Bird Flu caused by the H5N1 virus : What You Need to Know

 H5N1 is a type of avian influenza virus that is highly pathogenic, meaning it can cause severe disease and death in birds and humans. In this blog post, we will explore the history, pathogenicity, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and prognosis of H5N1 bird flu.

Origins

The H5N1 virus was first identified in geese in China in 1996. Since then, it has spread to other parts of Asia, Europe, and Africa. H5N1 is primarily a bird virus, but it can infect humans who come into contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces.

History

H5N1 bird flu has caused several outbreaks in poultry populations over the years, leading to mass culling of infected birds to prevent the spread of the virus. The virus has also been responsible for several human cases of severe respiratory illness, with a high mortality rate.

Pathogenicity

H5N1 bird flu is highly pathogenic, meaning it can cause severe disease and death in birds and humans. The virus attacks the respiratory system, causing severe inflammation and damage to the lungs. In severe cases, the virus can lead to respiratory failure, organ failure, and death.

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of H5N1 bird flu in humans are similar to those of other types of influenza, including fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches. However, H5N1 can also cause more severe respiratory symptoms, such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and pneumonia. In severe cases, the virus can also cause neurological symptoms, such as confusion, seizures, and coma.

Diagnosis

H5N1 bird flu can be diagnosed using laboratory tests, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and viral culture. These tests can detect the virus in blood, saliva, or respiratory secretions. Diagnosis of H5N1 bird flu in humans requires specialized laboratory facilities and trained personnel.

Treatment

Antiviral medications such as oseltamivir and zanamivir can be used to treat H5N1 bird flu in humans. These medications work by inhibiting the replication of the virus in the body. However, they are most effective when given early in the course of the illness, and they may not be effective against all strains of the virus.

In severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary to provide supportive care, such as oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, and treatment of complications such as pneumonia and organ failure.

Prevention

Prevention of H5N1 bird flu involves measures to control the spread of the virus in birds and prevent human exposure. This includes strict biosecurity measures, such as isolating infected birds and culling infected flocks, as well as measures to prevent human exposure, such as avoiding contact with infected birds and contaminated surfaces.

Vaccines have been developed for H5N1 bird flu, but their effectiveness is limited due to the high degree of genetic variability in the virus. As a result, vaccination is primarily used in high-risk populations, such as poultry workers and healthcare workers.

Prognosis

The prognosis for H5N1 bird flu depends on the severity of the illness and the promptness of treatment. In severe cases, the mortality rate can be as high as 60%, but with early treatment and supportive care, the mortality rate can be reduced.

However, it is important to note that H5N1 bird flu is a highly contagious virus with the potential to cause a global pandemic. As such, public health officials and researchers are closely monitoring the virus and developing strategies to control its spread and prevent a global outbreak.

In Conclusion, H5N1 bird flu is a highly pathogenic  virus that poses a significant threat to both bird and human health. 

While there have been several outbreaks of H5N1 bird flu in poultry populations, the virus has also been responsible for several cases of severe respiratory illness in humans, with a high mortality rate. Prevention and control measures, including strict biosecurity measures and vaccination, are crucial to limiting the spread of the virus and protecting public health. As research into the virus continues, it is hoped that new treatments and prevention strategies will be developed to further improve outcomes for those affected by H5N1 bird flu.

Male Contraceptive Pills - Are they Effective?

 There are several male contraceptive pills currently under development, with some undergoing clinical trials. While none of these pills have been approved for use yet, they represent a promising development in the field of contraception.

One of the most promising male contraceptive pills is being developed by a nonprofit organization called the Parsemus Foundation. The pill, called Vasalgel, works by blocking the vas deferens, the tube that carries sperm from the testes to the penis. This prevents the sperm from reaching the semen and thereby making it ineffective for fertilization. Vasalgel is administered through a simple injection into the vas deferens, and it can last for several years before needing to be replaced.

One of the potential advantages of male contraceptive pills is that they can provide a non-hormonal option for men. Hormonal birth control methods such as the female contraceptive pill can have side effects such as weight gain, mood changes, and decreased libido. By contrast, Vasalgel and other non-hormonal male contraceptive pills are less likely to have these side effects.

However, there are also potential downsides to male contraceptive pills. For example, Vasalgel and other male contraceptive pills may not be as effective as female contraceptive methods such as the pill, the patch, or the IUD. They may also require more frequent administration or follow-up appointments, which could be a barrier to use for some men.

