COVID-19 survivors and digestive disorders: An interesting association

• A recent study by Southern Medical University researchers in China, using the UK Biobank database, revealed that adult COVID-19 survivors face an elevated risk of digestive diseases.

• This includes:

1. GI dysfunction

2. Peptic ulcers

3. GERD

4. Gallbladder disease

5. Severe liver disease

6. Non-alcoholic liver disease

7. Pancreatic disease

• The study involved 112,311 COVID-19 survivors, a contemporary group of 359,671 individuals, and a pre-COVID group of 370,979 in the UK.

• Relative to the contemporary group, COVID-19 survivors exhibited increased risks for various digestive conditions, with risks persisting one year after diagnosis.

• The study suggests that possible reasons for these elevated risks could be:

1. Fecal-oral viral transmission of the virus

2. interactions between SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors in the digestive tract.

• The findings emphasize the importance of healthcare systems being prepared to provide appropriate care.

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Published on :

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

A case of non-indigenous primary leading to an outbreak of measles

• Few cases of measles have been reported by the Philadelphia Health Department in the past few weeks.

• According to the sources, the cases contracted the disease from a primary case while undergoing treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

• ·The primary case was found to have contracted the disease outside the US.

• A list of possible places of exposure has been drafted by the health department.

• Those who have had a history of visiting such places have been advised to quarantine for 21 days after the exposure.

• The department is also providing the following preventive strategies free of charge:

1. MMR vaccination within 72 hours of exposure

2. Measles immunoglobulins within 6 days of exposure

• This demonstrates the need for ongoing surveillance to stop the admission of cases from other nations even after indigenous cases have been eliminated. 

Published on :

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Nirsevimab : A boon for children suffering from RSV-associated RTIs

• Respiratory Syncytial Virus is one of the most common causes of respiratory tract infections in the first two years after birth.

• Recently, a monoclonal antibody named Beyfortus (nirsevimab) was approved for use among infants for protection against RSV.

• A study found that the antibody was protective and reduced the need for hospitalization following RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infections.

• In the study, 8058 infants were randomized into the control (4021) and intervention (4037) groups.

• The intervention group received one single IM injection of the monoclonal antibody.

• The findings from the study were as follows:

1. The antibody was effective (75.7%) in preventing very severe RSV-related lower respiratory tract infections.

2. Severe RSV-associated LRTI was found in 0.1% of the infants receiving the intervention and 0.5% among the infants belonging to the control group.

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Published on :

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Trends of suicide among cancer patients in India

• A study recently published in BMJ Psychiatry looked for the trends in suicide among cancer patients in India.

• It was a secondary analysis wherein data regarding suicides among cancer patients was collected from the National Bureau of Criminal Records.

• The findings suggested that a total of 2.96 million cases of suicide were noticed in India, of which 0.67% were cancer-related.

• Also, suicides among cancer patients have increased by 53% from 1997 to 2020 in India.

• There was a significantly higher number of suicidal deaths among males when compared to females.

• Out of the total suicidal deaths among cancer patients, 70% were found to be male patients.

• Also, in the last 4 years, approximately 9 per 1000 cancer patients have died by suicide.

• Multiple factors can be a cause of these high numbers, such as 

1. Poor prognosis 

2. Depression 

3. Anxiety

4. Financial burden

5. Social stigma

6. Painful treatment modalities

• The study highlights the urgent need to address the mental health needs of patients with cancer and provide them with adequate counseling and support.

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Published on :

Monday, January 29, 2024

Gene therapy for congenital deafness

• Gene Therapy is a technique that uses genes to treat, prevent or cure a disease.

• A study by Jun Lv et al, published in the Lancet, reports that Adeno-associated virus 1-hOTOF gene therapy is safe and efficacious as a novel treatment for children with autosomal recessive deafness 9.

• Autosomal recessive deafness 9, caused by mutations of the OTOF gene which codes for the protein Otoferlin, is characterized by congenital or prelingual, severe-to-complete, bilateral hearing loss.

• Otoferlin is a necessary protein used by the hair cells present in the inner ear to convert sound vibrations to chemical signals sent to the brain.

• An 11-year-old boy with this rare form of congenital deafness was successfully treated using gene therapy in Philadelphia, United States, thus becoming the first person in the US to get gene therapy for Congenital Deafness.

• Virus-carrying new otoferlin genes were injected into the inner ear in liquified form, thereby delivering the genes to the hair cells.

• The present single-arm, single-centered trial was supported by Eli Lilly and a small biotechnology firm it owns, Akouos.

• This congenital deafness affects about 2 lakh people globally.

• Six children who were enrolled in the study had hearing recovery.

