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Background The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization. A total of three waves across most of the states in India have been reported to date, during which strict lockdown was imposed and conditional relaxations were offered between the subsequent waves. Amid the high morbidity and mortality, there has been severe psychological distress among people which has led to mental health impairment. Methodology We investigated the level of fear in the Indian population due to COVID-19 using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCS-19) and various factors influencing it. A cross-sectional study was undertaken across India among participants more than 18 years of age by recruiting participants through social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Instagram. Along with the FCS-19 questionnaire, sociodemographic information about the participants, preexisting history of comorbidities, and psychiatric illnesses were collected. The study sample was drawn by convenience technique, and the data were collected over two months from October 2021 to December 2021. Results A total of 419 participants (212 females and 207 males) participated in the study. The mean FCS-19 score of the population was 18.29 ± 6.43 (SD). Participants with a history of COVID-19-related deaths in their own family or surrounding areas had a significantly higher FCS-19 score than those without a history of COVID-19-related deaths. The mean FCS-19 score for healthcare professionals was also significantly lower than for other professions. FCS-19 scores were significantly higher among participants with psychiatric conditions than those without. Conclusions The study showed a positive association between a preexisting mental health disease and FCS-19 score and a negative association if the participant was a healthcare professional. While other factors such as age, gender, residential area, and preexisting comorbidity did not show a significant association with fear associated with COVID-19.

Hepatitis A is a frequent form of hepatitis, especially in children. The changing epidemiology of the disease signifies the need for descriptive data concerning the clinical presentation and outcome of hepatitis A in children. The present study describes the clinical and biochemical profile of children with hepatitis A infection from a tertiary care center in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra in Western India. One hundred patients between one and 18 years of age, presenting with symptoms/signs such as nausea, anorexia, vomiting, jaundice, abdominal pain, tender hepatomegaly, bleeding manifestations, or encephalopathy, were enrolled for the study. Serologically confirmed cases by detecting immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies against hepatitis A virus (HAV) were enrolled in the study. A detailed case proforma noted the clinical features and details such as age, gender, area, water supply, socioeconomic status, season, and biochemical parameters. Most patients (45%) were among the age group of one to five years. Fever was reported in 96 (96%) patients, abdominal pain in 78 (78%) patients, dark-colored urine in 65 (65%) patients, vomiting in 47 (47%) patients, and anorexia in 63 (63%) patients. Icterus was found in 80 (80%) patients and hepatomegaly in 74 (74%) patients. In 61 (61%) patients, serum total bilirubin level on the first day was 1-4 mg/dL. Sixty-five (65%) patients were using tap water as the water source, and the maximum number of patients (43%) came in August. Most patients belonged to the class IV group (61%) as per the modified Kuppuswamy classification. Most patients were 10 years or below, presenting predominantly with fever, abdominal pain, dark-colored urine, vomiting, and anorexia. Icterus and hepatomegaly were found in three-fourths or more of the patients. Around monsoon (June to September), there was the highest frequency of cases, and the socioeconomic status of most of the patients was within lower or upper-lower categories.

Introduction Alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) is a medical condition characterized by regular and excessive consumption of alcohol. ADS is a brain disorder wherein people consume alcohol despite knowing the physical, social, and financial consequences. Zinc and magnesium are microelements that are essential in the proper functioning of human physiological and biological processes. However, the homeostasis of these microelements' is disturbed among ADS patients. The present study aims to assess Zinc and magnesium activities among ADS patients and age-matched controls. Methods The study included 100 ADS patients and an equal number of the control group and was conducted between August and September 2021. The study was performed after acquiring approval from the institutional ethics committee. All the study cases were patients attending the department of Psychiatry, RVM Institute of Medical SciencesResearch Centre who were diagnosed with ADS. Both groups used the colorimetric method on ERBA Chem 5+ semi autoanalyzer to estimate serum zinc and magnesium levels. Results Among the 100 cases of ADS, 84 (84%) were males, and 16 (16%) were females. Patients were between the age group of 20 and 68 (mean: 42.8 years). Of the 100 controls, 84 (84%) were males, and 16 (16%) were females with a mean age of 43.1 years. The activities of Zinc among ADS patients and the control group were 88.53±18.7 μg/dL and 144.9±38.47 μg/dL (p0.0001), respectively. The activities of magnesium among the ADS patients and the control group were 1.96±0.46 mg/dL and 2.88±0.4 mg/dL (p0.0001), respectively. Conclusions The activities of Zinc and magnesium have been noted to be significantly lower among ADS patients. Because both these microelements play a vital role in human cells' metabolic and physiologic activities, therapeutic interventions to compensate for such deficiencies while managing ADS patients may prove beneficial.

Introduction Cytokine storm is central in the pathobiology of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The pro-inflammatory state and hypoxia disrupt erythropoiesis leading to alterations in red cell distribution width (RDW) and hematocrit. Platelet production increases alongside its destruction, inviting newly formed immature platelets into the circulation. Thus, the platelet distribution width (PDW) and mean platelet volume (MPV) are also affected. The study's objective is to analyze these indices and C-reactive protein (CRP) to elucidate prognostic insights in COVID-19 patients at the time of admission. Methodology This study was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at Chigateri General Hospital, attached to JJM Medical College, Davangere, over two months, July and August of 2020. Patients falling under categories B and C according to the interim guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India were enrolled in this study. Patients requiring mechanical ventilation and those with a prior diagnosis of malignancy were excepted from the study. Results The study population comprised a total of hundred patients. Seventy-five patients survived the disease and were discharged; twenty-five patients succumbed to the viral illness. The mean age of survivors (43.0 +/- 13.6 years) was significantly lesser than that of non-survivors (59.1 +/- 11.5 years) (p

Background and objective Neutrophils are primarily responsible for activating the immune system, and systemic inflammation destroys CD4+ T lymphocytes and increases suppressor CD8+ T lymphocytes, thereby leading to an increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). An increase in the apoptosis of lymphocytes leads to lymphopenia and elevated thrombopoietin (THPO) promotes megakaryocyte production. The reflections of these inflammatory changes can be vital in gauging the progression of the disease. This study aimed at examining the prognostic value of normal and derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, lymphocyte-to-monocyte, platelet-to-lymphocyte, and mean platelet volume (MPV)-to-platelet count ratios in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methodology This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted in the wards of Chigateri General Hospital, Davangere for a period of two months. Complete blood count was ordered for all patients at the time of admission along with confirmation of the disease by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results The final study population consisted of 100 patients. The mean age of patients who survived (43 years) was significantly lower than the mean age of non-survivors (59.1 years), with a p-value of