Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and its natural environmental impacts

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the official name of a respiratory infectious disease caused by a new coronavirus that started first in Wuhan, China, and outspread worldwide with an unexpectedly fast speed. Flights have been canceled worldwide and transportation has been closed nationwide and across international borders. As a consequence, the economic activity has been stopped and stock markets have been dropped. The COVID-19 lockdown has several social and economic effects. Additionally, COVID-19 has caused several impacts on global migration. On the other hand, such lockdown, along with minimal human mobility, has impacted the natural environment somewhat positively. Overall carbon emissions have dropped, and the COVID-19 lockdown has led to an improvement in air quality and a reduction in water pollution in many cities around the globe. A summary of the existing reports of the environmental impacts of COVID-19 pandemic are discussed and the important findings are presented focusing on several aspects: air pollution, waste management, air quality improvements, waste fires, wildlife, global migration, and sustainability.

Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and its natural environmental impacts

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the official name of a respiratory infectious disease caused by a new coronavirus that started first in Wuhan, China, and outspread worldwide with an unexpectedly fast speed. Flights have been canceled worldwide and transportation has been closed nationwide and across international borders. As a consequence, the economic activity has been stopped and stock markets have been dropped. The COVID-19 lockdown has several social and economic effects. Additionally, COVID-19 has caused several impacts on global migration. On the other hand, such lockdown, along with minimal human mobility, has impacted the natural environment somewhat positively. Overall carbon emissions have dropped, and the COVID-19 lockdown has led to an improvement in air quality and a reduction in water pollution in many cities around the globe. A summary of the existing reports of the environmental impacts of COVID-19 pandemic are discussed and the important findings are presented focusing on several aspects: air pollution, waste management, air quality improvements, waste fires, wildlife, global migration, and sustainability.

Chronic pain management--upper visceral malignancies coeliac plexus block with CT scanning--a case report

Coeliac plexus block has been described more than seventy years ago and is widely used for chronic pain management in upper visceral malignancies. The technique described here is a posterior approach using CT scan guidance with absolute ethyl alcohol. A case illustration of a patient with carcinoma of pancreas managed with coeliac plexus block for pain control is presented.

Female genital tuberculosis revisted

OBJECTIVE

To assess the clinical presentation of genital tuberculosis and to study various modes of diagnosis and treatment.

SETTING

The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi.

METHOD

A retrospective case review of all index female cases of genital tuberculosis, admitted to AKUH over twelve years of period.

RESULT

A total of 40 cases of genital tuberculosis were reported during this time period. Majority of cases were between 25-45 years. The commonest presenting symptoms were infertility (42.5%) and abdominal pain (42%). Others included fever, ascites, irregular vaginal bleeding, oligomenorrhea, chest pain and pain in the flanks. Main mode of treatment was antituberculous drug therapy for duration of nine months. Only 3 patients had successful pregnancies.

CONCLUSION

Genital tuberculosis should be excluded when managing infertility in females.

Pericardial Tuberculosis in a Non-endemic Region Presenting as a Persistent Upper Respiratory Tract Infection With Negative Serology, Bronchial Washings, and Pleural Aspirate

This paper reports on the unlikely case of a 68-year-old man presenting with a non-resolving, mild lower respiratory tract infection, subsequently diagnosed with pericardial tuberculosis (TB) in the absence of TB risk factors and with negative TB serology. Pericardial and pleural effusions were found incidentally on CT pulmonary angiogram, with a small pericardial effusion without tamponade seen on the echocardiogram. During his three-month inpatient stay, the patient was rarely very unwell, though no treatment led to clinical and biochemical resolution of symptoms. Later deterioration prompted another echocardiogram, which found a moderate-sized pericardial effusion, septal bounce, and new regional wall motion abnormalities. To avert the impending cardiac tamponade, the patient underwent pericardiectomy, which provided a tissue diagnosis of TB. Pericardial TB is extremely uncommon, especially outside of TB endemic regions, though it is well described. This case is especially noteworthy, as serology, bronchial washings, and pleural aspirate had been negative for TB though a Quantiferon test was positive. The diagnosis was only confirmed after pericardiectomy. The patient was subsequently treated with anti-TB therapy, with a good clinical response. This case highlights diagnostic challenges and strategies for investigating and managing similar complex scenarios, particularly in non-endemic settings.