Since its first report in December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has rapidly emerged as a pandemic affecting nearly all countries worldwide. As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, the need to identify genetic risk factors for susceptibility to this serious illness has emerged. Host genetic factors, along with other risk factors may help determine susceptibility to respiratory tract infections. It is hypothesized that the ACE2 gene, encoding angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), is a genetic risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection and is required by the virus to enter cells. Together with ACE2, transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) also play an important role in disease severity. Evaluating the role of genetic variants in determining the direction of respiratory infections will help identify potential drug target candidates for further study in COVID-19 patients. We have summarized the latest reports demonstrating that ACE2 variants, their expression, and epigenetic factors may influence an individual’s susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease outcome.

The syntax score is associated with 30-day mortality in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI. In those discharged, it is associated with risk of MACE at 30 days.

To understand normal sleep pattern and physiological changes during sleep, sleep and breathing interaction, nomenclature and scales used in sleep study, discuss the effect of rapid eye movements and non-rapid eye movements while sleep and to review the effects of obstructive and restrictive lung disease on gas exchange during sleep and sleep architecture.

Introduction: Vascular access-site complications following percutaneous interventions done using femoral approach, are an important cause of mortality, morbidity, prolonged stay and greater cost burden. Aim: To study the incidence and the factors which predict femoral artery access vascular complication after catheterisation in North Indian population. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal observational study conducted at Department of Cardiology SMS Medical College at Jaipur, Rajasthan ,India between April 2016 to November 2017. All patients (n=11200) who underwent catheterisation from the femoral approach from April 2016 till November 2017 in the study institute were included. Duplex ultrasound was performed in cases with clinical suspicion of vascular complications. Clinical data and procedural variables were compared with a control group of 100 randomly selected patients. Univariate analysis and a logistic regression model for multivariate analysis for predicting independent variable was performed. Results: Femoral artery access vascular complication incidence rate was 2.05% (230). Complications rate was higher for interventional procedures (3.6%) than diagnostic procedures (1.25%). The most common vascular complication was haematoma which was seen in 1.29% (145) patients, other complication were femoral artery venous fistula seen in 0.37% (42) patients, pseudo-aneurysm in 0.41% (46) patients, acute limb ischemia in 0.1% (12) and infection in 0.09% (11) patients. It was found that advanced age (>60 years), female gender, obesity and hypertension were predictors of complication. Patients who received thrombolytic agent or low molecular weight heparin prior to procedure, use of large sheath size (7F v/s 6F) and multiple puncture to achieve femoral artery access were also independent predictors of vascular complication. Diabetes mellitus and duration of manual compression had no impact on vascular complication. Conclusion: Femoral artery access vascular complication is not uncommon following diagnostic or interventional cardiac catheterisation. The strongest predictors of vascular complication were advanced age (>60 year), female gender, overweight & obesity, hypertension, use of thrombolytic agent or anticoagulant prior to procedure, large size sheath 7F, and multiple puncture. Use of smaller sheaths, improved access techniques, safer antithrombotic therapy and use of vascular closure devices may be helpful for prevention of these vascular complications.

1. Gavialis gangeticus (gharial) and Crocodylus palustris (mugger) have a sympatric distribution in the northern and eastern river systems of India, but no single extensive study exists on the mechanisms favouring the coexistence of these species, or explains whether mugger have a detrimental effect on gharial. For the effective conservation of gharial within its natural range it is very important to study the impacts of various habitat attributes on its distribution. This study was undertaken to investigate how resources are shared by the species, and the key requirements that lead to the selection of a particular basking and nesting site.2. Results indicate that the habitat variables that lead to the selection of basking sites differed between the species, and varied between seasons. In winter, habitat variables responsible for the selection of a basking site by gharial were slope, height, soil moisture, presence of sandbar, distance to water, and current land-use pattern, whereas for mugger the relevant habitat variables were slope and height only.During the summer, habitat use, depth gradient, and distance to water were factors for mugger, whereas slope, height, soil moisture, the presence of a sandbar, water depth gradient, and distance to water were important habitat attributes for gharial.3. Gharial and mugger had a totally different preference of habitat attributes for nestsite selection. Gharial laid eggs near water and only in sandy soil, whereas mugger nests were found far from a water source and no substrate preference was shown. Effective habitat management is imperative for the conservation of gharial.Restocking with individuals bred in captivity might increase the population in the short term, but in order to create a viable population, long-term habitat conservation plans are required.

