On IG people are rather looking for a reaction. Characterization, content and use of networks for interpersonal communication among young people

This study analyses the decisions made by current generations of young people (Millennials and Generation Z) as users of digital technologies for interpersonal communication through ICTs, describing the expressive characteristics they attribute to social networks (Instagram) and instant messaging (WhatsApp). A mixed method is used to approach the research: on the one hand, the application of a self-administered questionnaire, as a pilot study and development platform for qualitative research;on the other hand, ten group dynamics with national and international undergraduate and postgraduate university students from two Spanish universities, one public and one private. The results show that WhatsApp and Instagram are the main channels for communication and the shaping of digital identity, but their use changes depending on the needs, interlocutors, and services of the application. The representations linked to these applications for interpersonal communication are well differentiated and clear reasons are given for their preference and suitability to the interests of digital natives. Millennials and Centennials are linked to a digital culture of "resident" users (White and Le Cornu, 2011), although some differences are observed between both groups with regard to the uses they make of these applications. WhatsApp and Instagram are affected by the COVID19 experience and undergo important transformations.

Learning Performance Indicators a Statistical Analysis on the Subject of Natural Sciences During the COVID-19 Pandemic at the Tulcán District

Learning systems during the COVID-19 period has been modified in terms of methodology strategies as well as teachers' remote teaching emergency approach at primary education and higher education institutions. As a consequence, educators had to limitedly teach the basics from prioritized academic curriculums during the health emergency. Natural Sciences was not an exception, and the majority of educators in this field of study have notably identified low-academic performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Ecuador, learning expected results was obtained through the evaluation of performance indicators, so in this research project a statistical analysis was performed using scores for these indicators obtained from Middle School samples of students of the Carchi province, with the aim of identifying significantly affected population strata by the application of remote learning and characteristics leading to low-academic performance. Data gathered was statistically evaluated and the test was calibrated using the Item Response Theory;significative difference among variables and performance indicators were analyzed via students' scores using ANOVA, Pairwise T-Tests, and T-tests. Difference tests were carried out using the weighted score of each student for each indicator as continuous variables and the categorical variables were the internet availability, students' residence location and quintile they belong to. Results proved that there exist significant differences in the student scores depending on the internet availability and the zone where they live, where the academic performance was significantly higher on those students that had stable internet connection in their homes and resided in urban zones during the pandemic. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Exploring the pandemic from feminist research: social scientists, covid and university

This research aims to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the research processes of women social scientists at the University of Granada from a gender perspectivep. We have also explored strategies that the researchers have developed to continue their studies. Some of these strategies have been conceived as care practices in research. On the other hand, we have collected proposals aimed at improving research practice in times of pandemic. In order to address these objectives, we have implemented a qualitative methodology based on in-depth interviews and feminist epistemological and methodological perspectives. © GKA Ediciones, authors.

The percentage of CD39+ monocytes is higher in pregnant COVID-19+ patients than in nonpregnant COVID-19+ patients.

Current medical guidelines consider pregnant women with COVID-19 to be a high-risk group. Since physiological gestation downregulates the immunological response to maintain "maternal-fetal tolerance", SARS-CoV-2 infection may constitute a potentially threatening condition to both the mother and the fetus. To establish the immune profile in pregnant COVID-19+ patients, a cross-sectional study was conducted. Pregnant women with COVID-19 (P-COVID-19+; n = 15) were analyzed and compared with nonpregnant women with COVID-19 (NP-COVID-19+; n = 15) or those with physiological pregnancy (P-COVID-19-; n = 13). Serological cytokine and chemokine concentrations, leucocyte immunophenotypes, and mononuclear leucocyte responses to polyclonal stimuli were analyzed in all groups. Higher concentrations of serological TNF-α, IL-6, MIP1b and IL-4 were observed within the P-COVID-19+ group, while cytokines and chemokines secreted by peripheral leucocytes in response to LPS, IL-6 or PMA-ionomicin were similar among the groups. Immunophenotype analysis showed a lower percentage of HLA-DR+ monocytes in P-COVID-19+ than in P-COVID-19- and a higher percentage of CD39+ monocytes in P-COVID-19+ than in NP-COVID-19+. After whole blood polyclonal stimulation, similar percentages of T cells and TNF+ monocytes between groups were observed. Our results suggest that P-COVID-19+ elicits a strong inflammatory response similar to NP-COVID19+ but also displays an anti-inflammatory response that controls the ATP/adenosine balance and prevents hyperinflammatory damage in COVID-19.