Currently, Vasalgel is still in clinical trials and is not yet available for widespread use. However, the results of early trials have been promising, with the method showing high effectiveness rates and few side effects.

In terms of future prospects, male contraceptive pills could represent a significant development in the field of contraception. They could provide a non-hormonal option for men, increasing the range of contraceptive options available and reducing the burden on women to manage contraception. However, more research is needed to determine the effectiveness and safety of these methods, and to ensure that they are accessible and affordable for all who may benefit from them.

ChatGPT - The New Wonder Toy !

 

If you are a blogger, you know how challenging it can be to come up with fresh ideas for your blog posts. Even once you have an idea, you may struggle to find the right words to express your thoughts or the data to support your argument. This is where ChatGPT comes in. ChatGPT is an AI-powered tool that can assist with every step of the blogging process, from research to writing and SEO optimization. In this article, we'll explore how ChatGPT can help you write a blog post by providing research assistance and SEO optimization suggestions.

Research Assistance

One of the most time-consuming aspects of writing a blog post is conducting research to support your claims or arguments. It can be difficult to find reliable sources of information that are relevant to your topic, and even if you do find them, it can be a challenge to synthesize the information into a cohesive argument. This is where ChatGPT comes in.

ChatGPT can assist with research by providing you with relevant articles, studies, and other sources of information. By inputting your topic into ChatGPT, you can receive a list of articles and other resources that are related to your topic. You can then use these resources to support your arguments and provide context for your readers.

In addition to providing you with sources of information, ChatGPT can also help you summarize complex ideas or data in a more accessible way. This can be especially helpful if you are writing about a technical or scientific topic that may be difficult for your readers to understand. By inputting your data or ideas into ChatGPT, you can receive a simplified summary that you can use in your blog post.

Writing Assistance

Once you have conducted your research and have a clear understanding of your topic, it's time to start writing. This can be a daunting task, especially if you struggle with writer's block or find it difficult to articulate your thoughts. ChatGPT can help with this by providing writing assistance.

ChatGPT can assist with writing by generating ideas for your blog post. By inputting your topic into ChatGPT, you can receive a list of related ideas or subtopics to explore. This can help you develop your blog post and ensure that you cover all relevant angles.

In addition to generating ideas, ChatGPT can also help with the writing process itself. By inputting your thoughts or rough draft into ChatGPT, you can receive suggestions for improving your writing style or grammar. This can be especially helpful if you are not a native English speaker or struggle with grammar rules.

SEO Optimization

In addition to providing research and writing assistance, ChatGPT can also assist with SEO optimization. SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of optimizing your blog posts to make them more visible to search engines like Google. This can help your blog posts rank higher in search results, which can attract more readers and increase your website traffic.

ChatGPT can assist with SEO optimization by providing suggestions for optimizing your blog post. This includes suggestions for keywords, meta descriptions, and other on-page SEO elements that can improve the SEO value of your post. By implementing these suggestions, you can improve the visibility of your blog post and attract more readers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can help you write a high-quality blog post. From research assistance to writing and SEO optimization, ChatGPT can assist with every step of the blogging process. If you are struggling to come up with ideas for your blog posts, or find it challenging to express your thoughts in writing, ChatGPT can provide the assistance you need to take your blog to the next level. So, if you are a blogger looking to improve the quality and reach of your blog, consider incorporating ChatGPT into your content creation process.

Evolution of the Human Chimera

The Chimera was a hybrid monster in Greek mythology, It was the  sibling of the three headed dog, Cerberus and the Lernaean Hydra, a serpentine creature with multiple heads. The Chimera  had the head and body of a lion, as well as the head of a goat that was attached to its back, and a tail that ended on a head of a snake.

The Chimera 

Scientifically, Chimeras are organisms with two sets of DNAs which can produce two different  organisms.  Among humans, they are seen in two situations. In the first one, they may be seen in twin pregnancies – one twin may die in very early pregnancy and the other twin may absorb the dead twin. This twin can then have two sets of DNA – one its own plus the set from its twin.

Human chimeras can also occur after bone marrow transplantations. Bone marrow from a healthy donor replaces the  damaged marrow of the recipient. The new marrow will continue to produce new blood cells  and the person may then have one set of DNA in the blood cells and another in the other tissues.

Pregnant women may also have DNAs from fetal cells circulating in their blood as well as miniscule amounts deposited in their organs. This is called microchimerism and does not produce any noticeable symptoms in the mother.

Chimeras of mouse-rat combinations have been created earlier in the lab.  But  the present experiment of a human-pig embryo was carried out to  identify the potential of using larger animals since human organs  of the appropriate size can only develop in  animals with similar sized organs. This could help ease the shortage of human donors for transplants.

