scholarly journals Impact of the Emerging COVID-19 Pandemic on the Consumption of Multivitamins (C, D and Zinc) by the Saudi Arabian Population

2021 ◽  
pp. 11-20
Author(s):  
Duaa Mohamed Bakhshwin ◽  
Abdulaziz Bakhshwin
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin C ◽  
World Health ◽  
Saudi Population ◽  
Viral Spread ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Zinc Supplements ◽  
Vitamin D Supplements ◽  
The Impact

Background: On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the Coronavirus outbreak officially as a pandemic. This pandemic has led to new measurements to prevent viral spread. The measures included decreasing the person’s mobility outside homes with subsequent changes in the lifestyles, particularly in physical activity and eating habits. It has been noticed that consumption of some vitamins may help in preventing or reducing the symptoms of viral infection. Those vitamins include vitamin C, D and zinc. There is a common observation that the general public believes that the use of vitamins, especially vitamins C, D and zinc, reduces the chance of acquiring COVID-19. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on taking vitamins supplements by the Saudi general population in order to explore their believes regarding the protective value of these vitamins against COVID-19 infection. Subjects and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administrated questionnaire that was designed, uploaded to the Google form and distributed online to the general Saudi population through the social media (Whatsapp, Twitter) as well as through email between August and December 2020. Statistical Packaged of Social Sciences program (SPSS) for Windows (version 17.0., Chicago: SPSS Inc) was used to analyze the data. A significant difference was considered when the p value is < 0.05. Student t-test and Chi-square (χ2) test were used to compare the studied variables as appropriate. Results: A total of 1043 participants were included in this study (64.9% females, 35.1% males). The mean age for them was 35.3±14.78 years. Only 9.3% (97 participants) were diagnosed to have COVID-19. About 28% of the participants were in contact with COVID-19 cases. Among participants diagnosed to have COVID-19 infection, (13% versus 29%) were taking vitamin C and (2% versus 15%) were taking zinc supplements daily during the 6 months before and after the pandemic, respectively, while (20% versus 25%) were taking vitamin D supplements weekly during the 6 months before and after the pandemic, respectively. Among participants who were in contact with COVID-19 cases, (8% versus 20%) and (3% versus 11%) were taking vitamin C and zinc supplements daily during the 6 months before and after the pandemic, respectively, while (14% versus 16%) were taking vitamin D supplements weekly during the 6 months before and after the pandemic Conclusion: The interest of taking multivitamin by Saudi population, such as vitamins C and D, zinc increased during and after the pandemic compared to that before it. There is no scientific evidence based on previous studies confirmed the role of dietary supplementation and multivitamins in preventing COVID-19 infection, therefore, effective education on the rationale use of vitamins during COVID-19 pandemic should be emphasized at local and/or national levels.

scholarly journals A pilot interventional study to evaluate the impact of cholecalciferol treatment on HbA1c in type 1 diabetes (T1D)

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 225-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Perchard ◽  
L Magee ◽  
A Whatmore ◽  
F Ivison ◽  
P Murray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Vitamin D Levels ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

Background Higher 25(OH)D3 levels are associated with lower HbA1c, but there are limited UK interventional trials assessing the effect of cholecalciferol on HbA1c. Aims (1) To assess the baseline 25(OH)D3 status in a Manchester cohort of children with type 1 diabetes (T1D). (2) To determine the effect of cholecalciferol administration on HbA1c. Methods Children with T1D attending routine clinic appointments over three months in late winter/early spring had blood samples taken with consent. Participants with a 25(OH)D3 level <50 nmol/L were treated with a one-off cholecalciferol dose of 100,000 (2–10 years) or 160,000 (>10 years) units. HbA1c levels before and after treatment were recorded. Results Vitamin D levels were obtained from 51 children. 35 were Caucasian, 11 South Asian and 5 from other ethnic groups. 42 were vitamin D deficient, but 2 were excluded from the analysis. All South Asian children were vitamin D deficient, with mean 25(OH)D3 of 28 nmol/L. In Caucasians, there was a negative relationship between baseline 25(OH)D3 level and HbA1c (r = −0.484, P < 0.01). In treated participants, there was no significant difference in mean HbA1c at 3 months (t = 1.010, P = 0.328) or at 1 year (t = −1.173, P = 0.248) before and after treatment. One-way ANCOVA, controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, BMI and diabetes duration showed no difference in Δ HbA1c level. Conclusion We report important findings at baseline, but in children treated with a stat dose of cholecalciferol, there was no effect on HbA1c. Further studies with larger sample sizes and using maintenance therapy are required.

