ABSTRACT
Background: Fatalities due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have already crossed to more than 5 million globally so far. Hence, it is crucial for us to identify the risk factors associated with hospital deaths starting from first contact which can help to give timely treatment to the targeted population. Objectives: This retrospective cohort study was conducted to identify various factors related to in-hospital mortality related to COVID-19 in our region. Materials and methods: The present study was a single-center, retrospective cohort study of 675 adult patients, admitted with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection between 1st April and 25th May 2021 in our tertiary care hospital. Baseline demographic profile, comorbidities, clinical characteristics, and investigatory findings were analyzed for increased odds of mortality. Results: A total of 181 (26.8%) patients died and 494 (73.2%) survived. There were 65.4% of males and no difference was found between genders in terms of mortality. Comorbidities associated with in-hospital death in our cohort were age group ?50 years (p<0.001), diabetes (p<0.0007), and renal injury (p<0.0001). More than half of the patients died during the first week of admission. Breathlessness (83%) was the most common symptom in non-survivors. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), S. creatinine, D-dimer, ferritin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were increased significantly among the patients who died. Multivariate logistic regression revealed age ?50 years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.45–3.64] and oxygen (O2) saturation <94% at the time of admission (AOR 2.62, 95% CI 1.75–3.93) were associated with mortality. Conclusion: Overall in-hospital mortality was 26.8%. Higher age and low O2 saturation were the major risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality.
ABSTRACT
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is most common among acute viral hepatitis (AVH) infections in developed countries. It is an enteric virus which usually causes a self-resolving hepatitis. We report the case of a 9-year old boy who presented with anorexia, fever, pain in abdomen and jaundice. Ultrasound revealed no signs of cholestasis. Laboratory findings revealed conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, transaminitis, and bilirubinuria. There was no evidence of any autoimmune or metabolic disease, and routine viral serology was normal except for immunoglobulin M to HEV suggestive of acute origin of disease. The jaundice resolved slowly after a period of 2 months. Hepatitis E virus RNA was not detectable in the convalescent serum. This case is an example of conjugated hyperbilirubinemia seen in acute phase of viral hepatitis caused by HEV.
ABSTRACT
Aim: Schizothorax labiatus is one of the economically valuable food fish among indigenous schizothoracids (snow trouts), inhabiting the Jhelum River system in Kashmir along with other snow trouts of family Cyprinidae. The present study was conducted to understand and bring forward various reproductive traits of S. labiatus inhabiting River Jhelum. Methodology: The investigation was carried on 310 samples (221 males and 89 females) with total length and total weight ranging between 143 to 350 mm and 62 to 449 g, respectively, for a period twelve months. Results: Gonadosomatic index (GSI) was recorded maximum during April for both males (6.19) and females (11.12), indicating that the fish fully matures during this month and spawns during coming months i.e., May when the GSI values start decreasing abruptly. The average values of absolute and relative fecundity in the fish were recorded per gm body weight as 10323 and 42, respectively. Sex ratio was found in 1:0.41 ratio, indicating a significant dominance of males over opposite sex and Lm, i.e., length at first maturity was estimated to be 196 mm and the corresponding age at this length was 2+ years. Interpretation: The fish breeds once in a year in natural/wild habitat. These findings on reproductive biology of the endemic snow trout, and the influence of environmental conditions on breeding biology will serve as a baseline data towards planning seed production and conservation strategies.
ABSTRACT
Orofacial manifestations in cases of Myofascial Pain Dysfunction Syndrome (MPD) diagnosed amongst 71 Dental patients were studied in detail. Findings of this study show that the chief complaint and associated orofacial manifestations of MPD are related to muscular hypertonicity. Stressful situations may produce muscular hypertension, which leads to muscle tenderness as a symptom of over work and fatigue. MPD may be considered a psycosomatic disease.