NONPERFORMANCE OF CONTRACTS IN TIMES OF PANDEMIC

Covid-19 is a fact and reality. In this sense, this paper aims to assess the potential effects of the pandemic on contracts, including contracts that are executed both by and between private parties as well as public entities. Based on general aspects of performance and nonperformance of obligations established under a contract, the paper analyses whether the effects of the pandemic shall be deemed as unavoidable or extraordinary events and the possibility of adjustment of contracts terms by Brazilian courts, by means of hardship doctrines. Finally, the paper suggests measures to deal with such dynamic scenario. © 2022, Thomson Reuters Brasil Conteudo e Tecnologia. All rights reserved.

Indian medicinal plants are effective in the treatment and management of COVID-19

Indian medicinal plants are referred to as the "nectar of life" owing to their phytochemicals and bioactive complexes that are beneficial in treating diseases. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global health issue without any proper medication. The indigenous plants of India can be exploited to control the precise signs of SARS-CoV-2. The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) has advised routine usage of medicinal plants for COVID-19. Medicinal plants like Zingiber officinalis, Azadirachta indica, Ocimum sanctum, Nigella sativa, Withania somnifera, Curcuma longa, Piper nigrum, Allium sativum, Tinospora cordifolia, etc. have immunity-boosting, antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions that can suppress and treat symptoms of COVID-19. In vitro, in vivo as well as in silico validation, these phytochemicals can help us to manage and treat COVID-19 disease. This integration of traditional knowledge in the prophylaxis of corona infection and current skills validating it for the development of precise and powerful therapeutic approaches will more efficiently resolve different clinical aspects of COVID-19. The review focuses on both traditional and emergent methods to prevent and treat COVID-19 with various Indian medicinal plants along with their phytochemicals.Copyright © 2023 Authors. All rights reserved.

[Socio-labor conditions and psychological burnout in workers during the pandemic. A comparative study]

BACKGROUND: The pandemic derived from COVID-19 has caused a great impact in all the contexts in wich the human being operates, including the labor context. Multiple studies have shown the influence that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on both public and private organizations. From this derives the importance of assessings the real work context of the Mexican population in times of pandemic and the factors that are related to the appearance of psychological exhaustion. OBJECTIVE: To compare the sociocultural conditions and the presence of psychological exhaustion in workers of government institutions and individuals in southern Jalisco during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional descriptive correlational study, with a non-probabilistic sample of two organizations;one of a public governmental nature and another private of a food business. The dependent variable was psychological exhaustion addressed through instrument 4 of the CTCPS-MAC battery. RESULTS: Significant differences were identified between both companies in two of the three factors that make up psychological exhaustion, in the cognitive-emotional response factor (z = -3.920, p < 0.05) and in the physiological response factor (z = -31.982, p < 0.05) the employees of the private company are considered more vulnerable. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of general psychological exhaustion are higher in the workers of private companies, as well as in the dimensions that comprise it.

Keratoplasty rejection after messenger RNA vaccine (BNT162b2) for COVID-19.

This report shows a case of corneal transplant rejection after vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), short after receiving the BNT162b2 vaccine, in a patient who had undergone keratoplasty more than 20 years ago, with no previous episodes of rejection and no other factor that could lead to the findings on his examinations. After treatment with high doses of topic, oral, and sub-conjunctival corticoids, the patient had a favorable therapeutic response. The signs of corneal transplant rejection must be oriented to the patients and the causing factors actively searched by ophthalmologists so that treatment is rapidly initiated and sequels are avoided. This report raises the question if these events are correlated and whether the patient should receive the second dose of the vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 or not.

