Background: The worldwide sudden appearance and drastic increase in the number of infected cases with the severe acute respiratory syndrome-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) determined the World Health Organization to declare it as a pandemic situation. The ‘Corona Virus Disease 2019’ (COVID-19) has varied clinical manifestations, from asymptomatic to severe cases, and conjunctivitis, seems not only to be one of them, but sometimes found to be lone initial symptom present. Aim and method: The aim was to identify the prevalence of conjunctivitis as the first symptom in COVID-19 patients, in a primary healthcare unit. A retrospective study was conducted analyzing the presenting complains/symptoms and results of COVID-19 confirmatory tests. Results: Out of the 672 cases that were sent for RT-PCR testing only 121 (18%) were found to be positive. Among this 2.67% of patients who had both conjunctivitis and COVID-19, 77.77% of patients had unilateral eye affected while 22.22% had bilateral conjunctivitis of varying degrees. 15 patients diagnosed to have both acute conjunctivitis and COVID-19, presented other symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection. While 3 patients had only acute conjunctivitis during their entire course of COVID-19. Conclusions: Conjunctivitis is a symptom of COVID-19 and maybe the first sign of the infection, until the onset of the classical manifestations, the patient serves to be a viral reservoir. The physicians should not miss unilateral conjunctivitis, as it can be the only presenting complain of the COVID-19 disease at the initial phase, which might worsen if underwent undetected and can aid in the spread of the contagion.

Introduction The role of digoxin (cardiac glycoside) in controlling the heart rate (HR) for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients has not been explored in depth. Methods To contribute to the limited data, our team conducted retrospective analysis of the clinical records of 1444 AF patients. We divided the AF patients into two groups, wherein group 1 patients were treated with beta-blockers (BB), low-dose digoxin, and an anticoagulant (vitamin K antagonist/factor-IIa inhibitor/factor-Xa inhibitor), and group 2 patients were treated with just BB and an anticoagulant. Our objectives were to compare the impact of combination therapy of BB and digoxin on the resting HR in patients with permanent AF and the patients’ quality of life (QOL) at periodic intervals. Results The findings of our study showed a better control of the resting HR rate (<110bpm) and an improved QOL among the group 1 patients when compared with group 2 patients. Conclusion Our findings are indicative of the favorable clinical outcomes that resulted from the addition of a low-dose of digoxin to the AF treatment regimen. However, larger studies/trials elucidating the outcomes of AF patients treated with the dual rate control therapy are required, to clarify the role of digoxin, guide the choice of agents, and standardize the AF treatment protocol.

Maintaining the soil in optimal parameters is vital for mankind, given its essential role in providing the alimentary base, as well as its extremely slow formation and regeneration (hundreds or thousands of years). The direct and indirect pollution of the soil and especially its chemical pollution represent a corollary of other types of pollution, given that it is produced by solid, liquid and gaseous residues. It may be involved in a wide range of diseases (respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, renal, haematological, osteoarticular, neurological) of allergic, infectious, degenerative or neoplastic nature, from infancy to the old age. Although there are natural causes of soil pollution (e.g. volcanic eruptions), most pollutants come from human activities, which are the most incriminated in its pollution, degradation and erosion at an accelerated pace. The growing concern of all nations for the adoption of measures to limit the chemical pollution of the soil is partially found so far in viable and effective solutions intended to combat soil contamination and degradation and ensure its restoration. Chemical industrialization leads to technical and scientific progress, but at the same time it can develop related pathologies, which means that the role of the occupational health physician is essential in ensuring prophylaxis and the early detection of occupational diseases. Besides that, the role of the pediatrician is equally precious for the detection of specific diseases caused by chemical pollutants to children, because they will develop into adults with pathological stigma.The chemical pollution of the soil is a major challenge for ecologists, given that it is an important risk factor for many types of afflictions. It requires maximum attention from civil society, health care professionals and government institutions. The specialist in occupational medicine, as well as the pediatrician bear an essential responsibility in both, prevention and treatment.

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