Diets, Lifestyles and Metabolic Risk Factors among Corporate Information Technology (IT) Employees in South India.

(1) Information Technology (IT) Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), the largest employment sector of India, contributes to rapid economic growth. However, the work of IT employees is sedentary, and the food environments of their worksites expose them to an obesogenic environment. This study aimed to assess their metabolic and lifestyle risk factors. (2) Methods: To examine the health and nutrition status of IT employees, anthropometric, biochemical and clinical assessments were conducted among 183 employees from three IT organizations of varied operational sizes. Their health-, diet- and physical activity-related practices were assessed using a questionnaire. The prevalence of MetS was assessed. Selected biomarker levels were assessed and associated with their self-perceived stress levels. (3) Results: The median age of the employees was 30 years (26-35 years). While 44.02% of employees were overweight, 16.85% of employees were obese. About 3.89% of employees were found to be diabetic, and HDL-C levels were lower than recommended in 64.93% of employees. In all, 29.87% of the study population were considered to have metabolic syndrome since they had metabolic risk scores ≥ 3. Those with metabolic syndrome were significantly older (p = 0.000), and levels of MDA (p = 0.003), homocysteine (p = 0.001), IL-6 (p = 0.017) and IL-4 (p = 0.000) were significantly higher among them. Although the prevalence of MetS was significantly lower among those aged >30 years, the lifestyle risk factors were significantly higher among them. (4) Conclusions: The assessed parameters indicate a high risk of developing NCDs among employees in the IT industry in India. This shows the need for the modification of lifestyle and workplace food and physical activity environments.

Impact of 'infodemic in pandemic' on food and nutrition related perceptions and practices of Indian internet users.

The uncontrolled spread of (mis)information, news and propaganda related to COVID 19 created an 'infodemic' leading to panic and unscientific practices among the mass. With the largest number of internet users in the world, India has witnessed a steep rise in the number of people seeking information on social media related to COVID-19, which reached a staggering 22.3 million by March, 2020. This study aimed to evaluate the trend of COVID-19 associated food and nutrition news search by Indian internet users between 27th January 2020 to 30th June 2021 (time period between the first detected COVID-19 case and the end of the second wave in India) and its impact on their perceptions and practices. The association between the change in Relative Search Volume (RSV) on Google Trends (GT) of 34 popularly searched keywords classified by the researchers under 5 different categories-"Immunity", "Eating behavior", "Food safety", "Food scares and concerns" and "Covid scare" showed a steep rise in search for immunity boosters, vitamin supplement brands "ayush kadha (ayurvedic decoction) during the first wave (April- August 2020). With a brief period of decline in the search trend, it again hiked correspondingly with the growing number of positive cases during the second wave in India. An online survey conducted on adult Indian internet users (n = 572) reported high (71.9%) consumption of Vitamin C rich fruits as well as Vitamin C (68.2%) and Zinc (61.4%) supplements to boost immunity. Traditional Indian spices like ginger and garlic were used by 62.9% and 50.9% respondents respectively. Most respondents reported to rely on social media for gathering COVID-19 associated tips for boosting immunity, however those with history of COVID-19 infection reported to rely more on doctors and health professionals for information. This study highlights the need of media and health literacy to advocate for the use of health information cautiously.

Prevalence of visual hallucinations.

BACKGROUND: To determine the prevalence of visual hallucinations and to report its associations with demographic and clinical factors in a population-based survey in India. METHODS: Prevalence of visual hallucinations was determined as a part of a large prospective, cross-sectional, population-based study that was carried out in two districts of Telangana, namely Khammam and Warangal. Multi-stage cluster random sampling was used in this study. The administration of the questionnaire preceded the clinical examination of the subjects. Associations with factors such as age, sex, education level and visual impairment categories were studied using univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Out of the 6,000 subjects who were enumerated from the 120 clusters in Khammam and Warangal districts, a total of 4,936 (82.3 per cent) responded. The mean age of the participants was 55.6 ± 11.8 years. Only the older age group (> 70 years of age) was associated with visual hallucinations on univariate analysis (p < 0.001). On multiple logistic regression, subjects with moderate visual impairment were found to have higher odds of experiencing visual hallucinations (odds ratio 1.48; 95% confidence interval 1.12-1.96, p = 0.006) and those who were older also had higher odds (odds ratio 1.35, p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of visual hallucinations among those with visual impairment in this population-based study was 13.8 per cent. The older age group and moderate visual impairment were noted to be the associated factors among individuals experiencing visual hallucinations.

(2Z,3E)-2-{[1-(4-Chloro-benz-yl)-1H-indol-3-yl]methyl-idene}quinuclidin-3-one oxime.

In the title compound, C(23)H(22)ClN(3)O, the benzene ring of the 4-chorobenzyl group makes a dihedral angle of 78.56 (6)° with the best plane of the indole ring. The double bond connecting the aza-bicyclic and indole groups adopts a Z geometry. The geometry adopted by the C=N bond with respect to the N-OH bond is trans. The absolute configuration of the compound was determined from refinement of the Flack parameter.

(Z)-2-Amino-5-[2,4-dimeth-oxy-6-(4-methoxy-styr-yl)benzyl-idene]-1,3-thia-zol-4(5H)-one methanol solvate.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C(21)H(20)N(2)O(4)S·CH(3)OH, mol-ecules are linked into chains by a series of inter-molecular N-H⋯O, N-H⋯N and O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The mol-ecular structure shows a double bond with Z geometry, connecting the thia-zolone and resveratrol units. The dihedral angle between the thiazolone ring and the nearest dimethoxy-benzene ring is 53.02 (7)°.

