The Clinical Effects of Laser Acupuncture on Hospitalized Patients With Severe COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was extended to the entire population in China and around the world, and its mortality rate was about 3.4%. The impact of laser therapy on chronic respiratory diseases has been shown in previous studies. This study was aimed at examining the effects of laser acupuncture (LA) on patients with severe COVID-19. Methods: In the present study, 60 patients with a positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test were assigned to the intervention and control groups (30 patients in each group). The intervention group was treated with LA, that is, laser light with low energy on acupuncture points, once a day for five consecutive days. Results: The participants' mean age in the intervention and control groups was 48.96 ± 12.65 and 53.16 ± 12.28 respectively;70% of the patients were male and 30% of them were female. IL6 had a significant reduction in the intervention group (P value = 0.038) in comparison with the control group (P value = 0.535). Furthermore, the mean admission time in the control group was significantly higher than that in the intervention group (P value = 0.047). However, the mortality rate in the intervention group was zero, but three patients in the control group died. Conclusion: Our study showed that LA can be used as supportive therapy for routine treatment in patients with severe COVID-19. Moreover, due to LA safety and it's low cost, it could be recommended as an adjuvant to conventional therapy in patients interested in treating their disease with such a method © 2023, Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences.All Rights Reserved.

EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON TRANSPORTATION: A CASE STUDY OF IRAN

Coronavirus first appeared in January 2020 and has spread dramatically in most parts of the world. In addition to exerting enormous impacts on public health and well-being, it has also affected a broad spectrum of industries and sectors, including transportation. Countries around the world have imposed restrictions on travel and participation in activities due to the outbreak of the virus. Many countries have adopted social distancing rules requiring people to maintain a safe distance. Therefore, the pandemic has accelerated the transition into a world in which online education, online shopping, and remote working are becoming increasingly prevalent. Every aspect of our life has witnessed a series of new rules, habits, and behaviours during this period, and our travel choices or behaviours are no exception. Some of these changes can be permanent or have long-lasting effects. To control this situation, these changes must first be recognised in various aspects of transportation in order to provide policies for similar situations in the future. In this regard, this study seeks to examine how transportation sectors have changed in the first waves of the pandemic. Iran has been selected as the case study in this paper. This research is divided into two parts. The first part focuses on the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic on rural transportation in Iran. This is followed by assessing the impacts of the virus on urban transportation in Tehran (the capital of Iran). The behaviour of more than 700 travellers in terms of trip purpose, travel time, and mode choice is evaluated using a questionnaire. Results indicate that the number of passengers has reduced dramatically in rural transportation systems. In such systems, considerations such as keeping social distancing, disinfection of passengers and their luggage, and unemployment of a group of personnel working in the transportation industry have been more evident. In urban transportation, education trips have dropped the most. This might relate to an increase in online teaching and health concerns. The same pattern can be seen in the passengers who used bicycles, public taxis, and other public transportation systems. Finally, during the pandemic, drivers' speed has increased, which justifies the need for traffic calming for drivers. © 2022 Warsaw University of Technology. All rights reserved.

Assessment of the self-care level against COVID-19 and its related factors among hemodialysis patients

Background & Aim: Today, COVID-19 has become a serious threat to global health. Due to their certain conditions, hemodialysis patients are more at risk than others. Therefore, self-care in these patients is more necessary. We aimed to assess the self-care of hemodialysis patients against COVID-19 disease and the factors influencing self-care. Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, 219 patients referred to the dialysis ward of selected public hospitals in Lorestan province, were selected by the census method and examined. Patients' information was collected by a demographic questionnaire and a researcher-made questionnaire on self-care against COVID-19. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 22, with the significance level of 0.05. Results: The mean score of self-care against COVID-19 in patients was 186.33, and most patients had a good level of self-care. There was a significant relationship between the self-care score and place of residence (P<0.001), and comorbidity (P=0.044). Among the multiple sources of information, there was a significant difference in the self-care score between cyberspace (P=0.047), and family and relatives (P<0.001). Also, comorbidity, urban residence, and academic education level significantly predicted self-care. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, developing proper training programs is suggested considering the factors influencing self-care. Also, capacities such as cyberspace and patients' families should be used to make the training more effective. © 2022 The Authors.