scholarly journals Delay in assessing vitamin D supplements and live vaccines for tuberculosis, polio, and measles to protect people from Covid-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Gisselquist
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Live Vaccines ◽  
The Us ◽  
Us Government ◽  
Vitamin D Supplements ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Experimental Use ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: In March 2020, less than three months after China reported a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, the United States (US) government budgeted money to support development of Covid-19 vaccines. By mid-December 2020, two had been developed, tested, and received the US government’s experimental use authorization. Given evidence that vitamin D supplements and live vaccines for tuberculosis, polio, and measles reduce risks for acute respiratory infection, many experts hypothesized they might reduce risks for Covid-19 infection. Expedited randomized controlled trials, as done for Covid-19 vaccines, could have assessed their protection against C19 no later than end-July 2020. Methods: On 21 April 2021, I searched trial registries maintained by the US National Institutes of Medicine and the World Health Organization for trials with ≥400 participants to assess vitamin D or live vaccines to prevent Covid-19 infections (all or symptomatic). On 10-13 November 2021, I searched PubMed and medRxiv for results reported from these trials.Results: In April 2021, I found 32 trials (9 for vitamin D and 23 for live vaccines) proposing to assess the impact of these interventions on rates of new Covid-19 infections (all or symptomatic). Only 10 trials proposed to begin by June 2020, and only one to end in 2020. My search on 10-13 November 2021, almost 11 months after the US approved the first two Covid-19 vaccines, found results reported from only one of the 32 trials (live measles vaccine significantly reduced new symptomatic infections). Conclusions: If health experts had demonstrated similar urgency in assessing vitamin D supplements and live vaccines for tuberculosis, polio, and measles as in developing Covid-19 vaccines, trials could have reported by end-July 2020. Depending on what trials reported, these interventions could have prevented a large percentage of more than 600,000 Covid-19 deaths reported in the US from August 2020 through November 2021. Delay in assessing vitamin D has racial implications as well, since vitamin D deficiency and Covid-19 deaths in the US have been far more common among Blacks and Hispanics compared to Whites. Going forward, depending on what trials report, these interventions could help people live with Covid-19 as an endemic virus.

scholarly journals Effect of Two Different Doses of Vitamin D Supplementation on Uterine Myoma on South East Iranian Population; A Clinical Trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaveh Tabrizian ◽  
Reyhane Shokouhinia ◽  
Fatemeh Davari Tanha ◽  
Marjan Ghaemi ◽  
Mahsa Ghajarzadeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Vitamin D Insufficiency ◽  
Vitamin D Supplementation ◽  
Uterine Myoma ◽  
Common Benign Tumor ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Vitamin D Supplements

Objective: Uterine myoma is the most common benign tumor however with significant distress and reduced quality of life in affected women. Besides, vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor for uterine myoma. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplements on the size of myoma in women with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency. Materials and methods: This clinical trial was conducted in a teaching hospital from 2019 to 2020. According to baseline vitamin D level, participants were assigned into two interventional equal groups (vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency) to receive either 1000 IU daily or 50000 IU weekly vitamin D for 12 weeks. The size and location of the uterine myoma were compared before and after the intervention. Results: Totally, 137 women with uterine myoma were enrolled. Based on baseline vitamin D level, 52 cases had vitamin D insufficiency and 85 cases had vitamin D deficiency. No significant difference was observed in age and BMI in both groups. The location of the subserosal and intramural myoma did not differ, otherwise, the percent of the submucosal myomas were increased significantly (p=0.020) after the intervention. In both groups decreased myoma size otherwise not significant was seen after the intervention (p=0.148 and p=0.664 respectively). Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation may not be effective in women with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency in the short term to reduce myoma size.

scholarly journals A KNOCK AROUND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID-19 WITH REFERENCE TO THE QUANTUM OF GOODS AND SERVICES TAX COLLECTION IN INDIA

2021 ◽  
pp. 121-126
Author(s):  
Dr. Baneswar Kapasi ◽  
Dr. Mahesh Kumar Kurmi
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Tax Collection ◽  
Indian Economy ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

