Background: Obesity and increased body mass index (BMI) are associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related complications and severity. They can exacerbate the cytokine storm and lead to ...severe symptoms or death in obese patients. Objectives: This cross-sectional descriptive study included patients with COVID-19 admitted to the Razi Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran, from January 2019 to December 2020. Methods: We evaluated the effect of BMI of patients admitted to the general ward and invasive unit care (ICU) on the length of hospitalization. Results: We included a total of 466 patients (male: 281 or 60.3% vs. female: 185 or 39.7%) with a mean age of 59.49 ± 14.5 years in the study. Also, 47 (10.1%) patients were admitted to the ICU, and 418 (89.7%) patients to the general ward. A higher BMI was associated with longer hospitalization (P < 0.001). Patients with BMI in the range of 18.5 - 24.9 experienced a longer hospitalization (10-20 days) (P < 0.001). BMI had no significant effect on ICU hospitalization (P = 0.36). Also, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the length of hospitalization (P = 0.49). Furthermore, non-diabetic patients were less likely to be admitted to the ICU (73.3% vs. 26.7%) (P < 0.001). The number of discharged patients was higher in patients admitted to the general ward compared to those admitted to the ICU (93.8% vs. 63.8%) (P < 0.001). Conclusions: According to our results, a higher BMI was a risk factor for COVID-19, especially in the early stage of infection.
MagnetoElectric NanoParticles (MENPs) provide a way to wirelessly and non-invasively record local neural activity deep in the brain. When administered into the brain, MENPs serve as auxiliary 3D ...sources, thus offering a solution to the fundamental problem of inverse mathematics that has stifled the advancement in the field of wireless neural recording from its inception. Owing to the magnetoelectric effect, the MENPs' magnetization is modulated by electric fields due to local neural activity. In turn, this modulated magnetization can be detected via modern magnetometers such as optical pumped magnetometers (OPMs) and nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center devices, already impacting the state of magnetoencephalography (MEG). This basic physics study discusses an aspect which has not been explored to date. There is a strong dependence of the MENPs-based recording on the specific location of the nanoparticles with respect to the neuronal microstructure. This analysis shows that one of the key conditions to enable the MENPs-based recording with a sub-10 -3 -cm 3 spatial resolution in real time would be to ensure the nanoparticles are located specifically on the membrane, where the neural-firing-caused electric field reaches its maximum value. One potential implementation of this high-resolution recording concept would be to integrate MENPs with the recently emerged Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI).
Background: Childhood obesity is a grave public health concern in the 21st century. It is becoming a widespread problem in low and middle-income countries, particularly in urban areas. Childhood ...obesity is a precursor to metabolic syndrome, poor physical health, mental disorders, respiratory problems, and glucose intolerance, which can all continue into adulthood. Developing countries like India face a unique problem of a ‘double burden’, where undernutrition and obesity co-exist. Objectives: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of overweight/ obesity among school-going children and to identify the modifiable risk factors associated with it. Methodology: An epidemiological cross-sectional study was conducted in a private school located in the Western suburbs of Mumbai. The study included all students from the 1st to 10th standard of the secondary section, who were willing to participate. Before the study, necessary permissions were obtained from the school authorities and parental consent was taken. The study was conducted over 4 days in October 2023. Data was collected through interviews using a pre-structured questionnaire. The collected data will be analyzed using SPSS for descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Among 521 participants, the Prevalence of Overweight is 14.77% and Obesity is 6.71% in our study. Statistical significance was found between BMI and Smartphone usage, BMI and Occupation of Mother. Conclusion: Dietary factors have always been associated with overweight & obesity however our study reveals that other factors also play a pivotal role in development of obesity which is an important risk factor for Non- Communicable Diseases further in adulthood.
