Obesity as a Risk Factor for COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic has presented a wide range of challenges for healthcare systems in the world. COVID-19 has infected millions of people, with approximately 90% of the population showing mild or no symptoms. The disease has some risk factors that increase its severity, such as obesity, age, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, suppressed immune system, and pulmonary disorders. Obese individuals have higher chances of having symptomatic COVID-19 infection with excessive rates of hospitalization and ICU admission. Understanding the mechanisms defining the link between COVID-19 and obesity is necessary to develop preventive measures and therapeutic interventions for people with obesity. Patients with obesity suffer from a variety of nutritional deficiencies, which assist in development of low-grade chronic inflammation. This may result in inappropriate immune response against viral infections such as Covid-19. This review article proposes that changes in immune response, nutrition, and respiratory function, are some of the multiple mechanisms of obesity that increase the risks of developing COVID-19 complications. Patients should make changes to their lifestyles, focusing on nutrition modification, exercise, and calorie restriction as well as proper protection from the virus using latest scientific recommendations

Major Complications and Management Options of Obesity

Obesity is a disorder that consists of many factors, which has become a global epidemic since it is associated with various crucial diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, stroke, sleep apnea, as well as other conditions. In order to manage obesity, a variety of strategies are taken into account in order to direct attention on those with current weight problems as well as those that are at a high risk of developing obesity. Therefore, obesity prevention should be focused during the early ages as there is a high risk of developing it in the later years. This article focuses on the risk factors of obesity as well as many preventive treatment options for obesity

Role of Genes in Obesity

Obesity is the outcome of an extreme difference between the energy intake and the energy expended, which leads to severe weight gain. The two main factors of obesity are environmental influences and genetics, but the extent of the genetic contribution to obesity continues to be unknown. Multiple studies using different tools have been used to support the significance of the genetic influence on obesity, such as twin and adoption studies, race/ethnicity, and mouse models. The use of mouse models has allowed for the greatest expansion of knowledge on the genetics behind obesity, and advancements continue to be made to this tool. There are many possibilities on how genetic variations could affect the development of obesity including eating behavior, metabolism and digestion, energy intake, and adiposity. The various tools that have been used in studies on obesity and the vast number of factors that are dictated by genes prove that the influence of genetics on obesity is substantial

Meditation Experience Associated with Structural Neuroplasticity

The intention of the review is to evaluate several studies regarding meditation and its association with structural neuroplasticity. The analysis of the studies would be evaluated based on its methods and results, with respect to the implications of various physiological findings as well as the different ways in which neuroplasticity is measured. Sources were gathered from numerous journals and literature posted online. Databases at the Alvin Sherman Library were utilized to further the research process. To synthesize ideas, a holistic approach was taken to the research process, and studies regarding meditation\u27s effects on the chemical, molecular, and genetic aspects of the body were taken into consideration. Analysis of the studies showed meditation\u27s impact on increased gray matter in various regions of the brain as well as microscopic structural changes in white matter. Several regions in the brain showed evidence of plasticity, which shows the extent to which meditation has an impact on the brain and its functions. For future studies, it suggested that different types of meditation are compared in order to clearly evaluate the approach to meditation and its impact on the structure of the brain

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) Efficiency, and Comparison to Alternative Antidepressant Treatments

Depression is one of the most important causes of disability-adjusted life years. Currently, the majority of patients are treated with SSRIs. However, the effectiveness of SSRIs is questionable. Method: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the pharmacotherapy treatment selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in patients diagnosed with major depression. This was achieved by comparison to other methods of antidepressant treatment such as, selective serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and psychotherapy. Results: The majority of patients were taking SSRIs for treatment of depression alone or in combination with other antidepressant medications. More than half those patients showed pharmacological effectiveness. However, patients who were taking other types of antidepressants also experienced reduction in their symptoms. Conclusion: The analysis of data that was collected from an outpatient mental health private practice, showed no advantage in effectiveness of SSRIs compared with other treatment options

