Curcumin, its derivatives, and their nanoformulations: Revolutionizing cancer treatment.

Curcumin is a natural compound derived from turmeric and can target malignant tumor molecules involved in cancer propagation. It has potent antioxidant activity, but its effectiveness is limited due to poor absorption and rapid elimination from the body. Various curcumin derivatives have also shown anticancer potential in in-vitro and in-vivo models. Curcumin can target multiple signaling pathways involved in cancer development/progression or induce cancer cell death through apoptosis. In addition, curcumin and its derivatives could also enhance the effectiveness of conventional chemotherapy, radiation therapy and reduce their associated side effects. Lately, nanoparticle-based delivery systems are being developed/explored to overcome the challenges associated with curcumin's delivery, increasing its overall efficacy. The use of an imaging system to track these formulations could also give beneficial information about the bioavailability and distribution of the nano-curcumin complex. In conclusion, curcumin holds significant promise in the fight against cancer, especially in its nanoform, and could provide precise delivery to cancer cells without affecting normal healthy cells.

Association of lipid profile and obesity in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective. Abnormal lipid profile and obesity increase the risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS patients may have a greater risk of infertility, metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to abnormal lipid profile and obesity. The aim of the study was to find the association between abnormal lipid profile and obesity in patients with PCOS. Methods. In this case-control study, a total of 102 female subjects (51 diagnosed PCOS and 51 age-matched healthy controls) were enrolled, aged between 20-40 years. Biochemical parameters such as total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were estimated. Anthropometric parameters such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were recorded. A p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. Mean of BMI, WC, WHR, LH, FSH, TC, TG, LDL-C, and VLDL-C was found significantly elevated in patients with PCOS as compared to controls (p<0.01). However, the mean of HDL-C was found significantly reduced in patients with PCOS as compared to controls (p<0.01). BMI has shown a significant positive correlation with WC (r=0.562, p<0.01) and WHR (r=0.580, p<0.01) among PCOS patients. LH has shown a significant positive correlation with FSH (r=0.572, p<0.01) among PCOS patients. TC has shown a significant positive correlation with TG (r=0.687, p<0.01), LDL-C (r=0.917, p<0.01), and VLDL-C (r=0.726, p<0.01) among PCOS patients. Conclusion. The results showed that abnormal lipid profile and obesity have a significant association with PCOS patients. Regular monitoring and treatment of PCOS patients are required to reduce the risk of infertility, MetS, and CVD.

Interlinking of diabetes mellitus and cancer: An overview.

Cancer and diabetes mellitus (DM) are among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the global arena. Lately, several studies demonstrated that DM could promote cancer. However, the exact mechanism(s) highlighting this association are largely untouched and require comprehensive detailing. In the present review, we aimed to explore and decipher the possible mechanism of DM an cancer association. Hyperglycemia could be a subordinate plausible explanation of carcinogenesis in the diabatic patient. It is well known that high glucose levels may help in cancer proliferation. In addition, chronic inflammation, the other well-known factor of diabetes, could also play a role in carcinogenesis. Moreover, the numerous medicines to treat diabetes either increase or reduce cancer risk. Insulin is one of the potent growth factors that promotes cell propagation and induces cancer directly or via insulin like growth factor-1. On the other hand, hyperinsulinemia leads to an increased activity of growth factor-1 by inhibiting growth factor binding protein-1. To improve cancer prognosis, individuals with diabetes should be screened to discover cancer at an early stage and treated appropriately.

Utility of Opportunistic Infections, Joints' Involvement and Accuracy of Various Screening Tests to Diagnose Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