Tribulus terrestris and Pedalium murex are the two popular herbal plants originated from a very famous Ayurvedic plant named Gokshuru. These plants are well known for their medicinal importance. In Ayurveda, T. terrestris is known as laghu gokhshuru and P. murex is known as brihat gokshuru. The fruits of T. terrestris plant are slightly astringent in taste while the fruits of P. murex are somewhat sweeter in taste. The fruits are used to treat various diseases such as urinary disorder adrenal stone. In this current paper, we have discussed the pharmacological, Ayurvedic and folk uses of these plants in every region of the world. From various reported studies, it was found that the T. terrestris plant carries much medicinal importance while the P. murex fruits is only used as a substitute or as an adulterant of the T. terrestris plant. It was found that the T. terrestris plant is mainly used to cure urinogenital disorders and kidney disorders such as renal and gall bladder stone. On the other hand, the P. murex plant carries aphrodisiac property and mainly used to cure sexual disorders like infertility, erectile dysfunctioning in both male and females. It was also found that these plants have some similar phytochemical constituents which possess aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory, demulcent, diuretic properties, and also used to cure other diseases such as cough, asthma, cardiac disease, vesical calculi, and gall bladder stone. These plants are known for major therapeutic properties such as anti-ulcerative, antiurolithic, anticancer, aphrodisiac, analgesic, stomachic, anti-hypertensive, diuretic, urinary anti-infective, cardio tonic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, nephroprotective, antispasmodic, anthelmintic, and anti-carcinogenic.

1. Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary along the Indo-Nepal border in India harbours a well-known breeding gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) population in its global distribution range together with a substantial population of breeding muggers (Crocodylus palustris). However, no systematic information on size and structure is available for either of the species' populations in the protected area.2. This study was undertaken in winter and the ensuing summer of 2010-2011 to estimate the relative population density and structure of the two crocodilian species and to examine the effect of various disturbance factors, with the main focus on the effects of tourism and illegal fishing on the behavioural attributes of the two species.3. Five daytime surveys were conducted from December 2010 to April 2011. Relative density based on encounter rate (number per 20 km) was highest for gharial juveniles followed by gharial adults and gharial sub-adults in all the five surveys. Muggers, on the other hand, showed the opposite trend, with the lowest encounter rate being for juveniles, followed by sub-adults and adults. The encounter rate of both species declined with increase in the mean ambient temperature from December to April. 4. The river habitat was divided into 2 km segments and disturbance factors were recorded at intervals of 100 m on both river banks. Wariness was taken as an indicator of response to disturbance caused by human beings and was measured from mechanized boats used for tourism and non-mechanized boats used for illegal fishing. 5. Segments with sandbars, in spite of moderate to high disturbance rate, were preferred for basking by both species. In conclusion, with suitable habitat for basking, gharials and muggers were observed to tolerate moderate levels of disturbance. Wariness resulting from disturbances from the non-mechanized boats was higher than that from the mechanized boats. Gharials tend to avoid humans, possibly with age/size acquired experience and knowledge, whereas muggers become more tolerant to human presence with increased age/size. 6. Despite many disturbance factors, the crocodilian population in Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary is doing relatively well compared with populations in other habitats in India. With the involvement of local stakeholders and strict implementation of forest laws, the habitat can be further improved and a healthy gharial population can be ensured.

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