COVID -19 has wedged all the major economies across the globe significantly. The World Health Organisation (WHO) first declared COVID-19 as a world health emergency in January 2020. The virus originated in Wuhan, China, but has been detected in over 200 countries. Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic, several countries worldwide resorted to lockdown to control infection. Due to lockdown, the production and distribution chains have been disrupted across the lands. All the segments of the economy have been impacted in different magnitude, and this has a direct impact on GDP, unemployment ratio, and tax collection. Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a harmonized tax of different indirect taxes in India. The GST collection reflects the volume of economic activities in India. Thus, in this paper, an attempt has been made to assess the impact of Covid-19 on the Indian economy concerning the quantum of Goods and Service collection in Indian during the lockdown period. For this study, secondary data relating to GST collection have been pooled from the official websites of the GST Council of India for the last three years, i.e., 2018 to 2020, and pair t-test have been run for testing statistical significance of the impact of COVID-19 on the quantum of the collection of Goods and Service Tax in India before and after lockdown announcement after adjusting the inflation factor. The results indicate no significant difference in the quantum of Goods and Services Tax Collection in India before and after the lockdown announcement due to the COVID-19 outbreak but a loss of Rs. 1,41,837 crore owing to the low collection of GST from March 2020 to August 2020 gives us a clear message that we should undoubtedly rethink the plans in more structural and more viable ways to reach a position to absorb any kinds of uncertain threats from the external environment. KEYWORDS: Covid-19, GST, Indian Economy, Pandemic, Lockdown

SUBLINGUAL VITAMIN D3 DRUG THERAPY IN VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY PATIENTS AT PRAVARA RURAL HOSPITAL

2019 ◽  
pp. 18-20
Author(s):  
Sanjeeva Kumar Goud T ◽  
Rahul Kunkulol
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Vitamin D3 ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Serum Vitamin D ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After

The present study was aimed to study the effect of Sublingual Vitamin D3 on Serum Vitamin D level in Vitamin D deficiency patients. This was a cross-sectional and interventional study. All the Vitamin D deficiency patients of age 18-60years and either gender, willing to participate in the study were included. Patients who had greater than 20 ng/ml were excluded from the study. The total number of participants in our study was 200, out of these 111 males and 89 females, the mean age in our study was 51.07 ± 7.39Yrs. All volunteers were given sublingual vitamin D3 (60,000IU) in six doses every fifteen days of follow up for 3 months. The subject’s serum 25(OH)D levels were estimated before and after the treatment of sublingual vitamin D3. There was a statistically significant difference in serum vitamin D3 level before 16.61±6.71 ng/ml and after 35.80±7.80 ng/ml after treatment with Sublingual Vitamin D3. Six doses of 60,000IU of Vitamin D3 sublingual route having improved the role of serum 25(OH)D levels in the treatment of Vitamin D3 deficiency patients.Keywords: Vitamin D3; Sublingual route

Household and Population-Level Behavioural Changes Due to COVID-19 Pandemic: A Smart Thermostat Based Comparative Data Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Kirti Sundar Sahu ◽  
Arlene Oetomo ◽  
Niloofar Jalali ◽  
Plinio P. Morita
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Population Level ◽  
World Health ◽  
Motion Sensors ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Work From Home ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Smart Thermostat ◽  
The Impact

The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. To inhibit the spread of COVID-19, governments around the globe, including Canada, have implemented physical distancing and lockdown measures, including a work-from-home policy. Canada in 2020 has developed a 24-Hour Movement Guideline for all ages laying guidance on the ideal amount of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep (PASS) for an individual in a day. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes on the household and population-level in lifestyle behaviours (PASS) and time spent indoors at the household level, following the implementation of physical distancing protocols and stay-at-home guidelines. For this study, we used 2019 and 2020 data from ecobee, a Canadian smart Wi-Fi thermostat company, through the Donate Your Data (DYD) program. Using motion sensors data, we quantified the amount of sleep by using the absence of movement, and similarly, increased sensor activation to show a longer duration of household occupancy. The key findings of this study were; during the COVID-19 pandemic, overall household-level activity increased significantly compared to pre-pandemic times, there was no significant difference between household-level behaviours between weekdays and weekends during the pandemic, average sleep duration has not changed, but the pattern of sleep behaviour significantly changed, specifically, bedtime and wake up time delayed, indoor time spent has been increased and outdoor time significantly reduced. Our data analysis shows the feasibility of using big data to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the household and population-level behaviours and patterns of change.

scholarly journals Riding the waves: the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on a national surgical training cohort

