RESUMEN
Background and Objectives: Greying of hair is a regular feature of chronological aging that occurs in all regions and races. Premature canities is defined as minimum of five grey hairs in a person less than 20 years in Whites, 25 years in Asians, and 30 years in Africans. Premature canities is a common yet incompletely understood dermatological entity. This study aims at finding any association between premature hair greying (PHG) and parameters like hemoglobin (Hb), ferritin and calcium levels as well as its clinical profile. Methodology: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional analytical study conducted in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Trivandrum over one and half years. The study population consisted of 40 cases and 40 controls. Severity assessment, calculation of body mass index, and estimation of hemoglobin, serum ferritin, calcium, Random blood sugar, Anti Thyroid Peroxidase antibody, T3, T4, and TSH were done. Results: The mean age of the 40 patients was 17.14 years and most patients had onset of greying between 16 and 20 years. The male to female ratio was 1.2:1. A positive family history with a paternal predominance was noted. Vertex was the most common site of onset (42.5%), diffuse pattern was the most common clinical pattern (47.5%) and 60% had involvement of mild grade. Fourteen patients (35%) had abnormal investigations reports, in terms of low ferritin levels in 7 (17.5%), low calcium in 4 (10%) and a low Hb levels in 3 (7.5%) patients. Six (15%) patients had raised Anti TPO values. The association of PHG with low ferritin and raised anti-TPO levels were statistically significant. Conclusion: Low serum ferritin and raised Anti TPO levels may have a role in premature hair greying.
RESUMEN
To end or curtail the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to incorporate mobile vaccination programs into the national vaccination strategy. Mobile COVID-19 vaccination programs play an important role in providing comprehensive vaccination from federally qualified institutions to underserved communities facing a higher risk for COVID-19 acquisition. The Meharry Medical College COVID-19 mobile vaccine program (MMC-MVP) has provided lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines, free of charge, to communities throughout Middle Tennessee. Mobile deployment is vital for those forced to travel long distances to get vaccinated and who have limited access to medical providers or vaccine clinics, lack access to public transportation, or may be homebound. The MMC-MVP, established on 13 April 2021, via funding from the Bloomberg Foundation, is sourced with infectious disease experts, nurse practitioners, and community engagement personnel to provide COVID-19 vaccinations and information in a culturally competent manner to diverse communities in Middle Tennessee. To provide broader access to COVID-19 vaccinations and vaccine-related information, the MMC-MVP partnered with the Tennessee Community Engagement Alliance, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing COVID-19 vaccine strike teams, non-academic, community-based organizations, and faith-based organizations. During the September 2021 COVID-19 surge in Tennessee, the MMC-MVP provided nearly 5000 free COVID-19 vaccinations to targeted, underserved communities. The MMC-MVP has provided vaccine equity in communities with the highest risk for acquiring COVID-19 and with greatest need in this pandemic.