Background and Objectives: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an auto-immune disease in which the body mistakenly considers some parts of its own system as pathogens and attacks them. Prevalence is approximately 0.75% in India. About 40% of the diseased become work disabled within 5 years from the onset of symptoms. The objective of this paper is to assess the sign/symptoms, joints' involvement, difficulties in daily activities and screening accuracy of serology tests of clinically suspected RA patients. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional cohort study design was conducted on two hundred ninety clinically suspected subjects who were referred by different OPDs of hospitals for screening. The profiles of study subjects were carried through a semi-structured, pre-tested schedule method. About 2 mL of blood samples were collected in a plain vial from each patient and tested for diagnostic tests RF, CRP and AntiCCP by using RF-Latex, CRP Latex and ELISA method, respectively, by the laboratory persons. Results: Joint pain shows to be a leading problem in RA as compared to other signs and symptoms. The majority of the study subjects suffer from knee problems (62%). Approximately equal numbers of RA-positive cases were screened by RF and AntiCCP tests. The CRP test screened about one-third of cases. CRP+ AntiCCP, RF+ AntiCCP and RF + CRP all have good sensitivity, and RF+ AntiCCP + CRP has a very high sensitivity for diagnosing RA. Conclusions: This study found that a substantiation of a major proportion of clinically suspected RA patients were suffering from knee pain. Predication of AntiCCP increased the possibility for the diagnosis of RA. However, RF was also moderately related to the diagnosis of RA, and the combination of both tests was more valuable.

Positive Correlation Between Candida auris Skin-Colonization Burden and Environmental Contamination at a Ventilator-Capable Skilled Nursing Facility in Chicago.

BACKGROUND: Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast that contaminates healthcare environments causing healthcare-associated outbreaks. The mechanisms facilitating contamination are not established. METHODS: C. auris was quantified in residents' bilateral axillary/inguinal composite skin swabs and environmental samples during a point-prevalence survey at a ventilator-capable skilled-nursing facility (vSNF A) with documented high colonization prevalence. Environmental samples were collected from all doorknobs, windowsills and handrails of each bed in 12 rooms. C. auris concentrations were measured using culture and C. auris-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) The relationship between C. auris concentrations in residents' swabs and associated environmental samples were evaluated using Kendall's tau-b (τ b) correlation coefficient. RESULTS: C. auris was detected in 70/100 tested environmental samples and 31/57 tested resident skin swabs. The mean C. auris concentration in skin swabs was 1.22 × 105 cells/mL by culture and 1.08 × 106 cells/mL by qPCR. C. auris was detected on all handrails of beds occupied by colonized residents, as well as 10/24 doorknobs and 9/12 windowsills. A positive correlation was identified between the concentrations of C. auris in skin swabs and associated handrail samples based on culture (τ b = 0.54, P = .0004) and qPCR (τ b = 0.66, P = 3.83e-6). Two uncolonized residents resided in beds contaminated with C. auris. CONCLUSIONS: Colonized residents can have high C. auris burdens on their skin, which was positively related with contamination of their surrounding healthcare environment. These findings underscore the importance of hand hygiene, transmission-based precautions, and particularly environmental disinfection in preventing spread in healthcare facilities.

A high-throughput and rapid method for accurate identification of emerging multidrug-resistant Candida auris.

Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast associated with invasive infection in healthcare settings. Recently, C auris cases in the United States have been detected in 11 states with the majority of cases in New York, New Jersey and Illinois. Rapid and accurate identification of C auris is critical for patient care and the implementation of public health measures to control the spread of infection. Our aim was to develop and validate a rapid DNA extraction method using the Roche MagNA Pure 96 instrument and a TaqMan real-time PCR assay for reliable, high-throughput identification of C auris. We evaluated 247 patient dermal swab samples previously analysed by culture/MALDI-TOF. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 93.6% and 97.2%, respectively. The assay was highly reproducible with a detection limit of 1 C auris CFU/10 µL. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of the real-time PCR data showed an area of 0.982 under the curve, with a CT cut-off value of ≤37.0. The turnaround time from DNA extraction to real-time PCR results was approximately 200 samples/day. In conclusion, we successfully validated a rapid and high-throughput method for accurate and reproducible identification of C auris with a significantly reduced turnaround time compared to culture/MALDI-TOF based methods.

Solvent based optimization for extraction and stability of thymoquinone from Nigella sativa Linn. and its quantification using RP-HPLC.

