IntroductionTo assess the incidence and risk factors for breakthrough COVID-19 infection in a vaccinated cohort of patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) and determine whether antibodies to receptor binding domain of spike protein (anti-RBD) serve as a reliable predictor of susceptibility to such infections.MethodsPatients with AIRDs who had completed two doses of SARS-CoV2 vaccines were included and anti-RBD antibodies were determined 4–6 weeks post the second vaccine dose and stratified into good responders (GR) (>212 IU), inadequate responders (IR) (0.8–212 IU) and non-responders (NR) (<0.8 IU). Patients who had completed a minimum of 8 weeks interval after the second dose of vaccine were followed up every 2 months to identify breakthrough infections. All sero converted patients who had contact with COVID-19 were also analysed for neutralising antibodies.ResultsWe studied 630 patients of AIRDs (mean age 55.2 (±11.6) years, male to female ratio of 1:5.2). The majority of patients had received AZD1222 (495, 78.6%) while the remaining received the BBV152 vaccine. The mean antibody titre was 854.1 (±951.9), and 380 (60.3%) were GR, 143 (22.7%) IR and 107 (16.9%) NR.Breakthrough infections occurred in 47 patients (7.4%) at a mean follow-up of 147.3 (±53.7) days and were proportionately highest in the NR group (19; 17.75%), followed by the IR group (13; 9.09%) and least in the GR group (15; 3.95%). On log-rank analysis, antibody response (p<0.00001), vaccine(p=0.003) and mycophenolate mofetil (p=0.007) were significant predictors of breakthrough infections. On multivariate Cox regression, only NR were significantly associated with breakthrough infections (HR: 3.6, 95% CI 1.58 to 8.0, p=0.002). In sero converted patients with contact with COVID-19, neutralisation levels were different between those who developed and did not develop an infection.ConclusionBreakthrough infections occurred in 7.4% of patients and were associated with seronegativity following vaccination. This provides a basis for exploring postvaccination antibody titres as a biomarker in patients with AIRD.

One of the most significant methods of interpersonal communication is facial emotion recognition, which is an intuitive mirror of a person's mental state and contains rich emotional information. It is said to be a strong silent communication tool. Analysis of these expressions provides a far deeper understanding of human behaviour. With potential applicability in dynamic analysis, pattern identification, interpersonal communication, mental health screening, and many other fields, AI-based Facial Expression Recognition (FER) has emerged in recent years as one of the most important study areas. With the recent advancement in computer vision and machine learning, analysing facial emotions becomes a little bit easier. This paper presents a theoretical analysis of different facial emotion recognition techniques that were used in recent times.

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Background: The risk of exposure to COVID-19 pandemic was substantially higher in frontline young health care workers. Due to repeated exposure while treating patients, the viral load is exponentially higher than the other population. Lungs being the earliest organ to be affected carry more risk of long-term morbidity. Thus, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) on post-COVID young health care workers provide a better view on the impact, recovery and residual effects. Aim and Objectives: The objectives of the study are as follows: (i) To assess the PFT in study group who have recovered from COVID-19 within the past 3 months; (ii) to compare their lung function with that of health care workers who have not been infected by COVID-19; and (iii) to determine obstructive, restrictive or mixed pulmonary changes if any in health care workers after 3 months of recovery. Materials and Methods: This study involving 50 young health care workers was done in the department of pulmonary medicine for a period of 4 months between January and April 2021. The study (mild COVID-19 positive) control group involved 25 participants each. PFT and diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) were measured using computerized spirometer and single breath method. Results were analyzed using Shapiro–Wilk test, Independent sample t test, and Chi-square test. Results: A statistically significant difference was observed among the subjects of case and control group with respect to the level of FEV1 (P < 0.05), FEV1/Forced vital capacity (FVC) (P < 0.01), and FEF. FVC, Peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory time, DLCO, and peak inspiratory flow (PIF) were not statistically different between the study and control group. (P > 0.05).The 3-month post recovery values were high in males when compared to females, except for PIF, PEF and FEV1%. Conclusion: PFT and DLCO values were normal in young health care workers after 3 months of COVID-19 infection except for a decrease in FEF 25–75%.

BACKGROUNDEssential hypertension is a well-known predictor for cardiovascular disease, and it is mainly characterized by increased activity of sympathetic nervous system. As breathing exercises were known to reduce blood pressure by modulating autonomic nervous system activity, the present study was done to confirm the sympathetic lowering effect of alternate nostril breathing exercises in patients with essential hypertension by studying the haemodynamic parameters of left common carotid artery. We wanted to measure and compare the immediate effect of 30 minutes of ANB exercises on left common carotid artery diameter, Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV) and Resistive Index (RI) in hypertensive subjects. METHODS40 hypertensives in the age group of 45-65 years of both the genders were recruited for this study. Study group involved 20 and the control group involved 20 hypertensive subjects. Diameter of left Common Carotid Artery (CCA), PSV & RI before and immediately after 30 minutes of ANB was assessed with Gray scale and Doppler ultrasound. RESULTSA significant increase in vessel diameter (p <0.056) and decrease in PSV (p <0.010), RI (p=0.008) was observed after ANB exercises in the study group. In the control group, no significant change in vessel diameter (p =0. 485), RI (p<=0.789) & PSV (p=0.777) was seen after 30 minutes. CONCLUSIONSSympathetic lowering effect of ANB exercises was evidenced by increase in vessel diameter, decrease in RI & PSV.