scholarly journals Use of mask in COVID-19 era: absence of evidence is not evidence of absence

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-90
Author(s):  
Rano Mal Piryani ◽  
Suneel Piryani ◽  
Jay Narayan Shah
Keyword(s):  
United States Of America ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Healthy Person ◽  
World Health ◽  
Source Control ◽  
Community Settings ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Risk Of Exposure ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Healthy Persons

World Health Organization (WHO) in its interim guidance of 6 April 2020 advises policy makers on the use of masks for healthy people in community settings. The rationale for mask use by healthy person is prevention from COVID-19, when there is risk of exposure, like working in close contact with public, people with comorbidities, where physical distancing cannot be maintained such as travelling in buses, staying in slum areas. Furthermore, WHO says the purpose and reason for mask use should be clear– whether it is to be used for source control (used by infected persons) or prevention of COVID-19 (used by healthy persons).1 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) United States of America (USA) updated its advisory on 4 Apr 2020, and recommended everyone (except some) should wear at least a cloth face covering when they have to go out in public. It will protect other people in case you are infected.2,3 This advisory of no strict demand on use of face masks could be possibly due to unavailability of disposable masks.

The relevance of dietetic approach of Ayurveda from the perspective of COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 748-752
Author(s):  
Swapnali Khabade ◽  
Bharat Rathi ◽  
Renu Rathi
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Healthy Person ◽  
World Health ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
The People ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Individual

A novel, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), causes severe acute respiratory syndrome and spread globally from Wuhan, China. In March 2020 the World Health Organization declared the SARS-Cov-2 virus as a COVID- 19, a global pandemic. This pandemic happened to be followed by some restrictions, and specially lockdown playing the leading role for the people to get disassociated with their personal and social schedules. And now the food is the most necessary thing to take care of. It seems the new challenge for the individual is self-isolation to maintain themselves on the health basis and fight against the pandemic situation by boosting their immunity. Food organised by proper diet may maintain the physical and mental health of the individual. Ayurveda aims to promote and preserve the health, strength and the longevity of the healthy person and to cure the disease by properly channelling with and without Ahara. In Ayurveda, diet (Ahara) is considered as one of the critical pillars of life, and Langhana plays an important role too. This article will review the relevance of dietetic approach described in Ayurveda with and without food (Asthavidhi visheshaytana & Lanhgan) during COVID-19 like a pandemic.

scholarly journals Clinical signs of trachoma are prevalent among Solomon Islanders who have no persistent markers of prior infection with Chlamydia trachomatis

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Robert Butcher ◽  
Oliver Sokana ◽  
Kelvin Jack ◽  
Leslie Sui ◽  
Charles Russell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Sexual Debut ◽  
Solomon Islands ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
World Health ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Health Organization

Background: The low population-prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis and high prevalence of trachomatous inflammation–follicular (TF) provide contradictory estimates of the magnitude of the public health threat from trachoma in the Solomon Islands. Improved characterisation of the biology of trachoma in the region may support policy makers as they decide what interventions are required. Here, age-specific profiles of anti-Pgp3 antibodies and conjunctival scarring were examined to determine whether there is evidence of ongoing transmission and pathology from ocular Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection. Methods: A total of 1511 individuals aged ≥1 year were enrolled from randomly selected households in 13 villages in which >10% of children aged 1–9 years had TF prior to a single round of azithromycin mass drug administration undertaken six months previously. Blood was collected to be screened for antibodies to the Ct antigen Pgp3. Tarsal conjunctival photographs were collected for analysis of scarring severity. Results: Anti-Pgp3 seropositivity was 18% in 1–9 year olds, sharply increasing around the age of sexual debut to reach 69% in those over 25 years. Anti-Pgp3 seropositivity did not increase significantly between the ages of 1–9 years and was not associated with TF (p=0.581) or scarring in children (p=0.472). Conjunctival scars were visible in 13.1% of photographs. Mild (p<0.0001) but not severe (p=0.149) scars increased in prevalence with age. Conclusions: Neither conjunctival scars nor lymphoid follicles were associated with antibodies to Ct, suggesting that they are unlikely to be a direct result of ocular Ct infection. Clinical signs of trachoma were prevalent in this population but were not indicative of the underlying rates of Ct infection. The current World Health Organization guidelines for trachoma elimination indicated that this population should receive intervention with mass distribution of antibiotics, but the data presented here suggest that this may not have been appropriate.

