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Background: Although COVID-19 preferentially affects the respiratory system, it has been demonstrated that coronaviruses frequently invade the nervous system. Objectives: We aimed to report the frequency and type of neurological manifestations in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
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Toll -like receptors (TLRs) are a class of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that detect pathogen associated molecular patterns and activate innate and adaptive immune system. Coronaviruses can be detected via TLRs through their biological materials such as ribonucleic acids, glycoproteins and CpG motifs. During COVID -19 pandemic, different strategies have been used for combating SARS -CoV -2 to initiate a proper and balanced immune response through TLRs or other PRRS. Understanding the trigerred TLR signaling pathways during coronavirus infections would assist to understand the control and defense mechanisms against these viral diseases. In this review, we summarize different studies on the use and function of of TLRs and their signaling pathways as vaccines/adjuvants or therapeutic agents against coronavirus infections. Since the pandemic is ongoing and there still many unknowns with respect to COVID -19 immunology, we highlight the role of TLRs and their agonists/antagonists in previous coronavirus infections, and show their potential role in the current SARS -CoV -2 immunopathology.
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Background and Aim: The preparation of the healthcare staff is one of the influencing factors in providing the correct treatment, care, and proper control to deal with biological threats. Since the preparation of nurses is understood under the influence of variables of knowledge, attitude, performance, and sense of danger, so this study aims to determine the level of knowledge, attitude, performance, and sense of danger of military clinical nurses in facing biological threats with special emphasis on COVID-19 disease. Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional descriptive-correlation study that was conducted in 2021 using stratified random sampling in 600 military clinical nurses in selected hospitals of East Azerbaijan. The validity and reliability of the nurses' preparation questionnaires were evaluated by calculating the content validity ratio (CVR = 0.94) and content validity index (CVI = 0.83). The information obtained from the questionnaires was entered into SPSS statistical software and the data analysis was performed at a significance level of 5%. Results: The preparedness of military clinical nurses in facing biological threats during the covid-19 pandemic had a significant correlation with the variables related to knowledge, attitude, performance and, sense of perceived risk (P<0.001). Univariate regression analysis showed that male nurses had a weaker level of knowledge and attitude and sense of perceived risk regarding the covid-19 disease. But female nurses had better performance than male nurses. In this study, history of suffering from this disease (P = 0.683) and work shift (P = 0.877) did not have a significant relationship with the performance of nurses in the face of covid-19 disease. Conclusion: The level of knowledge and performance of clinical nurses is favorable and the level of their attitude and sense of perceived risk is average. It seems that in order to ensure the readiness of nursing staff against biological threats such as the covid-19 epidemic and to maintain it at the desired level, it is necessary to carry out interventions such as continuous training and in-service training. © 2022 Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.
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Religious tourism, as one of the most significant types of tourism, is among the most seriously affected economic sectors worldwide as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This study sought to identify and prioritise the strategies for sustaining post-COVID-19 religious tourism. The study was an applied survey that drew on a mixed research design. The results of the qualitative data analysis obtained through a systematic literature review revealed that the recovery strategies to boost businesses in the field of religious tourism in the post-COVID-19 future could be divided into four main strategies (dimensions) and 24 sub-strategies (criteria). Furthermore, the quantitative analysis, conducted through the R-SWARA technique, showed that ‘making it mandatory to maintain a distance from sacred monuments (e.g., tombs) and prohibiting touching or having any physical contact with such monuments’, ‘Understanding religious tourists’ health-related expectations’, ‘making it mandatory to use masks and other health-related equipment in sacred/ religious locations’, and ‘reducing the capacity for welcoming tourists in sacred and tourism sites while holding religious ceremonies with a small number of attendants’ were the most significant strategies that could boost religious tourism post-COVID-19. These factors were prioritised by experts and activists in the industry who shared their opinions in this study. © International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage
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Throughout 2020 and beyond, the entire world has observed a continuous increase in the infectious spread of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) otherwise known as COVID-19. The high transmission of this airborne virus has raised countless concerns regarding safety measures employed in the working conditions for medical professionals. Specifically, those who perform treatment procedures on patients which intrinsically create mists of fine airborne droplets, i.e., perfect vectors for this and other viruses to spread. The present study focuses on understanding the splatter produced due to a common dentistry technique to remove plaque buildup on teeth. This technique uses a high-speed dentistry instrument, e.g., a Cavitron ultrasonic scaler, to scrape along the surface of a patient's teeth. This detailed understanding of the velocity and the trajectory of the droplets generated by the splatter will aid in the development of hygiene mechanisms to guarantee the safety of those performing these procedures and people in clinics or hospitals. Optical flow tracking velocimetry (OFTV) method was employed to obtain droplet velocity and trajectory in a two-dimensional plane. Multiple data collection planes were taken in different orientations around a model of adult mandibular teeth. This technique provided pseudo-three-dimensional velocity information for the droplets within the splatter developed from this high-speed dental instrument. These results indicated that within the three-dimensional splatter produced there were high velocities (1-2 m/s) observed directly below the intersection point between the front teeth and the scaler. The splatter formed a cone-shape structure that propagated 10-15 mm away from the location of the scaler tip. From the droplet trajectories, it was observed that high velocity isolated droplets propagate away from the bulk of the splatter. It is these droplets which are concerning for health safety to those performing the medical procedures. Using a shadowgraphy technique, we further characterize the individual droplets' size and their individual velocity. We then compare these results to previously published distributions. The obtained data can be used as a first step to further examine flow and transport of droplets in clinics/dental offices.
