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Countries with Higher Vaccination Coverage Experienced Reduced Fatality During the COVID-19 “Omicron” Fifth Wave – A Post Wave Analysis
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 2, June 2022
Pages:
18-22
Received:
2 April 2022
Accepted:
15 April 2022
Published:
22 April 2022
DOI:
10.11648/j.bsi.20220702.11
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Abstract: By the end of 2021, the outbreak of the COVID-19 caused approximately 265 million confirmed cases and 5.2 million deaths globally. On November 2021, the “Omicron” variant of the COVID-19 has emerged, and led to a massive outbreak in many countries worldwide. Despite the fact that the Omicron variant was considered less fatal compared to the previous variants, its prompt spread caused the biggest number of cases, and as a result the biggest number of deaths. At the beginning of the Omicron wave, some vaccines against COVID-19 existed. These vaccines were proved to be effective against the previous COVID-19 variants. However, their efficiency against the Omicron variant was questionable. This study examines whether, by the end of the Omicron wave, there is an association between the vaccination level of a country and the fatality of the Omicron variant in this country during the fifth wave. To evaluate the association, data on COVID-19 cases, COVID-19 deaths, and doses of vaccination per 100 people for 20 countries in which fifth COVID-19 wave (the “Omicron” wave) was observed were retrieved from a real-time available website. Based on the collected data, Case Fatality Rate (CFR) accumulated for the “Omicron” wave period was evaluated for each country. A linear regression model was conducted to predict the CFR of each country for the COVID-19 “Omicron” variant wave as a function of the vaccine administrated per 100 people. The results of this study suggest a strong statistically significant negative association between the vaccination level of a country and the fatality of the Omicron variant during the Omicron wave, i.e., countries which entered the “Omicron” wave with higher vaccination level had lower CFR. This post-wave analysis demonstrates that the vaccines developed so far have a protective effect against the fatality of the Omicron variant. Promoting the administration of the vaccine and by that increasing the vaccination level of a country may reduce fatality in the next coming COVID-19 waves.
Abstract: By the end of 2021, the outbreak of the COVID-19 caused approximately 265 million confirmed cases and 5.2 million deaths globally. On November 2021, the “Omicron” variant of the COVID-19 has emerged, and led to a massive outbreak in many countries worldwide. Despite the fact that the Omicron variant was considered less fatal compared to the previou...
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Chicken Health and Ethno-veterinary Practices in Benishangul-gumuz Regional State, Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 2, June 2022
Pages:
23-30
Received:
16 April 2022
Accepted:
13 May 2022
Published:
24 May 2022
DOI:
10.11648/j.bsi.20220702.12
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Abstract: This research aimed to assess village chicken production systems, health constraints, and ethno-veterinary practices in the three agro-ecologies of the Benishangul-Gumuz regional state. The woredas included were Assosa and Bambasi for midland, Kamash, and Dembie for lowland, and Maokomo special woreda for highland agro-ecologies. They were selected purposively based on agro-ecology, chicken production potential, and accessibility. The respondents who have experience in chicken production were included. Semi-structured interviews, field observations, and group discussions were used to collect data. About 91 respondents participated in the survey study. All of them were extensive chicken producers, and the average flock size was 10, ranging from 3 to 43 chicken per household, with a hen to cock ratio of 0.8:1, 2.46:1, and 2.3:1 for hybrid, local, and exotic chicken respectively, with the overall hen to cock ratio of 2.37:1. Only 22% of respondents construct proper chicken houses. The major constraints identified in the area were chicken diseases (54.8%), lack of improved breeds, feed shortages, lack of veterinary service, and loss of chicken by predators. Diarrhea and respiratory signs were the major symptoms observed during infection. Disease occurrence was higher in the wet (69.8%) than in the dry (30.2%) season, and the severity of disease as a constraint was higher in the long-rainy season. About 46.4% and 44.3% of respondents visit veterinary clinics and use traditional medicines respectively to treat their chicken. Plant species from the families Alliaceae (23.9%), Rutaceae (23.9%), Solanaceae (21.1%), and Zingiberaceae (11.1%) were commonly used in traditional medicine practices to treat infected chicken. Common chicken predators identified in the area were the accipitrine, wild cat, and eagle. Prevention methods practiced are keeping chicken in the house, and making the area clean. And a large body of information has been generated regarding traditional practices in the area to take care of their chicken. Thus, further studies should be conducted to evaluate the chemical composition and efficacy of active ingredients against chicken pathogens to facilitate the discovery of alternative medicines. Proper chicken management, improvement of veterinary service, and the introduction of improved chicken are mandatory for better chicken performance. Extra care is also recommended in the rainy than the dry season.
Abstract: This research aimed to assess village chicken production systems, health constraints, and ethno-veterinary practices in the three agro-ecologies of the Benishangul-Gumuz regional state. The woredas included were Assosa and Bambasi for midland, Kamash, and Dembie for lowland, and Maokomo special woreda for highland agro-ecologies. They were selected...
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Investigation of the Anti-tubercular Potential of Selected Phytochemicals Using Computational Approach
Vikas Jha,
Ajit Kumar,
Geetika Preman,
Kunal Gharat,
Muskaan Mulani,
Shalmali Pendse,
Kabir Thakur,
Anjali Bhosale,
Siddhartha Pandya,
Arpita Marick
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 2, June 2022
Pages:
31-40
Received:
31 May 2022
Accepted:
20 June 2022
Published:
30 June 2022
DOI:
10.11648/j.bsi.20220702.13
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Abstract: While tuberculosis is a curable disease, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb), its etiological agent, remains a major human pathogen. For thousands of years of human life, this pathogen leads to more human deaths than any other infectious agent. Relatively affordable new drugs for the treatment of this lethal disease need to be developed in light of global TB infections. The current study aims to screen a broad spectrum of bioactive compounds, along with standard anti-tubercular drugs against Topoisomerase II protein of Mtb. The Lipinski rule was employed for the initial screening of the phytochemicals based on their pharmacokinetic properties. The 75 shortlisted compounds were subjected to molecular docking analysis with the Topoisomerase II receptor, which revealed six molecules Glyceollin-I, Fumarine, Chelidonine, Alstonine, Tuberosin, and Asarinin, as potential inhibitors against the receptor. Furthermore, the toxicity profiles of these six compounds were evaluated, and Glyceollin-I, Alstonine, and Tuberosin were shown to be the safest as compared to the others. The MD simulation analyses of these compounds in complexation with the receptor confirmed that the receptor-Alstonine complex was the most stable. Thus, the findings of our study will contribute to a better understanding of the Mycobacterial Topoisomerase II protein target and pave the way for the development of a novel therapeutic candidate drug to treat this disease.
Abstract: While tuberculosis is a curable disease, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb), its etiological agent, remains a major human pathogen. For thousands of years of human life, this pathogen leads to more human deaths than any other infectious agent. Relatively affordable new drugs for the treatment of this lethal disease need to be developed in light of ...
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