The Nigella sativa pharmacological properties are mainly ascribed to its volatile oil, of which thymoquinone is an important bioactive component. Surprisingly, till date, no standard formulation or thymoquinone rich N. sativa extract is under clinical use probably due to its poor extraction and lesser stability in the already used solvents. In the present investigation solubility, extraction, percent composition and total antioxidant activity from the seeds of N. sativa was explored using five solvents. An HPLC method was standardized in an isocratic system (C-18 column, flow rate of 1.0 ml/min, mobile phase-water:methanol: 30:70, detection wavelength-254 nm, retention time-8.77 min) for quantification of thymoquinone. To further confirm the presence of thymoquinone in the respective extracts absorbance spectra analysis has been carried out and compared with pure thymoquinone. Additionally total antioxidant activity of Nigella sativa extracts has been evaluated using ascorbic acid as standard. Our results showed maximum percentage yield in aqueous extract while methanol having the least yield and the ethanol, benzene and hexane extracts exhibited moderate yields. A linear standard calibration curve of thymoquinone showed R2 as 0.999 and % RSD as 7.166. The HPLC analysis revealed maximum percentage composition of thymoquinone in the benzene extract, whereas in the hexane and methanol extracts the content was less. Aqueous and ethanol extracts displayed insignificant thymoquinone content. Absorbance spectra analysis confirms the presence of thymoquinone peak in the benzene, hexane and methanol extracts while aqueous and ethanol extracts showed minimal absorbance. Maximum total antioxidant activity was observed in the aqueous extract while minimum was observed in the methanolic extract. Weak positive (+ 0.3676) correlation was established between percent composition of thymoquinone and antioxidant activity among different extracts indicating that thymoquinone may not be the only factor for antioxidant activity, but other phytochemicals might also contribute. However, we for the first time demonstrated that the benzene extract of N. sativa has better solubility and percent composition of thymoquinone as compared to other solvents. It can be concluded that the solubility, differential composition of bioactive components among these extracts may have diverse effects on the total antiradical activity. Thus, our study provides insights on optimization and standardization of bioactive rich formulation of N. sativa.

Combined comparative genomic hybridization and single-nucleotide polymorphism array detects cryptic chromosomal lesions in both myelodysplastic syndromes and cytopenias of undetermined significance.

The diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) can be challenging, and may be facilitated by correlation with cytogenetic testing. Microarray analysis using comparative genomic hybridization and/or single-nucleotide polymorphism array can detect chromosomal abnormalities not seen by standard metaphase cytogenetics. We examined the ability of combined comparative genomic hybridization and single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis (hereafter referred to as 'combined array') to detect changes among 83 patients with unexplained cytopenias undergoing pathologic evaluation for MDS and compared results with 18 normal bone marrow controls. Thirty-seven patients (45%) were diagnosed with MDS, 12 patients (14%) were demonstrated to have 'indeterminate dyspoiesis' (insufficient for classification of MDS), 27 (33%) were essentially normal, and 7 patients (8%) had alternative pathologic diagnoses. Twenty-one MDS patients (57% of diagnoses) had effectively normal metaphase cytogenetics, but combined array showed that 5 of these (13% of MDS patients) harbored major cryptic chromosomal aberrations. Furthermore, nearly half of patients with 'indeterminate dyspoiesis' and 1 with normal morphology had clonal cytopenia(s) of undetermined significance by combined array analysis. Cryptic array findings among MDS patients and those with clonal cytopenias(s) included large-scale copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity (up to 118 Mb) and genomic deletion of loci implicated in MDS pathogenesis (eg, TET2 (4q22) and NUP98 (11p15)). By comparison, in MDS patients with abnormal metaphase cytogenetics, microarray mostly recapitulated findings seen by routine karyotype. Combined array analysis has considerable diagnostic yield in detecting cryptic chromosomal aberrations in MDS and in demonstrating aberrant clonal hematopoiesis in cytopenic patients with indeterminate morphologic dysplasia.

Recurrent copy number variants associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

BACKGROUND: Variability in the incidence and severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) among premature infants suggests that genetic susceptibility plays a role in pathogenesis. An assessment of copy number variants (CNV) in BPD subjects may help to identify loci that harbor genetic susceptibility factors. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical DNA microarray data from our institution. We identified 19 BPD subjects, and 2 controls groups (full-term and preterm) with no lung-related disease. We reanalyzed raw data from each of these subjects to identify recurrent CNV loci in BPD subjects. RESULTS: We identified three loci (at 11q13.2, 16p13.3, and 22q11.23-q12.1) with recurrent CNV in BPD subjects. The frequency of these CNV was significantly higher in BPD subjects when compared with at least one control group. We interrogated 21 genes residing within the recurrent CNV regions for development-associated changes in expression. Fifteen genes demonstrated significant changes in expression between the pseudoglandular and canalicular stage in human lungs, a time commensurate with birth at highest risk for BPD. We also identified pathways represented by the genes present within the recurrent loci. CONCLUSION: These data identify novel loci that may harbor genes contributing to the genetic susceptibility of BPD.

