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Aim: If we consider that online education will maintain its importance after the pandemic;determining the perceived advantages and disadvantages of online education will contribute to improving the online education opportunities of medical faculties. In our study, it is aimed to investigate the characteristics of online education experiences of medical students. Methods: The study group was composed of students who were educated in first – third classes at Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine (total 747 students). A questionnaire created by the researchers was used in data collection. Results: Two-hundred-thirty-two people were included in the research. The most liked aspects of online education were that there was no transportation problem with 83.2% (n=193) and flexibility with 57.3% (n=133). The most common barriers to online education were internet connection problems with 77.6% (n=180) and distractions from family, pets and home environment with 60.8% (n=141). 11.6% of the participants thought that online education was more efficient than face-to-face education, while 24.6% were satisfied with the ongoing online education process. Conclusion: Satisfaction of online education can be increased and can be made more successful by developing the liked aspects of online education and working towards eliminating the obstacles in front of it. © 2023, Eurasian Society of Family Medicine. All rights reserved.
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Introduction: Large number of health care workers (HCW) were infected and died due to COVID-19 infection. It is needed to know the actual seroprevalence of COVID in HCWs to assess the risk and to take protective measures. This study was aimed to measure IgG antibodies against nucleocapsid protein (N) of COVID as a serological marker for detection of viral status in risk prone HCW of Bangladesh and possible association with reno-cardio-metabolic risk factors Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted from May 2021 to January 2022 among physicians and non-physician health care workers (HCW) in three non- COVID designated tertiary hospitals in Bangladesh. Participants' demographic data, medical history and information on past COVID-19 infection and vaccination status were collected. Serial blood samples were collected at 1.5 month in all (n=633) later at 3, 6 and 9 months in vaccinated group. A qualitative measurement of IgG antibody against nucleocapsid protein (N) of SARS-CoV-2 was done by was done by CMIA developed by Abbott (FDA-EUA approved). Result(s): The mean age was 35+/-10years where70% were female. Physician 32%, Nurse 45% and others was 23%. Diabetics were 9.5%, hypertensive 9% and asthma in 5.1%. The two doses of vaccine against COVID-19was completed in 56%. History of past COVID-19 infection was found among 20% participants at recruitment, out of which 13% was diagnosed by rt-PCR. History of past COVID-19 infection was found among 18% participants based on 1gG against N protein. But the subjects in two groups were different. Combination of RTPCR and N protein igG showed 35% seropositive for covid. Comparisons between covid infection positive vs. negative showed only age was different (37+/-11 vs. 34+/-9, years p<0.001) but other risk factors like BMI, SBP, DBP, S Albumin, glucose, hemoglobin were not different (P=NS) between the two groups. Further comparisons for eGFR cut-offs showed higher infection in lower eGFR (infection present vs. absent for >90ml/min group was 17% & 83% and in 60-90 ml/min group 32% &. 68 %). Prevalence of COVID 19 infection based on presence of N antibody (cutoff value >1.5) among vaccinated HCWs at 1.5, 6 and 9 month was 13.6%, 8.8% and 7.7% respectively. The mean titer of IgG (against N protein) >1.5 among vaccinated HCWs at 1.5 month was 3.1+/-1.5 and reduced to 0.87+/-0.96 at month 6 (p<0.001). Conclusion(s): The prevalence of COVID-19 infection in HCWs during the second wave was 35% based on test for RTPR or IgG against N protein positivity. In vaccinated persons, based on antibody against N protein, re-infection rate was around 8% up to 9 months post vaccine. Although no difference was seen for covid infection for cardio-metabolic risk factors, there seems to have some relation of higher infectivity with decreased GFR level. No conflict of interestCopyright © 2023
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This study presents an attempt to examine the reaction of stock prices of selected Kazakhstani firms to the announcement of quarterly earnings increase or decrease between 2012 and 2020 which includes the year of the post-global financial crisis as well as the year marked by the emergence of the virus which hit economies around the world. The event study methodology was applied to seven firms listed on KASE, with estimation and post-estimation windows of 200 and 40 days, respectively between 2012 and 2020. OLS regression was utilised to test the relationship between earnings announcements and stock returns. The findings of this study demonstrate a positive statistically significant price reaction on the next day following the announcement event when considering aggregate returns for a total of 50 earnings events of the sample period. Though, the magnitude and direction of average abnormal returns (AARs) vary when each year is considered separately. Copyright © 2023 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
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This study examines the relationship between financial performance and CSR. Drawing on a sample of 33 airlines for the period of 2016–2020, the study addresses the arduous situation which the airline industry is currently facing, by examining two critical aspects that are mounting in today’s dynamic environment, namely airlines’ financial performance and CSR. The airline industry is one of several industries which are affected due to COVID-19. The study not only draws its sample from recent years, but it also contributes to the existing literature by examining the effect of three moderating variables (i.e., airline type, presence of government ownership, and years of downturn) on the CSR-financial performance relationship. The findings indicate that CSR has no significant impact on financial performance in the airline industry, even after the addition of moderating variables. Our findings suggest that CSR activities are not perceived by the market as value-additive and do not contribute to the airline’s profitability. This could be attributed to specifics of the industry, which is characterised by high competition and price sensitivity. Copyright © 2022 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
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Community pharmacists, who are among the primary healthcare service providers, are regarded as the closest and most accessible healthcare professionals. Unfortunately, patient counseling, one of the most important pharmacy profession tasks, cannot he performed in exceptional cases, which can endanger patient safety. The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic process we are facing today is an example of these particular situations in Turkey. Partial curfews imposed within the scope of COVID-19 pandemic measures have also increased problems. Therefore, there is a need for a pharmaceutical care service network that will enable individuals who do nor have aces to pharmacies, who arc in risk groups, or whose mobility is restricted due to pandemic or disaster, to reach their prescribed medicines safely under pharmacist consultancy. In this regard, establishing a pharmaceutical care service network on a scientific and systematic basis may solve the current problems, mostly encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. Designing a network within the framework of vehicle routing and assignment problems is important in ensuring patients' rapid access to prescribed medications and preventing unfair competition among pharmacies.
