Geochemical characterization of heavy metal bearing phases in the sediments of Ganges, India: analyzing the toxicity status of sedimentary environment.

The present study characterizes the heavy metal contamination in the bottom sediments of the Ganga River and the toxicity status of the associated aquatic environment. Cd was identified as a heavy metal of substantial concern, with levels surpassing baseline values, showing the effect of anthropogenic factors such as untreated urban-industrial wastewater and runoff from agricultural regions, among other local causes. The grain size distribution reveals that sediments contain dominant sand fractions (up to 60%), followed by silt and a small percentage of clay fractions.

Agromorphological and biochemical characterization of mutagens induced M3 mutant lines of grasspea.

Grasspea is one of the important cool season legumes in India and it is hardy in nature. Although this crop is robust, it is not commonly grown because presence of more amount of the β-N-oxalyl-L-α, β diaminopropionic acid (β-ODAP) in the seeds and it causes neurolathyrism. Due to low levels of genetic variation in β-ODAP content in grasspea made it difficult to improve through traditional breeding.

Multi-Facet analysis of analytical and numerical models to resolve sustainable artificial recharge rates in unconfined aquifers.

Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) has emerged as a potential solution to resolve water insecurity, globally. However, integrated studies quantifying the surplus source water, suitable recharge sites and safe recharge capacity is limited. In this study, a novel methodology is presented to quantify transient injection rates in unconfined aquifers and generate MAR suitability maps based on estimated surplus water and permissible aquifer recharge capacity (PARC).

A decision support system for localized planning of reclaimed water around wastewater treatment plants.

Exploding population, industrialization, and an increase in water pollution has led to acute shrinkage in freshwater availability. Numerous countries have started exploring municipal wastewater as a new potential source of water to bring a paradigm shift from linearity to obtaining circularity in human water cycle management. This study aims to develop a decision support system for integrated water and wastewater management (DSS_IWWM), targeted towards reuse-focused selection of appropriate wastewater treatment technology, and localized planning around STPs in terms of reclaimed water demand identification, estimation, allocation, and sustainable pricing.

Ecological impact of pharmaceutical pollutants and options of river health improvements - A risk analysis-based approach.

Pharmaceuticals are one of the emerging pollutants (EPs) in river waters across the world. Due to their toxic effects on aquatic organisms, they have drawn the global attention of the scientific community concerned with river ecosystems. This paper reviews the existing occurrence data for various pharmaceutical pollutants (PPs) reported in river waters in some part of the world and their ecological impacts.

Spatial distribution of heavy metals in the sediments of River Ganges, India: Occurrence, contamination, source identification, seasonal variations, mapping, and ecological risk evaluation.

Present study analyzed the seasonal and spatial distribution patterns, sources, and ecological risks of seven heavy metals (Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) in the sediments of River Ganges, finding that the majority of concentrations were lithologic, except for Cd, which was significantly higher than background standards. Elevated values of geochemical indices viz. I, CF, RI, C, mC, HQ, mHQ, and P suggest moderate to high ecological risk in the benthic environment and its organisms due to the synergistic effect of heavy metals.

Mannose-binding lectin gene 2 variant DD (rs 5030737) is associated with susceptibility to COVID-19 infection in the urban population of Patna City (India).

The study aimed to measure plasma levels of Mannose-Binding Lectin (MBL) and MBL-associated serine protease-2 (MASP-2) and their polymorphisms in COVID-19 patients and controls to detect association. As MBL is a protein of immunological importance, it may contribute to the first-line host defence against SARS-CoV-2. MBL initiates the lectin pathway of complement activation with help of MASP-1 and MASP-2.

Pharmaceuticals in water as emerging pollutants for river health: A critical review under Indian conditions.

The wastewaters from pharmaceutical manufacturing units, hospitals, and domestic sewage contaminated with excretal matters of medicine users are the prime sources of pharmaceutical pollutants (PPs) in natural water bodies. In the present study, PPs have been considered one of the emerging pollutants (EPs) and a cause of concern in river health assessment. Beyond the reported increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ABRB), PPs have been found adversely affecting the biotic diversity in such water environments.

Does Long-term Oxygen Therapy and Noninvasive Ventilation Predispose Rhino-orbital-cerebral Mucormycosis in COVID-19 Patients?

Kumar A, Kumar A, Kumar N, Kumar A, Sinha C, Singh PK. Does Long-term Oxygen Therapy and Noninvasive Ventilation Predispose Rhino-orbital-cerebral Mucormycosis in COVID-19 Patients? Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(9):1063-1064.

Investigation of an acute surge of COVID-19 associated mucormycosis (CAM) cases reported to a tertiary health care institution in Bihar, India.

Introduction: Acute surge in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID)-associated mucormycosis (CAM) cases was reported during mid-May 2021, which was later declared an epidemic in various states of India including Bihar.

Objective: We carried out a rapid investigation of CAM cases to describe the epidemiological and clinical profiles and find plausible predictors to guide the initiation of public health actions.

