Acute cor pulmonale as a complication of COVID-19 in the puerpium. A case report

In December 2019, an outbreak of pneumonia due to a new coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2 was detected in the city of Wuhan, China. From a clinicalpoint of view, it was found that patients can develop from a mild upper respiratory tract infection to more severe conditions associated with respiratory distress, progressing to severe respiratory failure. It has been described that the infection in advanced stages can develop cardiovascular complications, such as cor pulmonale. This cardiac condition has a low incidence in pregnancy, which makes it little known by young professionals dedicated to cardiovascular diseases. Pregnancy is a physiological state with a high risk for the development of this disease, which increases during the puerperium. We present the case of a patient diagnosed with COVID-19 who developed, during the mediate puerperium, acute corpulmonale causingher death.

THE MANAGEMENT OF THE TRANSVERSAL PROJECT OF THE UNIVERSI-DAD DE ORIENTE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The COVID-19 pandemic limited mobility of people and motivate the physical separation in the social and work environment. Many of the scheduled for 2020 activities of the Trasversal Proyect: Institution-wide instruments for high performance re-search, innovation and technology transfer, IUC-UO VLIR Programme were deleted, readjusted or postponed for 2021. The main activities carried out in 2020 focused on the progress of key project objectives, in this case, higher-performing research practices, institutional policies in doctoral training, services related to technology transfer, automation and digitisation of university services and products, and English language teaching (Doctoral School, ICT, Language, KTTO) by internal and external stakeholders. The aim of this article is to expose the intermediate results of the project in 2020 and the impacts achieved, despite the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to expose the main barriers and possible solutions to be adopted in order to outline the final impacts of the aforementioned project, resulting in a greater economic and social benefit for the Orient University and its external stakeholders. © 2023, University of Cienfuegos, Carlos Rafael Rodriguez. All rights reserved.

Preventive measures and customs in families not infected by COVID-19 during confinement

Despite the exuberant figures of those infected and deceased by COVID-19, there are families that were not infected. Objective: To describe the preventive measures and customs in families not infected by COVID-19 during confinement. Method: Descriptive qualitative research, 13 mothers from Ferrenafe with no member affected by COVID-19 participated. The data was collected through the semi-structured interview through telephone calls and processed manually, with thematic content analysis. Results: Four categories were obtained: a) Preventive measures when leaving the home: use of a mask, alcohol and social distancing, b) Preventive measures at home: handwashing, disinfection of the home and what enters, c) Restriction of family gatherings and use of social networks, d) Change of eating habits and use of home remedies. Conclusions: The families changed some customs or practices, complied with the confinement, social distancing, restricted family gatherings, used cloth masks, medicinal alcohol, and bleach. In addition, they increased the frequency of hand washing, home hygiene, healthy eating, the use of social networks, together with the use of home remedies commonly used to prevent or treat respiratory diseases.

Safety of Covid-19 vaccination in patients with mastocytosis

Background: Mastocytosis is a disorder characterized by an accumulation of mast cells in one or more organ systems and increased risk for severe anaphylaxis. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with a relatively high rate of severe lung disease and mortality. During 2020, vaccines against COVID-19 were developed. The reported frequency of severe side effects appears to be low even in patients with severe allergies and mastocytosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of vaccines against COVID-19 in patients with mastocytosis. Method(s): Retrospective analysis of patients with a diagnosis of mastocytosis who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in our department, from January to December 2021. Demographic data, history of anaphylactic reactions, COVID-19 vaccines used, premedication with antihistamines and hypersensitivity reactions were reviewed. Result(s): This study included 14 patients (64% (n = 9) were female, median age 51 +/- 18 years). Twelve (86%) patients had indolent systemic mastocytosis and two (14%) had cutaneous mastocytosis. Four (29%) patients had a history of idiopathic anaphylaxis, three (21%) reported anaphylaxis to hymenoptera venoms and one (7%) anaphylaxis to NSAID. The median basal serum tryptase level was 38.9 ng/ml, with a range from 12.7 to 91 ng/ml. Thirteen (93%) patients received an mRNA vaccine, and one adenoviral vector vaccine (7%), 2 doses each (28 administrations in total). None of the patients received premedication with antihistamines before the vaccination. None of the patients presented hypersensitivity reactions after the vaccine against COVID-19. Conclusion(s): As reported in recent studies, vaccination against COVID-19 in adult patients with mastocytosis is safe. Some authors recommend premedication in patients with mastocytosis at high risk for anaphylaxis. In our study, none of the patients received premedication and no hypersensitivity reactions were observed. More studies are needed, but in our sample, as observed for other vaccines, the vaccine against COVID-19 in patients with mastocytosis was safe.

