Surviving the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learnt and Experience of a Private Medical School in Malaysia

As a small group of academicians in a private medical university in Malaysia, we observed, in 2020, how the COVID-19 pandemic, changed our lives and the lives of our students. We would like to share our experiences in this commentary. It describes the contingency plans taken by the School of Medicine at International Medical University (IMU) to ensure that the delivery of the medical curriculum and its assessments has the best possible outcome in these tumultuous times, with plans to improve the delivery of teaching and learning, with an emphasis on technology-enhanced learning (TEL). We hope that this commentary is beneficial to those reading and that the contingency plans developed by IMU will help other institutions in the country and in this region navigate safely through the COVID-19 storm. © Malaysian Association of Education in Medicine and Health Sciences and Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia. 2023.

Navigating challenges during Covid-19 pandemic: experiences and coping strategies of Singapore students

Objectives: This study explores the experiences and coping strategies of secondary students as they engaged in learning activities during the pandemic. It investigated the sources of student stress during the pandemic, and the extent to which the pandemic influenced the stress that they usually experience. Method: Semi-structured interviews were used to elicit details of the students' lived experiences as they navigated learning via an online platform, their coping strategies in managing stress. Results: With regards to academic experiences, many students found online learning challenging and ineffective and were concerned about their examinations. Under social experiences, many students shared that they missed social and recreational activities during the "circuit breaker”. However, some students demonstrated resilience and were able to see the benefits of going through the pandemic. More students reported academic-related than social-related stress. The students coped with stress in three ways: (1) disengagement, (2) taking active steps and (3) turning to others. Conclusion: Academic concerns were a major source of distress among adolescents. Insights that were drawn from the results of the study can be utilized to support students in managing stress and mitigate its adverse effects on student learning and functioning. © 2022 National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University.

A Gamified Educational Learning Module for Core Subjects in an Elementary Level

Presently, many students are unmotivated and lack interest in studying that they would prefer playing games or watching movies. It would be beneficial for the students if they were playing while learning at the same time. As the team considered the current pandemic, COVID19, can also be a case to be considered on hindering a lot of students to study in their own respective schools. The team decided to create an educational game implementing a different learning process for the students. The game is not only developed to help the students on learning but also engages them and tests their cognitive abilities on solving different puzzles. Taking the advantage of being able to be exposed in a gamified learning at their own home, it can assist the teachers in refreshing or enhancing the students' knowledge. © 2022 by the authors.

Impact of COVID-19 on Pregnancy Outcomes: A Propensity Score Matched Study

INTRODUCTION: Available data on the association between COVID- 19 and adverse pregnancy outcomes is limited by ascertainment bias. Our objective was to assess the impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy outcomes in a propensity score matching (PSM) study. This allows for balancing of observed baseline covariates and decreases the effect of confounding factors. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter, case-control study to understand the association between COVID-19 and pregnancy outcomes. We reviewed all consecutive charts of adult females aged 18-45 years with SARS-CoV-2 infection betweenMarch 1, 2020, and August 31, 2020. Cases were patients diagnosed with COVID-19 during pregnancy (COVID+), whereas controls were pregnant patients who tested negative for COVID-19 (COVID-). We excluded cases with multiple gestation or incomplete data. PSM was performed using age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, and past medical history. The primary outcome was a compound score of pregnancy complications (pregnancy loss, neonatal demise, fetal growth restriction, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm premature rupture of membranes, preterm delivery, and placental abruption). Analyses were performed with SAS software. RESULTS: A total of 2,474 patients were identified, of which 2,374 were COVID- and 100 COVID+. There was a trend toward higher rate of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the COVID+ group (48 [48%] versus 917 [38.7%], P=.06). The results remained unchanged after optimal oneto- four PSM was applied (48 [48%] versus 151 [37.8%], P=.06). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 in pregnancy appears to be associated with an increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Although our study had a trend toward statistical significance, further research with a large sample size is required.

Philippine medicinal plants with potentialimmunomodulatory and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to devastate the world's health and economy, affecting all aspects of life leading to widespread social disruption. Even as several vaccines have been developed, their availability in developing countries is limited and their efficacy against the variants of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2) needs to be continuously assessed. The World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged that vaccines alone will not overcome the global challenges of COVID-19. Medicinal plants may provide the needed support. Herein, we identify Philippine medicinal plants that possess phytochemicals with potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and/or immunomodulatory properties that may strengthen one's immune system against COVID-19. These plants were selected from 100 of the best-studied Philippine medicinal plants with antiviral and immunomodulatory properties. The general antiviral and specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities and immunomodulatory properties of the phytochemicals that these plants contained were searched. While many compounds assessed individually using in vitro and in silico techniques suggest potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 or immunomodulatory effects, this review sought to identify the medicinal plants which contain these compounds and which, based on literature, have the best potential application against COVID-19. These plants are Allium spp. bulbs (bawang), Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees leaves (sinta), Cocos nucifera L. oil (niyog), Euphorbia hirta L. leaves (tawa-tawa), Euphorbia neriifolia L. leaves (sorosoro), Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves (malunggay), Ocimum basilicum L. leaves (balanoy), Piper nigrum L. seeds (paminta), Vitex negundo L. leaves (lagundi), and Zingiber officinale Roscoe rhizome (luya). This review provides a shortlist that can guide research on possible solutions to COVID-19 using Philippine medicinal plants.

