1.Surviving Covid-19 Diagnosis Among Registered Nurses: Reactions, Consequences, and Coping Mechanisms
Gladys MBUTHIA ; Doris MACHAKI ; Sheila SHAIBU ; Rachel W. KIMANI
Safety and Health at Work 2023;14(4):467-475
Background:
To mitigate the spread of Covid-19, nurses infected with the virus were required to isolate themselves from their families and community. Isolated patients were reported to have experienced mental distress, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and suicide. Though studies have reported the psychological impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, less is known about the lived experiences of nurses who survived Covid-19 infection in sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods:
A descriptive phenomenological approach was used to study the lived experiences of registered nurses who survived Covid-19 disease. In-depth interviews were conducted among nurses diagnosed with Covid-19 from two hospitals in Kenya between March and May, 2021. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit registered nurses. Data were analyzed using Giorgi's steps of analysis.
Results:
The study included ten nurses between 29 and 45 years of age. Nurses' experiences encompassed three themes: diagnosis reaction, consequences, and coping. Reactions to the diagnosis included fear, anxiety, and sadness. The consequence of the diagnosis and isolation was stigma, isolation, and loneliness. Nurses coping mechanisms included acceptance, creating routines, support, and spirituality.
Conclusion
Our findings aid in understanding how nurses experienced Covid-19 infection as patients and will provide evidence-based content for supporting nurses in future pandemics. Moreover, as we acknowledge the heroic contribution of frontline healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, it is prudent to recognize the considerable occupational risk as they balance their duty to care, and the risk of infection to themselves and their families.
2.Fagonia cretica: Identification of compounds in bioactive gradient high performance liquid chromatography fractions against multidrug resistant human gut pathogens
Tabassum, T. ; Rahman, H. ; Tawab, A. ; Murad, W. ; Hameed, H. ; Shah, S.A.R. ; Alzahrani, K.J. ; Banjer, H.J. ; Alshiekheid, M.A.
Tropical Biomedicine 2022;39(No.2):185-190
Plants are alternative source of natural medicines due to secondary active metabolites. Fagonia cretica
extracts and Gradient High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography fractionations were checked against
multidrug-resistant gastrointestinal pathogens including, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Shigella
flexneri. ESI-MS/MS analysis of bioactive HPLC fractions was performed to elucidate antibacterial
compounds. F. cretica extracts exhibited potential antibacterial activity. Twenty-four (24) HPLC fractions
were obtained from methanol, ethanol and aqueous extracts of F. cretica. Eighteen (18) fractions showed
antibacterial activity, while no activity was observed by the remaining six (6) fractions. HPLC fractions,
F1 (25g ± 0.20 mm) and F2 (15f
± 0.12 mm) of aqueous extract exhibited activity against multidrug
resistant GI pathogens. Gallic acid, quinic acid, cyclo-l-leu-l-pro, vidalenolone, liquirtigenin, rosmarinic
acid and cerebronic acid were identified in F1 fraction of aqueous extract, while succinic acid, cyclo (l-Leul-Pro) and liquirtigenin were identified in F2 fraction of aqueous extract through ESI-MS/MS analysis.
F. cretica extracts and HPLC fractions showed potential activity against MDR GI pathogens. Vidalenolone,
Cyclo-1-leu-1-pro and Cerebronic acid are first time reported in F. cretica. Further characterization of
bioactive compounds from F. cretica may be helpful to elucidate antibacterial therapeutic molecules.
3.Seroprevalence of low avidity anti-Toxoplasma IgG in pregnant women and its relationship with their age and contact with cats
Khan, K. ; Khan, W. ; Khan, T. ; Naaz, G. ; Naheda, A. ; Aqeel, S.
Tropical Biomedicine 2020;37(No.4):1038-1049
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that can infect all mammals, serving as
intermediate hosts. The cause of congenital toxoplasmosis is transplacental transmission of
the parasite to the foetus, resulting in wide range of manifestations from mild chorioretinitis
to miscarriage. Its frequency can be reduced by early screening of pregnant women which is
based mainly on tests for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. We collected serum samples of 594
pregnant women (subjects) after taking their consent over a period of two years (2016-2018)
and analyzed them for anti-Toxoplasma IgG by ELISA. The positive samples were then
analyzed for IgG avidity test which could differentiate between recent and past infections.
The seroprevalence was also correlated with the age of the subjects and their contact with
cats. 162 subjects were found positive out of which only three showed a recent infection.