Assessing the Quality of Covid-19 Open Data Portals

Open data portals can be used for several purposes, including transparency leverage, access to information, and decision-making support. Recently, the pandemic broke out in the new coronavirus, causing the whole world to suffer its effects. As a result, several countries, institutions, and research teams have worked to understand the behavior of this new virus. Since then, several open data portals have emerged that have set out to disseminate regional, national, and even international information about Covid-19 information. Therefore, it is known that open data resources, together with data-based methodologies, provide many opportunities to improve the response of different administrations, especially to the virus. We identified the variables and methodologies necessary to analyze the fundamental aspects of the quality of Covid-19’s open data portals and described the current aspects such as qualities, limitations, and difficulties found in these open data portals. © 2022, IFIP International Federation for Information Processing.

Clinical-Epidemiology Aspect of Inpatients With Moderate or Severe COVID-19 in a Brazilian Macroregion: Disease and Countermeasures.

COVID-19, also known as coronavirus disease 2019, is an infectious viral disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus. Since its emergence, its epidemiology has been explored; however, for some regions of the world, COVID-19's behavior, incidence, and impact remain unclear. In continental nations like Brazil, this lack of knowledge results in nonuniform control, prevention, and treatment measures, which can be controversial in some locations. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological profile of patients with COVID-19 in the macroregion of Triângulo Sul in the state of Minas Gerais (MG), Brazil. Between March 25 and October 21, 2020, data were collected and statistically analyzed from 395 hospitalized patients in the city of Uberaba, MG, suspected to have moderate or severe forms of the disease. Of the 395 suspected cases, 82% were confirmed to be positive for COVID-19. The mean age of positive patients was 58.4 years, and 60.76% were male. Following these patients throughout their hospitalization, a mortality rate of 31.3% was observed. In the population positive for COVID-19, the risk of death increased by 4% for each year of the patient's age. Likewise, the older the patient, the longer their hospitalization and the higher the risk of developing acute respiratory failure. Among the treatments tested in patients, heparin was associated with protection against mortality, and the absence of anticoagulant use was linked to a more than six times greater risk of death. Finally, comorbidities in patients with COVID-19 were positively correlated with increased hospitalization time. In summary, this study revealed that age, presence of comorbidities, length of hospitalization, and drug treatment considerably altered COVID-19's lethality. To understand infection rates and the factors involved in COVID-19's lethality, knowledge of the local epidemiology is necessary.

