ABSTRACT
Studies worldwide have shown that the available vaccines are highly effective against SARS-CoV-2. However, there are growing laboratory reports that the newer variants of concerns (VOCs e.g. Alpha, Beta, Delta etc) may evade vaccine induced defense. In addition to that, there are few ground reports on health workers having breakthrough infections. In order to understand VOC driven breakthrough infection we investigated 14 individuals who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 after being administered a single or double dose of Covishield (ChAdOx1, Serum Institute of India) from the city of Varanasi, which is located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Genomic analysis revealed that 78.6% (11/14) of the patients were infected with the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant. Notably, the frequency (37%) of this variant in the region was significantly lower (p<0.01), suggesting that the vaccinated people were asymmetrically infected with the Delta variant. Most of the patients tested displayed mild symptoms, indicating that even a single dose of the vaccine can help in reducing the severity of the disease. However, more comprehensive epidemiological studies are required to understand the effectiveness of vaccines against the newer VOCs.
ABSTRACT
Infection born by Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has swept the world within a time of a few months. It has created a devastating effect on humanity with social and economic depression. Europe and America were the hardest hit continents. India has also lost lives, making the country fourth most deadly worldwide. However, the infection and death rate per million and the case fatality ratio in India were substantially lower than in many developed nations. Several factors have been proposed including genetics. One of the important facts is that a large chunk of Indian population is asymptomatic to the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thus, the real infection in India is much higher than the reported number of cases. Therefore, the majority of people are already immune in the country. To understand the dynamics of real infection as well as the level of immunity against SARS-CoV-2, we have performed antibody testing (serosurveillance) in the urban region of fourteen Indian districts encompassing six states. In our survey, the seroprevalence frequency varied between 0.01-0.48, suggesting high variability of viral transmission between states. We also found out that the cases reported by the government were several fold lower than the real incidence of infection. This discrepancy is mainly driven by the higher number of asymptomatic cases. Overall, we suggest that with the high level of immunity developed against SARS-CoV-2 in the majority of the districts, the case fatality rate of second wave in India will be minor than first wave.
ABSTRACT
Primary amenorrhoea with microperforate transverse vaginal septum is a rare entity with varied incidence in different parts of the world. It may be asymptomatic, unlike imperforate hymen. Depending on the size of the microperforation in transverse vaginal septum clinical features may vary similar to those found in imperforate hymen cases. We report two cases of a 25 and 22-year-old women who sought the gynaecologist with complains of primary infertility. They had normal menses with one of them having secondary dysmenorrhea. Physical examination and imaging disclosed microperforation of transverse vaginal septum in the upper part of the vagina at mid point position. Resection of the septum under anesthesia was done. The outcome was favourable and 25 year asymptomatic patient with primary infertility at the present moment have conceived carrying six weeks pregnancy and second patient is in follow up. We conclude that this anomaly may be overlooked, interfering on its incidence determination. The finding of transverse vaginal septum in an asymptomatic infertility patient is highly unusual. Clinicians must be aware of atypical presentations and potential multifactorial etiologies of primary infertility. Ensuring a thorough evaluation is essential in order to mitigate long-term effects of a misdiagnosis.
Subject(s)
InfertilityABSTRACT
Methanolic extract of tubers of Pueraria tuberosa Linn. (Fabaceae) (PTME) has been tested for hepatoxicity in rats. In acute study, PTME (100-400 mg/100 g BW, given orally) showed LD(50) at 227.5 mg. For sub-chronic study, its repeated doses (5-100 mg/100 g BW, for 30 days), significantly increased hepatic enzymes in blood, sinusoidal congestion, disruption of central vein, inflammatory cell infiltration and hepatocellular necrosis in liver in dose dependent manner, with increase in NO, iNOS and ROS levels. In a kinetic study (single dose 227.5 mg/100 g BW), there was sequential decrease in GSH and enhanced NO suggesting free-radical generation as the primary cause of cell damage. It is concluded that the higher dosing of PTME or its continuous use for longer period (even in low doses) is hepatotoxicity by inducing oxidative stress.
