Association of COVID-19 with obesity Association of COVID-19 with obesity

COVID-19 is a disease that cause respiratory illness due to novel corona virus. It was reported to WHO on December 31,2019 for the first time. The outbreak of this disease started from Wuhan city, China. Now COVID-19 pandemic is spreading worldwide mostly in Europe and North America, these regions have high prevalence of obesity. In the pathogenesis of COVID-19 disease, obesity assumes a significant job. Theinsusceptible framework, which is official in the pathogenesis of COVID19, assumes asignificant job in weight instigated fat tissue aggravation. In the fat tissue the irritationbrings about metabolic brokenness conceivably prompting dyslipidemia, type 2diabetes mellitus, insulin obstruction, hypertension and cardiovascular sickness. Obesity has been expanded the vulnerability to contaminations. In this pandemic, a large number of obese individual with Covid-19 are reported. Infection rate in obese is greater due to poor immunity, comorbidity and inadequate nutritional needs. Statistical analysis showed that about 41.7% patients reported in New York city were obese. Whereas 40% obese have been reported in United State of America with Covid-19. A report from UK indicated that 38% obese were admitted in ICU with Covid-19. According to Chinese researchers, obese individuals are 3-timesmore prone toward the development of Covid-19. So recent analysis indicated that obesity is the major risk factor of Covid-19. In COVID-19, overweight and obese patients have high danger of metabolic difficultiesand eternal infections that stoutness works. More nutrition care is required for such patients. As nutrition is a key factor for keeping up human wellbeing, for example, denseimpervious framework and satisfactory admission of supplements and dietaryenhancements. Tolerant with COVID-19 create contamination from slight to seriousindications bound to the dietary status. Consequently, assessing wholesome status ofindividuals with contamination turns out to be increasingly significant. Through dietaryhelp, we can bring down the danger of oxidative pressure, infection contamination andexpands invulnerability framework among obese people especially.

Development of an Indigenous Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction for the Diagnosis of Malaria

INTRODUCTION Establishing highly sensitive, affordable diagnostic test covering all species of malaria is needed in countries like Pakistan that has significant prevalence of this disease. Conventional tests, like microscopy are widely used but it has certain performance related limitations. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for plasmodium have not achieved greater sensitivity than microscopy. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based methods have shown lot of promise and these are replacing microscopy as gold standard. OBJECTIVES To establish a real time PCR for malaria diagnosis and to compare its accuracy with microscopy and an antigen based RDT. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING This cross sectional analytical study was conducted at Military Hospital and Armed forces Institute of Pathology Rawalpindi, Pakistan from January 2011 to December 2011. SUBJECTS The study included 300 clinically suspected patients of malaria. 3 METHODS Venous blood sample from each patient was tested for malarial parasite by microscopy and antigen detection assay (OptiMal). Parasite index was calculated. Plasmodium genus specific in house real time PCR, on all specimens was performed targeting small subunit rRNA gene. Diagnostic accuracy of three tests were compared and cost analysis done. RESULTS Out of 300 patients malaria parasite was detected in 110, 106 and 123 patients by microscopy, OptiMAL and PCR respectively. Real time PCR was 100% sensitive while microscopy and OptiMal had sensitivity of 89.4% and 86.2% respectively. All methods were 100% specific. The cost per test was 0.2, 2.75 and 3.30 US$ by microscopy, OptiMal and PCR respectively, excluding the once capital cost on PCR equipment. Conclusion: Real time PCR for diagnosis of malaria was successfully established. The technique is highly sensitive and affordable. It is recommended to be incorporated in the diagnostic algorithm for malaria in Pakistan. Key Words: Malaria, Microscopy, Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).