Possible Opportunities in Face Mask Manufacturing During the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 has been primarily regarded as a respiratory disease, and until a safer and effective treatment or vaccine becomes available, the prevention of COVID-19 may continue through interventions based on non-pharmaceutical measures such as maintaining of physical distances and use of personal protective equipment like facemasks, etc. Therefore, an attempt was made in this study to explore the drawbacks with the presently available facemasks for protection from COVID-19 viruses in the state of Odisha in India, and also to explore the possible opportunities for further development of these facemasks. The associated discomforts; strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of existing facemasks in Odisha; possible opportunities for “Make in India” of these facemasks; along with safer use have been analyzed with the help of interpretive structural modelling (ISM) approach followed by MICMAC analysis.

Effect of Gum Arabic and Starch-Based Coating and Different Polyliners on Postharvest Quality Attributes of Whole Pomegranate Fruit

This study investigated the effect of gum Arabic and starch-based coating and two polyliners (Liner 1-micro-perforated Xtend® and Liner 2-macro-perforated high-density polyethylene) on whole ‘Wonderful’ pomegranate fruit during cold storage (5 ± 1 °C and 95 ± 2% RH). Uncoated (UC) and coated (GAMS) fruit were packaged into standard open top ventilated cartons (dimensions: 0.40 m long, 0.30 m wide and 0.12 m high) with (GAMS + Liner 1, GAMS + Liner 2, UC + Liner 1 and UC + Liner 2) or without (UC and GAMS) polyliners. After 42 d, treatment GAMS + Liner 1 recorded the least weight loss (4.82%), whilst GAMS recorded lower (8.77%) weight loss than UC + Liner 2 (10.07%). The highest (24.74 mLCO2 kg−1h−1) and lowest (13.14 mLCO2 kg−1h−1) respiration rates were detected in UC and GAMS + Liner 1, respectively. The highest and lowest total soluble solids were recorded for GAMS (16.87 °Brix), and GAMS + Liner 1 (15.60 °Brix) and UC + Liner 1 (15.60 °Brix), respectively. Overall, no decay was detected for coated fruit packaged with either Liner 1 or Liner 2. Therefore, the combination of GAMS with Xtend® polyliners proved to be an effective treatment to maintain the quality of ‘Wonderful’ pomegranates during storage.

An Islamic Form of Logotherapy in the Treatment of Depression, Anxiety and Stress Symptoms in University Students in Iran

Previous research demonstrated that spiritually sensitive psychotherapy is an effective treatment for clients with depression or anxiety, with outcomes equivalent to secular control interventions. The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of spiritually sensitive logotherapy intervention in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in university students in Iran. Sixty students with elevated depression symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory II, BDI-II, 22 or greater) were randomly assigned to either a twelve-session group logotherapy programme or a control group. Results showed that spiritually sensitive logotherapy significantly reduced depression, anxiety, and stress, and significantly more so than in the control group (e.g. interaction effect for BDI-II: F = 56.8, p < 0.001, with a large effect size).

Primary and Secondary Cone Cell Death Mechanisms in Inherited Retinal Diseases and Potential Treatment Options

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a leading cause of blindness. To date, 260 disease-causing genes have been identified, but there is currently a lack of available and effective treatment options. Cone photoreceptors are responsible for daylight vision but are highly susceptible to disease progression, the loss of cone-mediated vision having the highest impact on the quality of life of IRD patients. Cone degeneration can occur either directly via mutations in cone-specific genes (primary cone death), or indirectly via the primary degeneration of rods followed by subsequent degeneration of cones (secondary cone death). How cones degenerate as a result of pathological mutations remains unclear, hindering the development of effective therapies for IRDs. This review aims to highlight similarities and differences between primary and secondary cone cell death in inherited retinal diseases in order to better define cone death mechanisms and further identify potential treatment options.

Effective treatment of different types of polycystic ovary syndrome in adolescent girls

This review is addressing an urgent problem of diagnosis and treatment strategy of polycystic ovary syndrome in adolescent girls. We analysed data from modern literary publications on the epidemiology and classification of the disease, as well as the adaptation of general principles for the management of young female patients tailored to their age peculiarities. The effective treatment strategies for adolescent girls with PCOS depending on its type are presented. Today there are several contradictions associated with both the diagnosis and treatment of the disease in the medical community. Thus, the use of the well-known Rotterdam criteria makes it difficult to diagnose PCOS in adolescent girls, since the criteria do not take into account characteristic changes that occur during puberty. Such manifestations as acne, hirsutism, menstrual irregularities, high androgen levels and morphology of polycystic ovaries on pelvic ultrasound imaging should be assessed with due account for age, puberty, hormonal balance with an assessment of the ratio of LH (luteinizing hormone)/FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and Free Androgen Index. There is no consensus in the medical community regarding the treatment strategy for PCOS. International communities have identified two main goals in the management of patients: normalization of menstrual function and improvement of the patients’ quality of life by preventing clinical symptoms of hyperandrogenism, and metabolic disorders of hyperplastic processes in target organs.Our analysis of objective scientific data showed that modern monophasic combined oral contraceptives (COCs) supplemented by of a folate component should be used to treat young female patients with PCOS, hyperandrogenism and psychosomatic disorders.

AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF LOW BACK PAIN WITH MODIFIED ABHYANGA: A CASE STUDY

Low back pain is one of the widespread health problems and the leading cause of activity limitation and work absence worldwide. Among the types of low back pain, low back pain due to mechanical causes is more common. Abhyanga is an effective treatment for low back pain, which can be done as an OPD level treatment without causing much financial burden. Though it is a widely practised procedure, we did not explore its possibilities properly. Abhyanga can be modified by incorporating other massage techniques like Swedish massage for better application. Cupping is a variety of tapotement massage techniques of a Swedish massage. Abhyanga performed along with the cupping massage techniques is very effective in managing low back pain. A 45year old lady patient came to OPD complaining of low back pain. On examination, stooping posture during her work hours was concluded as the reason for the pain. She was treated with modified Abhyanga with moorchita tilataila for seven days. The procedure duration was 20 minutes. Treatment was found to be effective after treatment and after follow up as her symptoms wholly vanished.