Alterations in gene expression and DNA methylation during murine and human lung alveolar septation.

DNA methylation, a major epigenetic mechanism, may regulate coordinated expression of multiple genes at specific time points during alveolar septation in lung development. The objective of this study was to identify genes regulated by methylation during normal septation in mice and during disordered septation in bronchopulmonary dysplasia. In mice, newborn lungs (preseptation) and adult lungs (postseptation) were evaluated by microarray analysis of gene expression and immunoprecipitation of methylated DNA followed by sequencing (MeDIP-Seq). In humans, microarray gene expression data were integrated with genome-wide DNA methylation data from bronchopulmonary dysplasia versus preterm and term lung. Genes with reciprocal changes in expression and methylation, suggesting regulation by DNA methylation, were identified. In mice, 95 genes with inverse correlation between expression and methylation during normal septation were identified. In addition to genes known to be important in lung development (Wnt signaling, Angpt2, Sox9, etc.) and its extracellular matrix (Tnc, Eln, etc.), genes involved with immune and antioxidant defense (Stat4, Sod3, Prdx6, etc.) were also observed. In humans, 23 genes were differentially methylated with reciprocal changes in expression in bronchopulmonary dysplasia compared with preterm or term lung. Genes of interest included those involved with detoxifying enzymes (Gstm3) and transforming growth factor-ß signaling (bone morphogenetic protein 7 [Bmp7]). In terms of overlap, 20 genes and three pathways methylated during mouse lung development also demonstrated changes in methylation between preterm and term human lung. Changes in methylation correspond to altered expression of a number of genes associated with lung development, suggesting that DNA methylation of these genes may regulate normal and abnormal alveolar septation.

Cervical Health Parameters in Car Drivers: Assessing the Influence of Driving on Neck Pain, Mobility, Proprioception and Craniovertebral Angle - A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: Prolonged sitting during driving is linked to neck pain, uncomfortable body positions, and repetitive motions. Recognizing these challenges, this study aimed to investigate Cervical Health Parameters in Car Drivers. Methods: The sample consisted of 160 car drivers between 25 and 45 years. This subject was then divided into two groups based on neck pain. Participants met the required criteria, such as being between 25-45 years of age, maintaining a BMI of 18-24, and driving for at least 2 hours each day for at least 3-5 years. To evaluate the results, we employed a clinometer and compass app on a smartphone to measure the Cervical Range of Motion (CROM). We used Surgimap software to estimate the Craniovertebral Angle (CVA), and a (Cervical range of motion) CROM device was used for proprioception assessment. Results: The result shows the participants in neck pain group displayed lower Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) values than without neck Pain Group. Similarly, the Craniovertebral Angle (CVA) was smaller in the neck Pain Group (mean difference of -6.3°), indicating a more forward head posture. Neck pain resulted in a mean difference of -4.5° in proprioception accuracy. This indicates that neck pain affects CROM, CVA, and proprioception in car drivers. Conclusion: Car driving significantly impacts cervical parameters in individuals with neck pain, reducing cervical range of motion, altered craniovertebral angle, and diminished proprioceptive accuracy. These findings emphasize the need for ergonomic interventions and proprioceptive training tailored for drivers. Future research should broaden demographic parameters and consider potential confounders to provide a holistic understanding of the relationship between car driving and neck health.

Predicting mechanical neck pain intensity in computer professionals using machine learning: identification and correlation of key features.

