ABSTRACT
Over the past 50 years, although categorized as the "Information Age" or "Digital Age," the vast amounts of digitized data have been sorely underutilized. Only recently, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts have accelerated to harness these data using blockchain technology as it pertains to healthcare. Today, through the blockchain infrastructure and its tokenization applications, we are able to leverage healthcare data effectively into more efficient business processes. In addition, we can secure better patient engagement and outcomes, while generating new revenue streams for an array of healthcare stakeholders. It is in the application of blockchain technology to compile these stockpiled data into new, compliant business models that we can reap the full potential of the blockchain. Here are predictions by members of the BHTY editorial board members on how we might further advance the role of blockchain in healthcare in 2023.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: While COVID-19 pandemic affected more than 26 million people worldwide, still, the definite link between COVID-19 and incidence of stroke remains to be re-evaluated. MAIN BODY: Many pathophysiologic and immunologic mechanisms have been implicated in stroke occurring among patients with COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has, in different ways, negative impacts on care of stroke patients worldwide, and still, many challenges are faced by neurologists to improve care of stroke patients during such crisis. In this brief report, we try to discuss these issues. CONCLUSIONS: Although the control of COVID-19 is of crucial importance, at the same time, the management of stroke must not be neglected. Therefore, introducing care for critical conditions such as stroke, and providing strategies to ensure this proceeds, is a priority even at the time of the pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Despite the common clinical presentations of the pandemic coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) being well-known, there remain issues on its atypical or rare presentations. Moreover, despite the known risk factors for severe COVID-19 are cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic lung disease, and advanced age, still younger patients suffer from this disease. Herein, we present a case report of a 28-year-old female patient who was presented to the ED with cardiac arrest, then died within 12 hours. First swab testing by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) came negative. However, she has typical CT features of COVID-19 pneumonia, along with an echocardiographic picture of acute cor pulmonale. Though it is rare, cardiac arrest can happen in young apparently healthy patients with COVID-19. As COVID-19 patients are commonly having clotting disorders, endothelial and organ dysfunction, coagulopathy, and liable for pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), it is important to select those COVID-19 patients who are at higher risk of PTE, and practice CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for the diagnosis of PTE, especially in case of significant increase of D-dimer values.