Analysis of the Psychosocial Factors of University Professors

The present study is a proposal of a questionnaire of psychosocial factors for university professors based in a standard proposed in the Mexican law that considers the International Labor Organization recommendation. The study is based on five dimensions: Work environment, factors for the activity, organization of working time, leadership and relationships and work and organizational environment. The information was collected among 300 teachers with a wide range of tenure and conditions at work in Mexico. Also, the questionnaire was developed during the pandemic of COVID-19 which affected the job this kind of professionals. We performed an exploratory factor analysis to evaluate each one of the five dimensions using questionnaires previously validated by different authors. We obtained one dimension for the work environment factor, two dimensions for the factor for the activity, one dimension for the organization of working time, three dimensions for the factor leadership and relations at work and two dimensions for the organizational environment factor. The results showed that the questionnaire is valid and can be used as a tool to improve the conditions of work at universities. We found that the dimension insecurity and leadership were the worst evaluated by university teachers. This questionnaire could be used to promote safety conditions after the sanitary emergency and to promote a healthy environment among workers. © 2023 by Cherkas Global University All rights reserved. Published in the USA

Sustainable Development, Occupation, and Cities. The Case of Oaxaca, Mexico

The relationship between employment and the sustainable development of cities in Oaxaca, Mexico, during the period 2000-2019 is analyzed to visualize employment opportunities in the cities that will make it possible to cope with the economic crisis derived from the Covid-19 pandemic. The methodology of the statistical analysis of correlation and network theory is used for data analysis. One can infer that there is a high correlation between employment levels and the sustainable development of Oaxacan cities. These results show that despite the economic vulnerability that still persists in them, the cities analyzed have strengths and opportunities in their activities and infrastructure, which is conducive to promoting employment linked to sustainable development. © 2022 Instituto de Investigaciones Dr. Jose Maria Luis Mora. All rights reserved.

EFFECT OF A TELENURSING INTERVENTION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PANDEMIC TO PREVENT CHILDHOOD ANEMIA: PILOT STUDY IN LAMBAYEQUE, PERÚ

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a telenursing intervention in the context of the pandemic to prevent childhood anemia in Peru. Material and Method: Pilot, analytical, quasi-experimental study with pre-and post-test. The sample consisted of 60 mothers from a primary health care facility in Lambayeque, Peru, who were selected at convenience and then assigned to a control group (30) and an experimental group (30), with the latter being subjected to a 4 months telenursing intervention. The effect was measured by comparing the average hemoglobin and dietary iron intake before and after the intervention. Hemoglobin level was determined biochemically through blood analysis. Dietary iron intake was collected through telephone interviews following a 24-hour recall. Results: The average hemoglobin level in the experimental group did not show significant differences between the beginning and the end of the intervention (p= 0.199);whereas in the control group, the average hemoglobin level showed significant differences between the beginning and the end of the intervention (p= 0.013). The average dietary intake of iron among the children of the control group (p= 0.049) and the experimental group (p= 0.000) had a significant difference between the beginning and the end of the intervention. Conclusion: The children who received the telenursing intervention suffered no anemia and the dietary iron intake increased, thus corroborating that telenursing programs have the potential of offering more information on nutrition, favoring the health of the child, the mother and the family. © 2022, Universidad de Concepcion. All rights reserved.

Can COVID-19 pandemic worsen previous neurological/psychiatric diseases?

Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has been affecting the world since January 2020. Although its pathogenesis is primarily directed to the respiratory tract, other organs may be affected, including the nervous system. It has also been shown that the social context (confinement, lack of treatment) has affected neurological patients during this period. The aim of the study it was to assess the subjective worsening of neurological/psychiatric diseases in the context of the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic. Methods: Three groups of neurological/psychiatric patients were included: Patients who had symptomatic COVID-19 (n = 89), patients who had asymptomatic COVID-19 (n = 40), and a control group (n = 47), consisting of neurological/psychiatric patients without a history of SARS-Cov-2 infection. Results: 30.7% of the included individuals considered that their basal pathology had worsened during the study period. This feeling was significantly more frequent (P = 0.01) in patients with symptomatic COVID-19 (39.3%) than in patients of the other 2 groups (21.8%). Worsening was not related to the severity of COVID-19. The neurological conditions that significantly worsened after COVID-19, comparing symptomatic COVID-19 with the other 2 groups, were demyelinating and degenerative diseases. Conclusions: These results confirmed the impact of the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic on patients with neurological/psychiatric diseases. Confinement, lack of medical care, and the threat of diagnosis are surely contributing factors. Although the finding of a higher frequency of worsening in symptomatic COVID-19 patients may be related to greater anxiety/depression in this group of patients, we cannot exclude the role of direct affectation of the nervous system by the virus or damage due to neuroinflammation.

Introducción: La pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 afecta al mundo desde enero de 2020. Aunque su patogenia se dirige principalmente a las vías respiratorias, otros órganos pueden verse afectados, incluido el sistema nervioso. También se ha demostrado que el contexto social (confinamiento, falta de tratamiento) ha afectado a los pacientes neurológicos durante este periodo. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el empeoramiento subjetivo de enfermedades neurológicas/psiquiátricas en el contexto de la pandemia por SARS-Cov-2. Métodos: Se incluyeron tres grupos de pacientes neurológicos/psiquiátricos: pacientes que tenían COVID-19 sintomático (n = 89), pacientes que tenían COVID-19 asintomático (n = 40) y un grupo control (n = 47), formado por pacientes neurológicos/psiquiátricos sin antecedentes de infección por SARS-Cov-2. Resultados: El 30,7% de los individuos incluidos consideró que su patología basal había empeorado durante el período de estudio. Este sentimiento fue significativamente más frecuente (p = 0,01) en pacientes con COVID-19 sintomático (39,3%) que en pacientes de los otros 2 grupos (21,8%). El empeoramiento no estuvo relacionado con la gravedad de COVID-19. Las condiciones neurológicas que empeoraron significativamente después de la COVID-19, comparando la COVID-19 sintomática con los otros 2 grupos, fueron las enfermedades desmielinizantes y degenerativas. Conclusiones: estos resultados confirmaron el impacto de la pandemia del SARS-Cov-2 en pacientes con enfermedades neurológicas/psiquiátricas. El encierro, la falta de atención médica y la amenaza del diagnóstico son seguramente factores contribuyentes. Aunque el hallazgo de una mayor frecuencia de empeoramiento en pacientes sintomáticos de COVID-19 puede estar relacionado con una mayor ansiedad/depresión en este grupo de pacientes, no podemos excluir el papel de la afectación directa del sistema nervioso por el virus o el daño por neuroinflamación.

Navigating the interlanguage space: Chinese international students' perceptions of a virtual chemistry laboratory course

The unforeseen shift to virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic required instructors and students to face unprecedented learning challenges. Under these circumstances, Chinese international students who intended to come to the U.S. to begin their studies were required to remotely access their courses while still residing in China, which included a general chemistry laboratory course. Research suggests that English language learners (ELL) face a substantial language barrier in science-based courses as they must simultaneously be proficient in English as well as in the discipline-specific academic language;however, little is understood about how ELLs navigate these challenges in the context of a virtual chemistry laboratory course. This study examined the perceptions of Chinese international students about their learning as well as the tools/strategies they used to navigate the language barrier in the virtual laboratory course. Results suggest that although the participants perceived the virtual laboratory space as a safe and low-pressured environment to run experiments, they experienced difficulties in comprehending procedures adequately which potentially hindered them from developing a deeper understanding of the experiments. The types of strategies and tools that students used to navigate between their first language, the English language, and the academic language associated with chemistry mainly supported surface level learning. These findings underscore the need to identify and develop more sophisticated instructional strategies that help students navigate interlanguage spaces and reach higher levels of learning. © 2023 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Strategies, opportunities and challenges in the process of construction of a municipal food and nutrition security plan

