Background Based on previous experience there is justifiable concern about suicidal behaviour and news media reporting of it during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This study used a systematic search of online news media reports (versions of newspapers, magazine and other digital publications) of suicidal behaviour during India’s COVID-19 lockdown and compared it to corresponding dates in 2019. Data was gathered using a uniform search strategy from 56 online news media publications 24 March to 3 May for the years 2019 and 2020 using keywords, suicide, attempted suicide, hangs self and kills self. Demographic variables and methods used for suicide were compared for suicide and attempts between the 2 years using chi-squared tests (χ2). Results There were online news media reports of 369 cases of suicides and attempted suicides during COVID lockdown vs 220 reports in 2019, a 67.7% increase in online news media reports of suicidal behaviour. Compared to 2019, suicides reported during lockdown were significantly older (30 vs 50 years, p < 0.05), men (71.2% vs 58.7%; p < 0.01), married (77.7% vs 49%; p < 0.01) and employed (82.9% vs 59.5%; p < 0.01). During the lockdown, significantly more suicides were by hanging (64.4% vs 42%), while poisoning (8.5% vs 21.5%) and jumping in front of a train (2% vs 9.4%) (p < 0.05) were significantly reduced. Comparison of COVID and non-COVID groups showed that online news media reports of COVID cases of suicide and attempted suicide were significantly more likely to be men (84.7% vs 60.4%; p < 0.01), older (31–50 years 52.9% vs 25.8%; p < 0.01) employed (91.5% vs 64.3%; p < 0.01), had poor mental (40.1% vs 20.8%; p < 0.01) and poor physical health (24.8% vs 7.9%;11.8, p < 0.01). Conclusion Increase in online news media reports of suicides and attempts during COVID-19 lockdown may indicate an increase in journalists’ awareness about suicide or more sensational media reporting or may be a proxy indicator of a real community increase in suicidal behaviour. It is difficult to attribute changes in demographic profile and methods used only to changes in journalists’ reporting behaviour and should be further explored. We therefore call upon the Government of India to urgently release national suicide data to help devise a comprehensive suicide prevention strategy to address COVID-19 suicidal behaviour.

Objective:To study the effect of brimonidine on intraocular pressure (IOP) following capsulotomy among Indian subjects.Materials and Methods:The study was a nonrandomized trial with open label.Results:80% of the subjects showed a decrease in IOP after instilling 0.2% brimonidine (1 hour pre capsulotomy). No such decrease was observed in control. After 1 and 4 h post capsulotomy a statistically significant decrease in IOP ranging between 1–10 mmHg was found in 73.3% of the treatment group.Conclusions:In the present study 0.2% brimonidine has been proven effective to counteract the increase in IOP following Nd-YAG laser capsulotomy in Indian setting.

Background: To study contrast sensitivity changes in healthy individuals and in diabetic patients with and without diabetic retinopathy.Methods: Study was conducted at tertiary care hospital, Surat. Contrast sensitivity functions were assessed with PELLI ROBSON CHART with help of electronic displays. Results were analyzed using chi square test.Results: Total 114 patients were taken into study. Maximum patients were in age group 46-55 years. Mean age of diabetic individuals was 51 and in healthy individual mean age is 52. Total 18 patients with Diabetic retinopathy, among 57 diabetic patients were taken into study. Sex ratio in diabetic group is Male: Female 2.5:1 and healthy individual is Male: Female 2.1:1. There is significant reduction in contrast sensitivity function in subjects with diabetes as compared to healthy individuals. (P value<0.05) There is significant reduction in Visual Acuity (P value<0.05). There was significant association of high FBS and PP2BS level with diabetic retinopathy and contrast sensitivity, the contrast sensitivity function decreases as metabolic control of blood sugar level fluctuates. In present study, Duration of diabetes mellitus doesn’t have significant association with contrast sensitivity function. (p value > 0.05) In present study, there isn’t significant association of contrast sensitivity function and visual acuity with cataract, as above patients were having early or few cataract changes. (p value > 0.05). In present study, there isn’t significant association between blood pressure control and contrast sensitivity function (p value > 0.05).Conclusions: Majority of the subjects in the present study belonged to the age group 46-55 years (38.6%). Mean age of diabetic individuals was 51 and healthy individual mean age is 52. Total 18 patients with DR, among 57 diabetic patients were taken into study. Sex ratio (male: female) in diabetic group is 2.5:1 and healthy individual is 2.1:1. There is significant reduction in contrast sensitivity function in subjects with diabetes as compared to healthy individuals. (P value<0.05). So is with decimal equivalent VA and decimal equivalent BCVA. (Both P value<0.05). There is significant association between FBS and PP2BS level with contrast sensitivity, the contrast sensitivity function decreases as metabolic control of blood sugar level fluctuates. (P value< 0.05). There was significant association between high FBS level and diabetic retinopathy as well. (p value<0.05).

Despite their recognized potential, current applications of cyanobacteria as microbial cell factories remain in early stages of development. This is partly due to the fact that engineered strains are often difficult to grow at scale. This technical challenge contrasts with the dense and highly productive cyanobacteria populations thriving in many natural environments. It has been proposed that the selection of strains pre-adapted for growth in industrial photobioreactors could enable more productive cultivation outcomes. Here, we described the initial morphological, physiological, and genomic characterization of Phormidium yuhuli AB48 isolated from an industrial photobioreactor environment. P. yuhuli AB48 is a filamentous phototactic cyanobacterium with a growth rate comparable to Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The isolate forms dense biofilms under high salinity and alkaline conditions and manifests a similar nutrient profile to Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina). We sequenced, assembled, and analyzed the P. yuhuli AB48 genome, the first closed circular isolate reference genome for a member of the Phormidium genus. We then used cultivation experiments in combination with proteomics and metabolomics to investigate growth characteristics and phenotypes related to industrial scale cultivation, including nitrogen and carbon utilization, salinity, and pH acclimation, as well as antibiotic resistance. These analyses provide insight into the biological mechanisms behind the desirable growth properties manifested by P. yuhuli AB48 and position it as a promising microbial cell factory for industrial-scale bioproduction[221, 1631].

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