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159,200 |
Total Variation Regularization for Compartmental Epidemic Models with Time-Varying Dynamics
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Compartmental epidemic models are among the most popular ones in epidemiology. For the parameters (e.g., the transmission rate) characterizing these models, the majority of researchers simplify them as constants, while some others manage to detect their continuous variations. In this paper, we aim at capturing, on the other hand, discontinuous variations, which better describe the impact of many noteworthy events, such as city lockdowns, the opening of field hospitals, and the mutation of the virus, whose effect should be instant. To achieve this, we balance the model's likelihood by total variation, which regulates the temporal variations of the model parameters. To infer these parameters, instead of using Monte Carlo methods, we design a novel yet straightforward optimization algorithm, dubbed Iterated Nelder--Mead, which repeatedly applies the Nelder--Mead algorithm. Experiments conducted on the simulated data demonstrate that our approach can reproduce these discontinuities and precisely depict the epidemics.
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159,201 |
A model based on CT radiomic features for predicting RT-PCR becoming negative in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients
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BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a global pandemic. According to the diagnosis and treatment guidelines of China, negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the key criterion for discharging COVID-19 patients. However, repeated RT-PCR tests lead to medical waste and prolonged hospital stays for COVID-19 patients during the recovery period. Our purpose is to assess a model based on chest computed tomography (CT) radiomic features and clinical characteristics to predict RT-PCR negativity during clinical treatment. METHODS: From February 10 to March 10, 2020, 203 mild COVID-19 patients in Fangcang Shelter Hospital were retrospectively included (training: n = 141; testing: n = 62), and clinical characteristics were collected. Lung abnormalities on chest CT images were segmented with a deep learning algorithm. CT quantitative features and radiomic features were automatically extracted. Clinical characteristics and CT quantitative features were compared between RT-PCR-negative and RT-PCR-positive groups. Univariate logistic regression and Spearman correlation analyses identified the strongest features associated with RT-PCR negativity, and a multivariate logistic regression model was established. The diagnostic performance was evaluated for both cohorts. RESULTS: The RT-PCR-negative group had a longer time interval from symptom onset to CT exams than the RT-PCR-positive group (median 23 vs. 16 days, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the other clinical characteristics or CT quantitative features. In addition to the time interval from symptom onset to CT exams, nine CT radiomic features were selected for the model. ROC curve analysis revealed AUCs of 0.811 and 0.812 for differentiating the RT-PCR-negative group, with sensitivity/specificity of 0.765/0.625 and 0.784/0.600 in the training and testing datasets, respectively. CONCLUSION: The model combining CT radiomic features and clinical data helped predict RT-PCR negativity during clinical treatment, indicating the proper time for RT-PCR retesting.
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159,202 |
Using games for language learning in the age of social distancing
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Since the COVID-19 pandemic has led to nation-wide school closures, the transition to remote teaching has caused profound disruption to classroom instruction. In this article, I share the impact that this forced transition has had on the redesign of the second half of a French course entitled “Gaming culture and culture of games,” to meet the pedagogical challenge posed by the pandemic, retain the integrity of the course, and provide useful tools to mitigate the circumstances. In particular, I examine how the situation was an opportunity to combine language and culture pedagogy with game design to enable students to think critically about the course content and contribute meaningful solutions to learning languages in the age of social distancing.
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159,203 |
A fatal case of COVID-19 due to metabolic acidosis following dysregulate inflammatory response (cytokine storm)
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The ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 has been expanding worldwide. As of 17 April 2020, the death toll stands at a sobering 147,027 and over two million cases, this has been straining the health care systems all over. Respiratory failure has been cited as the major cause of death but here we present a case about a patient who instead succumbed to severe metabolic acidosis with multiple organ failure.
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159,204 |
From COVID-19 research to vaccine application: why might it take 17 months not 17 years and what are the wider lessons?
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It is often said that it takes 17 years to move medical research from bench to bedside. In a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) world, such time-lags feel intolerable. In these extraordinary circumstances could years be made into months? If so, could those lessons be used to accelerate medical research when the crisis eases?To measure time-lags in health and biomedical research as well as to identify ways of reducing them, we developed and published (in 2015) a matrix consisting of overlapping tracks (or stages/phases) in the translation from discovery research to developed products, policies and practice. The matrix aids analysis by highlighting the time and actions required to develop research (and its translation) both (1) along each track and (2) from one track to another, e.g. from the discovery track to the research-in-humans track. We noted four main approaches to reducing time-lags, namely increasing resources, working in parallel, starting or working at risk, and improving processes.Examining these approaches alongside the matrix helps interpret the enormous global effort to develop a vaccine for the 2019 novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. Rapid progress in the discovery/basic and human research tracks is being made through a combination of large-scale funding, work being conducted in parallel (between different teams globally and through working in overlapping tracks), working at greater (but proportionate) risk to safety than usual, and adopting various new processes. The overlapping work of some of the teams involves continuing animal research whilst entering vaccine candidates into Phase I trials alongside planning their Phase II trials. The additional funding available helps to reduce some of the usual financial risks in moving so quickly. Going forward through the increasingly large human trials for safety, dosage and efficacy, it will be vital to overlap work in parallel in the often challenging public policy and clinical tracks. Thus, regulatory and reimbursement bodies are beginning and preparing rapid action to pull vaccines proving to be safe and effective through to extraordinarily rapid application to the general population. Monitoring the development of a COVID-19 vaccine using the matrix (modified as necessary) could help identify which of the approaches speeding development and deployment could be usefully applied more widely in the future.
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159,205 |
Big Data Analytics + Virtual Clinical Semantic Network (vCSN): An Approach to Addressing the Increasing Clinical Nuances and Organ Involvement of COVID-19
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The COViD-19 pandemic has revealed deep gaps in our understanding of the clinical nuances of this extremely infectious viral pathogen. In order for public health, care delivery systems, clinicians and other stakeholders to be better prepared for the next wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections, which, at this point, seems inevitable, we need to better understand this disease-not only from a clinical diagnosis and treatment perspective-but also from a forecasting, planning, and advanced preparedness point of view. To predict the onset and outcomes of a next wave, we first need to understand the pathologic mechanisms and features of COViD-19 from the point of view of the intricacies of clinical presentation, to the nuances of response to therapy. Here, we present a novel approach to model COViD-19, utilizing patient data from related diseases, combining clinical understanding with artificial intelligence modeling. Our process will serve as a methodology for analysis of the data being collected in the ASAIO database, and other data sources worldwide.
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159,206 |
Global and Temporal COVID-19 Risk Evaluation
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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented crisis across the world, with many countries struggling with the pandemic. In order to understand how each country is impacted by the virus and assess the risk on a global scale we present a regression based analysis using two pre-existing indexes, namely the Inform and Infectious Disease Vulnerability Index, in conjunction with the number of elderly living in the population. Further we introduce a temporal layer in our modeling by incorporating the stringency level employed by each country over a period of 6 time intervals. Our results show that the indexes and level of stringency are not ideally suited for explaining variation in COVID-19 risk, however the ratio of elderly in the population is a stand out indicator in terms of its predictive power for mortality risk. In conclusion, we discuss how such modeling approaches can assist public health policy.
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159,207 |
Coronavirus (COVID-19): ARIMA based time-series analysis to forecast near future
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COVID-19, a novel coronavirus, is currently a major worldwide threat. It has infected more than a million people globally leading to hundred-thousands of deaths. In such grave circumstances, it is very important to predict the future infected cases to support prevention of the disease and aid in the healthcare service preparation. Following that notion, we have developed a model and then employed it for forecasting future COVID-19 cases in India. The study indicates an ascending trend for the cases in the coming days. A time series analysis also presents an exponential increase in the number of cases. It is supposed that the present prediction models will assist the government and medical personnel to be prepared for the upcoming conditions and have more readiness in healthcare systems.
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159,208 |
The challenge and development opportunity brought by coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to Microbiology teaching in universities:The Special Issue for Education
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The sudden emergence of a new coronavirus pneumonia epidemic made online online teaching the only teaching method during this period This aspect presents new challenges to the teachers and students of colleges and universities, but at the same time it also presses the acceleration key to the development trend of open education reform in higher education that has been carried out in recent years "Microbiology Bulletin" took the "17th National Microbiology Teaching and Scientific Research and Achievements Industrialization Symposium" as an opportunity to organize the publication of this issue of "University Teaching Topic Journal", which reflects well in recent years Under the situation of open education, the latest progress and development trend of microbiology teaching reform and talent cultivation in China There are also articles introducing the experience of selecting and using online teaching technology during the epidemic It is hoped that the publication of this subject will help to further promote the majority of microbiology teachers to strengthen Internet awareness, create "Internet +" thinking, reshape the classroom teaching form, and further promote the construction of microbiology courses in China through the exchange and cooperation of teaching reform experience among the teachers Comprehensive improvement of the level and teaching quality
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159,209 |
The Overview Effect and the Ultraview Effect: How Extreme Experiences in/of Outer Space Influence Religious Beliefs in Astronauts
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This paper, based mainly on astronauts’ first-person writings, historical documents, and my own ethnographic interviews with nine astronauts conducted between 2004 and 2020, explores how encountering the earth and other celestial objects in ways never before experienced by human beings has influenced some astronauts’ cosmological understandings Following the work of Timothy Morton, the earth and other heavenly bodies can be understood as “hyperobjects”, entities that are distributed across time and space in ways that make them difficult for human beings to accurately understand, but whose existence is becoming increasingly detectable to us Astronauts in outer space are able to perceive celestial objects from vantages literally unavailable on earth, which has often (but not always) had a profound influence on their understandings of humanity, life, and the universe itself Frank Wright’s term, the “overview effect”, describes a cognitive shift resulting from seeing the Earth from space that increases some astronauts’ sense of connection to humanity, God, or other powerful forces Following NASA convention (NASA Style Guide, 2012), I will capitalize both Earth and Moon, but will leave all quotations in their original style The “ultraview effect” is a term I introduce here to describe the parallel experience of viewing the Milky Way galaxy from the Moon’s orbit (a view described reverently by one respondent as a “something I was not ready for”) that can result in strong convictions about the prevalence of life in the universe or even unorthodox beliefs about the origins of humanity I will compare Morton’s ideas about humanity’s increased awareness of hyperobjects with Joye and Verpooten’s work on awe in response to “bigness”, tying both to astronauts’ lived experiences in order to demonstrate the usefulness of ethnographic data in this context, discuss how human experiences in outer space might influence religious practices and beliefs, and suggest that encounters with hyperobjects hold the potential to be socially beneficial
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159,210 |
Connecting data, tools and people across Europe: ELIXIR's response to the COVID-19 pandemic
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ELIXIR, the European research infrastructure for life science data, provides open access to data, tools and workflows in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. ELIXIR's 23 nodes have reacted swiftly to support researchers in their combined efforts against the pandemic setting out three joint priorities: 1. Connecting national COVID-19 data platforms to create federated European COVID-19 Data Spaces; 2. Fostering good data management to make COVID-19 data open, FAIR and reusable over the long term; 3. Providing open tools, workflows and computational resources to drive reproducible and collaborative science. ELIXIR's strategy is based on the support given by our national nodes - collectively spanning over 200 institutes - to research projects and on partnering with community initiatives to drive development and adoption of good data practice and community driven standards. ELIXIR Nodes provide support activities locally and internationally, from provisioning compute capabilities to helping collect viral sequence data from hospitals. Some Nodes have prioritised access to their national cloud and compute facilities for all COVID-19 research projects, while others have developed tools to search, access and share all data related to the pandemic in a national healthcare setting.
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159,211 |
Vexing, Veiled, and Inequitable: Social Distancing and the "Rights" Divide in the Age of COVID-19
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Although unprecedented in scope and beyond all our life experiences, sweeping social distancing measures are not without historical precedent. Historically, racism, stigma, and discrimination resulted in grossly inequitable application of disease containment measures. But history also provides examples in which broad measures enjoyed remarkable public support. When it comes to COVID-19, blame and division continue to shape containment responses. But the COVID-19 pandemic also resonates with moments in which there was broad social support for containment precisely because lockdowns or stay at home orders are, on the surface, remarkably equitable. Yet even in a context in which a majority of Americans support social distancing, small but coordinated conservative groups are challenging social distancing as a matter of individual rights. In sharp contrast, vulnerable populations, who bear the heaviest burden of disease, have claimed a right to social distancing as a matter of protection.
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159,212 |
The Relationship between the COVID-19 Pandemic and Nursing Students' Sense of Belonging: The Experiences and Nursing Education Management of Pre-Service Nursing Professionals
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The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the orders and structures of societies, particularly in the fields of medical and nursing professions. The researcher aims to understand the experiences, sense of belonging, and decision-making processes about Japanese pre-service nursing students and how the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing, and lockdown has influenced their understanding as pre-service nursing professionals in Japan. As this study focuses on the issues of pre-service nursing students, the researcher invited forty-nine pre-service nursing students for a virtual interview due to the recommendation of social distancing. To increase the coverage of the population, the researcher employed snowball sampling to recruit participants from all over Japan. Although the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the overall performance of the medical and nursing professions, all participants showed a sense of belonging as Japanese citizens and nursing professionals due to the natural disaster of their country. More importantly, all expressed their desires and missions to upgrade and improve the overall performance of the public health system due to the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results discovered that many Japanese nursing students advocated that Japan's national development, the benefits and advantages of their country, were of a greater importance than their own personal development and goals.