The article aims to analyze the process of construction of the 1st Municipal Plan for Food and Nutritional Security of Duque de Caxias - Rio de Janeiro, seeking to identify opportunities, barriers and challenges expressed in the local context and its articulation with events and national circumstances. For this purpose, a document analysis was carried out based on searches on the official website, consultation of the physical collection in a municipal institution responsible for Food and Nutritional Security (FNS) and the notes and records made during the preparation of the plan. The results point to the relevance of the engagement of civil society and public administration in the theme for the publication of the Municipal Plan of SAN. Even with the current scenario of deconstruction of the FNS policy at the federal level associated with the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic, which has been contributing to the increase in food and nutritional insecurity, there are opportunities at the local level for SAN bodies active in the city to continue the debates on SAN public policies in order to implement relevant measures.

Nursing Students' Experiences in the Use of Digital Portfolio in Academic Thesis

Introduction: Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, digital tools have been implemented in the education of nursing students, including the digital or electronic portfolio in different subjects, but there are few studies on its use in the thesis process. Objective: To describe the use of the digital portfolio in the academic thesis according to the experiences of nursing students in a private university. Methods: Descriptive qualitative research conducted in a private university in Chiclayo, Peru, between July and August 2021. The population consisted of 32 nursing students taking the Thesis II course, the sample, composed of 16 students, was by convenience and achieved by the criteria of saturation and redundancy of the data. For data collection, a semi-structured interview with virtual modality was applied through the Zoom platform and WhatsApp, with the precedent of informed consent. The data were processed by content analysis. Results: four categories were obtained: a) Implementation of a tool for the thesis, b) Ordered information, evidence in progress and access to evaluation, c) Complication due to lack of Internet, time and distribution of information in folders, d) Possibility of the effective use of the digital portfolio for the future. Conclusions: The use of the digital portfolio with the use of google drive constitutes a useful tool for data collection and thesis report, because it is easy to access, secure and has a high storage capacity. But in times of pandemic, where lessons are virtual, students experienced difficulties with Internet connectivity. © 2022, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.

Personal and professional changes from the Covid-19 pandemic: social inequalities experienced by health professionals in São Paulo, Brazil

The pandemic caused by Coronavirus disease (covid-19) has impacted society as a whole, demanding adaptation to a new context, both personal and professional. The working conditions of health professionals have been the subject of current research interest, with emphasis on the risk of transmission and its impact on mental health. In this sense, the study analyzes the different implications of this pandemic in the private and professional environments among physicians, nurses and nursing technicians working in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, Brazil. From a qualitative and quantitative approach, interviews conducted mainly from a distance were explored, with the aid of technological mediation, with the application of a semi-structured interview script. It was verified that the adaptations to live and work in the pandemic were expressed heterogeneously among the different categories of health professionals, identified at the intersection between gender and social class, with women being largely responsible for the articulation of new forms of network support. The interventions to be implemented to recover from the effects of the pandemic will not be able to the inequalities already present in society that are reproduced in the professional environment. © 2022 Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. All rights reserved.

The Use of ICT in Providing HIV Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study among Filipino HIV Volunteers

Background: The COVID-19 public health crisis has caused disruptions in the continuum of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) services. Hence, HIV advocates and care providers must innovate to ensure the health and welfare of people living with HIV (PLHIVs) and other at-risk populations. There is a lack of empirical research that explores the experiences and perspectives of HIV volunteers in adapting to pandemic-related challenges. Purpose: This qualitative study aimed to describe the use of information and communications technology (ICT) in the provision of HIV services of Filipino volunteers during the pandemic. Methods: Qualitative descriptive study design was used, focusing on ICT use for HIV care. Sixteen (16) purposively selected volunteers from three community-based organizations (CBO) were interviewed using a semi-structured guide via videoconference. Inductive qualitative content analysis was used to draw insights from the data. Results: Findings revealed that volunteers used various ICTs such as social media, videoconferencing, dating sites, and online-based courier services to ensure continuity of HIV services. However, volunteers noted challenges in using ICT for HIV services, such as limited access to digital resources, increased work demands, and lack of human connection. Conclusion: Various tools and implementations of ICTs have been used by volunteers to ensure the continuity of services of PLHIVs. This study provides insights to nurses and informaticists in implementing digital technologies in caring for vulnerable clients during outbreaks like COVID-19. Copyright © 2022 NMJN.

