Investigating drivers of qardhul hassan financing acceptance in the time of COVID-19: a Malaysian breadwinner perspective

Purpose - This study was conducted to examine factors that could determine breadwinners' willingness to accept qardhul hassan financing in the time of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Design/methodology/approach - Drawing upon 'Attitude, Social Influence and Self-Efficacy' (ASE) model, this study examined the effects of attitude, subjective influence and self-efficacy on qardhul hassan financing acceptance during the pandemic. The sample size was 294 respondents who were all breadwinners and sourced from group bottom 40 or B40 in Malaysia. Findings - The results obtained acknowledged that attitude, subjective influence and self-efficacy shaped the formation and development of breadwinners' acceptance to take up the facility during the pandemic at best for well-being. Research limitations/implications - Future studies should include samples from other geographies in Malaysia along with new variables relevant to extend the findings. Practical implications - The results obtained offer new action plans for Islamic social financial institutions to better plan the offered qardhul hassan financing to society at large. Originality/value - There are two originalities drawn from this study. First, this study is a pioneering work in Malaysia examining the importance of qardhul hassan financing in the time of COVID-19. Second, this study used the ASE model in examining the breadwinners' acceptability of the financing facility in meeting basic needs and requirements.

Smarter Movement Control Application

The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has devastated the entire globe in a short period of time and was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11th, 2020. It rapidly increased in fatality rate and has become an international public health crisis, culminating in social and economic calamity. However, mobile applications are being introduced globally to minimize the coronavirus's continuous spread by tracing people's circulation or mobility using digital software and smartphones. There is no digitally equipped tool that monitors the movement of the people, particularly in the public places. This work on Smarter Movement Control Application (SMCApp) aims to develop methods that will assist Malaysian people to move around with the aid of mobile tracing application. Therefore, the SMCApp was designed and developed as a mobile application software which stands to improve compliance with the mandated SOP measures across the country, as well as to provide digital support to those who wish to travel to various parts of the country. As a result, it is concluded that the usage of Smarter Movement Control Application (SMCApp) is hoped to bring about safe and effective movement of people throughout these two regions, as it will constantly alert individuals of any suspicious close-contact or the state of the location. Once the application is in effect, with at least 90% of users installing the App on their smartphones, it is projected to increase tranquility and elevate compliance with SOP measures. © 2022 IEEE.

Renal Profile of patients Diagnosed with Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) admitted in Tertiary Care Hospital

Aim: To assess the baseline renal profile of patients with COVID-19. Methods: It was a cross sectional study, conducted in hospitals of Rawalpindi Medical University from March to August 2020. Consecutive 169 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were enrolled. Patients with history of kidney disease were not included. Peripheral blood samples were analysed for renal functions on fully automated chemistry analyser. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) for every patient was calculated using two equations for chronic kidney disease epidemiology collaboration (CKD-EPI) and modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD). Results: Out of total 169 COVID-19 patients, 97(57%) were males 72(43%) were females. The mean age was 54.1±16.30 (18 to 92) years. A total of 96(57%) patients were below 60 years of age. Mean Urea, serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were found to be elevated in this study cohort with no statistically significant difference with respect to age and gender (P value >0.05). Scr was raised in 46(27%) while 113(67%) and 103 (62%) patients had elevated serum Urea and BUN respectively. eGFR of <60mL/min/1.73m2 was observed in 50(30%) of patients. Conclusion: Elevated mean Urea, Scr and BUN were observed in COVID 19 patients without any significant difference according to age and gender. Moderate to severe derangement in eGFR was noted in one third of COVID 19 patients.

Millennial loyalty in Halal tourism: a destination-based analysis. (Special Issue: COVID-19.)

This study seeks the answer to the proposed questions of past Halal tourism studies, namely how does loyalty form for Millennial Muslim tourists when they visit domestic or international destinations. The data for this study were collected from 432 Indonesian Muslim Millennials. Using partial least squares structural equation modelling, this research shows that Halal experience and attraction experience influence the perceived value, satisfaction, and loyalty of Muslim Millennial tourists. While Halal experience is considered to be an important factor in determining Millennial Muslim satisfaction when visiting domestic destinations, Halal experience is not considered as important when visiting international destinations. Further, perceived value, satisfaction and loyalty are more influenced by experience with tourism attractions than by Halal experience when visiting either domestic or international destinations.