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159,213 |
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on online home learning: An explorative study of primary schools in Indonesia
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The purpose of this study was to identify the constraints of the online teaching and learning process at home as a result of the unprecedented situation with the pandemic COVID-19 The study used an exploratory case study, and for the research approach, a qualitative case study method was used to obtain information about the constraints and consequences of the pandemic COVID-19 on teaching and learning activities in primary schools In this study, the respondents were 15 teachers and parents of two primary schools in Tangerang, Indonesia A list of semi-structured interview questions was developed based on the related literature and was used to collect in-depth information from the respondents The findings of this research revealed some challenges and constraints experienced by students, teachers, and parents in online learning The challenges related to students were: limited communication and socializing among students, a higher challenge for students with special education needs, and longer screen time Parents saw the problem was more related to a lack of learning discipline at home, more time spent to assist their children's learning at home-especially for children below Grade 4 in Primary School, a lack of technology skills, and higher internet bills Teachers identified more challenges and constraints, including some restrictions in the choices of teaching methods normally applicable in a regular face-to-face class, less coverage of curriculum content, lack of technology skills that hinder the potential of online learning, the lacks of e-resources in Indonesian language resulting in more time needed to develop e-contents, longer screen time as a result of e-content creating and giving feedback on students' work, more intense and time-consuming communication with parents, the challenge for better coordination with colleague teachers, principals, and a higher internet bill © 2020 SERSC
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159,214 |
Management of cardiovascular emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic
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BACKGROUND: It has been reported that patients attending the emergency department with other pathologies may not have received optimal medical care due to the lockdown measures in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients presenting with cardiovascular emergencies to four tertiary regional emergency departments in western India during the government implementation of complete lockdown. RESULTS: 25.0% of patients during the lockdown period and 17.4% of patients during the pre-lockdown period presented outside the window period (presentation after 12 hours of symptom onset) compared with only 6% during the pre-COVID period. In the pre-COVID period, 46.9% of patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction underwent emergent catheterisation, while in the pre-lockdown and lockdown periods, these values were 26.1% and 18.8%, respectively. The proportion of patients treated with intravenous thrombolytic therapy increased from 18.4% in the pre-COVID period to 32.3% in the post-lockdown period. Inhospital mortality for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) increased from 2.69% in the pre-COVID period to 7.27% in the post-lockdown period. There was also a significant decline in emergency admissions for non-ACS conditions, such as acute decompensated heart failure and high degree or complete atrioventricular block. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to delays in patients seeking care for cardiac problems and also affected the use of optimum therapy in our institutions.
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159,215 |
Reshaping Community Mental Health Services during the COVID-19 Epidemic - Report from the 59G21 Service in Lille, France
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The COVID-19 pandemic led to a rapid transformation of the health care system to cope with the risk of contamination and of developing a severe form of the infection Although it is an international crisis, strategies have been decided nationally In France, priority was given to hospital reorganization, especially intensive care units Reorganization of primary health and mental health services took place with late and inadequate national guidelines or coordination For mental health services, lack of visibility on the crisis impact on mental health, and difficulties in defining their place in the overall health strategy appeared as the main challenges to overcome These rapid transformations impacted the whole organization of community mental health care Any strategies developed must ensure that every person enjoys the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health Using a systemic approach, it has been necessary to identify both status and risk factors of communities, and to implement appropriate and efficient health promotion and crisis resolution actions These theoretical issues and their practical impact are discussed using the field strategy developed during the first 28 days of confinement by the 59G21 service in Lille, France
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159,216 |
Taming the adolescent mind: a randomised controlled trial examining clinical efficacy of an adolescent mindfulness-based group programme
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BACKGROUND: Mindfulness interventions with adolescents are in the early stages of development. This study sought to establish efficacy of a mindfulness-based group intervention for adolescents with mixed mental health disorders. METHOD: One hundred and eight adolescents (ages 13-18) were recruited from community mental health clinics and randomised into two groups (control vs. treatment). All participants received treatment-as-usual (TAU) from clinic-based therapists independent of the study. Adolescents in the treatment condition received TAU plus a 5-week mindfulness-training programme (TAU+Mi); adolescents in the control group received only TAU. Assessments including parent/carer reports were conducted at baseline, postintervention and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: At postintervention, adolescents in the mindfulness condition experienced significant decrease in mental distress (measured with the DASS-21) compared to the control group (Cohen's d = 0.43), and these gains were enhanced at 3-month follow-up (Cohen's d = 0.78). Overall outcomes at 3 months showed significant improvement for adolescents in the mindfulness condition; in self-esteem, mindfulness, psychological inflexibility and mental health, but not resilience. Parents/carers also reported significant improvement in their adolescent's psychological functioning (using the CBCL). Mediation analyses concluded mindfulness mediated mental health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Increase in mindful awareness after training leads to improvement in mental health and this is consistent with mindfulness theory. The mindfulness group programme appears to be a promising adjunctive therapeutic approach for clinic-based adolescents with mental health problems.
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159,217 |
Molecular docking reveals the potential of Cleome amblyocarpa isolated compounds to inhibit COVID-19 virus main protease (Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/d0nj03611k)
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Nine flavonoids and one saponin were isolated from the aerial parts of Cleome amblyocarpa Molecular docking of isolated compounds on COVID-19 virus main protease showed variable binding affinities with scores ranging from −8 63 to −6 08 compared to N3 inhibitor (−10 10) and binding modes better than N3 inhibitor in some of the isolated compounds The descending order of the binding affinity of the tested drugs was as follows: N3 inhibitor (11, docked) > kaempferitrin (6) > isorhamnetin 3,7-O-α-l-dirhamnoside (3) > kaempferol 3-O-β-glucoside-7-O-α-rhamnoside (2) > soysaponin I (1) > isorhamnetin 7-O-α-l-rhamnoside (10) > genistein-8-C-glucoside (8) > tamarixetin 7-O-β-d-glucoside (4) > isoprunetin-7-glucoside (9) > genistin (5) > 5-O-methylgenistein (7) These results could be a good start for fast further examination of the isolated compounds in vitro and in vivo either alone or in combination for the treatment of the COVID-19 virus Besides, this work gives an explanation of the SAR required for targeting the newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 protease and facilitates the future design and synthesis of new drugs targeting it as well
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159,218 |
Molecular docking reveals the potential of: Cleome amblyocarpa isolated compounds to inhibit COVID-19 virus main protease
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Nine flavonoids and one saponin were isolated from the aerial parts of Cleome amblyocarpa Molecular docking of isolated compounds on COVID-19 virus main protease showed variable binding affinities with scores ranging from -8 63 to -6 08 compared to N3 inhibitor (-10 10) and binding modes better than N3 inhibitor in some of the isolated compounds The descending order of the binding affinity of the tested drugs was as follows: N3 inhibitor (11, docked) > kaempferitrin (6) > isorhamnetin 3,7-O-α-l-dirhamnoside (3) > kaempferol 3-O-β-glucoside-7-O-α-rhamnoside (2) > soysaponin I (1) > isorhamnetin 7-O-α-l-rhamnoside (10) > genistein-8-C-glucoside (8) > tamarixetin 7-O-β-d-glucoside (4) > isoprunetin-7-glucoside (9) > genistin (5) > 5-O-methylgenistein (7) These results could be a good start for fast further examination of the isolated compounds in vitro and in vivo either alone or in combination for the treatment of the COVID-19 virus Besides, this work gives an explanation of the SAR required for targeting the newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 protease and facilitates the future design and synthesis of new drugs targeting it as well This journal is
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159,219 |
Political orientation and support for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from Brazil
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Abstract Social distancing practices have been widely recommended to curb the COVID-19 pandemic However, despite the medical consensus, many citizens have resisted adhering to and/or supporting its implementation While this resistance may stem from the non-negligible personal economic costs of implementing social distancing, we argue that it may also reside in more fundamental differences in normative principles and belief systems, as reflected by political orientation In a study conducted in Brazil, we test the relative importance of these explanations by examining whether and how support for social distancing varies according to self-identified political orientation and personal economic vulnerability Results show that while economic vulnerability does not influence support for social distancing, conservatives are systematically less supportive of these practices than liberals Discrepancies in sensitivity to threats to the economic system help explain the phenomenon
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159,220 |
Incubation period of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infections among travellers from Wuhan, China, 20-28 January 2020
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A novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is causing an outbreak of viral pneumonia that started in Wuhan, China. Using the travel history and symptom onset of 88 confirmed cases that were detected outside Wuhan in the early outbreak phase, we estimate the mean incubation period to be 6.4 days (95% credible interval: 5.6-7.7), ranging from 2.1 to 11.1 days (2.5th to 97.5th percentile). These values should help inform 2019-nCoV case definitions and appropriate quarantine durations.
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159,221 |
Under the COVID-19 lockdown: Rapid review about the unique case of North Cyprus
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COVID-19 has been causing tragic outcomes all over the world. On one island nation, North Cyprus, that has been politically isolated from the rest of the world due to a very complicated history and political stance, the rapid enforcement of lockdown measures, despite having negative psychological effects, helped interfere with the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve. We propose that the traumas of the past may have caused resilient factors when faced with the psychological impact of COVID-19, and lack of trust toward the capacities of governing bodies may have caused people take strict precautions to help contain the spread of the virus. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
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159,222 |
Under the COVID-19 lockdown: Rapid review about the unique case of North Cyprus
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COVID-19 has been causing tragic outcomes all over the world. On one island nation, North Cyprus, that has been politically isolated from the rest of the world due to a very complicated history and political stance, the rapid enforcement of lockdown measures, despite having negative psychological effects, helped interfere with the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve. We propose that the traumas of the past may have caused resilient factors when faced with the psychological impact of COVID-19, and lack of trust toward the capacities of governing bodies may have caused people take strict precautions to help contain the spread of the virus. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
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159,223 |
[Clinical cure strategy for hepatitis B: immunomodulatory therapy]
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Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major world public health problem. Current guidelines of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) suggest the clinical cure as the ideal thearapeutic goal. Although the optimization of the existing antiviral treatment can make some patients achieve clinical cure, but for most patients with chronic hepatitis B, it is difficult to achieve clinical cure according to the existing antiviral treatment plan. The medical community has begun to work together to seek new treatment strategies, especially the immune intervention measures aimed at restoring the immune response in the liver microenvironment. Notably, immune antiviral response plays a crucial role in HBV clearance, and the clinical cure of chronic hepatitis B is finally achieved through the optimized combination of antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs.
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159,224 |
The Short and Long(er) of It: The Effect of Hard Times on Regional Institutionalization
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What are the implications of hard economic times for regional economic cooperation? Existing research is sharply divided on the answer to this question Some studies suggest that economic crises encourage governments to strengthen their regional institutions, but others indicate that they lead to decreasing investment in such initiatives Both sides overlook the possibility that the passage of time conditions these relationships, however We aim to bridge these opposing perspectives by distinguishing between short-term and long-term effects of economic hard times on institutionalized regional cooperation We argue that in the short term economic crises impede regional institutionalization due to protectionist pressures, nationalistic public sentiments, and political instability This effect is reversed in the longer term, as interest groups and the public adopt more favorable attitudes toward regional economic organizations (REOs) and governments employ these institutions to demonstrate their competence and to improve economic conditions We evaluate this argument in relations to regional institutionalization, which refers to the functional scope and structure of REOs Using a data set that contains information on this dimension for thirty REOs over four decades, we find strong support for the theoretical framework: regional institutionalization remains stagnant in the immediate aftermath of economic crises, but increases in subsequent years
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159,225 |
Coronavirus disease-19 and fertility: viral host entry protein expression in male and female reproductive tissues
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OBJECTIVE: To identify cell types in the male and female reproductive systems at risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection because of the expression of host genes and proteins used by the virus for cell entry. DESIGN: Descriptive analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic data. SETTING: Academic research department and clinical diagnostic laboratory. PATIENT(S): Not applicable (focus was on previously generated gene and protein expression data). INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Identification of cell types coexpressing the key angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) genes and proteins as well as other candidates potentially involved in SARS-CoV-2 cell entry. RESULT(S): On the basis of single-cell RNA sequencing data, coexpression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 was not detected in testicular cells, including sperm. A subpopulation of oocytes in nonhuman primate ovarian tissue was found to express ACE2 and TMPRSS2, but coexpression was not observed in ovarian somatic cells. RNA expression of TMPRSS2 in 18 samples of human cumulus cells was shown to be low or absent. There was general agreement between publicly available bulk RNA and protein datasets in terms of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression patterns in testis, ovary, endometrial, and placental cells. CONCLUSION(S): These analyses suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection is unlikely to have long-term effects on male and female reproductive function. Although the results cannot be considered definitive, they imply that procedures in which oocytes are collected and fertilized in vitro are associated with very little risk of viral transmission from gametes to embryos and may indeed have the potential to minimize exposure of susceptible reproductive cell types to infection in comparison with natural conception.
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159,226 |
Genetic factors associated with response to as-needed aflibercept therapy for typical neovascular age-related macular degeneration and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy
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In the present study, we investigated the association between susceptible genetic variants to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and response to as-needed intravitreal aflibercept injection (IAI) therapy for exudative AMD including both typical neovascular AMD and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) over 12-months. A total of 234 patients with exudative AMD were initially treated with 3 monthly IAI and thereafter as-needed IAI over 12 months. Seven variants of 6 genes including ARMS2 A69S (rs10490924), CFH (I62V:rs800292 and rs1329428), C2-CFB-SKIV2L(rs429608), C3 (rs2241394), CETP (rs3764261) and ADAMTS-9 (rs6795735) were genotyped for all participants using TaqMan technology. After adjusting for age, gender, baseline BCVA and AMD subtype, A (protective) allele of C2-CFB-SKIV2L rs429608 was associated with visual improvement at 12-month (P = 0.003). Retreatment was associated with T(risk) allele of ARMS2 A69S (P = 2.0 × 10-4; hazard ratio: 2.18:95%CI: 1.47-3.24) and C(risk) allele of CFH rs1329428 (P = 2.0 × 10-3; hazard ratio: 1.74:95%CI: 1.16-2.59) after adjusting for the baseline confounders. The need for additional injections was also associated with T allele of ARMS2 A69S (P = 1.0 × 10-5) and C allele of CFH rs1329428 (P = 3.0 × 10-3) after adjusting for the baseline confounders. The variants of ARMS2 and CFH are informative for both physicians and patients to predict recurrence and to quantify the need for additional injections.