Assessment of the self-care level against COVID-19 and its related factors among hemodialysis patients

Background & Aim: Today, COVID-19 has become a serious threat to global health. Due to their certain conditions, hemodialysis patients are more at risk than others. Therefore, self-care in these patients is more necessary. We aimed to assess the self-care of hemodialysis patients against COVID-19 disease and the factors influencing self-care. Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, 219 patients referred to the dialysis ward of selected public hospitals in Lorestan province, were selected by the census method and examined. Patients' information was collected by a demographic questionnaire and a researcher-made questionnaire on self-care against COVID-19. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 22, with the significance level of 0.05. Results: The mean score of self-care against COVID-19 in patients was 186.33, and most patients had a good level of self-care. There was a significant relationship between the self-care score and place of residence (P<0.001), and comorbidity (P=0.044). Among the multiple sources of information, there was a significant difference in the self-care score between cyberspace (P=0.047), and family and relatives (P<0.001). Also, comorbidity, urban residence, and academic education level significantly predicted self-care. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, developing proper training programs is suggested considering the factors influencing self-care. Also, capacities such as cyberspace and patients' families should be used to make the training more effective. © 2022 The Authors.

Evaluation of the Associations between Dry Mouth, Oral Lesions, and Orofacial Pain with COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Objectives: In patients with periodontal disease, the risk of COVID-19 is very high, so it is important to check oral health. Because the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 disease are not fully understood and the relationship between severity, mortality, and oral health is challenging, in the present study, we tried to investigate the relationship between clinical outcomes and COVID-19. Therefore, the present study evaluated the associations between the dry mouth, Oral lesions, and Orofacial pain with COVID-19. Method(s): The present study is based on PRISMA guidelines;all articles were published in international databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Embase between March 2019 and May 2022. 95% confidence interval for effect size with random effect modal and REML were calculated. Meta-analysis of data collected from selected studies was performed using STATA.V16 software. Result(s): In the initial review, the s of 312 studies were reviewed, two authors reviewed the full text of 36 studies, and finally, 16 studies were selected. The prevalence of dry mouth and oral lesions in patients with COVID-19 was 39% (ES: 95% CI, 32 % to 46%) and 32% (ES: 95% CI, 22 % to 42%), respectively. Conclusion(s): The prevalence of dry mouth in patients with COVID-19 was higher (39%) than oral lesions (32%) and orofacial pain (23%). Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.

SCREENING ROLE OF COMPLETE BLOOD CELL COUNT INDICES AND C REACTIVE PROTEIN IN PATIENTS WHO ARE SYMPTOMATIC FOR COVID-19

INTRODUCTION: Diagnosis of COVID-19 is through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or typical involvement of the lung by the virus in computed tomography (CT) scan. However, PCR is not always available, and also CT scan has a high dose of radiation. This study was performed to find the role of complete blood cell (CBC) indices and qualitative C-reactive protein (CRP) in screening of symptomatic patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A diagnostic accuracy study was performed on symptomatic cases in Abadan. Four stepwise logistic regression models were designed that the outcomes were PCR positivity, CT scan positivity, PCR and CT scan positivity, and COVID-19 positivity (i.e., PCR or CT scan positivity). Post-estimation receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was performed to report the area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: A total of 104 patients were studied. The most accurate model was for the prediction of CT scan positivity (AUC = 0.874) in which the predictors were age [odds ratio (OR) =1.063] and CRP (OR = 2.661 for each plus of positivity). The second accurate model was for the prediction of COVID-19 positivity (AUC = 0.828) in which the predictors were white blood cell count (OR = 0.735 for every 1000 counts per μL) and neutrophil per lymphocyte ratio (OR = 1.248). CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of CRP are associated with and predictor of lung involvement in COVID-19 infection. CRP qualitative levels can be measured before a CT scan if there is no other indication for imaging. © 2022 Via Medica.

Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Disease;a Report of Iranian Professional Football

Background: All sporting events were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and many athletes suffered from the infection. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and training days lost to COVID-19 in professional football. Methods: This questionnaire-based report on COVID-19 symptoms was conducted during the 2019-20 Iranian men’s premier league and second division football. Team members with positive PCR tests were enrolled in the study and were told to fill in the questionnaire after the resolution of the symptoms. The questionnaire was designed to measure the frequency, severity, and duration of COVID-19-related symptoms. Results: Out of 133 males, including 86 players and 47 team officials with a mean age of 30.81 ± 10.7 years, 63.2% reported experiencing no symptoms. The most frequent symptom was the loss of smell, while the least frequently reported symptom was gastrointestinal unrest. It was also revealed that our population missed an average of 12.89 days to return to the team training. Conclusions: Since most of the infected individuals in our population were asymptomatic proper case identification using regular PCR testing could stop the transmission of the disease more effectively. Also, more attention is required to be paid to less severe symptoms such as the loss of smell and taste. Moreover, the days lost due to COVID-19 are almost comparable to the days lost by other injuries for the players, which highlights the importance of taking proper preventive measures. © 2022, Author(s).

