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PMH19 Evaluation of Symptoms of Depression Amongst People with Substance Use during COVID-19 Lockdown in India: A CROSS-Sectional Study | Objectives: To evaluate the symptoms of depression amongst people with substance use during COVID 19 lockdown in India. Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted for one month during the lockdown. The questionnaire includes two domains, demographic details of participants and standard 20 items questionnaire of Centre for Epidemiological studies for Depression (CES-D). A google form of the questionnaire was created and distributed amongst the substance use population. The score ranges from 0-60. The cut-off score varies based on gender. Individuals who scored ≥ to 17 and 23 in males and females respectively are considered as presence of depressive symptoms. Results: Among 101 participants with substance use (88.1% males and 11.8% females), approximately 50% of participants were professionals by occupation and nearly half of the study population were postgraduates (48.5%). Majority of study participants were from urban areas (61.3%) and belonged to lower socioeconomic status (28.7%). Two third (68.3%) of the total study population belong to the nuclear family. Of 101 study participants, 63 (62.3%) of them presented with depressive symptoms. Majority of male participants [56 (88.8%)] expressed that they have depressive symptoms. Of these 56 participants, depressive symptoms were seen in participants consuming both alcohol and nicotine [26 (46.4%)] followed by only alcohol [22 (39.2%)] and only nicotine [8 (14.2%)]. A total of 7 (6.9%) females experienced depressive symptoms, with the majority of them had a history of consuming alcohol [4 (57.1%)] followed by both alcohol and nicotine [2 (28.5%)] and only nicotine [1 (14.2%)]. Conclusions: This study observed the impact lockdown on substance use participants to develop depression symptoms. It was found that males with both alcohol and nicotine use experienced more depression symptoms than females. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Renin-Angiotensin System Overactivation in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, a Risk for SARS-CoV-2 Infection? | Background: The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus gains entry to target cells via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor present on cells in blood vessels, lungs, heart, intestines, and kidneys. Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) overactivity has also been described in metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity, conditions shared by women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) We hypothesized that RAS overactivity may be present in PCOS. Methods: We determined plasma levels of RAS-related proteins in a cohort of age matched control women (n=97) and women with PCOS (n=146). Plasma levels of RAS-related proteins (ACE2, Renin and Angiotensinogen (AGT)) were determined by Slow Off-rate Modified Aptamer (SOMA)-scan plasma protein measurement. Results: PCOS women had a higher BMI (p<0.001), systolic (p<0.0001) and diastolic (p<0.05) blood pressure, waist circumference (p<0.0001), testosterone (p<0.0001), free androgen index (p<0.0001) and CRP (p<0.0001). Renin was elevated in PCOS (p<0.05) and angiotensinogen was lower in PCOS (p<0.05), indicating overactivity of the RAS system in PCOS. ACE2 levels were lower in PCOS (p<0.05), suggesting that PCOS women are at risk for development of hypertension. Conclusion: RAS proteins levels differed between PCOS and control women, suggesting that the insulin resistance inherent in PCOS may predispose these women to more severe COVID-19 infection. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Ultra-absorptive Nanofiber Swabs for Improved Collection and Test Sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 and other Biological Specimens. | Following the COVID-19 outbreak, swabs for biological specimen collection were thrust to the forefront of healthcare materials. Swab sample collection and recovery are vital for reducing false negative diagnostic tests, early detection of pathogens, and harvesting DNA from limited biological samples. In this study, we report a new class of nanofiber swabs tipped with hierarchical 3D nanofiber objects produced by expanding electrospun membranes with a solids-of-revolution-inspired gas foaming technique. Nanofiber swabs significantly improve absorption and release of proteins, cells, bacteria, DNA, and viruses from solutions and surfaces. Implementation of nanofiber swabs in SARS-CoV-2 detection reduces the false negative rates at two viral concentrations and identifies SARS-CoV-2 at a 10× lower viral concentration compared to flocked and cotton swabs. The nanofiber swabs show great promise in improving test sensitivity, potentially leading to timely and accurate diagnosis of many diseases. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Exploring the Impact of Restricted Partners’ Visiting Policies on Non-Infected Mothers’ Mental Health and Breastfeeding Rates during the COVID-19 Pandemic | Changes in perinatal care occurring during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may negatively affect mothers’ mental health and breastfeeding. This study, performed between April and May 2020, aimed to investigate the effect of restricted partners’ visiting policies on non-infected mother’s anxiety symptoms, the perceived postpartum support, and the breastfeeding outcomes at discharge. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a neonatal tertiary referral center in northern Italy during Italy’s lockdown. We enrolled mothers with a negative nasopharyngeal swab for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), adequate oral and written comprehension of the Italian language, and absence of underlying maternal or neonatal clinical conditions. Maternal anxiety levels were assessed through the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Form Y (STAI-Y). Maternal perception of staff’s support was evaluated by the Nurse Parent Support Tool (NPST). A STATE-A (concurrent emotional state after a specific situation) score ≥ 40 was considered indicative of clinically significant symptoms of anxiety. A total of 109 mothers completed the study. Mean STATE-A score was ≥40 in 42% of mothers, and median NPST score was 4.23. Mothers separated from their partner had a mean STATE-A score ≥ 40 in a higher percentage of cases than those who were not (51% vs. 30%, p = 0.03) and a lower perception of caregiver support. A NPST score ≤4.23, partner ‘s absence during the hospital stay and primiparity were independently associated with a STATE-A score ≥ 40. Breastfeeding rates at discharge were not influenced by maternal anxiety levels and partner’s restricted policies. Instead, they were influenced by mode of delivery, a well-known risk factor, and pre-pandemic intention to breastfeed. Our study demonstrates the positive impact of a partner’s presence on maternal mental health and perception of caregiver support. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Radix Bupleuri: A Review of Traditional Uses, Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology | Radix Bupleuri (Chaihu) has been used as a traditional medicine for more than 2000 years in China, Japan, Korea, and other Asian countries. Phytochemical studies demonstrated that this plant contains essential oils, triterpenoid saponins, polyacetylenes, flavonoids, lignans, fatty acids, and sterols. Crude extracts and pure compounds isolated from Radix Bupleuri exhibited various biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antipyretic, antimicrobial, antiviral, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and immunomodulatory effects. However, Radix Bupleuri could also lead to hepatotoxicity, particularly in high doses and with long-term use. Pharmacokinetic studies have demonstrated that the major bioactive compounds (saikosaponins a, b(2), c, and d) were absorbed rapidly in rats after oral administration of the extract of Radix Bupleuri. This review aims to comprehensively summarize the traditional uses, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics of Radix Bupleuri reported to date with an emphasis on its biological properties and mechanisms of action. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Imaging of COVID-19: CT, MRI, and PET | Soon after reports of a novel coronavirus capable of causing severe pneumonia surfaced in late 2019, expeditious global spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) forced the World Health Organization to declare an international state of emergency. Although best known for causing symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection in mild cases and fulminant pneumonia in severe disease, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has also been associated with gastrointestinal, neurologic, cardiac, and hematologic presentations. Despite concerns over poor specificity and undue radiation exposure, chest imaging nonetheless remains central to the initial diagnosis and monitoring of COVID-19 progression, as well as to the evaluation of complications. Classic features on chest CT include ground-glass and reticular opacities with or without superimposed consolidations, frequently presenting in a bilateral, peripheral, and posterior distribution. More recently, studies conducted with MRI have shown excellent concordance with chest CT in visualizing typical features of COVID-19 pneumonia. For patients in whom exposure to ionizing radiation should be avoided, particularly pregnant women and children, pulmonary MRI may represent a suitable alternative to chest CT. Although PET imaging is not typically considered among first-line investigative modalities for the diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections, numerous reports have noted incidental localization of radiotracer in parenchymal regions of COVID-19-associated pulmonary lesions. These findings are consistent with data from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-CoV cohorts suggesting an ability for (18)F-FDG PET to detect subclinical infection and lymphadenitis in subjects without overt clinical signs of infection. Though highly sensitive, use of PET/CT for primary detection of COVID-19 is constrained by poor specificity, as well as considerations of cost, radiation burden, and prolonged exposure times for imaging staff. Even still, decontamination of scanner bays is a time-consuming process, and proper ventilation of scanner suites may additionally require up to an hour of downtime to allow for sufficient air exchange. Yet, in patients who require nuclear medicine investigations for other clinical indications, PET imaging may yield the earliest detection of nascent infection in otherwise asymptomatic individuals. Especially for patients with concomitant malignancies and other states of immunocompromise, prompt recognition of infection and early initiation of supportive care is crucial to maximizing outcomes and improving survivability. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Forecasting of a complex phenomenon using stochastic data-based techniques under non-conventional schemes: The SARS-CoV-2 virus spread case | Epidemics are complex dynamical processes that are difficult to model. As revealed by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the social behavior and policy decisions contribute to the rapidly changing behavior of the virus' spread during outbreaks and recessions. In practice, reliable forecasting estimations are needed, especially during early contagion stages when knowledge and data are insipient. When stochastic models are used to address the problem, it is necessary to consider new modeling strategies. Such strategies should aim to predict the different contagious phases and fast changes between recessions and outbreaks. At the same time, it is desirable to take advantage of existing modeling frameworks, knowledge and tools. In that line, we take Autoregressive models with exogenous variables (ARX) and Vector autoregressive (VAR) techniques as a basis. We then consider analogies with epidemic's differential equations to define the structure of the models. To predict recessions and outbreaks, the possibility of updating the model's parameters and stochastic structures is considered, providing non-stationarity properties and flexibility for accommodating the incoming data to the models. The Generalized-Random-Walk (GRW) and the State-Dependent-Parameter (SDP) techniques shape the parameters' variability. The stochastic structures are identified following the Akaike (AIC) criterion. The models use the daily rates of infected, death, and healed individuals, which are the most common and accurate data retrieved in the early stages. Additionally, different experiments aim to explore the individual and complementary role of these variables. The results show that although both the ARX-based and VAR-based techniques have good statistical accuracy for seven-day ahead predictions, some ARX models can anticipate outbreaks and recessions. We argue that short-time predictions for complex problems could be attained through stochastic models that mimic the fundamentals of dynamic equations, updating their parameters and structures according to incoming data. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
The role of hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery in a right hemicolectomy for right-sided colon cancer. | PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to evaluate the perioperative and long-term oncologic outcomes of hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) and standard laparoscopic surgery (SLS) and assess the role of HALS in the management of right-sided colon cancer. METHODS The study group included 53 patients who underwent HALS and 45 patients who underwent SLS for right-sided colon cancer between April 2002 and December 2008. RESULTS The patients in each group were similar in age, American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) score, body mass index, and history of previous abdominal surgeries. Eight patients in the HALS group and no patient in the SLS group exhibited signs of tumor invasion into adjacent structures. No differences were noted in the time to return of normal bowel function, time to toleration of diet, lengths of hospital stay and narcotic usage, and rate of postoperative complications. The median incision length was longer in the HALS group (HALS: 7.0 cm vs. SLS: 4.8 cm, P < 0.001). The HALS group had a significantly higher pathologic TNM stage and significantly larger tumor size (HALS: 6.0 cm vs. SLS: 3.3 cm, P < 0.001). The 5-year overall, disease-free, and cancer-specific survival rates of the HALS and the SLS groups were 87.3%, 75.2%, and 93.9% and 86.4%, 78.0%, and 90.7%, respectively (P = 0.826, P = 0.574, and P = 0.826). CONCLUSION Although patients in the HALS group had more advanced disease and underwent more complex procedures than those in the SLS group, the short-term benefits and the oncologic outcomes between the two groups were comparable. HALS can, therefore, be considered an alternative to SLS for bulky and fixed right-sided colon cancer. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Touché: First Shared Task on Argument Retrieval | Technologies for argument mining and argumentation processing are maturing continuously, giving rise to the idea of retrieving arguments in search scenarios. We introduce Touché, the first lab on Argument Retrieval featuring two subtasks: (1) the retrieval of arguments from a focused debate collection to support argumentative conversations, and (2) the retrieval of arguments from a generic web crawl to answer comparative questions with argumentative results. The goal of this lab is to perform an evaluation of various strategies to retrieve argumentative information from the web content. In this paper, we describe the setting of each subtask: the motivation, the data, and the evaluation methodology. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Prevalence and correlation of symptoms and comorbidities in COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis | Background: The COVID-19 affected millions of people, and the patients present a constellation of symptoms and comorbidities. We aimed to chronicle the prevalence and correlations of symptoms and comorbidities, and associated covariates among the patients. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis [PROSPERO registration: CRD42020182677]. Databases [PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, WHO, Semantic Scholar, and COVID-19 Primer] were searched for clinical studies published in English from January 1 to April 20, 2020. The pooled prevalence of symptoms and comorbidities were identified using the random effect model, and sub-groups analysis of patients age and locations were investigated. A multivariable factor analysis was also performed to show the correlation among symptoms, comorbidities and age of the COVID-19 patients. Findings: Twenty-nine articles [China (24); Outside of China (5)], with 4,884 COVID-19 patients were included in this systematic review. The meta-analysis investigated 33 symptoms, where fever [84%], cough/dry cough [61%], and fatigue/weakness [42%] were found frequent. Out of 43 comorbidities investigated, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) [61%] was a common condition, followed by hypertension [23%] and diabetes [12%]. According to the patients age, the prevalence of symptoms like fatigue/weakness, dyspnea/shortness of breath, and anorexia were highly prevalent in older adults [[≥]50 years] than younger adults [<50 years]. Diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and COPD/lung disease were more prevalent comorbidities in older adults than younger adults. The patients from outside of China had significantly higher prevalence [p<0.005] of diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, sore throat, and dyspnea, and the prevalent comorbidities in that region were diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and ARDS. The multivariable factor analysis showed positive association between a group of symptoms and comorbidities, and with the patients age. Interpretation: Epitomizing the correlation of symptoms of COVID-19 with comorbidities and patients age would help clinicians effectively manage the patients. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Operation Warp Speed: implications for global vaccine security | Several global efforts are underway to develop COVID-19 vaccines, and interim analyses from phase 3 clinical testing have been announced by nine organisations: Pfizer, the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm Group, Sinovac Biotech, Johnson & Johnson, Novavax, and CanSino Biologics. The US programme known as Operation Warp Speed provided US$18 billion in funding for development of vaccines that were intended for US populations. Depending on safety and efficacy, vaccines can become available through mechanisms for emergency use, expanded access with informed consent, or full licensure. An important question is: how will these Operation Warp Speed vaccines be used for COVID-19 prevention in global health settings? We address some key questions that arise in the transition from US to global vaccine prevention efforts and from ethical and logistical issues to those that are relevant to global vaccine security, justice, equity, and diplomacy. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Intermittent Hypoxic Preconditioning: A Potential New Powerful Strategy for COVID-19 Rehabilitation | COVID-19 is a highly infectious respiratory virus, which can proliferate by invading the ACE2 receptor of host cells. Clinical studies have found that the virus can cause dyspnea, pneumonia and other cardiopulmonary system damage. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory failure and even death. Although there are currently no effective drugs or vaccines for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, the patient's prognosis recovery can be effectively improved by ameliorating the dysfunction of the respiratory system, cardiovascular systems, and immune function. Intermittent hypoxic preconditioning (IHP) as a new non-drug treatment has been applied in the clinical and rehabilitative practice for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, coronary heart disease, heart failure, hypertension, and other diseases. Many clinical studies have confirmed that IHP can improve the cardiopulmonary function of patients and increase the cardiorespiratory fitness and the tolerance of tissues and organs to ischemia. This article introduces the physiological and biochemical functions of IHP and proposes the potential application plan of IHP for the rehabilitation of patients with COVID-19, so as to provide a better prognosis for patients and speed up the recovery of the disease. The aim of this narrative review is to propose possible causes and pathophysiology of COVID-19 based on the mechanisms of the oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune response, and to provide a new, safe and efficacious strategy for the better rehabilitation from COVID-19. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Erratum Regarding Declaration of Conflict of Interest Statements in Previously Published Articles | Previously published content in Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy did not include explicit statements denoting members of the Board of Editors or Guest Editors as co-authors. This erratum is to confirm that conflict of interest disclosure policies were followed in all instances and all research published within the journal adheres to our conflict of interest policy as outlined in the Instructions for Authors. See https://www.tigejournal.org/content/authorinfo#Conflict%20of%20Interest%20Policy for full details. The appropriate conflict of interest statements, provided by the Authors, are included below: 1 “TIGE: Advancing Endoscopic Innovation” (Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2020;22(1):1) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tgie.2019.150655 Declaration of conflicts of interest: Vinay Chandrasekhara and Michael Kochman are members of the Board of Editors. Their paper was handled in accordance with our conflict of interest policy.2 “Lumen Apposing Metal Stents in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy” (Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2020;22(1):2) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tgie.2019.150651 Declaration of conflicts of interest: Anthony Y.B. Teoh is a member of the Board of Editors. Their paper was handled in accordance with our conflict of interest policy.3 “Advanced Gallbladder Interventions After Endoscopic Ultrasonography-guided Gallbladder Drainage” (Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2020;22(1):24-26) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tgie.2019.150629 Declaration of conflicts of interest: Anthony Y.B. Teoh is a member of the Board of Editors. Their paper was handled in accordance with our conflict of interest policy.4 “Endoscopic Ultrasonography-guided Gastroenterostomy Using Lumen-apposing Metal Stents” (Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2020;22(1):27-32) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tgie.2019.150630 Declaration of conflicts of interest: Anthony Y.B. Teoh is a member of the Board of Editors. Their paper was handled in accordance with our conflict of interest policy.5 “Artificial Intelligence in Gastroenterology” (Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2020;22(2):41) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tgie.2019.150641 Declaration of conflicts of interest: Michael Byrne was the Guest Editor for this Review series. Their paper was handled in accordance with our conflict of interest policy.6 “The Impact of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Gastric Adenocarcinomas in the United States” (Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2020;22(3):93-98) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tige.2020.03.009 Declaration of conflicts of interest: Vinay Chandrasekhara is a member of the Board of Editors. Their paper was handled in accordance with our conflict of interest policy.7 “The Light at the End of the Tunnel: The Gastrointestinal Tract as a Therapeutic Target for Obesity and Metabolic Disease” (Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2020;22(3):99) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tige.2020.05.003 Declaration of conflicts of interest: Barham K. Abu Dayyeh was the Guest Editor for review series. Their paper was handled in accordance with our conflict of interest policy.8 “Endoscopic Gastric Suturing for Weight Loss: Techniques and Outcomes” (Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2020;22(3):136-144) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tige.2020.03.001 Declaration of conflicts of interest: Barham K. Abu Dayyeh was the Guest Editor for this review series. Their paper was handled in accordance with our conflict of interest policy.9 “Endoscopic Extraction of Large Foreign Bodies Utilizing a Novel Push-Pull Extraction Technique” (Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2020;22(4):172-177) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tige.2020.06.004 Declaration of conflicts of interest: Michael Kochman is a member of the Board of Editors. Their paper was handled in accordance with our conflict of interest policy.10 “Preface” (Techniques and Innovations in Gastroi testinal Endoscopy, 2020;22(4):191) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tige.2020.07.005 Declaration of conflicts of interest: Alessandro Repici was the Guest Editor for this review series. Their paper was handled in accordance with our conflict of interest policy.11 “Endoprosthetics for Luminal Obstruction” (Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2020;22(4):192-199) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tige.2020.06.003 Declaration of conflicts of interest: Alessandro Repici was the Guest Editor for this review series. Their paper was handled in accordance with our conflict of interest policy.12 “Endoscopic Management of Malignant Gastric Outlet Obstruction” (Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2020;22(4):220-224) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tige.2020.03.011 Declaration of conflicts of interest: Amrita Sethi is a member of the Board of Editors. Their paper was handled in accordance with our conflict of interest policy.13 “Preface” (Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2021;23(1):18) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tige.2020.12.002 Declaration of conflicts of interest: Anna M. Buchner was the Guest Editor for this review series. Their paper was handled in accordance with our conflict of interest policy.14 “Virtual Interviews During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey of Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship Applicants and Programs” (Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2021;23(2):159-168) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tige.2021.02.001 Declaration of conflicts of interest: Vinay Chandrasekhara is a member of the Board of Editors. Their paper was handled in accordance with our conflict of interest policy.15 “COVID-19: Impact on Endoscopy and GI Community” (Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2021;23(2):169) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tige.2021.01.002 Declaration of conflicts of interest: Roberta Maselli was the Guest Editor for this review series. Their paper was handled in accordance with our conflict of interest policy.16 “A Multimodal Interdisciplinary QI Intervention Is Associated With Reduction in After Hours Inpatient Endoscopy Cases Community” (Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2021;23(3):226-233) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tige.2021.05.002 Declaration of conflicts of interest: Michael Kochman is a member of the Board of Editors. Their paper was handled in accordance with our conflict of interest policy.17 “Navigating a Successful Career: Perspectives from Women in Endoscopy” (Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2021;23(3):248) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tige.2021.05.003 Declaration of conflicts of interest: Amrita Sethi is a member of the Board of Editors. Their paper was handled in accordance with our conflict of interest policy.18 “Preface: Endoscopy and Ecology” (Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2021;23(4):336) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tige.2021.08.003 Declaration of conflicts of interest: Nitin K. Ahuja was the Guest Editor for this review series. Their paper was handled in accordance with our conflict of interest policy. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Conclusion: Bursting the Bubble – Brazil’s Failure in Africa | For the African origins of its population and its alliance with South Africa through BRICS, Brazil was expected to foster political and social renaissance in southern Africa. Instead, since the end of the presidency of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (2003–2010), Brazil has abandoned any attempt to influence the Lusophone arena, let alone the continent as a whole. In exploring the reasons why Brazil failed in Africa, the conclusion discusses the different themes examined in the book and provides an original overview of the politics of narcotics trade in the South Atlantic. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Covid-19 evolution and alternative medicine - A review | The current global health emergency, COVID-19, is not the first time that coronaviruses have posed a threat to human world shrinking our numbers by thousands. Before this SARS-CoV in 2003 and MERS-CoV in 2013 have caused epidemics. Four months in existence, and it has already affected 1,995,983 people and taken over 131,037 lives worldwide, yet we do not have any specific treatment available with us and the management is purely empirical. Looking at the similarities between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 in origin, genomics, pathogenesis and epidemiology, we can bring the researches done for SARS-CoV in use which can be our guide in finding an effective management strategy against SARS-CoV-2. There are various researches and studies reporting the use and effect of various phytochemical compounds in SARS-CoV treatment. Already, the thought has been put into action and in-silico screening for various natural plant compounds have been done to find a potential candidate compound. One such example is of curcumin, a secondary metabolite of turmeric, which is found to be effective against COVID-19 protease by molecular docking analysis. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Publisher Correction: The adenosine pathway in immuno-oncology. | An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
SPECIAL ISSUE: "FOCUS ON PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY". | This special issue provides a rich blend of news, reviews and clinical studies on many aspects of the understanding, management and prevention of cardiovascular disease in childhood. Primary care in pediatric cardiology, principally, must concern with prevention of heart disease and early detection of existing illness. In addition, pediatricians must be able to maintain the vigilance of "healthy" children in order to prevent cardiovascular risk in adulthood. With these goals, the themes presented in this "mosaic" of topics include - Cardiovascular involvement in genetic syndromes, SIDS and infectious, endocrine, kidney, storage or autoimmune diseases. - Pulmonary hypertension and patent ductus arteriosus in premature infants. - Cardiovascular risk in obese or hypertensive children. - Bicupid aortic valve and aortic dysfunction - Covid 19 and heart disease in childhood I thank the Researchers and Professors of Catanzaro, Palermo, Pavia, Brescia, Taormina and Messina University for their interesting and up-to-date scientific contributions, and I hope the information gathered in this issue will be useful to the reader. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Asylum seekers and refugees in Northern Ireland: the impact of post-migration stressors on mental health. | OBJECTIVES In recent years, Northern Ireland has seen an increase in the numbers of asylum seekers and refugees. Given its status as a post-conflict region, this is a relatively new phenomenon for the area. Northern Ireland is also the only part of the United Kingdom (UK) without a refugee integration strategy. In 2016, we conducted an extensive study for the racial equality unit of the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister in Stormont on the everyday life experience of asylum seekers and refugees in Northern Ireland with view to understanding how service delivery and notions of integration/inclusion impact. METHODS This was a mixed methods study using quantitative survey methods and in-depth semi-structured interviews with service providers, asylum seekers, refugees and new UK citizens. We examined a range of service provision such as education, labour, legal provision, housing and health. RESULTS This article examines the issue of mental health with respect to asylum seekers and refugees in Northern Ireland. The results delineate how asylum seekers and refugee's mental health is dramatically impacted by the asylum system in Northern Ireland (and hence, the UK) and the dearth thereof, of particular and necessary supports and access issues in the space of health and mental health in Northern Ireland. We describe how post-migration stressors experienced through the UK asylum system further compound mental health issues. The findings provide a focus on the asylum system, housing and employment. CONCLUSIONS Our research found a dearth of mental health supports in Northern Ireland and concluded that the asylum system in the UK (as a form of post-migration stressor) further exacerbates and contributes to poor mental health and well-being for many asylum seekers and refugees. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on incidence and severity of acute appendicitis: a comparison between 2019 and 2020 | BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease in the number of patients presenting with acute appendicitis was observed. It is unclear whether this caused a shift towards more complicated cases of acute appendicitis. We compared a cohort of patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic with a 2019 control cohort. METHODS: We retrospectively included consecutive adult patients in 21 hospitals presenting with acute appendicitis in a COVID-19 pandemic cohort (March 15 – April 30, 2020) and a control cohort (March 15 – April 30, 2019). Primary outcome was the proportion of complicated appendicitis. Secondary outcomes included prehospital delay, appendicitis severity, and postoperative complication rates. RESULTS: The COVID-19 pandemic cohort comprised 607 patients vs. 642 patients in the control cohort. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a higher proportion of complicated appendicitis was seen (46.9% vs. 38.5%; p = 0.003). More patients had symptoms exceeding 24 h (61.1% vs. 56.2%, respectively, p = 0.048). After correction for prehospital delay, presentation during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was still associated with a higher rate of complicated appendicitis. Patients presenting > 24 h after onset of symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic were older (median 45 vs. 37 years; p = 0.001) and had more postoperative complications (15.3% vs. 6.7%; p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Although the incidence of acute appendicitis was slightly lower during the first wave of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, more patients presented with a delay and with complicated appendicitis than in a corresponding period in 2019. Spontaneous resolution of mild appendicitis may have contributed to the increased proportion of patients with complicated appendicitis. Late presenting patients were older and experienced more postoperative complications compared to the control cohort. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12873-021-00454-y. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Toluene-induced Acute Lung Injury: Case Report | TOPIC: Critical Care TYPE: Medical Student/Resident Case Reports INTRODUCTION: Toluene is an aromatic hydrocarbon widely used as a solvent in industrial and commercial products including paints, adhesives, ink, and rubber. It is occasionally used as an inhalant drug for its intoxicating properties. While mostly known for producing neurologic effects, here we report a case of toluene induced acute lung injury. CASE PRESENTATION: A 61-year-old female with a medical history of alcohol abuse, depression, congestive heart failure with preserved ejection fraction presented with one week of weakness and shortness of breath. She had been seen twice in the week prior having tested negative for SARS-COV2. In the emergency department, O2 saturation was 70% with respiratory distress on room air requiring high flow nasal cannula support. Labs were notable for a potassium of 2.7 mmol/L, acute kidney injury, elevated transaminases, lactate of 2.8 mmol/L and leukocyte count of 9800/nL. CT showed diffuse bilateral ground glass opacities involving the lung parenchyma concerning for atypical including viral pneumonia. Upon admission to the ICU she developed worsening hypoxia and respiratory failure requiring intubation.A discussion with the patient's husband revealed she had a history of glue sniffing. She had recently been decreasing her alcohol intake and substituting this with an increased frequency of sniffing both permanent markers and modeling glue. This raised suspicion for chemical pneumonitis secondary to toluene induced acute lung injury. DISCUSSION: Toluene is a highly lipophilic molecule readily inhaled via the lungs and distributed widely throughout the body producing side effects like ethanol intoxication via interfering mainly with GABA receptors. Neurologic manifestations range from euphoria and hallucinations to cognitive dysfunction and ataxia with chronic use. It specifically causes renal tubular acidosis typically manifesting as a normal anion gap hyperchloremic acidosis with hypokalemia. It can also cause hepatic injury and cardiac automaticity and conduction abnormalities.Acute lung injury secondary to toluene has been described but less frequently reported. Toxicity can result in Reactive Airway Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS) from acute or chronic exposure to various chemical irritants. All hydrocarbons, including toluene, can cause chemical pneumonitis by direct contact with the pulmonary parenchyma and destroying alveolar and capillary membranes resulting in vascular permeability and edema. Symptoms may include cough, wheezing, respiratory distress, and hypoxia. Bilateral interstitial infiltrates may be delayed for several hours after the development of pneumonitis. There is no specific antidote for toluene toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment for toluene and many chemical induced pneumonitides consists of supportive care, supplemental oxygen, bronchodilators, inhaled and systemic glucocorticoids and may require intubation and admission to an ICU in severe cases. REFERENCE #1: Camara-Lemarroy CR, Rodríguez-Gutiérrez R, Monreal-Robles R, González-González JG. Acute toluene intoxication–clinical presentation, management and prognosis: a prospective observational study. BMC Emerg Med. 2015;15:19. Published 2015 Aug 18. doi:10.1186/s12873-015-0039-0 REFERENCE #2: Alberts WM, do Pico GA. Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome. Chest. 1996;109(6):1618-1626. doi:10.1378/chest.109.6.1618 REFERENCE #3: Tormoehlen LM, Tekulve KJ, Nañagas KA. Hydrocarbon toxicity: A review. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2014;52(5):479-489. doi:10.3109/15563650.2014.923904 DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Ryan Lee, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Dominic Valentino, source=Web Response | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Ramping up of SARS CoV-2 testing for the diagnosis of COVID-19 to better manage the next phase of pandemic and reduce the mortality in India | The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, a new member of the Coronavirus family. The virus was first identified in Wuhan, China, where the epidemic originated. The viral genome was sequenced and a real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay was developed and used for the detection of virus. Different countries took different approaches for the diagnosis of COVID-19. Some countries prioritized extensive testing for COVID-19 at a very early phase of the pandemic whereas other countries took a long time to build the testing capacity and to implement the testing extensively. The assay design formats were available in the public domain and thereby allowing researchers to replicate them to make diagnostic kits. Consequently, several antigen or antibody-based diagnostic tests were also developed for the diagnosis of COVID-19. However, there were some validation and regulatory challenges while bringing these assays into the market. During the course of the pandemic, it became clear that the countries which implemented testing at an early stage of the pandemic were capable of controlling the spread more effectively than those that implemented them at later stages. As several countries implemented a lockdown for controlling the spread of the virus, it is critical to build the testing capability to meet the extensive need of testing while exiting the lockdown. Testing and isolation of positive cases are the most effective ways of preventing the spread of virus and gradually returning life back to normality. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Analysis of the Super Cycles of Commodity Price in Chinese Market after Covid-19 | Influenced by Covid-19, the global economy has faced some challenges. In this paper, the author analyses the super cycles of commodity price in Chinese market after the epidemic. The author will use the recent data, which are released by government, for data analysis, in order to find the reason why the commodity's price in China has increased dramatically after the pandemic. The copper's price is also taken as an example to conduct the validation. After the analysis, the main reason that influence the price has been figured out, which is inflation. At the end of the paper, the author also proposed several suggestions for the development of the super cycles of commodity price in Chinese market after Covid-19. © 2021 ACM. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
