Smarajit Maiti

Background: COVID-19 claimed 6,492,948 deaths from 607,497,755 infections until August 2022. In 2021 and 2022, several SARS CoV-2 variants increased infection or mortality. Objectives: We analysed the impact of nutritional state and epidemiological-sociodemographic factors on the COVID-19 outcome. Methods: Presently, WHO-defined factors, health or hygiene and metabolic-disorders, i.e., nutritional status (obesity) and lockdown, were considered for association studies with the Total Confirmed Cases/million (TCC/m) and Case-Fatality-Rate (CFR) from COVID-19 in 170 countries. Bayesian-probabilistic analysis was utilised to facilitate intricate hierarchical modelling, effectively managing confounding factors. Normal statistics, including ANOVA, Tukey’s post-hoc test, Pearson’s correlation, canonical correlation, step-wise/linear-regression, were conducted, and x square-test were performed for non-parametric variables. Results: CFR positively correlated with air pollution (r equal to 0.95), TB incidence (r equal to 0.95), and GDP per capita (r equal to minus 0.83). The contour plot, which shows CFR vs. GDP & Air Pollution, reveals that CFR rises when GDP falls and air pollution rises. Compared to TCC205, CFR205 is tightly controlled (0.790–0.815), indicating little variability. Higher categories of diabetes- obesity are associated with somewhat higher CFR205, suggesting a small rising trend. Instead of at the extremes, TCC205 peaks in communities with mid-level prevalence of diabetes and obesity, which is not definitive. Bayesian critical analysis of posterior distribution suggests no distinct relation between obesity and diabetes with COVID-19 and indicates the interacting influence of other confounding factors. Densely populated areas are affected more, and that has been significantly restrained by lockdown/quarantine (x square equal to 85.4; p less than 0.001or x square equal to 58.09; p less than 0.01). Conclusions: Environmental pollution, other diseases like severe TB, and lower GDP promoted adverse COVID outcomes. Findings from the Bayesian approach highlight the need for cautious interpretation of the influence of different factors on COVID-19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202658 How to cite this article:Maiti S, Sinha N K, Ghosh T K, Chakrabortty S. Biological and Sociodemographic Variables Associated with Covid-19 Outcomes: Bayesian Analysis of Data From 170 Countries Suggests A Cautious Outlook on Obesity Impact. J CommunDis. 2026;58(3):83-94.

Background: A significant health concern in the community with the highest morbidity is urinary tract infection (UTI). Moreover, age, comorbidity and bacterial drug-resistance worsen the situation. Changes in ecological and host factors plus misuse of drugs promote bacterial uropathogens becoming antibiotic-resistant. Objectives: Presently, we evaluate UTI prevalence and causative bacterial antibiotic-resistance-patterns in an industrial-town with educational-hub situated in eastern part of India. Age- and gender- wise comparison of bacterial susceptibility-resistance was performed. Materials and methods: A total 83 individuals (23 males and 60 females)from the city hospital and local pathological-centers provided urine samples maintaining proper norms. Routine microbiological/pathological tests and detailed drug-resistance screening were performed. Results: The major infecting organisms E. coli, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa are prevalent with approximately 25:6:1 ratio in all age groups. But age wise,60% of >31 years group is infected by E. coli the rest two groups; 31-60 and >60 years are infected ~80% by E. coli. When compared to the WHO data, E.coli infection is more in the studied area (78% vs 67%). Genderwise, female is more affected by E. coli andmale is more affected by P. aeruginosa. Conclusions: Among patient-derived bacterial isolates, only 35.17% of antibiotics were effective against E. coli, and 23.66% were effective for Klebsiella sp. indicating a high level of resistance. In summary, E. Coli is resistant to the majority of medications. Nitrofurantoin and amikacin are found to be the most sensitive to the uropathogens

Introduction: Stillbirth is a global issue. The major factors linked to stillbirth include maternal age, parity (number of prior pregnancies), ethnicity, and pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes or hypertension. Substance abuse like smoking, drug and alcohol consumption are strongly associated with low birth weight and/or stillbirth. Other factors like demographic profile and genetic variations, multiple gestation, nutritional deficiencies, and access to prenatal care and prior unfavourable pregnancy outcomes may also be associated to stillbirth. Methods: We utilized several digital resources like, PubMed, World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations (UN) databases to prepare this review article. Results: Approximately one out of every 72 babies worldwide pass away before delivery, leading to almost 3 million stillbirths annually. Demographic factors that have a significant impact on stillbirth-rates include poverty, low socioeconomic status and limited access to necessary medical interventions. Some aetiology and mechanistic layouts associated with stillbirth events including the physiological, biochemical and molecular processes have been extensively reviewed in this article. Conclusion: Conclusively, early record of stillbirth, hypertension, and multiple gestations were important determinants for stillbirth. Maternal age, BMI and several biochemical markers (PAPP-A, PIGF), other maternal factors like stress, haematological profile, and foetal factors like shorter gestation period and intra-uterine growth retardation may attribute to large number of stillbirth cases. Several preventive measures to avoid the above-mentioned factors could be beneficial to minimize stillbirth incidence.