scholarly journals Preliminary study of coronavirus disease 2019 on pets in pandemic in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

2021 ◽  
pp. 2979-2983
Author(s):  
Hamong Suharsono ◽  
Ali Ghufron Mukti ◽  
Ketut Suryana ◽  
I. Wayan Masa Tenaya ◽  
Dilasdita Kartika Pradana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Close Contact ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Rna Isolation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Pcr Products ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Respiratory Droplets

Background and Aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute infectious respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has spread rapidly globally, resulting in a pandemic. In humans, the main routes of transmission are respiratory droplets and close contact with infected individuals or through contact with an object infected with the virus, followed by touching mouth, nose, or eyes. It is assumed that SARS-CoV-2 was originated in wild animals and was then transmitted to humans. Although some wildlife and domestic animals can be naturally or experimentally infected with the virus, the intermediate hosts that transmitted it to humans are still unknown. Understanding the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 associated with possible zoonotic transmission of intermediate hosts is considered critical. Reportedly, cats or dogs living with COVID-19-positive humans tested positive for the disease, suggesting that the virus was transmitted to the animals from humans. Information regarding the epidemiological investigation and comprehensive studies is limited. Therefore, it is still unclear how high is the correlation of infection in humans and pet animals, especially those living together. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the pets of patients with COVID-19 who were hospitalized at the Wangaya hospital, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: A total of seven clinically asymptomatic pets (six dogs of different races and sexes and a cat [age, 360-2920 days]) were included in this study. These animals belonged to patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from August to November 2020. Nasal swab and nasopharyngeal samples were collected from the pets individually under anesthetic condition and were collected 6-12 days after confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in owners and hospitalization at the Wangaya Hospital. The swab samples were then processed for RNA isolation and tested using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2, in accordance with the World Health Organization manual 2020. Results: RT-PCR results for all seven RNA samples, prepared from the swab samples, were negative. For the samples, all PCR products were below the threshold limit, suggesting no genetic material belonging to the samples tested. Conclusion: This was the first preliminary study of COVID-19 on pets in pandemic using RT-PCR. The study tested a very limited quantity of samples, and all of them were negative. However, the way in which the samples were prepared was considered appropriate. Therefore, in further studies, testing of more samples of pets of more individuals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection is required.

scholarly journals A cluster of rubella in Malta, December 2007 - January 2008

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
G Spiteri ◽  
A-M Fenech Magrin ◽  
M Muscat
Keyword(s):  
Close Contact ◽  
Control Unit ◽  
World Health ◽  
Work Place ◽  
Reference Laboratory ◽  
The Third ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Travel Abroad ◽  
In The Beginning ◽  
And Control

A cluster of rubella has been identified by the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Unit (IDCU) of Malta in the beginning of January 2008. Two men and a woman aged between 23 and 28 years were affected. The index case had onset of illness on 23 December 2007. The second case had onset of rash on 3 January and the third case displayed symptoms on 6 January 2008. Two of the three cases were laboratory-confirmed (IgM positive), the third displayed typical symptoms and was a close contact of a laboratory-confirmed case but was IgM and IgG negative. None of the affected patients had received vaccination against rubella and there was no history of recent travel abroad. All three cases were linked through a work place. Blood samples were submitted to the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Reference Laboratory for Measles and Rubella, Luxembourg, for further investigations. None of the cases had any complications. To date no further cases have been identified.

scholarly journals Congener specific distribution of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-p-furans in ambient air particulates (less than PM10) in Delhi, India

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhupander Kumar ◽  
Satish Kumar Singh ◽  
Ram Bharoshey Lal ◽  
Sanjay Kumar ◽  
Chandra Shekhar Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Pollution Control ◽  
National Level ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Stockholm Convention ◽  
World Health ◽  
Specific Distribution ◽  
Central Pollution Control Board ◽  
Risk Of Exposure ◽  
Health Organization