The structural characteristics and influential factors of psychological stress of urban residents in Jiangxi province during the COVID-19 pandemic: cross sectional study | AIMS: To explore the structural characteristics and influential factors of psychological stress of urban residents in Jiangxi province during the COVID-19 pandemic through a survey of psychological stress, personality traits, family function and life satisfaction. METHODS: By the convenient sampling, 1422 urban residents from Jiangxi province were assessed with Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Short Scale (EPQ-RSC), Psychological Questionnaires for Emergent Events of Public Health (PQEEPH), Family APGAR Scale (APGAR) and Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). The relation among personality traits, psychological stress, family function and life satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic was analyzed by using the canonical correlation analysis and the serial mediation model. RESULTS: (1) Among the estimated correlation coefficients, the first two pairs were significant (P < 0.001 in each). (2) In the first pair of canonical variables, the loadings of neuroticism and neurasthenia were the higher (0.94, 0.70). (3) Neuroticism and life satisfaction mediated the relationship between family function and neurasthenia (β(neuroticism) = -0.174; 95%CI:-0.224, -0.134; β(life satisfaction) = -0.034, 95%CI:-0.012, -0.062), respectively. In addition, serial mediation analyses indicated that the association of family function and neurasthenia is mediated by neuroticism and life satisfaction in a sequential manner (β = -0.010; 95%CI:-0.020, -0.004). CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, neuroticism was closely related to psychological stress of urban residents, especially neurasthenia. In addition, the serial mediating effect of neuroticism and life satisfaction played an important role in the process of family function influencing neurasthenia. These findings contributed to a more comprehensive understanding of the influential factors for psychological stress of urban residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Covid-19 in Critically Ill Patients in the Seattle Region — Case Series | BACKGROUND: Community transmission of coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) was detected in the state of Washington in February 2020. METHODS: We identified patients from nine Seattle-area hospitals who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with confirmed infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Clinical data were obtained through review of medical records. The data reported here are those available through March 23, 2020. Each patient had at least 14 days of follow-up. RESULTS: We identified 24 patients with confirmed Covid-19. The mean (±SD) age of the patients was 64±18 years, 63% were men, and symptoms began 7±4 days before admission. The most common symptoms were cough and shortness of breath; 50% of patients had fever on admission, and 58% had diabetes mellitus. All the patients were admitted for hypoxemic respiratory failure; 75% (18 patients) needed mechanical ventilation. Most of the patients (17) also had hypotension and needed vasopressors. No patient tested positive for influenza A, influenza B, or other respiratory viruses. Half the patients (12) died between ICU day 1 and day 18, including 4 patients who had a do-not-resuscitate order on admission. Of the 12 surviving patients, 5 were discharged home, 4 were discharged from the ICU but remained in the hospital, and 3 continued to receive mechanical ventilation in the ICU. CONCLUSIONS: During the first 3 weeks of the Covid-19 outbreak in the Seattle area, the most common reasons for admission to the ICU were hypoxemic respiratory failure leading to mechanical ventilation, hypotension requiring vasopressor treatment, or both. Mortality among these critically ill patients was high. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health.) | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Sarcoma Care Practice in India During COVID Pandemic: A Nationwide Survey | BACKGROUND: Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, management of cancer has been one of the most intensely debated topics across the globe. We conducted an online survey to determine the consistency/or the lack of it, in the management of sarcoma patients between centres and the changes in policies. METHODS: A twenty-five question online survey was conducted among practicing physicians over a period of 10 days using online portal (surveymonkey.com). It was followed by a critical analysis based on responses to each question. RESULTS: Of 194 medical professionals who participated, 80% were surgeons and 53% were working in government institutes. Most respondents (81%) continued their practice with some modifications. In OP majority (67%) relied only on symptom, contact enquiry and temperature recording for screening. COVID-19 testing was done more (43%) in IP patients. Most of institutes (83%) followed rotational policy to reduce the number of staff at risk while 57% offered an alternate accommodation. 52.3% continued chemotherapy for all patients while radiotherapy for all was offered by 45%. In metastatic cases, majority preferred either no treatment or non-surgical intervention (71%).84.5% believed in adapting changes (42%—avoid supra major surgeries, 27%—Operating only emergency cases and 15.5%—High grade sarcomas with curative intent) in surgical management of sarcomas. For benign bone tumors, majority (71%) agreed on adapting changes while 25% agreed on deferring all cases. 69% preferred teleconsultations for follow-up. Complete PPE were being used for all aerosol generating procedures by 44%. Only two thirds agreed with their institutes policy of PPE usage and COVID-19 testing. CONCLUSION: This survey has highlighted disparity on COVID-19 screening and management in various institutes across the country. This will act as a reference point for tracking future trends in bone and soft tissue tumor management guidelines, as the COVID-19 scenario unfolds globally and particularly in India. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Neurological manifestations of COVID-19 in patients: from path physiology to therapy | Coronavirus is a family of ARN positive single-stranded belonging to the family of Coronaviridae. There are several families of coronavirus that transmit more or less serious diseases. However, the so-called coronavirus-19 (SARS-CoV2) is the one that is currently causing most of the problems; in fact, biological dysfunctions that this virus causes provoke damage in various organs, from the lung to the heart, the kidney, the circulatory system, and even the brain. The neurological manifestations caused by viral infection, as well as the hypercoagulopathy and systemic inflammation, have been reported in several studies. In this review, we update the neurological mechanisms by which coronavirus-19 causes neurological manifestation in patients such as encephalomyelitis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, lacunars infarcts, neuropsychiatry disorders such as anxiety and depression, and vascular alterations. This review explains (a) the possible pathways by which coronavirus-19 can induce the different neurological manifestations, (b) the strategies used by the virus to cross the barrier system, (c) how the immune system responds to the infection, and (d) the treatment than can be administered to the COVID-19 patients. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
COVID-19 and LGBTQ Emerging Adults: Risk in the Face of Social Distancing | The coronavirus pandemic that began in December 2019 (COVID-19) quickly spread globally with an increased transmission in the United States beginning in March 2020 Social distancing guidelines were instituted across the country, limiting contact individuals could have with others This compared the mental health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) emerging adults who completed the survey before (n = 1,190) many social distancing guidelines went into effect with those who completed the survey after (n = 705) Participants who participated in the survey after social distancing guidelines were initiated reported lower levels of hope for the future, higher levels of alcohol use, a lower sense of connection to and pride regarding the LGBTQ community, and a lower sense of minority stress Results indicate a detrimental response to social distancing in the days immediately following the onset of such guidelines as confusion reigned and expectations changed day to day | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
COVID-19 and Nanoscience in the Developing World: Rapid Detection and Remediation in Wastewater | Given the known presence of SARS-Cov-2 in wastewater, stemming disease spread in global regions where untreated effluent in the environment is common will experience additional pressure. Though development and preliminary trials of a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 have been launched in several countries, rapid and effective alternative tools for the timely detection and remediation of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, especially in the developing countries, is of paramount importance. Here, we propose a promising, non-invasive technique for early prediction and targeted detection of SARS-CoV-2 to prevent current and future outbreaks. Thus, a combination of nanotechnology with wastewater-based epidemiology and artificial intelligence could be deployed for community-level wastewater virus detection and remediation. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Severe metabolic ketoacidosis as a primary manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in non-diabetic pregnancy | We present a case of a metabolic acidosis in a term-pregnant woman with SARS-CoV-2 infection.Our patient presented with dyspnoea, tachypnoea, thoracic pain and a 2-day history of vomiting, initially attributed to COVID-19 pneumonia. Differential diagnosis was expanded when arterial blood gas showed a high anion gap metabolic non-lactate acidosis without hypoxaemia. Most likely, the hypermetabolic state of pregnancy, in combination with maternal starvation and increased metabolic demand due to infection, had resulted in metabolic ketoacidosis. Despite supportive treatment and rapid induction of labour, maternal deterioration and fetal distress during labour necessitated an emergency caesarean section. The patient delivered a healthy neonate. Postpartum, after initial improvement in metabolic acidosis, viral and bacterial pneumonia with subsequent significant respiratory compromise were successfully managed with oxygen supplementation and corticosteroids. This case illustrates how the metabolic demands of pregnancy can result in an uncommon presentation of COVID-19. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Sustainable Development and Digitalization: The Unusual COVID-19 Crisis Requires Original Solutions | This article provides a content analysis of over 20 policy proposals for coping with the COVID-19 crisis that have been published by influential international organizations, governments, corporations, academics and civil society groups The current situation, the role of digitalization during the crisis, and the composition of anti-crisis measures already taken by the world's largest economies are investigated, and long-term measures are proposed aimed at restoring the global economy and moving toward more equitable and sustainable development The authors identify a significant green component in public policy proposals published since the pandemic began and note that many proposals relate to equity and inclusiveness in development and meeting the needs of individuals The authors further identify key areas of sustainable development that require action in the near future and which can create new opportunities for economic development: renewable energy and clean transport, cyclical economy, digitalization and environmental protection At the same time, it is noted that the transition to a green economy is of a long-term nature and may conflict with the need in the short term to support the economy in overcoming the crisis These priority areas for government action require attention within the framework of Russia's anti-crisis policy Given the sharp drop in oil prices, the acceleration of digitalization and decarbonization, and the magnitude of the 2020 economic crisis, Russia needs to begin an accelerated transition | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Emergency videoendoscopic endonasal tracheal intubation for severe upper airway stenosis()() | PURPOSE: Upper airway stenosis is one of the most formidable situations in medicine and is frequently encountered in the ENT clinic. We introduce here our method of emergency endonasal endotracheal intubation under videoendoscopic observation. METHODS: Transnasal endoscopic observation was done, and the region of airway stenosis was detected. Then, the endotracheal tube was prepared and the endoscope was inserted into the tube. The endoscope with tube was inserted up to the larynx. Immediately after the administration of lidocaine to the larynx, the endoscope with tube was inserted to the endolarynx and then to the trachea. The endotracheal tube was tightly held in the nostril, and the endoscope was removed. RESULTS: We have encountered four cases this year. The primary disease developing airway stenosis was acute epiglottitis due to pharyngeal and deep neck abscesses in three cases and laryngeal edema due to Ludwig's angina. All patients underwent uneventful intubation, and dyspnea was immediately ceased. CONCLUSION: In cases showing severe suffocation, the clinician should perform airway maintenance even in an outpatient setting apart from a more monitored setting like the operation room. This technique resembles the usual nasal endoscopic laryngeal observation and is done even in the usual ENT office and/or emergency room. The supine position tends to worsen airway stenosis in patients with upper airway stenosis; however, this technique can be performed in a sitting or semi-sitting position. This method is less invasive for patients and also reduces the risk to the medical staff, especially in this COVID-19 era. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
A Flexible Genome-Scale SARS-CoV-2 Clone Resource | The world is facing a major health crisis, the global pandemic of COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, for which no approved antiviral agents or vaccines are currently available. Here we describe a collection of codon-optimized coding sequences for SARS-CoV-2 cloned into Gateway-compatible entry vectors, which enable rapid transfer into a variety of expression and tagging vectors. The collection is freely available via Addgene. We hope that widespread availability of this SARS-CoV-2 resource will enable many subsequent molecular studies to better understand the viral life cycle and how to block it. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