Efficacy of Oral Decitabine/Cedazuridine (ASTX727) in the CMML Subgroup from the Ascertain Phase 3 Study

text: Background/Introduction: Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML) is an uncommon MDS/MPN overlap syndrome that has historically been included under the umbrella of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) for clinical trial and treatment. As a result, DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi) such as decitabine or azacitidine have been the established standard of care for the treatment of CMML. The oral bioavailability of these agents has been limited due to rapid degradation by cytidine deaminase (CDA) in the gut and liver so treatment has required intravenous infusion or subcutaneous injections daily for 5-7 days every month (m) adding significant burden to older cancer patients due to daily time commitment and travel to treatment centers. In the context of pandemic SARS-CoV-2, parenteral therapy also increases contact with medical settings with increased infection risk. Oral decitabine 35 mg/cedazuridine 100 mg (ASTX727) is an oral fixed dose combination of decitabine and the CDA inhibitor cedazuridine that produced equivalent exposure (99%;90% CI 93% to 106%) to IV decitabine 20 mg/m 2 in a randomized cross-over study (Garcia-Manero et al, ASH 2019), and Median overall survival (mOS) for the entire study population in the ASCERTAIN study was approximately 32 months (Savona, 2021). Here, we present outcome data for this study for the enrolled subpopulation of patients with CMML. Methods: We used a randomized cross over design in which patients were randomized in the first 2 cycles 1:1 to either Sequence A: (decitabine 35 mg/ cedazuridine 100 mg in Cycle 1 followed by IV decitabine at 20 mg/m 2 in Cycle 2), or Sequence B: (IV decitabine in Cycle 1 followed by oral decitabine/cedazuridine in Cycle 2). We conducted an intra-patient comparison of decitabine PK (primary PK endpoint: decitabine AUC equivalence over 5 days of dosing). Cycles were repeated every 28 days (unless delays were needed). All patients received oral decitabine/cedazuridine in Cycles 3 and above until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients were eligible per the FDA-approved label of IV decitabine (MDS patients by FAB classification including CMML, or MDS IPSS Intermediate-1, 2 or high-risk patients). Clinical endpoints were best response according to International Working Group (IWG) 2006 response criteria, transfusion independence for at least 8 or 16 consecutive weeks, overall survival, and safety. Adverse events (AEs) were graded by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v 4.03. Results: Of the 133 patients enrolled and treated in ASCERTAIN, 16 (12%) had a diagnosis of CMML with demographics and as follows: median age 71.5 years, 69% Male/31% Female, median weight 87kg (range 65-124), 25% ECOG 0, 75% ECOG 1. Population disease characteristics were: 19% poor or intermediate risk cytogenetics, with median baseline hemoglobin 90 g/L, neutrophils 1.27 X 10 9/L, platelets 84 x 10 9/L, bone marrow blasts 5%, with 38% RBC transfusion dependent. Patients received a median of 7 cycles of therapy (range 3-24). Treatment-emergent adverse events of CTCAE Grade 3 or higher in > 10% of patients, independent of relationship to ASTX727, were cytopenias (neutropenia [69%], thrombocytopenia [63%], anemia [56%], leukopenia [19%]), febrile neutropenia (31%), fatigue (13%). Two patients (12.5%) had Complete Responses (CR), 8 (50%) had marrow CR ([mCR], including 3 (19%) with hematologic improvement (HI);Overall Response rate (ORR) [CR + PR+ mCR + HI] was 75%. Of six patients with baseline RBC transfusion dependence 3 (50%) became transfusion independent. Leukemia-free survival was 28.2 months and after a median follow up of more than 33 months, median overall survival had not been reached. Two patients (13%) went on to Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HCT). Conclusions: In the overall study, oral decitabine/cedazuridine delivered equivalent PK exposure to 5 days of IV decitabine 20mg/m 2 with a resultant clinical activity safety and efficacy profile in CMML patients consistent with the published literature (e.g Zeidan, et a 2017) and the Phase 2 experience. The use of oral decitabine/cedazuridine is a reasonable approach in CMML patients. References: Garcia-Manero, et al ASH 2019 Savona, et al, Int. MDS Symposium, 2021 Zeidan, et al, Cancer 2017: 3754-3762. [Formula presented] Disclosures: Savona: Geron: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;CTI: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Karyopharm: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;BMS-Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;NOVARTIS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Ryvu: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Sierra Oncology: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Taiho: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;ALX Oncology: Research Funding;Astex: Research Funding;Incyte: Research Funding. McCloskey: Pfizer: Consultancy;Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau;Incyte: Speakers Bureau;Novartis: Consultancy;COTA: Other: Equity Ownership;BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Amgen: Speakers Bureau;Jazz: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Griffiths: Boston Biomedical: Consultancy;Celgene/Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria;Taiho Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria;Genentech: Research Funding;Astex Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Research