Hyperinsulinemia, cancer and maqui berry: The promise of nutritional supplementation

Nutritional supplementation has long been studied as a possible treatment alternative or as an adjunct to the standard treatments for common ailments and diseases. According to the latest research, the Chilean maqui berry, Aristotelia chilensis, has been shown to reduce postprandial insulin levels by as much as fifty percent. The berry, which has been shown to be as effective as metformin at increasing insulin sensitivity and controlling blood glucose levels, follows a simple mechanism of action that involves the inhibition of sodium dependent glucose transporters in the small intestine, slowing the rate at which sugars enter the bloodstream and thereby decreasing blood sugar spikes and the corresponding increase in insulin levels. Chronically high blood glucose levels have been proven to play a significant role in the development of cancers, as diabetics and prediabetics have been proven to have elevated risk of developing cancerous growth. Consistent dietary supplementation with maqui berry may therefore indirectly reduce the risk of cancer, as well as other diseases which respond negatively to hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia

Treatment Outcomes of Mohs Surgery vs. Imiquimod in Basal Cell Carcinoma

Background: Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is a type of skin cancer, and a growing number of cases are diagnosed each year. There are many treatment options available, however finding the best treatment that has the lowest recurrence rate and morbidity is a challenge. The treatment options vary from topical or systemic medications to special procedures to surgical interventions. Treatment’s effectiveness largely differs on the BCC sub-type and its individual features. Method: Data was collected from the charts of patients that were diagnosed with BCC. The selected patients were treated by either Mosh surgery or Imiquimod. Results: Majority of patients who were diagnosed with BCC had light skin color. Some patients had recurrence of the disease after Imiquimod treatment. However, no patient had any recurrence with Mohs surgery. Conclusion: This study shows that Mohs surgery provides superior treatment outcome than many other options. However, cost of the procedure can be an issue to patients with lower income or lack of proper health insurance

Neuropsychiatric Aspects of Near-Death Experience

Throughout human history, there have been numerous reports of a baffling process when individuals have come to the brink of death. This process, referred to as near death experiences (NDEs), cause an individual to experience events that even the most advanced science can still not answer. This review serves as a reference for the factors, phenomenology, and measurement techniques for near death experiences as well as summarizing these experiences in certain conditions, such as cardiac arrest and admission of anesthetics. Discussed are the theories, effects, analyses of specific processes involved pertaining to experiences of those who walked along the edge of death

A systematic review of the treatment and management of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Pakistan

Pakistan is one of the six countries that account for more than 50 percent of the world’s maternal deaths. According to Population Council estimates, each year nearly 8.6 million women become pregnant in the country. Of these, 1.2 million women are likely to face obstetric complications. Each year, there are nearly 14,000 pregnancy-related deaths. Information is lacking on context-specific health-system barriers that prevent optimal use of the lifesaving medicine magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) in Pakistan. Although efforts in Pakistan both at the national and subnational level are ongoing on the prevention and treatment of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E), results are generally suboptimal and program interventions remain uncoordinated and fragmented. A fragmented system for registration, procurement, and distribution is at the source of the low use of magnesium sulfate, even though policies are all aligned with international standards. To fully appreciate the enormity of the problem at the country level, this systematic review of published papers on PE/E was conducted in Pakistan from 2005 to 2015 to understand key challenges, gaps, and interventions related to the prevention and treatment of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia

The role of glutamine in supporting gut health and neuropsychiatric factors

Recent research has shown that the amino acid glutamine can positively affect gut health by supporting the gut microbiome, gut mucosal wall integrity, and by modulating inflammatory responses. As modulated by the vagus nerve, via the enteric nervous system, the gut-brain connection can impact the brain\u27s neurochemical environment. Poor gut health can disrupt the balance of neurotransmitters, which can result in neuropsychiatric based conditions such as depression. Glutamine supplementation may provide significant adjunctive nutritional support in cases of depression by promoting proper gut health and function