Air quality during COVID-19 lockdown: Blessing in disguise

The world at present is facing a gravest health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To control its unimaginable transmission worldwide lockdown was implemented resulting in economic deterioration but on the other hand betterment of the environment took place. Therefore this study attempted to analyze the quality of air during the lockdown period and infer its outcome to environment and health. 15 empirical research articles, eight (54%), three (20%), two (13%) and two (13%) from Asia, Europe, South America and North America, respectively have been evaluated. From the studies it was inferred that during the lockdown period, in general, there was a trend of decrease in the level of concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, CO, NO, NO2, NH3, NOx, SO2 and increase in the concentration level of O3 in comparison to either the pre-lockdown period or to the previous year(s) records. Marked decrease in the levels of NO, NO2, NOx were noted. Also PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and CO levels were seen to diminish significantly. The main reasons for such decrease were restricted movements of traffic and temporary closure of factories and industries. However, as the thermal power plants were functional during lockdown so improvement of air quality in those areas was not significant. Overall, significant improvement in the air quality was observed during the lockdown which led to better climatic conditions, lesser pollution and improved many seasonal ailments like asthma and other cardio-respiratory issues in people

Air quality during COVID-19 lockdown: Blessing in disguise

420-430The  world  at  present  is  facing  a  gravest  health  crisis  due  to  the  Covid-19  pandemic.  To  control  its  unimaginable transmission worldwide lockdown was implemented resulting in economic deterioration but on the other hand betterment of the environment took place.  Therefore this study attempted to analyze the quality of air during the lockdown period and infer its outcome to environment and health. 15 empirical research articles, eight (54%), three (20%), two (13%) and two (13%) from Asia, Europe, South America and North America, respectively have been evaluated. From the studies it was inferred that during the lockdown period, in general, there was a trend of decrease in the level of concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, CO, NO, NO2, NH3, NOx, SO2 and increase in the concentration level of O3  in comparison to either the pre-lockdown period or to the previous year(s) records. Marked decrease in the levels of NO, NO2, NOx were noted. Also PM10, PM2.5, SO2  and CO levels were seen to diminish significantly. The main reasons for such decrease were restricted movements of traffic  and  temporary  closure  of  factories  and  industries.  However,  as  the  thermal  power  plants  were  functional  during lockdown  so  improvement  of  air  quality  in  those  areas  was  not  significant.  Overall,  significant  improvement  in  the  air quality  was  observed  during  the  lockdown  which  led  to  better  climatic  conditions,  lesser  pollution  and  improved  many seasonal ailments like asthma and other cardio-respiratory issues in people

Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health of the health care workers

The attack of COVID-19 has been a threat to the public health rendering it a global war by the humans against a deadly virus and the soldiers of this battle are the frontline healthcare workers. They are most vulnerable to infection and other adverse effects which have profound emotional impact on them. These factors can result in different types of psychological pressure that trigger feelings of loneliness, helplessness, stress, irritability, fatigue, despair, sleep disturbance, anxiety and fear of contagion. The current study is to find the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of the healthcare workers. Relevant scientific articles were procured from Google scholar database through purposive sampling technique. Total size of the participants was 6868, belonging to the age group 18 to 60 years. It was observed that 50%, 46%, 37%, 30%, 21%, 19%, 6%, 2%, 1%, 1%, 1% and 1% of the total sample had symptoms of insomnia/poor sleep quality, anxiety, depression, somatisation, stress/distress, social dysfunction, low professional identity, burnout effect, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, phobic symptoms, fear of COVID-19 and worry, respectively. The healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients especially are at high risk of developing various psycho-pathological symptoms that may adversely affect their mental well-being and productivity. Hence, psycho-education, psychosocial support, adequate counselling facilities, social interactions and reasonable resting facilities for the medical professional maybe adapted for the mental well-being of the healthcare workers

Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health of the health care workers

594-601The attack of COVID-19 has been a threat to the public health rendering it a global war by the humans against a deadly virus and the soldiers of this battle are the frontline healthcare workers. They are most vulnerable to infection and other adverse effects which have profound emotional impact on them. These factors can result in different types of psychological pressure that trigger feelings of loneliness, helplessness, stress, irritability, fatigue, despair, sleep disturbance, anxiety and fear of contagion. The current study is to find the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of the healthcare workers. Relevant scientific articles were procured from Google scholar database through purposive sampling technique. Total size of the participants was 6868, belonging to the age group 18 to 60 years. It was observed that 50%, 46%, 37%, 30%, 21%, 19%, 6%, 2%, 1%, 1%, 1% and 1% of the total sample had symptoms of insomnia/poor sleep quality, anxiety, depression, somatisation, stress/distress, social dysfunction, low professional identity, burnout effect, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, phobic symptoms, fear of COVID-19 and worry, respectively. The healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients especially are at high risk of developing various psycho-pathological symptoms that may adversely affect their mental well-being and productivity. Hence, psycho-education, psychosocial support, adequate counselling facilities, social interactions and reasonable resting facilities for the medical professional maybe adapted for the mental well-being of the healthcare workers