COVID-19 and India: what next? | Purpose: The study aims to carry out predictive modeling based on publicly available COVID-19 data for the duration April 01, 2020 to June 20, 2020 pertaining to India and five of its most infected states: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Gujarat and Rajasthan Design/methodology/approach: The study leverages the susceptible, infected, recovered and dead (SIRD) epidemiological framework for predictive modeling The basic reproduction number R0 is derived by an exponential growth method using RStudio package R0 The differential equations reflecting the SIRD model have been solved using Python 3 7 4 on the Jupyter Notebook platform For visualization, Python Matplotlib 3 2 1 package is used Findings: The study offers insights on peak-date, peak number of COVID-19 infections and end-date pertaining to India and five of its states Practical implications: The results subtly indicate toward the amount of effort required to completely eliminate the infection It could be leveraged by the political leadership and industry doyens for economic policy planning and execution Originality/value: The emergence of a clear picture about COVID-19 lifecycle is impossible without integrating data science algorithms and epidemiology theoretical framework This study amalgamates these two disciplines to undertake predictive modeling based on COVID-19 data from India and five of its states Population-specific granular and objective assessment of key parameters such as reproduction number (R0), susceptible population (S), effective contact rate (ß) and case-fatality rate (s) have been used to generate a visualization of COVID-19 lifecycle pattern for a critically affected population © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Polio in Afghanistan: The Current Situation amid COVID-19 | Polio is a deadly viral disease that has been paralyzing many children in Afghanistan. Despite fundamental efforts, primarily vaccination, to reduce the number of cases in Afghanistan, there are still many children who are deprived of the vaccine every year. Afghanistan is one of the two remaining countries endemic for polio, and the country has undergone various challenges that have hampered the eradication of this disease. The underlying challenges include inaccessibility of unsecured areas, illiteracy, refusal, and, most recently, COVID-19. The country is in the midst of a battle against COVID-19, and polio has almost entirely been neglected. Sadly, polio cases are increasing in the country, particularly in polio-free provinces. After an initial lockdown, many businesses have been allowed to resume, but the mass polio vaccination campaign has not restarted. New cases of polio will surge if endemic regions remain unvaccinated or inaccessible. To curb the further spread of polio, Afghanistan needs to resume nationwide house-to-house vaccination as restrictions due to COVID-19 are loosened. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Institutionalizing Community Health Services in Kenya: A Policy and Practice Journey | The process of institutionalizing community health services in Kenya required strong leadership by the Ministry of Health, effective coordination and support of stakeholders, and alignment of community health with the political priorities at the national and decentralized government levels to facilitate adequate prioritization and financing of the community health strategy. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Hydrogenolysis of Glycerol to Propylene Glycol: Energy, Tech-Economic, and Environmental Studies | Hydrogenolysis of glycerol to propylene glycol represents one of the most promising technologies for biomass conversion to chemicals. However, conventional hydrogenolysis processes are often carried out under harsh H2 pressures and temperatures, leading to intensive energy demands, fast catalyst deactivation, and potential safety risks during H2 handling. Catalytic transfer hydrogenolysis (CTH) displays high energy and atom efficiency. We have studied a series novel solid catalysts for CTH of glycerol. In this work, detailed studies have been conducted on energy optimization, tech-economic analysis, and environmental impact for both processes. The key finding is that relatively less energy demands and capital investment are required for CTH process. CO2 emission per production of propylene glycol is much lower in the case of transfer hydrogenolysis. The outcome of this study could provide useful information for process design and implementation of novel hydrogenolysis technologies for other energy and environmental applications. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Abstinence Among Alcohol Use Disorder Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights From Spain | BACKGROUND: Patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are likely to suffer disproportionate harms related to the COVID-19 pandemic and related policy measures. While many surveys have been conducted, most are focused on drinking changes in the general population and validation with biological markers is lacking. METHOD: We performed a retrospective cohort study among patients with AUD attending a urine drug screening program. With mixed-effects logistic regression models, we assessed the probability of screening positive for ethyl glucuronide according to patients' main clinical characteristics and time of analysis (either prior to or after a lockdown was implemented in Spain). RESULTS: A total of 362 patients provided 2,040 urine samples (1,295 prior to lockdown, 745 during lockdown). The mean age of participants was 52.0 years (SD 12.6), and 69.2% were men. Of the 43% of patients tested for other drugs 22% screened positive. After adjusting for all covariates, the odds of screening positive for ethyl glucuronide during lockdown almost doubled (OR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.20 to 3.33, p = 0.008). Other significant covariates included testing positive for other drugs (OR = 10.79, 95% CI 4.60 to 26.97) and length of treatment (OR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.74). CONCLUSIONS: Our data support an association between the lockdown due to COVID-19 and increased alcohol use in patients with AUD. Thus, addiction healthcare systems could face significant challenges ahead. In light of these findings, it is essential to evaluate prospectively how patients with AUD are affected by the pandemic and how health systems respond to their needs. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Pathogens in Vasculitis: Is It Really Idiopathic? | Vasculitis is an autoimmune disease characterized by the infiltration of leukocytes in blood vessels. An increasing number of studies on human and animal models have implicated various microorganisms in the pathogenesis of vasculitis. Previous studies have shown the presence of infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi, in diseased vessels. However, despite continued research, the link between infection and vasculitis is not fully understood, possibly owing to the lack of appropriate animal models that mirror human disease and the technical limitations of pathogen detection in blood vessels. Among the pathogen-induced animal models, Candida albicans water-soluble fraction (CAWS)-induced coronary arteritis is currently considered one of the representative models of Kawasaki (KD) disease. Advances in metagenomic next-generation sequencing have enabled the detection of all nucleic acids in tissue, which can help identify candidate pathogens, including previously unidentified viruses. In this review, we discuss the findings from reports on pathogen-associated vasculitis in animal models and humans, with a specific focus on the investigation of the pathogenesis of vasculitis. Further studies on animal models and microbes in diseased vessels may provide important insights into the pathogenesis of vasculitis, which is often considered an idiopathic disease. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Korotnevella hemistylolepis N. Sp. and Korotnevella monacantholepis N. Sp. (Paramoebidae), Two New Scale‐covered Mesohaline Amoebae | ABSTRACT. Two new species of Korotnevella Goodkov, 1988, Korotnevella hemistylolepis n. sp. and Korotnevella monacantholepis n. sp., are described from mesohaline ecosystems. The amoebae are characterized on the basis of light and electron microscopy with special emphasis on the structure of the basket scales, which have species‐specific architecture. The two new species are the second and third ones recovered from environments other than freshwater. In terms of scale morphology they most closely resemble a freshwater species, Korotnevella bulla (Schaeffer, 1926) Goodkov, 1988. Two genus names, Dactylamoeba Korotnev, 1880 and Korotnevella Goodkov, 1988, are in current use. The latter name is preferred, pending rediscovery and characterization of Dactylamoeba elongata Korotnev, 1880, the type species of the genus. Korotnevella species can be divided into three groups on the basis of scale morphology, suggesting that the genus may not be monophyletic. A key to species is provided. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Alveolar Epithelial Type II Cells☆ | The alveolar epithelium is a thin continuous liquid lining layer primarily composed of two types of epithelial cells, i.e., alveolar type I (ATI) and alveolar type II (ATII) cells. ATI cells have a broad flattened morphology and cover about 95% of the gas exchange surface of the lung. Whilst, ATIIs are small cuboidal cells with characteristic lamellar inclusions and apical microvilli that line the remainder of the alveolus (about 5%). ATII cells make and secrete a pulmonary surfactant, which reduces the surface tension in the alveoli preventing alveolar collapse during respiration and reducing the energy required to inflate the lungs, thereby increasing pulmonary compliance. These cells also transport ions from the apical to the basolateral surface so as to keep the alveoli relatively fluid free and have roles in the innate immune response. Importantly, they are the progenitor cells for the alveolar epithelium in the adult lung. Having a very thin cytoplasm, a limited number of mitochondria and covering a higher surface area, ATI cells are easily damaged during lung injury, after which they are replaced by ATII cells through the alveolar epithelium regeneration process. Despite ATII cells are considered an essential part of this process, numerous interstitial lung diseases are characterized by hyperplastic ATIIs: in fact, they may also contribute to the fibroproliferative reaction by secreting a number of growth factors and proinflammatory molecules. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Age and Racial Disparities in Telemedicine Utilization in an Academic Orthopedic Surgery Department | Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted significant racial and age-related health disparities. In response to pandemic-related restrictions, orthopedic surgery departments have expanded telemedicine use. We analyzed data from a tertiary care institute during the pandemic to understand potential racial and age-based disparities in access to care and telemedicine utilization. Materials and Methods: Data on patient race and age, and numbers of telemedicine visits, in-person office visits, and types of telemedicine were extracted for time periods during and preceding the pandemic. We calculated odds ratios for visit occurrence and type across race and age groups. Results: Patients ages 27-54 were 1.3 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-1.4, p < 0.01) and 1.2 (95% CI 1.0-1.3, p < 0.05) times more likely to be seen than patients <27 during the pandemic, versus the 2019 and 2020 controls. Patients 54-82 were 1.3 (95% CI 1.1-1.5, p < 0.001) times more likely to be seen than patients <27 during the pandemic versus the 2019 control. Patients 27-54, 54-82, and 82+, respectively, were 3.3 (95% CI 2.6-4.2, p < 1e-20), 3.5 (95% CI 2.8-4.4, p < 1e-24), and 1.9 (95% CI 1.1-3.4, p < 0.05) times more likely to be seen by telemedicine than patients <27. Among pandemic telemedicine appointments, Black patients were 1.5 (95% CI 1.2-1.9, p < 1e-3) times more likely to be seen by audio-only telemedicine than White patients, as compared with video telemedicine. Conclusions: Telemedicine access barriers must be reduced to ensure that disparities during the pandemic do not persist. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Histidine-enhanced gene delivery systems: The state of the art. | Gene therapy has emerged as a promising tool to treat different intractable diseases, particularly cancer or even viral diseases like COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). In this context, various non-viral gene carriers are being explored to transfer DNA or RNA sequences into target cells. Here we review the applications of the naturally occurring amino acid histidine in the delivery of nucleic acids into cells. The biocompatibility of histidine-enhanced gene delivery systems has encouraged their wider use in gene therapy. Histidine-based gene carriers can involve the modification of peptides, dendrimers, lipids, or nanocomposites. Several linear polymers, such as polyethylenimine, poly-L-lysine (synthetic), or dextran and chitosan (natural) have been conjugated with histidine residues in order to form complexes with nucleic acids for intracellular delivery. The challenges, opportunities and future research trends of histidine-based gene deliveries are investigated. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Seven Childbearing Women at the Moment of Delivery, a Romanian Experience | COVID-19 pandemic outbreak had officially started on 11 March 2020 according to the World Health Organization. In Romania the first case of COVID-19 was documented on 26th of February. Ploiesti Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital is one of the biggest mono-specialty units from Romania that was designated to deal with COVID-19 infected pregnant women. We retrospectively analyzed seven pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 who gave birth during the 1st July and 30thNovember 2020. The median age of pregnancy was 39 weeks. Three of the childbearing women presented rupture membranes at hospital admission and four gave birth by cesarean section (C-section). The women infected with SARS-CoV-2 had a good evolution, vertical transmission of the virus did not occur, measures to prevent mother-to-child transmission were applied. Apgar score was 9 for all new-born babies and they all tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. There were no maternal deaths. One new born baby was preterm but didn’t present low birth weight or low Apgar score. Applying cesarean section as a method of birth did not influence vertical transmission. There is no evidence if it is necessary to anticipate the time of birth. We believe it is recommended to individualize each case according to the experience of the obstetrician and the severity of the maternal infection. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Fluid, pH and electrolyte imbalance associated with COVID-19 mortality | The threat of COVID-19 has harried the world since early 2020. Risk of death from the infection is associated with age and pre-existing comorbidities such as diabetes, dementia, cancer, and impairment of immunological, hepatic or renal function. It still remains incompletely understood why some patients survive the disease, while others perish. Our univariate and multivariate analyses of real world data from U.S. electronic health records indicate that a priori diagnoses of fluid, pH and electrolyte imbalance are highly and independently associated with COVID-19 mortality. We propose that pre-existing homeostatic aberrations are magnified upon the loss of ACE2, which is a core component of the electrolyte management system as well as the entry point of internalizing SARS-CoV-2 viruses. Moreover, we also suggest such fragility of electrolyte homeostasis may increase the risk of plasma volume disturbances during the infection. Future interventional studies should investigate whether the risk of death can be alleviated by personalized management of the fluid and electrolyte balance of at-risk individuals before and during COVID-19. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Tracking COVID-19 in Europe: Infodemiology Approach | BACKGROUND: Infodemiology (ie, information epidemiology) uses web-based data to inform public health and policy. Infodemiology metrics have been widely and successfully used to assess and forecast epidemics and outbreaks. OBJECTIVE: In light of the recent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic that started in Wuhan, China in 2019, online search traffic data from Google are used to track the spread of the new coronavirus disease in Europe. METHODS: Time series from Google Trends from January to March 2020 on the Topic (Virus) of "Coronavirus" were retrieved and correlated with official data on COVID-19 cases and deaths worldwide and in the European countries that have been affected the most: Italy (at national and regional level), Spain, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. RESULTS: Statistically significant correlations are observed between online interest and COVID-19 cases and deaths. Furthermore, a critical point, after which the Pearson correlation coefficient starts declining (even if it is still statistically significant) was identified, indicating that this method is most efficient in regions or countries that have not yet peaked in COVID-19 cases. CONCLUSIONS: In the past, infodemiology metrics in general and data from Google Trends in particular have been shown to be useful in tracking and forecasting outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics as, for example, in the cases of the Middle East respiratory syndrome, Ebola, measles, and Zika. With the COVID-19 pandemic still in the beginning stages, it is essential to explore and combine new methods of disease surveillance to assist with the preparedness of health care systems at the regional level. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
COVID-19 Associated Hypercoagulability: Manifestations, Mechanisms, and Management | Patients with severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) frequently have hypercoagulability caused by the immune response to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection. The pathophysiology of COVID-19 associated hypercoagulability is not fully understood, but characteristic changes include: increased fibrinogen concentration, increased Factor VIII activity, increased circulating von Willebrand factor, and exhausted fibrinolysis. Anticoagulant therapy improves outcomes in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 and viscoelastic coagulation testing offers an opportunity to tailor anticoagulant therapy based on an individual patient's coagulation status. In this narrative review, we summarize clinical manifestations of COVID-19, mechanisms, monitoring considerations, and anticoagulant therapy. We also review unique considerations for COVID-19 patients who are on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Direct and Indirect Effects of Lockdown Policies on Poverty and Inequality in Latin America | We estimate the possible effects on poverty and income distribution of the crisis unleashed by Covid-19 on a group of Latin America and Caribbean countries, representing 80% of the total population in the region: Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. We use household survey data from pre-crisis national household surveys and, based on prospective scenarios of vulnerability to the shock, we compute the impact that income losses may have on a country's poverty levels and inequality. Our vulnerability scenarios are based on the national policies used to prevent the rapid expansion of the Coronavirus. Additionally, for a sub-sample of 6 countries (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru) we use Input-Output linkages to estimate direct and indirect shocks to consider how the differences of the productive structures, economic linkages, and labor market characteristics of each country could result in different effects on poverty and inequality. We find a significant increase on poverty headcount ranging from 25% to 33% percent in our different estimations. The results show heterogeneity on the exposure to the shocks. Two main factors explain differences across countries: their level of specialization in activities labeled as essential (e.g., agriculture, public sector, food retail) and their level of employment protection and stability (i.e., type of contract and employment in larger firms). We find a higher vulnerability to the propagation of the shocks in countries with a bigger agricultural sector, and less vulnerability in countries with bigger firms, and lower informality. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Successful IVC thrombus extraction with the AngioVac device following five vessel coronary artery bypass graft: a case report | BACKGROUND: Inferior vena cava thrombosis is cited to be a complication of inferior vena cava filter placement and post coronary artery bypass surgery. Often only mild symptoms arise from these thrombi; however, due to the chronic nature of some thrombi and the recanalization process, more serious complications can arise. Although anticoagulation remains the gold standard of treatment, some patients are unable to be anticoagulated. In this case, we present a 65-year-old male who underwent IVC filter placement and open-heart surgery who later developed extensive femoral and iliocaval thrombosis leading to right heart failure, which required thrombus extraction with an AngioVac suction device. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a 65-year-old male who presented with bilateral pulmonary emboli with extensive right lower extremity deep vein thrombosis. Upon investigation he had ischemic heart disease and underwent a five-vessel coronary artery bypass for which he had an IVC filter placed preoperatively. On post operative day 3 to 4, he was decompensated and was diagnosed with an IVC thrombus. He progressed to right heart failure and worsening cardiogenic shock despite therapeutic anticoagulation and was taken for a suction thrombectomy using the AngioVac (AngioDynamics, Latham, NY) aspiration thrombectomy device. The thrombectomy was successful and he was able to recover and was discharged from the hospital. CONCLUSION: Despite being a rare complication, IVC thrombosis can have detrimental effects. This case is an example of how IVC thrombus in the post-operative setting can lead to mortality. The gold standard is therapeutic anticoagulation but despite that, this patient continued to have worsening cardiogenic shock. Other therapies have been described but because of its rarity, they are only described in case reports. This case shows that the AngioVac device is a successful treatment option for IVC thrombus and can have the possibility of future use. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
