Summary Background Since December, 2019, Wuhan, China, has experienced an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 have been reported but risk factors for mortality and a detailed clinical course of illness, including viral shedding, have not been well described. Methods In this retrospective, multicentre cohort study, we included all adult inpatients (≥18 years old) with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from Jinyintan Hospital and Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital (Wuhan, China) who had been discharged or had died by Jan 31, 2020. Demographic, clinical, treatment, and laboratory data, including serial samples for viral RNA detection, were extracted from electronic medical records and compared between survivors and non-survivors. We used univariable and multivariable logistic regression methods to explore the risk factors associated with in-hospital death. Findings 191 patients (135 from Jinyintan Hospital and 56 from Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital) were included in this study, of whom 137 were discharged and 54 died in hospital. 91 (48%) patients had a comorbidity, with hypertension being the most common (58 [30%] patients), followed by diabetes (36 [19%] patients) and coronary heart disease (15 [8%] patients). Multivariable regression showed increasing odds of in-hospital death associated with older age (odds ratio 1·10, 95% CI 1·03–1·17, per year increase; p=0·0043), higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (5·65, 2·61–12·23; p Interpretation The potential risk factors of older age, high SOFA score, and d-dimer greater than 1 μg/mL could help clinicians to identify patients with poor prognosis at an early stage. Prolonged viral shedding provides the rationale for a strategy of isolation of infected patients and optimal antiviral interventions in the future. Funding Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences; National Science Grant for Distinguished Young Scholars; National Key Research and Development Program of China; The Beijing Science and Technology Project; and Major Projects of National Science and Technology on New Drug Creation and Development.

Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study

Review of recent research on hepatitis C therapy for 54th annual meeting of the American association for the study of liver diseases

COVID-19 Dashboard

On anxiety and depression.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether a family history of high-risk groups for major noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) was a significant risk factor for these conditions among family members in a study population in the Gambia, where strong community and family coherence are important determinants that have to be taken into consideration in promoting lifestyle changes. METHODS: We questioned 5389 adults as to any first-degree family history of major noncommunicable diseases (hypertension, obesity, diabetes and stroke), and measured their blood pressure (BP) and body mass index (BMI). Total blood cholesterol, triglyceride, uric acid, and creatinine concentrations were measured in a stratified subsample, as well as blood glucose (2 hours after ingesting 75 g glucose) in persons aged 35 years. FINDINGS: A significant number of subjects reported a family history of hypertension (8.0%), obesity (5.4%), diabetes (3.3%) and stroke (1.4%), with 14.6% of participants reporting any of these NCDs. Subjects with a family history of hypertension had a higher diastolic BP and BMI, higher cholesterol and uric acid concentrations, and an increased risk of obesity. Those with a family history of obesity had a higher BMI and were at increased risk of obesity. Individuals with a family history of diabetes had a higher BMI and higher concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and uric acid, and their risk of obesity and diabetes was increased. Subjects with a family history of stroke had a higher BMI, as well as higher cholesterol, triglyceride and uric acid concentrations. CONCLUSION: A family history of hypertension, obesity, diabetes, or stroke was a significant risk factor for obesity and hyperlipidaemia. With increase of age, more pathological manifestations can develop in this high-risk group. Health professionals should therefore utilize every opportunity to include direct family members in health education.

Bulletin of the World Health Organization

Background: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder mainly due to a decrease in the immune system caused by periodontal pathogens. The relationship of apelin among chronic generalized periodontitis (CGP) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been reported. This study intends to assess the level of apelin in saliva from patients of healthy individuals, individuals with CGP, and CGP + T2DM, and evaluate the role of apelin adipokine in inflammation and insulin resistance. New treatment modalities can be invented using apelin in host modulation therapies.
Methods: The study comprised 300 patients that were enrolled according to their clinical findings and were divided into three groups chronic periodontitis (n=100), chronic periodontitis with T2DM (n=100), and healthy controls (n=100). Probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and salivary Apelin (AP) were obtained. With the help of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, the salivary apelin level was measured. A statistical software package was used for the surveying of collected data.
Results: Group three[CGP+DM] shows the highest salivary apelin level compared to CGP patients without DM. It was 15.43±2.05ng/dl in CGP and 24.08 ± 3.60ng/dl in CGP with DM. All three groups found a statistically significant difference in mean Apelin Level, PPD, and CAL.
Conclusion: This study indicated a possible role of adipokines in inflammation and glucose level regulation in patients with T2DM and CGP. In the coming era, apelin levels in saliva can be used for screening objectives in large populations to assure the risk of destructive periodontal disease.
Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 22 No. 02 April’23 Page : 305-315

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Evaluating Salivary Apelin Level among Chronic Periodontitis Patients, with and without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus utilizing Enzyme‑Linked Immunosorbent Assay: A Comparative Study