Introduction: Mechanical neck pain has become prevalent among computer professionals possibly because of prolonged computer use. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between neck pain intensity, anthropometric metrics, cervical range of motion, and related disabilities using advanced machine learning techniques. Method: This study involved 75 computer professionals, comprising 27 men and 48 women, aged between 25 and 44 years, all of whom reported neck pain following extended computer sessions. The study utilized various tools, including the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain measurement, anthropometric tools for body metrics, a Universal Goniometer for cervical ROM, and the Neck Disability Index (NDI). For data analysis, the study employed SPSS (v16.0) for basic statistics and a suite of machine-learning algorithms to discern feature importance. The capability of the kNN algorithm is evaluated using its confusion matrix. Results: The "NDI Score (%)" consistently emerged as the most significant feature across various algorithms, while metrics like age and computer usage hours varied in their rankings. Anthropometric results, such as BMI and body circumference, did not maintain consistent ranks across algorithms. The confusion matrix notably demonstrated its classification process for different VAS scores (mild, moderate, and severe). The findings indicated that 56% of the pain intensity, as measured by the VAS, could be accurately predicted by the dataset. Discussion: Machine learning clarifies the system dynamics of neck pain among computer professionals and highlights the need for different algorithms to gain a comprehensive understanding. Such insights pave the way for creating tailored ergonomic solutions and health campaigns for this population.

PARK2 Microdeletion or Duplications Have Been Implicated in Different Neurological Disorders Including Early Onset Parkinson Disease.

The PARK2 gene is located on 6q26, encodes ubiquitin-E3- ligase, and is a transcriptional repressor of p53. It contains 12 exons. PARK2 copy number variants has been reported in various types of neurodevelopmental disorders, namely schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease (PD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this retrospective study, nine cases (five with microdeletion and four with microduplication) are reported with 6q26 deletion disrupting the PARK2 gene. Microdeletion sizes ranged between 215 Kb and 356 Kb, and duplication between 279 Kb and 726 Kb. These were present within the exons 7-10. Family follow up with FISH probes revealed paternal inheritance in two cases, maternal in two cases, and de novo origin in one case. Our results support previous studies showing that patients with PARK2 CNVs involving exons 5-12 might be more deleterious and cause a unique syndrome. Comprehensive analysis of additional case studies is needed to have a full characterization of this neurological disorder syndrome.

Differential expression of cancer stem cell markers and pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1ß in the oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral submucosal fibrosis.

Objectives: The poor prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is vastly due to late diagnosis. The oral submucosal fibrosis (OSMF) is often unnoticed pathology linked with high risk of malignancy. Recently, we demonstrated that the clinicopathological alterations in OSMF and OSCC patients were correlated with cancer stem cell (CSCs) markers (CD133 and CD44). However, the parallel alterations of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) with CSCs expression are largely unexplored. Thus, we aimed to investigate the relationship between IL-1ß alterations and CSC marker expression in both OSMF and OSCC situations. Materials and Methods: A total of 135 people have signed up for the study. There were sixty each in OSMF and OSCC groups, as well as 15 healthy controls. Levels of serum IL-1ß were examined by ELISA. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to examine the expression of CD133 and CD44. For evaluating differential CSCs expression, IHC scoring (0-4) was utilized. Results: The IHC results showed maximum subjects in the OSMF and OSCC displaying CD44 and CD133 positivity, although the extent of expression in terms of IHC scoring found variable. CD133 and CD44-positive subjects showed increased levels of IL-1ß in the OSMF and OSCC group. Nevertheless, the enhancement of IL-1ß is more pronounced in the OSCC cases. Further, we observed a direct link of IL-1ß levels with IHC scoring. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated a significant role for CD44 and CD133 positivity in the increase of IL-1ß levels. Conclusion: We concluded that concurrent simultaneous changes in CSC biomarkers and IL-1ß may help with early detection of OSMF and OSCC conditions.

SARS-CoV-2 infections and MIS-C among children: A narrative review.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has less of an impact among the babies and teenagers, than it does on adults as a whole. Children turned out to be less symptomatic during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) surge worldwide. Researchers discovered the ways of protection by preemptive care, like, treatment, variants, vaccination, social distancing, and cohorting among children as soon as their medical and epidemiological factors were assessed while being exposed to SARS-CoV-2 transmission. The actual pervasiveness of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 contagion is possibly undervalued because of less examination of the asymptomatic children. A half of young-aged people who tested SARS-CoV-2 positive don't show any symptoms as per the study of serology. Nevertheless, there is wide circulation of information reporting a post-infectious acute illness known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) or multisystem hyperinflammatory syndrome. Therefore, we undertook this narrative review to synthesize the evidence from existing studies to assess the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infections and MIS-C among Children. We reviewed PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar to find the pertinent scientific papers published in English that were available for such analysis. The main purpose of this article is to present, on this limited topic, a better-comprehended review covering pertinent material and data to be informed on SARS-CoV-2 infections and MIS-C among Children.