MicroRNAs and SARS-CoV-2 life cycle, pathogenesis, and mutations: biomarkers or therapeutic agents? | To date, proposed therapies and antiviral drugs have been failed to cure coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. However, at least two drug companies have applied for emergency use authorization with the United States Food and Drug Administration for their coronavirus vaccine candidates and several other vaccines are in various stages of development to determine safety and efficacy. Recently, some studies have shown the role of different human and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathophysiology of COVID-19. miRNAs are non-coding single-stranded RNAs, which are involved in several physiological and pathological conditions, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and metabolism. They act as negative regulators of protein synthesis through binding to the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) of the complementary target mRNA, leading to mRNA degradation or inhibition. The databases of Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched for literature regarding the importance of miRNAs in the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle, pathogenesis, and genomic mutations. Furthermore, promising miRNAs as a biomarker or antiviral agent in COVID-19 therapy are reviewed. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Coronavirus escape from heptad repeat 2 (HR2)-derived peptide entry inhibition as a result of mutations in the HR1 domain of the spike fusion protein. | Peptides based on heptad repeat (HR) domains of class I viral fusion proteins are considered promising antiviral drugs targeting virus cell entry. We have analyzed the evolution of the mouse hepatitis coronavirus during multiple passaging in the presence of an HR2-based fusion inhibitor. Drug-resistant variants emerged as a result of multiple substitutions in the spike fusion protein, notably within a 19-residue segment of the HR1 region. Strikingly, one mutation, an A1006V substitution, which consistently appeared first in four independently passaged viruses, was the main determinant of the resistance phenotype, suggesting that only limited options exist for escape from the inhibitory effect of the HR2 peptide. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Association of viral load with serum biomakers among COVID-19 cases | Since SARS-CoV-2 spreads rapidly around the world, data have been needed on the natural fluctuation of viral load and clinical indicators associated with it. We measured and compared viral loads of SARS-CoV-2 from pharyngeal swab, IgM anti-SARS-CoV-2, CRP and SAA from serum of 114 COVID-19 patients on admission. Positive rates of IgM anti-SARS-CoV-2, CRP and SAA were 80.7%, 36% and 75.4% respectively. Among IgM-positive patients, viral loads showed different trends among cases with different severity, While viral loads of IgM-negative patients tended to increase along with the time after onset. As the worsening of severity, the positive rates of CRP and SAA also showed trends of increase. Different CRP/SAA type showed associations with viral loads in patients in different severity and different time after onset. Combination of the IgM and CRP/SAA with time after onset and severity may give suggestions on the viral load and condition judgment of COVID-19 patients. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
P034 State of Health Maintenance Among IBD Patients at a Tertiary Care Center in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. | BACKGROUND Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) affecting 6.8 million persons globally. Treatment of IBD focuses largely on immune suppression or modulation using corticosteroids, aminosalicylates, thiopurines, or biologic agents. These agents are effective but most of them pose a risk of infections, cancers, and osteoporosis. Many of these complications can be prevented by implementing vaccination, cancer screening, and bone health programs. Despite the progress in IBD care, recent data suggest that many IBD patients do not get preventative services. Previous studies have examined rates of vaccinations and other health maintenance metrics in North America and Europe where IBD patients are mainly of European and African descent. In comparison, Middle Eastern and Asian descent persons comprise the majority of the IBD population in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of United Arab Emirates (UAE), a major country in the Gulf region of the Middle East. Little is known to date about the state of IBD preventative care in this region. We sought to assess the proportion of patients with IBD that underwent recommended vaccinations, cancer screening (surveillance colonoscopy, PAP smear, annual skin examination), and bone health evaluation at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), the largest tertiary care hospital in Abu Dhabi. METHODS This study was a retrospective case series of adult IBD patients (>18 years) seen in the outpatient setting at SSMC from 2019 to 2020. Patients were identified based on ICD-10 codes for IBD [K50.90, K50.00, K51.90, and K50.80] as well as administrative/pharmacy records of the IBD agents (e.g. infliximab). Proportions were assessed using simple summary statistics and one sample proportion 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS A total of 55 IBD patients were identified in our study with the majority being males (76.3%). The mean age was 31.6 years. Sixty-nine percent had Crohn's. Most of the patients were on infliximab (58.1%), followed by vedolizumab, ustekinumab, and adalimumab. The proportion of patients who received vaccinations was as follows; HAV (67%, 95% CI 28-100%), HBV (50%, 95% CI 28-72%), pneumococcal 23 (20%, 95% CI 9.4-31%), pneumococcal 13 (18.2%, 95% CI 8-28%) and influenza vaccine (16.4%, 95% CI 7-26%). Moreover, the study showed that the proportion of IBD patients who underwent recommended colonoscopy surveillance was 91% (95% CI 79-100%) and the proportion of women IBD patients who had recommended PAP smear was 30%, (95% CI 2-58%). Regarding bone health, the proportion who underwent DXA bone scans was 36%, (95% CI 24-49%) However, the compliance rate of the Tdap, HPV and Zoster vaccinations, and annual skin examination were poor warranting further quality improvement studies. CONCLUSION This study revealed that the state of health maintenance among IBD patients seen at our facility before 2021 was largely dismal. Efforts are being taken to improve the proportion of patients who receive recommended vaccinations including annual influenza, pneumococcal 13 and 23, HPV, Zoster, and COVID-19 vaccines. Furthermore, there is a focus on bone health and skin cancer examinations with plans to calculate, report, and publish health maintenance data annually. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Sensitive and specific monoclonal antibody-based capture enzyme immunoassay for detection of nucleocapsid antigen in sera from patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome. | A rapid antigen test for the diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is essential for control of this disease at the point of management. The nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is abundantly expressed in infected-cell culture filtrate as demonstrable by Western blotting using convalescent-phase sera from patients with SARS. We used monoclonal antibodies specifically directed against N protein to establish a sensitive antigen capture sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of SARS-CoV. The assay employed a mixture of three monoclonal antibodies for capture and rabbit polyclonal antibodies for detection of serum antigen in 32 cases of clinically probable SARS as defined by the World Health Organization during the epidemic in Guangzhou, China. Recombinant N protein was used as a standard to establish a detection sensitivity of approximated 50 pg/ml. The linear range of detection in clinical specimens was from 100 pg/ml to 3.2 ng/ml. Using a panel of sera collected at different points in time, the amount of circulating N antigen was found to peak 6 to 10 days after the onset of symptoms. The sensitivity of the assay was 84.6% in 13 serologically confirmed SARS patients with blood taken during the first 10 days after the onset of symptoms (11 of 13). The specificity of the assay was 98.5% in 1,272 healthy individuals (1,253 of 1,272). There was no cross-reaction with other human and animal coronaviruses in this assay. In conclusion, a sensitive and quantitative antigen capture ELISA was established for the early diagnosis and disease monitoring of SARS-CoV infection. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Ijtihad kemanusiaan mdmc dalam menghadapi pandemi COVID-19 di Indonesia | This study was conducted to determine the sociological impact of MDMCs humanitarian ijtihad in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. This research is qualitative by using a phenomenological study of the phenomenon under study, namely by expressing problems presenting data, analyzing data, and obtaining data through observation either through literature study or directly. The results of this study indicate that MDMCs social care and solidarity are marked by the establishment of the Muhammadiyah COVID-19 Command Center (MCCC) to fight the COVID-19 pandemic both medically and outside the medical realm. Muhammadiyah as a religiosity-based community organization takes on a responsible role in responding to the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic with several steps namely: revitalizing theological rituals cancelling the associations strategic agenda and engineering learning techniques. These steps are MDMCs humanitarian ijtihad transformed in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Toward an Accurate IR Remote Sensing of Body Temperature Radiometer Based on a Novel IR Sensing System Dubbed Digital TMOS | A novel uncooled thermal sensor based on a suspended transistor, fabricated in standard CMOS-SOI process, and released by dry etching, dubbed Digital TMOS, has been developed. Using the transistor as the sensing element has advantages in terms of internal gain, low power, low-cost technology, and high temperature sensitivity. A two channel radiometer, based on the new nano-metric CMOS-SOI-NEMS Technology, enables remote temperature sensing as well as emissivity sensing of the forehead and body temperatures of people, with high accuracy and high resolution. Body temperature is an indicator of human physiological activity and health, especially in pediatrics, surgery, and general emergency departments. This was already recognized in past pandemics such as SARS, EBOLA, and Chicken Flu. Nowadays, with the spread of COVID-19, forehead temperature measurements are used widely to screen people for the illness. Measuring the temperature of the forehead using remote sensing is safe and convenient and there are a large number of available commercial instruments, but studies show that the measurements are not accurate. The surface emissivity of an object has the most significant effect on the measured temperature by IR remote sensing. This work describes the achievements towards high–performance, low-cost, low power, mobile radiometry, to rapidly screen for fever to identify victims of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The main two aspects of the innovation of this study are the use of the new thermal sensor for measurements and the extensive modeling of this sensor. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Online Teaching During COVID-19: An Opinion Analysis of Student-Teachers | In the pandemic situation, students of all stages of education are facing number of problems to get education through online mode. If we talk about the teacher training institutes, the main purpose is to develop certain competencies among student- teachers to become good teachers through practical situation. Providing practical platform is impossible in this uncertain situation. Hence, to minimize the effect of this pandemic, online teaching learning process is continuing in every institution. But, sudden shift of teaching-learning process arises many questions in the mind of investigators such as how fare this online learning helpful for enhancing knowledge and skills among the student-teachers, what will be the opinion of students-teachers towards this teaching environment etc. To search the above curiosities the present study is conducted. For analyzing the opinion of student-teachers, total 150 student-teachers randomly selected from teacher training institutes of Odisha. The finding of the study revealed that student-teachers have favorable opinion towards online teaching during COVID-19 and there is no difference between the opinion of male and female student-teachers towards online teaching. Regarding the problems faced by students during online teaching are technical issues during online class such as connection issue, audio quality, video clarity etc., they are not able to afford a smart phone and its maintenance;and sometime they face health issues like eye pain, headache, fatigue etc. The study also suggested that teacher educators should try to minimize the issues face by students to access online teaching and should organize technology friendly program where the educators teach them how to use effectively online learning platform along with how to access e-material for their study. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Tocilizumab in the treatment of critical COVID-19 pneumonia | Background: The anti-interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibody tocilizumab has been proposed as a treatment for COVID-19 pneumonia although the efficacy remains unknown Methods: Patients with COVID-19 confirmed by nasal swab PCR for SARSCoV- 2 who were admitted to Stony Brook University Hospital in Suffolk County, New York between March 10th and April 2nd and received tocilizumab while undergoing mechanical ventilation in any intensive care unit were retrospectively analyzed from data available in the electronic medical record Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared to mechanically ventilated patients admitted during the same time period who received standard hospital protocol Results: Forty-five patients received tocilizumab compared to seventy controls Mean dose of tocilizumab given was 4 8mg/kg and mean time to receipt from initial intubation was 2 5 days Baseline demographic characteristics, inflammatory markers, treatment with corticosteroids, and SOFA scores were similar between the two cohorts (Table 1) Patients who received tocilizumab had significantly lower Charlson co-morbidity index (2 0 versus 3 0, p = 0 01) and higher temperature (38 7 C versus 38 2 C, p = 0 004) than controls There was no significant association between receipt of tocilizumab and the rate of extubation within fourteen days (44 4 percent versus 34 2 percent;OR = 1 53, 95% C I 0 71 - 3 30), discharge from hospital (51 1 percent versus 40 0 percent;OR = 1 568, 95% C I 0 737 - 3 337), or mortality (31 1 percent versus 41 4 percent;OR = 0 639, 95% C I 0 290 - 1 4407) (Table 2) Patients who were administered tocilizumab within two days of intubation had increased likelihood of extubation within fourteen days compared to those who were treated later (OR = 3 50, 95% C I 1 01 - 12 18) There was no observed increased risk of secondary infection in patients given tocilizumab (28 9 versus 25 7, OR = 1 1736, 95% C I = 0 507 - 2 714) Conclusion: Tocilizumab was not associated with a significant improvement in rate of extubation, hospital discharge, or reduction in mortality in this retrospective cohort study of mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 pneumonia Further studies are needed to determine whether earlier treatment may result in improved outcomes (Table Presented) | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Pemanfaatan digital history untuk pembelajaran sejarah lokal | This article aims to provide some reflections regarding instructional praxis in the midst of global pandemic and insights of digital history as an alternative solution that can be used for local history learning in this unprecedented situation. In doing so research problems were formulated, data (especially from peer-reviewed articles) were gathered, corroborated, presented, and discussed accordingly. This study finds that COVID-19 has changed the educational landscape worldwide including Indonesia. Given the unfortunate condition of the pandemic many educational institutions shifted their teaching and learning into online. It provides various challenges as well as opportunities to use various new digital media in education including digital history. Emerged in the late 20th century, digital history provides opportunities for history teachers or educators to use it as sources of history learning especially on local history. Using various primary sources available online teachers could design new instructional materials or project-based learning on local history. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus protein 7a interacts with hSGT() | Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) 7a is an accessory protein with no known homologues. In this study, we report the interaction of a SARS-CoV 7a and small glutamine-rich tetratricopeptide repeat-containing protein (SGT). SARS-CoV 7a and human SGT interaction was identified using a two-hybrid system screen and confirmed with interaction screens in cell culture and cellular co-localization studies. The SGT domain of interaction was mapped by deletion mutant analysis and results indicated that tetratricopeptide repeat 2 (aa 125-158) was essential for interaction. We also showed that 7a interacted with SARS-CoV structural proteins M (membrane) and E (envelope), which have been shown to be essential for virus-like particle formation. Taken together, our results coupled with data from studies of the interaction between SGT and HIV-1 vpu indicated that SGT could be involved in the life-cycle, possibly assembly of SARS-CoV. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Leisure and Productivity in Older Adults with Cancer: A Systematic Review | Introduction: Self-care, leisure, and productivity are important occupational domains for older adults' quality of life, which might be affected by cancer and its treatment. A great number of publications about older adults focus on function or self-care, so we aimed to analyse how cancer and its treatments affect leisure and productivity. Secondary objectives were to identify whether particular clinical and/or sociodemographic factors were associated with occupational disruptions and to assess the impact of rehabilitation approaches on leisure and productivity in this population. Methods: A systematic review of the 2009-2019 literature performed on Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Results: 1471 publications were retrieved: 48 full texts were assessed; seven of these (four cross-sectional studies, two cohort studies, and a case report) were reviewed, including data on 16668 people (12649 healthy controls, 3918 cancer survivors, and 101 ill patients). Older adults with comorbidities and a low level of activity before cancer diagnosis may be more at risk of occupational disruptions. However, studies focused more on physical activity than leisure and productivity. Two studies mentioned occupational therapy. Discussion. As cancer can become a chronic disease, it appears important to also offer occupation-centred assessments and follow-up. Conclusion: An occupation-centred approach could be developed; its effectiveness must be assessed. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Tool for Estimating the Probability of Having COVID-19 With 1 or More Negative RT-PCR Results | Early case detection and isolation of infected individuals are critical to controlling coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, but false negatives do occur. We built a user-friendly online tool to estimate the probability of having COVID-19 with negative RT-PCR results and thus avoid preventable transmission. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Magneto-Optical Nanostructures for Viral Sensing | The eradication of viral infections is an ongoing challenge in the medical field, as currently evidenced with the newly emerged Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) associated with severe respiratory distress. As treatments are often not available, early detection of an eventual infection and its level becomes of outmost importance. Nanomaterials and nanotechnological approaches are increasingly used in the field of viral sensing to address issues related to signal-to-noise ratio, limiting the sensitivity of the sensor. Superparamagnetic nanoparticles (MPs) present one of the most exciting prospects for magnetic bead-based viral aggregation assays and their integration into different biosensing strategies as they can be easily separated from a complex matrix containing the virus through the application of an external magnetic field. Despite the enormous potential of MPs as capture/pre-concentrating elements, they are not ideal with regard of being active elements in sensing applications as they are not the sensor element itself. Even though engineering of magneto-plasmonic nanostructures as promising hybrid materials directly applicable for sensing due to their plasmonic properties are often used in sensing, to our surprise, the literature of magneto-plasmonic nanostructures for viral sensing is limited to some examples. Considering the wide interest this topic is evoking at present, the different approaches will be discussed in more detail and put into wider perspectives for sensing of viral disease markers. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Drift and termination of spiral waves in optogenetically modified cardiac tissue at sub-threshold illumination | The development of new approaches to control cardiac arrhythmias requires a deep understanding of spiral wave dynamics. Optogenetics offers new possibilities for this. Preliminary experiments show that sub-threshold illumination affects electrical wave propagation in the mouse heart. However, a systematic exploration of these effects is technically challenging. Here, we use state-of-the-art computer models to study the dynamic control of spiral waves in a two-dimensional model of the adult mouse ventricle, using stationary and non-stationary patterns of sub-threshold illumination. Our results indicate a light-intensity-dependent increase in cellular resting membrane potentials, which together with diffusive cell-cell coupling leads to the development of spatial voltage gradients over differently illuminated areas. A spiral wave drifts along the positive gradient. These gradients can be strategically applied to ensure drift-induced termination of a spiral wave, both in optogenetics and in conventional methods of electrical defibrillation. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
The possible double-edged sword effects of vitamin D on COVID-19: A hypothesis | Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) gains access to host cells by attaching to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Vitamin D (VitD) can upregulate ACE2 and has an antagonistic effect on Renin, which exerts a vasodilatation and anti-inflammatory effect against coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, it may also facilitate viral entry by increasing ACE2 as the main SARS-CoV-2 receptor and mediates ROS production through NADPH oxidase, as a double-edged sword effect. Lung function and the immune system are also influenced by VitD through several mechanisms, including increased natural antibiotics (Defensin and Cathelicidin) and upregulated transforming growth factor-ß. A higher IgA, Th2/Th1 ratio, and T-regulatory cells are attributable to VitD effects on the immune cells, while these changes may also be a double-edged sword in COVID-19. Although VitD supplementation might be highly recommended in COVID-19, the administration's dosage and route could be challenging. Furthermore, this issue has not been mentioned in various studies so far. So, the report aimed to explain the current challenges with the application of VitD in COVID-19. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Coping With and Adapting to COVID-19 in Rural United States and Canada | Guidelines aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 resulted in major changes in people’s lives A cross-sectional online survey, completed by 1,405 adults in Canada and the United States in June 2020, found respondents from rural areas/small towns reported better coping and adjustment (i e , less use of substances for support), less personal impact, less life disruption, and fewer challenges with transportation and health care, than urban and suburban respondents Those in rural areas were less likely to use the newspaper, but more likely to use social media, for information Finally, rural respondents reported higher levels of support for their national leadership’s response to the pandemic The needs and strengths of rural areas, as well as approaches to serve rural areas are discussed © The Author(s) 2021 | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Nanodispersions of Polyelectrolytes Based on Humic Substances: Isolation, Physico-Chemical Characterization and Evaluation of Biological Activity | Natural polyelectrolytes, including in the form of complexes with colloidal particles, are increasingly used in pharmacy due to the possibility of regulated attachment of medicinal substances and their targeted delivery to the target organ. However, the formation, stability, and molecular-mass characteristics of polyelectrolyte nanodispersions (ND) vary depending on the nature and composition of the medium of their origin. This is due to the lack of standardized approaches to quality control and regulatory documentation for most natural ND. In this paper, we first introduced the isolation, followed by investigations into their physico-chemical properties and bioactivity. Using the dried droplet method, we were able to detect the “coffee ring effect”. Fractographic studies of the surface structure of EHA and FA dried samples using SEM showed its heterogeneity and the presence of submicron particles encapsulated in the internal molecular cavities of polyelectrolyte. FTIR spectroscopy revealed the ND chemical structure of benzo-α-pyron and benzo-γ-pyron, consisting of nanoparticles and a branched frame part. The main elements detected by X-ray fluorescence in humic substance extract and fulvic acid include Si, P, S, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, whereas Fe is in high concentrations. The UV-spectra and fluorescent radiation demonstrated the possibility of studying the effect of the fulvate chromone structure on its optical properties. It is shown that dilution of the initial solutions of polyelectrolytes 1:10 contributes to the detection of smaller nanoparticles and an increase in the absolute value of the negative ζ-potential as a factor of ND stability. A study of the EHS effect on the SARS-CoV-2 virus infectious titer in the Vero E6 cell showed the effective against virus both in the virucidal scheme (the SI is 11.90–22.43) and treatment/prevention scheme (the SI is 34.85–57.33). We assume that polyelectrolyte ND prevent the binding of the coronavirus spike glycoprotein to the receptor. Taking into account the results obtained, we expect that the developed approach can become unified for the standardization of the ND natural polyelectrolytes complex, which has great prospects for use in pharmacy and medicine as a drug with antiviral activity. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Corporate Social Responsibility and Reciprocity Relations during Covid-19 * | This research work opens an interpretative view on corporate social responsibility (CSR) during an unexpected emergency reality and latent environmental collapse as a strategy to survive. The investigation approach follows the lines of a field analysis survey based on 288 consumers before (n=80) and during the spread of Covid-19 (n=208). The study aims to provide paradigms and interpretations of evidence-based CSR as a balanced reciprocity relationship in coping emergencies;this necessarily moved the authors to investigate the relationship transversally, examining the role of budgeting and its repercussions on well-being by hierarchical leadership. Specifically, the authors investigate the existence ofpossible niches of actions based on cooperative and responsible operations during emergencies. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Risk of rapid evolutionary escape from biomedical interventions targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein | The spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 is the molecular target for many vaccines and antibody-based prophylactics aimed at bringing COVID-19 under control. Such a narrow molecular focus raises the specter of viral immune evasion as a potential failure mode for these biomedical interventions. With the emergence of new strains of SARS-CoV-2 with altered transmissibility and immune evasion potential, a critical question is this: how easily can the virus escape neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) targeting the spike RBD? To answer this question, we combined an analysis of the RBD structure-function with an evolutionary modeling framework. Our structure-function analysis revealed that epitopes for RBD-targeting nAbs overlap one another substantially and can be evaded by escape mutants with ACE2 affinities comparable to the wild type, that are observed in sequence surveillance data and infect cells in vitro. This suggests that the fitness cost of nAb-evading mutations is low. We then used evolutionary modeling to predict the frequency of immune escape before and after the widespread presence of nAbs due to vaccines, passive immunization or natural immunity. Our modeling suggests that SARS-CoV-2 mutants with one or two mildly deleterious mutations are expected to exist in high numbers due to neutral genetic variation, and consequently resistance to vaccines or other prophylactics that rely on one or two antibodies for protection can develop quickly -and repeatedly- under positive selection. Predicted resistance timelines are comparable to those of the decay kinetics of nAbs raised against vaccinal or natural antigens, raising a second potential mechanism for loss of immunity in the population. Strategies for viral elimination should therefore be diversified across molecular targets and therapeutic modalities. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Boswellic acids/Boswellia serrata extract as a potential COVID-19 therapeutic agent in the elderly | The most severe cases of COVID-19, and the highest rates of death, are among the elderly. There is an urgent need to search for an agent to treat the disease and control its progression. Boswellia serrata is traditionally used to treat chronic inflammatory diseases of the lung. This review aims to highlight currently published research that has shown evidence of potential therapeutic effects of boswellic acids (BA) and B. serrata extract against COVID-19 and associated conditions. We reviewed the published information up to March 2021. Studies were collected through a search of online electronic databases (academic libraries such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Egyptian Knowledge Bank). Several recent studies reported that BAs and B. serrata extract are safe agents and have multiple beneficial activities in treating similar symptoms experienced by patients with COVID-19. Because of the low oral bioavailability and improvement of buccal/oral cavity hygiene, traditional use by chewing B. serrata gum may be more beneficial than oral use. It is the cheapest option for a lot of poorer people. The promising effect of B. serrata and BA can be attributed to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, cardioprotective, anti-platelet aggregation, antibacterial, antifungal, and broad antiviral activity. B. serrata and BA act by multiple mechanisms. The most common mechanism may be through direct interaction with IκB kinases and inhibiting nuclear factor-κB-regulated gene expression. However, the most recent mechanism proposed that BA not only inhibited the formation of classical 5-lipoxygenase products but also produced anti-inflammatory LOX-isoform-selective modulators. In conclusion a small to moderate dose B. serrata extract may be useful in the enhancing adaptive immune response in mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19. However, large doses of BA may be beneficial in suppressing uncontrolled activation of the innate immune response. More clinical results are required to determine with certainty whether there is sufficient evidence of the benefits against COVID-19. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Astrovirus Outbreak in an Animal Shelter Associated With Feline Vomiting | An outbreak of cat vomiting was observed in an animal shelter. Testing for known enteric feline pathogens did not identify a causative agent. Viral metagenomics on four mini pools of feces from cases and controls housed in the same area revealed the presence of feline astrovirus in all pools. Also found with fewer reads in one pool each were rotavirus I, carnivore bocaparvovirus 3, norovirus (NoV) GVI, and a novel dependovirus. The genome of the highly prevalent astrovirus was sequenced and classified into mamastrovirus species two, also known as feline astrovirus. Real-time RT-PCR on longitudinally acquired fecal samples from 11 sick cases showed 10 (91%) to be shedding astrovirus for as long as 19 days. Affected cats were sick for an average of 9.8 days, with a median of 2.5 days (range = 1–31 days). Unaffected control cats housed in the same areas during the outbreak showed five out of nine (56%) to also be shedding astrovirus. Feline fecal samples collected from the same animal shelter ~1 year before (n = 8) and after (n = 10) showed none to be shedding astrovirus, indicating that this virus was temporarily associated with the vomiting outbreak and is not part of the commensal virome for cats in this shelter. Together with the absence of highly prevalent known pathogens, our results support a role for feline astrovirus infection, as well as significant asymptomatic shedding, in an outbreak of contagious feline vomiting. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
The Ubiquitin-Conjugating System: Multiple Roles in Viral Replication and Infection | Through the combined action of ubiquitinating and deubiquitinating enzymes, conjugation of ubiquitin to a target protein acts as a reversible post-translational modification functionally similar to phosphorylation. Indeed, ubiquitination is more and more recognized as a central process for the fine regulation of many cellular pathways. Due to their nature as obligate intracellular parasites, viruses rely on the most conserved host cell machineries for their own replication. Thus, it is not surprising that members from almost every viral family are challenged by ubiquitin mediated mechanisms in different steps of their life cycle and have evolved in order to by-pass or exploit the cellular ubiquitin conjugating system to maximize their chance to establish a successful infection. In this review we will present several examples of the complex interplay that links viruses and the ubiquitin conjugation machinery, with a special focus on the mechanisms evolved by the human immunodeficiency virus to escape from cellular restriction factors and to exit from infected cells. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Une maladie cardio-vasculaire et un diabète sont des facteurs de mortalité au cours du SRAS J.W.M. Chan C.K. | Unknown | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Pandemic reemergence and four waves of excess mortality coinciding with the 1918 influenza pandemic in Michigan: insights for COVID-19. (Special Issue: COVID-19 & history.) | The global influenza pandemic that emerged in 1918 has become the event of reference for a broad spectrum of policymakers seeking to learn from the past This article sheds light on multiple waves of excess mortality that occurred in the US state of Michigan at the time with insights into how epidemics might evolve and propagate across space and time We analyzed original monthly data on all-cause deaths by county for the 83 counties of Michigan and interpreted the results in the context of what is known about the pandemic Counties in Michigan experienced up to four waves of excess mortality over a span of two years, including a severe one in early 1920 Some counties experienced two waves in late 1918 while others had only one The 1920 wave propagated across the state in a different manner than the fall and winter 1918 waves The twin waves in late 1918 were likely related to the timing of the statewide imposition of a three-week social distancing order Michigan's experience holds sobering lessons for those who wish to understand how immunologically naive populations encounter novel viral pathogens | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Variable inhibition of unwinding rates of DNA catalyzed by the SARS-Cov-2 (COV19) helicase nsp13 by structurally distinct single DNA lesions | The SARS 2 (Covid 19) helicase nsp13 plays a critically important role in the replication of the Corona virus by unwinding double-stranded RNA (and DNA) with a 5’⟶3’ strand polarity. Here we explored the impact of single, structurally defined covalent DNA lesions on the helicase activity of nsp13 in aqueous solutions, The objectives were to derive mechanistic insights into the relationships between the structures of DNA lesions, the DNA distortions that they engender, and the inhibition of helicase activity. The lesions included two bulky stereoisomeric N2-guanine adducts derived from the reactions of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide with DNA. The trans-adduct assumes a minor groove conformation, while the cis-product adopts a base-displaced intercalated conformation. The non-bulky DNA lesions included the intra-strand cross-linked thymine dimers, the cis-syn-cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer, and the pyrimidine (6−4) pyrimidone photoproduct. All four lesions strongly inhibit the helicase activity of nsp13, The UV photolesions feature a 2 - 5-fold smaller inhibition of the nsp13 unwinding activity than the bulky DNA adducts, and the kinetics of these two pairs of DNA lesions are also different. The connections between the structural features of these four DNA lesions and their impact on nsp13 unwinding efficiencies are discussed. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Viral Reproductive Pathogens of Dogs and Cats | This article reviews the current literature on the viral agents that cause reproductive failures in domestic carnivores (dogs and cats). A meaningful update is provided on the etiologic, clinical, pathologic, diagnostic, and prophylactic aspects of the viral infections impacting canine and feline reproduction as a consequence of either direct virus replication or severe debilitation of pregnant animals. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