Funding;Takeda Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria;Novartis: Honoraria;Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding;Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding. Yee: Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Forma Therapeutics: Research Funding;Geron: Research Funding;Shattuck Labs: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Bristol-Myers Squibb/Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;F. Hoffmann La Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;AbbVie: Honoraria;Janssen: Research Funding;Onconova: Research Funding;Genentech: Research Funding;Otsuka: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;MedImmune: Research Funding;Jazz: Research Funding;Astex: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Tolero: Research Funding;Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;TaiHo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Paladin: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Zeidan: BeyondSpring: Consultancy;Janssen: Consultancy;Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy, Research Funding;BioCryst: Other: Clinical Trial Committees;AstraZeneca: Consultancy;Pfizer: Other: Travel support, Research Funding;Kura: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Incyte: Consultancy, Research Funding;Ionis: Consultancy;Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy;Epizyme: Consultancy;Novartis: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees, Travel support, Research Funding;Loxo Oncology: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Genentech: Consultancy;Geron: Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Cardiff Oncology: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Research Funding;BMS: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees, Research Funding;Gilead: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Aprea: Consultancy, Research Funding;Astellas: Consultancy;Astex: Research Funding;Jazz: Consultancy;Jasper: Consu tancy;Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding;Agios: Consultancy;ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding;Acceleron: Consultancy, Research Funding;AbbVie: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees, Research Funding. Al-Kali: Novartis: Research Funding;Astex: Other: Research support to institution. Patel: Agios: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Celgene-BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;PVI: Honoraria. Sabloff: Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;TaiHo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Jaxx: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;ROCHE: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Dao: Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment. Fazal: Janssen Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Taiho Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Sanofi Genzyme: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Glaxo Smith Kline: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;AMGEN: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Jazz Pharmaceuticals:Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Stemline Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Karyopharm Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Odenike: Celgene, Incyte, AstraZeneca, Astex, NS Pharma, AbbVie, Gilead, Janssen, Oncotherapy, Agios, CTI/Baxalta, Aprea: Research Funding;AbbVie, Celgene, Impact Biomedicines, Novartis, Taiho Oncology, Takeda: Consultancy. Kantarjian: Ipsen Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria;Astra Zeneca: Honoraria;Astellas Health: Honoraria;Aptitude Health: Honoraria;Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding;Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding;Jazz: Research Funding;Immunogen: Research Funding;Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding;BMS: Research Funding;Ascentage: Research Funding;Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding;AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding;KAHR Medical Ltd: Honoraria;NOVA Research: Honoraria;Precision Biosciences: Honoraria;Taiho Pharmaceutical Canada: Honoraria. DeZern: Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Taiho: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Roboz: Janssen: Research Funding;AbbVie: Consultancy;Actinium: Consultancy;Agios: Consultancy;Amgen: Consultancy;Astex: Consultancy;Astellas: Consultancy;AstraZeneca: Consultancy;Bayer: Consultancy;Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy;Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy;Celgene: Consultancy;Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy;Glaxo SmithKline: Consultancy;Helsinn: Consultancy;Janssen: Consultancy;Jasper Therapeutics: Consultancy;Jazz: Consultancy;MEI Pharma - IDMC Chair: Consultancy;Mesoblast: Consultancy;Novartis: Consultancy;Otsuka: Consultancy;Pfizer: Consultancy;Roche/Genentech: Consultancy. Busque: Novartis: Consultancy. Leber: Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, peakers Bureau;BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;AMGEN: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;TaiHo: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Otsuka: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Jazz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Hao: Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment. Keer: Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment. Azab: Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Earnings management and investor protection during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from G-12 countries