Organs like the heart, liver and pancreas can be grown in pigs in place of their own. The animals would be euthanized before the organs are harvested for human transplantation. Since the organs would be made of mainly human cells, the risks of rejecting the transplant would be greatly minimized.

This is the first time that genetic material from two large species have been combined in a single individual embryo.  It is an important step towards growing generating human hearts, kidneys and livers in an animal for transplantation.

The process  begins with pluripotent cells – cells capable of developing into any tissues system and organs.

Human pluripotent cells were collected from the foreskin and labelled with fluorescent markers. About 3-10 of these cells were then inserted into the inner cell mass of a developing pig embryo. About 2000 of these hybrid embryos were implanted into sows and 150 developed into human-pig chimeras. An artificially inseminated sow was implanted with 17 normal  embryos as controls.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY JUAN CARLOS IZPISUA BELMONTE

The chimeras were harvested at 28 days which is the duration of the first trimester of a pig. Immunohistochemistry  confirmed the fluorescent  signal and identified the human cells. There were only about 1 human cell in 1000 pig cells. But these cells could generate the precursors of the muscle, heart, liver, pancreas and spinal cord tissue.

Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, who led the work on the part-pig, part-human embryos at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, said: “The ultimate goal is to grow functional and transplantable tissue or organs, but we are far away from that. This is an important first step.” Even before that is achieved, he said, putting human cells in animals could pay off for studies of how genetic diseases develop and for screening potential drugs.

ETHICAL CONCERNS

The study  has raised ethical concerns. Nightmarish scenarios of animals with intelligent human brains  are being discussed.  The potential of bizarre humanised animals roaming in the wild have been raised.  Other questions have also come up – what happens if the human cells populate the pig brain and the chimera has a human thought? Or what if the human cells cannibalise the pig cells and what we get is a more human and less pig chimera rather than a pig with human organs. Human genes  in the pig sperm or ovum can result in these genes being passed on to the pig offspring.

These ethical concerns have caused governments to deny funding to these experiments. The present experiment was supported by private sponsorship.

Izpisua Belmonte has said that these experiments are meticulously conducted in laboratories under tightly controlled methods. But he has acknowledged that the idea of having an animal being born composing of human cells creates some feelings that need to be addressed. This will need to be prevented by genetic engineering – switching off genes so that only human cells develop into the target organs like liver and heart . Genetic engineering can also ensure that no human cells reach the brain of the pig embryo or form any part of the sperms or eggs.

The human-pig chimera project  is an important first step towards the  goal of developing viable and physiologically active human organs in animals.  Further improvements in gene manipulation technologies should  help to overcome shortfalls in human organs for transplantation.

The Zika Invasion - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

The Zika virus has recently come into prominence and is causing alarm in concerned circle.  The virus is spreading rapidly - it is spreading so fast that it is expected to  infect nearly four million people in the Americas in the next 12 months.

The World Health Organisation is set to convene an international health regulations emergency committee on Zika virus on February 1 in Geneva to ascertain whether the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.

World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan said, "The level of alarm is extremely high," which is why they are considering declaring a public emergency.

Map showing spread of the Zika virus

Why is the spread of the Zika virus being taken so seriously? What disease does it cause?

The chief apprehension with the Zika virus is that it  has been associated with neurological problems in babies born to mothers infected with the virus during pregnancy.

The virus can pass through the placenta and amniotic fluid in infected pregnant women  and may trigger brain damage with failure in development of the brain. Because the brain does not grow at a normal pace, the skull doesn’t, either.  This causes the brain as well as the skull  to be smaller  in size – this abnormality is known as  microcephaly (abnormally small head) in new-born babies. This is a serious condition which can cause severe  abnormalities in babies.

The affected babies may have mental retardation, delayed motor and speech functions, seizures, facial distortions, dwarfism, hyperactivity and spasticity and a difficulty in balance and coordination of the body.

Women who are infected in the first trimester is believed to be at an increased risk for having a child with microcephaly. Scientists do not yet have sufficient knowledge of effects of the infection  in the second and third trimester.

The link between Zika infection and microcephaly has not been conclusively proved but the association is strong enough to cause health officials to caution pregnant women to avoid travelling to countries at risk of Zika virus transmission. Women in high risk areas have also been advised not to get pregnant for at least 2 years.

