Over 80% of Indians suffer from micronutrient deficiencies: Report

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Over 80% of Indians suffer from micronutrient deficiencies: Report

More than 80 percent of the Indian population suffers from micronutrient deficiencies, contributing to compromised immunity, a report said on Tuesday.

According to a consensus by the Consumer Health Division of Bayer, more than two billion people suffer from MiND (micronutrient deficiencies) globally, with nearly half living in India.

“The doctor’s consensus paper has identified a growing problem in India, with a majority of us at the risk of MiND,” Sandeep Verma, Country Head, Consumer Health Division of Bayer in India, said in a statement.

“The grave inadequacy of multiple micronutrients coupled with wrong eating habits and lifestyle-related factors has contributed to the growing micronutrient deficiency in India,” Verma added.

The consensus, based on a national advisory board comprising 21 Indian healthcare practitioners, found that fatigue, insomnia, lack of energy, malaise, and loss of appetite are the first signs of hidden hunger, contributing to compromised immunity.

Pregnant women are consuming less than 50 percent of the required essential micronutrients, the report said.

The report mentioned that MiND is highly prevalent in more than 62 percent of urban and semi-urban adults due to wrong eating habits, inadequate diet, and prevalence of anemia leading to the inadequacy of multiple micronutrients.

Further, the consensus also reported how these micronutrient deficiencies can directly link to compromised immunity and viral respiratory infections.

Scientific evidence suggests that zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin D are a few of the most important micronutrients to help boost immunity, thus influencing the risk and clinical course of viral respiratory infections.

India logs 3,011 fresh Covid infections, 28 deaths

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India logs 3,011 fresh Covid infections, 28 deaths

India on Saturday reported 3,011 fresh Covid infections in the past 24 hours, against the previous day’s count of 3,375, as per the Union Health Ministry data.

In the same period, 28 more Covid-related deaths took the national fatalities tally to 5,28,701, as per the report.

Meanwhile, the active caseload stands at 36,126 cases, accounting for 0.08 percent of the total positive cases.

The recovery of 4,301 patients took the cumulative tally to 4,40,32,671. Consequently, the recovery rate stands at 98.73 percent.

Meanwhile, the Daily Positivity rate has been reported to be 2.23 percent, while the Weekly Positivity Rate also stands at 1.31 percent.

Also in the same period, a total of 1,34,849 tests were conducted increasing the overall tally to over 89.57 crores.

As of this morning, the country’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 218.77 crores.

Over 4.10 crore adolescents have been administered the first dose of Covid-19 jab since the beginning of the vaccination drive for this age bracket.

Binge drinking may up Covid infection risk in young women

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Binge drinking may up Covid infection risk in young women

Women in their mid-20s, who reported frequent binge drinking during the Covid-19 pandemic, were more likely to become infected with Covid-19, finds a new study.

The study, published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, found that young women aged 25 to 28 who reported binge drinking – four or more drinks in one sitting – had the highest self-reported prevalence of Covid-19 infection among the subgroups studied.

“Our research shows that when young women binge drink, they are also heightening their risk of contracting Covid-19. This can be due to several factors associated with binge drinking, such as being less vigilant in using preventive behavior such as social distancing when intoxicated,” said Tammy Chung from Rutgers University.

For the study, the team analyzed whether people’s use of alcohol and substances changed from before the Covid-19 pandemic to during the pandemic in a sample of young women.

They examined how characteristics such as socioeconomic status and Covid-19 infection status were associated with certain patterns of substance and alcohol use during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The study looked at seven subgroups of young women who showed similar patterns of substance use before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Groups included those with low use of substances, cannabis use, binge drinking, cigarette or e-cigarette use combined with binge drinking, and other patterns.

Outdoor mask mandates fully lifted in S.Korea

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Outdoor mask mandates fully lifted in S.Korea

The South Korean government on Monday fully lifted outdoor mask mandates as new Covid-19 cases fell to the lowest number in more than two months.

