An effective and rapid diagnosis has great importance in tackling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic through isolation of the infected individuals to curb the transmission and initiation of specialized treatment for the disease. It has been proven that enhanced testing capacities contribute to efficiently curbing SARS-CoV-2 transmission during the initial phases of the outbreaks. RT-qPCR is considered a gold standard for the diagnosis of COVID-19. However, in resource-limited countries expenses for molecular diagnosis limits the diagnostic capacities. Here, we present interventions of two pooling strategies as 5 sample pooling (P-5) and 10 sample pooling (P-10) in a high-throughput COVID-19 diagnostic laboratory to enhance throughput and save resources and time over a period of 6 months. The diagnostic capacity was scaled-up 2.15-folds in P-5 and 1.8-fold in P-10, reagents (toward RNA extraction and RT-qPCR) were preserved at 75.24% in P-5 and 86.21% in P-10, and time saved was 6,290.93 h in P-5 and 3147.3 h in P-10.
Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is an early stage of hypothyroidism and is usually detected in patients who had thyroid function testing performed due to symptoms of hypothyroidism. The elevated TSH level and decrease level of free T4 level is called subclinical hypothyroidism. This condition occurs in 3% to 8% of the general population affecting more women than men and its prevalence also increases with the age. The symptoms are difficult to diagnose and if these symptoms are noticed, it tend to be vague and general such as weight gain, fatigue, hair loss, constipation, goiter and memory problems with brain fog.A questionnaire was designed asking a set of questions which included the history of hypothyroidism, does the person suffer from any other lifestyle disorder etc. The questionnaire was filled by interviewing the patients who came for regular checkups.Out of the total 155 patients 32% of them suffered from SCH.The analysis of survey shows that females and elderly population were most affected by subclinical hypothyroidism.
Hyponatremia is the most frequent electrolyte disorder both in hospitalized and outdoor patients. Elderly patients represent a high-risk group for the occurrence of hyponatremia because age is a strong independent risk factor for hyponatremia. Decreased serum sodium concentration is a rather frequent electrolyte disorder in the elderly population because of the presence of factors contributing to increased antidiuretic hormone, the frequent prescription of drugs associated with hyponatremia and also because of other mechanisms such as the "tea and toast" syndrome[1]. Hyponatremia in elderly subjects is mainly caused by drugs (more frequently thiazides and antidepressants), the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIAD) or endocrinopathies; however, hyponatremia is multi-factorial in a significant proportion of patients. Special attention is needed in the elderly population to exclude endocrinopathies as a cause of hyponatremia before establishing the diagnosis of SIAD, which then requires a stepped diagnostic approach to reveal its underlying cause. Hyponatremia is an important and common electrolyte abnormality that can be seen in isolation or, as most often is the case, as a complication of other medical illnesses (eg, heart failure, liver failure, renal failure, pneumonia). The normal serum sodium level in the body is 135-145 mEq/L. Therefore, hyponatremia is defined as a serum sodium level of less than 135 mEq/L. This research is based on the prevalence of hyponatremia in an elderly population. This study indicates an increase in patients of hyponatremia above 60 years of age. This study also tells the increase in number of patients having hyponatremia as well as abnormal creatinine levels.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.