• The rise in gene therapy as a mode of treatment to cure genetic disorders has the potential to restore functioning in those individuals, but its equitable access across the globe is an issue yet to be addressed.

Published on :

Monday, January 29, 2024

”Cashless Everywhere” initiative launched

• There has been a rise in the percentage of government health expenditure to 40.6% of the total health expenditure, indicating an increase in public healthcare and social security.

• However, there is still a sizable component of out-of-pocket expenditure.

• During events of hospitalization, health and medical insurance policies provided by private institutions have contributed to decreasing out-of-pocket expenses.

• Till now, a policyholder had to pay from his pocket and get the money spent on treatment reimbursed later, in most cases except those where the insurance company had a tie-up with the hospital.

• The “Cashless Everywhere” Initiative will ensure 100% cashless treatment from any hospital provided:

1. The claim is made within 48 hours of elective surgery

2. The claim is made following 48 hours of emergency treatment

3. Claims will be limited to the clauses given in the operating guidelines of the insurance company.

• This initiative aims towards frictionless accessibility of the insurance services for the policyholder, decreasing the out-of-expenditure.

Published on :

Monday, January 29, 2024

Highlights of the ASER 2023

• The household survey was facilitated by a learning organization known as PRATHAM.

• Some of the health-related findings of the ASER 2023 include:

1. 86.8% of 14-18-year-olds are currently enrolled in an educational institution.

2. Only 5.6% of surveyed youth reported taking vocational training or other related courses currently

3. A higher percentage of males (40.3%) than females (28%) reported doing work other than household work for at least 15 days during the preceding month.

4. Among males and females, most youth working in activities other than household work tend to work on family farms.

5. About 25% of this age group still could not fluently read a Standard II level text in their regional language.

6. Around 90% of the youths in the above age group in rural districts had access to smartphones, and more than 90% used them.

Published on :

Monday, January 29, 2024

Potential threat of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies against snake venom

• Snake envenoming is among the Neglected Tropical Diseases, leading to significant mortality and disability in certain communities.

• A recent study by Sorenson et al. published in Nature Communications suggests the causation of antibody-dependent enhancement of toxicity (ADET) by a potential therapeutic human monoclonal antibody.

• This antibody was used to neutralize myotoxin-II from the pit viper Bothrops asper in representative mouse models, thereby increasing the toxin’s toxicity.

• This report  ADET of a toxin in animal studies highlights the necessity of assessing even well-known antibody formats in preclinical models to avoid potential deleterious effects as exemplified in the present study.

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Published on :

Monday, January 29, 2024

Current status to AB - PMJAY.

• Ayushman Cards can be created on the beneficiaries’ mobile phones using the Ayushman App.

• According to the latest data available from the Press Information Bureau:

1. Around 16.7 crore Ayushman cards have been created only during the last two financial years.

2. 14.6 crore women have been issued Ayushman cards.

3. Uttar Pradesh tops the list of states with the highest number of cards issued, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

4. 6.2 crore free hospital admissions under the scheme have saved out-of-pocket expenditure on more than 1.25 lakh crore of poor and vulnerable population.

• The app has been downloaded 52 lakh times since its launch on September 13, 2023.

Published on :

Monday, January 29, 2024

Foundation laid for expansion of NCDC

• Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya laid the foundation for NCDC's expansion, inaugurating a regional branch in Assam, state branches in six states, and BSL-3 labs in two states.

• The state branches were opened in the following states:

1. Haryana

2. Tamil Nadu

3. Karnataka

4. Odisha

5. West Bengal

6. Mizoram

• The BSL-3 labs were opened in:

1. Himachal Pradesh

2. Jharkhand

• He also opened a temporary NCDC branch in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, to strengthen pandemic preparedness and disease surveillance.

• The upgraded NCDC in Delhi received an auditorium and library block dedication.

• Dr Mandaviya highlighted the significance of regional branches in combating diseases like Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever and Kyasanur forest disease.

• The Union Health Minister unveiled crucial technical documents, including the

1. IDSP, NCDC's "Community Reporting Tool on IHIP"

2. Centre for Environmental and Occupational Health's "Climate Change and Health" booklet.

• The booklet features case studies on adaptation and mitigation in the public health sector.

• Additionally, releases encompassed

1. The first Multicentric Point Prevalence Survey of Antibiotic Use.

2. An Outbreak Investigation Manual for Medical Officers.

3. The Centre for One Health's vision document promoting multisectoral collaboration.

4. The National Centre for Vector Borne Disease Control's "National Strategic Plan: Malaria Elimination 2023-27.

• These publications reflect a comprehensive approach to health challenges, emphasizing collaborative efforts and strategic planning.

Click here to read more.

Published on :

Monday, January 29, 2024