Polychlorinated dibenzo-<em>p</em>-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-<em>p</em>-furans (PCDFs) are unintentionally formed during inefficient combustions and as a by-product. Due to their resistance to degradation and their toxic effect on health, PCDD/Fs are listed by the Stockholm Convention as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Once released into the atmosphere, most of them are adsorbed to air particles and transported away from sources in atmosphere. India signed the Stockholm Convention India agreeing thereby to reduce and eliminate the use of POPs. The German agency for Technical Cooperation helped develop facilities for monitoring POPs at a national level in Delhi. This paper presents the data generated during a training assignment for Central Pollution Control Board officials at the German laboratory. Air borne particulate matter (&lt;PM<sub>10</sub>) was collected from 6 different locations in Delhi, India and analyzed in a German laboratory for 17 congeners of PCDD/Fs. The concentrations of &Sigma;PCDD/Fs ranged between 1720-9010 fg m<sup>-3</sup> (mean 5559 fg m<sup>-3</sup>) and their toxic equivalency values ranged from 67 to 460 fg I-toxic equivalent quantities (TEQ) m<sup>-3</sup>, with an average of 239 fg I-TEQ m<sup>-3</sup> which was lower than the ambient air standards. The dominant congeners were octachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD), octachlorinated dibenzo-p-furans (OCDF), 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorinated dibenzo- p-furans, and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin. The contributions of individual homologs for &Sigma;PCDDs/Fs I-TEQ was in the order of OCDD (31%)&gt;HCDF (21%)&gt;hexachlorodibenzofurans (13%)=OCDF (13%)&gt; HCDF (12%) and other individual congeners contribute less than 5%. High chlorinated congeners contributed with more than 80% for &Sigma;PCDD/Fs I-TEQ. Rough estimates of tolerable daily intake (TDI) shows low health risk of exposure to &Sigma;PCDD/Fs with inhalation of 0.098 pg I-TEQ kg<sup>1</sup>day<sup>1</sup> for adult and 0.152 pg TEQ kg<sup>-1</sup>day<sup>-1</sup> for children, which is much lower than World Health Organization recommended TDI for dioxins.

scholarly journals Air Pollution and COVID-19: The Role of Particulate Matter in the Spread and Increase of COVID-19’s Morbidity and Mortality

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 4487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Comunian ◽  
Dario Dongo ◽  
Chiara Milani ◽  
Paola Palestini
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Atmospheric Particulate Matter ◽  
World Health ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Pulmonary Cells ◽  
Health Organization

Sars-Cov-2 virus (COVID-19) is a member of the coronavirus family and is responsible for the pandemic recently declared by the World Health Organization. A positive correlation has been observed between the spread of the virus and air pollution, one of the greatest challenges of our millennium. COVID-19 could have an air transmission and atmospheric particulate matter (PM) could create a suitable environment for transporting the virus at greater distances than those considered for close contact. Moreover, PM induces inflammation in lung cells and exposure to PM could increase the susceptibility and severity of the COVID-19 patient symptoms. The new coronavirus has been shown to trigger an inflammatory storm that would be sustained in the case of pre-exposure to polluting agents. In this review, we highlight the potential role of PM in the spread of COVID-19, focusing on Italian cities whose PM daily concentrations were found to be higher than the annual average allowed during the months preceding the epidemic. Furthermore, we analyze the positive correlation between the virus spread, PM, and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a receptor involved in the entry of the virus into pulmonary cells and inflammation.

scholarly journals Presence of mismatches between diagnostic PCR assays and coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 genome

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 200636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kashif Aziz Khan ◽  
Peter Cheung
Keyword(s):  
World Health ◽  
Current Standard ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Diagnostic Pcr ◽  
Diagnostic Assays ◽  
The World ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Pcr Assays ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Viral Sequences

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; initially named as 2019-nCoV) is responsible for the recent COVID-19 pandemic and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the current standard method for its diagnosis from patient samples. This study conducted a reassessment of published diagnostic PCR assays, including those recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), through the evaluation of mismatches with publicly available viral sequences. An exhaustive evaluation of the sequence variability within the primer/probe target regions of the viral genome was performed using more than 17 000 viral sequences from around the world. The analysis showed the presence of mutations/mismatches in primer/probe binding regions of 7 assays out of 27 assays studied. A comprehensive bioinformatics approach for in silico inclusivity evaluation of PCR diagnostic assays of SARS-CoV-2 was validated using freely available software programs that can be applied to any diagnostic assay of choice. These findings provide potentially important information for clinicians, laboratory professionals and policy-makers.