Vision of the causes of death by COVID-19 with the experiences of autopsies

On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared SARS-CoV-2 infection an international public health emergency. The autopsy, considered the best method of studying the patient and the disease, corroborates that patients can die from the direct action of the virus (who died from COVID-19), while others positive for SARS-CoV-2 did not show morphological lung changes attributed to the action of the virus. It is proposed to establish the morphological diagnostic criteria in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 epidemic in the deceased in Cuba based on the systematic study of autopsies. The morphological patterns that are established in the lungs of patients who died under the effect of COVID-19 have been identified. The pulmonary edema of permeability with the widening of the pulmonary septum, the deposit of the disorganized hyaline membrane inside the alveoli, the detachment of epithelial cells (pneumocytes and bronchial and bronchiolar cells), followed by epithelial hyperplasia with sometimes the presence of metaplastic changes and atypia, and finally, fibrosis. When autopsies are performed, it is possible to locate each disease in its place, in chronopathogram, which allows death certificates repair to be carried out to assess the place that COVID-19 has occupied as a cause of death in the population studied. In the opinion of the group, identifying morphological alterations is essential to prepare the chronopathogram of the deceased and the adequate clinical-pathological evaluation of the patient. © 2022, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.

Use of the Hefesto v2.0 methodology to implement a Data warehouse: Case applied COVID-19

The objective of this article is to present the proposal for the design and construction of a data repository with the intention of storing facts related to the current situation of COVID-19 and obtaining relevant and precise information for decision-making in the face of the latent risk of contagion. The motivation for this study arises from the need to centralize reliable and easily accessible information for monitoring cases in the face of the pandemic. Likewise, the use of the Hephaestus v2.0 methodology is proposed to guide the development of the Data warehouse step by step, which guarantees the success of the implementation. As an added value, the use of emerging technologies Microsoft SQL server 2019 and Visual Studio 2022 are integrated. The results presented will serve as an applied case study for information system administrators in the construction of data repositories and business intelligence solutions. Likewise, it contributes to the research line of scientific studies that integrate accepted and recognized methodologies or standards with emerging technologies.

Multisystemic Inflammatory Syndrome in Children in a Pregnant Pediatric Patient

Introduction: Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare complication of infection by SARS-CoV-19 thought to be due to hyperinflammation adversely affecting multiple organ systems. Most commonly, the gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, hematologic, respiratory and integumentary systems are affected. Patients presenting with this syndrome often require hospitalization given the potential for rapid deterioration. We present a case of MIS-C and associated shock in a pregnant pediatric patient requiring ICU level care. Case Description: A 16-year-old G1P0 female presented to the ED at 25 weeks gestation with complaints of fever, headache, myalgias, cough and congestion. She denied prior COVID-19 exposure and vaccination, and COVID-19 PCR testing returned negative. She was diagnosed with a viral syndrome. She further reported decreased fetal movement. OB performed a biophysical profile that was overall reassuring, and she was discharged. Due to persistent symptoms and new onset chest pain and dyspnea, she returned to the ED six days after her initial presentation. Bedside ultrasound demonstrated fetal tachycardia. Laboratory work up revealed leukocytosis, anemia, hyponatremia and hypokalemia with markedly elevated inflammatory markers concerning for MIS-C. She was treated empirically with ceftriaxone and vancomycin. She developed fluid refractory shock and ultimately required vasoactive support with norepinephrine necessitating admission to the PICU with OB consultation. Infectious evaluation including respiratory viral panel with COVID-19 PCR and blood and urine cultures were negative. SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody returned positive, confirming the diagnosis of MIS-C associated with COVID-19. She was treated with IVIG and corticosteroids resulting in quick resolution of her shock and clinical improvement with down trending inflammatory markers. Continuous fetal monitors demonstrated normalization of fetal heart rate. She was transferred to the high risk OB floor on hospital day 3. During her stay, she developed a mild transaminitis thought to be associated with MIS-C given her otherwise negative workup. She was discharged home on hospital day 12 on a prednisone taper and oral iron. Discussion: Pregnancy complications associated with COVID-19 are still not well understood, but include preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction and premature birth. Although rare, cases of vertical transmission and fetal demise have been reported, as well. Given the profound effects that both pregnancy and MIS-C have on the body, understanding the potential risks of MIS-C in pregnancy is imperative to ensure favorable outcomes. Our current understanding of the effects of maternal MIS-C on a fetus can only be extrapolated from studies on adult women infected during pregnancy and a single reported case of MIS-A in a pregnant adult. Conclusion: We report a case of a pregnant pediatric patient who presented to the ED with shock secondary to MIS-C and associated fetal tachycardia that was successfully treated with vasopressors, IVIG and steroids to enhance knowledge for this presentation and treatment of this condition in a vulnerable population.