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159,227 |
Radiation Therapy for Patients with Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
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Stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) have led to a resurgence of the use of radiotherapy in the management of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). These techniques provide excellent local control and palliation of metastatic sites of disease with minimal toxicity. Additionally, SBRT to the primary tumor may be efficacious and well tolerated in select patients that are not surgical candidates. Emerging data suggest that SBRT may potentiate the immune response, and current and future study will evaluate if SBRT can improve survival outcomes in patients with metastatic RCC.
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159,228 |
A Rare Case of Tumoral Scleromyxedema
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Scleromyxedema is an uncommon disease, affecting the skin mainly and other internal organs sometimes, characterized by fibroblasts proliferation, fibrosis, and mucous deposition in the absence of thyroid disorder. It is associated with monoclonal gammopathy in most cases. We are reporting a case with a rare presentation of tumoral scleromyxedema in the neck, with a mass mimicking other tumoral lesions, highlighting the importance of diagnosis and histopathologic correlation.
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159,229 |
Bayesian causal inference for count potential outcomes
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The literature for count modeling provides useful tools to conduct causal inference when outcomes take non-negative integer values. Applied to the potential outcomes framework, we link the Bayesian causal inference literature to statistical models for count data. We discuss the general architectural considerations for constructing the predictive posterior of the missing potential outcomes. Special considerations for estimating average treatment effects are discussed, some generalizing certain relationships and some not yet encountered in the causal inference literature.
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159,230 |
ORION Space for the combat of COVID-19
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This report discusses on background of the organization and the work it has been doing to fight against the COVID -19 Due to sudden outbreak of COVID-19, individuals and organizations from the diverse fields fromaround the world are working together to fight against the disease ORION Space is an organization established to promote space technology in Nepal Due to the sudden outbreak, ORION Space has also proposed an idea to develop an Automatic Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) machine to provide some innovative solution to fight against current outbreak CPR is a machine which can be used as an emergency procedure when the heart stops beating CPR is the first step in treating victims of sudden cardiac arrest
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Geographical tracking and mapping of coronavirus disease COVID-19/severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic and associated events around the world: how 21st century GIS technologies are supporting the global fight against outbreaks and epidemics
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In December 2019, a new virus (initially called 'Novel Coronavirus 2019-nCoV' and later renamed to SARS-CoV-2) causing severe acute respiratory syndrome (coronavirus disease COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and rapidly spread to other parts of China and other countries around the world, despite China's massive efforts to contain the disease within Hubei. As with the original SARS-CoV epidemic of 2002/2003 and with seasonal influenza, geographic information systems and methods, including, among other application possibilities, online real-or near-real-time mapping of disease cases and of social media reactions to disease spread, predictive risk mapping using population travel data, and tracing and mapping super-spreader trajectories and contacts across space and time, are proving indispensable for timely and effective epidemic monitoring and response. This paper offers pointers to, and describes, a range of practical online/mobile GIS and mapping dashboards and applications for tracking the 2019/2020 coronavirus epidemic and associated events as they unfold around the world. Some of these dashboards and applications are receiving data updates in near-real-time (at the time of writing), and one of them is meant for individual users (in China) to check if the app user has had any close contact with a person confirmed or suspected to have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the recent past. We also discuss additional ways GIS can support the fight against infectious disease outbreaks and epidemics.
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Geographical tracking and mapping of coronavirus disease COVID-19/severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic and associated events around the world: how 21st century GIS technologies are supporting the global fight against outbreaks and epidemics
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In December 2019, a new virus (initially called 'Novel Coronavirus 2019-nCoV' and later renamed to SARS-CoV-2) causing severe acute respiratory syndrome (coronavirus disease COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and rapidly spread to other parts of China and other countries around the world, despite China's massive efforts to contain the disease within Hubei. As with the original SARS-CoV epidemic of 2002/2003 and with seasonal influenza, geographic information systems and methods, including, among other application possibilities, online real-or near-real-time mapping of disease cases and of social media reactions to disease spread, predictive risk mapping using population travel data, and tracing and mapping super-spreader trajectories and contacts across space and time, are proving indispensable for timely and effective epidemic monitoring and response. This paper offers pointers to, and describes, a range of practical online/mobile GIS and mapping dashboards and applications for tracking the 2019/2020 coronavirus epidemic and associated events as they unfold around the world. Some of these dashboards and applications are receiving data updates in near-real-time (at the time of writing), and one of them is meant for individual users (in China) to check if the app user has had any close contact with a person confirmed or suspected to have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the recent past. We also discuss additional ways GIS can support the fight against infectious disease outbreaks and epidemics.
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Geographical tracking and mapping of coronavirus disease COVID-19/severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic and associated events around the world: how 21st century GIS technologies are supporting the global fight against outbreaks and epidemics
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In December 2019, a new virus (initially called 'Novel Coronavirus 2019-nCoV' and later renamed to SARS-CoV-2) causing severe acute respiratory syndrome (coronavirus disease COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and rapidly spread to other parts of China and other countries around the world, despite China's massive efforts to contain the disease within Hubei. As with the original SARS-CoV epidemic of 2002/2003 and with seasonal influenza, geographic information systems and methods, including, among other application possibilities, online real-or near-real-time mapping of disease cases and of social media reactions to disease spread, predictive risk mapping using population travel data, and tracing and mapping super-spreader trajectories and contacts across space and time, are proving indispensable for timely and effective epidemic monitoring and response. This paper offers pointers to, and describes, a range of practical online/mobile GIS and mapping dashboards and applications for tracking the 2019/2020 coronavirus epidemic and associated events as they unfold around the world. Some of these dashboards and applications are receiving data updates in near-real-time (at the time of writing), and one of them is meant for individual users (in China) to check if the app user has had any close contact with a person confirmed or suspected to have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the recent past. We also discuss additional ways GIS can support the fight against infectious disease outbreaks and epidemics.
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Recomendações para Ressuscitação Cardiopulmonar (RCP) de pacientes com diagnóstico ou suspeitos de COVID-19ϯ
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Resumo A atenção ao paciente vítima de parada cardiorrespiratória em um contexto de pandemia de COVID-19 possui particularidades que devem ser ressaltadas As seguintes recomendações da Associação Brasileira de Medicina de Emergência (ABRAMEDE), Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia (SBC), Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira (AMIB) e Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia (SBA), associações e sociedades representantes oficiais de especialidades afiliadas a Associação Medica Brasileira (AMB), têm por objetivo orientar as diversas equipes assistentes, em um contexto de poucas evidências sólidas, maximizando a proteção das equipes e dos pacientes É fundamental a paramentação completa com Equipamentos de Proteção Individual (EPIs) para aerossóis durante o atendimento de Parada Cardiorrespiratória (PCR), e imperativo que se considerem e tratem os potenciais causas nesses pacientes, principalmente hipóxia e arritmias causadas por alterações no intervalo QT ou miocardites A instalação de via aérea invasiva avançada deve ser obtida precocemente e o uso de filtros High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance (HEPA) na interface com a bolsa-válvula é obrigatório;situações de ocorrência de PCR durante a ventilação mecânica e em posição pronada demandam peculiaridades distintas do padrão convencional de PCR Frente ao atendimento de um paciente com diagnóstico ou suspeito de COVID-19, o atendimento segue em acordo com os protocolos e diretrizes nacionais e internacionais 2015 ILCOR (Aliança Internacional dos Comitês de Ressuscitação), Diretrizes AHA 2019 (American Heart Association) e a Atualização da Diretriz de Ressuscitação Cardiopulmonar e Cuidados de Emergência da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia 2019 The care for patients suffering from cardiopulmonary arrest in a context of a COVID-19 pandemic has particularities that should be highlighted The following recommendations from the Brazilian Association of Emergency Medicine (ABRAMEDE), the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (SBC) and the Brazilian Association of Intensive Medicine (AMIB) and the Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology (SBA), associations and societies official representatives of specialties affiliated to the Brazilian Medical Association (AMB), aim to guide the various assistant teams, in a context of little solid evidence, maximizing the protection of teams and patients It is essential to wear full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for aerosols during the care of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and it is imperative to consider and treat the potential causes in these patients, especially hypoxia and arrhythmias caused by changes in the QT interval or myocarditis The installation of an advanced invasive airway must be obtained early and the use of High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance (HEPA) filters at the interface with the valve bag is mandatory;situations of occurrence of CPR during mechanical ventilation and in a prone position demand peculiarities that are different from the conventional CPR pattern Faced with the care of a patient diagnosed or suspected of COVID-19, the care follows the national and international protocols and guidelines 2015 ILCOR (International Alliance of Resuscitation Committees), AHA 2019 Guidelines (American Heart Association) and the Update of the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Care Directive of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology 2019
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Nanotechnology as an Alternative to Reduce the Spread of COVID-19
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The current emerging COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global impact on every major aspect of our societies It is known that SARS-Cov-2 can endure harsh environmental conditions for up to 72 h, which may contribute to its rapid spread Therefore, effective containment strategies, such as sanitizing, are critical Nanotechnology can represent an alternative to reduce the COVID-19 spread, particularly in critical areas, such as healthcare facilities and public places Nanotechnology-based products are effective at inhibiting different pathogens, including viruses, regardless of their drug-resistant profile, biological structure, or physiology Although there are several approved nanotechnology-based antiviral products, this work aims to highlight the use of nanomaterials as sanitizers for the prevention of the spread of mainly SARS-Cov-2 It has been widely demonstrated that nanomaterials are an alternative for sanitizing surfaces to inactivate the virus Also, antimicrobial nanomaterials can reduce the risk of secondary microbial infections on COVID-19 patients, as they inhibit the bacteria and fungi that can contaminate healthcare-related facilities Finally, cost-effective, easy-to-synthesize antiviral nanomaterials could reduce the burden of the COVID-19 on challenging environments and in developing countries
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Optimising Secondary Prevention and Cardiac Rehabilitation for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Position Statement From the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ)
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BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has introduced a major disruption to the delivery of routine health care across the world. This provides challenges for the use of secondary prevention measures in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this Position Statement is to review the implications for effective delivery of secondary prevention strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. CHALLENGES: The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced limitations for many patients to access standard health services such as visits to health care professionals, medications, imaging and blood tests as well as attendance at cardiac rehabilitation. In addition, the pandemic is having an impact on lifestyle habits and mental health. Taken together, this has the potential to adversely impact the ability of practitioners and patients to adhere to treatment guidelines for the prevention of recurrent cardiovascular events. RECOMMENDATIONS: Every effort should be made to deliver safe, ongoing access to health care professionals and the use of evidenced based therapies in individuals with CVD. An increase in use of a range of electronic health platforms has the potential to transform secondary prevention. Integrating research programs that evaluate the utility of these approaches may provide important insights into how to develop more optimal approaches to secondary prevention beyond the pandemic.
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Clinical Features Deserve Consideration for a Urologist in COVID-19
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We have studied up-to-date knowledge about the clinical feature of the Novel coronavirus pandemic worth consideration by the urologist. PubMed database, the United States centers for disease control and prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) websites were also accessed. A staging system introduced by Siddiqi et al. for the COVID-19 is acknowledged. Hemodialysis centers are high-risk zones in the outbreak of a COVID-19 epidemic. Symptoms and signs, clinical features, and laboratory findings of the renal transplant patients are almost similar to non-transplanted patients.
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Short-Term Mild Temperature-Stress-Induced Alterations in the C. elegans Phosphoproteome
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Exposure to mild early-life stresses can slow down aging, and protein phosphorylation might be an essential regulator in this process. However, the mechanisms of phosphorylation-based signaling networks during mild early-life stress remain elusive. Herein, we systematically analyzed the phosphoproteomes of Caenorhabditis elegans, which were treated with three mild temperatures (15 °C, 20 °C, and 25 °C) in two different short-term groups (10 min and 60 min). By utilizing an iTRAQ-based quantitative phosphoproteomic approach, 18,187 phosphosites from 3330 phosphoproteins were detected in this study. Volcano plots illustrated that the phosphorylation abundance of 374 proteins and 347 proteins, were significantly changed at 15 °C and 25 °C, respectively. Gene ontology, KEGG pathway and protein-protein interaction network analyses revealed that these phosphoproteins were primarily associated with metabolism, translation, development, and lifespan determination. A motif analysis of kinase substrates suggested that MAPK, CK, and CAMK were most likely involved in the adaption processes. Moreover, 16 and 14 aging-regulated proteins were found to undergo phosphorylation modifications under the mild stresses of 15 °C and 25 °C, respectively, indicating that these proteins might be important for maintaining long-term health. Further lifespan experiments confirmed that the candidate phosphoproteins, e.g., EGL-27 and XNP-1 modulated longevity at 15 °C, 20 °C, and 25 °C, and they showed increased tolerance to thermal and oxidative stresses. In conclusion, our findings offered data that supports understanding of the phosphorylation mechanisms involved in mild early-life stresses in C. elegans. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD021081.
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In silico screening of traditional herbal medicine derived chemical constituents for possible potential inhibition against sars-cov-2
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The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 has initiated an exploration to find an efficient anti-viral agent. From the previous scientific studies of traditional herbal medicines like garlic, ginger, onion, turmeric, chilli, cinchona and pepper, 131 chemical constituents were identified. The filtered search of drug-like-molecules searched using Datawarrior resulted in 13 active constituents (apoquinine, catechin, cinchonidine, cinchonine, cuprediene, epicatechin, epiprocurcumenol, epiquinine, procurcumenol, quinidine, quinine, zedoaronediol, procurcumadiol) showed no mutagenic, carcinogenic or toxic properties. In silico study of these 13 compounds with the best binding affinity towards SARS-CoV-2 protease was carried out. The ligands were subjected to molecular docking using Autodock Vina. Epicatechin and apoquine showed highest binding affinity of-7 and-7.5kcal/mol while catechin and epicatechin showed four hydrogen bond interactions. It is interesting and worth noticing the interaction of GLU166 residue with the ligand in most of the constituents. The effectiveness of catechin and epicatechin as an antiviral agent could be tested against COVID-19.