Microcephaly

  Another important condition suspected to be caused by the virus is the Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). This is an autoimmune condition in adults in  which the immune system attacks the nervous system, sometimes leading to paralysis. A direct causal relationship has not been established between Zika infection and GBS, but  the incidence of GBS has been seen to be significantly higher in areas where  Zika infection is common.

The main symptoms of GBS are muscle weakness, tingling  and numbness of the body which starts at the fingers and toes, difficulty in walking steadily, low back pain and difficulty in moving the eyes or face, talking chewing and swallowing. The condition may spread rapidly throughout the body with muscle weakness leading to paralysis. If the  respiratory muscles  are affected  by GBS, it  is an acute emergency  and may lead to death.

Spread of the Zika virus

The virus is spread by bites from an infected Aedes mosquito, especially  A. aegypti. The Aedes mosquito is a daytime mosquito, characterized by whitish bands on its legs and  markings on its body.  It is more common in urban areas and breeds in stagnant water in containers  in and around the house.

The Aedes Mosquito

 The female mosquito needs human blood to get nutrients for the developing eggs and transmits the virus through its saliva at the time of biting.

The Aedes mosquito also transmits other diseases like malaria,  dengue and chikungunya.

Incubation period

 The first symptoms  begin 2-7 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. The Zika virus passes very quickly through the bloodstream and in most cases, the virus would clear from the bloodstream within about a week.

Symptoms of  Zika

-Mild and only one in five humans bitten by the mosquito will develop the disease. Most people may be unaware that they are infected. Those people then become carriers during the time they have symptoms.

- Common symptoms are fever, headache, rash and possible pink eye (conjunctivitis). Other symptoms are muscle pain and headache. A feeling of general ill health may persist for weeks.

-  Symptoms may last for several days to a week.

- Complications or death is rare.

Diagnosis of Zika

In most cases, diagnosis of Zika is based on the clinical symptoms  and the outbreak of the disease in the locality.

 Virological (PCR) tests may be positive in the first 3-5 days of infection when the virus is in the blood. Serological tests which detect the presence of antibodies to the virus are useful only after 5 days of the infection when the antibody levels become detectable in the blood.

No commercial tests are available to diagnose Zika but blood tests can be done at state laboratories

Treatment of Zika infection

- There is no specific medicine for Zika. Treatment is symptomatic to relieve the symptoms and support the patient through the  infective phase.

- Medicines like acetaminophen or paracetamol should be taken to decrease muscle pain and fever. NSAIDS like Ibuprofen and Naproxen should be avoided since they increase the risk of bleeding from the mucus membrane.

- Adequate fluids should be taken to avoid dehydration.

- Rest is necessary since the viral infection may cause fatigue .

- Contraceptives should be used  to avoid getting pregnant when there is a known case of Zika in the locality.

- No vaccines are presently available to prevent Zika although may become available in about 3 years..

Prevention of Zika Infection

Zika can be prevented by (a)  not allowing mosquitoes to breed (b) avoiding mosquito bites.

(a) Preventing breeding of mosquitoes

- Outdoor containers in which water  can collect(flower pots, bottles etc) should be emptied out and removed.

 - Accumulated garbage, including piles of leaves or that around waste bins  should be cleaned. Restaurants and other eateries in the locality should be checked  for proper garbage disposal.

- Water tanks in the house or outdoor ponds  should be covered to prevent mosquitoes from getting in and laying eggs.

- Screens and mosquitoes nets should be attached to doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering the house.

- Drains and pipes which can accumulate water should be cleaned out and covered.

(b) Avoiding mosquito bites.

- Long sleeved shirts and blouses at should be worn at all times and more specially during the day since the mosquito bites mainly during the day.

- Mosquito repellants  should used at all times.

 - Sleeping under mosquito nets  should be encouraged.

Conditions which have symptoms similar to Zika

Dengue

Chikungunya

Yellow fever

Malaria

Leptospirosis

Rickettsia

Measles

The Zika virus was first isolated in 1947 from a rhesus macaque monkey from the Zika forest in Uganda (hence the name). Since it was localized  in that area and the symptoms it produces were mild and considered relatively harmless, it  did not receive much attention by health authorities. But the recent rapid spread and as knowledge about its connections with microcephaly and  the Guillain-Barré syndrome has come into focus, it is being viewed with more concern.

How to Prepare for a Hysterectomy

A hysterectomy is a surgery to remove a woman’s uterus. If you've been advised that you need a hysterectomy, the following discussion will help you to  be aware of the different issues that may arise before and after the operation.

What are the different types of hysterectomies?

