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Background: The extensive use of various electronic games and communication devices, particularly among children and adolescents, has raised concerns, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the link between screen time and internalizing disorders, such as anxiety and depression, among individuals aged =18 during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This systematic review aims to summarize scientific publications from 2019 to early 2022 by searching databases, including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycINFO, to identify suitable studies. In each paper, we searched the following keywords and their synonyms: screen, child, high school, middle school, and psychiatric disorders. The quality of the selected papers was evaluated using a checklist recommended by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for observational cohort studies. Results: Out of 986 reports identified, we included 12 papers with 14,483 participants. The study revealed a negative correlation between screen time (TV, computer, video games, and mobile phones) and behavioral outcomes. Smartphones were the most frequently used devices, with video games being more prevalent among older participants for education, communication, and entertainment purposes. The prevalence of depression ranged between 10% and 25%. Furthermore, anxiety and depression were identified as predictors of increased screen usage. Some results displayed variation based on the type of screen exposure, the questionnaires used, and the age of the participants. Conclusions: The findings imply an indirect association between increased screen time and depression and anxiety. It is crucial to consider limitations on screen time exposure and parental supervision as measures to prevent certain mental disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study conducted by Kulkarni et al. on the changing trends in COVID-19 publications in India. The researchers used bibliometric analysis to analyze the pattern of publications related to the pandemic. The study found that an increase in the number of scientific publications can improve the overall scientific environment. However, the article also highlights the potential negative consequences of prioritizing quantity over quality in research. The author suggests adding additional keywords to the analysis and raises questions about the inclusion of certain types of articles in the results. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the similarities between the challenges faced by rag-pickers, garbage-handlers, editors, and reviewers. Rag-pickers and garbage-collectors struggle with the volume of waste generated by irresponsible citizens, while editors and reviewers struggle with the volume of manuscripts they have to vet in the academic environment. Both groups face the challenge of separating valuable content from useless or misleading material. The article also highlights the importance of finding meaning in one's work and suggests providing incentives for essential workers, including editors and reviewers. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Pneumococcal diseases pose a significant public health concern in India, with substantial morbidity and mortality, with the elderly and those with coexisting medical conditions being most at risk. Pneumococcus was also seen to be one of the main reasons for co‑infection, pneumonia and complications in COVID. Current guidelines recommend vaccination for specific adult populations, but there is a lack of uniformity and guidance on risk stratification, prioritisation and optimal timing. Methods: Nation Against Pneumococcal Infections – Expert Panel Opinion (NAP‑EXPO) is a panel convened to review and update recommendations for adult pneumococcal vaccination in India. The panel of 23 experts from various medical specialties engaged in discussions and evidence‑based reviews, discussed appropriate age for vaccination, risk stratification for COPD and asthma patients, vaccination strategies for post‑COVID patients, smokers and diabetics, as well as methods to improve vaccine awareness and uptake. Outcome: The NAP‑EXPO recommends the following for adults: All healthy individuals 60 years of age and above should receive the pneumococcal vaccine; all COPD patients, regardless of severity, high‑risk asthma patients, post‑COVID cases with lung fibrosis or significant lung damage, should be vaccinated with the pneumococcal vaccine; all current smokers and passive smokers should be educated and offered the pneumococcal vaccine, regardless of their age or health condition; all diabetic individuals should receive the pneumococcal vaccine, irrespective of their diabetes control. Strategies to improve vaccine awareness and uptake should involve general practitioners (GPs), primary health physicians (PHPs) and physicians treating patients at high risk of pneumococcal disease. Advocacy campaigns should involve media, including social media platforms. Conclusion: These recommendations aim to enhance pneumococcal vaccination coverage among high‑risk populations in India in order to ensure a reduction in the burden of pneumococcal diseases, in the post‑COVID era. There is a need to create more evidence and data to support the recommendations that the vaccine will be useful to a wider range of populations, as suggested in our consensus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tuberculosis is one of the major burdens to developing nations. India is among the countries categorized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as experiencing a significant burden of TB, HIV-associated TB, and MDR/RR-TB within the context of low- and middle-income nations. Globally South East Asian and African region alone accounted for 82% of death (HIV negative), where India accounts for 36% of TB fatalities. Materials and Methods: The data was extracted from NIKSHAY web portal on TB notification cases in UP, India. The random effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate pooled proportion of TB cases in public and private notified during both the periods. Spatial analysis was used to display the spread of TB cases across the state, during both the periods. Results: A total 75 districts data on TB notified cases were available for current investigation. The pooled proportion of TB cases were 0.24 (0.21, 0.27) and 0.76 (0.73, 0.79) during COVID-19 period for private and public hospitals, respectively. Similarly, the pooled proportion of TB cases were 0.26 (0.23, 0.29) and 0.74 (0.71, 0.77) post-COVID-19 for private and public hospitals, respectively. Conclusion: The proportion of TB cases were more in public hospital as compared to private hospitals during COVID-19 period. Similarly, result was obtained in post-COVID-19 period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Arbaeen in Iraq has been one of the largest mass gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic with 14.5 million attendees in 2020. We set out to assess the prevalence of current or past COVID-19 among 2020 Arbaeen participants, and establish associations between COVID-19 test results, symptoms, and known recent exposure. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving participants who joined Arbaeen walk in Iraq in October 2020. COVID-19 PCR and/or rapid antibody test were conducted among consented participants. A short questionnaire was administered. Rapid antibody testing was done onsite. Nasal and throat swab samples were transferred to the laboratory for PCR testing. Results: A total of 835 (88.3% male; 11.7% female) participants were recruited. The most common symptom overall was cough (9.6%) followed by sore throat, fever, and loss of taste/smell (6.6%, 5.5%, and 5.0%, respectively). One in five (20.3%) participants reported close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case in the past 14 days. Of the 237 participants with a PCR test, 18 (7.6%) were positive. Of the 765 participants with rapid antibody test, 19.3% tested positive for IgM, 39.3% for IgG, and 16.4% for both. Approximately 40% of the participants had evidence of current or past COVID-19 infection based on antibody and PCR. Conclusions: The almost 1 in 10 COVID-19 cases within such a multimillion person gathering, illustrates the difficulty in limiting the participation of infectious individuals in religious mass gatherings. There is a pressing need to explore measures to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases at major mass gathering events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent disease resurgence in China indicates that corona virus infectious disease is still a pertinent public health problem. We stand at a juncture where we are still unsure about the initial dilemmas regarding its birth, therapies, and the emerging novel strains. Medical literature has focused on the clinical, laboratory, radiological, and therapeutic aspects of disease management. There is paucity of literature on the association between socio‑demographic variables on disease severity and clinical outcome. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzing the socio‑demographic variables was performed at a dedicated COVID care center in western Maharashtra, India. Electronic records of all individuals who were admitted to this hospital from July 29 2020, to June 14, 2021, and diagnosed COVID‑19 positive by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‑PCR) were identified after due institutional ethical clearance. Patients admitted from July 29, 2020, to February 27, 2021, were categorized as patients presenting during the ‘first wave of viral pandemic’. Those admitted from March 01, 2021, to June 14, 2021, have been included as patients admitted during ‘second wave of viral pandemic’. The following outcome parameters were collected (presenting symptoms, duration of symptoms before the individual presented for diagnostic RT‑PCR, total duration of symptoms, severity of disease at onset, duration of hospital stay, the final outcome (discharge/death) and Charlson’s comorbidity index). The linear regression model was used to establish association between socio‑demographic factors and disease severity at onset (mild/moderate/severe/critical). Results: A total of 37033 patients were screened, and the positivity rate with RT‑PCR was 16.99% (n = 6275) during the study period. Out of which 45% (n = 2824) of the patients had mild disease requiring home isolation and the remaining 55% of patients required admission. 1590 patients from the first wave and 910 from the second wave of COVID‑19 were hospitalized and included in the study after exclusion. The mean age of patients in first wave was 49 years and that in second wave was 54 years with 77.6% and 70.6% males in two waves, respectively. The burden of critical cases was higher in second wave as computed to first wave (10% vs 8%). The second wave had more outreach in the rural population as compared to second one (17.8% vs 12.2%). The mean duration from the onset of symptoms to hospitalization was 03 and 04 days, respectively, in two waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The assessment of tear film and ocular surface conditions in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been poorly studied thus far. We aim to assess tear film parameters, ocular surface characteristics, and dry eye disease (DED) symptoms of patients with AIDS who did not undergo highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). Methods: This case-control study included 154 age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched healthy controls and patients with AIDS. All participants underwent comprehensive ocular surface assessment and subjective DED symptomology evaluation. Data were collected between March 2022 and July 2022. Results: HAART-naïve patients with AIDS had a shorter noninvasive tear film breakup time (median 3.76 vs. 8.54 s), thinner tear film lipid layer thickness (median 73.00 vs. 91.00 nm), and lower Schirmer I test values (median 5.00 mm/5 min vs. 12.00 mm/5 min) (all P < 0.001). Moreover, higher corneal fluorescein staining scores (median 1.00 vs. 0.00) and higher upper, lower, and total meibomian gland grades were observed in AIDS patients (all P < 0.05). Negative correlations between the blood viral load and the Ocular Surface Disease Index score (r = -3.50, P = 0.027) and the Schirmer I test score (r = -0.374, P = 0.017) were detected in patients with AIDS. Conclusion: Altered tear film status was observed in individuals with HAART-naïve AIDS, even when there were no other ocular symptoms present. Therefore, patients with AIDS should be encouraged to undergo comprehensive ocular surface examinations to detect any subclinical tear film alterations occurring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of capacity building for teachers to conduct fair online assessments in medical education. It highlights the benefits of online assessments and the need to assess teachers' readiness and competence levels. The article suggests training programs to empower teachers in designing and conducting effective online assessments, as well as exposing them to domain-specific assessment tools and strategies. The training program should be tailored to the institution's needs and include hands-on activities and evaluation measures. Overall, the article emphasizes the significance of capacity building to ensure the successful planning and implementation of online assessments. