Effectiveness of cognitive retraining intervention on weight loss and lifestyle-related behaviours among adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The review explores the potential benefits of cognitive retraining interventions in improving healthy lifestyle-related behaviours, and its possible use as an alternative or complementary approach to traditional weight loss interventions. METHOD: Studies were selected using different electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase), to identify RCTs published in the last 23 years on cognitive retraining interventions for weight loss. A total of 12 studies were finalized for systematic review and six for meta-analysis based on the inclusion criteria. The risk of bias was assessed by the two reviewers independently using the criteria outlined in the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool for RCTs. The R software was used to perform meta-analysis. RESULT: The overall effect estimates slightly favoured the intervention group, with a standardised mean difference (SMD) of -0.26 [95% CI (-0.58- 0.06) P < 0.05; I2 = 0.00%]. This suggests that although the effect was not statistically significant, cognitive retraining interventions may have a small effect on weight loss. The findings of the systematic review revealed that cognitive retraining interventions may be effective in modifying lifestyle behaviours and these changes may contribute in achieving and maintaining weight loss in the long run. CONCLUSION: Interventions exhibited a positive effect on weight loss. These interventions demonstrated promise in modifying lifestyle behaviours, suggesting a potential role in achieving and sustaining long-term weight loss. Further research is warranted to refine and validate these findings.

Evaluation of kit-based loop-mediated isothermal amplification (TB-LAMP) assay in the diagnosis of tubercular lymphadenitis.

Background: The rapid and accurate diagnosis of tubercular lymphadenitis remains a challenging task today. The World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed the LoopAMP MTBC kit (TB-LAMP) as a replacement for sputum smear microscopy in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). However, no prospective diagnostic accuracy study of TB-LAMP for tubercular lymphadenitis in adults has been performed yet. The current study evaluated the diagnostic performance of TB-LAMP in tubercular lymphadenitis (LNTB). Methods: In a prospective observational study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in India, 90 subjects (age >18 years) suspected of LNTB were recruited consecutively and followed up for 6 months between January 2019 and December 2020. Samples were processed for microscopy, culture, GeneXpert, histopathology and TB-LAMP. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of TB-LAMP against the composite reference standard (CRS) and culture were determined. Results: TB-LAMP showed a sensitivity of 83.78 % (95 % CI, 73.76-90.47) and a specificity of 81.25 % (95 % CI, 56.99-93.41), respectively, against the CRS. The PPV and NPV were 95.38 % (95 % CI, 87.29-98.42) and 52.00 % (95 % CI, 33.50-69.97), respectively. TB-LAMP showed a sensitivity of 88.89 % (95 % CI, 71.94-96.15) and a specificity of 36.17 % (95 % CI, 23.97-50.46), respectively, against culture. The PPV and NPV were 44.44 % (95 % CI, 32-57.62) and 85 % (95 % CI, 63.96-94.76), respectively. Conclusion: TB-LAMP can be used instead of conventional microscopy for the diagnosis of TB in lymph node specimens at primary healthcare centres. It provides rapid and cost-effective diagnosis of LNTB in resource-limited settings due to good sensitivity and NPV.

Acanthamoeba meningoencephalitis causing secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in an immunocompetent patient: A first case report.

Acanthamoeba is a rare cause of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) associated with high mortality. There have been few case reports of Acanthamoeba meningoencephalitis worldwide. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a severe hyperinflammatory condition caused by abnormally active macrophages and cytotoxic T lymphocytes; its secondary form is due to infections or malignancies. However, HLH is rather an unknown complication of GAE. We describe an unusual and previously unreported case of Acanthamoeba meningoencephalitis in a young immunocompetent female culminating in secondary HLH.

A study on the morbid histopathological changes in COVID-19 patients with or without comorbidities using minimally invasive tissue sampling.

