Evidence of the COVID-19 virus targeting the CNS: Tissue distribution, host-virus interaction, and proposed neurotropic mechanisms

The recent outbreak of coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) has gripped the world with apprehension and has evoked a scare of epic proportion regarding its potential to spread and infect humans worldwide. As we are in the midst of an ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, scientists are struggling to understand how it resembles and differs from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) at the genomic and transcriptomic level. In a short time following the outbreak, it has been shown that, similar to SARS-CoV, COVID-19 virus exploits the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor to gain entry inside the cells. This finding raises the curiosity of investigating the expression of ACE2 in neurological tissue and determining the possible contribution of neurological tissue damage to the morbidity and mortality caused by COIVD-19. Here, we investigate the density of the expression levels of ACE2 in the CNS, the host-virus interaction and relate it to the pathogenesis and complications seen in the recent cases resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak. Also, we debate the need for a model for staging COVID-19 based on neurological tissue involvement

Perforated sub-hepatic appendix; rare presentation of a common disease.

Abstract An elderly gentleman presented to our emergency with a 10-day history of right upper quadrant pain and nausea with associated tenderness on examination. His white cell counts were raised with predominant neutrophils with ultrasound evidence of a heterogeneous sub-hepatic collection, not associated with fever, diarrhoea or vomiting. He had a similar episode 3 weeks ago, which resolved with antibiotics. Initially thought to be a perforated acute appendicitis or a liver abscess a CT scan was done to further substantiate our finding. This to the contrary revealed a perforated sub hepatic appendix. Patient was treated conservatively with IV fluids and antibiotics and the sub hepatic collection was aspirated under ultrasound guidance. He responded well to treatment and made an uneventful recovery

Betrayed by the Guardian: Security and Privacy Risks of Parental Control Solutions

For parents of young children and adolescents, the digital age has introduced many new challenges, including excessive screen time, inappropriate online content, cyber predators, and cyberbullying. To address these challenges, many parents rely on numerous parental control solutions on different platforms, including parental control network devices (e.g., WiFi routers) and software applications on mobile devices and laptops. While these parental control solutions may help digital parenting, they may also introduce serious security and privacy risks to children and parents, due to their elevated privileges and having access to a significant amount of privacy-sensitive data. In this paper, we present an experimental framework for systematically evaluating security and privacy issues in parental control software and hardware solutions. Using the developed framework, we provide the first comprehensive study of parental control tools on multiple platforms including network devices, Windows applications, Chrome extensions and Android apps. Our analysis uncovers pervasive security and privacy issues that can lead to leakage of private information, and/or allow an adversary to fully control the parental control solution, and thereby may directly aid cyberbullying and cyber predators

Primary T-cell Non – Hodgkin lymphoma of the Urinary Bladder Presenting as Haematuria and Bilateral Hydronephrosis: Report of a Rare Case

Introduction: Primary T cell lymphoma of the urinary bladder is extremely rare disease. Most of the lymphomas of urinary bladder are B-cell lymphomas. We encountered  a case of T-cell lymphoma of the urinary bladder presenting as haematuria and bilateral hydronephrosis. Presentation of Case: A 42-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of intermittent painful gross haematuria associated with bilateral loin pain and vomiting lasting for 3-4 weeks. Results of his general examination were normal. An ultrasonographic study and Computed Tomography (CT) of his abdomen and pelvis revealed bilateral gross hydro-ureteronephrosis with significantly thickened urinary bladder wall with large circumferential growth involving the entire bladder occluding both ureteric orifices with internal calcification. A cystoscopy procedure with Trans Urethral Resection of Bladder Tumour (TURBT) was performed. Postoperative microscopic examination and immunohistochemistry showed medium to large lymphocytes with hyperchromatic nuclei and strong expression of CD3 in the tumour cells and negativity for CD20 and cytokeratin. A diagnosis of T-cell non Hodgkin Lymphoma was entertained. Conclusion: Presentation of bilateral hydronephrosis with primary T cell lymphoma has not been reported previously. This sort of presentation can mimic other bladder malignancy and present a diagnostic challenge. An ancillary technique, Immunohistochemistry in our case, helped us arrive at the correct diagnosis and subsequent appropriate management