Background: People’s thoughts and feelings about their own bodies are related to their body image. Adolescents want to gain or lose weight in order to achieve the ideal physique in today’s culture ...due to the developing notion of ideal body image. Because there are currently few studies on body image, this research aims to fill in the gaps in our understanding of the still-developing field of body image perception. Objectives: 1. To find out the proportion of girls dissatisfied about body image. 2. To find the association of various factors with body image dissatisfaction and to ascertain the weight control behaviours adopted by adolescent medical under graduate students. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was done among 300 medical undergraduate college girls in Guntur medical college. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on various factors associated with body image dissatisfaction. Body mass index (BMI) of the participants was calculated. Results: Body image dissatisfaction was there among 65.3% of the girls. It was found that factors such as higher BMI, sociocultural pressure to be thin and depression were all significantly associated with body image dissatisfaction. The most commonly followed weight control behaviours were eating small meals and skipping meals. Improving the appearance and body shape were the main reasons for weight control behaviour. Conclusion: This study establishes the fact that body image dissatisfaction is no longer a western concept and affects Indian adolescent girls to a great extent. Hence, effective interventions have to be planned to increase awareness on ideal body weight and protect our young generation from pressures of negative body image.
Background: Adolescent girls are concerned about their weight, physical appearance, and how society perceives them. The identities they seek and create in this phase influence society and their ...peers. In this process, a lot of Emotional, Biological, and Social problems are faced by them. One such problem is Menstrual disorders. Keeping this rationale in mind, the above study was undertaken to Assess Body weight perception, Weight control practices, and their association with Menstruation among Adolescent girls. Objective: 1. To assess Body weight perception and Weight Control Practices, among Adolescent girls 2. To compare Body weight perception and Weight control practices among Adolescent girls with normal and abnormal Menstrual cycles Methodology: A Cross-sectional study was conducted among Adolescent girls residing in the rural field practice area of Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bengaluru. A Sample size of 192 was determined based on a previous study done by Bhurtun DD et al, and Simple random sampling was used for participant recruitment. Data collection utilized a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Data analyzed using SPSS 21.0 Results: Among the 192 participants, based on Body mass index (BMI), 13(6.7%) were Overweight and the rest of the participants 135(70.3%) were of Normal weight. Out of 118(61.5%) respondents reported trying to lose weight, reducing fat intake 100(84.7%) was the most common method. The majority of the Adolescent girls had a positive perception of weight control but had problems accepting their body image as healthy. Body weight perception and Weight control practices affected normal menstrual cycles as well as girls with Menstrual disorders. Conclusion: The findings revealed Body weight perception affected the girls with Normal Menstruation as well as with Menstrual disorders. Therefore, Adolescent girls need to be educated on the need for a Healthy body image as well as a Healthy lifestyle.
Background: Major nutritional issues in today’s world are overweight and underweight which is greatly influenced by lifestyle choices and eating habits. Healthy eating and lifestyle habits are shaped ...during the adolescent period and become permanent, so adolescence is a crucial period for establishing long-term habits. This study aims to explore the correlation between college students’ eating habits and their Body Mass Index (BMI). Objectives: 1. To evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among college students in Kerala. 2. To determine the association between the effects of eating habits and lifestyle factors on BMI. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among college students belonging to different professional colleges in Kerala from February 2023 to August 2023. A random sampling technique was used to select colleges in Kerala. A total of 502 students participated in the study. Study variables included sociodemographic data, BMI and eating habits assessed through a structured questionnaire. Participants who didn’t give consent were excluded from the study. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS v22. Results: The total number of students who participated in the study was 502 including 157 males and 345 females. Most of the students were belonging to the age group of 20-23 years. Female students formed the majority of study subjects (68.72%). According to the Asia Pacific BMI classification, 20.3 were found to be obese. Among the students, obesity was found more commonly among male students (30.6%) compared to female students (15.7%). Obese students were found to eat more under stress (51%) compared to students with normal BMI (30.3%) and it was found to be statistically significant (p Conclusion: The study showed that changing lifestyle patterns such as eating fatty foods and fried foods and eating under stress were found to have a direct impact on BMI.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most recorded endocrinological condition that impacts women throughout their fertile years and causes a variety of clinical symptoms. The study included 60 ...women with PCOS and 60 women who were matched for age and body mass index (BMI) and excluded the participants refrain from vigorous exercise and drink anything with alcohol or caffeine. were tested levels for IR, insulin, Hepcidin, Adiponectin, lipids profile in control and PCOS. and found Reduced levels (non sig.) of adiponectin have been documented in Iraqi patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. There was an inverse relationship between IR and hepcidin levels in both groups meaning increase in IR (0.001) and decrease in hepcidin (0.001) levels may increase the risk of PCOS. well found that lipid profile (HDL, LDL, TG) that is non-significant but cholesterol high significant 0.001 in patients.