COVID-19 causes morbid pathological changes in different organs including lungs, kidneys, liver, and so on, especially in those who succumb. Though clinical outcomes in those with comorbidities are known to be different from those without-not much is known about the differences at the histopathological level. To compare the morbid histopathological changes in COVID-19 patients between those who were immunocompromised (Gr 1), had a malignancy (Gr 2), or had cardiometabolic conditions (hypertension, diabetes, or coronary artery disease) (Gr 3), postmortem tissue sampling (minimally invasive tissue sampling [MITS]) was done from the lungs, kidney, heart, and liver using a biopsy gun within 2 hours of death. Routine (hematoxylin and eosin) and special staining (acid fast bacilli, silver methanamine, periodic acid schiff) was done besides immunohistochemistry. A total of 100 patients underwent MITS and data of 92 patients were included (immunocompromised: 27, malignancy: 18, cardiometabolic conditions: 71). In lung histopathology, capillary congestion was more in those with malignancy, while others like diffuse alveolar damage, microthrombi, pneumocyte hyperplasia, and so on, were equally distributed. In liver histopathology, architectural distortion was significantly different in immunocompromised; while steatosis, portal inflammation, Kupffer cell hypertrophy, and confluent necrosis were equally distributed. There was a trend towards higher acute tubular injury in those with cardiometabolic conditions as compared to the other groups. No significant histopathological difference in the heart was discerned. Certain histopathological features were markedly different in different groups (Gr 1, 2, and 3) of COVID-19 patients with fatal outcomes.

Risk Factors of Severity and Mortality Among COVID-19 Patients: A Prospective Observational Study From a Tertiary Care Center.

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major public health threat for the past three years. The RNA virus has been constantly evolving, changing the manifestations and progression of the disease. Some factors which impact the progression to severe COVID-19 or mortality include comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obesity. In this study, we followed a cohort of patients to evaluate the risk factors leading to severe manifestations and mortality from COVID-19. Methodology We conducted a prospective observational study of 589 COVID-19 patients to assess the risk factors associated with the severity and mortality of the disease. Results In our cohort, 83.5% were male, with a median age (p25, p75) of 39.71 (30-48) years. The most common comorbidities included diabetes mellitus (7.8%) and hypertension (7.9%). About 41.7% had an asymptomatic disease, and of the symptomatic, 45% were mild, 6% moderate, and 7% severe. The mortality rate was 4.1%. Risk factors for severity included breathlessness (p=0.02), leukocytosis (p=0.02), and deranged renal function (p=0.04). Risk factors for mortality included older age (p=0.04), anemia (p=0.02), and leukocytosis (p=0.02). Conclusions COVID-19 commonly leads to asymptomatic or mild illness. The major factors we found that were associated with severity include breathlessness at presentation, leukocytosis, and deranged renal functions. The factors associated with mortality include older age, anemia, and leukocytosis.

Novel Scoring Systems to Predict the Need for Oxygenation and ICU Care, and Mortality in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A Risk Stratification Tool.

INTRODUCTION: A rapid surge in cases during the COVID-19 pandemic can overwhelm any healthcare system. It is imperative to triage patients who would require oxygen and ICU care, and predict mortality. Specific parameters at admission may help in identifying them. METHODOLOGY: A prospective observational study was undertaken in a COVID-19 ward of a tertiary care center. All baseline clinical and laboratory data were captured. Patients were followed till death or discharge. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was used to find predictors of the need for oxygen, need for ICU care, and mortality. Objective scoring systems were developed for the same using the predictors. RESULTS: The study included 209 patients. Disease severity was mild, moderate, and severe in 98 (46.9%), 74 (35.4%), and 37 (17.7%) patients, respectively. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) >4 was a common independent predictor of the need for oxygen (p<0.001), need for ICU transfer (p=0.04), and mortality (p=0.06). Clinical risk scores were developed (10*c-reactive protein (CRP) + 14.8*NLR + 12*urea), (10*aspartate transaminase (AST) + 15.7*NLR + 14.28*CRP), (10*NLR + 10.1*creatinine) which, if ≥14.8, ≥25.7, ≥10.1 predicted need for oxygenation, need for ICU transfer and mortality with a sensitivity and specificity (81.6%, 70%), (73.3%, 75.7%), (61.1%, 75%), respectively.  Conclusion: The NLR, CRP, urea, creatinine, and AST are independent predictors in identifying patients with poor outcomes. An objective scoring system can be used at the bedside for appropriate triaging of patients and utilization of resources.

Clinical profile of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19- and BBV152-vaccinated individuals among hospitalized COVID-19 patients: a pair-matched study.