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Care of the COVID-19 exposed complex newborn infant
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As we confront COVID-19, the global public health emergency of our times, new knowledge is emerging that, combined with information from prior epidemics, can provide insights on how to manage this threat in specific patient populations. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), both caused by coronaviruses, caused serious respiratory illness in pregnant women that resulted in adverse perinatal outcomes. Thus far, COVID-19 appears to follow a mild course in the vast majority of pregnant women. A significant proportion of pregnant women appear to be asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2. However, there is limited information on how COVID-19 impacts the fetus and whether vertical transmission occurs. While these knowledge gaps are addressed, it is important to recognize the highly efficient transmission characteristics of SARS-C0V-2 and its potential for causing serious disease in vulnerable individuals, including health care workers. This review provides perspectives from a single center in New York City, the epicenter of the pandemic within the United States. It offers an overview of the preparations required for deliveries of newborns of mothers with COVID-19 and the management of neonates with particular emphasis on those born with complex issues.
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The role of virtual sub-internships in influencing career perceptions: an international medical graduate perspective
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The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has left a huge impact on the career perceptions of trainees and medical students globally. The cancellation and/or replacement of sub-internships in the United States (US) with a virtual alternative offer a different experience. We explore the impact of this issue on international medical graduates (IMGs) who are planning to apply to a US residency program in the near future.
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A HaloTag-TEV genetic cassette for mechanical phenotyping of proteins from tissues
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Single-molecule methods using recombinant proteins have generated transformative hypotheses on how mechanical forces are generated and sensed in biological tissues. However, testing these mechanical hypotheses on proteins in their natural environment remains inaccesible to conventional tools. To address this limitation, here we demonstrate a mouse model carrying a HaloTag-TEV insertion in the protein titin, the main determinant of myocyte stiffness. Using our system, we specifically sever titin by digestion with TEV protease, and find that the response of muscle fibers to length changes requires mechanical transduction through titin's intact polypeptide chain. In addition, HaloTag-based covalent tethering enables examination of titin dynamics under force using magnetic tweezers. At pulling forces < 10 pN, titin domains are recruited to the unfolded state, and produce 41.5 zJ mechanical work during refolding. Insertion of the HaloTag-TEV cassette in mechanical proteins opens opportunities to explore the molecular basis of cellular force generation, mechanosensing and mechanotransduction.
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GameCode: Choose your Own Problem Solving Path
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This abstract focuses on a CS2 course in which gamified homework exercises are provided to students instead of in-class exercise sessions The course, provided to first-year Computer Science students, introduces a rigorous methodology to write programs using Loop Invariants, recursion, and basic data structures such as Files, Lists, Queues, and Stacks In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a lock-down in our country The universities decided to fully switch to remote teaching As the exercises sessions previously consisted of solving problems on a blackboard, we had to design in a hurry course materials that would cope with remote teaching Instead of giving students yet another podcast in their course schedule, we gave them homework exercises, we called GameCode, that they could do at their own convenience These exercises are inspired by GameBooks in which the reader can choose the path she takes to complete the story With GameCode, students can choose their own solving path for each exercise This can be related to gamification © 2020 Owner/Author
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Tile test for back-testing risk evaluation
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A new test for measuring the accuracy of financial market risk estimations is introduced. It is based on the probability integral transform (PIT) of the ex post realized returns using the ex ante probability distributions underlying the risk estimation. If the forecast is correct, the result of the PIT, that we called probtile, should be an iid random variable with a uniform distribution. The new test measures the variance of the number of probtiles in a tiling over the whole sample. Using different tilings allow to check the dynamic and the distributional aspect of risk methodologies. The new test is very powerful, and new benchmarks need to be introduced to take into account subtle mean reversion effects induced by some risk estimations. The test is applied on 2 data sets for risk horizons of 1 and 10 days. The results show unambiguously the importance of capturing correctly the dynamic of the financial market, and exclude some broadly used risk methodologies.
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Narrative review of the immune response against coronavirus: An overview, applicability for SARS-COV-2, and therapeutic implications
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The new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes a severe acute respiratory syndrome emerges in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 It produces the aforementioned disease due to coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), and has led to a declaration of a world public health emergency by the World Health Organisation This new SARS-CoV-2 virus could share characteristics and an immune response similar to those described for other coronavirus Given its activity on the interferon pathway, and the manner in which it dysregulates innate immunity, the use of treatments directed at modulating or containing this could be of interest A narrative review was made of the current evidence about immunity against coronavirus and its applicability to SARS-CoV-2 The physiopathogenesis is also described, along with the underlying leucocyte activity, with the intention of clarifying the possible usefulness of inflammatory biomarkers and the development of personalised treatments Resumen El nuevo coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) productor de síndrome respiratorio agudo severo surge en Wuhan, China, en diciembre de 2019 Genera la denominada enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) y ha llevado a la declaración de emergencia de salud pública global a la Organización Mundial de la Salud Este nuevo virus SARS-CoV-2 podría compartir características y respuesta inmune a las descritas para otros coronavirus Dada su actividad sobre la vía del interferón y el modo en el que disregula la inmunidad innata, el uso de tratamientos dirigidos a modular o contener esta pueden ser de interés Se realiza una revisión narrativa de la evidencia actual acerca de la inmunidad sobre coronavirus y su aplicabilidad para SARS-CoV-2 Se describe también la fisiopatogenia y la actividad leucocitaria subyacente, con intención de clarificar la posible utilidad de biomarcadores inflamatorios y el desarrollo de tratamientos personalizados
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Clinical progression and changes of chest CT findings among asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Wuhan, China
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OBJECTIVES: To analyze characteristics of asymptomatic/pres-ymptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: Chest computed tomography(CT), indicators for organ and coagulation function, inflammation cytokines, of asymptomatic/pre-symptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were retrospectively analyzed in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from 20 December 2019, to 8 March 2020. RESULTS: The proportion of normal chest CT in asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were 35.4% (17/48) and 3.3%(2/61), respectively (P< 0.001). In 17 asymptomatic patients, their images of chest CT maintained normal during the whole course of diseases, while the normal images of chest CT in 2 pre-symptomatic patients progressed to abnormal later (P< 0.001). All the six asymptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection maintained unilateral lesion, while the proportion was 29.4%(5/17) in pre-symptomatic patients(P= 0.003). Compared with asymptomatic patients, pre-symptomatic COVID-19 patients had worse levels of Lymphocyte count (P= 0.001), Albumin (P= 0.045), Aspartate aminotransferase (P= 0.044), γ-glutamyl transpeptadase (P= 0.016), Globulin (P= 0.036), Creatinine (P= 0.021), Lactate dehydrogenase (P= 0.008), C-reactive protein (P< 0.001), Serum amyloid A (P< 0.001), and Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P< 0.001). Except for above indicators, Alkaline phosphatase (P= 0.009), Procalcitonin (P= 0.010), and D-dimer(P< 0.001) increased further during periods of symptoms compared with those levels in pre-symptomatic period. CONCLUSION: In early stage after SARS-CoV-2 infection, images of chest CT and blood tests of asymptomatic patients were different from pre-symptomatic patients.
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Expeditious Total Synthesis of Hemiasterlin via a Convergent Multi-component Strategy and Its Use in Targeted Cancer Therapeutics
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Hemiasterlin is an anti-mitotic marine natural product with reported sub-nanomolar potency against several cancer cell lines. Herein, we describe an expeditious total synthesis of hemiasterlin featuring a four-component Ugi reaction (Ugi-4CR) as the key step. The convergent synthetic strategy enabled rapid access to taltobulin (HTI-286), a similarly potent synthetic analogue. This short synthetic sequence enabled investigation of both hemiasterlin and taltobulin as cytotoxic payloads in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). These novel ADCs displayed sub-nanomolar cytotoxicity against HER2-expressing cancer cells, while showing no activity against antigen-negative cells. This study demonstrates an improved synthetic route to a highly valuable natural product, facilitating further investigation of hemiasterlin and its analogues as a potential payload in targeted therapeutics.
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159,248 |
Adapting to an unprecedented scenario: surgery during the COVID-19 outbreak/ Adaptação a um cenário sem precedente: cirurgia durante o surto de COVID-19
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ABSTRACT On January 30th, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome 2 (SARSCoV-2) outbreak an international public health emergency, and one day later, the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Gomera Island, Spain In the following weeks, the number of cases in several Spanish cities spiked alarmingly, with thousands reported This new coronavirus outbreak generated unprecedented changes in the Surgery Departments around the world, first in Asia, followed weeks later in Europe and America This novel scenario of health crisis demanded a change in logistics and organization to guarantee urgent operations onCOVID-19 cases without interrupting the capability to handle emergency and oncologic surgery in the virus-free population, minimizing the viral transmission to staff and other patients This manuscript aims to summarize the changes adopted by the General and GI Surgery Departments to address this unprecedented clinical scenario, including the restructuring of surgical schedules, staff preparation, and the departments outbreak response protocols and recommendations for surgical techniques and risk management
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159,249 |
Adapting to an unprecedented scenario: surgery during the COVID-19 outbreak
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On January 30th, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome 2 (SARSCoV-2) outbreak an international public health emergency, and one day later, the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Gomera Island, Spain In the following weeks, the number of cases in several Spanish cities spiked alarmingly, with thousands reported This new coronavirus outbreak generated unprecedented changes in the Surgery Departments around the world, first in Asia, followed weeks later in Europe and America This novel scenario of health crisis demanded a change in logistics and organization to guarantee urgent operations onCOVID-19 cases without interrupting the capability to handle emergency and oncologic surgery in the virus-free population, minimizing the viral transmission to staff and other patients This manuscript aims to summarize the changes adopted by the General and GI Surgery Departments to address this unprecedented clinical scenario, including the restructuring of surgical schedules, staff preparation, and the departments outbreak response protocols and recommendations for surgical techniques and risk management
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159,250 |
COVID-19 and respiratory support devices
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There are significant logistical challenges to providing respiratory support devices, beyond simple oxygen flow, when centres run out of supplies or do not have these devices at all, such as in low resource settings. At the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, it was extremely difficult to import medical equipment and supplies, because most countries prohibited the medical industry from selling outside of their own countries. As a consequence, engineering teams worldwide volunteered to develop emergency devices, and medical experts in mechanical ventilation helped to guide the design and evaluation of prototypes. Although regulations vary among countries, given the emergency situation, some Regulatory Agencies facilitated expedited procedures. However, laboratory and animal model testing are crucial to minimize the potential risk for patients when treated with a device that may worsen clinical outcome if poorly designed or misused.
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Caracterização e análise da rede de movimento de bovinos no Estado de Mato Grosso/ Characterization and analysis of the network of animal movements in the Mato Grosso State
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O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar os dados de movimentação de bovinos, gerando informações úteis à vigilância epidemiológica do Estado de Mato Grosso. Analisou-se, para 2007, a distribuição de rebanhos nas propriedades, a movimentação por ecossistema de origem e destino, por finalidade (engorda, abate ou reprodução), e por época do ano. Observou-se que 81,54% do rebanho está concentrados em 20% das propriedades, indicando a existência de poucas propriedades com intensa comercialização para abate, engorda ou reprodução e muitas propriedades com pouca comercialização. Das 72.149 propriedades (de um total de 112.924) que realizaram algum tipo de movimentação, 65.773 movimentaram bovinos. A maioria das movimentações ocorreu internamente em cada ecossistema (Pantanal, Cerrado e Amazônia). O Pantanal recebeu o menor número de bovinos (4,98% dos animais recebidos, incluindo movimentação interna) e o Cerrado foi o que mais recebeu bovinos provenientes dos outros ecossistemas e o que enviou o menor número de bovinos (318.253, 25,79% do total de bovinos enviados a outro ecossistema). Observou-se uma redução do movimento em maio e novembro (vacinação contra febre aftosa), janeiro e fevereiro (férias dos frigoríficos e estação chuvosa) e setembro (manejo de natalidade, ausência da safra do boi gordo e desmama de bezerros). O percentual de movimentação interestadual foi de 2,65% dos animais movimentados, predominando as movimentações intraestaduais. Na análise de 539.526 documentos em 76.277 estabelecimentos calculou-se o grau de comercialização entre os estabelecimentos, para o semigrau interior a média e mediana foram (1 e 3) e para o semigrau exterior(2 e 3) respectivamente. As distâncias médias para movimentação de bovinos provenientes das propriedades da fronteira internacional e daquelas sabidamente positivas para brucelose foram 73,75 e 60,43 km respectivamente. Distâncias médias para movimentos destinados a frigoríficos, propriedades e eventos agropecuários foram inferiores a 116,70 km mostrando movimentação proveniente do próprio Estado. Em redes com características livre de escala supõe-se que a distribuição de grau P(k) pode ser ajustada pela lei de potência, no entanto observou-se que alguns estabelecimentos não seguiram o previsto para redes livre de escala. O ajuste de P(kin) mostrou que estabelecimentos que compraram maior quantidade de bovinos ultrapassaram o esperado pela lei de potência, o que pode estar relacionado ao comportamento de compra por frigoríficos e confinamentos. Para o ajuste de P(kout), a proporção de propriedades que venderam para muitos estabelecimentos (por exemplo, próximo a 100 estabelecimentos) está abaixo do previsto pela lei de potência, como também aquelas que venderam para menos de 10 outros estabelecimentos. As propriedades de subsistência, que movimentam poucos animais, influenciaram os valores de P(kin) e de P(kout) para valores baixos de kin e kout, respectivamente. Observou-se uma correção negativa (r= -0,54) entre o grau médio dos primeiros vizinhos e o grau do estabelecimento mostrando que estabelecimentos com grau elevado (volume elevado de compra e/ou venda) comercializam com estabelecimentos cujo grau é em média baixo (volume baixo de compra e/ou venda) e vice-versa. Essa característica da rede de movimentação de bovinos pode ter implicações no espalhamento de doenças infecciosas nos rebanhos, em função do contato entre grandes e pequenos estabelecimentos
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Avaliação participativa da segurança alimentar e nutricional em uma comunidade de Salvador, Brasil./ Avaliação participativa da segurança alimentar e nutricional em uma comunidade de Salvador, Brasil./ Participatory food and nutrition security assessment in a community of Salvador, Brazil
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This paper addresses a Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) participatory assessment developed together with community leaders and residents in Salvador city, Bahia, Brazil. Our reflection aims to analyze this research - including design, data generated, and its use - discussing the concept of FNS and its existing assessment methods. Secondary data were found to be difficult to access or of little utility to local activists. The household survey designed and used by the participants characterized the food and nutrition insecurity situation in vulnerable areas of the community, in a dialogue with national and socioeconomic indicators, evidencing robust data. First of all, the relevance of participatory approaches stood out: while the results show how much FNS is intricately embedded into a broader social vulnerability context, they show how critical it is to consider FNS research as a political instrument and the knowledge it produces as a power-related instrument. In this sense, FNS assessment is established as an emancipatory process, indissociable from the action and social change actors.