ASSOCIAÇÃO ENTRE TIPO SANGUÍNEO ABO E RESULTADO DO RT-PCR PARA SARS-COV-2

Introdução: Estudos apontam relação entre grupos sanguíneos e diversas condições clínicas como, por exemplo, eventos trombóticos, doença de von Willebrande doenças infecciosas como SARS-CoV-1, H. pylori entre outros. Associação entre maior susceptibilidade à COVID-19 e pior evolução em indivíduos do grupo sanguíneo A vem sendo estudada por diversos grupos. Objetivo: Neste estudo, analisamos a correlação entre os grupos sanguíneos ABO e resultado do teste para o vírus SARS-CoV-2 por RT-PCR em um laboratório de análises clínicas com grande fluxo de amostras representativas das cinco regiões do Brasil. Material e métodos: Os dados foram obtidos do banco de dados do laboratório referente a 20 anos de registro, analisados de forma anonimizada e de acordo com as regras que regem a lei geral de proteção de dados (LGPD). Os registros possuem um identificador numérico único que leva em conta CPF e data de nascimento e todas as análises foram feitas considerando-se esta identificação. Foram obtidas as tipagem sanguínea ABO/Rh e os resultados de RT-PCR para SARS-CoV-2. Para este último, os indivíduos foram classificados “covid-positivo”quando ao menos um exame resultou positivo. Os demais foram considerados “covid-negativo”. As análises foram realizadas no banco de dados obtido do cruzamento do banco de indivíduos únicos com tipagem sanguínea e ao menos um teste para COVID-19. Análise estatística foi realizada do teste chi-quadrado de Pearson e V-quadrado de Cramér. Resultados e discussão: Foram identificados 66.181 indivíduos que realizaram tipagem sanguínea e ao menos um teste para SARS-CoV-2. A distribuição global dos grupos ABO é a que segue: grupo O 44%, grupo A 41%, grupo B 11% e grupo AB 4%, compatível com a distribuição dos grupos no Brasil (O 45%, A 42%, B 10% e AB 3%).Do total de indivíduos estudado, 21% (13.617) apresentou ao menos um resultado positivo para SARS-CoV-2, distribuídos da seguinte forma por grupo sanguíneo: tipo O 42%, A 42%, B 12% e AB 4%. A distribuição dos grupos sanguíneos entre os indivíduos negativos para SARS-CoV-2 foi: tipo O 44%, A 41%, B 11% e AB 4%. As análises consideraram grupo ABO e Rh. Foi realizado um teste chi-quadrado de independência de variáveis e verificou-se associação positiva entre o tipo sanguíneo e a infecção por COVID-19 (χ2 = 27,273, df = 7, p = 0,0002975).O teste pós-hoc de comparação entre status de COVID-19 e tipo sanguíneo sugere associação entre o tipo B- e infecção por COVID-19 (p = 0.0407700).Entretanto, este dado não foi confirmado por análise adicional pelo teste V de Cramér, sugerindo que o efeito observado está provavelmente associado ao grande número de amostras do que uma associação real entre as variáveis.Sabe-se que a testagem para COVID-19 pode resultar em falso negativo quando realizada fora da janela de maior sensibilidade para detecção do vírus. Deve-se considerar que, na presente análise, a informação sobre início dos sintomas e data de realização do teste não está disponível. Entretanto, o grande número de casos analisados diminui o impacto da ausência desta informação. Outro ponto importante a ser considerado é que não foram avaliados parâmetros de evolução clínica dos pacientes, sendo os dados restritos à presença ou não de diagnóstico positivo para COVID-19. Conclusão: Não foi demonstrada associação entre o tipo sanguíneo e a suscetibilidade a infecções por COVID-19 no grupo analisado.

Exploring system, site, and patient level factors affecting implementation of a dementia care support program in a safety net health system

Background The LA County Department of Health Services (LAC DHS) implemented The Care Ecosystem1, a phone-based dementia care support and education program utilizing Dementia Navigators (DNs) to address unmet needs of patients with dementia and their caregivers (dyads). This is the first time that this program has been implemented in an underserved, multilingual and multicultural population. We used the Replicating Effective Programs (REP) framework to identify implementation barriers at multiple levels including patient, staff, system and external barriers. Barriers and challenges not identified by REP were captured by the Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM). Methods The program was implemented in 4 distinct DHS clinical sites over 18 months. Dyads were enrolled in months 11-18. Monthly meetings were used to track enrollment data and staff engagement as well as to identify barriers at the patient, site, and systems levels. Results One hundred and three patients were referred to the program across all 4 sites, and 47 were enrolled (45.6%). The site with the highest level of PI engagement had the highest number of referrals (N = 63) and patients enrolled (N=22). The site with the highest level of DN engagement had the highest percentage (78.3%) of enrolled patients (N=18) from those referred (N = 23). REP-PRISM factors impacting staff engagement, patient referral, and enrollment identified during the monthly meetings include staff turnover, competing obligations, and administrative support. Other factors include dyad health status, stigma associated with dementia diagnosis, and access to communication technology. COVID-19, an external factor, significantly impacted the implementation process. Conclusions The REP-PRISM framework helped identify implementation barriers at multiple levels while establishing a dementia support program in a safety net health system, and will help inform future implementation projects within this population. Engagement by all study personnel in regular meetings improved program implementation by enhancing communication, support and problem-solving.

Orientations to Happiness and University Students’ Engagement during the COVID-19 Era: Evidence from Six American Countries

Positive personal characteristics such as happiness or wellbeing can motivate students to elevate their school performance in higher education. Orientation to happiness is a construct that combines three sources of happiness: pleasure, meaning, and engagement, all of which have been identified as a predictor of university student’s engagement. However, most research in this area has been conducted during ideal situations or face-to-face education, and no cross-country research has been published examining the relationship between these two concepts during the COVID-19 era, where online education was predominant. This study aimed to investigate the relation between orientation to happiness and student engagement after twelve months of distance education in a sample of 1723 students from six American countries, including the USA, Mexico, El Salvador, Colombia, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. Results indicate that university student´s engagement is influenced by the orientation to happiness. Further implications of these results are discussed. © 2022, Hipatia Editorial. All rights reserved.

