Infodemics, often including rumors, stigma, and conspiracy theories, have been common during the COVID-19 pandemic. Monitoring social media data has been identified as the best method for tracking rumors in real time and as a possible way to dispel misinformation and reduce stigma. However, the detection, assessment, and response to rumors, stigma, and conspiracy theories in real time are a challenge. Therefore, we followed and examined COVID-19related rumors, stigma, and conspiracy theories circulating on online platforms, including fact-checking agency websites, Facebook, Twitter, and online newspapers, and their impacts on public health. Information was extracted between December 31, 2019 and April 5, 2020, and descriptively analyzed. We performed a content analysis of the news articles to compare and contrast data collected from other sources. We identified 2,311 reports of rumors, stigma, and conspiracy theories in 25 languages from 87 countries. Claims were related to illness, transmission and mortality (24%), control measures (21%), treatment and cure (19%), cause of disease including the origin (15%), violence (1%), and miscellaneous (20%). Of the 2,276 reports for which text ratings were available, 1,856 claims were false (82%). Misinformation fueled by rumors, stigma, and conspiracy theories can have potentially serious implications on the individual and community if prioritized over evidence-based guidelines. Health agencies must track misinformation associated with the COVID-19 in real time, and engage local communities and government stakeholders to debunk misinformation.
Introduction Rumors and conspiracy theories, can contribute to vaccine hesitancy. Monitoring online data related to COVID-19 vaccine candidates can track vaccine misinformation in real-time and assist in negating its impact. This study aimed to examine COVID-19 vaccine rumors and conspiracy theories circulating on online platforms, understand their context, and then review interventions to manage this misinformation and increase vaccine acceptance. Method In June 2020, a multi-disciplinary team was formed to review and collect online rumors and conspiracy theories between 31 December 2019–30 November 2020. Sources included Google, Google Fact Check, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, fact-checking agency websites, and television and newspaper websites. Quantitative data were extracted, entered in an Excel spreadsheet, and analyzed descriptively using the statistical package R version 4.0.3. We conducted a content analysis of the qualitative information from news articles, online reports and blogs and compared with findings from quantitative data. Based on the fact-checking agency ratings, information was categorized as true, false, misleading, or exaggerated. Results We identified 637 COVID-19 vaccine-related items: 91% were rumors and 9% were conspiracy theories from 52 countries. Of the 578 rumors, 36% were related to vaccine development, availability, and access, 20% related to morbidity and mortality, 8% to safety, efficacy, and acceptance, and the rest were other categories. Of the 637 items, 5% (30/) were true, 83% (528/637) were false, 10% (66/637) were misleading, and 2% (13/637) were exaggerated. Conclusions Rumors and conspiracy theories may lead to mistrust contributing to vaccine hesitancy. Tracking COVID-19 vaccine misinformation in real-time and engaging with social media to disseminate correct information could help safeguard the public against misinformation.
This study is aimed to assess the heavy metals contamination and health risk in Shrimp (Macrobrachium rosenbergii and Penaeus monodon) collected from Khulna-Satkhira region in Bangladesh. The results showed that the Pb concentrations (0.52–1.16 mg/kg) in all shrimp samples of farms were higher than the recommended limit. The Cd levels (0.05–0.13 mg/kg) in all samples and Cr levels in all farms except tissue content at Satkhira farm were higher than the permissible limits. The individual concentration of Pb, Cd, and Cr between shrimp tissue and shell in all rivers and farms were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) were estimated to assess the non-carcinogenic health risks. Shrimp samples from all locations under the current study were found to be safe for consumption, the possibility of health risk associated with non-carcinogenic effect is very low for continuous consumption for 30 years.
The COVID-19 vaccine has been made available for emergency use in Bangladesh. However, willingness to receive the vaccine may be affected by varying factors across the country. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the factors that influence willingness to receive the vaccine among Bangladeshi adults. A population-based cross-sectional online survey was conducted among a sample of 1,725 Bangladesh adults (age 18 years and older). The statistical analysis included univariate, bivariate and multivariate regression model. Findings show that 85% ( n = 1463) of respondents were willing to receive the vaccine. Respondents with 1–2 children (aOR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.00–3.13, P = . 048), perceived risk of being infected (aOR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.03–2.14, P = . 03), perceived impact on daily life (aOR: 2.53, 95%CI: 1.45–4.44, P = . 001), history of co-morbidities (aOR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.37–3.04, P < . 01), price of the vaccine (aOR: 3.58, 95% CI: 2.34–5.47), physician’s recommendation to receive vaccine (aOR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.38–3.06, P < . 01), vaccines supplied by government (aOR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.64–3.25, P < . 01) were found to be motivating factors for willingness to receive the vaccine. Findings indicate that willingness to receive the vaccine is likely to be affected by socio-demographic, and health system factors. This should be carefully considered in the rollout of the vaccination plans in Bangladesh.
Inhibition of extracellular secreted enzyme autotaxin (ATX) represents an attractive strategy for the development of new therapeutics to treat various diseases and a few inhibitors entered in clinical trials. We herein describe structure-based design, synthesis, and biological investigations revealing a potent and orally bioavailable ATX inhibitor 1. During the molecular docking and scoring studies within the ATX enzyme (PDB-ID: 4ZGA), the S-enantiomer (Gscore = −13.168 kcal/mol) of the bound ligand PAT-494 scored better than its R-enantiomer (Gscore = −9.562 kcal/mol) which corroborated with the reported observation and analysis of the results suggested the scope of manipulation of the hydantoin substructure in PAT-494. Accordingly, the docking-based screening of a focused library of 10 compounds resulted in compound 1 as a better candidate for pharmacological studies. Compound 1 was synthesized from L-tryptophan and evaluated against ATX enzymatic activities with an IC 50 of 7.6 and 24.6 nM in biochemical and functional assays, respectively. Further, ADME-PK studies divulged compound 1 as non-cytotoxic (19.02% cell growth inhibition at 20 μM in human embryonic kidney cells), metabolically stable against human liver microsomes (CL int = 15.6 μl/min/mg; T 1/2 = 113.2 min) with solubility of 4.82 μM and orally bioavailable, demonstrating its potential to be used for in vivo experiments.
Aim: A survey was conducted at four sampling sites of the River Changa to study the fish diversity in relation to river substratum. The aim of the study was to prepare a check list of ichthyofaunal diversity and their habitat preference guild in relation to sediment type. Methodology: Ichthyofauna was collected from four selected stations at monthly interval with the help of fishermen using gill net and cast net. For the analysis of the riverine substratum, sediment samples were collected from six square inches area at the sampling sites of the river by grab sampling method. The composition of stones, pebbles, sand and mud were evaluated from the sample. Results: A total of 64 fish species belonging to 6 families and 18 orders were recorded. Among which 33 were cold water fishes, 31 were warm water fishes, 28 were rheophilic and 24 were eurytopic fishes. Site 1 and 2 were dominated by rheophilic and cold water fishes and Site 4 was rich in eurytopic and warm water fishes. Cypriniformes was the most dominant order with 42 fish species. River sediment of Site 1, 2 and 3 were dominated by stones, pebbles and sand, while sediments collected from Site 4 was dominated by sand and mud. Cold water and rheophilic fishes were positively influenced by stones and pebbles. Eurytopic and warm water fishes were positively influenced by sand and mud. Interpretation: Cold water and rheophilic fishes were abundant at upstream of the river and eurytopic and warm water fishes were abundant at downstream of the river. Abundance and distribution of fish species depends on the river substratum. Key words: Ichthyofaunal diversity, Rheophilic, River Changa, River substratum
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