Background: COVID-19 caused havoc on the mankind. Post COVID-19 effects were also very painful. Post COVID-19 symptoms affected almost every organ system of the body not only physically, but also had ...a very profound effect on psyche of different individuals. We studied prevalence of anxiety and depression in post COVID-19 phase. Materials and methods: All patients attending various outpatient Departments, who had positive RTPCR for COVID-19, more than 3 months before the present symptoms, were included in this study. The patients were divided in two groups depending upon severity of the COVID-19 infection in past. Group-I patients were treated for COVID-19 on domiciliary basis while those required admission to hospital for treatment for COVID-19 were included in Group-II. Scoring system decided if the patient was normal or had anxiety or depression. Results: Both anxiety and depression were common in post COVID-19 phase. Group-II patients were affected more 38.65% (167 out of 432) as compared to only 10.13% (62 out of 612) of Group-I patients. Depression was seen in 52 out of 237 (22.94%) in males as compared to female 20 out of 195 (10.25%) in Group-II. Anxiety was also more common in males in Group-II, 62 out of 237 (26.18%) than females 33 out of 195 (16.92%). Conclusion: Both anxiety and depression were very common post COVID-19 infection. Hospitalized patients suffered more than those who had milder disease and were treated at home for COVID-19. Males suffered more than the females.
Background: Longer-term consequences after SARS-CoV-2 infection are becoming an important burden to societies and healthcare systems. Long COVID-19 and post COVID-19 conditions are terms used ...clinically to describe ongoing or new symptoms that occur beyond 12 weeks of recovery from an acute infection, that cannot be explained by an alternative medical diagnosis. It is now understood that COVID-19 can impact on multiple organ systems, which can lead to a diverse range of persistent symptoms including fatigue, breathlessness, cough, loss of taste and/or smell, myalgia, memory issues and gastrointestinal problems. Very few studies have been conducted globally to assess the burden of Long Covid which are in hospital setting and none published in Karnataka state. This community based cross sectional study intends to bridge the gap in existing evidence pool and to influence evidence-based policy decisions at local administrative level. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of Long covid among people infected with COVID-19 in rural community Bengaluru rural district. Methodology: Community based cross sectional study was conducted between October 2023 to November 2023 in Orohalli & Jadigenahalli Panchayaths of Hoskote Taluk. After obtaining written and informed consent from the participants, all adults > 18years of age residing in identified villages, with COVID-19 RTPCR positive status, tested at least 12 weeks/ 3 months prior to the date of interviewed using a prevalidated questionare and Fatigue Assessment Scale. Data is analysed using SPSS trial version 21. Results: 420 participants were interviewed in 17 villages. Mean period between date of COVID positivity to date of interview was 490 days. 27 (6.4%) participants reported residual symptoms from COVID 19 infection suggestive of Long Covid. Majority of them complained of fatigue. Out 25 respondents with fatigue, 18 people had a score > 22 on FAS, indicative of clinical fatigue. Older age >60years, female gender, and ICU admission during infection, were associated with higher prevalence of long covid and are statistically significant (p value< 0.05) Conclusion: It is essential to determine the burden of longer-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the needs of affected individuals, to successfully plan healthcare services and efficiently allocate public health resources.
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a hematological malignancy characterized by the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome, resulting in the abnormal fusion protein BCR-ABL1. Imatinib, a tyrosine ...kinase inhibitor, has revolutionized the treatment of CML. However, the availability of generic versions of imatinib raises concerns regarding their therapeutic equivalence to brand-name counterparts.
The ability of imatinib mesylate 400mg to achieve the molecular genetics response through RT-PCR among the CML–chronic-phase patients compared with brand imatinib and to evaluate the molecular structures and chemical properties of the generic utilizing ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and fluorescence techniques.
This retrospective study was conducted in Libya on CP CML patients registered at adult oncology outpatient department from January 2005 to December 2020.