Sentiment Analysis of Tweets Related to SUS Before and During COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the whole world since the beginning of 2020. In Brazil, over 70% of the population rely on the Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS). Knowing public opinion related to SUS is very important for the improvement of services and assistance provided by such an entity. Sentiment analysis has been used in several applications including social networks and blogs to extract public opinion. Despite the fact that other papers have already worked with sentiment analysis, none of them have focused on SUS. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to analyse the sentiments shown by Brazillian Twitter users about SUS before and during COVID-19 pandemic. To reach this goal, a database of portuguese tweets regarding SUS posted between december 2019 and october 2020 was created. The tweets were pre-processed, classified and then analysed. The results show that, in most cases, users are in favor of SUS.

Application of Machine Learning to Infer Symptoms and Risk Factors of Covid-19

This article presents a model that aims to identify with Machine Learning (ML) technics the main symptoms and risk factors affected in patients with Coronavirus Covid-19, registered in the database of epidemiological surveillance of state and municipal information in Brazil. The concept behind ML is the ability to learn and reason. Its application can optimize and make the treatment and care process more accurate for the cases diagnosed with the Covid-19, also known as SARS-CoV-2, adjusting the medical data recorded concerning the disease and reducing the number of symptoms and risk factors, denoting an efficient form of attribute engineering, providing those involved with the clinical observation of a minor sign. We propose an approach structured in the composition of Machine Learning algorithms, aiming to discover knowledge and concepts followed by the refinement of the results. In this article, the proposed model is presented, and a shorter trail of symptomatic observations from Covid-19 are provided. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Parental Involvement during Pandemic Times: Challenges and Opportunities

Due to COVID-19, many countries implemented emergency plans, such as lockdown and school closures. This new situation has significantly affected families, namely, the involvement required to support children's learning at home. The current study aimed to analyze Portuguese parents' perceptions of their home-based parental involvement in their children's learning during the lockdown and school closures in 2020 due to COVID-19. An online survey, using a closed-ended questionnaire, was employed. Variables included parents' sociodemographic and COVID-19 related characteristics;students' sociodemographic characteristics;distance learning context;parental involvement;and students' autonomy. Data were collected from a sample of 21,333 parents with children from elementary school to secondary education, and statistical data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26. Findings revealed that Portuguese parents supported their children during the pandemic mainly through the monitoring of attention in classes and task realization. However, several variables appear to significantly determine parental involvement time, which is higher when students attend public schools, when they are less autonomous and younger, when parents' level of education is lower, when the child is a boy (except in secondary education where gender is not relevant), and when the online school time is higher. Findings highlight the need for a significant investment of time from parents, particularly of primary school children, making it difficult to cohere work or telework with school activities. Implications for policies, schools, families are discussed in order to promote children's learning and success.

Ultrasound and Doppler findings in pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