Telemedicine in the Covid 19 Pandemic: Scope of Care in Oncology Patients. A Review of the Scientific Literature

Objective: This review aims to see to what extent the practice of telemedicine in the COVID-19 pandemic assists in the care of patients in the specialty of oncology. Methods: The review was carried out through an electronic search of articles related to telemedicine and oncology in databases such as: Web of Science, Scielo and Pubmed. The search terms were: Telemedicine, COVID-19 and oncology. For this review, our inclusion criteria are based on selecting articles published with research results from 2019 to the present, no language, type, or study design restrictions were applied, and our exclusion criteria were on those articles that did not state an author. o Digital Object Identifier System (DOI), with the exception of World Health Organization (WHO) publications. Results: Of the 10 articles reviewed, 2 articles without DOI were discarded, leaving only 8 articles for this bibliographic review. Conclusion: Telemedicine today has advantages such as preventing the spread of COVID-19, reducing the burden of medical care, and maintaining adequate patient care. We also encountered several limitations and obstacles, including organizational, technological, and patient-related barriers. Since oncology requires a multidisciplinary approach, telemedicine will play a key role in improving patient-centered cancer care in the future. leaving only 8 articles for this bibliographic review. Conclusion: Telemedicine today has advantages such as preventing the spread of COVID-19, reducing the burden of medical care, and maintaining adequate patient care. We also encountered several limitations and obstacles, including organizational, technological, and patient-related barriers. Since oncology requires a multidisciplinary approach, telemedicine will play a key role in improving patient-centered cancer care in the future. leaving only 8 articles for this bibliographic review. Conclusion: Telemedicine today has advantages such as preventing the spread of COVID-19, reducing the burden of medical care, and maintaining adequate patient care. We also encountered several limitations and obstacles, including organizational, technological, and patient-related barriers. Since oncology requires a multidisciplinary approach, telemedicine will play a key role in improving patient-centered cancer care in the future. We also encountered several limitations and obstacles, including organizational, technological, and patient-related barriers. Since oncology requires a multidisciplinary approach, telemedicine will play a key role in improving patient-centered cancer care in the future. We also encountered several limitations and obstacles, including organizational, technological, and patient-related barriers. Since oncology requires a multidisciplinary approach, telemedicine will play a key role in improving patient-centered cancer care in the future.

Use of the Hefesto v2.0 methodology to implement a Data warehouse: Case applied COVID-19

The objective of this article is to present the proposal for the design and construction of a data repository with the intention of storing facts related to the current situation of COVID-19 and obtaining relevant and precise information for decision-making in the face of the latent risk of contagion. The motivation for this study arises from the need to centralize reliable and easily accessible information for monitoring cases in the face of the pandemic. Likewise, the use of the Hephaestus v2.0 methodology is proposed to guide the development of the Data warehouse step by step, which guarantees the success of the implementation. As an added value, the use of emerging technologies Microsoft SQL server 2019 and Visual Studio 2022 are integrated. The results presented will serve as an applied case study for information system administrators in the construction of data repositories and business intelligence solutions. Likewise, it contributes to the research line of scientific studies that integrate accepted and recognized methodologies or standards with emerging technologies. © 2022 IEEE Computer Society. All rights reserved.