South Korea began implementing the mask-wearing rules in October 2020 and strengthened them further last year, reports Yonhap News Agency.

But it partially eased outdoor mask mandates in May only to enforce mask wearing for those at outdoor gatherings of 50 or more people, and such large-scale events as sporting events and concerts.

People who violated the rules were subject to a fine.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has said the country is “overcoming a critical moment” of a Covid-19 resurgence, and it will ease low-risk anti-virus steps in phases in consultation with experts.

“Wearing masks is still needed on a voluntary basis in accordance with circumstances. Particularly, it is needed for high-risk groups and those who come in contact with high-risk groups,” a Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) official said.

But rules for indoor mask wearing will be in place for the time being on possible risks of seasonal influenza and other infectious diseases, according to officials.

“Lifting all indoor mask-wearing rules at one time would minimize confusion. It could be lifted after the seventh wave passes and the situation is stabilized,” said Jung Ki-suck, a civilian adviser to the government task force on the pandemic.

He voiced objection to easing the indoor mask mandates in phases, though some have called on the government to ease the rules for young people to ensure their development of language skills and other health reasons.

“No one can be sure about the timing and the scale of another virus wave. Thorough preparations for the seventh wave are a must,” Jung said.

In the last 24 hours, the country reported 14,168 new cases, including 220 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 24,634,296, the KDCA said.

It is the smallest figure since July 11, when the daily figure came to 12,672.

On Monday, the country reported 33 more fatalities from Covid-19, raising the death toll to 28,246.

Drug reactions can be life-threatening: KGMU doctors

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Drug reactions can be life-threatening: KGMU doctors

Rashes that do not itch, swollen eyes, burning sensation on lips, and sore throat could be symptoms of severe adverse drug reaction (ADR).

Prof A.K. Sachan, head, of the pharmacology department, at King George’s Medical University (KGMU), said that 137 ADR cases had been reported at KGMU’s different departments since February.

The highest 34 cases were reported from the skin department followed by radiotherapy (26) and pulmonary critical care (11).

In some cases, even cardiac issues and liver diseases were caused due to drug reactions.

“Drugs can cause serious implications, so patients should share all their clinical history and previous and current health issues. They should state allergy from any drug in the past,” said Dr. Sachan.

“Diabetes patients should not be given hypertensive drugs as they mask the symptoms that can be fatal. Often such cases get revealed when any patient faints due to low blood sugar,” he added.

Coordinator, pharmacovigilance program, KGMU, Prof Anuradha Nischal, said, “Patients must report any unintended reactions known or unknown, serious or non-serious, due to medicines as soon as they encounter them. There were various medications withdrawn from the market after notable side-effects were reported.”

Citing the instance of a 65-year-old man who was brought to the trauma center of King George’s Medical University (KGMU) with progressive rashes that did not itch, the doctor said that the rashes started on his face and spread over other parts of his body, affecting more than 30 percent of total body surface area.

“He had swollen eyes and lips with a burning sensation. These symptoms lasted for two weeks with manifestations of fever, malaise, and sore throat. Investigation revealed that he had been on medication for seizures for a month prior to developing rashes that had caused toxic epidermal necrolysis, which is a rare, life-threatening skin reaction,” said Dr. Swastika Superia, faculty at the skin department, KGMU.

“Though the man was saved, cases of ADR are common because people ignore initial drug reactions due to lack of awareness,” she added.

India reports 5,664 fresh Covid cases, 35 deaths

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India reports 5,664 fresh Covid cases, 35 deaths

India on Sunday reported 5,664 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hrs, against 5,747 Covid cases reported on the previous day, said the Union Health Ministry.

In the same period, the country has recorded 35 more Covid related deaths, taking the national fatalities tally to 5,28,337 as per the report.

Meanwhile, the active caseload of the country has marginally risen to 47,922 cases, accounting for 0.11 percent of the country’s total positive cases.

