Introduction: Health Care Workers are major influencers in vaccination, thus their acceptance or hesitancy to the covid-19 vaccine would either aid its acceptance among the populace. Materials and Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire from December 15, 2020 to January 10, 2021 among healthcare providers living in Nigeria. The questionnaire was made up of segments that include demographics information, knowledge of the COVID-19 vaccine, its acceptance or hesitancy. The questionnaire was fashioned using Likert scale multiple questions of three options: YES, NO, and I Don’t know (No opinion) and Aware, Somewhat aware, and Not aware. Data collected were entered into the spreadsheet using IBM SPSS version 22.0 statistical software and analyzed with descriptive statistics. The results were presented as percentages, frequency, tables, and figures. Results: A total of 1094 responses were retrieved. The majority are males (56.67%) with 36.93% of the respondents aged 30–39 years. PHC Worker forms 14.90% of the respondents and social media was the greatest source of information. A percentage of 45.74% have no confidence in the vaccine and 39.68% rejecting, the majority been males (47.38%). The reasons for hesitancy are concerns of effectiveness, side effects, fear of the unknown, and safety. The highest rejection was by Dental Technicians (53.03%) while the highest acceptance was Medical consultants (72.22%). Conclusion: The study shows that about 3 out of every 10 health workers showed COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy for various reasons. The study recommends effective education, training, and public enlightenment to change the narrative.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 disease as a pandemic after the first cases from China were reported in December 2020. COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome), spreads by contact with infected droplets. The incubation period ranges from 2 to 14 days with initial symptoms of fever, sore throat, cough, fatigue, malaise, and breathlessness. In patients with co-morbidities and the elderly, it progresses to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and multi-organ failure. Regarding the impact of the environment on the spread of the corona virus, more research is going on. Environmental factors including atmospheric temperature, ventilation, climate change, and humidity have been studied to understand the effect of these factors on COVID-19 spread. We have evaluated studies to date related to the environmental effect on COVID-19 and summarized them for better understanding.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Introduction: India is the second most populous country in the world. Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) is a very effective, reversible, and economical family planning method. In India, the acceptance rate of IUCD is very low, only 3% of the women in the reproductive age group are using IUCD. Aims: The study was conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding the postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device (PPIUCD) among women. Materials and Methods: A descriptive approach with a non-experimental research design was used for the study. The subjects were 180 women selected by the non-probability convenience sampling technique. The study was conducted among the women admitted in antenatal and postnatal wards at Doon Medical College Female Hospital, Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Results: The study showed that 54.44% (98) of the women have average knowledge about PPIUCD, 21.11% (38) have poor knowledge, 23.33% (42) did not know, and only 1.11% (2) was having good knowledge about it. The study revealed that favorable and unfavorable attitudes toward PPIUCD of women were 43.33% and 56.67%, respectively. The present study communicated that there was no correlation (−0.113) between knowledge and attitude toward PPIUCD among women. The finding suggested that women had average knowledge and unfavorable attitude toward the PPIUCDs. The χ² value showed that demographic variables such as age, family income, and education status were having an association with the level of knowledge regarding the PPIUCD. No association was found between attitude and selected demographic variables. Conclusion: Findings stress the need for teaching programs, which in turn may enhance the knowledge and attitude of women regarding the PPIUCD. It will also helpful in improving the health status of women. It may reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

A glioma is a kind of tumor that initiates in the glial cells of the brain or the spinal cord. High rates of complications and mortality are leading features of gliomas, a glioma can be treated through a surgical procedure, radiation, and chemotherapy. This short communication aimed to analyze the crucial role of epigenetic alterations in the pathogenesis of gliomas and the possible treatment of gliomas by manipulating epigenetic mechanisms. The pathogenesis of glioma is associated with key epigenetic mechanisms, which are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation, abnormal microribonucleic acid (RNA), chromatin remodeling, and histone modifications. Alterations and mutations in genes are often seen in gliomas. Alterations and mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) are commonly found in gliomas; mutant IDH1 facilitates the maintenance of genomic stability in tumors by increasing the DNA damage reaction. Moreover, therapeutic modification of epigenetic alterations connected with the development of gliomas is of utmost clinical significance; comprehensive knowledge of epigenetic aberrations that lead to the formation of glioma will help in the design and development of epigenetic drugs for the treatment of gliomas. Some medications that target epigenetic alterations such as inhibitors of mutant IDH, bromodomain and extraterminal motif inhibitors, histone deacetylase inhibitor, DNA methylation inhibitors, and enhancer of zeste homolog 2 inhibitors are presently used to tackle glioma.