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orla Hennessy ◽  
Amy Lee Fowler ◽  
Conor Hennessy ◽  
David Brinkman ◽  
Aisling Hogan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Training ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Training Methods ◽  
Viral Spread ◽  
Surgical Services ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Surgical Trainees ◽  
Secondary Survey ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The World Health Organisation declared a global pandemic on the 11 March 2020 resulting in implementation of methods to contain viral spread, including curtailment of all elective and non-emergent interventions. Many institutions have experienced changes in rostering practices and redeployment of trainees to non-surgical services. Examinations, study days, courses, and conferences have been cancelled. These changes have the potential to significantly impact the education and training of surgical trainees. Aim To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on training, educational, and operative experiences of Irish surgical trainees. Methods Surgical trainees were surveyed anonymously regarding changes in working and educational practices since the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic on 11 March 2020. The survey was circulated in May 2020 to both core and higher RCSI surgical trainees, when restrictions were at level five. Questions included previous and current access to operative sessions as well as operative cases, previous and current educational activities, access to senior-led training, and access to simulation-/practical-based training methods. A repeat survey was carried out in October 2020 when restrictions were at level two. Results Overall, primary and secondary survey response rates were 29% (n = 98/340) and 19.1% (n = 65/340), respectively. At the time of circulation of the second survey, the number of operative sessions attended and cases performed had significantly improved to numbers experienced pre-pandemic (p < 0.0001). Exposure to formal teaching and education sessions returned to pre-COVID levels (p < 0.0001). Initially, 23% of trainees had an examination cancelled; 53% of these trainees have subsequently sat these examinations. Of note 27.7% had courses cancelled, and 97% of these had not been rescheduled. Conclusion Surgical training and education have been significantly impacted in light of COVID-19. This is likely to continue to fluctuate in line with subsequent waves. Significant efforts have to be made to enable trainees to meet educational and operative targets.

scholarly journals 1166. Evaluating the Impact of the 2016 Candidemia Guidelines on the Incidence of Ocular Complications of Candidemia

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S609-S609
Author(s):  
Molly Hillenbrand ◽  
Senu Apewokin
Keyword(s):  
Vision Loss ◽  
Bloodstream Infections ◽  
Empiric Therapy ◽  
Prescribing Patterns ◽  
Ocular Complications ◽  
Ocular Penetration ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Eye Exams ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The incidence of Candida bloodstream infections has risen over the last several decades. Complications of candidemia include endogenous fungal endophthalmitis which can result in devastating outcomes including vision loss. In 2015, the IDSA guidelines were updated to recommend echinocandins as initial therapy for candidemia. Given the poor ocular penetration of echinocandins there has been some concern this change may portend an increased incidence of ocular complications in candidemic patients. We sought to examine whether patients who received empiric echinocandin therapy developed higher rates of ophthalmic complications of candidemia. Methods We identified patients in our healthcare system who had blood cultures positive for Candida species and a completed ophthalmology consult between January 1, 2014 and April 30, 2019. Chi-squared analysis was used to compare antifungal prescribing patterns before and after release of the updated IDSA guidelines. We assessed whether the switch to empiric echinocandin therapy as directed by the guidelines was associated with higher rates of abnormal eye exams. Results 47 patients treated before the guideline change were compared to 57 patients treated after the guideline change. There was no significant difference in age, gender, or comorbid diabetes and hypertension between the groups. Before the guideline change, 24/47 (51%) of patients received eye-penetrating antifungals. This decreased to 21/57 after the updated guideline (37%, p=0.21). The percentage of patients with positive eye exams was nearly equal before and after the updated guidelines, 10/47 (21%) before vs 13/57 (22%) after (p=1). After the guideline change, 7/21 (33%) of the patients treated with penetrating antifungals had positive eye exams vs 6/36 (16%) who received echinocandins (p=0.19). Conclusion Echinocandins are known to have poor ocular penetration yet our data demonstrate no change in the incidence of ophthalmic complications of candidemia after the 2016 guideline endorsed echinocandins as empiric therapy. The prevalence of positive eye exams throughout our study period was 22%, suggesting ongoing utility for these exams. Ongoing investigation is necessary to confirm and further study these findings. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Impact of adenotonsillectomy on the quality of life of patients operated on at the Hospital de Clínicas, Paraguay

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Carlos Mena Canata ◽  
Rebeca Noemí Ruiz Vallejos
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽  
Sleep Apnea ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

The objective of this study is to determine the impact of adenotonsillectomy on the quality of life of postoperative patients.The study is observational, cross-sectional, and retrospective. The files of all postoperative adenotonsillectomy patients in Otorhinolaryngology Service, Hospital de Clínicas, San Lorenzo Paraguay. The Obstructive sleep apnea – 18 questionnaire (OSA 18) was applied, asking patients about symptoms before and after surgery. An effective sample of 143 postoperative patients was obtained. The average age was 6.05 ± 2.08 years, 55.10% (81) were male and 44.89% (66) were female, 65.30% (96) were from urban areas and 34.69% (51) from the rural areas. The t test was performed for means of two paired samples, comparing the results of the Obstructive sleep apnea – 18 questionnaire surveys before and after surgery which presented a significant difference (p <0.05) with a tendency to improve the quality of life after surgery. It has been shown that there is a significant difference, a considerable improvement in the quality of life of patients after adenotonsillectomy.

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