The recovery of 4,555 patients in the last 24 hours took the cumulative tally to 4,39,57,929. Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.71 percent.

Meanwhile, India’s Daily Positivity Rate has been reported to be 1.96 percent, while the Weekly Positivity Rate in the country currently also stands at 1.79 percent.

Also in the same period, a total of 2,89,228 tests were conducted across the country, increasing the overall tally to over 89.15 crores.

As of Sunday morning, India’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 216.56 crores.

Over 4.08 crore adolescents have been administered the first dose of Covid-19 jab since the beginning of the vaccination drive for this age bracket.

WHO strongly advises against antibody treatments for Covid patients

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WHO strongly advises against antibody treatments for Covid patients

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has strongly advised against antibody treatments for Covid-19 patients, saying antibody drugs sotrovimab and casirivimab-imdevimab are not working on new variants like Omicron.

These drugs work by binding to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, neutralizing the virus’s ability to infect cells.

A WHO Guideline Development Group of international experts in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) BMJ said that almost all well-informed patients would not choose to receive sotrovimab or casirivimab-imdevimab.

The strong recommendation replaces previous conditional recommendations for their use and is based on emerging evidence from laboratory studies that these drugs are not likely to work against currently circulating variants, such as Omicron.

In the same update, the WHO made a conditional recommendation for the use of the antiviral drug remdesivir in patients with severe Covid-19, and a conditional recommendation against its use in patients with critical Covid-19.

These recommendations are based on results from five randomized trials involving 7,643 patients, showing 13 fewer deaths per 1,000 patients with severe Covid-19 taking remdesivir, but 34 more deaths per 1,000 patients with critical Covid-19 taking the drug.

“These new trial data provided sufficiently trustworthy evidence to demonstrate benefits in patients with severe Covid-19, but not critical Covid-19. The panel considered the benefits of remdesivir to be modest and of moderate certainty for key outcomes such as mortality and mechanical ventilation, resulting in a conditional recommendation,” said the update.

The WHO also advised that three drugs used to treat arthritis – the IL-6 receptor blockers tocilizumab or sarilumab and the JAK inhibitor baricitinib – may now be combined, in addition to corticosteroids, in patients with severe or critical Covid-19.

This advice is based on new high-certainty trial evidence confirming a survival benefit for baricitinib with little or no serious adverse events when given in combination with corticosteroids and IL-6 receptor blockers.

However, the panel acknowledged some cost and resource implications associated with these drugs, which, they say, could exacerbate health inequities.

Previously, the WHO has made a strong recommendation for use of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir, and a conditional recommendation for molnupiravir for high-risk patients with non-severe covid-19. WHO advises against the use of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine in patients with covid-19 regardless of disease severity.

UP healthcare facilities to be geo-tagged

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UP healthcare facilities to be geo-tagged

The State Medical Faculty (SMF) in Uttar Pradesh has decided that all healthcare facilities attached to para-medical institutes will be geo-tagged.

Professor Alok Kumar, the secretary of SMF, a statutory body that monitors the conduct of para-medical institutes in the state, said that Remote Sensing Application Centre (RSAC) in the city will be contacted for the same.

Hospitals of para-medical institutes are often not on the same campus.

“In such cases, there are chances that the inspectors, who are not locals, are shown some other, well-equipped hospitals to get a better scorecard. We plan to snub such attempts through geo-tagging,” said Prof Kumar.

There are about 1,200 institutes, a chunk of which are located in semi-urban areas, offering paramedical courses in Uttar Pradesh.

Explaining how the move will help, Prof Kumar said: “During surprise inspections, an inspector (who is a medical faculty from another institute) will be shared the geographical location of the campus he/she is supposed to check. They will reach the institute and the hospital registered by the institute without the guidance of the owners.”

This way the actual hospital will be inspected and the chance of the inspector getting misguided will be eliminated completely, he observed.

