ABSTRACT
Aim and Objectives: To characterize the functional recovery of hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19 at 3-, 6-, 9- and 12-months post-discharge. Method(s): We are conducting a multi-regional prospective cohort study in hospitalized COVID-19 patients 18 years and older in Canada. Patients are assessed upon admission and at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-months follow-up. Data collection is completed via telephone interviews in addition to home visits. Outcomes include the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care Mobility and Cognition scales and lung function. Result(s): Preliminary data from 242 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (60.1 +/- 13.0 yrs) indicate that the most common self-reported symptoms are fatigue (47%) and shortness of breath (35%) at 12-months follow-up. Our lung function data suggests that 39-46% of post-acute patients with COVID-19 have impaired FEV1 (<80% predicted), and 38- 49% have impaired FVC (<80% predicted) at 3-,6-, 9- and 12-month follow-up. At 12-months, 38-45% of patients continue to have clinically important deficits in cognition and mobility below premorbid levels, respectively, and 55.4% of patients report that COVID-19 continues to impact their daily life activities (Figure 1). Conclusion(s): There is a high prevalence of functional limitations in COVID-19 survivors over 12 months of followup. Our data support the need for multi-disciplinary rehabilitation for patients post-hospitalisation for COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Soap is an indispensable product in households, schools, offices, and hospitals in the prevention of diseases such as Covid-19 and respiratory diseases. Vietnam is a country with plentiful coconuts, and the mass production of soap products from coconut oil is feasible and highly competitive. Therefore, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teaching on the topic of making soap from coconut oil is practically meaningful. As a result, not only are students educated on the importance of soap but also develop their STEM knowledge. They also become engaged in their learning and try hard to perfect their products in the fastest and best way possible. Among the teaching methods of making soap from coconut oil, the 5E (engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration, and evaluation) cycle model is the most appropriate. This teaching model helps students thoroughly explore the knowledge and to work harmoniously in groups. The study aimed to investigate how 9th Grade students at Vo Van Tan Secondary School, Ho Chi Minh City made soap from coconut oil. These students were members of 9A2 and 9A7. After learning how to make soap from coconut oil, students can make similar products, such as dishwashing detergent, from fruit or vegetable peels. This model thus helps students to be creative in STEM disciplines through problem analysis and exploration. We found that the students were very interested in making natural products such as soap and, in addition to STEM and 5E learning, they addressed an important real-world challenge with their own safe and simple handmade soap for hand-washing, disinfecting, and pandemic prevention. © 2023 International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background Separate studies suggest that the risks from smoking might vary between high-income (HICs), middle-income (MICs), and low-income (LICs) countries, but this has not yet been systematically examined within a single study using standardised approaches. We examined the variations in risks from smoking across different country income groups and some of their potential reasons. Methods We analysed data from 134 909 participants from 21 countries followed up for a median of 11.3 years in the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) cohort study;9711 participants with myocardial infarction and 11 362 controls from 52 countries in the INTERHEART case-control study;and 11 580 participants with stroke and 11 331 controls from 32 countries in the INTERSTROKE case-control study. In PURE, all-cause mortality, major cardiovascular disease, cancers, respiratory diseases, and their composite were the primary outcomes for this analysis. Biochemical verification of urinary total nicotine equivalent was done in a substudy of 1000 participants in PURE. Findings In PURE, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for the composite outcome in current smokers (vs never smokers) was higher in HICs (HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.65-2.12) than in MICs (1.41, 1.34-1.49) and LICs (1.35, 1 .25-1.46;interaction p<0.0001). Similar patterns were observed for each component of the composite outcome in PURE, myocardial infarction in INTERHEART, and stroke in INTERSTROKE. The median levels of tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide displayed on the cigarette packs from PURE HICs were higher than those on the packs from MICs. In PURE, the proportion of never smokers reporting high second-hand smoke exposure (>= 1 times/day) was 6.3% in HICs, 23.2% in MICs, and 14.0% in LICs. The adjusted geometric mean total nicotine equivalent was higher among current smokers in HICs (47.2 mu M) than in MICs (31. 1 mu M) and LICs (25.2 mu M;ANCOVA p<0.0001). By contrast, it was higher among never smokers in LICs (18.8 mu M) and MICs (11.3 mu M) than in HICs (5.0 mu M;ANCOVA p=0.0001). Interpretation The variations in risks from smoking between country income groups are probably related to the higher exposure of tobacco-derived toxicants among smokers in HICs and higher rates of high second-hand smoke exposure among never smokers in MICs and LICs. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Debate continues regarding the usefulness and benefits of wide prescription of antibiotics in patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: All patients hospitalized in the Infectious Diseases Department, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon, France between 27 February and 30 April 2020 with confirmed COVID-19 were included in this study. Clinical, biological and radiological data were collected, as well as treatment and outcome data. An unfavourable outcome was defined as death or transfer to the intensive care unit. Patient characteristics and outcomes were compared between patients who did and did not receive antibiotic therapy using propensity score matching. FINDINGS: Among the 222 patients included, 174 (78%) received antibiotic therapy. The univariate analysis showed that patients who received antibiotic therapy were significantly older, frailer and had more severe presentation at admission compared with patients who did not receive antibiotic therapy. Unfavourable outcomes were more common in patients who received antibiotic therapy [hazard ratio (HR) 2.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-8.11; P = 0.04]. Multi-variate analysis and propensity score matching indicated that antibiotic therapy was not significantly associated with outcome (HR 1.612, 95% CI 0.562-4.629; P = 0.37). CONCLUSION: Antibiotics were frequently prescribed in this study and this was associated with more severe presentation at admission. However, antibiotic therapy was not associated with outcome, even after adjustment. In line with recent publications, such data support the need to streamline antibiotic therapy in patients with COVID-19.