Covid-19 pandemic raised both physical and mental threat to human. Globally, 607,497,755cases of infection and 6,492,948 deaths were recorded until August, 2022. The psychosocial-conditions in pre-infection-period might influence disease. Here, we delineate the impact of socio-economic status, pre- or post- Covid-19 psychosocial and other factors (lockdown/self-isolation/diagnosis)on this disease outcome. Pre-Covid mental-status (depression-anxiety, tobacco-smoking and suicide-mortality), quality-of-life (QOL) and Global-Health-Security (GHS) were correlated with total-infection and case-fatality-rate (CFR) in > 170 countries. The database of World-Health-Organization/World-Bank/United-Nations and the Johns-Hopkins-Center for Health-Security was utilized. The Student’s t test, multivariate-ANOVA, correlation and linear-regression were performed. Psychological wellbeing indicators (happiness/GSH/QOL) and mental-impairments like depression-anxiety positively correlated with infection and CFR (p < 0.05-p < 0.001). The happiness-index positively associated with QOL/GSH/anxiety and depression. Higher CFR was noticed in congested/populated territories. Canonical regression strongly suggests this result. Variable host-virus interactions associated with race/ethnicity and body-composition. Positive correlations between mental state-QOL and anxiety-depression paralleled with adverse outcome of Covid-19.

Objective: Overweight/obesity among preschool children has become an alarming phenomenon in low to middle-income countries, including India. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of overweight and underweight among children aged 2-6 years in Paschim Medinipur and Bankura districts, West Bengal, India. Methods: We selected 497 children using systematic random sampling. The weight and height of each child was measured. BMI and Z-scores (WAZ, HAZ, WHZ) were calculated following standard techniques. Stunting, wasting, underweight, and composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF) were evaluated. Data analysis included Student’s t-test and one-way ANOVA. Bibliometric analysis was conducted to evaluate the trends of research in this field. Results: Height and weight increased with age, indicating growth, but BMI declined slightly in older age groups. WAZ scores indicated prevalent underweight across all ages, with significant stunting observed in children aged 48-59 months. WHZ scores showed consistent negative values, suggesting ongoing wasting. The CIAF revealed that 50.91% of children experienced anthropometric failure, predominantly stunting and underweight. The study also revealed that 4.63% of the child suffer from overweight. Girls showed slightly higher rates of anthropometric failure than boys. Conclusion: This study underscores the significant prevalence of the double burden of malnutrition among young children in Paschim Medinipur and Bankura. Effective interventions are urgently needed to address these challenges, including improving food security, enhancing healthcare services, promoting nutritional education, and ensuring sanitation facilities. Tailored strategies considering local socio-economic contexts are crucial for improving child health outcomes and mitigating the long-term effects of malnutrition in these districts.

Https://doi.org/10.18632/genesandcancer.237 Aarifa Nazmeen, Sayantani Maiti, Smarajit Maiti

Background: Chronic arsenic-exposure causes neuromuscular disorders and other health anomalies. Damage to DNA and cytoskeletal/extracellular matrix is brought on by reactive-oxygen-species (ROS)-induced intrinsic antioxidant depletion (thiols/urate). Therapeutic chelating-agents have multiple side-effects. Objectives: The protection of (Camellia sinensis) tea-extract and role of uric-acid (UA) or allopurinol (urate-depletor) on arsenic-toxicity were verified in rat model. Methods: Camellia sinensis (CS dry-leaves), UA or allopurinol was supplemented to arsenic-intoxicated rats for 4-weeks. Purified theaflavins and their galloyl-ester were tested in-vitro on pure AChE (acetylcholinesterase) and their PDB/PubChem 3-D structures were utilized for in-silico binding studies. The primary chemical components were evaluated from CS-extracts. Biochemical analysis, PAGE-zymogram, DNA-stability comet analysis, HE-staining was performed in arsenic-exposed rat brain tissues. Results: Animals exposed to arsenic showed symptoms of erratic locomotion, decreased intrinsic antioxidants (catalase/SOD1/uric acid), increased AChE, and malondialdehyde. Cerebellar and cerebrum tissue damages were shown with increased levels of matrix-metalloprotease (MMP2/9) and DNA damage (comets). Allopurinol- supplemented group demonstrated somewhat similar biochemical responses. In the CS-group brain tissues especially cerebellum is considerably protected which is evident from endogenous antioxidant and DNA and cytoskeleton protection with concomitant inactivation of MMPs and AChE. Present study indicates theaflavin-digallate (TFDG) demonstrated the highest inhibition of purified AChE (IC₅₀ = 2.19 µg/ml with the lowest binding free-energy; −369.87 kcal/mol) followed by TFMG (IC₅₀ = 3.86 µg/ml, −347.06 kcal/mol) suggesting their possible restoring effects of cholinergic response. Conclusions: Favorable responses in UA-group and adverse outcome in allo-group justify the neuro-protective effects of UA as an endogenous antioxidant. Role of flavon-gallate in neuro protection mechanism may be further studied.

Booster doses are crucial against severe COVID-19, as rapid virus mutations and variant emergence prolong the pandemic crisis. The virus’s quick evolution, short generation-time, and adaptive changes impact virulence and evolvability, helping predictions about variant of concerns’ (VOCs’) landscapes. Here, in this study, we used a new computational algorithm, to predict the mutational pattern in SARS-CoV-2 ssRNA, proteomics, structural identification, mutation stability, and functional correlation, as well as immune escape mechanisms. Interestingly, the sequence diversity of SARS Coronavirus-2 has demonstrated a predominance of G- > A and C- > U substitutions. The best validation statistics are explored here in seven homologous models of the expected mutant SARS-CoV-2 spike ssRNA and employed for hACE2 and IgG interactions. The interactome profile of SARS-CoV-2 spike with hACE2 and IgG revealed a strong correlation between phylogeny and divergence time. The systematic adaptation of SARS-CoV-2 spike ssRNA influences infectivity and immune escape. Data suggest higher propensity of Adenine rich sequence promotes MHC system avoidance, preferred by A-rich codons. Phylogenetic data revealed the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 lineages’ epidemiology. Our findings may unveil processes governing the genesis of immune-resistant variants, prompting a critical reassessment of the coronavirus mutation rate and exploration of hypotheses beyond mechanical aspects.