Cycling vs Running – An in-depth analysis

This short letter to the editor provides ideas about exercises that improves cardiovascular fitness

A Review on the Performance of Bored Pile Foundations through Instrumented Pile Load Tests in Qatar

The level of infrastructure development Qatar has accomplished over the past 10 years has not been reached by any other country and this pace is expected to continue to achieve Qatar's 2030 Vision. High-rise buildings and bridges are mostly constructed on pile foundations which play an important role in overall cost of the project, but there is limited published literature available on the performance of pile foundations in Qatar. In this article, the performance of fully instrumented pile foundations embedded in rock formations of Qatar is reviewed, and discussion on observed behaviour is presented. This paper also uncovers the conservatism in pile design adopted by the piling industry. A total of more than 65 pile load test results were compiled to perform this study. Good practices are suggested that can be considered by the authorities and consultants in specifying a preliminary pile load test in order to reap its full potential. In projects, where the unit skin friction was validated through performance of pile load tests and later on pile design was optimized, 11% to 50% savings in piling cost was achieved contributing to sustainable projects

The Effect Of Umbilical Cord Milking In Reducing ROP Of Preterm Babies.

Background: Recent advances in neonatal care in the last decade have improved the survival rates for premature infants. Consequently, the incidence of ROP has increased in parallel. ROP is under constant epidemiological study around the world. Prematurity, low birth weight, respiratory distress syndrome, mechanical ventilation, prolonged oxygen treatment and blood transfusion increase the risk of ROP. Umbilical cord milking reduces the incidence of ROP in preterm infants by reducing the need for blood transfusions in preterm infants. Objective: To observe effect of ROP with umbilical cord milking. Methodology: This prospective observational study was carried out on neonates, in the Department of Neonatology, BSMMU after approval from IRB. Neonates admitted into neonatal intensive care unit of BSMMU satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria was enrolled for the study. A written informed consent was taken from parents and assurance about confidentiality was given. Neonates born before 37 weeks of gestation was assigned to either umbilical cord milking or non-milking group at a 1: 1 ratio according to a computer generated randomized sequence. After delivery of a baby umbilical cord milking was performed by holding the infant at the level of the placenta. First eye evaluation for ROP was done at 20 days of age for gestational age less than 30weeks & weight below 1200gm & at 30 days of age for gestational age more than 30 weeks & above weight 1200gm. Follow-up was continued until retinal vascularization was completed. The follow-up schedules were organized depending on the retinal findings. The retinal finding was evaluated according to the International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity. The patients were grouped as no ROP, mild ROP (stages I-II ROP without plus disease, showed regression), and severe ROP (zone 1 or zone 2, stage III, aggressive ROP without stages, stage II with plus disease who required treatment). Data were recorded in a preformed questionnaire and data were analyzed by statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20. Results: 114 newborns were enrolled in this study. Then among 114 preterm neonates 57 were randomized to umbilical cord milking group and 57 were randomized to no milking group. Baseline characteristics were almost similar between the two groups. There were significant increase is hematocrit level 57.3 ±3.5 V 47.4 ± 4.5 (P value less than 0.001), reduction in need of blood transfusion 3.5% V 42.1% (P value less than 0.001) & reduction in ROP 3.5% V 19.3% (P 0.007). Conclusion: This study concluded that umbilical cord milking after delivery improves hematocrit level, reduces need of blood transfusion & reduces the incidence of ROP in preterm infant

Local flap for reconstruction of nasal defect following excision of basal cell carcinoma of nose

Reconstruction of soft tissue at the nose following excision of basal cell carcinoma is always challenging, because of both functional and aesthetic importance of nose. The local flap is always preferable to skin graft as this produces like with like replacement, pliable cover and vascularized tissue over the skeletal framework. In this paper, we discussed six cases of nasal reconstruction with bilobed flap, forehead flap, and nasolabial flap. All flaps survived and the patients had satisfactory outcome