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Avaliação participativa da segurança alimentar e nutricional em uma comunidade de Salvador, Brasil/ Participatory food and nutrition security assessment in a community of Salvador, Brazil
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Resumo Este artigo focaliza uma avaliação participativa da situação de Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional (SAN) desenvolvida junto a moradores e líderes comunitários em Salvador, Bahia. A reflexão visa analisar esta pesquisa - incluindo desenho, dados geridos e sua utilização - dialogando com o conceito de SAN e os métodos existentes da sua avaliação. Observou-se que os dados secundários são de difícil acesso e/ou pouco uteis para a militância local. Quanto à pesquisa domiciliar desenhada e utilizada pelos participantes, ela permitiu caracterizar o quadro de insegurança alimentar e nutricional em áreas vulneráveis da comunidade, dialogando com os indicadores nacionais e os dados socioeconômicos, demonstrando a robusteza dos dados. Antes de tudo, é a relevância de abordagens participativas que mais se destaca: no mesmo movimento em que os resultados mostram o quanto a questão da SAN se insere no quadro de vulnerabilidade social, eles evidenciam o quão necessário se faz pensar a pesquisa em SAN como instrumento político e o conhecimento gerido como instrumento do poder. Nesse sentido, a avaliação da situação de SAN se constitui como processo emancipatório, indissociável da ação e dos atores da transformação social.
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[Clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 patients complicated with pneumothorax: analysis of 7 cases]
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OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients complicated with pneumothorax METHODS: The clinical data of 7 COVID-19 patients complicated with pneumothorax admitted to Huanggang Central Hospital from January 3 to March 10, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed The clinical features, diagnosis and treatment were summarized, and experience in the treatment of COVID-19 was shared RESULTS: (1) General information: among the 7 patients, 5 were males and 2 were females Four of them had no underlying disease, and 1 had a history of diabetes and hypertension One patient had only a history of hypertension There were 6 cases of right pneumothorax and 1 case of bilateral pneumothorax The 7 patients had a long hospital stay, all over 4 weeks, mostly complicated with multiple organ dysfunction (2) Imaging examination: 1 case evolved from the early stage to the advanced stage within 1 week and to the severe stage within 2 weeks Pneumothorax occurred 4 weeks later, and was absorbed within 2 weeks The remaining 6 patients presented progressive stage on admission, all of them advanced to severe stage within 1 to 2 weeks, and most of them presented diffused consolidation shadows, striation shadows and fibrosis of both lungs, obvious pleural adhesion, and extremely slow lesion absorption (3) Treatment: 1 severe patient with pneumothorax 4 weeks after onset was given non-invasive mechanical ventilation The remaining 6 critically ill patients were treated with endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation Five patients were treated with mechanical ventilation within 3 days after the occurrence of pneumothorax, and 1 patient was treated with mechanical ventilation after 11 days (4) Outcome: 1 patient without endotracheal intubation was continuously given nasal high-flow oxygen therapy, and the condition was stable Four of the 6 patients complicated with pneumothorax after endotracheal intubation died, and the other 2 patients successfully removed the drainage tube within 2 weeks of closed thoracic drainage, and their condition gradually stabilized CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 complicated with pneumothorax is a dangerous disease with poor prognosis, and should be paid adequate attention
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Cavitary Pulmonary Tuberculosis with COVID-19 coinfection
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The COVID-19 pandemic has strained the healthcare system worldwide, leading to an approach favoring judicious resource allocation A focus on resource preservation can result in anchoring bias and missed concurrent diagnosis Coinfection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has implications beyond morbidity at the individual level and can lead to unintended TB exposure to others We present six cases of COVID-19 with newly diagnosed cavitating pulmonary tuberculosis to highlight the significance of this phenomenon and favorable outcomes if recognized early
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Including people with disability in the COVID-19 outbreak emergency preparedness and response in China
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With the outbreak of the COVID-19, China had to declare a public health emergency within a short time. In order to control and prevent further spread of the disease, China activated the highest emergency response level and has been implementing many draconian measures based on the Law on Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (LPTID). However, the LPTID lacks a disability perspective and overlooks the needs of people with disabilities during emergencies to a large extent. Combining the law and disability perspectives, this article analyzes different Articles of the LPTID and points out its inadequacies regarding the emergency preparedness and response plans in the midst of a major public health crisis. Besides, the experiences of some people with disabilities being affected are shared in the article. This article calls for nations to ensure amendments of their legal frameworks regarding public health and emergency preparedness fully engage a rights-based disability perspective.
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Fair and equitable subject selection in concurrent COVID-19 clinical trials
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Clinical trials emerged in rapid succession as the COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented need for life-saving therapies. Fair and equitable subject selection in clinical trials offering investigational therapies ought to be an urgent moral concern. Subject selection determines the distribution of risks and benefits, and impacts the applicability of the study results for the larger population. While Research Ethics Committees monitor fair subject selection within each trial, no standard oversight exists for subject selection across multiple trials for the same disease. Drawing on the experience of multiple clinical trials at a single academic medical centre in the USA, we posit that concurrent COVID-19 trials are liable to unfair and inequitable subject selection on account of scientific uncertainty, lack of transparency, scarcity and, lastly, structural barriers to equity compounded by implicit bias. To address the critical gap in the current literature and international regulation, we propose new ethical guidelines for research design and conduct that bolsters fair and equitable subject selection. Although the proposed guidelines are tailored to the research design and protocol of concurrent trials in the COVID-19 pandemic, they may have broader relevance to single COVID-19 trials.
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Interventions with Music in PECTus excavatum treatment (IMPECT trial): a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial investigating the clinical effects of perioperative music interventions
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INTRODUCTION: Pectus excavatum repair is associated with substantial postoperative pain, despite the use of epidural analgesia and other analgesic regimens Perioperative recorded music interventions have been shown to alleviate pain and anxiety in adults, but evidence for children and adolescents is still lacking This study protocol describes a randomised controlled trial that evaluates the effects of recorded music interventions on postoperative pain relief in children and adolescents after pectus excavatum repair METHODS: A multicentre randomised controlled trial was set up comparing the effects of perioperative recorded music interventions in addition to standard care with those of standard care only in patients undergoing a Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum repair One hundred and seventy subjects (12-18 years of age) will be included in three centres in the Netherlands Patient inclusion has started in November 2018, and is ongoing The primary outcome is self-reported perceived pain measured on the visual analogue scale Secondary outcomes are anxiety level, analgesics consumption, vital parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate, length of hospital stay, postoperative complications, quality of life and cost-effectiveness ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study is being conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki The Medical Ethics Review Board of Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam, The Netherlands, has approved this protocol Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed scientific journals and conference presentations TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NL6863
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COVID-19 in Nigeria: Knowledge and compliance with preventive measures
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The novel coronavirus pandemic has upended the world as we knew it and is a concern for governments globally With cases still surging in different regions around the globe, the level of knowledge of COVID-19 and compliance with preventive measures still differ across cultural regions Our study explored knowledge of COVID-19 and compliance with preventive measures among community members in Anambra State, Nigeria, using in-depth interviews (IDI) Data were sourced from 36 persons comprising 30 household heads age 48 years and above and six children age 13-17 years Data were analyzed thematically Findings revealed that a majority of the respondents believe that the COVID-19 pandemic is more of a hoax than reality Other findings showed that this poor knowledge negatively affected their compliance with preventive measures to curb the spread of coronavirus To improve knowledge on the coronavirus pandemic, we recommended dissemination of accurate information to ensure compliance with preventive measures
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Syndemic effects in complex humanitarian emergencies: A framework for understanding political violence and improving multi-morbidity health outcomes
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A hallmark of complex humanitarian emergencies is the collective exposure, often over extended periods of time, to political violence in the forms of war, terrorism, political intimidation, repression, unlawful detention, and forced displacement. Populations in complex humanitarian emergencies have higher risks of multiple co-morbidities: mental disorders, infectious diseases, malnutrition, and chronic non-communicable diseases. However, there is wide variation in the health impacts both across and within humanitarian emergencies. Syndemic theory is an approach to conceptualizing disease and social determinants to understand differential patterns of multi-morbidity, elucidate underlying mechanisms, and better design interventions. Syndemic theory, if applied to complex humanitarian emergencies, has the potential to uncover origins of localized patterns of multi-morbidity resulting from political violence and historical inequities. In this paper, we present two case studies based on mixed-methods research to illustrate how syndemic models can be applied in complex humanitarian emergencies. First, in a Nepal case study, we explore different patterns of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression co-morbidity among female former child soldiers returning home after war. Despite comparable exposure to war-related traumas, girl soldiers in high-caste Hindu communities had 63% co-morbidity of PTSD and depression, whereas girl soldiers in communities with mixed castes and religions, had 8% PTSD prevalence, but no cases of PTSD and depression co-morbidity. In the second case study, we explore the high rates of type 2 diabetes during a spike in political violence and population displacement. Despite low rates of obesity and other common risk factors, Somalis in Ethiopia experienced rising cases of and poor outcomes from type-2 diabetes. Political violence shapes healthcare resources, diets, and potentially, this epidemiological anomaly. Based on these case studies we propose a humanitarian syndemic research agenda for observational and intervention studies, with the central focus being that public health efforts need to target violence prevention at family, community, national, and global levels.
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Visualizing communication of service providers reputation during COVID-19 pandemic: A conceptual model
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This paper presents to fill the gap and proposes a new conceptual model in developing an application to visualizing the reputation of communication service providers (CSP) during the Covid-19 pandemic The outbreak of the COVID-19 caused a significant increase in the usage of voice and data using CSP Regardless of it is seems under a protective umbrella during the pandemic, the increasing demand for CSP in a pandemic may cause customers to switch for better service CSP companies have an abundance of data about their customers;however, the social element mainly the pithy, real-time commentary express via networks such as Twitter is often overlooked It is due to the widely used NPS (Net Promoter Score) to measure their customers' loyalty and satisfaction Even some of the telecommunication has started venturing into social media data analytics, the improvements required in detecting the combination of many languages used in blogs and forums This gap inclusive the short words, not enough sentiment analytics for non-English languages, and obviously, social media in non-English languages favoured comparing to English languages Therefore, we proposed a comprehensive conceptual model that adapted from two existing conceptual models, Simulation in Modeling CM (2008) and Integrated Framework for CM (2016) We believed it could be a guideline in visualizing the reputation of CSP that involves extracting public tweets from twitter sentiment analysis As a result, CSP companies can get a more unobstructed view of their reputation, insights about the products and services that their customers appreciate © 2020, World Academy of Research in Science and Engineering All rights reserved
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Photosynthetic protein classification using genome neighborhood-based machine learning feature
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Identification of novel photosynthetic proteins is important for understanding and improving photosynthetic efficiency. Synergistically, genome neighborhood can provide additional useful information to identify photosynthetic proteins. We, therefore, expected that applying a computational approach, particularly machine learning (ML) with the genome neighborhood-based feature should facilitate the photosynthetic function assignment. Our results revealed a functional relationship between photosynthetic genes and their conserved neighboring genes observed by 'Phylo score', indicating their functions could be inferred from the genome neighborhood profile. Therefore, we created a new method for extracting patterns based on the genome neighborhood network (GNN) and applied them for the photosynthetic protein classification using ML algorithms. Random forest (RF) classifier using genome neighborhood-based features achieved the highest accuracy up to 87% in the classification of photosynthetic proteins and also showed better performance (Mathew's correlation coefficient = 0.718) than other available tools including the sequence similarity search (0.447) and ML-based method (0.361). Furthermore, we demonstrated the ability of our model to identify novel photosynthetic proteins compared to the other methods. Our classifier is available at http://bicep2.kmutt.ac.th/photomod_standalone, https://bit.ly/2S0I2Ox and DockerHub: https://hub.docker.com/r/asangphukieo/photomod.
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Insights into aphid prey consumption by ladybirds: Optimising field sampling methods and primer design for high throughput sequencing
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Elucidating the diets of insect predators is important in basic and applied ecology, such as for improving the effectiveness of conservation biological control measures to promote natural enemies of crop pests. Here, we investigated the aphid diet of two common aphid predators in Central European agroecosystems, the native Coccinella septempunctata (Linnaeus) and the invasive Harmonia axyridis (Pallas; Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) by means of high throughput sequencing (HTS). For acquiring insights into diets of mobile flying insects at landscape scale minimizing trapping bias is important, which imposes methodological challenges for HTS. We therefore assessed the suitability of three field sampling methods (sticky traps, pan traps and hand-collection) as well as new aphid primers for identifying aphid prey consumption by coccinellids through HTS. The new aphid primers facilitate identification to species level in 75% of the European aphid genera investigated. Aphid primer specificity was high in silico and in vitro but low in environmental samples with the methods used, although this could be improved in future studies. For insect trapping we conclude that sticky traps are a suitable method in terms of minimizing sampling bias, contamination risk and trapping success, but compromise on DNA-recovery rate. The aphid diets of both field-captured ladybird species were dominated by Microlophium carnosum, the common nettle aphid. Another common prey was Sitobion avenae (cereal aphid), which got more often detected in C. septempunctata compared to H. axyridis. Around one third of the recovered aphid taxa were common crop pests. We conclude that sampling methodologies need constant revision but that our improved aphid primers offer currently one of the best solutions for broad screenings of coccinellid predation on aphids.