OBJECTIVES: To describe and compare ultrasound and Doppler findings in pregnant women who were positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with findings in those who were SARS-CoV-2-negative, evaluated during the pandemic period. METHODS: In this retrospective case-control study, we analyzed data from 106 pregnant women who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the time of, or within 1 week of, an ultrasound scan between 1 May and 31 August 2020. Scans were either performed for routine fetal evaluation or indicated due to a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. Forty-nine women were symptomatic and 57 were asymptomatic. For comparison, we analyzed data from 103 pregnant women matched for maternal age, parity, body mass index and gestational age at the time of the ultrasound scan. These control women did not report symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection at the time of the ultrasound scan or at the time of admission for delivery and had a negative SARS-CoV-2 test at admission for delivery. Fetal biometry, fetal anatomy, amniotic fluid volume and Doppler parameters, including umbilical and fetal middle cerebral artery pulsatility indices, cerebroplacental ratio and biophysical profile (BPP), were evaluated as indicated. Biometric and Doppler values were converted to Z-scores for comparison. Our primary outcome, an adverse prenatal composite outcome (APCO) included any one or more of: small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetus, oligohydramnios, abnormal BPP, abnormal Doppler velocimetry and fetal death. Comorbidities, delivery information and neonatal outcome were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Eighty-seven (82.1%) women who were positive for SARS-CoV-2 had a body mass index > 25 kg/m2 . SARS-CoV-2-positive women had a higher prevalence of diabetes (26/106 (24.5%) vs 13/103 (12.6%); P = 0.03), but not of pre-eclampsia (21/106 (19.8%) vs 11/103 (10.7%); P = 0.08), compared with controls. The prevalence of APCO was not significantly different between SARS-CoV-2-positive women (19/106 (17.9%)) and controls (9/103 (8.7%)) (P = 0.06). There were no differences between SARS-CoV-2-positive women and controls in the prevalence of SGA fetuses (12/106 (11.3%) vs 6/103 (5.8%); P = 0.17), fetuses with abnormal Doppler evaluation (8/106 (7.5%) vs 2/103 (1.9%); P = 0.08) and fetuses with abnormal BPP (4/106 (3.8%) vs 0/103 (0%); P = 0.14). There were two fetal deaths in women who were positive for SARS-CoV-2 and these women had a higher rate of preterm delivery ≤ 35 weeks of gestation (22/106 (20.8%) vs 9/103 (8.7%); odds ratio, 2.73 (95% CI, 1.19-6.3); P = 0.01) compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in abnormal fetal ultrasound and Doppler findings observed between pregnant women who were positive for SARS-CoV-2 and controls. However, preterm delivery ≤ 35 weeks was more frequent among SARS-CoV-2-positive women. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Memes and semiotic processes related to the pandemic in Mexico

evasalgadoandrade@gmail.com In order to examine the semiotic processes associated with the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico, the present work analyzes memes that circulated on the Internet in the first half of 2020. Based on an interdisciplinary theoretical framework, this study reveals how these digital discourses contribute to the construction of social meanings that reinforce discrimination and exclusion, spread global ideologies, act as a vehicle for the collective expression of emotions and become a semiotic resource for either the reinforcement of sudden and massive processes involving semiotic constraints (such as social distancing or confinement), or for the semiotic conversion brought about by the "new normal. © 2021 Universidad de Guadalajara. All rights reserved.

Training in healthcare during and after COVID-19: proposal for simulation training

INTRODUCTION: The challenge of facing COVID-19 falls under all health care structures, and without specific training to health care professionals they are probably the professionals with the highest level of exposure. Regardless of the level of health care, the training of professionals aims to optimize resources and attend patients while assuring quality and security. POINT OF VIEW: This report proposes simulation training for health care professionals to update professionals for attending patients during the pandemic. This training was built with five simulated stations, considering different stages of a patient with COVID-19. This report takes advantage of different simulation techniques, such as skills training, standardized patient, medium- and high-fidelity simulator, rapid cycle of deliberate practice, and in situ simulation. DISCUSSION: Medical procedures for COVID-19 patients offer additional risk for health care professionals, especially considering exposure to procedures that generate aerosols, such as compression, mask ventilation, and orotracheal intubation. Thus, finding educational strategies that allow training is essential to simulate the evolution of COVID-19 patients in a safe manner. CONCLUSION: Simulation has proven to be a useful and effective form of training around the world for training health teams on the front lines for patient care in COVID-19.

Addressing mental health issues during health crisis situations

This review article discusses mental health issues in crisis situations, particularly in this crisis situation with COVID-19. In addition, strategies for addressing mental health during crisis situations are also presented,as well as suggestions on maintaining good mental health during the pandemic.