Characterization of asthmatic patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 in a portuguese COVID-19 reference hospital

Introduction: People with chronic respiratory diseases, asthma included, may be at increased risk for severe COVID-19. However, published studies so far have reported inconsistent results regarding the prevalence of asthma. Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: Retrospective observational study with analysis of hospitalized patients between March 1st and June 30rd. Results: This study included 237 patients, with asthma being reported in 16 patients (6,8%). Asthmatic patients tended to be younger (70 years vs 80 years, p=0.027) and to have less comorbidities (1 vs 2 p=0.014) compared with non-asthmatic patients. Regarding the therapeutic approach, asthmatic patients required more inhaled corticosteroid therapy as well hydroxychloroquine, but the ceiling of treatment was less stablished (50% vs 21.7%, p=0.027;75% vs 48.9%, p=0.044;6.3% vs 38%, p=0.011, respectively). The mortality rate was lower compared with that of non-asthmatic patients (12.5% vs 37.1%, p=0.047). The severity of asthma did not seem to influence analysed outcomes. Conclusion: In this study, asthma did not appear to contribute to the more severe COVID-19.

Biomarker Levels Concur with a Risk Stratification Criteria in Covid-19 Pneumonia, a Role for a Prognostic-Tool for Identification of Clinical Deteriorators

Rationale: COVID-19 patients present with a number of clinical symptoms ranging from mild, moderate to severe, while only a subgroup of patients, who requires high-dependency critical care resources, accounts for most of the COVID-19 associated health care expenditure and death. A reliable prognostic tool is therefore required to identify patients at risk of developing severe COVID-19 pneumonia. To address this unmet need, we tested a wide range of potentially important peripheral blood biomarkers in a group of clinically risk-stratified COVID-19 patients in order to identify most relevant candidate biomarker(s) predictive of disease progression. Methods: Patients and healthy controls recruited to this study are summarised in Figure 1. Biomarkers levels were analysed using ANOVA across the severity groups. Spearman-correlation coefficients against pairs of average levels from each biomarker within severity-group and healthy controls were assembled into a 76x76 matrix and agglomerative hierarchical clustering was applied to generate the final heatmaps. Linear-discriminant analysis (LDA) was carried out on a reduced optimised set of biomarkers to explore the boundaries between the clinical severity groups.Results: Degree of lymphopaenia, neutrophil levels, TNF-α, INR-levels, and pro-inflammatory cytokines;IL6, IL8, CXCL9 and D-dimers were significantly increased in COVD-19 patients compared to healthy controls (p<0.05, 95% C.I.). C3a and C5 was significantly elevated in all categories of severity compared to healthy controls (p<0.05), C5a levels were significantly different between “moderate” and “severe” categories (p<0.01). sC5b-9 was significantly elevated in the “moderate” and “severe” category of patients compared to healthy controls (p<0.001).Heatmap analysis demonstrated distinct visual differences of biomarker profiles between the clinical severity groups. LDA on the deteriorators, non-deteriorators and healthy volunteers as a combined function of the predictor variables: C3, eosinophil-counts, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), fractalkine, IL10, IL27, LTB4, lymphocyte count, MIG/CXCL9, M-CSF, platelet count and sC5b-9 showed clear separation between the groups based on biomarker/blood-count levels.Conclusions: Diagnostic and clinical assessments followed by robust statistical and machine learning approaches could identify peripheral blood biomarkers for prognostic stratification of patients in COVID-19. Our results would be helpful for clinicians and supports the use of point of care devices that can quantify multiple analytes. (Lui G, et al., Pointof- care detection of cytokines in cytokine storm management and beyond: Significance and challenges. VIEW. 2021;2: 1-20.). Such would allow for more efficient management and resource allocation. 1 (Figure Presented).