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SARS-CoV-2, a Threat to Privacy?
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The global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is currently putting a massive strain on the world's critical infrastructures. With healthcare systems and internet service providers already struggling to provide reliable service, some operators may, intentionally or unintentionally, lever out privacy-protecting measures to increase their system's efficiency in fighting the virus. Moreover, though it may seem all encouraging to see the effectiveness of authoritarian states in battling the crisis, we, the authors of this paper, would like to raise the community's awareness towards developing more effective means in battling the crisis without the need to limit fundamental human rights. To analyze the current situation, we are discussing and evaluating the steps corporations and governments are taking to condemn the virus by applying established privacy research.
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Factors associated with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) prevention behaviors among health sciences students of a higher education institution in Yala province, Thailand
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The objectives of this research were to study the knowledge on COVID-19 infection, satisfaction of the measures on disease prevention and control, and the association between factors and COVID-19 prevention behaviors among health sciences students Content validity and reliability of research tools were measured Ethical for human study was approved by Research Ethic Committee Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the data of 184 health sciences students in April, 2020 First, a proportion by curriculum and year of study was made Then, simple random sampling was created based on student identification Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests The results found that participants had correct answer for COVID-19 infection (70 65 - 99 46%) and had a good knowledge level on COVID-19 infection (90 22%) Their satisfaction of the institute's measures on COVID-19 prevention and control was at High level (50 54%) COVID-19 prevention behavior among participants was at moderate level (51 63%) Age, year level, payment per week, and satisfaction level of their organization's measures on COVID-19 prevention and control were closely associated with COVID-19 prevention behavior (p - value < 0 05) These results could be used as guidelines to arrange additional activities for students in lower age and integrate health concern into the curriculum in early year of study For further study, satisfaction theory can be applied to encourage students to have positive behaviors
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159,266 |
Ibrutinib for chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the setting of respiratory failure from severe COVID-19 infection: Case report and literature review
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Ibrutinib, a known Burton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) and interleukin-2 inducible T-cell kinase (ITK) inhibitor, is used for the treatment of B-cell disorders (chronic lymphocytic leukemia [CLL] and various other lymphomas) and chronic graft versus host disease following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Because it is considered an immunosuppressant, continuation of ibrutinib is often debated when patients have an active infection, and this becomes an especially difficult decision in the setting of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we describe a patient with CLL who was on ibrutinib then developed severe COVID-19 infection requiring mechanical ventilation. We elected to continue ibrutinib the same day he was intubated, reasoning that BTK inhibition in myeloid immune cells has been shown to reduce or even reverse influenza-mediated acute lung injury and that ITK inhibition in T cells has correlated with reduction in viral replication, and therefore may have an advantage in this setting. Ibrutinib also has been shown to block Src family kinases, which potentially could result in reduction of viral entry and the inflammatory cytokine response in the lungs. The patient was extubated after 9 days with a complex hospital course and eventually discharged on room air. The only way to rationally inform these decisions and explore similar potentially promising leads in this pandemic is to conduct carefully done clinical trials.
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Crisis within a crisis. Psychological dimension of the pandemic
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The COVID-19 pandemic caused chaos in many countries The reason of that were mostly lack of knowledge concerning the disease, fear of infection, difficulties in defining its consequences A reasonable action in fighting the epidemic turned out to be social isolation and suspension of all state institutions While at the beginning of introduction of those actions the society accepted the restrictions with understanding, the prolonging state of isolation caused in some people increased anxiety, fear and concerns about the future Reduction of a negative effect of pandemic can be a problem for a long time, especially when we will not be able to adequately interpret a danger, comprehend it and appropriately react
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Drugs, clinical trials and registers in the times of the coronavirus Emergency
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Covid-19 is forcing medical doctors to deal with the urgent need to find clinical answers in an area where, unfortunately, there are still therapies with no evidence of efficacy and safety In any case, they must make decisions and face the dilemma of immediately using any therapeutic options that has some plausibility of treatment or instead making clinical trial However, the latter require formal steps and procedures How do medical doctors understand which of these are essential and necessary? Is it really important to register the new clinical trials on the official platforms? Is this an unnecessary bureaucratic passage that can be avoided during the emergency phase? The present article tries to answer these questions by also addressing other critical issues related to clinical trials at a time when the good rules of clinical research must not be an obstacle to accessing the best available treatments
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159,269 |
Stay at Home Laboratories for Chemistry Courses
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Experiments written for students who were quarantined during the COVID-19 pandemic are described These were developed to provide hands-on lab experiences that students would not get due to the online nature of course offerings during the crisis The laboratories described include an extraction and oxidation of aldehydes from food items, a study of diffusion of food dyes in solutions of different pH, and an experiment to determine the optimum temperature of invertase hydrolysis of sucrose
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Effects of air pollutants on the transmission and severity of respiratory viral infections
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Particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the outdoor air pollutants that are major factors in diseases, causing especially adverse respiratory effects in humans. On the other hand, the role of respiratory viruses in the pathogenesis of severe respiratory infections is an issue of great importance. The present literature review was aimed at assessing the potential effects of air pollutants on the transmission and severity of respiratory viral infections. We have reviewed the scientific literature regarding the association of outdoor air pollution and respiratory viruses on respiratory diseases. Evidence supports a clear association between air concentrations of some pollutants and human respiratory viruses interacting to adversely affect the respiratory system. Given the undoubted importance and topicality of the subject, we have paid special attention to the association between air pollutants and the transmission and severity of the effects caused by the coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2, which causes the COVID-19. Although to date, and by obvious reasons, the number of studies on this issue are still scarce, most results indicate that chronic exposure to air pollutants delays/complicates recovery of patients of COVID-19 and leads to more severe and lethal forms of this disease. This deserves immediate and in-depth experimental investigations.
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159,271 |
Effects of air pollutants on the transmission and severity of respiratory viral infections
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Particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the outdoor air pollutants that are major factors in diseases, causing especially adverse respiratory effects in humans. On the other hand, the role of respiratory viruses in the pathogenesis of severe respiratory infections is an issue of great importance. The present literature review was aimed at assessing the potential effects of air pollutants on the transmission and severity of respiratory viral infections. We have reviewed the scientific literature regarding the association of outdoor air pollution and respiratory viruses on respiratory diseases. Evidence supports a clear association between air concentrations of some pollutants and human respiratory viruses interacting to adversely affect the respiratory system. Given the undoubted importance and topicality of the subject, we have paid special attention to the association between air pollutants and the transmission and severity of the effects caused by the coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2, which causes the COVID-19. Although to date, and by obvious reasons, the number of studies on this issue are still scarce, most results indicate that chronic exposure to air pollutants delays/complicates recovery of patients of COVID-19 and leads to more severe and lethal forms of this disease. This deserves immediate and in-depth experimental investigations.
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159,272 |
Self-Efficacy, Happiness and Psychological Well-Being After Sleeve Gastrectomy
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PURPOSE: Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is an effective treatment for patients with severe obesity and it leads to significant weight loss and promotes the quality of life. The aim of this study was evaluating the relationship between self-efficacy, happiness and psychological well-being after sleeve gastrectomy. METHODS: One hundred patients that underwent SG were participated in this study. They were asked to fill questionnaires 12 months after surgery. To assess self-efficacy, Sherer and et al. scale, for happiness, oxford happiness scale and for psychological well-being, Ryff scale were used. Regression analysis was used on psychological well-being and happiness for evaluating the prediction of self-efficacy. RESULTS: The results showed that 44% of happiness and 4% of psychological well-being were determined by self-efficacy after surgery. CONCLUSION: Based on these findings, self-efficacy is a significant predictor of psychological well-being and happiness.
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159,273 |
Traditional Chinese medicine Lianhua Qingwen treating corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19): Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
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INTRODUCTION: As the global epidemic continues to spread, countries have tapped effective drugs to treat new coronavirus pneumonia. The therapeutic effect of the traditional Chinese medicine Lianhua Qingwen in this new coronary pneumonia epidemic has attracted attention from all walks of life, and relevant research reports continue to appear. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of the clinical efficacy and safety of the traditional Chinese medicine Lianhua Qingwen in the treatment of new coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) (referred to as "new coronary pneumonia"), and evaluated the overall level of research quality. METHODS: We searched seven databases and retrieved the Chinese Journal Full-text Database (CNKI), Vip Database (VIP), China Biomedicine (SinoMed), Wanfang Database and PubMed, Cochrane Central, EMBASE from October 2019 to May 2020 Literature references. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that tested the efficacy of the traditional Chinese medicine lotus clearing plague in the treatment of new coronavirus pneumonia. The authors extracted data and independently assessed quality. We used Stata15.1 software to analyze the data of randomized trials. RESULTS: A total of 2 articles were identified, including 154 patients. All the participating patients were diagnosed with new coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19). The meta-analysis results showed that the disappearance rate of the main clinical symptoms of Chinese medicine Lianhua Qingwen in the treatment of new coronavirus pneumonia was significantly higher than that of the control group [OR = 3.34, 95% CI (2.06, 5.44), P <0.001]; the disappearance rate of other clinical secondary symptoms is significantly higher than the control group [OR = 6.54, 95% CI (3.59, 11.90), P <0.001]. The duration of fever was significantly lower than that of the control group [OR = -1.04, 95% CI (-1.60, -0.49), P <0.001]. It is confirmed that the traditional Chinese medicine Lianhua Qingwen treatment improves the clinical effectiveness, and also has certain advantages in relieving cough and fever. CONCLUSION: The treatment of new pneumonia with traditional Chinese medicine lotus clearing plague can be used as an effective therapy to improve the clinical symptoms of new coronary pneumonia. More rigorous design, multi-center, and prospective RCTs are necessary to further determine the effectiveness and safety of the traditional Chinese medicine lotus decoction in the treatment of new pneumonia.
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159,274 |
The SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Pipeline: an Overview
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Purpose of Review: The goal of this review is to provide a timely overview on efforts to develop a vaccine for the 2019 novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Recent Findings: Previous research efforts to develop a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) vaccine in the years following the 2003 pandemic have opened the door for investigators to design vaccine concepts and approaches for the COVID-19 epidemic in China. Both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 exhibit a high degree of genetic similarity and bind to the same host cell ACE2 receptor. Based on previous experience with SARS-CoV vaccines, it is expected that all COVID-19 vaccines will require careful safety evaluations for immunopotentiation that could lead to increased infectivity or eosinophilic infiltration. Besides this, a COVID-19 vaccine target product profile must address vaccinating at-risk human populations including frontline healthcare workers, individuals over the age of 60, and those with underlying and debilitating chronic conditions. Among the vaccine technologies under evaluation are whole virus vaccines, recombinant protein subunit vaccines, and nucleic acid vaccines. Summary: Each current vaccine strategy has distinct advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is paramount that multiple strategies be advanced quickly and then evaluated for safety and efficacy. Ultimately, the safety studies to minimize undesired immunopotentiation will become the most significant bottleneck in terms of time.
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159,275 |
COVID-19 and the production of knowledge regarding recommendations during pregnancy: a scoping review
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OBJECTIVE: to map the production of knowledge regarding recommendations for providing care to pregnant women dealing with the novel coronavirus. METHOD: scoping review, using a broadened strategy to search databases and repositories, as well as the reference lists in the sources used. Data were collected and analyzed by two independent reviewers. Data were analyzed and synthesized in the form of a narrative. RESULTS: the final sample was composed of 24 records, the content of which was synthesized in these conceptual categories: clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, working pregnant women, vaccine development, complications, prenatal care, vertical transmission, and placental transmissibility. It is recommended to confirm pregnancy and disease early on, to use technological resources for screening and providing guidance and support to pregnant women. CONCLUSION: recommendations emphasize isolation, proper rest, sleep, nutrition, hydration, medications, and in the more severe cases, oxygen support, monitoring of vital signs, emotional support, and multiprofessional and individualized care. Medications should be used with caution due to a lack of evidence. Future research is needed to analyze the impact of the infection at the beginning of pregnancy and the psychological aspects of pregnant women infected with the virus.
