Profile of Clients & HIV positive patients attending the ICTC of a tertiary care center of Bihar: A situational analysis

Background: The services provided in an ICTC help in awareness about HIV and help the clients to undergo HIV test in a comfortable and confidential environment. Periodical evaluation of counseling, testing, and referral services is mandatory to find out any existing deficits and barriers of all functions of ICTCs. Objectives: To study the socio-demographic profile of ICTC attendees and to find out sero-positivity of these clients. Methods: The present study was carried out among ICTC attendees in the ICTC unit, at All India Institute of Medical Sciences of Patna district. A retrospective collection of data from available records of all clients who attended ICTC of our hospital between January 2019 and December 2019 was carried out after approval from institutional research and ethics committee. Results: A total of 28876 clients were tested during January-December 2019 and among them all (100%) of tests were provider initiated. Out of the total attendees, 223 (0.77%) were found to be positive. It was also observed that the number of clients attending the ICTC has increased every month. Conclusion: It shows a high illiteracy and high spouse positive rate among the reactive cases. The young age group was found to be affected more and it definitely raises a cocern

Radiation absorption noise for molecular information transfer

Molecular signaling is ubiquitous across scales in nature and finds useful applications in precision medicine and heavy industry. Characterizing noise in communication systems is essential to understanding its information capacity. To date, research in molecular nano communication (MNC) primarily considers the molecular dynamics within the medium, where various forms of stochastic effects generate noise. However, in many real-world scenarios, external effects can also influence molecular dynamics and cause noise. Here, the noise due to the temperature fluctuations from incident electromagnetic (EM) radiation is considered, with applications ranging from cell signaling to chemical engineering. EM radiation and subsequent molecular absorption cause temperature fluctuations which affect molecular dynamics and can be considered as an exogenous noise source for MNC. In this paper, the probability density function of the radiation absorption noise (RAN) is analyzed and to demonstrate applicability, we include characteristics of different tissues of the human body. Furthermore, the closed-form expression of error probability (EP) for MNC under the radiation noise is derived. Numerical analysis is demonstrated on different tissues of the human body: skin, brain, and blood, as well as the polarization factor of incident EM radiation is demonstrated. The coupling relationship between the radiation frequency and the intrinsic impedance of the human body on the PDF of radiation absorption noise is presented. This is useful for understanding how mutual information changes with external radiation source

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and attitude toward booster doses among US healthcare workers

Vaccine reluctance among healthcare workers (HCW) can have widespread negative ramifications, including modeling behavior for the general population and challenges with maintaining a healthy workforce so we can respond to a resurgence of the pandemic. We previously reported that only one-third of HCW were willing to take the vaccine as soon as it became available prior to its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Here, we re-examine the attitude toward COVID-19 vaccines among HCW several months after the vaccines have been made widely available. In this study, only 7.9% (n = 107) of respondents were hesitant to take the first or second dose of the vaccine. Younger age (18-40 years) and lower level of education attainment (GED or less) were associated with higher vaccine hesitancy, whereas self-identified Asian racial identity was associated with greater acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. Among the vaccine-hesitant group, more respondents noted mistrust of regulatory authorities (45.3%), government (48.6%), and pharmaceutical companies (50%) than mistrust of doctors (25.4%). Nearly two-thirds of respondents were concerned that vaccination may be ineffective against new strains and booster doses may be required; however, vaccine-hesitant respondents\u27 acceptance of a hypothetical booster dose was only 14.3%. Overall, vaccine hesitancy was observed to have demographic predictors similar to those previously reported; the hesitancy of some US HCW to receive booster doses may reflect a general hesitancy to receive other forms of vaccination

Capacity building among frontline health workers (FHWs) in screening for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs): Findings of an implementation study from Bihar, India

Background: Community-based screening is one of the key preventive strategies to tackle the ever-rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) under the National Programme for Prevention & Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS). Objective: The current study was aimed to build capacity among frontline health workers (FHWs) in screening for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) under NPCDCS in the selected districts of Bihar state. Methodology: This was an implementation study with follow-up components, conducted among 75 FHWs [14 auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) and 61 accredited social health activists (ASHAs)] from 15 primary healthcare facilities across four districts of Bihar state from October 2019 to September 2021. The selected FHWs were initially trained on NPCDCS for a day, including pre- and post-training knowledge assessment. Then, supportive supervision (SS) visits using a predesigned questionnaire were done. Results: The pre- and post-training mean knowledge scores of the FHWs were 12.9 and 22.1, respectively, with an overall effect size of 2.5. During SS visits, only 20.0% of the visited primary healthcare facilities had all the required logistics to conduct weekly NCD screening clinics for CVDs. Considering different measurements and operative skill proficiencies of FHWs, waist circumference skills (41.7% for ANMs and 50.8% for ASHAs), followed by blood pressure (BP) (41.7%) and random blood sugar (RBS) measurement (25.0%), were found to be the most deficient skills (among ANMs). Moreover, the quality of initial and follow-up home visits was found to be satisfactory for only 54.1% of the ASHAs. The reported barriers of NCD screening were reported to be non-cooperation, unawareness among community dwellers, lack of knowledge and skill of FHWs, logistic constraints and delayed honorarium credit. Conclusion: One-day training on NCDs for FHWs was quite effective. However, for translating all the desired skills for CVD screening into action, periodic training needs assessment, and SS of FHWs might be fruitful