Background: COVID-19 infections among severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-vaccinated individuals are of clinical concern, especially in those requiring hospitalization. Such real-world data on ChAdOx1 nCoV-19- and BBV152-vaccinated individuals are scarce. Hence, there is an urgent need to understand their clinical profile and outcomes. Methods: A 1:1 pair-matched study was performed among vaccinated and unvaccinated COVID-19 patients admitted between March 2021 and June 2021 at a tertiary care centre in New Delhi, India. The vaccinated group (received at least one dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or BBV152) was prospectively followed till discharge or death and matched [for age (±10 years), sex, baseline disease severity and comorbidities] with a retrospective group of unvaccinated patients admitted during the study period. Paired analysis was done to look for clinical outcomes between the two groups. Results: The study included a total of 210 patients, with 105 in each of the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. In the vaccinated group, 47 (44.8%) and 58 (55.2%) patients had received ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and BBV152, respectively. However, 73 patients had received one dose and 32 had received two doses of the vaccine. Disease severity was mild in 36.2%, moderate in 31.4% and severe in 32.4%. Two mortalities were reported out of 19 fully vaccinated individuals. All-cause mortality in the vaccinated group was 8.6% (9/105), which was significantly lower than the matched unvaccinated group mortality of 21.9% (23/105), p = 0.007. Vaccination increased the chances of survival (OR = 3.8, 95% CI: 1.42-10.18) compared to the unvaccinated group. Conclusion: In the second wave of the pandemic predominated by delta variant of SARS CoV-2, vaccination reduced all-cause mortality among hospitalized patients, although the results are only preliminary.

Outcomes of HFNC Use in COVID-19 Patients in Non-ICU Settings: A Single-center Experience.

How to cite this article: Aggarwal A, Arora U, Mittal A, Aggarwal A, Singh K, Ray A, et al.Outcomes of HFNC Use in COVID-19 Patients inNon-ICU Settings: A Single-center Experience. Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(4):528-530.

Repurposing of FDA Approved Drugs Against SARS-CoV-2 Papain-Like Protease: Computational, Biochemical, and in vitro Studies.

The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 (SCoV-2) has impacted the world in many ways and the virus continues to evolve and produce novel variants with the ability to cause frequent global outbreaks. Although the advent of the vaccines abated the global burden, they were not effective against all the variants of SCoV-2. This trend warrants shifting the focus on the development of small molecules targeting the crucial proteins of the viral replication machinery as effective therapeutic solutions. The PLpro is a crucial enzyme having multiple roles during the viral life cycle and is a well-established drug target. In this study, we identified 12 potential inhibitors of PLpro through virtual screening of the FDA-approved drug library. Docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies suggested that these molecules bind to the PLpro through multiple interactions. Further, IC50 values obtained from enzyme-inhibition assays affirm the stronger affinities of the identified molecules for the PLpro. Also, we demonstrated high structural conservation in the catalytic site of PLpro between SCoV-2 and Human Coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) through molecular modelling studies. Based on these similarities in PLpro structures and the resemblance in various signalling pathways for the two viruses, we propose that HCoV-229E is a suitable surrogate for SCoV-2 in drug-discovery studies. Validating our hypothesis, Mefloquine, which was effective against HCoV-229E, was found to be effective against SCoV-2 as well in cell-based assays. Overall, the present study demonstrated Mefloquine as a potential inhibitor of SCoV-2 PLpro and its antiviral activity against SCoV-2. Corroborating our findings, based on the in vitro virus inhibition assays, a recent study reported a prophylactic role for Mefloquine against SCoV-2. Accordingly, Mefloquine may further be investigated for its potential as a drug candidate for the treatment of COVID.

Hydroxychloroquine pre-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19 among healthcare workers: Initial experience from India.

Background: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) had generated considerable interest for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prophylaxis. We conducted a prospective observational study at a tertiary care hospital in India, with dedicated COVID-19 care facilities. Objectives: Primary objective was incidence of adverse effects, secondary objective being efficacy in preventing COVID-19. Methods: Healthcare workers were recruited and grouped based on voluntary HCQ prophylaxis as per national guidelines. Side effects in HCQ group were graded in accordance with national cancer institute-common terminology criteria for adverse events (NCI-CTCAE) version 5.0. At 3-7-week follow-up, groups were compared for COVID-19 exposure, symptoms development and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RT-PCR results. Results: Among 358 participants recruited, 216 (60.3%) were males and mean age was 31.2 ± 6.6 years. Chemoprophylaxis was initiated by 258 (72%) participants. After loading dose, 7 (2.7%) reported grade 2 and 1 (0.4%) grade 3 adverse effects. Discontinuation of HCQ due to side effects was reported in 11 (4.3%) participants. Electrocardiogram was done by 50 (19.4%) participants on HCQ; no abnormalities were noted. A total of 106 (41%) among those taking and 63 (63%) among those not taking HCQ were tested for SARS-CoV-2 due to influenza-like illness or significant exposure. Among all participants, 25 (6.9%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.3-9.6) developed COVID-19 during the study period. In the group taking HCQ, 10 (3.9%) tested positive compared to 15 (15%) in the group not taking HCQ (P < 0.001). Odds ratio with HCQ intake was 0.34 (95% CI 0.13-0.83, P = 0.01) and the number needed to treat was 12. Conclusion: HCQ is safe at the recommended dose for pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19.