First-in-human experience of the Bashir Endovascular Catheter in the treatment of iliocaval deep vein thrombosis. | Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common disorder affecting approximately 900,000 new patients in the United States each year. Although the mainstay of treatment of DVT patients is therapeutic anticoagulation, some patients remain significantly symptomatic and therefore require more advanced interventions such as catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT). We describe a case series of 13 patients with acute symptomatic inferior vena cava (IVC) and iliofemoral DVT that were treated with CDT using the Bashir Endovascular Catheter (BEC). We report the first-in-human use of BEC, which is a novel pharmacomechanical thrombolysis device. All the treated patients had complete and rapid resolution of their symptoms with excellent venous outflow. Despite initial promising results, larger studies using this catheter design will be needed to assess the role of BEC-directed therapy on rates of post-thrombotic syndrome and bleeding complications. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Outcome Disparities Among Men and Women With COVID-19: An Analysis of the New York City Population Cohort. | BACKGROUND Growing evidence suggests a possible sex disparity in COVID-19 disease related outcomes. OBJECTIVE To explore the sex disparity in COVID-19 cases and outcomes using New York City (NYC) population level data. SETTING NYC surveillance data from February 29 to June 12, 2020. PARTICIPANTS Individuals tested for COVID-19 in metropolitan NYC.Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis: Outcomes of interest included rates of COVID-19 case positivity, hospitalization and death. Relative risks and case fatality rates were computed for all outcomes based on sex and were stratified by age groups. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS 911,310 individuals were included, of whom 434,273 (47.65%) were male and 477,037 (52.35%) were female. Men represented the majority of positive cases (n=106,275, 51.36%), a majority of hospitalizations (n=29,847, 56.44%), and a majority of deaths (n=13,054, 59.23%). Following population level adjustments for age and sex, testing rates of men and women were equivalent. The majority of positive cases and hospitalizations occurred in men for all age groups except age >75 years, and death was more likely in men of all age groups. Men were at a statistically significant greater relative risk of case positivity, hospitalization, and death across all age groups except those <18 years of age. The most significant difference for case positivity was observed in the 65–74 age group (RR 1.22, 95%CI 1.19–1.24), for hospitalization in the 45–65 age group (RR 1.85, 95% 1.80–1.90), and for death in the 18–44 age group (RR 3.30, 95% CI 2.82–3.87). Case fatality rates were greater for men in all age-matched comparisons to women. Limitations include the use of an evolving surveillance data set and absence of further demographic characteristics such as ethnographic data. CONCLUSION Men have higher rates of COVID-19 positivity, hospitalization, and death despite greater testing of women; this trend remains after stratification by age. J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(10):960-967. doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.5590. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Adoption of Digital Pathology in Developing Countries: From Benefits to Challenges | Digital pathology and the use of artificial intelligence constitute undisputedly the future of modern pathology. The outcomes and benefits of the whole slide imaging are beyond the scope of traditional microscopy, which the pathologists were using for decades. COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the importance of digital pathology as it offers the pathologists to work from their place of comfort and bridges the gap of physical barriers. In addition to the many advantages, there are certain limitations and challenges, which have to be overcomed particularly in the developing world. The major issue is the cost of scanners and technical support and training of staff. However, despite all these problems and challenges that exist, these can be resolved with the passage of time, where the role of world leader organisations will be of great importance in resolving these challenges. Key Words: Digital pathology, Artificial intelligence, Whole slide imaging. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Is late treatment with acetaminophen safe and effective in avoiding surgical ligation among extremely preterm neonates with persistent patent ductus arteriosus? | OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the association of late treatment with acetaminophen vs. immediate surgical ligation with death or neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) among extremely low gestational age neonates (ELGANs) with persistent patent ductus arteriosus (pPDA). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective comparative epoch study of ELGANs with pPDA being considered for surgical ligation. ELGANs in epoch 1 (2009–2012) were referred for ligation, while infants in epoch 2 (2012–2015) were treated with oral acetaminophen and referred for ligation in the absence of improvement. The primary outcome was a composite of death/NDI at 18–24 months. RESULTS: Ninety-two ELGANs with median[IQR] GA 25.2 weeks [24.4, 26.3] had pPDA (43 in epoch 1, 49 in -epoch 2) with acetaminophen-exposed neonates receiving 7 days [7, 7] of treatment. ELGANs in epoch 2 had reduced ligation (aOR 0.30; 95%CI: [0.11, 0.87]), but there was no difference in death/NDI (aOR 1.03; 95%CI: [0.30, 3.56]). CONCLUSIONS: Late treatment with acetaminophen to avoid surgery for pPDA is associated with reduced ligation but no difference in death/NDI, supporting the safety and effectiveness of this approach. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Observations about Symptomatic and Asymptomatic infections of 494 patients with COVID-19 in Shanghai,China | BACKGROUND: Humans are generally susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, which has caused a global pandemic of COVID-19. The screening of infected people in the population still mainly depends on clinical symptoms. However, there is limited research on the characteristics of clinical symptoms in different populations, especially in imported cases. METHODS: To retrospectively analyze the clinical data of 494 confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to a designated hospital in Shanghai from January 20, 2020, to March 31, 2020, we compared the clinical manifestations in different populations and their influencing factors in COVID-19 patients. RESULTS: (1) Of the 494 patients, 453 (91.7%) had different symptoms at admission, and 39 (7.89%) patients were asymptomatic. (2) We compared the symptoms of patients according to different stratifications and found the following results: a. The proportion of dyspnea was significantly higher in male patients than in female patients (P < 0.05). b. The proportions of a stuffy nose, sore throat, and olfactory and gustatory dysfunction were significantly higher in children than in adult patients (P < 0.05). c. The proportions of fever, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and fatigue were significantly higher in local cases than in imported cases. In comparison, the proportions of nasal congestion, stuffy nose, sore throat, headache, and olfactory and gustatory dysfunction were significantly lower in imported cases than in imported cases (P < 0.05). d. The proportions of chest tightness, shortness of breath, and dyspnea were significantly higher in severely ill patients than in those with mild symptoms (P < 0.05). (3) Thirty-one asymptomatic patients were significantly younger than symptomatic patients, and they had a higher proportion of imported cases, white blood cell (WBC) and lymphocyte (LYM) count levels, and fewer abnormal CT cases than the group of symptomatic patients (P < 0.05). (4) The number of days since the onset of the disease needed for the symptoms to disappear was associated with the epidemiological history (imported cases), the number of days until the pharyngeal swab nucleic acid test turned negative, the days of hospitalization, the days of onset, and the WBC and LYM count levels (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The majority of COVID-19 patients (91.7%) had early symptoms. whereas 7.89% of COVID-19 patients were asymptomatic. Younger patients had fewer symptoms, mainly the upper respiratory symptoms, and the illness condition was milder, which was more common in imported cases. Elderly male patients had severe symptoms when admitted. The number of days needed for the patient's symptoms to disappear was closely related to the number of days necessary for the pharyngeal swab nucleic acid test to turn negative. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
MHC-II constrains the natural neutralizing antibody response to the SARS-CoV-2 spike RBM in humans | SARS-CoV-2 antibodies develop within two weeks of infection, but wane relatively rapidly post-infection, raising concerns about whether antibody responses will provide protection upon re-exposure. Here we revisit T-B cooperation as a prerequisite for effective and durable neutralizing antibody responses centered on a mutationally constrained RBM B cell epitope. T-B cooperation requires co-processing of B and T cell epitopes by the same B cell and is subject to MHC-II restriction. We evaluated MHC-II constraints relevant to the neutralizing antibody response to a mutationally-constrained B cell epitope in the receptor binding motif (RBM) of the spike protein. Examining common MHC-II alleles, we found that peptides surrounding this key B cell epitope are predicted to bind poorly, suggesting a lack MHC-II support in T-B cooperation, impacting generation of high-potency neutralizing antibodies in the general population. Additionally, we found that multiple microbial peptides had potential for RBM cross-reactivity, supporting previous exposures as a possible source of T cell memory. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Is Persistent Thick Copious Mucus a Long-Term Symptom of COVID-19? | Introduction The typical clinical picture of COVID-19 is gradually becoming clearer, both in the acute phase and in the long-term. However, new symptoms are gradually being identified. We describe a long-term symptom that has not yet been reported. Case description A 49-year-old man consulted for persistent asthenia. The general practitioner found a fever (39.2°C), and COVID-19 was confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction test. Further symptoms appeared, notably thick, white, painless tracheal hypersecretion for 3 months before diminishing, without disappearing. Conclusion Non-inflammatory tracheal hypersecretion, not yet reported in COVID-19, may be an additional long-term symptom. The hyperstimulation of tracheal goblet cells secreting mucus is 1 pathophysiological hypothesis. LEARNING POINTS Painless, non-inflammatory tracheal hypersecretion, which has yet to be described in post-acute COVID-19, may be an additional long-term symptom of the disease.The hyperstimulation of mucus-secreting tracheal goblet cells by the coronavirus, leading to tracheal discomfort and a feeling of suffocation, is 1 pathophysiological hypothesis. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Radiologists in the loop: the roles of radiologists in the development of AI applications | OBJECTIVES: To examine the various roles of radiologists in different steps of developing artificial intelligence (AI) applications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Through the case study of eight companies active in developing AI applications for radiology, in different regions (Europe, Asia, and North America), we conducted 17 semi-structured interviews and collected data from documents. Based on systematic thematic analysis, we identified various roles of radiologists. We describe how each role happens across the companies and what factors impact how and when these roles emerge. RESULTS: We identified 9 roles that radiologists play in different steps of developing AI applications: (1) problem finder (in 4 companies); (2) problem shaper (in 3 companies); (3) problem dominator (in 1 company); (4) data researcher (in 2 companies); (5) data labeler (in 3 companies); (6) data quality controller (in 2 companies); (7) algorithm shaper (in 3 companies); (8) algorithm tester (in 6 companies); and (9) AI researcher (in 1 company). CONCLUSIONS: Radiologists can play a wide range of roles in the development of AI applications. How actively they are engaged and the way they are interacting with the development teams significantly vary across the cases. Radiologists need to become proactive in engaging in the development process and embrace new roles. KEY POINTS: • Radiologists can play a wide range of roles during the development of AI applications. • Both radiologists and developers need to be open to new roles and ways of interacting during the development process. • The availability of resources, time, expertise, and trust are key factors that impact how actively radiologists play roles in the development process. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00330-021-07879-w. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Engineering protease-resistant peptides to inhibit human parainfluenza viral respiratory infection | The lower respiratory tract infections affecting children worldwide are in large part caused by the parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs), particularly HPIV3, along with human metapneumovirus and respiratory syncytial virus, enveloped negative-strand RNA viruses. There are no vaccines for these important human pathogens, and existing treatments have limited or no efficacy. Infection by HPIV is initiated by viral glycoprotein-mediated fusion between viral and host cell membranes. A viral fusion protein (F), once activated in proximity to a target cell, undergoes a series of conformational changes that first extend the trimer subunits to allow insertion of the hydrophobic domains into the target cell membrane, and then refold the trimer into a stable postfusion state, driving the merger of the viral and host cell membranes. Lipopeptides derived from the C-terminal heptad repeat (HRC) domain of HPIV3 F inhibit infection by interfering with the structural transitions of the trimeric F assembly. Clinical application of this strategy, however, requires improving the in vivo stability of antiviral peptides. We show that the HRC peptide backbone can be modified via partial replacement of α-amino acid residues with β-amino acid residues to generate α/β-peptides that retain antiviral activity but are poor protease substrates. Relative to a conventional α-lipopeptide, our best α/β-lipopeptide exhibits improved persistence in vivo and improved anti-HPIV3 antiviral activity in animals. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Exploring community perceptions, attitudes and practices regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in Karachi, Pakistan | BACKGROUND: The Government of Pakistan is facing difficulty to contain the surge of COVID-19 due to the country’s social, political, economical and cultural context. Experiences from the previous epidemic suggest that community perceptions, social norms and cultural practices can impede COVID-19 containment. To understand social responses towards COVID-19, the study aims to explore the understanding of COVID-19 and the acceptance of control measures among community members. METHODS: We conducted an exploratory qualitative study using a purposive sampling approach, at two communities of Karachi, Pakistan. In-depth interviews were conducted with community members including, young, middle-aged and older adults of both genders. Study data were analysed manually using the conventional content analysis technique. RESULTS: A total of 27 in-depth virtual interviews were conducted, between May and June 2020. Six overarching themes were identified: (1) community knowledge and perceptions around COVID-19; (2) trusted and preferred sources of health information; (3) initial thoughts and feeling towards COVID-19 pandemic; (4) community practices to prevent exposure from COVID-19; (5) perceived risks associated with poor adherence to infection control practices; and (6) future preparedness of community to avoid the second wave of the outbreak. Generally, community members had good knowledge about COVID-19, and positive behaviour and attitude towards using standard precautions. The knowledge is mainly acquired through electronic, print and social media platforms, which have pros and cons. However, some community members including younger individuals had poor adherence to safety measures. This may necessitate concentrated efforts to raise awareness through community mobilisation and sensitisation activities. CONCLUSION: This study provides an initial evidence base of communities’ perceptions, and attitudes towards COVID-19 in an early stage of pandemic. The study emphasises that sufficient knowledge and awareness about COVID-19, adequate training and drills, and adherence to safety measures, are necessary to better prepare for the second wave of COVID-19. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
An evolutionary approach to systematic discovery of novel deubiquitinases, applied to Legionella | Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are important regulators of the posttranslational protein ubiquitination system. Mammalian genomes encode about hundred different DUBs, which can be grouped into seven different classes. Members of other DUB classes are found in pathogenic bacteria, which use them to target the host defense. By combining bioinformatical and experimental approaches, we address the question if the known DUB families have a common evolutionary ancestry and share conserved features that set them apart from other proteases. By systematically comparing family-specific Hidden-Markov-Models, we uncovered distant relationships between established DUBs and other cysteine protease families. Most DUB families share a conserved aromatic residue linked to the active site, which restricts the cleavage of substrates with sidechains at the S2 position, corresponding to Gly-75 in ubiquitin. By applying these criteria to Legionella pneumophila ORFs, we identified lpg1621 and lpg1148 as deubiquitinases, characterized their cleavage specificities, and confirmed the importance of the aromatic gatekeeper motif for substrate selection. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
The Interrelation of Neurological and Psychological Symptoms of COVID-19: Risks and Remedies | COVID-19 has catastrophically affected the world's panoramic view of human well-being in terms of healthcare and management. With the increase in the number of cases worldwide, neurological symptoms and psychological illnesses from COVID-19 have increasingly upsurged. Mental health illness and affective disorders, including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, phobia, and panic disorders, are highly impacted due to social distress. The COVID-19 pandemic not only affected people with pre-existing mental and affective illnesses, but also healthy individuals with anxiety, worrying, and panic symptoms, and fear conditioning. In addditon, the novel coronavirus is known to impact the central nervous system in the brain, resulting in severe and certain long-lasting neurological issues. Owing to the significance of neurological and psychological events, the present perspective has been an attempt to disseminate the impact of COVID-19 on neural injury through inflammation, and its interrelation with psychological symptoms. In this current review, we synthesize the literature to highlight the critical associations between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the nervous system, and mental health illness, and discuss potential mechanisms of neural injury through psycho-neuroimmunity. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
