Acute Respiratory Tract Infections and How to Treat Them

Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) are one of the most common clinical encounters in primary care settings and they often lead to antibiotic prescriptions. However, more than 90% of ARTIs are caused by viral syndromes. Evidence has showed that interventions addressed at antibiotic prescription practices for ARTIs are critical to combatting the widespread overuse of antibiotics and increase in antibiotic resistance infections in the US. Providers report pressure from patients to prescribe antibiotics even when they are not clinical indicated and patients have several misconceptions surrounding the clinical course of ARTIs that lead to this behavior. A brochure was developed to address the symptoms and duration of various types of ARTIs, the supportive treatment that can provide relief, and the dangers of antibiotic overuse and resistant infections. This brochure can be used in primary care settings to reduce pressure from patients to provide antibiotics by educating them on antibiotics are rarely indicated for ARTIs.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1569/thumbnail.jp

Who do I reach out to : a qualitative study of help seeking behaviors, treatment preferences and community supports among South Asian Americans

The purpose of this thesis is to discuss the utilization of community resources by South Asian Americans within the context of help-seeking behaviors by members of this broad community and how helping professionals involved with this diverse group can better serve and understand the needs of community members. This thesis includes a discussion of several possible modalities that could be used with this population, current empirical articles showing both the gaps within the current research as well as providing support and structure for the qualitative study this thesis was created for. In my project, I interviewed twelve self identified South Asian American participants, five of whom had utilized mental health services and seven of whom had not utilized these services. The coding of transcripts provided six themes: cultural chameleon, isolation, the importance of feeling understood, conflict in or around identity, what does it mean to be South Asian and microaggressions in comments, questions and explanations. Results can be used to point the way towards future research as well as providing helpful information for professionals working with and within this population to provide better care

Molecular Docking studies of Apigenin, Kaempferol, and Quercetin as potential target against spike receptor protein of SARS COV

COVID-19 has been categorized as a pandemic in early 2020 and is known to cause by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS–CoV2). Numerous investigators and people in the scientific community are trying to find a superlative way to avert and cure the ailment by using phytochemicals. Abundant studies have revealed that flavonoids can be very operative in averting virus-mediated infection. The purpose of this study was to accomplish molecular docking studies among plant-derived flavonoids (Apigenin, Kaempferol, and Quercetin) and spike receptor (PDB ID: 2AJF) protein of coronavirus. Pyrx virtual screening tool and biovia discovery studio visualizer were utilized in the current molecular docking investigations. Outcomes of docking studies exposed that selected phytochemicals have interacted with targeted spike receptor protein with binding energies in the range of -6.3 to -7.3 kcal. In conclusion among the various selected ligands, quercetin may be a better inhibitor for the deactivation of SARS-Coronavirus

Legislator Beliefs, Perceptions, and Voting Influences regarding Carbon Pricing: Implications for Climate Change and Health Advocacy

Carbon pricing was proposed to reduce carbon emissions which has been linked with negative health effects such as: • Increased incidence of heat stroke • Food poisoning • Malnutrition via food shortages • Vector-borne illnesses • Asthma • Allergies Purpose: To understand factors that affect legislators’ carbon pricing voting, guiding future health educators and advocates.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1282/thumbnail.jp

Documentation of traditional alcoholic beverages and their indigenous utilization pattern by Kinnaura tribes of Himachal Pradesh, North Western Himalaya

Traditional alcoholic beverages are part and parcel of indigenous communities worldwide since ancient ages. These beverages are very common and popular among the indigenous communities residing in rural and tribal areas of India. In view of this, The present study has been conducted to document the traditional alcoholic beverages and their indigenous uses by Kinnaura tribes of Himachal Pradesh. Kinnaura, the tribal communities of Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh are famous for their own unique traditions, culture, history and lifestyle. The usage of local alcoholic beverages especially Angoori, Moori, Rashi, Brandi, Shudang, Chhang and Zanashang are quite common among Kinnaura tribes. These are important part of their customary rituals, festivals, diet and health since time immemorial and prepared by the tribal communities in every village across the Kinnauar district for their own use by following indigenous methods using fruits, grains and bulbs of 15 locally available species. The information on collection time, processing and production was gathered through interviews. Production of these traditional beverages are limited to household level and the methods involved for their preparation are almost similar all across the Kinnaur district. These indigenous practices are also being followed by the present generations through the knowledge gained from their elders. Legal permission for mass production, branding and popularization of traditional beverages and adoption as livelihood option has been suggested

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

The Hriday Card: A checklist for heart failure

Use of a simple checklist can drastically lower the likelihood of heart failure patient readmission and improve quality of life. The Hriday Card is a simple 4 page booklet which combines patient education material teaching the patient about heart failure, how to tackle daily emergencies, how to look after their fluid balance with appropriate use of diuretics. It also contains medication and daily weight charts for the patient and a heart failure checklist for the heart failure nurse or doctor which covers points like vaccination, presence of LBBB or Atrial fibrillation and use or lack of use of ACE inhibitors and beta blockers and many other points related to heart failure. This checklist can be filled in less than a minute. It is a simple tool to enhance heart failure care and medication adherence

Documentation of traditional alcoholic beverages and their indigenous utilization pattern by Kinnaura tribes of Himachal Pradesh, North Western Himalaya

1002-1013Traditional alcoholic beverages are part and parcel of indigenous communities worldwide since ancient ages. These beverages are very common and popular among the indigenous communities residing in rural and tribal areas of India. In view of this, The present study has been conducted to document the traditional alcoholic beverages and their indigenous uses by Kinnaura tribes of Himachal Pradesh. Kinnaura, the tribal communities of Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh are famous for their own unique traditions, culture, history and lifestyle. The usage of local alcoholic beverages especially Angoori, Moori, Rashi, Brandi, Shudang, Chhang and Zanashang are quite common among Kinnaura tribes. These are important part of their customary rituals, festivals, diet and health since time immemorial and prepared by the tribal communities in every village across the Kinnauar district for their own use by following indigenous methods using fruits, grains and bulbs of 15 locally available species. The information on collection time, processing and production was gathered through interviews. Production of these traditional beverages are limited to household level and the methods involved for their preparation are almost similar all across the Kinnaur district. These indigenous practices are also being followed by the present generations through the knowledge gained from their elders. Legal permission for mass production, branding and popularization of traditional beverages and adoption as livelihood option has been suggested

Amygdala-Dependent Molecular Mechanisms of the Tac2 Pathway in Fear Learning.

Recently we determined that activation of the tachykinin 2 (Tac2) pathway in the central amygdala (CeA) is necessary and sufficient for the modulation of fear memories. The Tac2 pathway includes the Tac2 gene, which encodes the neuropeptide neurokinin B and its corresponding receptor neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R). In this study, using Tac2–cre and Tac2–GFP mice, we applied a combination of in vivo (optogenetics) and multiple in vitro techniques to further explore the mechanisms of action within the Tac2 pathway. In transgenic mice that express ChR2 solely in Tac2 neurons, in vivo optogenetic stimulation of CeA Tac2-expressing neurons during fear acquisition enhanced fear memory consolidation and drove action potential firing in vitro. In addition, Tac2–CeA neurons were shown to co-express striatal-enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase, which may have an important role in regulating Nk3R signaling during fear conditioning. These data extend our current understanding for the underlying mechanism(s) for the role of the Tac2 pathway in the regulation of fear memory, which may serve as a new therapeutic target in the treatment of fear-related disorders