Are we providing complete drug information to its users? Status of information adequacy of package insert in India

Knowledge of the disease, attitude towards the stopping of transmission and practicing of the preventing and treatment measure determine the spread of any communicable disease. COVID-19 is a viral pandemic wreaking havoc in day-to-day life especially affecting the health care workers. This was a prospective, cross-sectional, observational study that was carried out in the healthcare workers (HCWs) involved with the care of COVID-19 patients. The patients were given a semi-structured questionnaire adapted from online available literature and information provided on the WHO and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. The questionnaire was distributed by online platforms as a google form. A total of 104 HCWs were enrolled and 95 of them were included. They were majorly from age group 26-35 years (64.2%) and were males (62.8%). Most of the HCWs were postgraduate (73.7%) and graduates (25.3%). A majority (96.7%) of subjects had a good knowledge about the disease and its prevention with a positive attitude towards proper care and management of the patient. Majority of the HCWs were practicing all the preventive measures possible in their work environment like disinfecting the frequently touched surfaces, hand hygiene, mask etc. Good knowledge and proper following of the COVID-19 protocols can help in protecting oneself from getting exposed especially in professions like health care and halting the spread of this communicable disease.

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Knowledge, attitude, practice among healthcare workers regarding COVID-19: An online questionnaire-based study

Oral cancers (OCs), being one of the frequent malignancies in the head and neck region, need prompt diagnosis and treatment. Apart from basic therapeutic modalities, immunotherapy has now been utilized as a novel approach to combat the disease. With the comprehension of the strategies adopted by cancer cells to evade the immune elimination by the body's immune system, targeted immunotherapies have now become the core area of research. The immune expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), programmed cell death protein ligand-1 (PDL-1), etc., are enhanced in OC and have been associated with evasion of the immune system. Targeted immunotherapies now include monoclonal antibodies targeting EGFR like cetuximab and panitumumab, programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors like pembrolizumab, cemiplimab, and nivolumab, and PD-L1 inhibitors like atezolizumab, avelumab, and durvalumab. Targeted immunotherapies like chimeric antigen receptor T-cell treatment and small molecule inhibitors are in several clinical trials tried as monotherapy and adjuvant immunotherapy and have shown promising results. Other immunothera-peutic approaches such as cytokines like interferons or interleukins, vaccines, and gene therapy have also been an area of research for the management of OC. However, the cautious selection of appropriate patients with specific immune characteristics as a candidate for immunotherapeutic agents is a crucial component of targeted immunotherapy. This article elaborates on the immune contexture of oral cancer cells, the mechanism of immune evasion by cancer cells, targets for immunotherapies, existent immunotherapeutic agents, and prospects in the field of immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy in the Management of Oral Cancers.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) has continued to be a global health cataclysm. It is an arduous condition to tackle but is curable with the proper choice of drug and adherence to the drug therapy. WHO has introduced newer drugs with all-oral shorter regimens, but the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the achievements and raised the severity. The COVID-19 controlling mechanism is based on social distancing, using face masks, personal protective equipment, medical glove, head shoe cover, face shield, goggles, hand hygiene, and many more. Around the globe, national and international health authorities impose lockdown and movement control orders to ensure social distancing and prevent transmission of COVID-19 infection. Therefore, WHO proposed a TB control program impaired during a pandemic. Children, the most vulnerable group, suffer more from the drug-resistant form and act as the storehouse of future fatal cases. It has dire effects on physical health and hampers their mental health and academic career. Treatment of drug-resistant cases has more success stories in children than adults, but enrollment for treatment has been persistently low in this age group. Despite that, drug-resistant childhood tuberculosis has been neglected, and proper surveillance has not yet been achieved. Insufficient reporting, lack of appropriate screening tools for children, less accessibility to the treatment facility, inadequate awareness, and reduced funding for TB have worsened the situation. All these have resulted in jeopardizing our dream to terminate this deadly condition. So, it is high time to focus on this issue to achieve our Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the goal of ending TB by 2030, as planned by WHO. This review explores childhood TB's current position and areas to improve. This review utilized electronic-based data searched through PubMed, Google Scholar, Google Search Engine, Science Direct, and Embase.

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Siddhartha Dutta

Papers

Evaluating Salivary Apelin Level among Chronic Periodontitis Patients, with and without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus utilizing Enzyme‑Linked Immunosorbent Assay: A Comparative Study

Are we providing complete drug information to its users? Status of information adequacy of package insert in India

Knowledge, attitude, practice among healthcare workers regarding COVID-19: An online questionnaire-based study

Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy in the Management of Oral Cancers.

Multidrug-Resistant TB (MDR-TB) and Extensively Drug-Resistant TB (XDR-TB) Among Children: Where We Stand Now