Prevalence of Obsessive–Compulsive Symptoms and the Level of Fear Due to COVID-19 Pandemic among the Undergraduate Medical Students in a Tertiary Care Unit in Southern India

Background: The emergence of COVID?19 and its consequences is causing widespread fears, anxiety, and worries. To overcome the transmission of COVID?19, people resorted to compulsive behaviors. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of obsessive–compulsive symptoms (OCSs) due to COVID?19 pandemic, the prevalence of level of fear due to COVID?19 pandemic, and to assess the factors associated with OCSs due to COVID?19 pandemic among the undergraduate medical students of in tertiary unit in Southern India. Methods: The cross?sectional study was conducted in 250 undergraduate medical students (both MBBS and BDS, from 1st to 4th year) in the institute. Students who had consented in the study were included as study participants. The Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale and Fear of COVID?19 Scale (FCV?19 S) were used in assessing OCSs and the level of fear due to COVID?19. Chi?square test and multiple logistic regression were used to compute the factors associated with OCS. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 21 ± 1.313 years. The prevalence of OCS in undergraduate medical students was 36 (14.4%), and the level of FCV?19 was 107 (42.8%). Male students (17.8%, 44.2%) had higher OCSs and levels of fear as compared to female students (13.6%, 42.4%). Students with FCV?19 were three (adjusted odds ratio?3.418, 95% confidence interval?1.596, 7.319) times more likely to manifest OCSs while factors such as age, gender, and course were not significantly associated with OCS. Conclusion: Psychological counseling for undergraduate students should be pivotal, especially during pandemics and outbreaks.

Assessment of waterlogging induced physio-biochemical changes in sugarcane varieties and its association with waterlogging tolerance

Aim: The aim of the present investigation was to study the effect of waterlogging on growth and physiological behaviour of sugarcane varieties, and to evaluate these in relation to waterlogging tolerance to identify reliable physiological parameters for screening sugarcane genotypes for waterlogging tolerance.. Methodology: Ten sugarcane varieties including four tolerant and one sensitive were planted under waterlogged and non waterlogged (control) conditions. Waterlogging was imposed for 70 days at the crop age of 120 days, thereafter water was completely drained. Based on relative cane weight (% waterlogged/control), the ranking of varieties was done for waterlogging tolerance. Changes in cane weight, stalk growth rate, internode length, chlorophyll stability index and antioxidant enzyme activity were measured at the end of waterlogging. Leaf samples were analysed for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content. Correlation between waterlogging tolerance and different traits was assessed. Results: Based on relative cane weight (% waterlogged/control), CoLk 94184 was found to be the most waterlogging tolerant variety while CoJ 64 the most sensitive. Waterlogging remarkably reduced stalk growth rate and a significant positive correlation was found between waterlogging tolerance and stalk growth rate during waterlogging. The average internode length of sugarcane varieties increased by 11% in waterlogging as compared to control. Tolerant varieties had high chlorophyll stability index than sensitive one showing that tolerant varieties had less chlorosis in waterlogging. Waterlogging caused a significant increase in antioxidant enzyme activity of catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, however these increase were higher in tolerant varieties. Waterlogging induced severe deficiencies of N, P and K in sugarcane; the leaf N and K concentration were below critical deficiency level. A strong positive correlation was found between leaf K content and waterlogging tolerance. Interpretation: Stalk growth rate, chlorophyll stability index and leaf potassium concentration during waterlogging were identified as efficient physiological traits for screening the sugarcane varieties for waterlogging tolerance.

Upper eyelid levator-recession and anterior lamella repositioning through the grey-line: Avoiding a skin-crease incision

Purpose: This study aims to report a case series of upper eyelid cicatricial margin entropion with retraction, corrected through a grey-line approach only. We remind readers of the grey-line approach to levator recession (LR) and lamellar repositioning surgery. Methods: A retrospective review of clinic notes and photographs of patients who underwent grey-line split (GLS), LR, release of orbital septum, recession of levator, advancement of posterior lamella and anterior lamellar repositioning without a skin crease incision, from December 2015 to December 2016. Indications for surgery included mild-to-moderate cicatricial margin upper eyelid entropion, tarsal curling, and meibomian gland inversion. Patients requiring spacer interposition to lengthen the posterior lamella were excluded from the study. Parameters of the study included lid margin position, lid height, ocular surface health and symptom improvement. Results: Eleven eyelids of eight patients were included in the study, and underwent the procedure described. Lid margin position measured as the marginal reflex distance lowered (improved) in 72.7% of patients. Lid margin eversion was achieved in all eyes (100%). Corneal punctate epithelial erosions markedly improved, being present in 72.7% of patients preoperatively, and only 9.1% of patients postoperatively. Eight of eleven eyes showed symptomatic improvement, with six (54.5%) being completely asymptomatic and two achieving partial relief. An added observation was a pretarsal show asymmetry in some patients which improved in 36.4% of surgeries postoperatively. Conclusion: Upper eyelid LR with GLS and anterior lamella repositioning can all be performed through the plane of the split, avoiding a skin incision. Normal lid margin apposition was achieved in all eyes with 91% demonstrating a clear cornea and 72% having symptomatic improvement.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice regarding voluntary blood donation among the bachelor level students of Chitwan, Nepal

