Analysis of C-reactive protein level in SARS-CoV-2 patients and its role in predicting the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Introduction: Corona Virus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic is a public health emergency due to the spread of 2019 novel Corona Virus (2019-nCoV), also called as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Analysis of CRP along with various other haematological parameters serves as a predictor of infection and inflammation. Aims and objectives: The aim of the study was to study the CRP level in SARS-CoV-2 patients and its role in predicting the severity of infection. Materials and Methods: As many as 768 patients were included in this study. Serum samples were analysed for CRP levels by Quantitative CRP test, based on the principle of Latex turbidimetry. CRP values equal to or greater than 6mg/L were considered as abnormal. Results: Out of 768 serum samples tested, 337 (43.8%) samples showed abnormal values. Out of which 255 (75.7%) were male patients and 82(24.3%) were female patients. A total of 42.4% patients had increased CRP values that belonged to the age group 41-60 years followed by 29% patients that belonged to the age group of 61-80 years. In the age group of 61-80 years 67/98 (68%) patients deteriorated during hospitalization and required mechanical ventilation and the mortality rate was 88% among patients on mechanical ventilation. Conclusion: Our study suggested that CRP testing may be useful as an earlier indicator for severe illness and those presenting with marked increase of > 45.6 mg/L should be paid more attention. Male preponderance was detected and elderly patients revealed abnormal values of CRP as compared to young and middle-aged patients

Traditional herbal interventions for premenstrual syndrome management: a comprehensive literature review

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) causes severe physical and emotional health problems in many women. Due to concerns regarding the potentially harmful effects of conventional treatments, there has been an increased interest in exploring alternative medicines, mainly traditional herbal remedies. This comprehensive literature review employed a rigorous methodology involving extensive data collection from databases such as Scopus®, Web of Science®, and PubMed®, as well as respected publishers like Oxford University Press, Elsevier, Springer Nature, and others. The study examines the properties and potential benefits of Cyperus rotundus, Curcuma longa (turmeric), Aloe vera, Angelica sinensis (Dong Quai), Zingiber officinale (ginger), Crocus sativus (saffron), and Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) in the context of PMS management. It is important to note that these traditional herbs offer diverse therapeutic properties, which can effectively address both the physical and emotional symptoms of PMS. These herbal interventions have notable analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as mood-enhancing and adaptogenic qualities. As promising and versatile alternatives to conventional medications, it is essential to conduct further research to prove their efficacy, safety, and ideal use fully. This calls for extensive clinical trials, mechanistic analyses to reveal their mechanisms of action, the creation of standardized formulations, and the adoption of a patient-centered strategy that considers unique preferences and needs. It is possible to significantly improve the holistic approach to PMS management by realizing the full potential of these conventional herbal treatments. This study highlights the vital importance of these herbal interventions in PMS management, ultimately providing women with safer options for PMS relief and an enhanced quality of life

An exploratory study of grade 10 students\u27 perspectives on making learning of biology effective

This study aimed to explore Grade 10 students\u27 perspectives concerning the biology topics that they find the most difficult to learn, the reasons of experiencing difficulties in learning biology, and ways to overcome the difficulties. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches. A survey tool difficulties and effectiveness in Learning Biology questionnaire (DELBQ) was adapted from the literature which has already been used in other context in a similar study (Cimer, 2012). 132 Grade 10 students participated in the cross-sectional survey including girls (n=86; 65%) and boys (n=46; 35%). The sample was recruited from 10 public schools of district Hunza. DELBQ was directly administered to all participants. The results showed that students have identified five concepts of biology - genetic engineering (37%), cell division (31%), Mendel principles and application (28%), defense and immunity (23%) and matter cycle (17%) - as the most difficult concepts to learn. The students proposed multiple reasons to learning hindrances which include: the nature of the topic, teachers\u27 teaching method, students\u27 learning techniques, students\u27 attitudes towards the topics and deficiency of resources and time. Prominently, of five the themes \u27the nature of the topic\u27 was found to be the most repeatedly cited reason (99) for difficulty in learning biology. Students have not only identified these hindering factors of learning they have talked about viable suggestions to improve learning of the subject such as reducing the subject content; using visual aids in teaching ; teaching through experiments; students using various study techniques; making biology teaching interesting and effective; and, teaching biology by connecting the topics with daily life. Interestingly, a majority of responses (99) highlighted \u27the nature of topic\u27 as one of the primary reasons for making biology learning difficult; however, the suggestions to enhance learning were predominantly related to either \u27students\u27 own learning habits\u27 (148) or \u27teachers\u27 teaching style\u27 (127). The study provides an insight into \u27students\u27 voices\u27 not only in identifying the \u27difficult areas in Biology\u27 but highlighting perspectives in explaining the \u27reasons for difficulties in learning these concepts\u27 and potential strategies to improve learning. The results could be useful for practitioners and policy-makers in enhancing curriculum and classroom practices to make this fundamentally important subject interesting for students. The tool adapted for the study is a valuable addition to the indigenous literature which can be used by the other researchers in the field to conduct large scale studies