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Ichthyosis uteri is a rare condition in which the entire surface of the endometrium undergoes metaplasia and is replaced by stratified squamous epithelium. This change is the endometrial response to iatrogenically introduced caustic substances and a variety of inflammatory conditions of the endometrium. We describe herein microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix with extensive ichthyosis uteri-like changes in the adjacent endometrium. The possible origin of these complex findings and the neoplastic potential of ichthyosis uteri is also discussed.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

[FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Precision medicine intends to tailor medical practice with a focus on the individual, built on the utilization of genetic tests, the identification of biomarkers, and the development of targeted medicines, and this can be achieved by having a complex knowledge of epigenetic mechanisms. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an age-linked neurodegenerative disease that affects majorly individuals above 65; there is a growing indication that epigenetic disruption and dysregulation in the expression of micro-ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) arise in PD. Genome-wide association studies discovered a straightforward consequence of the methylation status of α-synuclein in the pathogenesis of PD. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a form of neurodegenerative disease, epitomized by memory loss. The dysregulation of non-coding RNAs and epigenetic aberrations have been identified in AD. This narrative review aimed to elaborate on the potential epigenomic treatments for PD and AD. About 199 scientific articles written in English, which reported on novel epigenomic-based treatment for PD and AD, were selected for this review from the PubMed database. Full articles and relevant data were extracted. Treatments targeting DNA methylation or miRNAs appear to show promising outcomes for PD and AD. Moreover, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and associated protein 9 is a potential genome editing tool for deciphering and manipulating the epigenome for the treatment of PD and AD.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

[FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Background: Chronic cholecystitis (CC) accounts for more than 90% of cholecystectomies. Some recent work has demonstrated the presence of Helicobacter pylori in bile and the gallbladder of more than three-fourths of the patients with gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) and in more than half of the patients with CC. Objective: To study the histopathological findings and to demonstrate the presence of H. pylori in CC and GBC in our region. Materials and Methods: One hundred fifty cholecystectomy specimens received during two years were examined after obtaining ethical clearance for the study. The specimens were received in 10% neutral buffered formalin. The specimens were processed, paraffin-embedded, and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosinand Giemsa stain, for the detection of H. pylori. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for H. pylori was done on 35 cases. Results: Of the 150 cases of cholecystectomy specimens, the majority of the patients were in the age group of 41–50 years, with the male:female (M:F) ratio being 1:1.9. The most common lesion was chronic calculous cholecystitis (76%). The spectrum of lesions in our study included chronic acalculouscholecystitis (1.3%), follicular cholecystitis (4.6%), xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (3.3%), acute over CC (2.6%), eosinophilic cholecystitis (2%), cholesterolosis (2%), choledochal cyst (1.3%), acute calculous cholecystitis (1.3%), empyema (0.66%), and gallbladder carcinoma (GBC; 3.3%). Giemsa stain on 150 cases was negative for H. pylori. On 35 cases an IHC was done; none detected H. pylori, indicating that H. pylori infection does not contribute to the development of gallstones in this region.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Research is an integral part of advancements in the field of medicine. Every medical professional including undergraduate and postgraduate students should undertake some research. An important requirement is an access to literature. Institutions and universities worldwide subscribe to e-resources that are made easily available to researchers. This study was done to learn about the usage of e-resources available in the library by medical researchers and reasons for (this is UK English we should be using) under-utilization across the globe and reasons for the same in our country. The most common reasons for under-utilization were technological factors like infrastructure and internet speed, followed by a lack of information and communication technology (ICT) knowledge by the users. Some other problems included library timings, power failure, viruses, and the attitude of the library staff.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Background: When it comes to a major surgery such as Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), functional independence is the ultimate goal of treatment over mere survival or drastic reduction in the risk of the life-threatening event caused due to Coronary Artery Diseases (CAD). Objective: To find the difference in the ability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL) before and after the CABG between control and study groups who received conventional methods and who received nursing care by using the Extended Nursing Care Model (ENCM), respectively. Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from 132 patients before CABG and after six weeks and three months of CABG. Patients were enrolled on the day before surgery and included those who were discharged only within seven days of surgery. The lottery method was used on a weekly basis for allocation of the patients in the control and study groups. The study group’s recovery was managed by using ENCM, and the control group’s recovery was managed by using the conventional method. Functional independence in performing ADL was measured by using a standardized Barthel scale. Data were also collected on developing independence in performing the bathing activity. Results: The majority of patients’ mobility-walking and staircase use activities were affected before CABG. The mean score of the functional independence has improved from baseline to six weeks and three months in both the groups. The difference in the functional independence score between the two groups was tested by using the Mann-Whitney’s sign-rank test. The improvement was found to be better in the study group than the control group at a 5% significance level at six weeks and three months after CABG. Conclusion: The researcher concludes that though functional independence is compromised in the initial stage of recovery of CABG, it improves over some time and this improvement can accelerate with the use of interventions in the ENCM.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Objectives: The study aimed at assessing the efficacy of neodymium laser therapies and Accutane (isotretinoin) systemic therapy for patients with rosacea. Materials and Methods: A total of 64 patients with rosacea were selected for the study for the treatment of facial rosacea; the study was conducted from 2016 to 2020. All patients underwent a thorough clinical examination according to the generally accepted scheme. Patients received neodymium laser therapies and Accutane (isotretinoin) systemic therapy. Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) scale, Laser Doppler Fluorometry (LDF), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire were used to assess outcome treatments, resulting in the rosacea of the scene before and after neodymium therapy and Accutane (isotretinoin) systemic therapy. Results: A multitargeted therapy effectiveness rosacea neodymium is ideal for the management of the signs and symptoms of rosacea and it results in reductions in the mean acne lesion counts after 7 seans therapy, with persistent reduction at the 12-month follow-up, indicating significant long-term remission. The average rosacea IGA scale decreased from 4.2 at baseline to 0.6 after treatment. The average indicators of DLQI before and after laser treatment were 17.3 and 2, 4 respectively. Laser Doppler imaging showed that the mean value of the facial area was 151 units, before treatment; after the treatment, the values decreased, and the mean was 129 units. Conclusion: Neodymium laser therapy exposure has been effective in treatment therapies for rosacea. Our results indicate that the use of neodymium monotherapy represents an option to consider when dealing with treatment rosacea, being effective, well tolerated, and free of side effects, as confirmed by clinical and instrumental evaluation. The condition improved from baseline in 92.3% of subjects.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Background: Thalassemia is a globally prevalent genetic disorder. Patients with thalassemia are prone to develop systemic and ocular adverse effects such as myocardial iron loading, heart failure, decreased visual acuity, color vision abnormalities, contrast sensitivity changes, ocular surface disease, lens opacities, etc. Fundus abnormalities such as retinal pigment epithelium degeneration, arteriovenous (AV) tortuosity, etc. may be seen. Patients with the long-standing disease are at risk of developing ocular adverse effects that demand baseline ophthalmic evaluation and regular monitoring. Context: Need for a regular ophthalmic checkup in patients with thalassemia. Aim: To determine the prevalence of ocular manifestations in patients with thalassemia. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted by recruiting patients with thalassemia after obtaining ethical approval from the institute and informed consent from the parents. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with thalassemia underwent a detailed ophthalmic evaluation, and the findings were recorded. The Statistical Package AQ6 for the Social Sciences software was used for statistical analysis. Results: Ocular involvement was seen in 37 patients (74%). We observed that 20% of the patients had decreased visual acuity, 38% of the patients had mild dry eye disease, and 14% of the patients had AV tortuosity. Conclusion: Ocular changes in patients with thalassemia occur over a long period. Adverse effects such as ocular surface diseases, lens opacities, increased cup disc ratio, retinal pigment epithelium degeneration, etc. may progress and cause visual impairment at a later stage. It is important to create awareness in these patients to prevent long-term side effects and maintain optimum visual health.