Background and Objectives:  Blood transfusion is a core service within health care systems and individuals who donate their blood in the treatment of sick human for different conditions such as surgery, accident, delivery and treatment of different diseases. The donation of blood by voluntary non-remunerated blood donors is recognized as being crucial for the safety and sustainability of national blood supplies. The study is carried out to find out the prevalence of blood donors and to explore the knowledge, attitude and practice on voluntary blood donation of medical students.Material and Methods:  Data were collected from a semi-structured questionnaire and technique was  self-administered  questionnaire  to  know  the  level  of  knowledge,  attitude  and  practices  of blood donation and analyze by using SPSS software among 167 medical students of Shree Medical and  Technical  College,  Chitwan.  The scoring system in knowledge was included.  Attitude was assessed by using 3-point Likert scale. Results:  Majority of respondents (92.8%) had heard about voluntary blood donation and almost all (97.2%) respondents knew the correct meaning of voluntary blood donation. About 38.9% had poor  knowledge  regarding  voluntary  blood  donation  and  61.1%  of  the  respondents  had  good knowledge  on  voluntary  blood  donation  and  mean  knowledge  was  found   to  be  56.17%.  Those respondents who had work experience had significantly low level of knowledge than who did not have work experience (p = 0.0025).Conclusion: To increase the prevalence of voluntary blood donation, specific campaigns involving interactive  awareness  sessions  on  blood  donation  should  be  organized,  targeting  the  youth, motivating them to become regular voluntary blood donors should be conducted. Efforts must be undertaken  to  bring  the  knowledge  and  positive  attitude  towards  students  into  application  in future to achieve the goal of 100% VBD.

Prevalence of psychiatric morbidity amongst the community dwelling rural older adults in northern India.

Background & objectives: The population of elderly is growing globally and so are the physical illnesses and psychiatric morbidity. This study was planned to assess the prevalence and patterns of psychiatric morbidity amongst rural older adults in Lucknow, north India. Methods: A survey was conducted in subjects aged 60 yr and above to identify the cases of psychiatric morbidity in rural population from randomly selected two revenue blocks of Lucknow district, Uttar Pradesh, India. All subjects were screened through Hindi Mental Status Examination (HMSE) and Survey Psychiatric Assessment Schedule (SPAS) to identify for the suspected cases of cognitive and the psychiatric disorders, respectively. The subjects screened positive on HMSE and SPAS were assessed in detail on Cambridge Mental Disorder of the Elderly Examination-Revised (CAMDEX-R) and Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN), to diagnose cognitive disorders and psychiatric disorders (other than the cognitive), respectively on the basis of International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) diagnostic guidelines. Results: The overall prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in rural older adults was found to be 23.7 per cent (95% CI=21.89-25.53). Mood (affective) disorders were the commonest (7.6%, 95% CI=6.51-8.80), followed by mild cognitive impairment (4.6%, 95% CI=3.72-5.53), mental and behavioural disorders due to substance use (4.0%, 95% CI=3.17-4.87) and dementia (2.8%) [Alzheimer’s disease (2.4%, 95% CI=1.81-3.16) and vascular (0.4%, 95% CI=0.16-0.73)]. Interpretation & conclusions: Overall prevalence of psychiatric morbidity amongst rural elderly in this study was found to be less in comparison to those reported in earlier studies from India. However, prevalence pattern of different disorders was found to be similar. Therefore, it appears that a stringent methodology, refined case criteria for diagnosis and assessment by trained professionals restrict false diagnosis.

Comparative organoleptic quality of Indian major carps collected from pond and reservoir.

An attempt was made to distinguish the possible organoleptic differences between the pond reared and wild fish species of reservoirs and correlate these with the physicochemical characteristics of water bodies. The texture was found to firmer in wild varieties of fishes than pond reared fish, with best in Catla catla followed by Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala. All the cultured fishes had lighter colour than wild fish species which were darker in appearance. Comparatively, higher dissolved oxygen and transparency levels with low temperature and alkalinity levels were found in reservoirs. Hydrobiologically, the efficient ecosystem of reservoir was responsible for stronger texture and dark colouration in wild fish species. The fishes from reservoir exhibit tendency to lead active and agile life, comparatively the fishes from ponds are docile. Reservoirs have the potential of enhanced quality fish production.

Effect of zinc on antioxidant response in maize (Zea mays L.) leaves.

Maize (Zea mays L. cv kanaujia) plants grown with Zn [10 (control), 0.1 (low) and 20 microM (high)], were investigated for concentration of antioxidants and activities of antioxidative enzymes in leaves. Young leaves of low Zn plants developed whitish-necrotic spots. Leaves of both low and high Zn plants showed decrease in chlorophyll concentration and accumulation of lipid peroxides, ascorbate and dehydroascorbate, associated with a decrease in the activity of ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. Low and high Zn, however, showed diverse effect on glutathione reductase. While low Zn increased the activity of glutathione reductase, high Zn decreased its activity. Zinc effect on antioxidative constituents suggested Zn involvement in sustaining the antioxidative defense system in maize leaves.

Copper effect on photosynthesis and transpiration in safflower.

The young leaves of safflower plants subjected to deficient supply of copper (0.00063 mg Cu L-1) developed visible symptoms of Cu deficiency and showed a decrease in chlorophyll concentration, Hill activity, net photosynthesis and transpiration. On giving normal supply of Cu (0.063 mg Cu L-1), these changes were partially reversed.