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the inter-relations among the strength of investor protection institutions, earnings management (EM) and the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: As a proxy for EM, the authors use discretionary accruals measure, estimated using the modified Jones model (1991). As a proxy for the strength of investor protection institutions, the study uses the Investor Protection Index, extracted from the Global Competitiveness Reports. The sample consists of 5,519 firms listed in the Group of Twelve countries during 2015–2020. Findings: The study shows that firms tend to engage less in EM during the pandemic period. The authors also find a significantly negative relation between the strength of investor protection institutions and EM practices, and interestingly, this negative relation was found to be more pronounced during the pandemic period. Research limitations/implications: For investors and practitioners, the findings help get insights into the behavior of firms in response of the pandemic shock in countries with solid institutional and legal protection. For policymakers, the findings reaffirm the critical role that institutional incentives and reforms can play, in influencing firms to exert more efforts to promote their financial reporting quality. Originality/value: To the best of our knowledge, the study is one of the first attempts to examine the link between EM practices and investor protection during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings extend both the literature on the role of institutional factors in promoting the earnings quality and the literature on COVID-19’s effect on firm performance and practices. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Oral Decitabine/Cedazuridine in Patients with Lower Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome: A Longer-Term Follow-up of from the Ascertain Study

[Formula presented] Background/Introduction: Lower-risk (IPSS low risk and Int-1) myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are typically treated supportively to address cytopenias. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi) such as azacitidine and decitabine (DEC) are FDA-approved for higher risk MDS patients (pts), and while the DEC USPI includes IPSS Int-1 pts, it is not widely used in this population. Approved intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) regimens require 5-7 days of treatment every month burdening older cancer pts due to daily travel and treatment time and may increase potential risk from pandemic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Because DNMTis are rapidly degraded by cytidine deaminase (CDA) in the gut and liver, oral availability has only been recently possible. A randomized study with CC-486, an oral formulation of azacitidine, in the Int-1 population showed a median overall survival (mOS) of approximately 17 months for both placebo and treated patients (Garcia-Manero, 2021). Oral DEC 35 mg/cedazuridine 100 mg (ASTX727) or DEC-C, is an oral fixed dose combination (FDC) of DEC and the CDA inhibitor cedazuridine (CED) resulting in equivalent exposure (99%;90% CI 93% to 106%) to standard IV DEC 20 mg/m 2 for 5 days in an intra-patient randomized cross-over study (Garcia-Manero et al, ASH 2019). Here, we present data on patients with lower risk MDS from that study. Methods: We used a randomized cross over design with pts randomized 1:1 in the first 2 cycles to either Sequence A: (DEC 35 mg/ CED 100 mg in Cycle 1 and IV DEC at 20 mg/m 2 in Cycle 2), or Sequence B (IV DEC in Cycle 1 and oral DEC/CED in Cycle 2). Cycles were repeated every 28 days unless delays were needed, and all patients received oral DEC-C in Cycles 3+ until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. We conducted an intra-patient comparison of DEC PK (DEC AUC equivalence over 5 days of dosing). Pts were eligible as per the FDA-approved label of IV DEC (MDS pts by FAB classification including CMML, or MDS IPSS Intermediate-1, 2 or high-risk pts). Clinical endpoints were best response as assessed by an independent expert panel according to IWG 2006 response criteria, transfusion independence (TI), overall survival (OS), and safety. Results: Of the 133 pts treated in ASCERTAIN, 69 had a diagnosis of lower-risk MDS (93% Int-1, 7% LR). Median age was 70.0 years (range 45-87), 65% were male, median weight was 84 kg (range 50-127), median baseline hematologic parameters were: hemoglobin 89 g/L (range 69.8-146.5), WBCs 1.50 X 10 9/L (range 0.11-7.1), platelets (plt) 86 x 10 9/L (range 5-703), bone marrow blasts 4% (range 0-18), cytogenetics: 7 (10.1%) poor-risk, 21 (30.4%) intermediate risk, 37 (53.6%) better-risk, 4 (5.7%) missing or not evaluable. 27(39%) of the pts were RBC transfusion dependent (TD) and 6 (9%) plt TD. 17 (25%) had received prior MDS treatment, 3% prior DNMTi. Pts received a median of 9 cycles of therapy (range 1-28). Treatment-emergent adverse events of CTCAE Gr 3 or higher in >10% of pts, independent of relationship to ASTX727, included cytopenias (neutropenia [59%], thrombocytopenia [58%], anemia [48%], leukopenia [26%]), febrile neutropenia (32%), and pneumonia (19%). Sixteen pts (23%) achieved Complete Response (CR), 18 (26%) had marrow CR (mCR), including 9 (13%) with hematologic improvement (HI). Overall Response rate (ORR;CR + PR+ mCR + HI) was 57%. Of those RBC or plt TD at baseline, 13 (48%) became RBC TI and 4 (67%) became plt TI. With approximately 32 months of median follow up, neither median leukemia-free survival (mLFS) nor mOS had been reached (Figure 1). Twelve pts (17%) went on to allogeneic stem cell transplant. Conclusions: Oral decitabine/cedazuridine given as a FDC in MDS pts produced equivalent PK exposure to 20 mg/m 2 IV DEC;in lower risk MDS pts with treatment indicated, the agent was generally well-tolerated with prolonged treatment and could result in mLFS and mOS which exceeds 32 months. This FDC and other dosing regimens of oral DEC-C should be further studied in this patient population. References: Garcia-Mane o, et al, ASH 2019 Savona, et al, Int. MDS Symp. 2021 Garcia-Manero, et al, Phase III, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of CC-486 (Oral Azacitidine) in Patients with Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes. J.Clin.Onc. 2021 39:13, 1426-1436 [Formula presented] Disclosures: McCloskey: Pfizer: Consultancy;Jazz: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau;COTA: Other: Equity Ownership;Incyte: Speakers Bureau;Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau;Novartis: Consultancy;BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Amgen: Speakers Bureau. Griffiths: Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding;Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria;Taiho Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria;Genentech: Research Funding;Novartis: Honoraria;Takeda Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria;Astex Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Research Funding;Celgene/Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding;Boston Biomedical: Consultancy. Yee: Paladin: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;TaiHo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Genentech: Research Funding;Geron: Research Funding;Janssen: Research Funding;Jazz: Research Funding;MedImmune: Research Funding;Onconova: Research Funding;Tolero: Research Funding;AbbVie: Honoraria;Bristol-Myers Squibb/Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Otsuka: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Shattuck Labs: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;F. Hoffmann La Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Forma Therapeutics: Research Funding;Astex: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Zeidan: Novartis: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees, Travel support, Research Funding;Genentech: Consultancy;Ionis: Consultancy;Astellas: Consultancy;Epizyme: Consultancy;AbbVie: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees, Research Funding;Jasper: Consultancy;Cardiff Oncology: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Research Funding;BeyondSpring: Consultancy;Loxo Oncology: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Janssen: Consultancy;Acceleron: Consultancy, Research Funding;AstraZeneca: Consultancy;Kura: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Gilead: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Agios: Consultancy;Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy;Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy, Research Funding;Geron: Other: Clinical Trial Committees;BMS: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees, Research Funding;BioCryst: Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Pfizer: Other: Travel support, Research Funding;Aprea: Consultancy, Research Funding;ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding;Jazz: Consultancy;Incyte: Consultancy, Research Funding;Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding;Astex: Research Funding. Al-Kali: Astex: Other: Research support to institution;Novartis: Research Funding. Patel: Celgene-BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;PVI: Honoraria;Agios: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Sabloff: Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;ROCHE: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;TaiHo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Jaxx: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory ommittees;BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Dao: Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment. Fazal: Taiho Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Stemline Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Sanofi Genzyme: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Karyopharm Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Janssen Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Glaxo Smith Kline: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;AMGEN: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Odenike: AbbVie, Celgene, Impact Biomedicines, Novartis, Taiho Oncology, Takeda: Consultancy;Celgene, Incyte, AstraZeneca, Astex, NS Pharma, AbbVie, Gilead, Janssen, Oncotherapy, Agios, CTI/Baxalta, Aprea: Research Funding. Kantarjian: AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding;Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding;Ascentage: Research Funding;Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding;BMS: Research Funding;Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding;Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding;Ipsen Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria;Jazz: Research Funding;Astellas Health: Honoraria;Immunogen: Research Funding;Astra Zeneca: Honoraria;Aptitude Health: Honoraria;KAHR Medical Ltd: Honoraria;NOVA Research: Honoraria;Precision Biosciences: Honoraria;Taiho Pharmaceutical Canada: Honoraria. DeZern: Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisorycommittees;Taiho: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Roboz: Novartis: Consultancy;Mesoblast: Consultancy;Jasper Therapeutics: Consultancy;Jazz: Consultancy;MEI Pharma - IDMC Chair: Consultancy;Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy;Otsuka: Consultancy;Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy;Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy;Bayer: Consultancy;AstraZeneca: Consultancy;Astellas: Consultancy;Astex: Consultancy;Amgen: Consultancy;Agios: Consultancy;Actinium: Consultancy;AbbVie: Consultancy;Janssen: Research Funding;Celgene: Consultancy;Glaxo SmithKline: Consultancy;Helsinn: Consultancy;Janssen: Consultancy;Pfizer: Consultancy;Roche/Genentech: Consultancy. Busque: Novartis: Consultancy. Leber: Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Otsuka: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;TaiHo: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;AMGEN: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Jazz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Hao: Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment. Keer: Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment. Azab: Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Savona: Geron: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Karyopharm: Cons ltancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;CTI: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;BMS-Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;NOVARTIS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Ryvu: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Sierra Oncology: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Taiho: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;ALX Oncology: Research Funding;Astex: Research Funding;Incyte: Research Funding.