Indoor Particulate Matters Measured in Residential Homes in the Southeastern United States: Effects of Pandemic Lockdown and Holiday Cooking

Although humans spend a majority of their lives in indoor environments, indoor air quality is immensely understudied, compared to ambient air. Here, we show the first long-term measurements of household indoor PM concentrations in the southeastern United States, for one year (May 2019 through April 2020) covering the COVID-19 hard-lockdown period (March and April 2020). Particle size distributions between 0.25–35 µm were measured with a low-cost sensor, which does not utilize hazardous chemicals and radiation sources and is ideal for indoor air monitoring in real households without disruption of residents’ living conditions. Our observations show that while cooking and cleaning are two major emissions sources for the residential indoor PM, consistent with the literature knowledge, but we also show that human occupancy affects the indoor PM level substantially. During the hard lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, the background level of indoor PM increased by ~200%, while the ambient PM decreased by ~50% during the same period. Before the pandemic, the indoor PM level was lower than the outdoor, but it became similar or higher than the outdoor level during the pandemic. Thanksgiving holiday cooking (prior to COVID-19) produced high concentrations of PM for an extended period (e.g., over 6 hours) even with active kitchen ventilation. PM concentrations during a cooking and cleaning event usually increased linearly to a maximum value and then decayed exponentially. The decay time of indoor PM ranged from several minutes up to ~100 minutes and increased with the particle size, indicating that particle deposition to the interior surfaces is the main sink process of the indoor PM. © 2022, AAGR Aerosol and Air Quality Research. All rights reserved.

Compare the Effectiveness of Positive Results Between N95 Respirators and Medical Masks in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review

Objective: According to recent studies and systematic review and meta-analysis, there is not enough evidence to determine which has a positive effect on COVID-19 epidemics, and the number of articles is very low. Therefore, the present study aims to compare the efficiency of positive results between N95 respirators and medical masks. Methods: Among the electronic databases, we selected Cochrane Library, PubMed, ISI, and Embas for systematically review the publications from 2010 to 2020. We then applied a software program called Endnote X8 to investigate the electronic topics and used mesh terms and concepts for searching. Log risk-ratio between both groups (N95 respirators & medical masks) with 95% confidence interval (CI), Mantel-Haenszel method as well as fixed effect model were computed. Moreover, we employed a commercial software program called Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Stata 16 for evaluating forest plots and meta-analysis. Results: Totally, we observed 27 s and topics with the potential relevance in the course of the manual and electronic searches so that three papers matched our inclusion criteria for performing a systematic review. Risk ratio equaled (RR, 0.01 95% CI 0.00, 0.02. P= 0.07), showing that using N95 respirators and medical masks did not significantly differ in preventing respiratory viral infections. Moreover, Using N95 respirators and medical masks did not significantly differ in preventing bacterial colonization (p=0.02). Conclusion: This research revealed a positive impact of both N95 respirators and medical masks for COVID-19.

Inpatient cardiology consultation for COVID-19: What are cardiologists' diagnostic approaches?

Aim: Despite concerns about cardiovascular implications in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients, not all COVID-19 patients are visited by cardiologists and recommended to perform comprehensive cardiovascular assessments including measurement of biomarkers and echocardiography. We aimed to investigate the reasons for seeking cardiology care and to assess our cardiologists' diagnostic approaches to COVID-19 patients with potential cardiovascular involvement. Methods and Results: In this prospective, observational study, data of all consecutive COVID-19 patients admitted to six designated hospitals for COVID-19 in Iran in whom bedside cardiology consultation was requested were collected. A total of 148 patients including 105 (71%) males were included. The mean age was 57 ± 17 years. The most common reasons for cardiology consultation were dyspnea (56.7%), chest pain (12.8%), and suspected arrhythmias (10.8%). The most common comorbidities were hypertension (40.5%), diabetes mellitus (19.6%), and coronary heart disease (18.9%). A 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) was obtained in all patients. Point-of-care ultrasonography or limited transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed in 106 (71.6%) patients, and complete TTE was performed in 35 (23.4%) patients. Cardiac troponin was measured in 63 (42.6%) patients, and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide level was measured in 34 (23%) patients. Overall, 51 (34.5%) patients underwent invasive mechanical ventilation, inotropes were used in 29 (19.6%) patients, and 40 (27%) patients died. Conclusions: While preventing unnecessary investigations, the cardiologists should not overlook the lifesaving role of ubiquitous diagnostic modalities (such as ECG and TTE) in early detection and management of cardiac involvement in COVID-19.

