The COVID‐19 Pandemic Not Only Poses Challenges, but Also Opens Opportunities for Sustainable Transformation

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted social, economic, and environmental systems worldwide, slowing down and reversing the progress made in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDGs belong to the 2030 Agenda to transform our world by tackling humankind's challenges to ensure well-being, economic prosperity, and environmental protection. We explore the potential impacts of the pandemic on SDGs for Nepal. We followed a knowledge co-creation process with experts from various professional backgrounds, involving five steps: online survey, online workshop, assessment of expert's opinions, review and validation, and revision and synthesis. The pandemic has negatively impacted most SDGs in the short term. Particularly, the targets of SDG 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 13 have and will continue to have weakly to moderately restricting impacts. However, a few targets of SDG 2, 3, 6, and 11 could also have weakly promoting impacts. The negative impacts have resulted from impeding factors linked to the pandemic. Many of the negative impacts may subside in the medium and long terms. The key five impeding factors are lockdowns, underemployment and unemployment, closure of institutions and facilities, diluted focus and funds for non-COVID-19-related issues, and anticipated reduction in support from development partners. The pandemic has also opened a window of opportunity for sustainable transformation, which is short-lived and narrow. These opportunities are lessons learned for planning and action, socio-economic recovery plan, use of information and communication technologies and the digital economy, reverse migration and “brain gain,” and local governments' exercising authorities

Go Ark; an ameliorative bio-product (in vitro) on Phenyl induced cytotoxicity

Phenyl (PHY) is one of the chemicals which are used as a disinfectant in the world due to its toxic potential. Cleaning workers are directly exposed to it in institutes, hospitals and houses. Cow urine/Go Ark (GA) has been proved as a bioenhancer in many studies. The present study dealt with the in vitro analysis of PHY induced cytotoxicity (CT) on human peripheral blood lymphocytes and ameliorative potential of Distillate cow urine/Go Ark (DGA) and Fresh Go Ark (FGA) as GA is believed to be an elixir in Ayurved. MTT assay was used to study CT and Cell viability % on Human peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBL) in vitro. CT of PHY was found to be higher than that of DGA and FGA treated groups. This showed that when PHY induced cells were treated with DGA and FGA, they showed increase in the cell viability %. It was also found that FGA had more potential for enhancing cell viability % of HPBL than that of DGA. We suggest that GA can be used as an ameliorative agent on PHY induced CT. It can be explored by in vivo experiments further for its detoxification properties. Now a day, PHY is used in combination with GA for cleaning purposes as “Gonyl”, it may be safe for cleaning workers to use GA based disinfectants to diminish the CT induced due to PHY exposure at the time of cleaning

Toxicity of Imidacloprid on Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes by MTT Assay and the Ameliorative Effect of Extract of Tinospora cordifolia (Gilloe) Extract

Imidacloprid (IMI) is a widely used insecticide which has a specific affinity for insect neonicotinoid acetylcholine receptors. Like all insecticides which are used in excess it tends to bioaccumulate in the environment. So it was thought worthwhile to study its cytotoxicity to human peripheral blood lymphocytes in concentrations ranging from 1.5mM to 4mM after 2 hours and 18 hours exposure by MTT method. Trypan blue test was also used to determine the percentage of living cells. The ameliorative effect of an extract of the stem in water and ethanolic extract of leaves of Tinospora cordifolia (Thunb.) Miers, was also studied. The viability of the lymphocytes showed a fall with increasing concentrations at an exposure of 2 hours. After 18 hours exposure to the IMI only, the viability showed a significant dose dependent drop. Trypan blue test for viability was also conducted. Addition of Tinospora extract raised the viability significantly at 2 hours of incubation. In fact this increase was greatest at 3.5mM and 4mM concentration of drug. The ameliorative effect was maximum at 2 hours. Addition of Tinospora leaf extract showed a significant increase in cell viability at 18 hours of incubation as compared to values obtained with only the drug. Thus a considerable loss of viability of lymphocytes was seen after exposure to the drug in the selected concentrations but herbal extracts seem to help to make the damage less marked. The cells showed a significant rise in viability when incubated with Tinospora leaf extract only, confirming its supportive action in cell proliferation. However, taking into account the evident fall in cell viability caused by exposure to the considerably dilute concentrations tested, caution is needed to prevent over exposure to the pesticide while spraying

In vitro analysis of the effect of Go Ark on Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes

Cow is worshiped in India as “Gomata” since ancient time. Its values have been signified in Vedas, Puranas & Ayurveda. Its urine/Go Ark is used in rituals & medicines traditionally in India. The Significance of Cow Urine has been studied by many workers. Now it is available in the market as distillate. Hence this study was designed to assess the potential of Fresh Go Ark (FGA) and Distillate Go Ark (DGA) on Human Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in Vitro using MTT Assay. It was found that FGA & DGA both had the potential to enhance the cell viability of Human PBL. FGA showed greater potential towards the enhancement of cell viability on Human PBL than that of DGA. However the difference between the impacts of FGA & DGA was not found to be significant when tested through Two way ANOVA

An in vitro study of cytotoxicity of organophosphate insecticides (Imidacloprid, Profenofos, Dichlorvos) and natural products (Neem oil and Dashparni ark) on human peripheral lymphocytes by MTT and Trypan blue assay