After following up until delivery, one of them delivered a baby who had jaundice and was
diagnosed with anti-Toxoplasma IgM at birth. The foetus of the second subject died in-utero,
while the third woman delivered a normal baby after being given spiramycin when diagnosed
with toxoplasmosis in the first trimester. It was found that most of the positive subjects had
frequent contact with cats. Invasion of the parasite during third trimester resulted in death
in-utero and jaundice. Most common cause of pregnancy wastage during our study was
spontaneous abortions while pregnancy loss due to congenital anomalies was rare.
4.Longitudinal Extensive Transverse Myelitis as a Neurological Sequelae post-Sea Urchin Stings: A Case Report
Anas Aminin W M Izzuddin ; Abdul Hanif Khan Yusof Khan ; Liyana Najwa Inche Mat ; Laila Mastura Ahmad Apandi ; Peck Kee Chia ; Hamidon Basri
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2021;17(No.1):187-190
Puncture injury from sea-urchin stings may lead to a local and systemic inflammatory reaction. We are reporting a
case of longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis (LETM), which occurred ten days post-sea-urchin stings, where the
patient presented with bilateral lower limb weakness. MRI showed multilevel segment spinal cord T2-weighted hyperintensity. Prompt intravenous methylprednisolone was administered, and the patient had a full recovery. To date,
there is no case report of LETM associated with sea-urchin stings. Possible mechanism due to delayed immunological
hypersensitivity to sea-urchin venom. This case demonstrates the potential serious neurological sequelae that may be
associated with post-sea-urchin sting and the importance of prompt recognition and management in aiding recovery.
5.Meeting Report: Translational Advances in Cancer Prevention Agent Development Meeting
Mark Steven MILLER ; Peter J. ALLEN ; Powel H. BROWN ; Andrew T. CHAN ; Margie L. CLAPPER ; Roderick H. DASHWOOD ; Shadmehr DEMEHRI ; Mary L. DISIS ; Raymond N. DUBOIS ; Robert J. GLYNN ; Thomas W. KENSLER ; Seema A. KHAN ; Bryon D. JOHNSON ; Karen T. LIBY ; Steven M. LIPKIN ; Susan R. MALLERY ; Emmanuelle J. MEUILLET ; Richard B.S. RODEN ; Robert E. SCHOEN ; Zelton D. SHARP ; Haval SHIRWAN ; Jill M. SIEGFRIED ; Chinthalapally V. RAO ; Ming YOU ; Eduardo VILAR ; Eva SZABO ; Altaf MOHAMMED
Journal of Cancer Prevention 2021;26(1):71-82
The Division of Cancer Prevention of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Office of Disease Prevention of the National Institutes of Health co-sponsored the Translational Advances in Cancer Prevention Agent Development Meeting on August 27 to 28, 2020. The goals of this meeting were to foster the exchange of ideas and stimulate new collaborative interactions among leading cancer prevention researchers from basic and clinical research; highlight new and emerging trends in immunoprevention and chemoprevention as well as new information from clinical trials; and provide information to the extramural research community on the significant resources available from the NCI to promote prevention agent development and rapid translation to clinical trials. The meeting included two plenary talks and five sessions covering the range from pre-clinical studies with chemo/immunopreventive agents to ongoing cancer prevention clinical trials. In addition, two NCI informational sessions describing contract resources for the preclinical agent development and cooperative grants for the Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Network were also presented.
6.Meeting Report: Translational Advances in Cancer Prevention Agent Development Meeting
Mark Steven MILLER ; Peter J. ALLEN ; Powel H. BROWN ; Andrew T. CHAN ; Margie L. CLAPPER ; Roderick H. DASHWOOD ; Shadmehr DEMEHRI ; Mary L. DISIS ; Raymond N. DUBOIS ; Robert J. GLYNN ; Thomas W. KENSLER ; Seema A. KHAN ; Bryon D. JOHNSON ; Karen T. LIBY ; Steven M. LIPKIN ; Susan R. MALLERY ; Emmanuelle J. MEUILLET ; Richard B.S. RODEN ; Robert E. SCHOEN ; Zelton D. SHARP ; Haval SHIRWAN ; Jill M. SIEGFRIED ; Chinthalapally V. RAO ; Ming YOU ; Eduardo VILAR ; Eva SZABO ; Altaf MOHAMMED
Journal of Cancer Prevention 2021;26(1):71-82
The Division of Cancer Prevention of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Office of Disease Prevention of the National Institutes of Health co-sponsored the Translational Advances in Cancer Prevention Agent Development Meeting on August 27 to 28, 2020. The goals of this meeting were to foster the exchange of ideas and stimulate new collaborative interactions among leading cancer prevention researchers from basic and clinical research; highlight new and emerging trends in immunoprevention and chemoprevention as well as new information from clinical trials; and provide information to the extramural research community on the significant resources available from the NCI to promote prevention agent development and rapid translation to clinical trials. The meeting included two plenary talks and five sessions covering the range from pre-clinical studies with chemo/immunopreventive agents to ongoing cancer prevention clinical trials. In addition, two NCI informational sessions describing contract resources for the preclinical agent development and cooperative grants for the Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Network were also presented.