Afghan refugee women's experiences of communication apprehension and fear of physician in the iranian health care system, during covid-19 pandemic, rafsanjan, iran (2020)

Background: Information about the refugees' experiences in the health care system is needed to improve the quality of health care delivered. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of Communication Apprehension (CA) and Fear of Physician (FoP) in the Afghan refugee women referred to the Iranian health care clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2020 in Rafsanjan, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted between March-July 2020, two hundred forty Afghan women in Rafsanjan, Iran, were selected using convenience sampling. Data collection included the demographic, Personal Report of Communication Apprehension (PRCA-24: score range of 24-120), and Fear of Physician (FoP: score range of 5-20) questionnaires. Data were analyzed using an Independent t-test, as well as ANOVA, Chi-square, and Fisher exact tests. The significance level was p<0.05. Results: The mean age of the participants was 28.81 ± 7.21 years old, and their ages ranged from 16 to 60;further, 97.9% of them were married. Based on the results, the overall mean score of PRCA was 67.07±15.68. Moderate to severe communication apprehension was revealed in 199 participants (82.9%), while 235 participants (97.9%) had moderate to severe fear of physician. Conclusion: Although many factors could contribute to CA and FoP, as the COVID pandemic had just spread and fear of this unknown virus was at its very peak during this study, the researchers assume that the high rate of CA and FoP level could be related to the COVID pandemic. It is suggested that educational workshops should be held for medical care providers to prevent further communication problems. © The Author(s) 2021;All rights reserved.

Resumption of professional football during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study findings from Iran

Due to concerns of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission, professional football (soccer) was terminated almost everywhere in the world in early 2020. These are the results from a prospective cohort study conducted in Iran to analyze the resumption of professional football during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic under assigned protocols and regulations. Sixteen teams consisting of 805 individuals formally agreed to follow the rules assigned by the ministry of health and CORONA headquarters in sport, and were subject to study monitoring. The resumption process was implemented over a 5-month period, beginning with a training phase followed by 14 match weeks of professional football. A self-declaration form was provided for the subjects to report any suspicious symptoms immediately and serial PCR testing was performed every 10 days using nasal swab samples. Those with positive tests were to be isolated until the symptoms were resolved or a negative test was returned. Of the 805 individuals included, 17.89% subjects were infected by the SARS-CoV‑2 virus (85 players and 59 staff members and officials). Only two matches were canceled in accordance with the regulations, and no severe cases were found. Case-tracing suggested that most transmissions occurred off the pitch. In conclusion, applying strict hygiene protocols and early case identification by performing repetitive PCR testing could benefit the resumption of professional football competitions. © 2021, Springer-Verlag GmbH Deutschland, ein Teil von Springer Nature.

Evaluation of the Droplets and Aerosols, Posing Potential Risks of COVID-19 Disease Infection Transmission in Dentistry: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Objective: To evaluate the droplets and aerosols, posing potential risks of infection transmission of COVID-19 disease in dentistry. Material and Methods: PubMed, Embase, ISI, Scopus, Medicine have been used to search for articles between September 2019 to December 2020. Data extracted from the studies were included, study, study design, sample size, Sample collection time, Hallway Air Samples (copies/L of air), Personal Air Samples (copies/L of air). Effect size with 95% confidence interval (CI), fixed effect model, Inverse-variance methods were calculated. The Meta-analysis was evaluated with Stata/MP v.16 statistical software (The fastest version of Stata). Results: According to the purpose of the study, 64 articles were found;studies that did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded from the study;the full text of 11 studies was reviewed. Finally, two studies were selected. The effect size of airborne COVID-19 concentrations of the hallway and personal air samples was 64% copies/L of air (ES, 0.64 95% CI=-1.45-2.73) and 100% copies/L air (ES, 1.00 95% CI=-1.77-3.76), respectively. Conclusion: Evidence of aerosol transmission of COVID-19 in observational studies of patients with COVID-19 was 64% copies/L of air and 100% copies/L of air in the hallway and personal air samples, respectively.

