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Introduction: Immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 are implicated in herd immunity. Humoral response to vaccines in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) is documented to be sub-optimal. However, the response to non-messenger RNA(mRNA) based vaccines in KTRs is not known Methods: SARS-CoV-2 spike protein IgG antibody response was assessed in KTRs using chemiluminescence immunoassay. Patients were characterized by the number of vaccine doses received and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in past. Result(s): Out of 224 KTRs evaluated, 197 (87.94%) had positive S1/S2 IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with a median [IQR] titre of 307.5 AU/ml [91 AU/ml - 400 AU/ml]. High titres (in neutralizing range) were found in 170/224 (75.9%) KTRs. Seropositivity rates after 2 doses of vaccination were significantly higher than unvaccinated KTRs (88.67% vs 66.7%;p = 0.006). After adjusting for cofounders, KTRs with diabetes at the time of vaccination were less likely to develop antibody response (aOR 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] - 0.10, 0.90;p = 0.032). Higher eGFR was also an independent predictor of antibody response (aOR 1.04 95% CI - 1.01, 1.08;p = 0.005). KTRs vaccinated with CovishieldTM developed higher antibody response as compared to CovaxinTM (aOR 5.04, 95% CI - 1.56, 16.22;p = 0.007). Conclusion(s): A high rate of seroconversion was seen in KTRs after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination with non mRNA vaccines. The presence of diabetes and decreased eGFR independently predicted lower seroconversion rates. No conflict of interestCopyright © 2023
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Introduction: Triggered by the recent revolution posed by the digital era, medical education has evolved enormously over the last decade. Much of this transformation was further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Video Abstracts are an innovative tool in science communication allowing a quick overview of a scientific paper. It can be used to build capacity by connecting patients and healthcare professionals to education and research, fostering critical thinking, and filling gaps in education. The Video Abstracts Series is an initiative that was envisioned by the ISN Education Working Group in association with the DOPPS collaboration and put into action by the ISN Education Social Media Team. Starting in Dec 2021, the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) Video Abstracts Series has integrated the ISN global education strategy. The videos are allowed a maximum length of 2:20 min to fit the Twitter limits. It constitutes a video narrative of a study's principal characteristics and findings. The project was fully developed based on voluntary work, from conception to video production. Method(s): This study aimed to assess quantitatively the impact of the ISN Video Abstracts Series initiative. From Dec 2021 to Sept 2022, video impressions, engagements, and video views from Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and the Academy were analyzed. Result(s): The ISN Video Abstracts Series highlighted studies published in the Kidney International Reports (KIR, n=12);Kidney International (KI, n=12);and the ISN-DOPPS initiative (n=1). In combination, the 25 Video Abstracts, resulted in 139,402 impressions;3,434 engagements;and 25,041 video views. Most of the interactions occurred on Twitter (79.8%). In this digital platform, on average videos had 5,300 impressions and 790 views. The videos redirected the user to the journal publication in 435 instances. The ISN Video Abstracts Series addressing the KIR publication "Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Biosynthetic Impairment and Urinary Metabolomic Alterations Observed in Hospitalized Adults With COVID19-Related AKI", had the most views (n=2,125). Conclusion(s): The future of continuing medical education relies on new strategies and media to build capacity and bridge the gaps. The ISN offers a wide variety of educational and interactive resources through Social Media and the ISN Academy, its official e-Learning portal. The Video Abstracts Series is an innovative, inclusive, and resourceful tool. It combines sharp and concise information with an entertaining format that captures and retains the user's attention, opening new perspectives in the ISN strategy to boost continuing medical education in nephrology globally. No conflict of interestCopyright © 2023
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We propose a network based framework to model spread of disease. We study the evolution and control of spread of virus using the standard SIR-like rules while incorporating the various available models for social interaction. The dynamics of the framework has been compared with the real-world data of COVID-19 spread in India. This framework is further used to compare vaccination strategies. © 2021, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
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Introduction: The appearance of the COVID -19 pandemic in the early months of 2020 has changed the way education is delivered, by drastically reducing face to face interaction. In the light of the current situation, professional bodies have ramped up virtual modes of education in the form of webinars, quizzes and various gamifications of learning formats. @ISN Education and its social media team has been in the forefront in presenting and propagating educational initiatives using social media and interacting with ISN Education Working Group and the Academy platform since early 2020. In this study we look at the changing dynamics of online nephrology education in 2020, focussing on @ISN Education Webinars and Quizzes. Methods: The study looks at the participation, attendance, interest rating and attentiveness of the webinars (and the linked social media activities) conducted by the @ISN Education in 2020.The data regarding the webinars conducted by the ISN Education group from May 2019 till November 2020 was collected and analysed for the number of registrations, attendance, attentiveness and interest rating. The data collected was compared between two time points (May 2019 to December 2019 vs January 2020 to November 2020) to better understand the impact of the pandemic on virtual educational initiatives. Data generated from social media activities (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube) and quizzes linked to these webinars in 2020 was analysed.Statistical Analysis was done using SPSS Version 22. Results: There were 7 webinars in 2019 and 11 in 2020 till November 2020. The total number of registrations in 2020 was higher than in 2019 (4729 vs 1299:p=0.079). Similarly, the number of attendees in 2020 was higher than in 2019 (2146 vs 465;p=0.084). This was expected as there were more webinars in 2020 (11) than in 2019 (7). The mean (±sd) registrations and attendees in 2020 were still higher than in 2019. (registrations 429.91 ±40.269 in 2020 vs. 185.57 ±96.609 in 2019, p=0.08 and attendees 195.09 ±180.65 in 2020 vs 66.43±36.65 in 2019,p=0.08). The percentage of registrants who actually attended the webinars in 2019 (35.8%) was significantly lower than in 2020 (45.4%)(p=0.01). In 2020 the percentage of attendance was higher in April-June (48%), July -September (49.1%) than in the Jan -March (41.7%). The Spanish language webinars had a lesser attendance perhaps a result of the time at which the webinars were conducted (morning hours in Latin America) All webinars were promoted and introduced on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. 3 webinars were introduced in Instagram also.Twitter was the most commonly used media tool for promotion of the webinars(78.5%) and Instagram was least preferred(6%). The webinar titled “COVID19 for the Nephrologist- Real life experience from Italy” was the most popular webinar with 2940 engagements and 41978 impressions on Twitter and had the highest quiz engagement. Conclusions: The webinars conducted by @ISN Education had a higher level of meaningful participation (registration and attendance) during the COVID 19 pandemic. A robust social media interaction in relation to the webinars was noted and demonstrated to be a useful tool to propagate the educational content. A quiz linked to the webinars also garnered interest and had encouraging participation statistics. No conflict of interest