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159,276 |
Innovative Work Shift for Health Workers in the Health Service Providers in Handling COVID-19 Cases
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Working on shifts has the risk of being exposed to health problems, such as obesity and susceptibility to infections and hypertension However, shift work is unavoidable for workers in sectors that require non-stop operations, such as health workers in the Health Service Providers This article presented opinion about an optimal shift rotation pattern in reducing the health risks of shift health workers while increasing the effectiveness of the treatment of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases In general, today's pattern of shift work for health workers is schemed in the eight-day cycle, in which employees work two days in the morning service for seven hours, two days in the evening service for seven hours, and another two days in the night service for ten hours, then followed by two days off This pattern has the potential to cause burnout and decrease reaction time The article identifies a new work shift pattern that can accommodate the risk of burnout while simultaneously assisting in the emergency of the corona outbreak It emphasises the Morning-Evening-Night-Holiday work pattern as an innovative work model that should replace the old work pattern There are seven advantages of the new work pattern: biological balance, availability of transportation, rapid recovery, reduced risk of COVID-19 transmission, increased patient satisfaction, increased self-control, and improved performance
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The Australasian COVID-19 Trial (ASCOT) to assess clinical outcomes in hospitalised patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) treated with lopinavir/ritonavir and/or hydroxychloroquine compared to standard of care: A structured summary of a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
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OBJECTIVES: To determine if lopinavir/ritonavir +/- hydroxychloroquine will reduce the proportion of participants who survive without requiring ventilatory support, 15 days after enrolment, in adult participants with non-critically ill SARS-CoV-2 infection. TRIAL DESIGN: ASCOT is an investigator-initiated, multi-centre, open-label, randomised controlled trial. Participants will have been hospitalised with confirmed COVID-19, and will be randomised 1:1:1:1 to receive lopinavir /ritonavir, hydroxychloroquine, both or neither drug in addition to standard of care management. PARTICIPANTS: Participants will be recruited from >80 hospitals across Australia and New Zealand, representing metropolitan and regional centres in both public and private sectors. Admitted patients will be eligible if aged ≥ 18 years, have confirmed SARS-CoV-2 by nucleic acid testing in the past 12 days and are expected to remain an inpatient for at least 48 hours from the time of randomisation. Potentially eligible participants will be excluded if admitted to intensive care or requiring high level respiratory support, are currently receiving study drugs or their use is contraindicated due to allergy, drug interaction or comorbidities (including baseline QTc prolongation of 470ms for women or 480ms for men), or death is anticipated imminently. INTERVENTION AND COMPARATOR: Participants will be randomised 1:1:1:1 to: Group 1: standard of care; Group 2: lopinavir (400mg) / ritonavir (100mg) twice daily for 10 days in tablet form; Group 3: hydroxychloroquine (800mg) 4x200mg administered 12 hours apart on Day 1, followed by 400mg twice a day for 6 days; Group 4: lopinavir /ritonavir plus hydroxychloroquine. MAIN OUTCOMES: Proportion of participants alive and not having required intensive respiratory support (invasive or non-invasive ventilation) at 15 days after enrolment. A range of clinical and virological secondary outcomes will also be evaluated. RANDOMISATION: The randomisation schedule will be generated by an independent statistician. Randomisation will be stratified by site and will be in permuted blocks of variable block size. The randomised sequence allocation will only be accessible to the data management group, and site investigators will have individual participant allocation provided through a web-based trial enrolment platform. BLINDING (MASKING): This is an open-label study, with researchers assessing the laboratory outcomes blinded to treatment allocation. No unblinding procedures relating to potential adverse effects are therefore required. NUMBERS TO BE RANDOMISED (SAMPLE SIZE): We assumed that 5% of participants receiving standard of care would meet the primary outcome, aimed to evaluate whether interventions could lead to a relative risk of 0.5, assuming no interaction between intervention arms. This corresponds to a required sample size of 610 per arm, with a 5% two-sided significance level (alpha) and 80% power. The total sample size therefore is planned to be 2440. TRIAL STATUS: ASCOT protocol version 3, May 5, 2020. Recruitment opened April 4, 2020 and is ongoing, with planned completion of enrolment July 31, 2021. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ( ACTRN12620000445976 ). Prospectively registered April 6, 2020. FULL PROTOCOL: The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). In the interest in expediting dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol.
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Evolution of Stellar Feedback in HII Regions
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Stellar feedback is needed to produce realistic giant molecular clouds (GMCs) and galaxies in simulations, but due to limited numerical resolution, feedback must be implemented using subgrid models. Observational work is an important means to test and anchor these models, but limited studies have assessed the relative dynamical role of multiple feedback modes, particularly at the earliest stages of expansion when HII regions are still deeply embedded. In this paper, we use multiwavelength (radio, infrared, and X-ray) data to measure the pressures associated with direct radiation ($P_{\rm dir}$), dust-processed radiation ($P_{\rm IR}$), photoionization heating ($P_{\rm HII}$), and shock-heating from stellar winds ($P_{\rm X}$) in a sample of 106 young, resolved HII regions with radii $\lesssim$0.5 pc to determine how stellar feedback drives their expansion. We find that the $P_{\rm IR}$ dominates in 84% of the regions and that the median $P_{\rm dir}$ and $P_{\rm HII}$ are smaller than the median $P_{\rm IR}$ by factors of $\approx 6$ and $\approx 9$, respectively. Based on the radial dependences of the pressure terms, we show that HII regions transition from $P_{\rm IR}$-dominated to $P_{\rm HII}$-dominated at radii of $\sim$3 pc. We find a median trapping factor of $f_{\rm trap} \sim$ 8 without any radial dependence for the sample, suggesting this value can be adopted in sub-grid feedback models. Moreover, we show that the total pressure is greater than the gravitational pressure in the majority of our sample, indicating that the feedback is sufficient to expel gas from the regions.
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159,279 |
Why lockdown? Why national unity? Why global solidarity? Simplified arithmetic tools for decision-makers, health professionals, journalists and the general public to explore containment options for the 2019 novel coronavirus
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As every country in the world struggles with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential that as many people as possible understand the epidemic containment, elimination and exclusion strategies required to tackle it. Simplified arithmetic models of COVID-19 transmission, control and elimination are presented in user-friendly Shiny and Excel formats that allow non-specialists to explore, query, critique and understand the containment decisions facing their country and the world at large. Although the predictive model is broadly applicable, the simulations presented are based on parameter values representative of the United Republic of Tanzania, which is still early enough in its epidemic cycle and response to avert a national catastrophe. The predictions of these models illustrate (1) why ambitious lock-down interventions to crush the curve represent the only realistic way for individual countries to contain their national-level epidemics before they turn into outright catastrophes, (2) why these need to be implemented so early, so stringently and for such extended periods, (3) why high prevalence of other pathogens causing similar symptoms to mild COVID-19 precludes the use of contact tracing as a substitute for lock down interventions to contain and eliminate epidemics, (4) why partial containment strategies intended to merely flatten the curve, by maintaining epidemics at manageably low levels, are grossly unrealistic, and (5) why local elimination may only be sustained after lock down ends if imported cases are comprehensively excluded, so international co-operation to conditionally re-open trade and travel between countries certified as free of COVID-19 represents the best strategy for motivating progress towards pandemic eradication at global level. The three sequential goals that every country needs to emphatically embrace are contain, eliminate and exclude. As recently emphasized by the World Health Organization, success will require widespread genuine national unity and unprecedented global solidarity.
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159,280 |
Emotional Intelligence and Personal Demographic Profile in the Education System of India
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Academic leaders need to recognize their own emotions and know the feelings of those around them Academic leaders are more effective when they pay attention to their social interactions with others in the workplace and the impact they as leaders have on those around them It is also essential for leaders to recognize the influence that others? emotions have on them The purpose of this article is to examine the perception of faculty members towards emotional intelligence (EI) of their academic leaders in the sample select universities, and to study the impact of demographic variables on EI The data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics The data for the study were collected through both the primary and secondary sources The measuring items used for the study were sourced from existing validated scales and literature Descriptive statistics was employed to know the descriptive information across various demographic variables on a total sample of 719 The various demographic variables, which were considered for the study, were gender, age and experience The results revealed that the faculty members of the sample select universities perceived the EI of their academic leaders at an above-average level;presently, they are fairly satisfied with their academic leader?s EI The results also revealed that the perception of the respondent faculty members towards their HOD?s EI from different universities and states is more or less the same and also the demographic variables have a significant impact on EI Besides having theoretical implications that open pathways for conducting further research, the findings of the study may serve as a reference for service practitioners in designing strategies that will ensure superior performance of academic leaders in higher educational institutions
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159,281 |
Evidence-based clinical decision making during the COVID-19 pandemic
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The COVID-19 pandemic is a difficult scenario for clinical decision making Therefore, this paper aims to explain healthcare practitioners some basic concepts about evidence-based decision making with respect on doing or not doing a given intervention For this, firstly we will discuss in which cases an evidence-based decision making process in necessary Then, some previous concepts will be clarified (decision making based on pathophysiological plausibility, observations made during clinical practice, clinical evidence, as well as the influence from the pharmaceutical industry) Afterwards steps for evidence-based decision making will be described: Asking a question, looking for references answering this question, critically assess such references, understand the underlying logic for decision making, prepare for decision-making, make a balance (benefit, harm, and cost), perform a shared decision making process and reassess the evidence
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159,282 |
Effect of antibiotics on gut and vaginal microbiomes associated with cervical cancer development in mice
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Antibiotics affect microbial diversity in the gut, leading to dysbiosis and impaired immunity. However, the impact of antibiotics on microbial communities at other sites, such as vagina is less understood. It is also not clear if changes induced by antibiotics in both microbiomes affect the development of cervical cancer. In this study we utilized the murine model to evaluate these questions. We show that oral application of broad-spectrum antibiotics in mice changed not only diversity, but composition and sharing of gut and vaginal microbiomes in mice and influenced cervical cancer development in an orthotopic tumor model. Antibiotics decreased richness and diversity indexes in the gut but increased them in the vagina. Some beneficial taxa, such as Bacteroides, Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae increased their abundance in the vagina while other pathogenic species, such as Proteobacteria, were decreased. As a result of the changes, mice with greater richness and diversity of the vaginal microbiome after antibiotics exposure were less likely developed tumors. No association between richness and diversity of the gut microbiome and tumor development was identified.
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159,283 |
Disability Rights as a Necessary Framework for Crisis Standards of Care and the Future of Health Care
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In this essay, we suggest practical ways to shift the framing of crisis standards of care toward disability justice. We elaborate on the vision statement provided in the 2010 Institute of Medicine (National Academy of Medicine) "Summary of Guidance for Establishing Crisis Standards of Care for Use in Disaster Situations," which emphasizes fairness; equitable processes; community and provider engagement, education, and communication; and the rule of law. We argue that interpreting these elements through disability justice entails a commitment to both distributive and recognitive justice. The disability rights movement's demand "Nothing about us, without us" requires substantive inclusion of disabled people in decision-making related to their interests, including in crisis planning before, during, and after a pandemic like Covid-19.
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159,284 |
Ethical Considerations for safeguarding human participants in pandemic research: a rapid review protocol
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COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a coronavirus, designated SARS-CoV-2, which is responsible for a global pandemic in 2020 Public interest in this disease has led to the publication of thousands of articles in the medical literature in a very short timeframe It is imperative that medical research into COVID-19 is conducted quickly and safely, and that due reference is given to the ethical considerations enshrined in the ICH GCP guidelines, according to the Declaration of Helsinki In order to review the reporting of ethical considerations in these papers, we hereby propose a protocol for a systematic review of COVID-19 papers up to April 14 (th) 2020 The search criteria proposed for the review are based upon what would be a reasonable search conducted by a lay member of the public with access to PubMed gov Institutional Research Ethics Committees (RECs) face significant challenges in providing thorough and timely ethical review during the COVID-19 pandemic It is proposed to publish the findings of this rapid review along with a summary of an institutional REC response to the challenges of reviewing and approving clinical research proposals in the time of a pandemic
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159,285 |
Results from the IRoc-GN international registry of patients with COVID-19 and glomerular disease suggest close monitoring
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The effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on individuals with immune-mediated glomerulonephritis, who are often undergoing immunosuppressive treatments, are unknown. Therefore, we created the International Registry of COVID infection in glomerulonephritis (IRoc-GN), and identified 40 patients with glomerulonephritis and COVID-19 followed in centers in North America and Europe. Detailed information on glomerulonephritis diagnosis, kidney parameters, and baseline immunosuppression prior to infection were recorded, as well as clinical presentation, laboratory values, treatment, complications, and outcomes of COVID-19. This cohort was compared to 80 COVID-positive control cases from the general population without glomerulonephritis matched for the time of infection. The majority (70%) of the patients with glomerulonephritis and all the controls were hospitalized. Patients with glomerulonephritis had significantly higher mortality (15% vs. 5%, respectively) and acute kidney injury (39% vs. 14%) than controls, while the need for kidney replacement therapy was not statistically different between the two groups. Receiving immunosuppression or renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors at presentation did not increase the risk of death or acute kidney injury in the glomerulonephritis cohort. In the cohort with glomerulonephritis, lower serum albumin at presentation and shorter duration of glomerular disease were associated with greater risk of acute kidney injury and need for kidney replacement therapy. No differences in outcomes occurred between patients with primary glomerulonephritis versus glomerulonephritis associated with a systemic autoimmune disease (lupus or vasculitis). Thus, due to the higher mortality and risk of acute kidney injury than in the general population without glomerulonephritis, patients with glomerulonephritis and COVID-19 should be carefully monitored, especially when they present with low serum albumin levels.
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159,286 |
The effects of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak on academic staff members: A case study of a pharmacy school in Saudi Arabia
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Background: The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has required governments to implement preventive policies to control the spread of the virus Temporarily closing schools and other educational institutions has been adopted in many countries, including Saudi Arabia This study aimed to assess academic staff satisfaction with suspending face-to-face teaching and turning to web-based education Additionally, this study assessed how the suspension of face-to-face classes has affected the administrative work, research, and community at the College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University Method(s): This study used a cross-sectional, self-administered, anonymous online questionnaire A total of 59 academic staff were included Result(s): More than half the participants (55 9%) agreed or strongly agreed that the sudden shift to online education was done smoothly, more than half (57 6%) agreed or strongly agreed that virtual lectures were more flexible than face-to-face lectures, and a majority (79 7%) agreed or strongly agreed that the technology used for online education was reliable A minority of participants agreed or strongly agreed that research (20 4%), community service (11 4%), and participation in scientific meetings (15 2%) had not been affected by the suspension Conclusion(s): Suspending classes without stopping education has been implemented effectively, and administrative work has continued to run smoothly However, research, community service, and attending scientific meetings have been negatively impacted by the suspension Copyright © 2020 Almaghaslah and Alsayari
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159,287 |
COVID-19 patient firstly visiting eye doctor due to tarsadenitis and subconjunctival hemorrhage: A case report/ 以急性睑板腺炎和结膜下出血首诊于眼科的新型冠状病毒肺炎一例
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A 35-year-old female patient with a history of significant epidemiological exposure firstly visited eye doctor due to acute tarsadenitis in the right eye.Subsequently, she developed subconjunctival hemorrhage, fever and cough and received topical administration of antibiotics and systemic treatment of antiviral drug.Shortly thereafter, both his mother and father, who denied COVID-19 associated epidemiological history, appeared fever, fatigue and other symptoms and diagnosed as COVID-19.This female patient was diagnosed as COVID-19 by CT image of lung and COVID-19 RNA detection 17 days and 24 days after firstly visited eye doctor, respectively, and received specialized isolation treatment.The symptoms of COVID-19 are very varied, eye doctors should keep alert and pay attention to personal protection.
