A Survey Report on Rise in Respiratory Illnesses Due to Air Pollution and Its Homoeopathic Management

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (04) ◽  
pp. 278-282
Author(s):  
Sonia Raizada ◽  
Indu Shukla

Abstract Background and Objectives Every year just when monsoon starts retreating, we start seeing adverse meteorological conditions for dispersion. There are multiple factors that lead to higher pollution levels, including industrial and motor vehicle emissions, crop stubble burning and burning of fire crackers during Diwali period.The novel human coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has claimed more than 1,090, 921 lives worldwide, causing tremendous public health, social and economic damages. While the risk factors of COVID-19 are still under investigation, environmental factors, such as urban air pollution, may play an important role in increasing population susceptibility to COVID-19 pathogenesis. Long-term exposure to NO2, which largely arises from urban combustion sources such as traffic, may enhance susceptibility to severe COVID-19 outcomes, independent of long-term particulate matter 2.5 and O3 exposure. Prolonged exposure to this urban traffic-related air pollutant may be an important risk factor of severe COVID-19 outcomes.A survey was done in 2019 during the pre- and post-Diwali period to assess the increase in number of cases reported with various respiratory troubles. Methods A cross-sectional survey was done on patients coming with respiratory problems in the outpatient department of the hospital in year 2019 for 10 days prior to Diwali (Group 1) and 10 days after Diwali (Group 2). Patients presenting with respiratory ailments were figured out during this time period and this data was analysed. Results In Group 1, the number of respiratory complaints' patients was 238 (i.e. 7.9%) which raised to 378 (i.e. 11.9%) in Group 2 patients. Conclusion This study showed that there was a sharp rise in patients of upper respiratory tract infections reporting in the hospital (Group 2) and results of homoeopathic medicines in treating those complaints was encouraging.

2019 ◽  
pp. 194-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Yu. Evstifeeva ◽  
O. Yu. Trusova ◽  
E. I. Danilova ◽  
V. V. Sumenko

Cough is one of the most common reasons why parents bring their children to the pediatrician. The article presents the results of a study of the clinical efficacy of treatment of dry cough using Sinecod syrup. A total of 60 children aged 3–15 years with the upper respiratory tract infections and complaints of dry (non-productive) cough were enrolled in the study. In Group 1 (the main group), the children received Sinecod syrup in addition to the standard therapy, in Group 2 (the comparison group) children received Stoptussin-Phyto syrup. The effectiveness of treatment was evaluated based on the clinical examination findings. On Day 8–11 after the first examination, Group 2 showed a decrease in the severity of day and night cough according to VAS by more than 4 points compared with Group 2. Significant regression of the severity of day and night cough in the studied groups was only observed in patients from Group 1. Sleep disorders of the patients normalized.


Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1668
Author(s):  
Han-Jie Lin ◽  
Stella Chin-Shaw Tsai ◽  
Frank Cheau-Feng Lin ◽  
Yi-Chao Hsu ◽  
Shih-Wei Chen ◽  
...  

(1) Background: No association between air pollution and periodontitis has yet been shown. Thus, we merged two nationwide databases to evaluate the risk of periodontitis in Taiwanese residents with long-term exposure to air pollution. (2) Methods: We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study using the Longitudinal Generation Tracking Database and the Taiwan Air Quality-Monitoring Database. The daily average air pollutant concentrations were categorized into quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4). We carried out Cox proportional hazards models to compute the hazard ratios of periodontitis, with 95% confidence intervals, in Q2–Q4 of the daily average air pollutant concentrations, compared with Q1. (3) Results: the adjusted HR (95 CI%) for periodontitis in Q2–Q4 increased with increased exposure to SO2, CO, NO, NO2, NOX, PM2.5, and PM10 from 1.72 (1.70, 1.76) to 4.86 (4.78–4.94); from 1.89 (1.85–1.93) to 2.64 (2.59–2.70); from 1.04 (1.02–1.06) to 1.52 (1.49–1.55); from 1.61 (1.58–1.64) to 2.51 (2.47–2.56); from 1.48 (1.45–1.51) to 2.11 (2.07–2.15); from 2.02 (1.98–2.06) to 22.9 (22.4–23.4, and from 2.71 (2.66–2.77) to 17.2 (16.8–17.6), respectively, compared to Q1. (4) Conclusions: Residents in Taiwan with long-term exposure to higher levels of air pollutants had a greater risk of periodontitis.


Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 788
Author(s):  
Rong Feng ◽  
Hongmei Xu ◽  
Zexuan Wang ◽  
Yunxuan Gu ◽  
Zhe Liu ◽  
...  

In the context of the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), strict lockdown policies were implemented to control nonessential human activities in Xi’an, northwest China, which greatly limited the spread of the pandemic and affected air quality. Compared with pre-lockdown, the air quality index and concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, SO2, and CO during the lockdown reduced, but the reductions were not very significant. NO2 levels exhibited the largest decrease (52%) during lockdown, owing to the remarkable decreased motor vehicle emissions. The highest K+ and lowest Ca2+ concentrations in PM2.5 samples could be attributed to the increase in household biomass fuel consumption in suburbs and rural areas around Xi’an and the decrease in human physical activities in Xi’an (e.g., human travel, vehicle emissions, construction activities), respectively, during the lockdown period. Secondary chemical reactions in the atmosphere increased in the lockdown period, as evidenced by the increased O3 level (increased by 160%) and OC/EC ratios in PM2.5 (increased by 26%), compared with pre-lockdown levels. The results, based on a natural experiment in this study, can be used as a reference for studying the formation and source of air pollution in Xi’an and provide evidence for establishing future long-term air pollution control policies.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Giulia Grande ◽  
Jing Wu ◽  
Petter L.S. Ljungman ◽  
Massimo Stafoggia ◽  
Tom Bellander ◽  
...  