The move is also aimed at improving the clinical training of students by eliminating fraud.

“If prescribed standards are maintained at hospitals, practical training will be better and hence we can produce good para-medical staff for both government and private hospitals,” said Prof Alok.

Flu on the rise among children in TN

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Flu on the rise among children in TN

Children are hospitalized because of the Flu increase increasing on children’s bodies across several districts of Tamil Nadu state. Many hospitals are increasing the admission of the flu virus.

Because of the virus’s malady, Many students are absent from schools where the disease is increasing day by day in the kid’s bodies as well as in colleges also the same situation.

Doctors are saying about the situation of flu in children’s bodies at the hospitals where the patients are coming with the Flu infections such as fever, cold, and cough from the past few days across the state of Tamil Nadu. 25 percent increased virus patients.

Professor of Pediatrics in a Government Medical College in Tamil Nadu, Dr. Manonmani. G  when speaking with the media said, “Covid-19 protocols are not followed, They are coming without masks, and this is the main one of reasons to increase flu in children.”

She said that new forms of viruses are present among the samples taken for research and most of the children are affected by the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) which has replaced pneumonia as the common causative agent of common cold and fever among children.

Dr. Manonmani also said that after more relaxations from pandemic protocols, viruses are coming back with a vengeance. She said that certain viruses which mutate often are also present in the test samples during research and that it was a matter of concern.

Doctors also said that Human parainfluenza virus- 3 (Respiratory illness associated with bronchiolitis, bronchi, and pneumonia), rhinovirus, and influenza B virus are commonly seen during this season from the samples being tested.

Dr. Bindu Menon, a virologist at Madurai medical college said that there are some emerging viruses that have never been seen before and added that all these viruses are getting hosts and that the transmission rates are on the increase.

She said that the flu is only for three to four days in children, but the children are into prolonged coughs for three weeks and are not responding to even cough syrups.

The Children’s wards in almost all the government hospitals in many districts of Tamil Nadu are full as the admission rates due to fever and cold are on the rise.

Delta variant of coronavirus could evade immune system, finds study

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Delta variant of coronavirus could evade immune system, finds study

The human immune system can’t produce the defense molecules against the Delta variant as effectively as against the other variants of coronavirus, revealed a study.

Dr. Krishnan Harshan’s group led the study, in collaboration with Dr. Divya Tej Sowpati’s group at CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, to try to understand if hosts, that is humans infected by the virus, react differently to the different SARS-CoV-2 variants.

In this study published in Microbiology Spectrum journal, the researchers found that the immune system could not produce the defense molecules against the Delta variant as effectively as the other variants. While infection due to the other four variants alerted the immune system quickly, the Delta variant could silently replicate in the host cells.

In the last almost three years, there have been many SARS-CoV-2 variants spreading across the world. Their outcomes have varied greatly, with the Delta variant being the deadliest.

The researchers selected five different SARS-CoV-2 variants and studied how the human immune system responds to the variants. The studied variants included Alpha, Delta, and three other variants that emerged before the Alpha variant. Upon viral infection, the first line of attack by the host’s immune system is by producing certain defense chemicals that break down the viruses. The researchers studied how their production responds to these five variants.

“We infected the human cells in a cell culture system with these different variants of the virus and monitored the production of known immune defense molecules and the activation of signaling pathways associated with them,” said Dixit Tandel, the first author of the study.

“We navigated through the hundreds of immune pathways known to us using high throughput sequencing and analysis,” said Dr. Nitesh Kumar Singh, who worked on the project with Dr. Sowpati.

“We have identified that molecular mechanisms regulating the host immune response have not been as potent against the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2. This also includes the production of interferons, immune molecules often used for antiviral therapies. The study hints at why the Delta variant could spread more easily,” said Dr. Krishnan Harshan, the lead investigator in this work.

He added that the study also helps us understand how viruses evolve with changing effects on human hosts.

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