Home Quarantine Among COVID Positive Health Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study From Hyderabad Pakistan

Objective: To determine the preference for home quarantine and its reasons among health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration: Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro, and other affiliated hospitals with LUMHS, from Apr to Sep 2021. Methodology: Eighty home-quarantined health professionals (HPs) at our institute following the exposure to confirm COVID-19 cases were included. A pre-designed questionnaire was used to analyze its reliability using Cronbach's alpha value in SPSS after completing the home quarantine period and analyzed. Results: We enrolled 80 health professionals. 43 (53.8%) were PG Trainees, followed by consultant (20%), doctors (20.0%), nurses (6.2%), and technicians (6.9%). The mean quarantined period was 15.72 ± 6.15 days (7-20 days). Doctors, PG trainees, and nurses perceived a greater level of irritability than the other health professionals. We found an association between irritability and advanced age, confinement, and being single. Generally, PG Trainee revealed higher physical activity (p= <0.001). Physical activity was significantly lower among respondents who were unmarried (p= 0.004). Conclusion: Increased satisfaction and a more homelike environment, less aggravation of symptoms, and a mild level of depression and anxiety among health care professionals were associated with home quarantine measures during the COVID19 pandemic.

REASONS OF CONFLICTS IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Objective: To assess the reasons of conflicts in tertiary care hospital Rawalpindi. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Tertiary care hospital Rawalpindi, from Aug 2008 to Jul 2009. Methodology: Hospital staff comprising of health administrators, clinicians, nurses and paramedics working in tertiary care hospital Rawalpindi were included in the study. Results: These questions were asked to assess the general understanding of the respondents regarding the subject of conflicts to deduct their possible response in conflict situations. As per "Traditional" view conflict was considered as dysfunctional, destructive and irrational. The "Human relations view" describes conflict as natural, suggests tolerating it whereas the latest “inter-actionist view” defines conflict as a means for keeping us viable and creative, and suggests encouraging it. Average 44% of the respondents, mainly administrators and clinicians have fair idea regarding current concept of conflict. Conclusion: Clinical and administrative staffs of hospitals are like parts of a train track. The irrational relationship between them will result in distortion and lower quality of services. Therefore, effective strategies to decrease staffs‟ experience of conflict need to be developed. This might create a healthier and more productive work environment which positively affects the care quality.

STRESS AND AGE AS PREDICTORS OF POOR FAMILY RELATIONS AMONG FEMALE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the role of stress and age in managing family relations. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Public sector hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad from May 2018 to June2018. Methodology: A sample of 103females healthcare professionals (Doctors=15, Psychiatrists= 14, psychologists=29, Nurses=22 and Others = 23) (Married=53, unmarried=50) with mean age of 30years (range from 20to50years) were taken from various hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Data was collected by using the Perceived Stress Scale and the Index of Family Relations. Results: Results revealed significant positive correlation between age and poor family relations whereas correlation between stress and family relations is not significant. Regression analysis showed age as predictor of poor family relations. These findings were interpreted with thesupport of literature. Conclusion: It is concluded a work- family life balance should be achieved and presence of stress or mental health problems should be screened timely in order to manage them before it’s too late.

RELATIONSHIP OF VICARIOUS TRAUMATIZATION WITH FAMILY RELATIONS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

Objective: To study the relationship of vicarious traumatization with family relations and coping strategiesamong Health care professionals along with to find out the frequency of vicarious traumatization. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Various hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, from Jan2018 to Jun 2018. Methodology: A sample of 170 healthcare professionals (doctors=39, psychiatrists=27, psychologists=36, nurses=30 and others=38) (men=67, women=103) were taken from various hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Data was collected by using the secondary traumatic stress scale, the index of family relations and the brief COPE scale. Results: Results revealed that all the instruments have good reliability and there was significant positivecorrelation (r=0.71) between various aspects of VT (intrusion, avoidance and arousal) and poor family relations.Further analysis reflected that Emotion focused coping was positively correlated (r=0.22) with poor familyrelations whereas problem focused coping was negatively correlated (r=-0.39) with poor family relations. Conclusion: So it is concluded that vicarious traumatization must be addressed and identified in health settingand coping skills training must be part of healthcare professionals’ education programs.

ABO Blood Group in Patients with Peptic Ulcer Disease: Association with Secretor Status

Aims and objective of the study is to find ABO blood group association with secretor status in peptic ulcer disease patients. ABO blood grouping by direct agglutination test and secretor status by agglutination inhibition test. 50 controls and 50 endoscopically diagnosed PUD patients were selected. Blood group O is associated with duodenal ulcer but no association with secretor status was found.

ABO and Rh Blood Groups in Patients with hypertension: Association with Secretor Status

Aims and objective of the study is to find ABO and Rh blood groups association with secretor status in patients with hypertension. ABO and Rh blood grouping was done by direct agglutination test and secretor status by agglutination inhibition test. 50 controls and 50 hypertensive patients were selected. No association of ABO and Rh blood group with secretor status was found in patients with hypertension.

Association of malaria with thrombocytopenia

In this study, 250 blood samples submitted for malaria investigation were studied microscopically for malarial parasites and platelet count. All samples were additionally analyzed for platelet count with automated haematology analyzer. Thirty seven (37) samples were found to be malaria positive microscopically. Out of 37 cases with malaria positive microscopically, thrombocytopenia was observed in 24 (64%) cases of malaria. So there is association of thrombocytopenia with malaria.