Assessment of Risk Factors and the Relationship between Hypothyroidism with Hypertension in Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Cross-Sectional Community-Based Study.

(1) Background: hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) represent two widely noncommunicable diseases that are prevalent globally, and they often correlate with chronic health issues. There has been an acknowledged connection between diabetes, hypertension, and hypothyroidism for quite some time. However, the extent of thyroid dysfunction among the diabetic population is not uniform and significantly differs across different research studies. This study was conducted with the objective of identifying the risk factors associated with hypothyroidism as well as assessing the relationship between hypothyroidism and hypertension in patients with diabetes. (2) Materials and Methods: Participants aged 18 years and above were included in this study, while pregnant women were excluded. Trained health professionals measured sociodemographic, behavioural, food practices, and anthropometric information about the participants. Each respondent sought medical advice regarding their health, and a face-to-face interview enabled them to express concern about the likelihood of being diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and hypertension. (3) Results: The study encompassed 640 participants, with an average age of 49.20 ± 13.0 years. Among these participants, 65.5% were female, and 34.5% were male. Of the total, 31.25% were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, and 18.75% had hypertension. Interestingly, co-occurrence of both conditions was observed in 9.68% of the population. A comparison of thyroid function and indicators of blood sugar levels yielded consistent results across the different patient groups. Specifically, for diabetes mellitus (DM) patients, the average levels were 3.4 ± 9.8 pg/mL for fT3, 0.9 ± 0.7 ng/dL for fT4, 3.3 ± 6.2 µiU/mL for TSH, 153.1 ± 68.0 mg/dL for fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 213.2 ± 97.2 mg/dL for postprandial glucose (PPG), and 8.3 ± 3.2% for HbA1c. (4) Conclusion: It is concluded that patients with hypertension had a significant prevalence of diabetes mellitus. Subclinical hypothyroid subjects must be frequently screened for hypertension. Of 120 individuals with hypertension, 45 (37.5%) were also diagnosed with diabetes. This co-occurrence was significantly higher in subjects aged over 50 years (26.7%), in the lower socio-economic class (18.5%), and among those who were married (14.7%). Additionally, patients with hypertension exhibited a high prevalence of diabetes across different educational backgrounds and occupations, with the highest prevalence among postgraduates (37.5%) and professionals (24.0%), respectively. These findings highlight the need for an integrated approach to the management of hypertension and diabetes, particularly in high-risk demographics.

Effectiveness of Epley-Canalith Repositioning Procedure versus Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy in Diabetic Patients with Posterior Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: A Randomized Trial.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common inner ear disorder, characterized by brief episodes of vertigo caused by changes in head position. The condition can cause significant functional impairment and reduced quality of life. BPPV is especially common among diabetic patients. The Epley-canalith repositioning procedure (CRP) and vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) are two commonly used interventions for the treatment of BPPV. The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of Epley-canalith repositioning procedure (ECRP) and Vestibular Rehabilitation (VR) therapy in the management of vertigo among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients. A total of 30 subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, aged between 40 and 65 years, were randomly allocated to either the ECRP or VR therapy groups using a lottery method, and then underwent Epley-canalith repositioning procedure or vestibular rehabilitation therapy, respectively. The outcomes measured by the study were Vertigo Symptom Scale-Short Form (VSS-sf) score and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score, assessed pre-treatment (pre) and 4 weeks post-treatment (post). The results demonstrated that both ECRP and VR therapy led to improvements in VSS-sf and BBS scores. However, VR therapy was found to be more effective, resulting in a 13.6% higher improvement in VSS-sf scores (p = 0.03) and a 5.1% higher improvement in BBS scores (p = 0.51) compared to ECRP. Both Epley-canalith repositioning procedure and vestibular rehabilitation therapy are effective in managing BPPV in diabetic patients. Although the differences in BBS scores are not statistically significant, VRT demonstrated a trend towards greater improvement. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy can be used by clinicians as another rehabilitation technique for improving vertigo, postural stability, and activity of daily living in diabetic patients with BPPV.