Pulse corticosteroids for the management of extensive CNS tuberculosis presenting with acute-onset quadriparesis.

Myelopathy in central nervous system tuberculosis is notorious for poor outcomes, determined by the severity of inflammation and cord level involved. Acute-onset quadriplegia or paraplegia in these cases represents a neuro-emergency. We report a young female with disseminated tuberculosis who presented with acute onset flaccid quadriparesis with loss of bladder and bowel function. Imaging helped identify the extensive involvement of the neuraxis. We propose that, in addition to anti-tubercular therapy, high-dose corticosteroids such as pulse methylprednisolone may result in a meaningful improvement and show greater rapidity of response in cases of severe central nervous system inflammation such as arachnoiditis or myelopathy.

Diagnostic utility of chest computerized tomography in the diagnosis of recurrence among sputum scarce and sputum negative previously treated pulmonary tuberculosis suspects.

Objective: The objective was to study the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of various computed tomography (CT) chest findings in diagnosing recurrence among pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) suspects. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi. A total of 130 suspects with a past history of treatment for PTB, who presented with any of the symptoms suggestive of recurrence were included. Sputum-positive, HIV-positive patients, pregnant females, and patients aged <18 years were excluded. Patients underwent CT chest followed by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Results: A total of 62 patients were there in the final analysis. The median age of the patients with recurrent PTB was 27.5 years. Cough was the universal symptom in all these patients (>90%). Hemoptysis was the predominant symptom among patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (66.6%). Necrotic mediastinal lymph nodes had good diagnostic accuracy of 88.71% with area under the curve of 0.806, P < 0.001 in diagnosing recurrent TB. BAL GeneXpert and mycobacteria growth indicator tube had good sensitivity (83.33% and 84.62%, respectively), specificity (100% for both), and excellent diagnostic accuracy (95.16% and 96.36%, respectively) for diagnosing recurrence in sputum negative and sputum scarce patient, (P < 0.001) when compared with composite reference standard. For culture-positive cases, BAL GeneXpert MTB/RIF had 100% sensitivity and 97.73% specificity in diagnosing recurrent PTB patients. Conclusion: The presence of mediastinal necrotic lymph node is the most accurate CT finding that can differentiate recurrent TB from post-TB sequelae. No other single chest CT scan finding had reliable diagnostic accuracy in comparison to microbiological tools in diagnosing recurrence among sputum negative or scarce previously treated PTB suspects.

Arsenic intoxication with renal failure managed with hemodialysis alone: A case report.

Arsenic has widespread use in agriculture, in alternative medicine and in treatment of certain malignancies, therefore it is vital to timely recognize and treat arsenic toxicity in a suspected patient. Hemodialysis conventionally is thought to play only a supportive role in managing arsenic toxicity but it can be life-saving when chelation is not possible or available. A middle-aged female with a history of non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD) was brought to the emergency with altered sensorium. On presentation, she was hemodynamically stable with pallor and exfoliating lesions on palms, hyperkeratotic lesions on soles and hyperpigmented macules on the trunk. Investigations revealed pancytopenia and deranged kidney function tests. In view of skin lesions, the toxicological analysis was sent which revealed high levels of Arsenic (594 and 2,553 mcg/L in blood and urine respectively). Thus, a diagnosis of metabolic encephalopathy with the underlying cause being uremic or/and arsenic intoxication was made. Considering renal failure, she was managed with thrice-weekly hemodialysis. Chelation was not possible due to unavailability of agents during lockdown in Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Following dialysis, there was a significant improvement in sensorium, skin lesions, and pancytopenia depicting the utility of hemodialysis in such cases. Thus, hemodialysis is an effective and perhaps underutilized modality in the treatment of arsenic intoxication with impaired renal function.

Risk factors for Coronavirus disease-associated mucormycosis.