Sixty-seven CML patients from Libya were enrolled in this comparative study. The median age was 41 (18–75) years; 34 were women (50.7%), 33 were men (49.3%); median duration time of follow up, 70 months(12–180). Patients were divided into three groups: Group A received brand imatinib (n=28); Group B, generic imatinib (n=15);and Group C, both generic and brand imatinib (n=24).
Results of the RTPCR analysis demonstrated no significant difference in the molecular response. In Group A(P>0.05) 12(50%) patients achieved major molecular remission when on brand; 1(8.33%) patient exhibited failure of treatment when switched to generic. The reduction in BCR-ABL1 transcript levels, indicative of treatment response, was comparable among all groups. Additionally, the physicochemical analysis of the Imatinib samples using UV spectroscopy, FTIR, and fluorescence techniques revealed no significant differences in their spectral patterns and fluorescence emission characteristics among the brand and generic. These findings indicate comparable molecular structures and chemical properties of generic and brand imatinib, regardless of the treatment regimen.
The therapeutic equivalence of generic imatinib reinforces its potential as a cost-effective alternative for CML treatment in resource-constrained settings like Libya.
Respiratory syncytial virus disease (RSV) is an important cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection. This study aimed to evaluate the role of viral load and cytokines, including MMP-9 and ...TIMP-1, in determining the severity of RSV disease and to identify potential biomarkers of disease severity. 142 patients of RSV (>2 months to <5 years of age) presenting with acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) between December 2013 to March 2016 were enrolled. Their nasopharyngeal aspirate was subjected to RSV viral load quantification and local cytokine levels of IL-6, TNF, IL-17A, IFN-Ƴ and IL-10 as determined using cytokine bead array. Levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were calculated using Quantikine ELISA on 109 aspirates. These parameters were compared against different categories of disease severity. A higher viral load and increased levels of TNFα, MMP-9 and MMP-9:TIMP-1 were associated with greater severity of disease; while levels of IL-17a, IFN-Ƴ, and IFN-Ƴ:IL-10 were associated with disease resolution. In defining transition from non-severe to severe disease, MMP-9 had a sensitivity and specificity of 89.7% and 85.4%, respectively and MMP-9:TIMP-1 had a sensitivity and specificity of 87.2% and 76.8% respectively. Hence, MMP-9, MMP-9:TIMP-1, TNFα and IL-10 could serve as potential biomarkers for disease progression in RSV-infected children.
Infectious bursal disease (IBD), caused by infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), is one among the top five infectious diseases of poultry that discernibly affects commercial poultry industry. The ...mutating viral genome of IBDV accounts for disease outbreaks in fields even after following stringent biosecurity measures and vaccination protocols. The present study is focussed on the characterisation of an IBDV field virus, IBD/CVAS/6, from a vaccinated flock in Kerala, based on the sequence analysis of VP1, VP2 and VP3 genes. Bursa of Fabricius samples collected from a 26 days-old chicken flock from a suspected outbreak in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala formed the subject of the study. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeting VP2 gene confirmed the presence of virus in the sample. The sequence analysis revealed that the deduced amino acid sequence of VP1 gene of IBD/CVAS/6 was 100 per cent homologous with an attenuated very virulent vaccine strain of Israel, mb and the VP2 gene was 100 per cent homologous with mb and Ventri IBDV plus vaccine strain of India. The analysis of VP3 gene also revealed the similarity with vaccine strains except for a single variation S745N in its deduced amino acid sequence. The phylogenetic analysis of IBD/CVAS/6 revealed it’s close relation with mb, Ventri IBDV plus and a very virulent strain of Israel, ks. The characteristic virulent marker amino acid motifs ‘SWSASGS’ and ‘TDN’ were present in the VP2 and VP1 genes, respectively. Hence, the study revealed that the obtained virus has emerged from an attenuated very virulent vaccine strain and hence the present study is a report of involvement of the intermediate plus vaccine strain in field outbreaks in Kerala. The role of S745N in virulence cannot be accounted from the present study, however the involvement of IBD/CVAS/6 in the outbreak might be related to S745N variation or variations in other genes of the virus or due to the inefficiency of the vaccine or vaccination protocol followed, which can be defined only after further studies. The present report is the first characterisation study in Kerala focussing on the analysis of VP1, VP2 and VP3 genes of IBDV.
