Use of Masks as a Preventative Public Health Strategy to Limit the Spread of COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory infectious disease that has caused a global pandemic of unprecedented proportions. There has been a lot of discussion and debate in social media and by public health experts about the effectiveness of masks as a preventative strategy to decrease transmission of this virus. There are two modes in which mask may be beneficial: i) To serve as a physical barrier against the virus entering or leaving the oral-nasal passages of mask wearers, and ii) to decrease the risk that the person wearing the mask might pass the virus on to someone else (e.g., via coughing). The focus of this review is on the efficacy of different masks-types, and their demonstrated effectiveness in mitigating transmission from a global perspective. Our findings reveal that the use of commercially manufactured mask greatly decreases the distribution of COVID-19, whereas single layer homemade masks also provide protection by decreasing the viral dose of exposure and limit outward aerosol particle emissions. We argue that masks are a critical component in the arsenal of public health strategies to decrease transmission of viruses, including handwashing, maintaining social distancing (2 meters), limiting large gatherings of people, isolation of suspected cases, screening, and contact tracing.

Staphylococcal and Streptococcal Septic Arthritis in the Elderly

In our study, septic arthritis due to Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcal species was more common in the elderly. This contrasts with Lyme arthritis which has a higher incidence in younger patients. The majority of joint infections were in the elderly, with a median age of 65 (range 14-95) for Staphylococcus aureus and 70 for Streptococcal species. The age range of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) septic arthritis was 27-95 (median 72) with 39/53 (73.6%) above age 60. The age range of Streptococcal arthritis patients was 36-86 (median 70). There were more males with septic arthritis for both Staphylococcus aureus (86/134) 64% and streptococci (12/22) 55%. The most frequently involved joint was the knee, 49.3% for S. aureus followed by hip (23.9%), elbow (14.3%), shoulder (14%), wrist (1.5%), ankle (0.75%) and sternoclavicular (0.75%). The knee was affected in 81% of Streptococcal infections, with the rest equally divided between the hip, elbow, acromioclavicular and ankle joints. The history of prior joint replacement in patients with septic arthritis was 21/28 (80%) for MRSA, 36/102 (35.3%) for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and 9/21 (43%) for streptococcal arthritis suggestive of healthcare-associated infections. Our results suggest a need for improvements to prevent the entry of pathogens into the surgical site during and after surgery.

Analysis of an Epidemiological Anomaly of COVID-19: Transcultural and Immunological Psychiatry

Evidence exists for an epidemiological trend of transmission concentrations of COVID-19 within migrant communities from tropical weather conditions. Minority groups are over-represented in hospitalisations and deaths from the virus, and it appears that the observed anomaly may be due to multifactorial causes. Underactive immune responses in cooler temperatures and diminished synthesis of vitamin D, both of which are associated with genetic factors among ethnic minority groups, could help to explain the higher incidence of COVID-19 among ethnic minority communities. Neither factor is specific to a migrant community but common to general populations. The overstatement of contributory genetic factors runs the risk of racial stigmatisation. If environmental factors are given their due importance, individuals belonging to ethnic minorities may try to adopt new ways to combat the pandemic, while overemphasising racial factors would only leave them helpless. The renewed interest of psychiatrists in immunology would support the emerging field of immunopsychiatry. COVID-19 is environmentally sensitive, and all medical specialities, including the mental health profession, should contribute their wisdom to defeating or making a truce with the viral phenomenon.

Seroprevalence of Treponema pallidum Among Residents of Yemetu, A SemiUrban Community in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