На небе полная луна

На небе полная луна, / Ей освещён весь сад, / Вхожу в аллею я одна, / Как много лет назад. / Правда, деревья подросли, / Пруд высох, ну, так ж… / Где мы давно когда-то шли, / Гуляет молодёжь

Allelopathic Effects of Litchi chinensis on Mung bean and Soybean in Agroforestry System

Background: A pot experiment was conducted to demonstrate the allelopathic effect of the litchi tree (Litchi chinensis) on two crops such as mung bean (Vigna radiata) and soybean (Glycine max). The experiment was conducted at the Agroforestry Research field of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. Five treatments were applied in this experiment, and they are: T1 (topsoil at the base of litchi trees), T2 (soil in the root zone of litchi trees), T3 (soil mulched with dry litchi leaves), T4 (soil irrigated with aqueous litchi leaf extract) and T5 (control, i.e., fresh garden soil). A factorial randomized complete block (RCBD) design with four replicates was used in this experiment. There were 40 pots in total. Results: The results of the study showed that all treatments in the experiment inhibited the germination and growth of both mung beans and soybeans compared to controls. The germination inhibition and growth parameters of mung bean and soybean varied according to soil collected from different plant parts and root zone locations of different trees. The allelopathic effect of litchi trees was in the following order: T3 (soil mulched with dry leaves) > T4 (soil irrigated with aqueous leaf extract) > T1 (topsoil at the base of the tree) > T2 (tree root zoon soil) > T5 (control). Conclusions: Litchi leaves have a stronger allelopathic effect than litchi ground or root zone soil. Again, dried leaves have stronger allelopathic effects than green (fresh) leaves. Therefore, regular washing of dried leaves is very important for litchi-based agroforestry systems. On the other hand, between the two crops, soybeans were more suppressed than mung beans

Microscopic techniques for characterization and authentication of oil-yielding seeds

Investigation of alternative energy sources is need of current time due to growing power crisis and associated environmental issues. Biodiesel is considered as sustainable power source and promising alternative to fossil fuels. Therefore, our current investigation aimed to identify micromorphological characters of 10 novel nonedible oil-yielding seeds through scanning electron microscopy. It was revealed from light microscopic study that there is variation in seed size from 3 to 15 mm in length and 2 to 11 mm in width. Likewise, a huge variation in color was observed such as light green, greenish yellow, blackish brown, and various shades of brown. Presence and absence of Hilum was observed, and compression of seeds varied from depressed, lateral, and dorsoventral. Seed's shape differs from ovate, clavate, triangular ovate, cuneiform, ovoid, and elliptical shape. Seed oil content fall in range of 18–58% (wt/wt). Free fatty acid content of the seeds varies from 0.3 to 3.1 mg KOH/g. Ultrastructure of seeds exhibited huge variation in shape, size, periclinal wall, anticlinal wall, and surface ornamentation. Nonedible seeds varied in wall structure from angular, wavy, dentate entire, irregular, puzzled, elongated, even, and polygonal. The periclinal wall arrangements show alteration from flat, looped, raised, depressed, lofty, even, pentagonal, polygonal, and undulate seed margins. Outcomes of this investigation recommended that scanning electron microscopy could act as a helpful tool in disclosing the hidden micromorphological characters among nonedible oil-yielding seeds and subsequently helping in correct, authentic seed identification and classification as potential feedstock for biodiesel

Field evaluation of typhoid conjugate vaccine in a catch-up campaign among children aged 9 months to 15 years in Sindh, Pakistan