A novel method for peanut variety identification and classification by Improved VGG16 | Crop variety identification is an essential link in seed detection, phenotype collection and scientific breeding. This paper takes peanut as an example to explore a new method for crop variety identification. Peanut is a crucial oil crop and cash crop. The yield and quality of different peanut varieties are different, so it is necessary to identify and classify different peanut varieties. The traditional image processing method of peanut variety identification needs to extract many features, which has defects such as intense subjectivity and insufficient generalization ability. Based on the deep learning technology, this paper improved the deep convolutional neural network VGG16 and applied the improved VGG16 to the identification and classification task of 12 varieties of peanuts. Firstly, the peanut pod images of 12 varieties obtained by the scanner were preprocessed with gray-scale, binarization, and ROI extraction to form a peanut pod data set with a total of 3365 images of 12 varieties. A series of improvements have been made to VGG16. Remove the F6 and F7 fully connected layers of VGG16. Add Conv6 and Global Average Pooling Layer. The three convolutional layers of conv5 have changed into Depth Concatenation and add the Batch Normalization(BN) layers to the model. Besides, fine-tuning is carried out based on the improved VGG16. We adjusted the location of the BN layers. Adjust the number of filters for Conv6. Finally, the improved VGG16 model's training test results were compared with the other classic models, AlexNet, VGG16, GoogLeNet, ResNet18, ResNet50, SqueezeNet, DenseNet201 and MobileNetv2 verify its superiority. The average accuracy of the improved VGG16 model on the peanut pods test set was 96.7%, which was 8.9% higher than that of VGG16, and 1.6–12.3% higher than that of other classical models. Besides, supplementary experiments were carried out to prove the robustness and generality of the improved VGG16. The improved VGG16 was applied to the identification and classification of seven corn grain varieties with the same method and an average accuracy of 90.1% was achieved. The experimental results show that the improved VGG16 proposed in this paper can identify and classify peanut pods of different varieties, proving the feasibility of a convolutional neural network in variety identification and classification. The model proposed in this experiment has a positive significance for exploring other Crop variety identification and classification. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Deceased COVID-19 Patients | OBJECTIVE: Fatalities due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continue to increase, and information on the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of deceased patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 is limited in the Arab region. The current study aimed to address this gap. METHODS: Three hundred and four Saudi patients in Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia, who died after being hospitalized with COVID-19 between July 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, were analyzed in this retrospective cohort study. RESULTS: A greater proportion of male patients (59%), compared to female patients (41%), died due to COVID-19. Just over half (55%) of the deaths due to COVID-19 affected patients aged ≥65 years. More than two-thirds of the deceased COVID-19 patients had diabetes (70%) and hypertension (69%); other comorbidities were obesity (30%), heart disease (30%), and chronic kidney disease (14%). Dyspnea (91%), cough (80%), and fever (70%) were the most frequently reported clinical symptoms. Eighty-five per cent of COVID-19 deaths occurred in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), and 90% of the patients required mechanical ventilation. Typically, lymphopenia, and neutrophilia were observed on admission and 24 hours prior to death. Creatinine and serum ferritin levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate and D-dimer plasma levels increased significantly following infection with COVID-19. Lung infiltrates and pulmonary opacity (83%) were the most common findings on chest X-ray. Respiratory failure (70%) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (52%) were the leading complications to death. Logistic and Cox regression revealed that a higher age, smoking, high creatinine and aspartate transaminase levels, and respiratory failure were significantly associated with the risk of mortality during the early stay in hospitals. CONCLUSION: The proportion of comorbidities was high in deceased patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. A higher age, smoking, and respiratory failure were significant predictors of mortality during the early stay in hospitals. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Cooperation and Security: Examining the Political Discourse on Natural Gas Transit in Ukraine and Slovakia | The COVID-19 pandemic appeared in the midst of developing the European Green Deal, the most ambitious project to decarbonise the EU’s economy to date Among other issues, the project highlighted the challenges connected to the long-term role of natural gas as a fossil fuel in the European economy Moreover, the changes to the gas architecture caused by the development of new import infrastructure (especially Nord Stream and its extension, which is currently under construction) put additional pressure on the transit countries, mainly of which are linked to the Brotherhood pipeline These have been strong supporters of natural gas utilisation and harsh critics of new pipelines that circumvent their territories, as they consider energy transit to be an important part of their energy sectors This research examines the political discourse on gas transit in Slovakia and Ukraine in order to identify the main arguments connected to these positions The paper examines a total of 233 textual units from both countries for the period 2014–2018 It concludes that, while Ukraine sees transit predominantly through the lens of cooperation with the EU and other actors, the Slovak political discourse considers gas transit in terms of energy security and the availability of gas for the national economy | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Mobilising evidence, data, and resources to achieve global maternal and child undernutrition targets and the Sustainable Development Goals: an agenda for action. | As the world counts down to the 2025 World Health Assembly nutrition targets and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, millions of women, children, and adolescents worldwide remain undernourished (underweight, stunted, and deficient in micronutrients), despite evidence on effective interventions and increasing political commitment to, and financial investment in, nutrition. The COVID-19 pandemic has crippled health systems, exacerbated household food insecurity, and reversed economic growth, which together could set back improvements in undernutrition across low-income and middle-income countries. This paper highlights how the evidence base for nutrition, health, food systems, social protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions has evolved since the 2013 Lancet Series on maternal and child nutrition and identifies the priority actions needed to regain and accelerate progress within the next decade. Policies and interventions targeting the first 1000 days of life, including some newly identified since 2013, require renewed commitment, implementation research, and increased funding from both domestic and global actors. A new body of evidence from national and state-level success stories in stunting reduction reinforces the crucial importance of multisectoral actions to address the underlying determinants of undernutrition and identifies key features of enabling political environments. To support these actions, well-resourced nutrition data and information systems are essential. The paper concludes with a call to action for the 2021 Nutrition for Growth Summit to unite global and national nutrition stakeholders around common priorities to tackle a large, unfinished undernutrition agenda-now amplified by the COVID-19 crisis. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Vaccine (public) diplomacy: legitimacy narratives in the pandemic age | This paper examines how China, United States, the European Union, and Russia deal with the COVID crisis creating a legitimacy narrative to promote their political projects and values. The counter-pandemic measures include the use of public diplomacy tools and the novelty of the vaccine. The results show that presidential overexposure, tweets, and the language of emotion are strong arguments in building an agenda of international relations. This finding highlights the impact of COVID-19 on political leadership and public governance. Pandemics contributed to the deinstitutionalisation of public diplomacy. The paper offers a comparative view on the use of strategic narratives for foreign policy objectives. Political communication has performative effects on the international order to the extent to which an action has political consequences. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Correlation of population SARS-CoV-2 cycle threshold values to local disease dynamics: An exploratory observational study | BACKGROUND: Despite limitations on the use of cycle threshold (CT) values for individual patient care, population distributions of CT values may be useful indicators of local outbreaks. OBJECTIVE: Conduct an exploratory analysis of potential correlations between the population distribution of cycle threshold (CT) values and COVID-19 disease dynamics, operationalized as percent positivity, transmission rate and COVID-19 hospitalizations. METHODS: 148,410 specimens collected between September 15th, 2020 and January 11th, 2021 from the greater El Paso area were processed in the Dascena COVID-19 Laboratory. Daily median CT value, daily transmission rate R(t), daily count of COVID-19 hospitalizations, daily change in percent positivity, and rolling averages of these features were plotted over time. Two-way scatterplots and linear regression evaluated possible associations between daily median CT and outbreak measures. Cross-correlation plots determined whether a time delay existed between changes in the daily median CT value and measure of community disease dynamics. RESULTS: Daily median CT was negatively correlated with the daily R(t), the daily COVID-19 hospitalization count (with a 33 day time delay), and the daily change in percent positivity among testing samples (p<.001 for all correlations). Despite visual trends suggesting time delays in the plots for median CT and outbreak measures, a statistically significant delay was only detected between changes in median CT and COVID-19 hospitalization count (p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to the literature by analyzing samples collected from an entire geographical area, and contextualizing the results with other research investigating population CT values. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Pharmacological inhibition of the kinin-kallikrein system in severe COVID-19 A proof-of-concept study | Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) can develop into a severe respiratory syndrome that results in up to 40% mortality. Acute lung inflammatory edema is a major pathological finding in autopsies explaining O2 diffusion failure and hypoxemia. Only dexamethasone has been shown to reduce mortality in severe cases, further supporting a role for inflammation in disease severity. SARS-CoV-2 enters cells employing angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a receptor, which is highly expressed in lung alveolar cells. ACE2 is one of the components of the cellular machinery that inactivates the potent inflammatory agent bradykinin, and SARS-CoV-2 infection could interfere with the catalytic activity of ACE2, leading to accumulation of bradykinin. In this open-label, randomized clinical trial, we tested two pharmacological inhibitors of the kinin-kallikrein system that are currently approved for the treatment of hereditary angioedema, icatibant and inhibitor of C1 esterase/kallikrein, in a group of 30 patients with severe COVID-19. Neither icatibant nor inhibitor of C1 esterase/kallikrein resulted in significant changes in disease mortality and time to clinical improvement. However, both compounds promoted significant improvement of lung computed tomography scores and increased blood eosinophils, which has been reported as an indicator of disease recovery. In this small cohort, we found evidence for a beneficial role of pharmacological inhibition of the kinin-kallikrein system in two markers that indicate improved disease recovery. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
REal Data Collection, Stratification and Utilization in Response to COVID-19 [video] | From the Video Description: "In this webinar, REaL Data Collection, Stratification and Utilization in Response to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], Jennifer H Mieres, M D , senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer;and Michael Wright, EdD, vice president, Diversity & Health Equity and Elizabeth McCulloch, PhD, assistant vice president, Diversity & Health Equity at Northwell Health share strategies on leveraging race, ethnicity and language (REaL) data collection, stratification and utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic " The duration of the video is 49 minutes and 54 seconds | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Assessing the Epidemic Potential of RNA and DNA Viruses | Many new and emerging RNA and DNA viruses are zoonotic or have zoonotic origins in an animal reservoir that is usually mammalian and sometimes avian. Not all zoonotic viruses are transmissible (directly or by an arthropod vector) between human hosts. Virus genome sequence data provide the best evidence of transmission. Of human transmissible virus, 37 species have so far been restricted to self-limiting outbreaks. These viruses are priorities for surveillance because relatively minor changes in their epidemiologies can potentially lead to major changes in the threat they pose to public health. On the basis of comparisons across all recognized human viruses, we consider the characteristics of these priority viruses and assess the likelihood that they will further emerge in human populations. We also assess the likelihood that a virus that can infect humans but is not capable of transmission (directly or by a vector) between human hosts can acquire that capability. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Differences in the Course of Physiological Functions and in Subjective Evaluations in Connection With Listening to the Sound of a Chainsaw and to the Sounds of a Forest | We explored differences in the course of physiological functions and in the subjective evaluations in response to listening to a 7-min recording of the sound of a chainsaw and to the sounds of a forest. A Biofeedback 2000x-pert apparatus was used for continual recording of the following physiological functions in 50 examined persons: abdominal and thoracic respiration and their amplitude and frequency, electrodermal activity (skin conductance level), finger skin temperature, heart rate (pulse, blood volume pulse and blood volume pulse amplitude) and heart rate variability (HRV). The group of 25 subjects listening to the sound of a chainsaw exhibited significantly lower values of blood volume pulse amplitude, lower values in peak alpha frequency HRV and higher values in peak high-frequency HRV. In the time interval from 80 s to 209 s, in which the two groups showed the greatest differences, lower values of blood volume pulse were also recorded while listening to the sound of a chainsaw. Listening to the sound of a chainsaw is associated with a greater feeling of fatigue and higher tension, while listening to the sounds of a forest is even considered to elicit feelings of improved learning abilities. The assumption that listening to the sound of a chainsaw results in higher defense arousal was confirmed. The greater variability which is exhibited by a majority of physiological functions while listening to the forest sounds may also be an innovative finding. It seems that there are two types of arousal (sympathetic and parasympathetic) following from correlations between physiological functions and subjective assessment. Low values of blood volume pulse amplitude are especially important from the health perspective. They correspond to the amount of vasoconstriction which occurs in the endothelial dysfunction related to increased mortality, incidence of myocardial infarction, leg atherosclerosis and topically to COVID-19. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Remote education: parents' challenges in teaching during the pandemic/ Educação remota: desafios de pais ensinantes na pandemia | Abstract Objectives: to characterize the teaching-learning process of children in early childhood taught by their parents and/or caregivers in remote educational mode, in different social contexts, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: a bibliographic study was carried out through a qualitative research in three VHL, Lilacs and Scielo databases. The descriptors Children, Pandemic, Caregivers, Distance education and Mental health were used. The sample was composed of 35 materials. Results: it was observed that countries presented problems in its educational system and that their situation also aggravated, such as in Brazil. Schools should try to mitigate the impact of the confinement, based on the recommendations that aim to consolidate what has been learned and interrupt the teaching of new content, eliminating the pressure on parents and guardians who assist students at this time. It is known that there is a lack of preparation of these caregivers, since the vast majority do not have materials or available time, because of home office, making remote learning difficult. The psychological impacts of remote learning - stress, fear, decreased performance and frustration are noticeable in everyone who is involved. Thus, the coping strategy focused on the problem can prevent the worsening of symptoms in mental health. Conclusion: it is expected to promote future reflections according to the theme through Psychology. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Clinical research post COVID-19: Embracing a new normal | The COVID-19 pandemic is a grave public health crisis, causing massive disruption to daily life. Dermatology clinical trials in psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and hidradenitis have been suspended, terminated, or otherwise disrupted. Clinical investigators need to embrace a COVID-19 new normal and adjust research procedures to mitigate the risk of transmitting SARS-CoV-2 and depleting personal protective equipment while maintaining scientific rigor. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |
Satisfaction Levels of Sport Sciences University Students in Online Workshops for Substituting Practice-Oriented Activities during the COVID-19 Lockdown | Laboratory teaching in sport and exercise sciences universities is of fundamental importance as it provides students with the necessary hands-on skills that are indispensable to future kinesiologists. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students in lockdown missed the opportunity to acquire laboratory skills. Here we report the solutions adopted by a blended exercise science Master’s degree program of an online Italian university to ensure didactic continuity in the practice-oriented activities during the period of the COVID-19 lockdown. In order to mitigate this issue, laboratory sessions were replaced with online workshops and students’ satisfaction levels in this regard were investigated in the present study using an online survey conducted on 101 students during lockdown. The survey consisted of 7-point Likert scale items focusing on computer usage (CU), learning satisfaction (LS), social interaction (SI), and perceived value (PV). The analysis of the results revealed a good level of learning satisfaction of the students. Conversely, students perceived a moderate level of social interaction and had a moderate perception that online workshops can enhance their learning abilities. In conclusion, the results of the present study seem to indicate that online workshops can be considered a good and acceptable compromise during an emergency, although face-to-face activities remain the preferable learning delivery modality when dealing with the acquisition of hands-on skills. | Please summerize the given abstract to a title |