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Introduction: Lung US has been reported to be as useful as a chest CT scan and much better than a chest x-ray for the evaluation of pneumonia. Objective: This study aimed to compare the findings of lung ultrasound (US) and chest CT scan of patients with COVID-19-associated pneumonia in the Emergency Department (ED). Methods: This retrospective observational pilot study was carried out on confirmed COVID-19 patients in the isolation corona ward of the Imam Hussein Hospital ED from March 15 to March 22, 2020. After obtaining demographic data, the patients underwent a pulmonary bedside US examination, with the patients in the sitting position, turning their back to the examiner. A 10-point lung US was performed. Each lung was divided into two areas: posterior (three zones) and lateral (two zones). The patients’ lung ultrasound and chest CT scan as the standard imaging were blindly reviewed and recorded. The clinical value of ultrasound was evaluated with different severity of lung involvement according to CT severity score. Results: Nineteen patients (38 zones), including 13 males, were evaluated with a mean age of 62.5±16.8 years. B2 lines and consolidation observed in the US examinations were significantly correlated with ground-glass opacity and consolidation observed in CT scan examinations, respectively (p <0.0001). US sensitivity and specificity of finding B2 lines were 90% and 100%, respectively. Also, the sensitivity and specificity of US in identifying consolidation were 82% and 100%, respectively. In the lungs with moderate and severe lobar involvement, US findings were significantly correlated (p <0.05) with CT scan findings. Conclusions: Ultrasound evaluation is a safe, fast, and rapid technique for the evaluation of patients with moderate to severe COVID-19-associated pneumonia. It is a reproducible procedure and can be implemented by the operator after a short course of training. © 2021 Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
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The epidemic of COVID-19 and its associated acute respiratory syndrome has posed an unprecedented challenge in identifying effective drugs to prevent and treat it. Due to the high prevalence of this disease and the high number of people at risk, medical staff needs accurate evidence regarding effective drug treatments for this infection. There is currently no effective treatment for COVID-19. But the rapid development of knowledge about the virology of SARS-CoV-2 provides a significant number of potential pharmacological targets. Evidence suggests that the data provided on the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine is contradictory, but it seems that Remdesivir, although not yet approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, has strong laboratory activity against the virus is the most promising drug treatment. In addition to these results, some clinical trials have ruled out the effectiveness of Oseltamivir and limit the use of corticosteroids. Also, current clinical evidence does not support the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers in patients with COVID-19. The COVID-19 epidemic is the largest global public health crisis of the present era since the outbreak of the flu pandemic in 1918. The speed and volume of clinical trials that have begun to examine potential treatments for COVID-19 indicate the urgent need to find the optimal treatment for this problem as soon as possible, which has not yet been conclusively effective.
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Background: The pandemic of Covid-19 is spreading around the world. Extensive research is needed to focus on identifying the underlying causes of the disease. This study aimed to investigate the clinical and etiological symptoms of the Covid-19. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study, conducted on 510 infected patients in the infectious disease clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran from March 2019 to June 2020 for A period of Four months during the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic. The method of selecting patients was continuous and was divided into two groups of 179 inpatients and 331 outpatients based on lung scan and clinical symptoms. Demographic information, clinical signs, and risk factors were collected through a questionnaire and the data were statistically analyzed. Results: Symptoms such as fever, chills and cough were reported in the majority of patients in both groups, to such an extent that they were present in 176 (52%) of outpatients and in 101 (59%) of inpatients. The mean hemoglobin measured in hospitalized patients was lower, P=0.001). Vitamin D3 supplementation was reported in 30% of outpatients and in 16.5% of hospitalized patients (P=0.001). This means that vitamin D3 consumption is higher in the outpatient group. The results showed that Chronic diseases such as hypertension was 4.9 times more likely (OR=4.9, 95% CI2. 433-10.25, P=0.0001) and anemia with 22 times more likely (OR=22.905, 95% CI9. 355-56.083, P=0.000) to be effective in the severity of the disease. It seems Vitamin D3 intake has a supportive effect on reducing the severity of the disease and decreases the risk of the disease getting worse. Conclusion: Fever, chills and cough were important symptoms in identifying infected patients with Covid-19. According to the results of the present study and the findings of other studies, the supportive effect of vitamin D3 in reducing the severity of infectious diseases should be considered. Clinical trials with appropriate sample size are recommended to investigate the functional role of this vitamin in Reducing the severity of viral diseases of the respiratory tract.