It is a well-known fact that the human population of India is increasing very fast. Everybody needs food to survive. Agricultural products must be boosted by adding adequate fertilisers and using appropriate insecticides. Organophosphates are one of the most frequently used insecticides. Their overuse leads to soil contamination by agricultural runoff. The insecticides may enter drinking water as well. Since organophosphates are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, they can be dangerous for human health if abnormal amounts are present in drinking water or are consumed as residues on fruits and vegetables. Hence, a toxicity study by MTT and Trypan Blue Assay of three common insecticides (Imidacloprid, Profenofos, Dichlorvos) and two natural products (Dashparnik ark and Neem oil) on lymphocytes was taken up. The insecticides were used at concentrations of 1mM, 4mM, 8mM and 12mM. It was found that at 4 hours of incubation at 1mM Imidacloprid showed the greatest drop in viability followed by Dichlorvos and the least harm was caused by Profenofos. The drop was consistent and dose dependent in the case of Profenofos, whereas at a higher concentration the viability generally increased. For 18 hours of incubation, the same trend was observed, but the decrease and increase were more pronounced. In the case of Profenofos and Dichlorvos the viability percent rises above that of the control. It was probably due to the defense mechanism involving the P450 detoxification pathway of the cells, which is activated if they are exposed to a higher concentration of the damaging factors. This is also supported by other workers mentioned in the discussion section of this paper. The damage to the cells, as evident in the fall in viability, was of lesser magnitude when organic insecticides were used. In the case of Neem nano-drop emulsion, a significant fall in viability was noted only at 2mg/ml. However, it is not sprayed as a nano-emulsion because it is not particularly harmful. The fourth insecticide that was taken up for study was Dashparni Ark. In this case, at 5µl/ml of distilled water (obtained by dilution) very little damage was evident, but at higher concentration it boosted the viability. Apparently, the extract of leaves fermented in cow urine and cow dung was less damaging than that of other insecticides. Thus, organic insecticides are safer to use because they are ecofriendly and do not harm non-target organisms. This is written on the basis of MTT assay results

Whole genome sequencing identifies novel genetic mutations in patients with eczema herpeticum

BackgroundEczema herpeticum (EH) is a rare complication of atopic dermatitis (AD) caused by disseminated herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. The role of rare and/or deleterious genetic variants in disease etiology is largely unknown. This study aimed to identify genes that harbor damaging genetic variants associated with HSV infection in AD with a history of recurrent eczema herpeticum (ADEH+).MethodsWhole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on 49 recurrent ADEH+ (≥3 EH episodes), 491 AD without a history of eczema herpeticum (ADEH-) and 237 non-atopic control (NA) subjects. Variants were annotated, and a gene-based approach (SKAT-O) was used to identify genes harboring damaging genetic variants associated with ADEH+. Genes identified through WGS were studied for effects on HSV responses and keratinocyte differentiation.ResultsEight genes were identified in the comparison of recurrent ADEH+to ADEH-and NA subjects: SIDT2, CLEC7A, GSTZ1, TPSG1, SP110, RBBP8NL, TRIM15, and FRMD3. Silencing SIDT2 and RBBP8NL in normal human primary keratinocytes (NHPKs) led to significantly increased HSV-1 replication. SIDT2-silenced NHPKs had decreased gene expression of IFNk and IL1b in response to HSV-1 infection. RBBP8NL-silenced NHPKs had decreased gene expression of IFNk, but increased IL1b. Additionally, silencing SIDT2 and RBBP8NL also inhibited gene expression of keratinocyte differentiation markers keratin 10 (KRT10) and loricrin (LOR).ConclusionSIDT2 and RBBP8NL participate in keratinocyte's response to HSV-1 infection. SIDT2 and RBBP8NL also regulate expression of keratinocyte differentiation genes of KRT10 and LOR

Village-integrated eye workers for prevention of corneal ulcers in Nepal (VIEW study): a cluster-randomised controlled trial

BackgroundCorneal ulcers are a common cause of blindness in low-income and middle-income countries, usually resulting from traumatic corneal abrasions during agricultural work. Antimicrobial prophylaxis of corneal abrasions can help prevent corneal ulcers, but delays in the initiation of therapy are frequent. We aimed to assess whether a community-based programme for corneal ulcer prevention would reduce the incidence of corneal ulceration.MethodsA cluster-randomised trial was performed in village development committees (VDCs) in Nepal. VDCs in the catchment area of Bharatpur Eye Hospital, Nepal with less than 15 000 people were eligible for inclusion. We randomly assigned (1:1) VDCs to either an intervention group or a control group. In the intervention VDCs, existing female community health volunteers (FCHVs) were trained to diagnose corneal abrasions and provide a 3-day course of ophthalmic antimicrobials to their patients. In the control VDCs, FCHVs did not provide this intervention. Participants were not masked given the nature of the intervention. Both groups were followed up for 3 years for photographic evidence of corneal ulceration. The primary outcome was the incidence of corneal ulceration, determined by masked assessment of corneal photographs. The analysis was by intention to treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01969786.FindingsWe assessed 112 VDCs, of which 24 were enrolled. The study was performed between Feb 4, 2014, and Oct 20, 2017. 12 VDCs were randomly assigned to the intervention group and 12 to the control group. 252 539 individuals were included in the study (130 579 in the intervention group and 121 960 in the control group). FCHVs diagnosed and provided antimicrobials for 4777 corneal abrasions. The census identified 289 corneal ulcers among 246 893 person-years in the intervention group (incidence 1·21 cases [95% CI 0·85-1·74] per 1000 person-years) and 262 corneal ulcers among 239 170 person-years in the control group (incidence 1·18 cases [0·82-1·70] per 1000 person-years; incidence rate ratio 1·03 [95% CI 0·63-1·67]; p=0·93). Medication allergy was self-reported in 0·2% of participants.InterpretationWe did not detect a reduction in the incidence of corneal ulceration during the first 3 years of a community-based corneal ulcer prevention programme. Further study might be warranted in more rural areas where basic eye care facilities are not available.FundingNational Eye Institute