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of the Coronavirus-disease associated mucormycosis (CAM) syndemic is poorly elucidated. We aimed to identify risk factors that may explain the burden of cases and help develop preventive strategies. METHODS: We performed a case-control study comparing cases diagnosed with CAM and taking controls as recovered COVID 19 patients who did not develop mucormycosis. Information on comorbidities, glycemic control, and practices related to COVID-19 prevention and treatment was recorded. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors. RESULTS: A total of 352 patients (152 cases and 200 controls) diagnosed with COVID-19 during April-May 2021 were included. In the CAM group, symptoms of mucormycosis began a mean of 18.9 (SD 9.1) days after onset of COVID-19, and predominantly rhino-sinus and orbital involvement was present. All, but one, CAM cases had conventional risk factors of diabetes and steroid use. On multivariable regression, increased odds of CAM were associated with the presence of diabetes (adjusted OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.1-11), use of systemic steroids (aOR 7.7, 95% CI 2.4-24.7), prolonged use of cloth and surgical masks (vs. no mask, aOR 6.9, 95%CI 1.5-33.1), and repeated nasopharyngeal swab testing during the COVID-19 illness (aOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.2). Zinc therapy was found to be protective (aOR 0.05, 95%CI 0.01-0.19). Notably, the requirement of oxygen supplementation or hospitalization did not affect the risk of CAM. CONCLUSION: Judicious use of steroids and stringent glycemic control are vital to preventing mucormycosis. Use of clean masks, preference for N95 masks if available, and minimizing swab testing after the diagnosis of COVID-19 may further reduce the incidence of CAM.

99mTc-Ethambutol Scintigraphy with Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography in Lymph Node Tuberculosis: An Initial Experience.

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of the study is to evaluate 99mTc-labeled ethambutol (99mTc-EMB) as a potential diagnostic agent in lymph node tuberculosis (LNTB). Materials and Methods: A prospective pilot study was done at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. We included adult consenting patients who were diagnosed with LNTB and were either treatment naïve or had just started treatment. Patients were injected with 10-15 mCi of 99mTc-EMB. Whole-body anteroposterior planar imaging was done from 15 min after injection at serial intervals till 4-6 h along with one single-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography (SPECT-CT) imaging with the help of a dual-head SPECT-CT gamma camera. The uptake of 99mTc-EMB was analyzed and corroborated with clinicoradiological findings. Results: Between January 2019 and November 2020, we recruited 23 patients who underwent 99mTc-EMB, and 19 scans were interpretable and considered for analysis. Cervical lymphadenopathy was the most common presentation (13, 68.42%), followed by mediastinal (9, 47.36%) and abdominal (4, 21.05%) nodes. Other involvement included pulmonary (8, 42.1%), gastrointestinal (3, 15.78%), and chest wall abscess and bone marrow deposits in 1 patient each. A positive scan was noted in 7 (53.84%) patients with cervical lymphadenopathy, whereas uptake in abdominal and mediastinal lymph nodes was seen in 1 (25%) and 2 (22.22%) cases, respectively. Uptake in pulmonary lesions was noted in 3 (37.5%), but uptake in hepatic and splenic lesions was not seen. Conclusion: 99mTc-EMB scan can demonstrate drug penetrance in vivo in some patients with LNTB and should be explored further with a larger sample size.

Effectiveness of an inactivated virus-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, BBV152, in India: a test-negative, case-control study.

BACKGROUND: BBV152 is a whole-virion inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine that has been deployed in India. The results of the phase 3 trial have shown clinical efficacy of BBV152. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of BBV152 against symptomatic RT-PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: We conducted a test-negative, case-control study among employees of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi, India), who had symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 and had an RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 during the peak of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India between April 15 and May 15, 2021. Cases (test-positives) and controls (test-negatives) were matched (1:1) on the basis of age and gender. The odds of vaccination with BBV152 were compared between cases and controls and adjusted for level of occupational exposure (to COVID-19), previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, and calendar time, using conditional logistic regression. The primary outcome was effectiveness of two doses of BBV152 (with the second dose received at least 14 days before testing) in reducing the odds of symptomatic RT-PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, expressed as (1 - odds ratio) × 100%. FINDINGS: Between April 15 and May 15, 2021, 3732 individuals had an RT-PCR test. Of these, 2714 symptomatic employees had data on vaccination status, and 1068 matched case-control pairs were available for analysis. The adjusted effectiveness of BBV152 against symptomatic COVID-19 after two doses administered at least 14 days before testing was 50% (95% CI 33-62; p<0·0001). The adjusted effectiveness of two doses administered at least 28 days before testing was 46% (95% CI 22-62) and administered at least 42 days before testing was 57% (21-76). After excluding participants with previous SARS-CoV-2 infections, the adjusted effectiveness of two doses administered at least 14 days before testing was 47% (95% CI 29-61). INTERPRETATION: This study shows the effectiveness of two doses of BBV152 against symptomatic COVID-19 in the context of a huge surge in cases, presumably dominated by the potentially immune-evasive delta (B.1.617.2) variant of SARS-CoV-2. Our findings support the ongoing roll-out of this vaccine to help control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, while continuing the emphasis on adherence to non-pharmacological measures. FUNDING: None. TRANSLATION: For the Hindi translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

COVID-19-associated subacute invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.