Glomerular disease in temporal association to SARS-CoV-2 RNA vaccination: A series of 16 cases

Background: Vaccination is considered safe in patients with chronic kidney disease. However, given the ability to activate the immune system, immunizations carry a risk of inducing inflammatory disease flares. The mass vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 provides a unique opportunity to investigate potential vaccine-associated glomerular diseases. Methods: Kidney biopsies from patients who presented with acute kidney injury (AKI) and/or nephritic/nephrotic syndrome within three weeks of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination were included in the study (n=16). Kidney biopsies were reviewed at a single center and clinical information was provided from nephrologists for clinicopathologic correlation. Results: Sixteen patients with a new onset of kidney disease or flare within 3 weeks of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination were identified and all had glomerular disease on biopsy. Eleven patients had two vaccine doses prior to symptom onset. The patient cohort included 6 males and 10 females, with a mean age of 58 years. Biopsy diagnoses included IgA nephropathy (n=7), minimal change disease (n=4), ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis (n=3), membranous glomerulopathy (n=1), and diffuse lupus nephritis (n=1). Thirteen patients had co-morbid medical conditions, including hypertension (n=10), diabetes mellitus (n=4), autoimmune disease (n=5), and chronic kidney disease (n=4). The most common clinical presentation was AKI with concurrent nephritic or nephrotic syndrome (n=9), followed by nephritic syndrome with preserved kidney function (n=5), nephrotic syndrome with preserved kidney function (n=1), and isolated hematuria (n=1). Three patients with AKI required dialysis. A majority of patients had an elevated serum creatinine (mean 3.4 mg/dL), 14 had proteinuria (nephrotic range in 4), 11 had hematuria, and 10 had hypoalbuminemia (mean 2.9 g/dL). Six patients had antinuclear antibodies and 4 had a positive ANCA serology at the time of biopsy. Clinical follow-up is ongoing. Conclusions: IgA nephropathy, minimal change disease, ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis, membranous glomerulopathy, and lupus nephritis were identified with temporal association with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. In the setting of mass vaccination, causality is unclear, but a new onset of glomerular disease should be monitored as a potential adverse event.