Single-stage long-stem total knee arthroplasty in severe arthritis with stress fracture: a systematic review

Abstract Purpose Proximal tibia stress fractures present a challenge when performing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in knee arthritis (KA). The literature on treatment modalities for stress fractures with arthritis is varied and not systematically reviewed. We aimed to answer the questions: (1) Is long-stem TKA sufficient for stress fractures in arthritic knees? (2) Should stress fracture and KA be addressed simultaneously? (3) What is the role of augmentative procedures in stress fractures with knee arthritis? (4) Can a unified algorithm be established? Methods The PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched for keywords such as stress fracture, knee arthritis and total knee arthroplasty, published from January 1995 to 29 May 2022. A total of 472 records were screened down to 13 articles on the basis of our selection criteria. Ten data items were recorded from the included studies. The methodological index for non-randomised studies (MINORS) score for the included studies was 17 ± 3. Results We found long-stem TKA to be sufficient for most cases and advocated for single-stage treatment of stress fractures and arthritis. Augmentative procedures play a role in the treatment, and a unified algorithm was drafted to guide treatment. Conclusion Single-stage management of advanced KA with a stress fracture causes less morbidity than a staged procedure. Long-stem TKA, with or without an augmentative procedure, is an excellent option

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster: To Boost or Not to Boost

Developing safe and effective vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at a breakneck speed has been an exceptional human achievement. It remains our best hope of containing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, newer, more aggressive SARS-CoV-2 viral strains, as well as the possibility of fading immunity following vaccination, have prompted health officials to investigate the necessity for additional immunization. This has put further pressure on disregarded human life in lower-income countries that already have minimal access to COVID-19 vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended a third COVID-19 vaccine dose in immunocompromised individuals in a recent announcement. Governments and health care officials need to develop usage guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine booster doses while considering the dangers of potential waning immunity and new viral strains and prioritizing vulnerable populations everywhere, including those living in lower-income countries

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster: To Boost or Not to Boost

Developing safe and effective vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at a breakneck speed has been an exceptional human achievement. It remains our best hope of containing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, newer, more aggressive SARS-CoV-2 viral strains, as well as the possibility of fading immunity following vaccination, have prompted health officials to investigate the necessity for additional immunization. This has put further pressure on disregarded human life in lower-income countries that already have minimal access to COVID-19 vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended a third COVID-19 vaccine dose in immunocompromised individuals in a recent announcement. Governments and health care officials need to develop usage guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine booster doses while considering the dangers of potential waning immunity and new viral strains and prioritizing vulnerable populations everywhere, including those living in lower-income countries

Level of happiness among medical students in Bihar-An online survey

BACKGROUND: Happiness is a state of mental well-being and influences the learning and performance of an individual. Medical education due to its academic culture and longer course duration affects the performance and happiness of the students. So, this study was done to assess the level of happiness and the factors associated with it among medical students in Bihar.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 321 medical students of all academic years from various medical colleges in Bihar. This study used a self-administered study tool using the online Google Form platform for data collection and assessed the level of happiness using Oxford Happiness Questionnaire. A multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was done to find out the predictors of happiness.RESULTS: A total of 34.6% (95% CI: 29.5–39.9%) medical students were happy. Male (38.2%) students were found to be happier than female (29.2%) students. Age, place of stay, physical activity, meditation and yoga, frequent socialization, absence of psychiatric illness, and stressful situation in the family were the independent predictors of happiness. Around 42.4% of students had another career option, and 32.1% had a second thought about a career due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The presence of any psychiatric illness had a significant effect on the happiness level of the students.CONCLUSION: Only one in three medical students is happy. Promotion of physical activity, meditation and yoga, and socialization will improve the happiness and thereby learning among medical students

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Attitude toward Booster Doses among US Healthcare Workers

Vaccine reluctance among healthcare workers (HCW) can have widespread negative ramifications, including modeling behavior for the general population and challenges with maintaining a healthy workforce so we can respond to a resurgence of the pandemic. We previously reported that only one-third of HCW were willing to take the vaccine as soon as it became available prior to its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Here, we re-examine the attitude toward COVID-19 vaccines among HCW several months after the vaccines have been made widely available. In this study, only 7.9% (n = 107) of respondents were hesitant to take the first or second dose of the vaccine. Younger age (18–40 years) and lower level of education attainment (GED or less) were associated with higher vaccine hesitancy, whereas self-identified Asian racial identity was associated with greater acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. Among the vaccine-hesitant group, more respondents noted mistrust of regulatory authorities (45.3%), government (48.6%), and pharmaceutical companies (50%) than mistrust of doctors (25.4%). Nearly two-thirds of respondents were concerned that vaccination may be ineffective against new strains and booster doses may be required; however, vaccine-hesitant respondents’ acceptance of a hypothetical booster dose was only 14.3%. Overall, vaccine hesitancy was observed to have demographic predictors similar to those previously reported; the hesitancy of some US HCW to receive booster doses may reflect a general hesitancy to receive other forms of vaccination