Vaccine Hesitancy: The Growing Parent–Provider Divide

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-278
Author(s):  
Angshuman Kashyap ◽  
Sangeeta Shrivastava ◽  
Pradeep Krishnatray
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Communication ◽  
Disease Susceptibility ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Government Policies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Parental Concerns ◽  
Health Organization

Vast majority of parents continue to immunize their children against deadly infectious diseases. However, of late, growing number of them in both developed and developing nations have refused vaccination forcing the World Health Organization to declare vaccine hesitancy as one of the top ten major threats to global health. This research reviews literature published in the last few years to understand and explain the phenomenon. It identifies 10 reasons for people’s reluctance for vaccination: parental concerns, perceived disease susceptibility, parent–provider relationship, government policies, role of school authorities, weak interpersonal communication (IPC) skills of health workers, religious beliefs, role of media, social media and information on vaccines, and lack of trust. The review categorizes parents who hesitate or refuse vaccination into four categories: obedients, ditherers, doubters and defiants. Finally, it summarizes recommendations and steps that researchers and policy makers have made to stem the growing concerns regarding vaccine hesitancy.

scholarly journals Probiotic Products in Canada with Clinical Evidence: What Can Gastroenterologists Recommend?

2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregor Reid ◽  
Kingsley Anukam ◽  
Tara Koyama
Keyword(s):  
United States Of America ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
The Us ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Health Canada

Probiotics, defined as ‘live microorganisms, which when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host’, are finally becoming an option for gastroenterologists in Canada, after being available for many years in Japan, Europe and the United States of America. Unfortunately, Health Canada and the US Food and Drug Administration have not controlled the use of the term ‘probiotic’ or put into place United Nations and World Health Organization guidelines. The net result is that a host of products called ‘probiotics’ are available but are not truly probiotic. The aim of the present review was to discuss the rationale for probiotics in gastroenterology, and specifically examine which products are options for physicians in Canada, and which ones patients might be using. It is hoped that by clarifying what probiotics are, and the strengths and limitations of their use, specialists will be better placed to make recommendations on the role of these products in patient care. In due course, more clinically documented probiotics will emerge, some with therapeutic effects based on a better understanding of disease processes.

scholarly journals Psychosocial risk factors for cardiovascular disease: gender differences and 22-year dynamics among the population of Siberia (WHO MONICA-Psychosocial Program, HAPIEE)

2020 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-24
Author(s):  
V V Gafarov ◽  
I V Gagulin ◽  
A V Gafarova ◽  
D O Panov ◽  
E A Krymov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
World Health ◽  
Open Population ◽  
The Family ◽  
Knowledge And Attitude ◽  
Stress At Work ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The City

Aim. To determine the gender differentiation and dynamics for 22 years of psychosocial factors (PSF) of the risk of cardiovascular disease among the population aged 25-64 years in Russia / Siberia (Novosibirsk). Materials and methods. Representative samples of the population of the city of Novosibirsk under the program of the World Health Organization “MONICA-MOPSY” in 1994-1995 were examined. III screening (men - 657, women - 870, 25-64 years old); IV screening project HAPIEE in 2003-2005 (men - 576, women - 1074, 45-64 years old) and V screening in 2013-2016. (men - 427, women - 548, 25-44 years old). We used Spielberger tests, MONICA-MOPSY tests, the Breckman - Sim test, the “Knowledge and attitude to your health” questionnaire. Results. In an open population of 25-64 years old, high levels of anxiety (T), depression (D), life exhaustion (LM), and hostility (B) were higher in women than in men. In the group of 55-64 years over 10 years, women have increased personality T, decreased D and LM. Over 22 years, in the group of 25-34 years, men and women decreased T and MI, but D and B increased, while women decreased T, LM and B and D. grew. Low and high close contact indices were higher among men. A low index of social ties prevailed in men, and a high index in women. High levels of stress in the family were more common in women, and at work - in men. For 10 years, the level of stress in the family and at work in men has decreased. Sleep disorders in the population in all age groups were more often in women. Conclusion. It was found that women have significantly higher PSF than men, with the exception of stress at work. The decrease in PSF in women and men in the dynamics

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document