7.Poverty-associated emerging infection of Cystic Echinococcosis in population of Northern Pakistan: A hospital based study
Khan, A. ; Ahmed, H. ; Simsek, S. ; Gondal, M.A. ; Afzal, M.S. ; Irum, S. ; Muhammad, I. ; Mansur, H. ; Fatima, A. ; Ali, M.S. ; Riaz, N. ; Akbar, A. ; Weiping, W. ; Yayi, G.
Tropical Biomedicine 2019;36(2):324-334
Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) is one of the most important zoonotic parasitic diseases
in human, livestock, and wildlife globally. The prevalence of CE depends upon human behavioral
risk factors, the diversity and ecology of animal host interactions and the genetic diversity
within Echinococcus species which differ in their zoonotic potential and pathogenicity. It is
a neglected, economic and socio-cultural problem in Pakistan. The available data about the
incidence of CE is very limited and no extensive study has been reported in Pakistan. The
current study was aimed to analyze the hospital reported cases of CE and the associated risk
factors related to the incidence of CE. The hospital-based data of CE for the time period of
January 2012-December 2017 was collected from Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar. The
data covered demographic characteristics including age, gender, and cyst localization of
infected individuals and socioeconomic determinants. The data was analyzed based upon
different risk factors along with the different socioeconomic parameters that has an important
impact on the distribution of disease. A total of 228 cases were presented in the selected
hospitals of different cities during the study period. Out of total 228 patients, 59.21% were
males and 40.78% were females (P<0.001). Most infections have been recorded in young
adults (>20-30) showing 22.8% of total infected individuals followed by children (0-10) showing
10.5% (n=24), respectively (P<0.001). Liver was the most vulnerable organ (58.77%, n=134)
followed by lungs (14.47%, n=33) (P<0.001). The infection was higher among rural communities
(84.2%) than urban (12.8%) (P<0.001). Socioeconomic and demographic factors had an
important impact on the intensity of disease (P<0.001). The occurrence of cases in children
and young adults was an important finding as it indicated an active transmission of the
parasite in Pakistan along with the poverty index. Emergence of echinococcosis in Pakistan
showed that emerging health issues in Pakistan could bring the disease to limelight for future
research. This finding, together with the fact that 1 hospital reported 214 cases over 6 years
325
underlines the need for a program for prevention/control of this disease in Pakistan. The
timely measure needs to be taken to hamper the disease development and establishment. In
order to control the disease, complete surveillance should be done which in turn weighs down
the disease progress.
8.A Longitudinal Survey for Genome-based Identification of SARS-CoV-2 in Sewage Water in Selected Lockdown Areas of Lahore City, Pakistan: A Potential Approach for Future Smart Lockdown Strategy.
Yaqub TAHIR ; Nawaz MUHAMMAD ; Z Shabbir MUHAMMAD ; A Ali MUHAMMAD ; Altaf IMRAN ; Raza SOHAIL ; A B Shabbir MUHAMMAD ; A Ashraf MUHAMMAD ; Z Aziz SYED ; Q Cheema SOHAIL ; B Shah MUHAMMAD ; Rafique SAIRA ; Hassan SOHAIL ; Sardar NAGEEN ; Mehmood ADNAN ; W Aziz MUHAMMAD ; Fazal SEHAR ; Hussain NADIR ; T Khan MUHAMMAD ; M Atique MUHAMMAD ; Asif ALI ; Anwar MUHAMMAD ; A Awan NABEEL ; U Younis MUHAMMAD ; A Bhattee MUHAMMAD ; Tahir ZARFISHAN ; Mukhtar NADIA ; Sarwar HUDA ; S Rana MAAZ ; Farooq OMAIR
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2021;34(9):729-733