BACKGROUND: Though invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is a well known complication of COVID-19 pneumonia, indolent forms of aspergillosis have been rarely described. METHODS: We prospectively collected the clinico-radio-microbiological data of 10 patients of subacute invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (SAIA), who presented to our hospital with recent history of COVID-19 pneumonia along with cavitary lung disease, positive IgG (against Aspergillus) with or without positive respiratory samples for Aspergillus spp. RESULT: The mean age of presentation of SAIA was 50.7 ± 11.8 years. All the patients had recently recovered from severe COVID-19 illness with a mean duration of 29.2 ± 12 days from COVID-19 positivity. Cough was the predominant symptom seen in 8/10 (80%) patients followed by haemoptysis. 7/10 (70%) patients were known diabetic. While serum galactomannan was positive in 5/9 patients (55.5%), fungal culture was positive in 2/7 patients (28.5%) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Aspergillus was positive in three patients. Eight (80%) patients presented with a single cavitary lesion; pseudoaneurysm of pulmonary artery was seen in two patients and post-COVID-19 changes were seen in all patients. All patients were treated with voriconazole, out of which four (40%) patients died during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: SAIA should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cavitating lung lesions in patients with recent history of COVID-19 in the background of steroid use with or without pre-existing diabetes.

Post COVID-19 sequelae: A prospective observational study from Northern India.

Post COVID-19 sequelae are a constellation of symptoms often reported after recovering from COVID-19. There is a need to better understand the clinical spectrum and long-term course of this clinical entity. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical features and risk factors of post COVID-19 sequelae in the North Indian population. This prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary healthcare centre in Northern India between October 2020 and February 2021. Patients aged >18 years with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were recruited after at least two weeks of diagnosis, and details were captured. A total of 1234 patients were recruited and followed up for a median duration of 91 days (IQR: 45-181 days). Among them, 495 (40.1%) had persistent symptoms post-discharge or recovery. In 223 (18.1%) patients, the symptoms resolved within four weeks; 150 (12.1%) patients had symptoms till 12 weeks, and 122 (9.9%) patients had symptoms beyond 12 weeks of diagnosis/symptom-onset of COVID-19. Most common symptoms included myalgia (10.9%), fatigue (5.5%), shortness of breath (6.1%), cough (2.1%), insomnia (1.4%), mood disturbances (0.48%) and anxiety (0.6%). Patients who were hospitalized were more likely to report fatigue as a feature of long COVID. Hypothyroidism (OR: 4.13, 95% CI: 2.2-7.6, p-value < 0.001) and hypoxia (SpO2 ≤ 93%) (OR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1-2.4, p-value 0.012) were identified as risk factors for long COVID sequelae. In conclusion, long COVID symptoms were common (22%), and 9.9% had the post COVID-19 syndrome. Myalgias, fatigue and dyspnoea were common symptoms. Patients with hypothyroidism and hypoxia during acute illness were at higher risk of long COVID.

Development and Validation of a Comprehensive Questionnaire to Assess Interpersonal Discord (Bullying, Harassment, and Discrimination) at the Workplace in a Healthcare Setting.

Objective This study was conducted to develop and validate a comprehensive questionnaire to assess bullying, discrimination, and harassment in healthcare settings. Methodology A mixed-method study design was used to develop and validate the questionnaire. In phase I, qualitative approaches were used for the development, which included literature search, focus group discussions (FGDs), following which the construct was developed. In phase II, face validity and construct validity were established using quantitative approaches. Results The final questionnaire consists of 25 items divided into five sections addressing the burden, impact, reasons for underreporting, risk factors, and mitigation strategies. The questionnaire has very good consistency with a Cronbach's alpha score of 0.86. Conclusion This is a comprehensive tool with appropriate psychometric properties with potential use for evaluating the problem of interpersonal discord in the form of bullying, harassment, and discrimination in a healthcare setting.