Introduction: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted bacterial disease transmitted during vaginal, anal and oral sex. Pregnant women can also pass the disease to their unborn babies. However, it thrives in dirty and unhealthy environment which has made its spread uncontrollable. Therefore, this community-based study was carried out in Yemetu community in Ibadan to determine the burden of syphilis infection among the asymptomatic residents of this community. Methodology: Blood samples were aseptically collected from consenting one hundred and fifty male (m=49 and female (f=101) participants, age ranged 15 to >55 years who volunteered to take part in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to capture demographic data and other relevant information from these participants. Sera from these blood samples were tested for syphilis antibodies using a 3rd generation Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent-Assay (ELISA) kit, syphilis Ab version Ultra. Data were analysed using Chi-squared and ANOVA with p<0.05 considered as significant. Results: An overall seroprevalence rate for Treponema pallidum/syphilis in this study was 1.3%. Syphilis infection was higher among male (2.1%) than in female (1.0%), 1.6 times higher in male compared to their female counterparts (OR=1.57, 95% CI 1.43-2.81) and also statistically significant (p=0.0313). Highest rate (4.1%) of the infection was detected in age group >55 years while lowest rate (3.8%) of syphilis infection was found in age group 15-24 years. A total of 46 (30.7%) participants claimed to practice multiple sexual partnership with 2 (4.3%) of them positive for Treponema pallidum and this was found to be statistically significant (p=0.043). Furthermore, distribution of Treponema pallidum infection by marital status in the study community showed that highest prevalence (2.4%) was found among the single while lowest rate (1.2%) was detected among married participants. Among the occupational groups, highest Treponema pallidum infection rate (3.6%) was found among artisans and the lowest rate of 3.5% was among the students. Conclusion: Although this study reported low prevalence for syphilis infection in this community among asymptomatic population, this rate is however of public health importance. Therefore, public awareness for hygiene, high risky behaviour including voluntary counseling and testing for syphilis should be advocated.

Face Mask Wearing in Public Places is Pseudoscience and Antithesis: A New Tool Adopted for COVID-19 Control

Infection prevention and control is a scientific approach, application and practical solution of the designed to prevent harm caused by the infectious agents. Control Measures occupies unique and safe positions in terms of patient Safety and quality health for those the measures are directed towards [1].

SARS-Cov-2 Natural or Artificial? That is the Question

The COVID-19 pandemic has become the most serious health problem of the 21st century. Knowing whether its origin was natural or artificial is an extremely important fact, especially due to the ethical debate that should be generated on gain-of-function investigations in high-security laboratories around the world. We analyse all the existing evidence on the possible origin of the SARS-CoV-2 trying to join the pieces and thus obtain an overview that allows us to see beyond the isolated publications.

Evaluation of Anticancer Activities of Clerodendrum formicarum Gurke (Lamiaceae) and Syzygium Cordatum Hochst ex Krauss (Myrtaceae) Harvested in the City of Lubumbashi and its Surroundings in the Democratic Republic Of The Congo

The main objective of this study was to extract the essential oils from Clerodendrum formicarum and Syzygium cordatum in order to determine the anticancer activity and establish the chemical constituents of that kind of essential oils. Hence, we have used hydrodistillation method to obtain the desired extracts or samples of essential oils. Indeed, the assessment of the anticancer activities showed that, at 100 µg/mL, the essential oils from S. cordatum inhibited the proliferation (98.2%) of breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. In the same context, the essential oils from C. formicarum also inhibited the proliferation (98.9%) of breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. We have additionally determined the chemical composition of the essential oils by GC-MS and identified 17 compounds in C. formicarum including caryophyllene (18.6%), (E)-3,7-dimethylocta1,3,6-triene (7.6%), β-Myrcene (6.2%), and [1S-(1α, 7α, 8α)]-1,8a-dimethyl-7-(1-methylethenyl)- 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydronaphthalene (5.6%) as major compounds. We have observed an unknown compound (25%) in the essential oils from C. formicarum (H-12) The chemical analysis showed 28 compounds in S. cordatum (HE-9) essential oils such as caryophyllene (7.2%) and cedrene (6.7%) as major compounds

Variation of Fatty Acids and Antioxidants Contents of Vegetarian Rayeb Milk as Affected by Fortification with Natural and Artificial Sweeteners