Diabetes in the time of COVID-19 pandemic: A knife with two sharp ends

512-520Interactions of current pandemic COVID-19 and pre-existing major health burden Diabetes Mellitus have posed a serious global public health crisis. The emergence of COVID-19 as a communicable viral infection along with the presence of non-communicable diabetes, have transformed the health system into a knife with two sharp ends. Though diabetes worldwide is almost 20 times more than COVID-19 positive cases, the severe virulence and pathogenesis coincides with the routine treatment and pathogenesis of diabetes making it one of the most serious comorbid factors. The first three deaths due to COVID-19 reported in China were diabetes patients. The severity of the association of diabetes with COVID-19 ranges from 5 to 20%. Type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus increase the susceptibility to infections and their complications. The present study was attempted to review probable interaction between these two global health burdens and possible suggestive management to control their detrimental effect. An intensive online search was conducted using two databases, PubMed and Google Scholar. Most hypothesized pathways for COVID-19 infection are the ACE2 receptors and RAAS system followed by the DPP4 receptor pathway. This review proposes that proper and timely management of the COVD-19 patients with diabetes comorbidity might reduce COVID-19 disease burden

PEG-Induced Osmotic Stress Alters Root Morphology and Root Hair Traits in Wheat Genotypes

Wheat crop in drought-prone regions of Bangladesh suffers from osmotic stress. The objective of this study was to investigate the response of wheat genotypes with respect to root morphology and root hair traits under polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced osmotic stress. A total of 22 genotypes of wheat were grown hydroponically and two treatments—0% and 10% PEG—were imposed at 14 days after germination. Plant growth was reduced in terms of plant height, number of live leaves per tiller, shoot dry weight, number of root-bearing phytomers, and roots per tiller. Notably, PEG-induced osmotic stress increased root dry weight per tiller by increasing length of the main axis and lateral roots, as well as the diameter and density of both lateral roots and root hairs of the individual roots. A biplot was drawn after a principal component analysis, taking three less-affected (high-yielding genotypes) and three highly affected (low-yielding genotypes and landrace) genotypes under 10% PEG stress, compared to control. Principal component 1 separated PEG-treated wheat genotypes from control-treated genotypes, with a high and positive coefficient for the density of lateral roots and root hairs, length and diameter of the main axis, and first-order lateral roots and leaf injury scores, indicating that these traits are associated with osmotic stress tolerance. Principal component 2 separated high-yielding and tolerant wheat genotypes from low-yielding and susceptible genotypes, with a high coefficient for root dry weight, density of root hairs and second-order lateral roots, length of the main axis, and first-order lateral roots. An increase in root dry weight in PEG-stress-tolerant wheat genotypes was achieved through an increase in length and diameter of the main axis and lateral roots. The information derived from this research could be exploited for identifying osmotic stress-tolerant QTL and for developing abiotic-tolerant cultivars of wheat

Knowledge about hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection and consequences: a cross-sectional assessment of baseline knowledge among infected patients in West Bengal, India

Abstract Background India has a high burden of disease from hepatitis B virus (HBV), with 3.7 % point-prevalence, as well as from hepatitis C virus (HCV), with 1–1.5 % prevalence. Societal ignorance about HBV and HCV in India limits the potential for prevention and treatment efforts to bring these diseases under control. Since patients’ own knowledge about their health condition may have important health consequences, this study sought to assess knowledge levels among HBV and HCV patients referred to the virology laboratory of the Liver Foundation, West Bengal. Methods Patients who had tested positive for HBsAg or anti-HCV at government specialty clinics were invited to enroll in the study when they presented for follow-up laboratory testing. Study participants completed a survey that contained three multiple-choice questions about viral hepatitis etiology and five multiple-choice questions about the consequences of HBV and HCV infection. Mean knowledge scores for male and female respondents were compared, and comparisons were also made across different places of residence, age groups, education levels and income levels. One-way ANOVA was used to test for significant differences. Results Among 520 study participants, the mean knowledge score was 4.76 on an eight-point scale. Approximately 40 % of the study sample scored less than 4.0. Almost three-quarters of respondents correctly responded to the question, “Which organ of the human body is affected by hepatitis?” while almost two-thirds knew how hepatitis B is transmitted. Regarding consequences of HBV and HCV infection, less than one-third of study participants answered correctly when asked, “What happens when one is infected with hepatitis B or C?” Slightly more than two-thirds of people correctly answered the question about how hepatitis B is prevented. The mean knowledge score varied across age groups (P = 0.0009), education levels (P = 0.0001) and monthly household income levels (P = 0.0001). With higher levels of schooling and higher household income, there were corresponding increases in knowledge scores. Conclusion There is room for improving knowledge of HBV and HCV etiology and consequences among patients as well as healthcare workers in India. More awareness activities should be organized, accompanied by further research to track whether knowledge scores improve over time