isolation & purification , Biodiversity , Organic Chemicals/metabolism , Soil Microbiology , Soil Pollutants/metabolism , Bacteria/metabolism , Bacterial Typing Techniques , Cluster Analysis , DNA, Bacterial/chemistry , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal/genetics , Molecular Sequence Data , Phylogeny , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Sequence Analysis, DNAABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Despite the availability of effective interventions and public recognition of the severity of the problem, rabies continues to suffer neglect by programme planners in India and other low and middle income countries. We investigate whether this state of 'policy impasse' is due to, at least in part, the research community not catering to the information needs of the policy makers. METHODS #ENTITYSTARTX00026; FINDINGS: Our objective was to review the research output on rabies from India and examine its alignment with national policy priorities. A systematic literature review of all rabies research articles published from India between 2001 and 2011 was conducted. The distribution of conducted research was compared to the findings of an earlier research prioritization exercise. It was found that a total of 93 research articles were published from India since 2001, out of which 61% consisted of laboratory based studies focussing on rabies virus. Animals were the least studied group, comprising only 8% of the research output. One third of the articles were published in three journals focussing on vaccines and infectious disease epidemiology and the top 4 institutions (2 each from the animal and human health sectors) collectively produced 49% of the national research output. Biomedical research related to development of new interventions dominated the total output as opposed to the identified priority domains of socio-politic-economic research, basic epidemiological research and research to improve existing interventions. CONCLUSION: The paper highlights the gaps between rabies research and policy needs, and makes the case for developing a strategic research agenda that focusses on rabies control as an expected outcome.