Rayeb milk (bio-stirred yogurt) samples were prepared from cow milk sesame milk or cow and sesame milk mixture (1:1) with or without adding sucrose (5%), honey (5%), fructose (2.5%) and sorbitol (1.5%) and using ABT-5 culture. Results showed levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA), short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and medium chain fatty acids (MCFA were lower whereas values of unsaturated fatty acids (USFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUSFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUSFA) and long chain fatty acids (LCFA) were higher in sesame milk Rayeb than that of Rayeb manufactured from cow milk. Rayeb made from cow and sesame mixture had higher levels of antioxidant activity than Rayeb prepared from cow milk or sesame milk. The acidity, total solids and total volatile fatty acids values of Rayeb milk treatments contained sweeteners were higher than that of control. The addition of sweeteners decreased SFA, SCFA and MCFA and increased USFA, MUSFA, PUSFA, LCFA and antioxidant activity values of Rayeb milk. Essential fatty acids, linoleic acid (omega-6), α-linolenic acid (omega-3) and oleic acid (omega-9) greatly increased in Rayeb made from cow and sesame milk mixture. Adding sweeteners had the same effect. Fortification of Rayeb milk with sweeteners highly improved the smell, taste, mouth feel, texture and body evaluation scores.

Bfp Adhesions and EspA Filament by Enteropathogenic E.Coli in Relation to Pathogenesis of Infantile Diarrhea in Children Under 5 Years in Mansoura University Children Hospital

Background: Our study was applied aiming to detect the biofilm formation by the Enteropathogenic E. coli causing diarrhea and to investigate the relation between the Bfp adhesions and EspA filament containing strains with the severity of diarrhea in children under 5 years in Mansoura University Children Hospital, Egypt. Methods: It was carried out by identification of EPEC, Serological agglutination test, Biofilm Formation under static condition at 3,6,9,24 hours. Results: Out of 103 children with diarrhea, 50 E. coli were isolated, 16 (32%) were EPEC and 34 (68%) were non-EPEC. The CFU mean± SD of biofilm of 16 EPEC isolates at 4 time points 3, 6, 9, 24h are 108- 1013, 69.5910±24.9310, 106-109, 20.2948±3.96778, 107-1011, 13.92×1010±3.376×1010, 109-1015, 6.402×1013± 2.496×1013. The relation of the biofilm formation and the severity of diarrhea in 16 EPEC isolates including 5 typical EPEC isolates and11 atypical EPEC reveals significant relation between the duration of the diarrhea and biofilm formation P=0.001**. Conclusion: EPEC is capable of forming biofilms on plastic under static and flow through-continuous conditions which correlate to the severity of the diarrhea in children under 5 years.

Outbreak of Encephalitis Caused by Human Herpesvirus Type 1 (HSV-1) in NonHuman Captive Primates in São Paulo, SP, Brazil

Human herpesvirus type 1 (HSV-1), a Alphaherpesvirinae, has a broad range of cross-species infectivity with considerable variation in expression and disease severity among different hosts. Infection in humans, results in mild disease characterized by mucocutaneous lesions. In some species of nonhuman primates, however, the infection can be lethal. Transmission occurs through food contaminated by humans with labial herpes, offered to monkeys, constituting an important anthropozoonosis. In this study, we describe the occurrence of two outbreaks of encephalitis caused by HSV-1, occurring in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The first outbreak affected a Brown howler monkey and three marmosets. The Brown howler monkey had tongue ulcers and enteritis and the marmosets were found dead without presenting clinical symptomatology. The second outbreak affected ten marmosets that were found dead suddenly in the enclosure without presenting symptoms or clinical signs. Organ fragments were processed for transmission electron microscopy, histopathology and inoculation in cell culture techniques. Ballooning degeneration, foci of monolymphocytic inflammatory reaction, corpuscle of eosinophilic inclusion, monolymphocytic meningitis and desquamative monolymphocytic enterocolitis, were the main lesions observed by histopathology. By the negative staining technique, enveloped and non-enveloped, herpesvirus particles were found, measuring 120-200 nm in diameter in all samples of organ fragments. The presence of aggregates formed by antigenantibody complex, characterized the positive result obtained in the immunoelectron microscopy technique for HSV-1. Using the immunocytochemistry technique, the antigen-antibody interaction was strongly enhanced by the colloidal gold particles over the herpesvirus, confirming the presence of HSV-1. Intranuclear incomplete particles measuring 80-100 nm in diameter and complete or enveloped scattered in the cytoplasm, were visualized in ultrathin sections of liver and cell culture measuring 140 nm of diameter. Immature particles budding from cell membranes were also observed. In viral isolation in VERO cells, typical cytopathic effect was observed in brain samples.