Showing 5 results for Srinivasan
Volume 9, Issue 3 (Summer 2023)
Abstract
Background: The present study aimed to compare the clinical outcome as well as laboratory and clinical profiles of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with and without diabetes.
Materials & Methods: The present study is a retrospective study that included 266 non-diabetic and 259 diabetic patients who were admitted to a tertiary healthcare center in South India between March 2021 to April 2021.The objective of the study was to compare the clinical outcome and laboratory profiles of COVID-19 patients with and without diabetes. Patients aged 18 years or above, diagnosed with COVID-19 by either RT-PCR and/or HRCT chest as well as diagnosed to be diabetic or non-diabetic were included in the study. After observing inclusion and exclusion criteria, the study included patients whose medical records were scrutinized, and data was analyzed using SPSS v 28.0 and the continuous variables were expressed in mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum value. The categorical variables are expressed in frequency and percentage. Comparison was done using binomial test and Mann-Whitney U test while association was tested using Fischer exact test.
Findings: Primary outcomes show that higher number of patients with diabetes (84.94%) presented with abnormal Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and this difference was found to a statistically significant (p<0.001). Hypertension was the most common comorbidity among both diabetic (46.72%) and non-diabetic (33.52%) patients and it was shown to be associated with clinical outcome and oxygen requirement (p<0.001). A significant difference was observed in the mean score of age, total count, IL-6 and number of days admitted between COVID-19 subjects of both groups with the mean being higher in the group of patients with diabetes (p<0.001).
Conclusion: The results of the present study reinforce available evidence that IL-6 levels can be used to ascertain progression, morbidity, and mortality to ensure proper management of COVID-19 patients and that diabetes state results in higher total count, IL-6 and number of days admitted.
Volume 10, Issue 1 (Winter 2024)
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to evaluate serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and D-dimer and their association with morbidity and mortality in elderly coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) patients and to assess their clinical outcomes.
Materials & Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted on elderly COVID-19 patients (≥60 years) diagnosed via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or radiological tests in a South Indian tertiary care hospital. Data encompassed demographics, comorbidities, symptoms, IL-6 and D-dimer levels, oxygen (O2) requirement, duration of hospital stay, and outcomes. Statistical analysis involved Chi-square test. A p-value of < .05 was considered statistically significant.
Findings: Among 1448 screened patients, 1380 patients with a mean age of 68.85±6.985 years were included in this study, of whom 61.67% were male. The mortality rate was 12.1% in males and 11% in females. Fever, cough, hypertension, and diabetes were common in most of the patients. The mean D-dimer and IL-6 levels were 2.687±5.189 mg/L fibrinogen equivalent units (FEU) and 95.72±335.62 pg/mL, respectively. Elevated D-dimer (71%) and IL-6 (87.7%) levels were significantly associated with oxygen requirement, morbidity, and mortality (p= .000). Sub-group analysis revealed a significant association between D-dimer and IL-6 levels and O2 requirement and mortality in diabetic and hypertensive patients (p= .000).
Conclusion: Serum IL-6 and D-dimer levels are significantly associated with morbidity and mortality in elderly COVID-19 patients. Elevated levels of these biomarkers also influence O2 requirement and mortality in patients with comorbidities, suggesting their potential use in risk stratification and management strategies for this vulnerable population.
Thambiratnam Sivaruban, Asha Sohil, Pandiarajan Srinivasan, Sivaruban Barathy, Neeraj Sharma, Rajasekaran Isack,
Volume 10, Issue 2 (6-2024)
Abstract
Baetiella muchei (Braasch, 1978) is recorded for the first time from the Neeru stream of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The variability in larval characters such as size, the shape of the labrum, and the number of the sub-marginal arc of setae in the labrum differs from 12 to 22, degree of fusion of the mandibular incisors, spines on the distal margin of the tergites, distal margin of the paraproct, and the length of cerci are observed from the Indian population when compared to the type specimens. The species number of Baetiella Uéno, 1931 has now increased to six in India. A distributional map of this species is also provided.
Pandiarajan Srinivasan, Thambiratnam Sivaruban, Sivaruban Barathy, Rajasekaran Isack,
Volume 10, Issue 3 (9-2024)
Abstract
Caenis ulmeriana Malzacher, 2015 is recorded for the first time from the Western Ghats, India. Prior records of this species encompass Java, Sumatra, Thailand, Myanmar, and the Philippines. Notably, the Indian population of C. ulmeriana showcases variability, including slight changes in the shape of forceps in the male subimago and increased denticulation in the midclaw, a reduced number of setae in the Y-ridge of tergalius II, and differing shape of sternum IX in the larvae compared to other continental and island populations. The species number of Caenis Stephens, 1835 has now increased to twelve in India. A distributional map detailing the range of C. ulmeriana in the Oriental region is also provided herein.
Volume 11, Issue 5 (Post-COVID Special Issue 2023)
Abstract
Aims: The traumatic experiences the elderly faced during the COVID-19 outbreak were tremendous, which led to the majority of the elderly developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The vagal nerve plays a major role in stress regulation. One effective method for controlling the activity of the autonomic nervous system is vagal nerve stimulation. Surgical implantable vagal nerve stimulators are expensive and their discomfort limits their use. Non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation is found to be effective. The purpose of the study was to find the effect of transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation on treating post-traumatic stress disorder among post-COVID-19 geriatric survivors.
Materials & Methods: The study was conducted with 24 geriatric participants, who were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Participants were randomly allocated into the taVNS group and the JPMRT group during a four-week period (one month); the taVNS group received transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation, and the JPMRT group received the Jacobson progressive muscle relaxation technique. Each week, four sessions were held, and each session lasted 30 minutes. Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) was used as an outcome measure.
Findings: When compared to the JPMRT group, the taVNS group demonstrated a significant difference in reducing post-traumatic stress. Post-test values of the taVNS group in IES-R had a significant difference (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation is more effective than Jacobson’s progressive muscle relaxation technique in reducing post-traumatic stress disorder among elderly survivors of COVID-19.