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159,288 |
Air pollution in Ontario, Canada during the COVID-19 State of Emergency
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In March of 2020, the province of Ontario declared a State of Emergency (SOE) to reduce the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This disruption to the economy provided an opportunity to measure change in air pollution when the population spends more time at home with fewer trips. Hourly air pollution observations were obtained for fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxides and ozone from the Ontario air monitoring network for 2020 and the previous five years. The analysis is focused on a five-week period during the SOE with a previous five-week period used as a control. Fine particulate matter did not show any significant reductions during the SOE. Ozone concentrations at 12 of the 32 monitors were lower than any of the previous five-years; however, four locations were above average. Average ozone concentrations were 1 ppb lower during the SOE, but this ranged at individual monitors from 1.5 ppb above to 4.2 ppb below long-term conditions. Nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxides demonstrated a reduction across Ontario, and both pollutants displayed their lowest concentrations for 22 of 29 monitors. Individual monitors ranged from 1 ppb (nitrogen dioxide) and 5 ppb (nitrogen oxides) above average to 4.5 (nitrogen dioxide) and 7.1 ppb (nitrogen oxides) below average. Overall, both nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxides demonstrated a reduction across Ontario in response to the COVID-19 SOE, ozone concentrations suggested a possible reduction, and fine particulate matter has not varied from historic concentrations.
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159,289 |
Football in the time of COVID-19: reflections on the implications for the women’s professional league in Colombia
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This article considers the efficacy of the Colombian institutional response to the COVID-19 crisis from a gender perspective. The Colombian Professional Women’s League has been characterized by perpetual crisis since its launch in 2017. Far from the affirmative action needed to remedy its historic marginalization, an environment of conscious institutional inertia had already placed the league in severe doubt before the onset of COVID-19. It is argued that stark asymmetries of power underpin persistent gender differentiation and that an untenable development model has been laid bare and exacerbated by the pandemic.
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159,290 |
Emerging threats linking tropical deforestation and the COVID-19 pandemic
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Tropical deforestation drivers are complex and can change rapidly in periods of profound societal transformation, such as those during a pandemic. Evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred illegal, opportunistic forest clearing in tropical countries, threatening forest ecosystems and their resident human communities. A total of 9,583 km2 of deforestation alerts from Global Land Analysis & Discovery (GLAD) were detected across the global tropics during the first month following the implementation of confinement measures of local governments to reduce COVID-19 spread, which is nearly double that of 2019 (4,732 km2). We present a conceptual framework linking tropical deforestation and the current pandemic. Zoonotic diseases, public health, economy, agriculture, and forests may all be reciprocally linked in complex positive and negative feedback loops with overarching consequences. We highlight the emerging threats to nature and society resulting from this complex reciprocal interplay and possible policy interventions that could minimize these threats.
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159,291 |
Structure-Altering Mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 Frameshifting RNA Element
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With the rapid rate of COVID-19 infections and deaths, treatments and cures besides hand washing, social distancing, masks, isolation, and quarantines are urgently needed. The treatments and vaccines rely on the basic biophysics of the complex viral apparatus. Although proteins are serving as main drug and vaccine targets, therapeutic approaches targeting the 30,000 nucleotide RNA viral genome form important complementary approaches. Indeed, the high conservation of the viral genome, its close evolutionary relationship to other viruses, and the rise of gene editing and RNA-based vaccines all argue for a focus on the RNA agent itself. One of the key steps in the viral replication cycle inside host cells is the ribosomal frameshifting required for translation of overlapping open reading frames. The RNA frameshifting element (FSE), one of three highly conserved regions of coronaviruses, is believed to include a pseudoknot considered essential for this ribosomal switching. In this work, we apply our graph-theory-based framework for representing RNA secondary structures, "RAG (or RNA-As-Graphs)," to alter key structural features of the FSE of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Specifically, using RAG machinery of genetic algorithms for inverse folding adapted for RNA structures with pseudoknots, we computationally predict minimal mutations that destroy a structurally important stem and/or the pseudoknot of the FSE, potentially dismantling the virus against translation of the polyproteins. Our microsecond molecular dynamics simulations of mutant structures indicate relatively stable secondary structures. These findings not only advance our computational design of RNAs containing pseudoknots, they pinpoint key residues of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as targets for antiviral drugs and gene editing approaches.
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159,292 |
Life lessons of the pandemic ”COVID-19”
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“A lesson learned the hard way is a lesson learned for a lifetime ” Every bad situation hurts;however, it sure does teach us something – a lesson In the same manner of a new lesson for Human lifetime, history is observing ’The Novel COVID-19 coronavirus’, a very horrible and strange situation created due to fighting with a microscopic enemy WHO on 11 February 2020 has announced a name for new covid disease as covid-19 and has declared covid as a global public health emergency and subsequently as pandemic because of its widespread This began as an outbreak in December 2019, with its centre in Wuhan, the People Republic of China has emerged as a public health emergency of international concern Coronavirus is the group of a virus with non-segmented, single-stranded and positive RNA genome This bad situation of pandemic creates new scenes in the life of people in a different manner, which will be going to be life lessons for them Such lessons should be kept in mind for the safety of living beings and many more things In this narrative review article, reference was taken from a different article published in vari-ous databases which include the view of different authors and writers on the ”Lessons to be learnt from Corona” © 2020, J K Welfare and Pharmascope Foundation All rights reserved
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159,293 |
Biodiversity and Phylogenetic Relationships of Novel Bacteriocinogenic Strains Isolated from Animal's Droppings at the Zoological Garden of Lille, France
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This study aimed at exploring droppings of animals living in captivity in the zoological garden (Zoo) of Lille (France), as novel sources of bacteriocinogenic strains. A collection of 295 bacterial isolates was constituted from droppings of capybara, alpaca, muntjac, zebra, tapir, rhinoceros, binturong, armadillo, saki monkey and cockatoo. Of 295 isolates, 51 exhibited antagonism against a panel of pathogenic target bacteria like Escherichia coli MC4100, Clostridium perfringens DSM 756 and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Newport ATCC6962. Remarkably, within this collection, only 2 Gram-negative bacilli exhibited activity against E. coli MC4100 strain used as target organism. Then, the 16S rDNA sequencing revealed these thereafter cited species, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Weissella cibaria, E. coli, Lactobacillus reuteri, Enterococcus hirae and Enterococcus faecalis. Characterization of this antagonism has revealed 11 strains able producing extracellular protease-sensitive inhibitory compounds. These strains included E. coli ICVB442 and ICVB443, Ent. faecalis ICVB472, ICVB474, ICVB477 ICVB479, ICVB481, ICVB497 and ICVB501 and Ped. pentosaceus ICVB491 and ICVB492. The genomes of the 5 most promising bacteriocinogenic strains were sequenced and analysed with Bagel4 software. Afterwards, this bioinformatics analysis permitted to locate genes encoding bacteriocins like colicin Y (E. coli), enterocin 1071A, enterocin 107 B (Ent. faecalis) and penocin A (Ped. pentosaceus), associating the above-mentioned antibacterial activity of proteinaceous nature to possible production of bacteriocins. All these results enabled us to select different bacteriocinogenic strains for a further characterization in terms of beneficial traits.
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159,294 |
The Relationship between Agricultural Teaching Approaches and Food Security in Kenya
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The continued food insecurity, despite the teaching of agriculture amidst the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), is a major global concern especially in Africa There is food shortage in Africa and Kenya in particular despite the teaching of agriculture as a major subject in secondary schools Many youth who have graduated from Kenyan secondary schools cannot adequately employ the agricultural skills developed during and after school for food security The teaching approaches employed in secondary school agriculture should be able to develop skills of students on the aspects of food production, its accessibility, food safety, and nutrition as well as production economics Towards this direction, this paper investigates the relationship between the agricultural teaching approaches employed in secondary schools and food security in Kenya The study adopted descriptive survey design where data were collected using an Agriculture Teachers' Interview Schedule, a Students' Focus Group Discussion Guide, and a Parent's Questionnaire and were then analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics The research findings established that the lecture method, class discussions, class projects, problem solving, and tours and field trips were the common methods in agriculture classes Though recommended in the literature review section, digital learning was hardly mentioned as a teaching approach for this study A major conclusion for this study is that there is statistically insignificant relationship between the teaching approaches and food security There are other factors not in the scope of this study that could be affecting food security and can be tackled at secondary school level This paper makes a contribution to the growing body of knowledge by highlighting research gaps worth investigation on the relationship between the agricultural teaching approaches and food security that were beyond the scope of the study © 2020 Hellen Joseph Njura et al
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159,295 |
Central Venous Catheter Insertion in the Prone Position-A Last Resort in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients
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BACKGROUND: In the setting of the COVID pandemic, many patients falling ill with acute respiratory distress syndrome eventually require prone positioning for gas exchange. Traditionally, central venous catheters are inserted with patient in the supine or Trendelenburg position. However, when a patient cannot tolerate supine position and the need for central venous access is urgent, catheter placement may be considered with the patient in the prone position. CASE SUMMARY: A 69-year-old male with rapidly declining respiratory status secondary to COVID pneumonia quickly developed acute respiratory distress syndrome, was rapidly intubated, and then placed in the prone position. Patient could not tolerate the supine position even briefly and required a central venous catheter insertion for continuous renal replacement therapy. We kept the patient in the prone position and successfully inserted a central venous catheter in such position with real-time ultrasound guidance and using micropuncture technique. CONCLUSION: In the setting of the COVID pandemic, many cases of acute respiratory distress syndrome require patients to be prone in order to improve gas exchange. In the most severe situations, these patients would not be able to tolerate rotating back to the supine position but would still require central venous catheter insertion urgently. We demonstrated feasibility of central venous catheter insertion in the prone position in these severely ill patients.
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159,296 |
Modelling the impact of the mandatory use of face coverings on public transport and in retail outlets in the UK on COVID-19-related infections, hospital admissions and mortality
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INTRODUCTION: The rapid spread of the pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2/)(COVID-19) virus resulted in governments around the world instigating a range of measures, including mandating the wearing of face coverings on public transport/in retail outlets. METHODS: We developed a sequential assessment of the risk reduction provided by face coverings using a step-by-step approach. The UK Office of National Statistics (ONS) Population Survey data were utilised to determine the baseline total number of community-derived infections. These were linked to reported hospital admissions/hospital deaths to create case admission risk ratio and admission-related fatality rate. We evaluated published evidence to establish an infection risk reduction for face coverings. We calculated an Infection Risk Score (IRS) for a number of common activities and related it to the effectiveness of reducing infection and its consequences, with a face covering, and evaluated their effect when applied to different infection rates over 3 months from July 24, 2020, when face coverings were made compulsory in England on public transport/retail outlets. RESULTS: We show that only 7.3% of all community-based infection risk is associated with public transport/retail outlets. In the week of July 24, The reported weekly community infection rate was 29 400 new cases at the start (July 24). The rate of growth in hospital admissions and deaths for England was around -15%/week, suggesting the infection rate, R, in the most vulnerable populations was just above 0.8. In this situation, average infections over the evaluated 13 week follow-up period, would be 9517/week with face covering of 40% effectiveness, thus, reducing average infections by 844/week, hospital admissions by 8/week and deaths by 0.6/week; a fall of 9% over the period total. If, however, the R-value rises to 1.0, then, average community infections would stay at 29 400/week and mandatory face coverings could reduce average weekly infections by 3930, hospital admissions by 36 and deaths by 2.9/week; a 13% reduction. If the R-value rose and stayed at 1.2, then, expected average community-derived hospital admissions would be 975/week and 40% effective face coverings would reduce this by 167/week and reduce possible expected hospital deaths from 80/week to 66/week. These reductions should be seen in the context that there was an average of 102 000/week all-cause hospital emergency admissions in England in June and 8900 total reported deaths in the week ending August 7, 2020. CONCLUSION: We have illustrated that the policy on mandatory use of face coverings in retail outlets/on public transport may have been very well followed, but may be of limited value in reducing hospital admissions and deaths, at least at the time that it was introduced, unless infections begin to rise faster than currently seen. The impact appears small compared with all other sources of risk, thereby raising questions regarding the effectiveness of the policy.
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159,297 |
The COVID-19 Pandemic Confronts the Motivation Fallacy within Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs
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Social distancing and quarantines have been implemented worldwide to reduce the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). However, social distancing has had far-reaching health consequences, considering that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed people to the hazard of physical inactivity and sedentary behavior. For patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which is one of the main diseases at risk for COVID-19, the impact is even greater since outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programs are temporarily closed. More than ever, patients' behavior change to exercise calls for urgent debate. We propose a theoretical discussion in light of Self-Determination Theory, aiming to make PR a setting that supports autonomous forms of motivation. The scenario will not be changed in the short-term; but if other conditions hinder the development of PR in its most traditional form, the PR community will be better prepared to overcome the barriers to maintain physical exercise.
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159,298 |
Remdesivir improved time to recovery in adults hospitalized with COVID-19 and lower respiratory tract involvement
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SOURCE CITATION: Beigel JH, Tomashek KM, Dodd LE, et al. Remdesivir for the treatment of Covid-19-preliminary report. N Engl J Med. 2020. [Epub ahead of print]. 32445440.
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159,299 |
Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Household Contacts of a Healthcare Provider, Wuhan, China
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We found that all 5 asymptomatic household contacts of a Wuhan, China, physician with coronavirus disease had severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 detected by PCR. The index patient and 2 contacts also had abnormal chest computed tomography scans. Asymptomatic infected household contacts of healthcare workers with coronavirus disease might be underrecognized.
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