A review of covid 19 pandemic in physiotherapy care of patients with coronavirus disease in pakistan: Limitations and gaps

Background: The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread to more than 213 countries. Globally as of 2:08 pm CEST, April 12, 2021, there have been 136, 696, 092 confirmed cases including 2,950,823 deaths and 109,945,653 cases have been recovered, reported to WHO. As of April 07, 2021, a total of 669,248,795 vaccine doses have been administered. Methods: We examined current state of COVID-19 epidemic and preparedness in Pakistan using publicly available data and documents on COVID-19 government dashboard. Results: Pakistan reported its first 2 confirmed cases, on 26th February 2020 linked to travel history of Iran. The number of confirmed cases nationwide rose to 725,602 with 39,511 confirmed cases in Punjab, 6,792 cases in Sindh,13,092 cases in Khyber Pathunkhawa, 731 cases in Baluchistan, 105 cases in Gilgit Baltistan,12,865 cases in ICT and 2,170 in Azad Jammu Kashmir. To-date 7000 Pakistani pilgrims have returned from Iran and placed in quarantine in Taftan. Directing of pilgrims back to their cities without testing at the border resulted in introduction of virus in country. Pakistan"s weak health care system with 10 beds for 1000 people and less than 0.75% of GDP as health spending is doubtful to bear the COVID-19 shock in case of exponential increase in cases. Conclusion: It was observed that the professional requirements as laid out by WHO for COVID-19 patients care and management were not strictly followed by the paramedic staff specifically and Medical Professionals generally. The use of PPEs and respirators (N-95) was next to non-existent among the paramedic staff. The doctors were only partially following the patient management protocol to reduce risk of self and others. This gross management has resulted in an exaggerated number of cases among the staff of the hospitals.

Classification of COVID19 X-ray images based on transfer learning INCEPTIONV3 deep learning model

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently announced the novel coronavirus 2019 as a pandemic. Many preventative plans and non-pharmaceutical efforts have emerged and been in use to manage and control the spread of the disease which includes infection control, proper isolation of patients, and social distancing. The main test used to confirm a COVID-19 case is the RT-PCR test. However, this approach needs analysis time and specimen collection. Therefore, the importance of medical imaging is increased to screen COVID-19 cases. Hence radiology has a pivotal role in managing COVID-19 infection using CT scans and chest X-ray (CXR) throughout the screening, diagnosis, and prognostication processes of the disease. In this paper, a new model using the transfer learning method and InceptionV3 algorithm has been presented to classify the X-ray images into COVID-19, Normal, and Pneumonia classes. The experimental results show that the proposed model achieved 98% Accuracy on the test set for classifying the images from the 3 different classes. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

The digital transformation effects in distance education in light of the epidemics (COVID-19) in Egypt

On the relatively rare occasions when disaster forces schools and universities to close for a prolonged period of time, e-learning has helped fill the gap in instruction. In this paper, we study the role of digital transformation in e-learning systems in light of the global conditions resulting from the epidemics (COVID-19) in Egypt. Therefore, we focus on the importance of distance education at several factors, trying to assess the staff's response and students to new education methods and assess the distance education experience in Egyptian universities. Where the study set that various staff excited to utilize this method, unlike some of the students, who did not to accept because of their knowledge lacking. © 2021 NSP Natural Sciences Publishing Cor.

Treatment Options for COVID-19: A Review.