How Filipino Fishers Use Traditional Knowledge in Identifying Species of Juvenile Mangrove Crabs for Grow-out Culture

Mangrove crab growers in the Philippines still rely on wild-caught late instar to early juvenile mangrove crablets, as supplies from hatcheries are limited. Any batch of crablets caught from the wild is a mix of the three native species under the genus Scylla. Scylla species have different growth rates. Since grow-out culture depends heavily on species' growth, growers should be able to distinguish the species as early as the juvenile stage, which is taxonomically difficult. This study was done to consolidate low-cost traditional identification techniques for juvenile Scylla from fishers of the Philippines for future validation. Focused group discussions were done in fishing communities from Bataan, Pangasinan, and Cagayan on the island of Luzon. The study was continued through online surveys, as travel was restricted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Results indicate that 70.58% of respondents identify the species of crabs by looking at their claws and 55.88% observe the color of the crabs. Almost half, or 41.17% of respondents, consider the width and size of the carapace. Unique methods in certain Philippine regions include observation of the behavior patterns, carapace texture, rate of weight gain, and seasonality. Validation of the traditional practices identified in this study would result in a reliable "at-a-glance" method of identifying juvenile Scylla in the Philippines, which would shorten the culture period, improve production gains, and manage local populations. © 2021 The authors. Published by the National.

A Survey of Study Abroad Market for Chinese Student: Preliminary Data from a Pilot Study

Prior to Covid-19, Chinese students spent US$30 billion on overseas tuition fees but the pandemic is unlikely to dampen future demand for international education. However, while China sends more students abroad than any other nation, this market's current landscape and its associated data are insufficiently studied. This paper outlines the scope of a study using primarily data from www.mygoodagency.com, a new free platform for Chinese students to share and get information about global education. Currently, in a soft launch pilot phase, the platform aims to help students in their application process, while we simultaneously gather and study data related to students' destination choices, concerns, and use of educational agencies. Two sources of data from the platform appear promising. Firstly, all registered users are asked to complete a questionnaire surveying their intentions, education background, as well as services required from, satisfaction with, and fees paid to agencies. Secondly, users can post questions and replies in our forums comprising 100 plus topics. With nearly 5000 questions and replies in the forums, we are using content analysis software to generate a word frequency count to evaluate what issues are of importance to users. Preliminary data suggest changing trends of interest to educators, agencies, and students. For example, there is almost two times more discussion about IELTS than TOEFL, and the test of English proficiency used in the US. There is evidence of increasing interest in pursuing further studies in the greater China area and Asia in general, including in Hong Kong and Singapore. Regardless of the destination, 67.43% of respondents said they would pay substantial sums, sometimes in excess of US$23,000 to agencies for services such as writing application essays, securing internships, and selecting schools. The success of this pilot study will allow us to spread the platform's use across China, to support the continuing high demand for tertiary education, and help Chinese students make informed decisions, as well as enable us to conduct further research on their intentions and application processes, and possibly develop data-driven models to predict the results of their applications.

Concomitant increase in alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels in COVID-19 positive patient

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a worldwide pandemic that has affected millions of lives since December 2019 Research is being done to determine the impact COVID-19 has on different organ systems There is limited information of Covid-19's impact on the liver as manifested by abnormal hepatic test results Methods: Clinical Case Report Results: Patient is a 70-year-old male with history of Parkinson's disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and benign prostatic hyperplasia who presented with fever and weakness and was admitted for sepsis versus COVID-19 infection Patient reported fevers of 104 F Patient tachypneic, tachycardic, with oxygen saturating at 94% room air at admission COVID-19 PCR test positive Patient was admitted to medical intensive care with progressive respiratory insufficiency. ABG PH 7.399, PCO2 34, PO2 78. WBC 6.63, H&H 13 1/36 9, Platelets 147, Sodium 132, Potassium 3 4, Chloride 96, CO2 23, Anion gap 16, Glucose 330, BUN/ creatinine 11/0 88, Total Bilirubin 0 8, Alk Phos 141, AST 33, ALT 33 CT angiogram negative for pulmonary embolism Initial chest x ray showed bibasilar atelectasis/infiltrates. Repeat chest x ray's showed unresolved bibasilar opacities Blood cultures negative Patient was treated with Azithromycin and IV Ceftriaxone Patient's Alkaline Phosphatase showed upward trend from Day 7 At admission, Alkaline Phosphatase was 141, Day 2 145, Day 3 119, Day 4 124, Day 5 163, Day 6 154, Day 7 245, Day 8 361, Day 9 520, Day 10 696, Day 11 835, Day 12 1266, and Day 13 1324 RUQ u/s had normal size common bile duct at 4 5 mm GGT of 1298, indicating liver etiology of Alkaline Phosphatase elevation Day 13 AST 65 and ALT 53 Ceftriaxone and Azithromycin were discontinued and transitioned to meropenem on Day 9 Patient was started on meropenem for empiric coverage of possible biliary infection, but with no improvement On Day 12, Vit C, zinc, and meropenem discontinued to ensure lab abnormalities not secondary to agents Day 13 Alkaline Phosphatase continued to increase The etiology of his lab abnormalities remains unclear Differential includes COVID related pathology or medication induced Day 13, patient died after being placed on comfort care due to cardiac arrest secondary to hypoxic respiratory failure secondary to COVID 19 pneumonia with moderate to severe ARDS Conclusion: Data on liver abnormalities on COVID-19 patients is limited Recent literature only highlights an increase in ALT and AST due to target of COVID-19 on ACE 2 positive cholangiocytes in the liver To date, research has only noted elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels to more than 3× the upper limit of normal in COVID-19 patients The sole elevation of Alkaline Phosphatase with concomitant rise of GGT is the first documented here.