Automated detection of malaria: a comparison with microscopy

Objective: To compare the automated detection of malaria with microscopy. Methods: In this study 250 blood samples submitted for malaria investigation were studied microscopically for malaria parasites. All samples were additionally analyzed for same parameters with automated hematology analyzer, Cell Dyn 3700 (CD3700). The results from the instrument generated as scatter plots (derived by laser light depolarization), were compared with microscopy results. Results: The atypical depolarizing events or positive patterns were observed in 43 out of 250 samples on cell Dyn 3700, while microscopically 3 7 samples were found to b e positive. Three samples positive on microscopy, were found t o b e negative on CD-3700. Compared with microscopy the sensitivity of CD3700 was 92.5% and specificity was 97.3%. Maximum parasitaemia was 6.5%. Conclusions: Automated detection of malaria by CD3700 automated hematology analyzer is feasible for screening purpose in malaria endemic and non-endemic areas.

Determination of some significant batch culture conditions affecting acetyl-xylan esterase production by Penicillium notatum NRRL-1249

Background

Acetyl-xylan esterase (AXE, EC 3.1.1.72) hydrolyses acetate group from the linear chain of xylopyranose residues bound by β-1,4-linkage. The enzyme finds commercial applications in bio-bleaching of wood pulp, treating animal feed to increase digestibility, processing food to increase clarification and converting lignocellulosics to feedstock and fuel. In the present study, we report on the production of an extracellular AXE from Penicillium notatum NRRL-1249 by solid state fermentation (SSF).

Results

Wheat bran at a level of 10 g (with 4 cm bed height) was optimized as the basal substrate for AXE production. An increase in enzyme activity was observed when 7.5 ml of mineral salt solution (MSS) containing 0.1% KH₂PO₄, 0.05% KCl, 0.05% MgSO₄.7H₂O, 0.3% NaNO₃, 0.001% FeSO₄.2H₂O and 0.1% (v/w) Tween-80 as an initial moisture content was used. Various nitrogen sources including ammonium sulphate, urea, peptone and yeast extract were compared for enzyme production. Maximal enzyme activity of 760 U/g was accomplished which was found to be highly significant (p ≤ 0.05). A noticeable enhancement in enzyme activity was observed when the process parameters including incubation period (48 h), initial pH (5), 0.2% (w/w) urea as nitrogen source and 0.5% (v/w) Tween-80 as a stimulator were further optimized using a 2-factorial Plackett-Burman design.

Conclusion

From the results it is clear that an overall improvement of more than 35% in terms of net enzyme activity was achieved compared to previously reported studies. This is perhaps the first report dealing with the use of P. notatum for AXE production under batch culture SSF. The Plackett-Burman model terms were found highly significant (HS), suggesting the potential commercial utility of the culture used (df = 3, LSD = 0.126).

Anti-inflammatory effect of zerumbone on acute and chronic inflammation models in mice

The anti-inflammatory activity of zerumbone (1), a natural cyclic sesquiterpene isolated from Zingiber zerumbet Smith was investigated using carrageenan-induced paw edema and cotton pellet-induced granuloma tissue formation test in mice. It was demonstrated that intraperitoneal administration of 1 at a dose of 5, 10, 50 and 100 mg/kg produced significant dose-dependent inhibition of paw edema induced by carrageenan. It was also demonstrated that 1 at similar doses significantly suppressed granulomatous tissue formation in cotton pellet-induced granuloma test.

Preliminary analysis of the antinociceptive activity of zerumbone

We have investigated the antinociceptive activity of zerumbone (1), a natural cyclic sesquiterpene isolated from Zingiber zerumbet Smith, in acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing test and hot plate test in mice. 1 given by intraperitoneal route produced significant dose-dependent antinociceptive effect in all the test models used. In addition, the antinociceptive effect of 1 in the hot plate test was reversed by the non-selective opioid receptor antagonist naloxone, suggesting that the opioid system is involved in its analgesic mechanism of action.

Signaling through CD14 attenuates the inflammatory response to Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease

Lyme disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder caused by the spirochetal bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi. In vitro evidence suggests that binding of spirochetal lipoproteins to CD14, a pattern recognition receptor expressed on monocytes/macrophages and polymorphonuclear cells, is a critical requirement for cellular activation and the subsequent release of proinflammatory cytokines that most likely contribute to symptomatology and clinical manifestations. To test the validity of this notion, we assessed the impact of CD14 deficiency on Lyme disease in C3H/HeN mice. Contrary to an anticipated diminution in pathology, CD14(-/-) mice exhibited more severe and persistent inflammation than did CD14(+/+) mice. This disparity reflects altered gene regulation within immune cells that may engender the higher bacterial burden and serum cytokine levels observed in CD14(-/-) mice. Comparing their in vitro stimulatory activity, live spirochetes, but not lysed organisms, were a potent CD14-independent stimulus of cytokine production, triggering an exaggerated response by CD14(-/-) macrophages. Collectively, our in vivo and in vitro findings support the provocative notion that: 1) pattern recognition by CD14 is entirely dispensable for elaboration of an inflammatory response to B. burgdorferi, and 2) CD14-independent signaling pathways are inherently more destructive than CD14-dependent pathways. Continued study of CD14-independent signaling pathways may provide mechanistic insight into the inflammatory processes that underlie development of chronic inflammation.

Reactions over metal catalysts. III. Hydrogenolysis of some 3-substituted nortricyclenes

Hydrogenolysis of 3-methylnortricyclene over platinum in acetic acid solution leads to the formation of almost equal amounts of 7-methylnorbornane and exo-2-methylnorbornane with much smaller amounts of the endo-2-methyl compound. In contrast, reactions over supported metal catalysts in the vapour phase lead to a predominance of the 2-methyl compounds. Similar trends have been observed in the hydrogenolyses of 3-cyclohexyl- and 3-acetoxy-nortricyclenes.