(E,E)-1-Methyl-2,6-distyrylpyridinium iodide.

In the title compound, C(22)H(20)N(+)·I(-), the dihedral angles between the central pyridine ring and two outer benzene rings are 15.30 (10) and 11.82 (11)°. There are inter-molecular π-π stacking inter-actions between the nearest phenyl ring over an inversion-related pyridyl ring, the shortest centroid-centroid distance being 3.672 (3) Å. The crystal structure of the compound indicates the 2,6-distyryl substituents have an E configuration.

3-(2-Amino-1-methyl-4-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-3-hydr-oxy-1-phenyl-indolin-2-one ethanol solvate.

In the title compound, C(18)H(16)N(4)O(3)·C(2)H(5)OH, mol-ecules are linked into chains by a series of inter-molecular N-H⋯O, N-H⋯N and O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds which stabilize the crystal structure. The indole and creatinine units make a dihedral angle of 56.45 (4)°. The title compound has two chiral centres. The crystal structure indicates the compound is racemic (RR and SS).

3-(2-Amino-1-methyl-4-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-5-fluoro-3-hydr-oxy-1-methyl-indolin-2-one methanol hemisolvate.

In the title compound, C(13)H(13)FN(4)O(3)·0.5CH(3)OH, mol-ecules are packed in the crystal structure by a series of O-H⋯N, N-H⋯O, N-H⋯F and O-H⋯O inter-molecular hydrogen bonds. The indole and creatinine units make a dihedral angle of 60.80 (4)°.

3-(2-Amino-1-methyl-4-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-3-hydroxy-indolin-2-one monohydrate.

Two chiral centres exist in the title compound, C(12)H(12)N(4)O(3)·H(2)O. Mol-ecules are linked into chains by series of inter-molecular N-H⋯O and O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds, which causes supra-molecular aggregation. Two chiral centres are formed in the title compound. The indole and creatinine moieties make a dihedral angle of 56.75 (4)°. The crystal structure of the compound indicates the presence of equimolar enantio-mers (RR and SS) in the crystal structure.

rac-2-(2-Amino-4-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1,3-thia-zol-5-yl)-2-hydroxy-indane-1,3-dione.

In the crystal of the title compound, C(12)H(8)N(2)O(4)S, mol-ecules are linked into chains by a series of inter-molecular O-H⋯O, N-H⋯O and N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds. The ninhydrin and amino-thia-zolidine units make a dihedral angle of 66.41 (3)°. The crystal structure indicates the presence of equimolar R and S enanti-omers in the crystal lattice, due to the presence of a chiral centre in the title compound.

(Z)-4-[3-(3-Oxoquinuclidin-2-ylidene-meth-yl)-1H-indol-1-ylmeth-yl]benzo-nitrile.

The title compound, C(24)H(21)N(3)O, was prepared by the reaction of (Z)-2-(1H-indol-3-ylmethyl-ene)-1-aza-bicyclo-[2.2.2]octan-3-one with α-bromo-p-toluonitrile, under phase-transfer catalytic (PTC) conditions using triethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride and 50% w/v aqueous NaOH solution in dichloro-methane. The crystal structure indicates the presence of a double bond with Z geometry connecting the aza-bicyclic and indole groups.

(Z)-Methyl 4-[3-(3-oxoquinuclidin-2-yl-idenemeth-yl)-1H-indol-1-ylmeth-yl]benzoate.

The title compound, C(25)H(24)N(2)O(3) was prepared by the reaction of (Z)-2-(1H-indol-3-ylmethyl-ene)-1-aza-bicyclo-[2.2.2]octan-3-one with methyl p-(bromo-meth-yl)benzoate, under phase-transfer catalytic (PTC) conditions using triethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride and 50% w/v aqueous NaOH solution in dichloro-methane. The crystal structure indicates the presence of a double bond with Z geometry connecting the aza-bicyclic and indole groups.

(Z)-4-[3-(2,5-Dioxoimidazolidin-4-ylidenemeth-yl)-1H-indol-1-ylmeth-yl]benzonitrile.

In the title compound, C(20)H(14)N(4)O(2), mol-ecules are linked into chains by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, but the cyano group does not participate in the supra-molecular aggregation. The crystal structure of the compound indicates the presence of a double bond with Z geometry, connecting the imidazolidine and indole units. The dihedral angle between the imidazole and benzene ring planes is 62.45 (4)°.

(Z)-Methyl 4-({3-[(2,5-dioxoimidazolidin-4-yl-idene)meth-yl]-1H-indol-1-yl}meth-yl)benzoate.

In the title compound, C(21)H(17)N(3)O(4), pairs of mol-ecules form a planar[maximum deviation 0.0566 (9) Å] centrosymmetric imidazole dimer via two N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. These dimeric units are linked by further N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the ester carbonyl group and the imidazolidine ring, formiing chains parallel to the c-axis direction. In addition, there are π-π stacking inter-actions between the planar imidazole pairs, with an inter-planar spacing of 3.301 (2) Å. There is a double bond with Z geometry connecting the imidazolidine and indole units.