Biomarkers of cell-mediated immunity to bovine tuberculosis Palmer, Mitchell V.; Thacker, Tyler C.; Rabideau, Meaghan M. ...
Veterinary immunology and immunopathology,
February 2020, 2020-Feb, 2020-02-00, 20200201, Volume:
220
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
•Messenger RNA for IFN-γ, TNF-α and other key cytokines were significantly upregulated in M. bovis infected animals compared to non-infected.•Differential expression of IFN-γ, CXCL9, CXCL10, IL-21 ...and IL-13 as early as 2 weeks after infection of calves with M. boviswas seen.•CXCL9 protein was specifically produced in whole blood from M. bovis infected animals when stimulated with PPDb or specific proteins.•CXCL10 protein was found in significant quantities in the serum of infected and uninfected animals.
Whole blood based assays, particularly interferon gamma (IFN-γ) release assays (IGRAs), are used for the diagnosis of both bovine and human tuberculosis (TB). The aim of the current study was to evaluate a panel of cytokines and chemokines for potential use as diagnostic readouts indicative of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) infection in cattle. A gene expression assay was used to determine the kinetics of the response to M. bovis purified protein derivative and a fusion protein consisting of ESAT-6, CFP10, and Rv3615c upon aerosol infection with ∼104 cfu of M. bovis. The panel of biomarkers included: IFN-γ, CXCL9, CXCL10, CCL2, CCL3, TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1Ra, IL-22, IL-21 and IL-13. Protein levels of IFN-γ, CXCL9, and CXCL10 were determined by ELISA. Findings suggest that CXCL9, CXCL10, IL-21, IL-13, and several acute phase cytokines may be worth pursuing as diagnostic biomarkers of M. bovis infection in cattle.
Real time PCR (rtPCR) is a quantitative assay to determine the relative DNA copy number in a sample versus a reference. The Formula: see text method is the standard for the analysis of the output ...data generated by an rtPCR experiment. We developed an alternative based on fitting a robust regression to the rtPCR signal. This new data analysis tool reduces potential biases and does not require all of the compared DNA fragments to have the same PCR efficiency.
Comparing the two methods when analysing 96 identical PCR preparations showed similar distributions of the estimated copy numbers. Estimating the efficiency with the Formula: see text method, however, required a dilution series, which is not necessary for the robust regression method. We used rtPCR to quantify mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy numbers in three different tissues types: breast, colon and prostate. For each type, normal tissue and a tumor from the same three patients were analysed. This gives a total of six samples. The mitochondrial copy number is estimated to lie between 200 and 300 copies per cell. Similar results are obtained when using the robust regression or the Formula: see text method. Confidence ratios were slightly narrower for the robust regression. The new data analysis method has been implemented as an R package.
Introduction: The pandemic of Covid-19 was declared on 11 march 2020 by WHO.
Methods: The study was carried out in a dedicated Covid 19 hospital on 1493 patients. All patients who tested positive for ...Covid-19 by RTPCR were included in the study and the outcome was analysed.
Result: Most of the patients were symptomatic (64.97%). The asymptomatic patients recovered faster than symptomatic and the difference was statistically significant. The most common symptoms were fever (38.3%), tiredness (20.6%) and cough (17.8%). Only 0.8% patients died due to the novel corona virus.
Conclusion: The mortality due to the virus in India is not alarming and we need to consider starting focusing back on other diseases as well. The mean age of the deceased was 58.42 which highlights that elderly at a greater risk to succumb to disease and hence should be preferred for as priority one for vaccination against the disease. The numbers of Covid-19 cases have reduced considerably over last few months in the country, but this does not mean that the pandemic has gone away. We need to be cautious, use this opportunity to vaccinate the maximum population to prevent second wave of the disease.
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