ABSTRACT
Objective: In the research conducted during the pandemic period, it has been determined that IRF7, TBK1, IFNAR1, IFNAR2, and TLR3 immunity genes play an important role in the predisposition to SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, there is no information about variants of these genes in the Turkish population. The aim of this study was to determine the variants specific to the our study's population in these genes that predispose to infections and to compare them with other populations. Materials and Methods: The variants in the exonic and flanking intronic regions of these five genes were analysed in in-house whole-exome sequencing data of 139 unrelated non-anonymous individuals. The allele frequencies of variants were compared with other population datasets. The DysGeNet database was used to determine human diseases associated with these genes. Results: In our population, gene variants were detected including 28 in IRF7, 16 in TBK1, 18 in IFNAR1, 19 in IFNAR2, and 9 in TLR3. The allele frequencies of variants were compared with other populations. Of these variants, 9 were determined to be novel, previously unreported variants. It was shown that these genes are mainly involved in cancer and infectious diseases, especially viral infections according to the DisGeNET database. Conclusion: The determination of immunity gene variants specific to our population and the variability of allele frequencies among populations suggest that it may cause differences in immune response, especially to SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, preliminary information was obtained for studies that will investigate the relationship between the clinical manifestations of infectious diseases and immunity gene variants.
ABSTRACT
More and more instructors have begun using blended learning to overcome the challenges encountered during the covid-19 pandemic. However, still not much known about influential factors in students' acceptance of such hybrid learning systems. For this purpose, a framework that includes key attributes such as;information quality and system quality, system interactivity, user satisfaction, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and blended learning system use was developed. Pearson correlations were used to analyze data from 700 respondents. Findings revealed that, while there exist no significant relationships among system quality-user satisfaction and user satisfaction-use for blended learning and relatively weak, positive relations exist among perceived ease of use-use for blended learning. In addition to a low, positive relationship between perceived usefulness and use for blended learning, moderate positive correlations exist among system interactivity-user satisfaction and perceived ease of use-perceived usefulness. Finally, high positive correlations exist among information quality-user satisfaction, user satisfaction-perceived usefulness, and user satisfaction-perceived ease of use. Information quality is important in students' satisfaction when using the blended systems. This also affects the perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of the system. The decision-makers and institutions benefit from this study by considering only the factors leading to a successful implementation of blended learning. (C) 2021 INT TRANS J ENG MANAG SCI TECH.
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 pandemic have enormous impact on healthcare systems around the world. The majority of cases are asymptomatic or mild, with a severe course in 15-20% of patients. In severe cases, treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) is required for severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. A number of physical, cognitive and mental disorders defined as "Post-Intensive Care Syndrome" are seen in ICU survivors and determine the long-term prognosis of patients. COVID-19 affects other organ systems besides its well-known pulmonary involvement. ICU associated complications, pulmonary and extrapulmonary involvement of the disease will cause a growing proportion of patients with COVID-19 infection related sequelae and disability. Therefore, the implementation of effective rehabilitation programs for COVID-19 survivors has come to the fore. Considering the pulmonary, neurological, musculoskeletal and ICU related complications, rehabilitation professionals can play an important role in the recovery process of individuals with COVID-19 disease. In this review, intensive care associated complications of COVID-19 infection, pulmonary and extrapulmonary involvements will be discussed and treatment with available early evidence and general rehabilitation approaches will be mentioned.
ABSTRACT
Background: The prognostic factors for COVID-19 in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are uncertain. We conducted a propensity score-matched study to compare clinical and prognostic features between hospitalized COVID-19 patients with and without CKD. Methods: Patients with estimated creatinine clearance below 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 for more than three months, were included in the CKD group. Fifty-six patients and the propensity score-matched fifty-six control patients were followed-up at least 15 days or until death after diagnosis of COVID-19. All demographic data and diagnostic and therapeutic methods were evaluated. The endpoints were all-cause mortality and acute kidney injury (AKI). Results: Patient and control groups were reviewed retrospectively over a median follow-up of 44 days (IQR, 36-52 days) after diagnosis of COVID-19. Patients in the CKD group had higher intensive care unit follow-up and mortality rates than the other group, but these results did not reach statistical significance (16 [28.6%] vs. 19 [33.9%];p=0.54 and 11 [19.6%] vs. 16 [28.6%], p=0.269, respectively). The frequency of AKI was significantly higher in predialysis patients with CKD compared to the other group (8 [14.3%] vs. 5 [45.5%];p<0.001), but there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of cytokine release syndrome and respiratory failure (13 [23.2%] vs. 8 [14.2%];p=0.226, 25 [44.6%] vs. 22 [39.3%], p=0.566, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that respiratory failure (39.283 [95% CI, 7.296 to 211.519;P<0.001] and AKI (10.961 [95% CI, 1.688 to 71.186;P=0.012] were independent risk factors for the mortality. Conclusions: The prognosis of COVID-19 in patients with CKD is worse than non-uremic patients. Also, AKI and respiratory failure are independent risk factors for mortality.