How do Researchers Use Social Media for Science Communication?

This study provides an overview of social media usage among researchers in Malaysia and examines factors affecting their use for science communication. The online questionnaire gathered the opinions of 425 researchers from over 20 science disciplines. The descriptive analysis highlighted usage preferences for 10 commonly used social media, while statistical analysis in particular MANOVA and correlation analysis, identified significant factors influencing researchers' social media use. Up to 62% of respondents believe that social media is more effective in reaching the public, compared to other media. WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate are routinely used or perceived as beneficial to use. However, Twitter, Instagram, WordPress, and LinkedIn are seldom used because they are less preferred for science communication. Seniority, perceived importance, and perceived credibility are significantly correlated with both intention and actual use. Meanwhile, age and experience are significantly correlated with actual use, but not the intention. Researchers are likely to post and share more on social media if they believe that science communication is important or if they are credible enough to present a scientific consensus. This study offered important insights into the perceptions, concerns, and factors influencing their use for science communication. By determining the perceptions, concerns and motivators affecting researchers, the findings shed light on effective ways to promote researchers' use of social media to communicate scientific knowledge. © The Author(s) 2023.

Operation within 7 Weeks after Covid-19 Infection Is Safe in Selected Group of Patients with Proper Precaution

Aim: It was recommended that surgery should be delayed for at least 7 weeks following COVID-19 infection to reduce risk of operation. However, for patients undergoing cancer surgery, a delay of 7-week might not be feasible practically. The aim of this case report was to demonstrate that it would be safe to carry out operation during early post-COVID period in selected cases with proper prophylaxis. Method(s): We prospectively collected data for patients undergoing cancer surgery and emergency operation in the hepatobiliary team from Mar 2022 to May 2022. Informed consent for recording and publication of the data was obtained from patients. COVID-19 related data and peri-operative outcome and measures to prevent postoperative complications were recorded. Patients were followed-up in our clinic after 8 weeks post-operatively. Result(s): 4 patients receiving elective hepatobiliary cancer surgery and 1 patient receiving emergency laparotomy for intestinal obstruction were recruited. The time from positive COVID-19 to operation ranged from 23 to 45 days. All patients were asymptomatic for COVID-19 at the time of operation. Prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis and pneumonia was employed for all cases. All our patients recovered from surgery without pulmonary complication or unexpected ICU admission. There was no mortality in our case series. The patients' length-of-stay ranged from 4 to 12 days. Conclusion(s): It was safe to perform operation in carefully selected patients within 7 weeks after COVID-19 infection with appropriate peri-operative complication prevention measures.

Systematic review of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine in treatment of COVID-19

Objective: To systematically evaluate the efficacy of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine in the treatment of COVID-19, and to provide evidence for the clinical treatment of COVID-19. Methods: PubMed, Medline, EMbase, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP databases were searched by computer to collect clinical studies on the treatment of COVID-19 combined with traditional Chinese and western medicine. The retrieval time was up to February 2021. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two researchers independently retrieved and screened literatures and extracted data, and Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 12.0 software. Results: A total of 27 studies were included in the Meta-analysis, including 12 RCTs and 15 retrospective studies, involving 2215 patients. The results of Meta-analysis showed that integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine could significantly shorten the length of hospital stay for COVID-19 patients [WMD=-0.84, 95% CI (-1.42, -0.27), P=0.004];The effective rate [RR=1.14, 95% CI (1.08, 1.21), P=0.000], lung CT improvement rate [RR=1.19, 95% CI (1.04, 1.35), P=0.000], and nucleic acid negative conversion rate [RR=1.40, 95% CI (1.16, 1.69), P=0.000] was increased;Patients' clinical symptoms was improved [WMD=-0.82, 95% CI (-1.08, -0.55), P=0.000] and the rate of transforming to severe disease was reduced [RR=0.37, 95%CI (0.25, 0.56), P=0.000]. In addition, compared with western medicine treatment alone, the disappearance rate of fever, cough and fatigue in COVID-19 patients treated with integrated Chinese and western medicine was significantly increased and the duration was significantly shortened (P < 0.05). The results of subgroup analysis were consistent with the above results, with statistical differences ( P< 0.05). Conclusion: The treatment of COVID-19 with integrated Chinese and western medicine is better than that with western medicine alone, and can significantly improve the treatment efficiency, CT improvement rate and nucleic acid negative conversion rate, reduce the proportion of ordinary patients converted to critical patients and improve the main clinical symptoms of COVID-19 patients. Thus the treatment of integrated Chinese and western medicine has positive clinical value for COVID-19. © 2021, Editorial Office of Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. All right reserved.