There are two main types of hysterectomies -  a complete or total hysterectomy and a partial hysterectomy. A complete hysterectomy is one in which the uterus as well as the cervix and ovaries are  removed. In a  partial hysterectomy, also called subtotal or supracervical hysterectomy,  only the uterus is removed, the cervix and the  ovaries are left intact. The ovaries and the surrounding lymph nodes may or may not be removed, depending on the reason for the hysterectomy.

Are the ovaries always removed if they are healthy ?

In young women below the age of 45 years, healthy ovaries are not removed since they continue to secrete hormones like estrogen and progesterone for at least another 10 years. In older women, the ovaries  are usually removed.

Whether the ovaries  are removed will also depend on the reason for the hysterectomy. The commonest reason is endometrial hyperplasia (thickening of the uterine lining) and a  partial hysterectomy is adequate in this case. But in conditions like endometriosis, a complete hysterectomy with removal of the ovaries  will be necessary.

When will I be able to join work again?

Most people are able to return to work and their normal routines after about 4-6 weeks. Till then, you  can take light exercises like walking.  But you will still need to take plenty of rest and avoid lifting heavy weights during this time.

When can I have sex again? Will it be painful the first time? Will I bleed? Will I be able to orgasm?

If you have had a partial hysterectomy and the cervix is intact, then you can have  vaginal intercourse after 4 weeks. But in case of a complete hysterectomy, it will  be better to wait for 6 weeks since it takes that long for the incision in the upper vagina to heal. Oral sex  is possible earlier, after  the vaginal discharge stops.

There should be no pain the first time you have sex after hysterectomy. Nevertheless, it will be better to try only gentle and partial  penetration. If the ovaries are removed, there may be some amount of vaginal dryness and you may need to use a lubricant during sex. And no, bleeding will not occur.

There is a misconception that removal of the cervix causes difficulty in orgasm. But since orgasm is not dependent on the presence of the uterus or cervix, it is not affected in any way.

Will I get menopausal symptoms immediately after the surgery?

The periods will stop with the removal of the uterus. In premenopausal women, removal of the ovaries will cause surgical menopause. In this case, you may get menopausal symptoms  like hot flashes and  night sweats immediately after the surgery. But if surgery is limited to just the uterus, then the level of estrogen in the body will continue to be normal and you will not have any menopausal symptoms.

If cervix is not removed, will I have periods?

If the cervix is not removed, you may get an occasional spotting or mild bleeding at the time of the menstrual periods. But this does not occur in all women and many women stop getting their periods  even when the cervix is present.

Will I need to get pap smears again?

Since the pap smear tests for cervical changes (dysplasia), you will need  to continue to get pap smears  after a partial hysterectomy.

Pap smears are not necessary after a complete hysterectomy, unless it was done for a cervical cancer or a precancerous lesion.

Will I need hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?

If you are below the age of 50 years and the ovaries are removed, then yes, it will be better to start HRT immediately after the hysterectomy. But if you had already attained menopause before the hysterectomy, or if you are over the age of 50 years, then you may not need HRT.

Being informed that you need a hysterectomy can be overwhelming for anybody but information about the procedure will help you to face the challenge with confidence.

Exercise can help Decrease Arthritis Pain

A study carried out by Dr Sara Wilcox, of the Department of Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina, has revealed that three hours of exercise a week can help reduce the acute pain caused by arthritis. 

After the trial period,  it was found that the  level of pain decreased from 4.7 to 4.3 out of 10.  The participants also reported significant improvements in the level of pain relief, joint stiffness and tiredness after three months. 

The  exercise regimen consists of three exercises:

1. Sitting on a chair, back straight, arms crossed to touch the opposite shoulder. Stand up from the seated position without using the arms or any other support. Sit again. 

2. In a sitting position, the arms are outstretched to reach the toes keeping the knees straight.

3. Walking as quickly as possible around the house for six minutes.

To motivate oneself for exercise, the state of mind or emotional conditioning is as important as physical conditioning. for many people, the fear of pain rather than pain itself which prevents one from exercising.

Being flexible in the timing of the exercise to adjust with the time of minimal arthritic pain helps people to continue with the exercise regime. If pain and stiffness is maximum in the morning, as is common in most forms of arthritis, it is better to exercise in the late afternoon or evening. If the pain is particularly severe  in any particular day, it will be better to cut the duration of the exercise in half or to walk very slowly. 

Keeping one's mind focussed on the benefits of exercising  cna help with motivation adn keeping up with the exercise regime.

The study was published in the American Journal of Preventice Medicine