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on human social and economic structures, making it one of the most significant crises of the 21st century. The production and consumption of energy sources, such as electricity, oil, and gas, have also been affected by the pandemic. Therefore, this study aims to systematically review the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on energy consumption. Methods: This study presents a systematic review of the impact of the coronavirus on energy consumption. Initially, relevant keywords were selected, and a systematic search of studies was conducted in databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect from 2020 to May 2022. Following screening, articles meeting the eligibility criteria were included in the study. Results: Through this systematic review, a total of 19,551 studies were identified, of which 18 met the eligibility criteria. All included studies investigated electricity consumption, while two studies focused on gas and fuel consumption, and only one study examined heating oil consumption. The most significant decreases in electricity, natural gas, and transportation fuel consumption were 55.4%, 32.4%, and 75.9%, respectively. On the other hand, heating oil consumption saw an increase of 12%. Conclusion: The results of this systematic review indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in reduced energy consumption across various sectors, including electricity, transportation fuel, and natural gas, leading to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. However, some studies reported an increase in electricity consumption in the residential sector due to prolonged periods of staying at home and remote work during quarantine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) pandemic has placed enormous pressure on different health‑care systems globally. In Saudi Arabia, the COVID-19 pandemic has considerably increased the number of infected individuals and has caused a major concern among health-care professionals, including the laboratory workforce. This study aimed to measure the impact of COVID-19 workload on clinical laboratory workforce in Riyadh. Methods: This was a cross‑sectional quantitative study. We distributed questionnaires via E‑mail invitations and social media platforms to 252 individuals. The online survey comprised eligibility, demographic, and workload-related questions as well as the 12-item General Health Questionnaire. Results: A total of 123 respondents completed the questionnaire and fit the eligibility criteria. The data showed that the total workload burden remarkably increased the number of tasks among all laboratory workers by 30.0%. In addition, 44.7% of the laboratory personnel reported psychological distress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: Clinical laboratory workers reported a significant increase in workload burden during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Middle age and limited years of experience were found to be risk factors for psychological distress and anxiety among the laboratory workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Environmental hazards have been a highly debated topic worldwide for a considerable time. During the pandemic, the benefits of environmental cleanliness in terms of increased water quality, air quality, has been reported oftentimes. However, the generation of biomedical waste comprising health care worker utilities such as masks, and gloves, has increased and this increase is calculated in terms of alarming statistics which shows 10 fold higher prediction of Biomedical waste than before. Recent studies by researchers support a cleaner environment; however, an equally increasing amount of biomedical waste generated needs to be monitored strictly alongside stringent regulations for safe disposal of biomedical waste which to be instilled in the mind of the general public. Materials and Methods: Databases like Pubmed and Google scholar were systematically searched for articles with the specific keywords "biomedical waste management in dental practice" which identified 17 articles on 13/09.2020 where filters were applied and restricted to 2020. A detailed analysis of the 17 articles was done and few articles were considered in this narrative review. Results: Our survey results show that the generation of biomedical waste and the awareness of the dental fraternity is very less, almost 41% don't know the amount of waste generated in India. Conclusion: Amid growing COVID-19 disease incidence, a day-to-day assessment of biomedical waste generation with individual social responsibility is a dire need of the hour to combat and overcome the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The amount and frequency of internet use are often used to forecast its pros and cons, with mixed findings. After COVID-19, technological advances and sociological upheavals have shown the internet's ability to support numerous activities, necessitating a change in internet use. Beyond internet use frequency, it has been advised to examine why people use it and how it affects their well-being. Hence, we aimed to investigate the various mediators and moderators in the relationship between the quality of internet use (type of activity) and well-being. Further, we investigated whether user attributes such as initial age and frequency of internet use moderate the influence of internet use quality on problematic internet use, loneliness, and well-being. Methods: 131 students in Manipur who were 18 years old were included in this cross-sectional study. Self-rated measures of the Adult Internet Usage questionnaire, Internet Addiction Test, and Mental Health Continuum-Short Form assessed internet use, dependence, and well-being. Results: Loneliness mediates the association between well-being and internet behaviors related to personal use-self-actualization (BootSE = .53, BootLLCI = .10, BootULCI = 2.18), cultural use-belonging (BootSE =.57, BootLLCI = -2.23, BootULCI = -.02). Average online hours moderate economic use-education, loneliness, and well-being (BootSE =.13, BootLLCI = -.55, BootULCI = -.04). Conclusion: To conclude, the effectiveness of internet use affects well-being differently depending on the type of activity. After a certain point, even seemingly good internet activities may have diminishing returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has led to a state of a public health emergency. As studied in earlier pandemics, awareness and perceived threats regarding an infectious disease play an essential role in instigating preventative measures. This study attempted to assess the association of age, gender, and education with awareness and perceived threat during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online survey was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire using a nonprobability snowball sampling technique, and a dataset of 1068 participants was analyzed. Results: Age was significantly correlated with awareness, anxiety, and threat, with a positive correlation observed for awareness and a negative correlation observed for an overall perceived threat. On the other hand, education was correlated significantly only with awareness, and this correlation was positive. Conclusions: This study aimed to determine the vulnerable population in terms of age, gender, and years of education. The most susceptible sections of society are the youths, especially those with a low level of education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) are gaining momentum in clinical research as these studies can be executed remotely through telemedicine and mobile/local health-care providers. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated advances and adoption in this area. In the past few years, there has been significant development and growth in the use of remote data that are electronically transmitted from a clinical trial (CT) participant, from outside the clinical setting, to a data repository. Such data may include laboratory data, safety data, or outcome measures reported by the participant, the clinician or the observer. Similarly, wearable health monitoring devices are being increasingly used in health-care and CT settings. Digital biomarkers, which can support continuous measurement of physiologic parameters outside the physical confines of the clinical environment, are also creating new and improved opportunities for patient care and biomedical research, enabling remote monitoring and DCTs. There are several benefits to using remote data capture, wearables, and digital biomarkers in clinical health-care research; however, several questions and challenges still need to be addressed. In an effort to understand the adoption of these technologies in DCTs, and the challenges therein, the authors of this workstream conducted an online survey of clinical research stakeholders across India and reviewed 80 responses. The review article summarizes the key findings from this online survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 has become a global pandemic, prompting lockdowns in practically every country. To prevent the spread of the disease, India has enforced a rigorous nationwide lockdown that commenced in March 2020. The lockdown imposed amid the pandemic ensured that most commercial activities and vehicle transportation ceased, resulting in a significant reduction in air pollution levels. Material and Methods: The value of air pollutants PM10, PM2.5, NO2, and SO2 from January to May 2020 was obtained from the Indian Central Pollution Control Board. Before lockdown and during lockdown, relative fluctuations in ambient concentrations of four air contaminants were investigated. The Box-Jenkins approach was used to estimate future air pollution data points using time series data analysis. Results: The PM10 level reduced by 61%, 30%, 68%, 37%, and 43% in the selected cities, respectively. Comparison of other pollutant concentrations before and after the lockdown also found a reduction in ambient pollutant concentrations, resulting in improved air quality. Inference of predicted model values to observed values revealed a significant increase in the concentrations of all pollutants. The percentage increases in AQImean from predicted to observed values were 206% in Ghaziabad, 148% in Delhi, 59% in Hyderabad, and 160% in Cochin. Conclusion: The strict lockdown has resulted in a significant drop in air pollutant levels. Upgrading present technologies could help keep pollution to a minimum of 37% under control. The findings would prompt the government to consider how to strictly reduce vehicle and industrial pollution to improve air quality and maintain improved public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The past decade has encouraged learner-centered approaches which expect students to take greater responsibility for their learning and support each other's progress. The flipped classroom (FC) is a teaching–learning tool that uses learner-centeredness. The present comparative study was conducted to observe the effects of online lectures and FC-assisted sessions among first-phase MBBS students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted after taking institutional ethical clearance and informed consent of the participants. Two hundred first MBBS students participated and were divided into two Groups A and B. Ten topics of neurophysiology were taught to both groups using either FC-assisted self-directed learning (SDL) sessions or online lecture classes. A cross-over of groups was done to prevent any bias. Pretest and posttest scores of all topics were assessed using multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and feedback was taken. Program evaluation was done. Results: There was no significant difference in performance in pretest MCQ examinations between the two groups. Students of both Groups A and B performed significantly better in posttest MCQ examinations as compared to pretest MCQ examinations. However, the posttest results of the FC group were better. Faculty and students provided positive views in support of the sessions. Students were highly satisfied with the program. Conclusions: FC needs to be introduced in medical schools early, to help young medical students to develop SDL skills which will enhance their ability to become lifelong learners and improve the quality of patient care in long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]