Background: A growing but contrasting evidence relates air pollution to cognitive decline. The role of cerebrovascular diseases in amplifying this risk is unclear. Objectives: 1) Investigate the association between long-term exposure to air pollution and cognitive decline; 2) Test whether cerebrovascular diseases amplify this association. Methods: We examined 2,253 participants of the Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K). One major air pollutant (particulate matter ≤2.5μm, PM2.5) was assessed yearly from 1990, using dispersion models for outdoor levels at residential addresses. The speed of cognitive decline (Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE) was estimated as the rate of MMSE decline (linear mixed models) and further dichotomized into the upper (25%fastest cognitive decline), versus the three lower quartiles. The cognitive scores were used to calculate the odds of fast cognitive decline per levels of PM2.5 using regression models and considering linear and restricted cubic splines of 10 years exposure before the baseline. The potential modifier effect of cerebrovascular diseases was tested by adding an interaction term in the model. Results: We observed an inverted U-shape relationship between PM2.5 and cognitive decline. The multi-adjusted piecewise regression model showed an increased OR of fast cognitive decline of 81%(95%CI = 1.2–3.2) per interquartile range difference up to mean PM2.5 level (8.6μg/m3) for individuals older than 80. Above such level we observed no further risk increase (OR = 0.89;95%CI = 0.74–1.06). The presence of cerebrovascular diseases further increased such risk by 6%. Conclusion: Low to mean PM2.5 levels were associated with higher risk of accelerated cognitive decline. Cerebrovascular diseases further amplified such risk.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Tesic ◽  
L Travica ◽  
V Giga ◽  
D Trifunovic ◽  
I Jovanovic ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction Since mitral regurgitation (MR) is a very common finding in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the evaluation of the mitral valve anatomy and the degree of MR is of utmost importance in this population. However, data regarding the prognostic value of different degrees of MR in HCM remains scarce. Purpose The aim of this study was to determine whether the presence of a higher degree of MR affects: 1) long term prognosis; 2) clinical and echocardiographic presentation of HCM patients. Material and Methods We included prospectively 102 patients, diagnosed with primary asymmetric HCM. The degree of MR was determined echocardiographicaly according to current recommendations of the American Association of Echocardiography. According to the MR severity, patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (n = 52) with no/trace or mild MR and Group 2 with moderate or moderate to severe MR. All patients had clinical and echocardiographic examination, 24-hour Holter ECG and NT pro BNP analysis performed. The primary outcome was a composite of: 1) HCM related death or sudden death; 2) hospitalization due to acute heart failure; 3) sustained ventricular tachycardia; 4) ischemic stroke. Results Patients with higher MR degree had more frequent chest pain (p = 0.039), syncope (p = 0.041) and NYHA II functional class (p < 0.001). Group 2 patients had mostly obstructive form of HCM (p < 0.001) with more frequent presence of previous atrial fibrillation (AF) (p = 0.032), as well as the new onset of AF (p = 0.014) compared to patients in Group 1. Patients with higher MR degree had significantly more SAM (p < 0.001) resulting in a more frequent eccentric MR jet (p < 0.001), along with calcified mitral annulus (p = 0.007), enlarged left atrial volume index (p < 0.001), and elevated right ventricular pressure (p = 0.001). As a result of higher MR grade, Group 2 had higher E/e" values (p < 0.001), elevated LV filling pressure (lateral E/e’ >10), as well as higher levels of NT pro BNP (p = 0.001). By Kaplan-Meier analysis we demonstrated that the event free survival rate during follow up of median 75 (IQR 48-103) months was significantly higher in Group 1 compared to the Group 2 (79% vs. 46%, p < 0.001), Figure 1. After adjustment for relevant confounders, moderate/moderate to severe MR remained as an independent predictor of adverse outcome (hazard ratio 2.58, 95% CI: 1.08-6.13, p < 0.001). Conclusion Presence of moderate, or moderate to severe MR was associated with poor long-term outcome of HCM patients. These results indicate the importance of an adequate MR assessment and detailed evaluation of the mitral valve anatomy in the prediction of complications and adequate treatment of patients with HCM. Abstract Figure.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Constantin Roder ◽  
Uwe Klose ◽  
Helene Hurth ◽  
Cornelia Brendle ◽  
Marcos Tatagiba ◽  
...  