Background: The recent COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe has caused great concern worldwide. Due to the limited evidence available on the dynamics of the virus and effective treatment options available, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has had a huge impact in terms of morbidity and mortality. The economic impact is still to be assessed. Aims: The purpose of this article is to review the evidence for the multiple treatment options available, to consider the future of this global pandemic, and to identify some potential options that could revolutionize the treatment of COVID-19. Moreover, this article underscores the sheer importance of repurposing some of the available antiviral and antimicrobial agents that have long been in use so as to have an effective and expeditious response to this widespread pandemic and the need to conduct a multicenter global randomized controlled trial to find an effective single antiviral agent or a cocktail of available antimicrobial agents. Method: We thoroughly searched and reviewed various case reports, retrospective analyses, and in vitro studies published in PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar regarding the treatment options used for SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 since its outbreak in an attempt to highlight treatments with the most promising results. Conclusion: We are currently facing one of the worst pandemics in history. Although SARS-CoV-2 is associated with a lower mortality rate than are SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, its higher infectivity is making it a far more serious threat. Unfortunately, no vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 or effective drug regimen for COVID-19 currently exists. Drug repurposing of available antiviral agents may provide a respite; moreover, a cocktail of antiviral agents may be helpful in treating this disease. Here, we have highlighted a few available antimicrobial agents that could be very effective in treating COVID-19; indeed, a number of trials are underway to detect and confirm the efficacy of these agents.

COVID-19 and kidney diseases in Indonesia

At the end of 2019, flu-like illness and pneumonia with an unknown cause first appeared in China. Later it is identified as Novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) This life-threatening disease spreads fastly worldwide and makes some disturbances in the health system, economy, and society. It affects many organs, especially the respiratory tract. Kidney involvement presents a lot of patients and increases morbidity and mortality. A recent study showed that abnormal kidney function was related to death in patients with COVID-19. This complication should be considered to prevent the worsening of the disease. The immune system plays a major role in this pathogenesis of disease and kidney problems. In this difficult situation, understanding COVID-19 and kidney diseases will help us to get proper management and prevention to solve the problem. © 2020 EManuscript Technologies. All rights reserved.

COVID-19: Drug development and kidney related problems

Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) is an extremely contagious disease affecting almost every country in the world. This disease makes some problems in the health system, society, politics, and economy. Several reports showed that mortality in COVID-19 patients was related to abnormal kidney function. This condition should be considered to prevent death. Some investigational drugs are on the way in the preclinical and clinical trials. Some of them no have a study for safety in the kidney especially in chronic kidney disease patients including those who undergo hemodialysis. Some give a satisfying effect. Understanding COVID-19, kidney diseases, and drugs will help us to get the most potent treatment. © 2020 EManuscript Technologies. All rights reserved.

Neurological Manifestations of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2): A Review.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been associated with many neurological symptoms but there is a little evidence-based published material on the neurological manifestations of COVID-19. The purpose of this article is to review the spectrum of the various neurological manifestations and underlying associated pathophysiology in COVID-19 patients. Method: We conducted a review of the various case reports and retrospective clinical studies published on the neurological manifestations, associated literature, and related pathophysiology of COVID-19 using PUBMED and subsequent proceedings. A total of 118 articles were thoroughly reviewed in order to highlight the plausible spectrum of neurological manifestations of COVID 19. Every article was either based on descriptive analysis, clinical scenarios, correspondence, and editorials emphasizing the neurological manifestations either directly or indirectly. We then tried to highlight the significant plausible manifestations and complications that could be related to the pandemic. With little known about the dynamics and the presentation spectrum of the virus apart from the respiratory symptoms, this area needs further consideration. Conclusion: The neurological manifestations associated with COVID-19 such as Encephalitis, Meningitis, acute cerebrovascular disease, and Guillain Barré Syndrome (GBS) are of great concern. But in the presence of life-threatening abnormal vitals in severely ill COVID-19 patients, these are not usually underscored. There is a need to diagnose these manifestations at the earliest to limit long term sequelae. Much research is needed to explore the role of SARS-CoV-2 in causing these neurological manifestations by isolating it either from cerebrospinal fluid or brain tissues of the deceased on autopsy. We also recommend exploring the risk factors that lead to the development of these neurological manifestations.