Methods: A team of public health specialists contacted all the CAM cases reported to our hospital to collect relevant information using a case-investigation-form.

Nitrate contamination in water resources, human health risks and its remediation through adsorption: a focused review.

The level of nitrate in water has been increasing considerably all around the world due to vast application of inorganic nitrogen fertiliser and animal manure. Because of nitrate's high solubility in water, human beings are getting exposed to it mainly through various routes including water, food etc. Various regulations have been set for nitrate (45-50 mgNO/L) in drinking water to protect health of the infants from the methemoglobinemia, birth defects, thyroid disease, risk of specific cancers, i.

Evaluation of C4b as an adjunct marker in symptomatic RT-PCR negative Covid-19 cases.

Introduction: Detecting low viral load has been a challenge in this pandemic, which has led to its escalated transmission. Complement activation has been implicated in pathogenesis of Covid-19 infection. Thus, evaluation of complement activation in suspected Covid-19 infection may help to detect infection and limit false negative cases thus limiting transmission of infection.

Clinicodemographic profile and predictors of poor outcome in hospitalised COVID-19 patients: a single-centre, retrospective cohort study from India.

Objectives: Primary objective was to study the clinicodemographic profile of hospitalised COVID-19 patients at a tertiary-care centre in India. Secondary objective was to identify predictors of poor outcome.

Setting: Single centre tertiary-care level.

Favourable outcome of severe COVID-19 patients in hyperinflammatory phase with high dose dexamethasone pulse therapy: A series of 10 cases.

The hyperinflammatory phase of COVID-19 occurring because of cytokine storm is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the affected patients. Various drugs with no definite cure are being tried to tackle the cytokine storm. Recently high dose corticosteroids are being used to arrest the surge of cytokines.

Clinico-Epidemiological Profile of Breakthrough COVID-19 Infection among Vaccinated Beneficiaries from a COVID-19 Vaccination Centre in Bihar, India.

Background: When the whole world is fighting in an unprecedented pace against COVID-19 pandemic, the breakthrough COVID infections poise to dampen the rapid control of the same. We carried out this project with two objectives; first, to estimate the proportion of breakthrough COVID-19 infection among completely vaccinated individuals and second, to study the clinico-epidemiological profile of breakthrough COVID-19 infections among them.

Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 2703 fully vaccinated individuals from AIIMS, Patna COVID Vaccination Centre (CVC), Bihar, India.

Antibiotic Prescribing Knowledge, Awareness, and Attitude of Dental Surgeons Practicing in the Urban Indian Population.

Background: Studies have reported that dental procedures may serve as a portal of entry for bacteria into the blood circulation, commonly termed as bacteremia which may inhabitate the heart and joints subjected to repair and replacement by prosthesis and may lead to complications in immunocompromised patients. Dental procedure may play a pivotal role in the development of infective endocarditis and infection around the prosthetic joint. Antibiotic use is suggested for all dental procedures requiring gingival manipulation or of the periapical region of teeth or mucosal incision in these patients.

Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine in preventing infection and disease severity: a case-control study from an Eastern State of India.

Effectiveness of corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccines used in India is unexplored and need to be substantiated. The present case-control study was planned to elicit the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing infection and disease severity in the general population of Bihar, India. This case-control study was conducted among people aged ≥45 years during April to June 2021.

Biochar Adsorbents for Arsenic Removal from Water Environment: A Review.

Arsenic intake can cause human health disorders to the lungs, urinary tract, kidney, liver, hyper-pigmentation, muscles, neurological and even cancer. Biochar is potent, economical and ecologically sound adsorbents for water purification. After surface modifications, adsorption capacity of biochar significantly increased due to high porosity and reactivity.

Metallic contamination of global river sediments and latest developments for their remediation.

This review article represents the comparative study of heavy metal concentration in water and sediments of 43 important global rivers. The review is a solitary effort in the area of heavy metal contamination of river-sediments during last ten years. The interpretation of heavy metal contamination in sediments has been verified with different indices, factors, codes and reference guidelines, which is based on geochemical data linked to background value of metals.

Low flow nasal oxygen supplementation in addition to non-rebreathing mask: An alternative to high flow nasal cannula oxygenation for acute hypoxemic COVID-19 patients in resource limited settings.

Approximately 14% COVID-19 patients, develop acute hypoxic respiratory failure. A high flow nasal cannula device might be preferred to obtain an oxygen saturation above 90% in these cases. In resource limited settings, where high flow nasal cannula is not an option, additional low flow oxygen therapy through nasal prongs could be added to non-rebreathing mask with a reservoir bag.

Persistent positivity of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid in asymptomatic healthcare worker: infective virion or inactive nucleic acid?

Asymptomatic individuals positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA constitute a significant proportion of the infected population and play a role in the transmission of the virus. We describe a healthcare worker who presented with fever and malaise and was diagnosed with mild COVID-19. The symptoms resolved within 4 days but there was persistent positivity of viral RNA in the upper respiratory tract for more than 58 days, which is the longest reported duration of persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in a healthcare worker.