<b><i>Background and Purpose:</i></b> Hemodynamic evaluation of moyamoya patients is crucial to decide the treatment strategy. Recently, CO<sub>2</sub>-triggered BOLD MRI has been shown to be a promising tool for the hemodynamic evaluation of moyamoya patients. However, the longitudinal reliability of this technique in follow-up examinations is unknown. This study aims to analyze longitudinal follow-up data of CO<sub>2</sub>-triggered BOLD MRI to prove the reliability of this technique for long-term control examinations in moyamoya patients. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Longitudinal CO<sub>2</sub> BOLD MRI follow-up examinations of moyamoya patients with and without surgical revascularization have been analyzed for all 6 vascular territories retrospectively. If revascularization was performed, any directly (by the disease or the bypass) or indirectly (due to change of collateral flow after revascularization) affected territory was excluded based on angiography findings (group 1). In patients without surgical revascularization between the MRI examinations, all territories were analyzed (group 2). <b><i>Results:</i></b> Eighteen moyamoya patients with 39 CO<sub>2</sub> BOLD MRI examinations fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The median follow-up between the 2 examinations was 12 months (range 4–29 months). For 106 vascular territories analyzed in group 1, the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.784, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001, and for group 2 (84 territories), it was 0.899, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001. Within the total follow-up duration of 140 patient months, none of the patients experienced a new stroke. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> CO<sub>2</sub> BOLD MRI is a promising tool for mid- and long-term follow-up examinations of cerebral hemodynamics in moyamoya patients. Systematic prospective evaluation is required prior to making it a routine examination.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Belik ◽  
OV Gruzdeva ◽  
YUA Dyleva ◽  
EG Uchasova ◽  
MYU Sinitsky ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Aim to determine the features of adiponectin expression, secretion of adiponectin and its receptors in local fat depots in CVD. Materials and methods The study included 90 patients with СAD (Group 1) and 60 patients with heart defects (Group 2). Adipocytes were isolated from samples of subcutaneous (SAT), epicardial (EAT) and perivascular (PVAT) adipose tissue obtained during CABG or heart valve replacement. The expression of adiponectin was determined by qPCR using TaqManTM Gene Expression Assays (Applied Biosystems, USA) in the ViiA 7 Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems, USA), the levels of expression products was determined using enzyme immunoassay (Bender MedSystems GmbH, Vienna, Austria). The data were analyzed using the statistical software Statistica 9.0. Results EAT adipocytes were characterized by the lowest adiponectin expression relative to adipocytes of other localization both in Group 1 and Group 2. In patients Group 1 adiponectin expression in EAT was reduced relative in SAT and PVAT (by 1.2 and 1.5 times). In Group 2, the adiponectin mRNA in the EAT was lower than in the SAT and PVAT (1.4 and 1.5 times). The expression of adiponectin in EAT in Group 2 exceeded the same indicator in Group 1 by 1.2 times. The maximum expression of adiponectin was observed in the PVAT culture in patients of both groups. For Group 2, this indicator exceeded the values of Group 1 by 1.2 times. The content of adiponectin in the culture EAT was lower than in the SAT, both in Group 1 and Group 2 (by 1.3 and 1.13 times). The level of this indicator in Group 2 was 1.4 times higher than in Group 1. PVAT adipocytes of patients with CAD were characterized by the lowest level of adiponectin secretion in comparison with adipocytes of other localization. The adiponectin level in the PVAT of Group 2 exceeded that of fat stores of other localization and in Group 1 patients by 1.8 times. There were no statistically significant differences in the expression and concentration of adiponectin in the culture of adipocytes of the SAT between the groups of patients. In Group 1, the lowest level of AdipoR1 was found in the adipocyte culture of the PVAT. Noteworthy is the decrease in the level of AdipoR1 in Group 1 compared to the level of Group 2, observed in the SAT and PVAT: 1.3 and 1.5 times. There were no significant differences in the concentration of the AdipoR1 in the EAT, as well as AdipoR2 in all types of AT between the groups of patients. Conclusion: in CVD the EAT is characterized by minimal expression and secretion of adiponectin, regardless of nosology. In CAD despite the high level of expression of adiponectin, the adipocytes of the PVAT were found to have the lowest content in comparison with adipocytes of other localization. Dysregulation of the adiponectin/AdipoR axis is observed in PVAT, which may be due to low expression of adiponectin receptors and long-term processes of its post-translational modification and oligomerization in CAD.


2020 ◽  
pp. 105566562098023
Author(s):  
Ashwina S. Banari ◽  
Sanjeev Datana ◽  
Shiv Shankar Agarwal ◽  
Sujit Kumar Bhandari

Objectives: To compare nasal and upper airway dimensions in patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) who underwent nasoalveolar molding (NAM) with those without NAM during infancy using acoustic pharyngometry and rhinometry. Materials and Methods: Eccovision acoustic pharyngometry and rhinometry (Sleep Group Solutions) was used for assessment of mean area and volume of nasal and upper airway in patients with complete unilateral CLP (age range 16-21 years) treated with NAM (group 1, n = 19) versus without NAM (group 2, n = 22). Results: The mean nasal cross-sectional areas and volume were higher in group 1 compared to group 2 on both cleft ( P value <.001) and noncleft side ( P value >.05). The mean area and volume of upper airway were also significantly higher in group 1 compared to group 2 ( P value <.05). Conclusions: Nasoalveolar molding being one of the first interventions in chronology of treatment of patients with CLP, its long-term outcome on nasal and upper airway patency needs to be ascertained. The results of the present study show that the patients with CLP who have undergone NAM during infancy have better improvement in nasal and upper airway patency compared with those who had not undergone NAM procedure. The basic advantages of being noninvasive, nonionizing and providing dynamic assessment of nasal and upper airway patency make acoustic pharyngometry and rhinometry a diagnostic tool of choice to be used in patients with CLP.