Evaluation of the potential for transmission of coronavirus disease via saliva: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim: One of the main factors that play a pivotal role in the transmission of COVID-19 from human to human is saliva;according to the subject's importance, the present study aimed to evaluate the potential of transmission via the saliva of coronavirus disease. Methods: PubMed, ISI, Embase, Scopus, Medicine have been used until September 2020 to search for articles. Therefore, EndNote X9 used to manage electronic resources. A 95% confidence interval (CI) effect size, fixed effect model, Inverse-variance methods have been calculated. The positive rate of SARS-CoV2 assessed with meta analysis. To deal with potential heterogeneity, random effects were used, and I2 showed heterogeneity. I2 values above 50% signified moderate-to-high heterogeneity. The Meta-analysis has been evaluated with Stata/MP v.16 (the fastest version of Stata) statistical software. Results: According to the study's purpose, in the initial search with keywords, 19 articles were found, the full text of 3 studies was reviewed, and finally, three studies were selected. The positive rate of SARS-CoV2 was 86% (86%;95% CI 67 %-100%). Conclusion: saliva can be a non-invasive specimen type for diagnosis of COVID-19. Dentists should be aware that saliva plays a major role in the transmission of COVID-19 from human to human, and failure to follow prevention protocols can contaminate them. © 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Clinical Dental Care Epidemiology, Prevalence, Symptoms and Routes of Transmission of Coronavirus Disease 19: A Systematic Review of Literature and Meta-Analysis

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological evidence, symptoms, and transmission routes of Coronavirus Disease 19 for clinical dental care. Material and Methods: PubMed, Embase, ISI, Scopus, Medicine have been used to search for articles until October 2020. Therefore, EndNote X9 was used to manage electronic resources. A 95% confidence interval (CI) effect size, random effect model, and the REML method were evaluated. Forty-one articles were found. In the first step of selecting studies, 40 studies were selected to review the abstracts. Finally, six studies were selected. Results: The effect size of symptoms of COVID-19 was fever: 92% (ES = 0.92, 95% CI 0.79-1.06), cough: 73% (ES = 0.73, 95% CI 0.59-0.88), headache: 8% (ES = 0.8, 95% CI 0.06-0.22), myalgia 13% (ES = 0.13, 95% CI 0.01-0.27) and nasal congestion 22% (ES = 0.22, 95% CI 0.06-0.39). The following recommendations are appropriate during COVID-19 for dental emergency management: personal protective equipment and hand cleanliness practices, personal protective equipment (PPE), preprocedural mouth rinse, single-use (disposable), cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and periapical (PA) radiography, Rubber dam, sodium hypochlorite for root canal irrigation, disinfect inanimate surfaces, ultrasonic scaling instruments and airborne infection isolation. Conclusion: Fever should be used as the first sign in the diagnosis;dentists should measure the fever of all patients at the time of arrival and before any procedure and then ask about other symptoms.

Determine the dentists' practice in compliance with general and guidelines for handling coronavirus disease 2019: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: To determine the Dentists' practice in compliance with general and guidelines for handling Coronavirus Disease 2019. Material and Methods: PubMed, Embase, ISI, Scopus, Medicine have been used to search for articles until September 2020. EndNote X9 was used to manage electronic resources as a resource. Joanna Briggs Institute reviewer's manual (JBI) tools was used to assess the quality of studies included in the current systematic and meta-analysis review. The 95% confidence interval (CI) effect size, the random effect model, and the Restricted maximum-likelihood (REML) methods have all been calculated. I2 values of more than 50% indicated moderate-to-high heterogeneity. Stata/MP v.16 (the fastest version of Stata) statistical software was used to evaluate the Meta-analysis. Results: 39 articles were found in the initial keyword search. The full text of 16 studies was reviewed, and six studies were selected in the end. 72% of participants used a face mask during the dental procedure (72%, 95% CI;40%-100%). 63% of participants measured fever when patients arrived during the COVID-19 pandemic (63%, 95% CI;46%-79%). Moreover, 72% of participants used a face mask during the dental procedure (72%, 95% CI;40%-100%). According to JBI tools, all studies had a moderate risk of bias. Conclusion: The results show that the performance of dental professionals in the conditions of the COVID-19 epidemic is not favorable. Training should be under the standards of treatment guidelines and further measures so that dental professionals can show proper practice by increasing their awareness of this virus and following up on its infection.