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Background: Availability and accessibility of family planning (FP) services are the major factors affecting the fertility pattern and population growth rate in low-resource settings. This study aimed at assessing the availability of contraceptive methods in Nigeria health facilities offering FP services. Materials and Methods: This study compared survey data on FP services available from each of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. The study was a descriptive analysis of variations in the availability of FP services and contraceptive methods across the regions. Result: Out of the 767 facilities surveyed, 375 (48.9%) were located in rural areas and 392 (51.1%) in urban areas. The Northwest had the highest male condom availability of 96.2%. The emergency contraceptive method was being offered by 35.8% of the total 636 facilities reportedly offering the service. The proportion of the facilities offering the oral contraceptive method was higher in the Northeast (100.0%), Northwest (94.9%), and South-South (92.0%) than other regions (P = 0.002). While only 9.3% of facilities in the Northeast and 10.0% in the North-Central were offering sterilization for males, higher proportions, 17.7% of South-East and 32.7% of South-South facilities were offering it. The level of stockout of at least one FP method on the day of this survey was high across all regions, with the Northeast (60.8%) and North-Central (59.9%) having the highest proportion and the Northwest having the least stockouts (46.1%). Conclusion: This study found inconsistent FP services across all the six regions. Also, the proportion of facilities that had a stockout of at least one contraceptive method is unacceptably high and deserves improvement interventions.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Background and Objectives: Hand hygiene is one of the most important measures in reducing the transmission of infectious agents in health-care settings, and it assists in the prevention of infection in patients with surgical intervention. The aims of the present study were to assess the knowledge of nursing professionals regarding hand hygiene and to evaluate the effectiveness of video-assisted teaching programs on knowledge regarding hand hygiene. Materials and Methods: A quantitative approach and pre-experimental research design were found suitable for the study. The investigator assessed the existing knowledge among staff nurses regarding hand hygiene for the prevention of infection in patients with cancer undergoing surgery by using a structured knowledge questionnaire; they found an association between knowledge and selected demographic variables. Results: The majority (63.30%) of the sample were female. Nearly half of the participants belonged to the age group 21–30 years. In professional education, most (55.00%) of the samples had a diploma in nursing. Further, the mean pretest knowledge score was 15.5 ± 3.735 whereas the posttest knowledge score was 24.38 ± 4.446. Therefore, the t-test was statistically significant (P = 0.0001) and it revealed that the video-assisted teaching program was effective in enhancing the knowledge of the nurses about hand hygiene. In addition, there was a significant association between age, source of information, working experience, and area of working but no significant association was reported between gender and professional qualification. Conclusion: The intervention was significantly effective in enhancing the knowledge of nursing professionals regarding hand hygiene. Therefore, administrators have to implement such educational programs to increase the knowledge of nurses.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

India has made a mark by discovering at least 16 novel synthetic active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). However, this number is quite small when compared with the number of APIs invented the world over in the allopathic system of medicines, the numbers of which according to the estimate of the author stand at more than 5000, of which presently nearly 3000 numbers are in therapeutic use against human diseases/ailments. In India, nearly 2200 numbers of these APIs are presently in use. India has made a mark in the supply of branded generic and generic formulations for use in the country and abroad in an environment of cut-throat competition. To maintain and improve the mark, India needs to carry out R&D not only for process innovation but would also have to invest and invent novel APIs. The analysis shows that the present investment in R&D and the policies followed for promoting research for new drug development are not adequate for the country to be dominant global player. Suggestions have been made to improve the present situation.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a severe impact globally. As of now, very little is available for the cure of this disease. The rapid increase in the number of confirmed cases makes prevention and control extremely important. In view of the success of traditional Indian medicine drugs during the several epidemics in the past, it is logical and essential to examine the contributions of the Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH) in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. The Indian traditional medicines interventions are well known and have several potential drug candidates that can be used as an add-on therapy along with current modern drugs. Herbal medicines containing bioactive compounds that possess anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, anti-viral, and immune-modulating properties like Tinospora cordifolia, Ocimum sanctum, Allium sativum, Citrus limon can be explored as therapeutic agents for COVID-19. Health-promoting immunomodulators like Withaniasomnifera, Tinospora cordifolia, Piper longum, Glycyrrhiza glabra may improve host defense and could be an effective prophylaxis approach against COVID-19. The present mini-review is aimed to survey and introduce important medicinal herbs and plants which can be used against Covid-19.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]