Author(s):  
Tsuyoshi Yamabe ◽  
Yanling Zhao ◽  
Paul A Kurlansky ◽  
Suzuka Nitta ◽  
Saveliy Kelebeyev ◽  
...  

Abstract OBJECTIVES Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is prevalent in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery, and it negatively impacts procedural outcomes; however, its influence on the outcomes of aortic surgery has not been well studied. This study aims to elucidate the importance of CKD on the outcomes of aortic root replacement (ARR). METHODS Patients who underwent ARR between 2005 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed (n = 882). Patients were divided into 3 groups based on the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria: Group 1 [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2, n = 421); Group 2 (eGFR = 30–59 ml/min/1.73 m2, n = 424); and Group 3 (eGFR &lt; 30 ml/min/1.73 m2, n = 37). To reduce potential confounding, a propensity score matching was also performed between Group 1 and the combined group of Group 2 and Group 3. The primary end point was 10-year survival. Secondary end points were in-hospital mortality and perioperative morbidity. RESULTS Severe CKD patients presented with more advanced overall chronic and acute illnesses. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed a significant correlation between CKD stage and 10-year survival (log-rank P &lt; 0.001). The number of events for Group 1 was 15, Group 2 was 49 and Group 3 was 11 in 10 years. Group 3 had significantly higher in-hospital mortality (13.5% vs 3.5% in Group 2 vs 0.7% in Group 1, P &lt; 0.001) and stroke (8.1% vs 7.1% vs 1.2%, P &lt; 0.001) as well as introduction to new dialysis (27.0% vs 5.4% vs 1.7%, P &lt; 0.001). eGFR was shown to be an independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.96–0.99). Comparison between propensity matched groups showed similar postoperative outcomes, and eGFR was still identified as a predictor of mortality (hazard ratio, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.95–0.99). CONCLUSIONS Higher stage in CKD negatively impacts the long-term survival in patients who are undergoing ARR.


Author(s):  
Gunce Basarir ◽  
Bahar Ozcabi ◽  
Ozden Aksu Sayman ◽  
Hatice Ozturkmen Akay ◽  
Feyza M. Yildiz

Abstract Objectives Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common obesity-related comorbidity in childhood. In this study, we aimed to evaluate predictors of NAFLD by comparing clinical, endocrine and metabolic findings in obese children with and without hepatosteatosis. Methods Two hundred and eight obese children aged 6–18 years were included. The patients were divided into group 1 (patients with NAFLD, n=94) and group 2 (patients without NAFLD, n=114). Anthropometric measurements, pubertal stage, lipid profiles, fasting glucose and insulin, homeostatic model of assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), uric acid, total bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen, thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxine parameters were compared retrospectively. Results The mean body weight, body mass index (BMI), height, tri-ponderal mass index (TMI), insulin, HOMA-IR, triglyceride, ALT and uric acid values were significantly higher, while high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) values were significantly lower in group 1. The 70.7% of obese children with hepatosteatosis and 83.9% of those without hepatosteatosis were correctly estimated by parameters including age, gender, ALT, HDL-C, fasting insulin and uric acid values. Conclusions Since obesity-associated hepatosteatosis induces various long-term metabolic impacts in children, early detection is of critical importance. Age, gender, TMI, BMI, ALT, HDL-C, fasting insulin and uric acid values may help to predict the risk of hepatosteatosis. Besides, we assessed whether TMI compared to BMI does not have a better utility in estimating obesity-induced hepatosteatosis in children. This is the first study to show the association between TMI and hepatosteatosis in children.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document