Background: Typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) has recently been introduced in the expanded program for immunization (EPI) in Pakistan. Before its introduction in routine immunization, a onetime catchup campaign among children 9 months to 15 years old was conducted in November 2019. We performed field evaluation of TCV against culture confirmed Salmonella Typhi (S. Typhi) among 9 months to 15 years old children during the catch up campaign in Karachi and Hyderabad.Methods: A rapid assessment of blood culture confirmed S. Typhi was performed. Age eligible cases of culture confirmed S. Typhi were identified from the laboratory networks of Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi and Hyderabad, Kharadar General Hospital Karachi, and Liaqat University of Medical & Health Sciences (LUMHS) Hyderabad. Information on sociodemographic, typhoid vaccination history and antimicrobial resistance was collected using a structured questionnaire. Patient medical records and lab reports were also reviewed to collect information on diagnosis and antimicrobial susceptibility information. Information about the population vaccination coverage during catch-up campaign was obtained from the provincial EPI office. Field performance of TCV in catchup campaign was measured by calculating the effectiveness using rapid screening method which is less resource-intensive technique of calculating vaccine effectiveness (VE).Results: Overall, 968 culture confirmed typhoid cases were enrolled. Among them, 82% (793/968) were from Karachi and 18% (175/968) from Hyderabad. The average age of the participants was 5.68 years, and 54% (523/968) were male. 6% (62/968) of the culture confirmed S. Typhi cases were multidrug resistant (MDR), and 61% (586/968) were extensively drug resistant (XDR). The VE using the TCV coverage data provided by EPI was 98%.Conclusion: TCV is effective against culture confirmed S. Typhi among children aged 9 months to 15 years in the catch-up campaign setting. While typhoid vaccination can significantly decrease the burden of typhoid disease, improvements in sanitation and hygiene are necessary for the prevention of spread of enteric fever. Longer term follow up will be needed to assess the duration of protection and requirement for booster doses of TCV

Fabrication of nano filler doped PVA/starch biodegradable composites with enhanced thermal conduction, water barrier and antimicrobial performance for food industry

In this work there was investigated the synergistic effect of the nanomaterials-the Montmorillonite (MMT) and the vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) on the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/starch composite. The composite films were prepared by the solvent casting method. The characterization of the composites showed that the addition of the MMT and the V2O5 to PVA/starch composite decreased the water solubility and water absorption capacity of the film. Both of the reinforcement materials enriched values of thermal conductivity and thermal stability of the composite. The TG/DTA and universal testing machine (UTM) analysis exhibited that MMT and V2O5 augmented the thermal robustness and tensile strength of composites and decreased the strain to break. It was also observed that greater MMT concentration accelerates mechanical strength deterioration of the film owing to agglomeration. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis reflected great change in the surface morphology of the films in the presence and absence of MMT and V2O5. This was due to the interaction amid constituents of the composite. The chemical interaction between the PVA, Starch, MMT and the V2O5 was also established via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, which revealed fluctuations in the absorbance position and intensity of the PVA/Starch. Antimicrobial activities against seven different cultures of bacteria (both-gram positive and -negative) and one fungus (Candida albicans), exposed that antimicrobial performance of the PVA amplified upon addition of the starch, MMT and V2O5, making these composites prospective candidates for the biodegradable packaging materials

Conversion of the toxic and hazardous Zanthoxylum armatum seed oil into methyl ester using green and recyclable silver oxide nanoparticles

The cleaner and sustainable production of biodiesel from toxic and hazardous non-edible seed oils offer a remarkable opportunity to deal with energy crises and provide a renewable substitute to depleting fossil fuels. In the current study, the potential of the novel, toxic and non-edible seed oil of Zanthoxylum armatum was investigated for eco-friendly production of biodiesel catalysed by green nanoparticles of silver oxide. Silver oxide nanoparticles were synthesised with aqueous leaf extract of Silybum marianum. Heterogeneous green nanocatalysts were preferred due to their recyclable nature and easy recovery. The maximum yield of 95% of methyl ester was obtained at optimum reaction conditions of oil to methanol molar ratio 1:7, catalyst loading 0.5 (wt.%), reaction temperature 90 °C and reaction time 2 h. Characterisation of synthesised nanoparticles of silver oxide was carried out with X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy diffraction X-ray (EDX). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) confirmed the formation of methyl esters. 5, 8-octadecenoic acid was found to be the major fatty acid methyl ester in the biodiesel sample. Fuel properties of biodiesel were investigated and found comparable to international standards of ASTM D-6571 and EN-14214. It was concluded from the current investigation that Zanthoxylum armatum is a potential biomass feedstock for the sustainable production of biodiesel using green nanoparticles of silver oxide

Establishing a critical care network in Asia to improve care for critically ill patients in low- and middle-income countries

When undertaking quality improvement (QI) initiatives, one of the greatest burdens is repeated data collection. Intensive care registries, such as those commonly used in high-income countries (HICs), have enabled systematic capture of routine information needed to measure intensive care unit (ICU) performance. Once considered unfeasible in resource-limited settings, newer cloud-based platforms are gaining increasing traction. Collaborative surveillance platforms, such as NICS-MORU and PRICE, which have mobile and desktop applications, have established methods for daily capture of individual patient-level information and have shown that—even in resource-limited settings—the systematic evaluation of patient care throughout the hospital journey is feasible at scale using coalesced minimal data sets