Neurological Manifestations and Clinical Outcomes of Patients with COVID-19 in the Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia.

COVID-19 patients also present with rheumatological problems, cardiac problems, and even neurological manifestations. However, the data are still insufficient at present to fill the gaps in our understanding of the neurological presentations of COVID-19. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to reveal the various neurological manifestations of patients with COVID-19 and to find the association between neurological manifestations and the clinical outcome. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Abha, in the Aseer region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, among COVID-19 patients aged 18 years or older who were admitted with the neurological manifestations of COVID-19 to the Aseer Central Hospital and Heart Center Hospital Abha. Non-probability convenient sampling was used. All the information was gathered by the principal investigator using a questionnaire including sociodemographic information, disease characteristics of COVID-19, neurological manifestations, and other complications. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 16.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). A total of 55 patients were included in the present study. About half of the patients were admitted to the ICU, and 18 (62.1%) patients died after 1 month of follow-up. Patients aged over 60 years had a 75% mortality rate. About 66.66% of patients with pre-existing neurological disorders died. Statistically significant associations were found between neurological symptoms such as cranial nerve symptoms and a poor outcome. A statistically significant difference was also found between laboratory parameters such as the absolute neutrophil count (ANC), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), total cholesterol (TC), creatinine, urea, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level and the outcome. A statistically significant difference was also found between the use of medications such as antiplatelets, anticoagulants, and statins at the baseline and after a 1-month follow-up. Neurological symptoms and complications are not uncommon among COVID-19 patients. Most of these patients had poor outcomes. Further studies are required to provide more data and knowledge about this issue, including the possible risk factors and the long-term neurological consequences of COVID-19.

Knowledge, acceptance, motivators and barriers of booster dose of COVID-19 vaccination among dental patients: A cross-sectional study.

Given the lingering threat of COVID infection, questions are being raised if coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine needs annual or regular boosters to maintain high levels of immunity against both the original virus and variants. This study was designed to evaluate the knowledge, acceptance, motivators and barriers of the booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine among the dental patients of District Lucknow, India. A total of 297 respondents were selected by a convenience sampling method in this cross-sectional study from various dental clinics. An anonymous, self-administered, closed-ended questionnaire was used. Overall 37.7% respondents reported to have taken all 3 doses and 57.9% had taken single/double doses. Correct information about booster doses shows a significant association with the number of doses taken. The majority had information about the availability of the Pfizer booster vaccine (69.0%). About 58% of participants had information about the technology used in booster doses. The hesitancy for booster doses and the development of natural immunity by infection show significant associations with the number of doses taken. Only 18.2% patients had hesitation about the booster dose and most of them 78.8% recommended others to take the booster vaccine as soon as possible. The majority assumed that previous COVID-19 vaccines can help them get immune (21.5%) followed by not much research has been done on the booster vaccines (15.5%) and their chronic diseases warn them against the booster dose administration (12.5%). Nearly 18.2% of respondents had hesitation about booster dose and less than one third of the respondents trusted a government source for information about booster dose of COVID vaccine. Nearly 36 % did not know that the booster dose of COVID vaccine is available at health centers. Dental health professionals and policymakers should implement and support strategies to ensure people are vaccinated for COVID-19 booster doses.

SARS-CoV-2 surface contamination in metro-Atlanta grocery stores.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on many businesses worldwide, essential businesses, such as grocery stores, continued to operate despite potential disease transmission. Although the principal mode by which people are infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is through exposure to respiratory droplets and very small particles carrying infectious virus, contaminated surfaces might play a role in transmission. We collected swab samples from frequently touched surfaces, including grocery carts, touchscreen monitors, credit card keypads, pharmacy counters, self-service food utensils, and refrigerator and freezer handles, in two metro-Atlanta grocery stores over the course of two sampling events in March 2021. Of the 260 swab samples collected, 6 (2.3%) samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Positive samples were collected from pharmacy (12.0% [3/25] samples), refrigerator/freezer aisles (2.5% [1/39] samples), and self-service food court (5.0% [2/40] samples) areas. Table/counter edge and underside surfaces represented 33% (2/6) of positive samples. These data suggest that risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 from frequently touched surfaces in grocery store settings is likely low; however, more frequent cleaning of surfaces in pharmacy and self-service food courts might be warranted.