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COVID-19 coagulopathy has gained attention due to the strikingly high prevalence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). We describe here a case of bilateral PE preceded by mild COVID-19 contracted 4.5 months earlier in a male patient who presented to the outpatient clinic with exertional dyspnea. The patient had developed PE 9 years earlier, when no underlying genetic factor was detected. In the 4.5 months after contracting mild COVID-19, he presented four times with exertional dyspnea and a thorax computer tomography angiography (CTA) on two occasions and one perfusion scintigraphy revealed no embolism. Based on his high D-dimer values, his symptoms and his history of PE, he was placed on prolonged PE prophylaxis, which was stopped 33 days ago, and at that time, CTA revealed extensive bilateral PE. In conclusion, an unusually longer activation in COVID-19 coagulopathy may co-exist in patients with a history of previous PE, ongoing symptoms and increased D-dimer levels, irrespective of the COVID-19 severity.
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Background: In SARS-COV-2 disease, anosmia and dysgeusia are symptoms that are usually detected together. In our study, it was aimed to investigate the impairments in the sense of smell and taste in our COVID-19 patients and to determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the parameters accompanying this impairment. Methods: The study was conducted retrospectively in patients with positive COVID-19 rtRT-PCR test, whose complaints of smell-taste dysfunction were questioned in 6 centers. Result: 8238 patients questioned for the impaired sense of smell and taste were included in our study. 1756 (21.3%) patients had smell-taste dysfunction. Smell dysfunction started 2.9±2.3 days after the onset of COVID-19 specific symptoms and continued for 9.4±2.7 days. There was a positive correlation between the disturbance of smell and taste and the complaints of fever, sore throat, myalgia, weakness, headache, and negative correlation the complaints of cough. 218 (12.4%) of the patients with smell-taste dysfunction stated that this complaint negatively affected their quality of life. Conclusion: Smell-taste dysfunction is more common, especially with the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection of COVID-19, and has a positive correlation with fever, sore throat, myalgia, weakness, and headache, affects the quality of life of patients and improves in about 10-14 days. © 2021 A. CARBONE Editore. All rights reserved.
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INTRODUCTION: The magnitude of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has produced a great need to determine laboratory parameters of prognostic significance. This information will help identify patients at risk of severe disease and assist in the optimal allocation of limited medical resources. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of systemic-immune-inflammation index (SII), lymphocyte-to-CRP ratio (LCR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and mean thrombocyte volume-to-platelet count ratio (MPV/PLT) values compared with the commonly used laboratory parameters of absolute lymphocyte count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and C-reactive protein (CRP), as prognostic biomarkers of COVID-19. METHODS: The medical records of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia between March 2020 and May 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. The NLR, PLR, LCR, SII, and MPV/PLT values were calculated based on laboratory parameters. The need for oxygen support, non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV), and intensive care treatment were documented, as well as mortal outcomes. The patients were divided into a non-severe group and a severe disease group, which was defined by a respiratory rate of >30/minute or an oxygen saturation <90%. RESULTS: A total of 84 patients were enrolled, including 62 (73.8%) males. The mean age of the study group was 54.07+or-15.70 years. Thirty-seven had at least 1 comorbidity. Twenty-eight patients (33.3%) had severe disease, with 13 (15.5%) requiring NIMV and 13 (15.5%) needing intensive care. Eleven patients died during the study period. Elevated CRP and NLR and decreased absolute lymphocyte counts were statistically significant in predicting disease severity, need for intensive case treatment, and mortality. The SII and PLR findings also reached statistical significance in the prediction of disease severity and the need for intensive care, and the LCR value was a significant predictor of all 3 outcomes. The MPV/PLT ratio was significant only in forecasting mortality. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that inflammatory indexes can be used as prognostic predictors in COVID-19 pneumonia. These index measurements are cost-effective and readily available, and therefore can aid in the early identification and timely medical management of severe cases.