[Clinical, obstetric and perinatal characteristics of Mexican pregnant women with COVID-19]

Background: COVID-19 disease is the leading cause of maternal death in Mexico. The data published to date indicate that pregnancy favors severe forms of the disease. Objective: To describe the clinical, obstetric and perinatal characteristics of pregnant women with COVID-19 disease treated at the UMAE "Luis Castelazo Ayala" of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. Material and methods: Observational, cross-sectional and retrospective study of pregnant women with COVID-19 treated from March to December 2020. The epidemiological characteristics, complications and perinatal results were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: 133 patients included: 84.5% with mild disease, 8 % moderate and 8.5% severe and critical. Pre-existing comorbidities: obesity, diabetes and hypothyroidism. Main symptoms: cough, headache, fever, rhinorrhea and anosmia. In severe and critical cases, tachycardia, tachypnea, and hypoxemia were present. Lymphoneutropenia, hyperglycemia, and transaminasemia were seen in severe and critical forms. Fibrinogen and D dimer stayed unchanged. Preterm delivery, oligohydramnios, gestational hypertension, severe preeclampsia, and pneumonia were the main complications. 75% of the newborns without complications. Conclusions: The clinical behavior of the disease was mostly mild and even in moderate cases, and even in moderate as well as severe and complicated cases, the binomial results were favorable. There was no maternal death.

Service-learning as a bridge to connect theory and practice: A case study

Identifying the connection of theoretical knowledge with real-life problems helps improve learning. This work shows the effect of implementing service-learning using home-labs during COVID-19 crisis in terms student' understanding of theory in practice as well as civic commitment. The obtained results show that service-learning increases student' social justice attitude. Moreover, home labs use improves the connection of theory in practice as well as the willingness to engage in future social work with the community in the context of human factors and ergonomics. © 2022 IEEE.

APPROACHES FROM / TO THE SEMIOTICS OF THE PRESENT

This monographic section reflects on the importance of semiotics as a methodology for approaching current issues, such as the pandemic caused by COVID-19, the problems of representation generated by patriarchy, or the role of social networks in contemporary political communication. It also represents an opportunity to reflect on the discipline itself and its relationship with the present. The results are six contributions developed by international specialists in the field of semiotics, who discuss about different central topics related to our contemporary world. © UNED.

Worry about COVID-19 and its effects on the online political participation of citizens in the Ecuadorian context

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has generated worry in citizens due to the administration that Latin American States have been carrying out, especially in relation to political measures adopted to counteract its health, economic and social repercussions. These official actions have elicited diverse responses in people to deal with the impact of the pandemic, which may vary in high concern and sense of vulnerability, diverse forms of emotional expression, solidarity actions or political participation. The aim of the study is to explore the role of individual concern experienced in the face of COVID-19 and its impact on political participation through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. The empirical study was based on a non-probabilistic survey of 920 people residing in Quito Ecuador, applied prior to the general elections held in February 2021. The results show, at a general level, a significant indirect effect of concern about the impact of the pandemic on digital political participation, mediated by political concern. Thus, the politicization of concern about COVID-19 operates as a mechanism that enables the mobilization of political actions through virtual media, which are more intense on Twitter and Facebook, while this mobilizing effect is weakened in the case of WhatsApp. The implications of these findings, regarding the forms of citizen political action that take place in a social context marked by the impact of the health crisis and an ongoing electoral process, are discussed.

[SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence study in patients undergoing addiction treatment in Madrid.]

OBJECTIVE: Patients with addiction are a vulnerable group in which there is little data on the infection and severity of COVID-19. The objective of this study was to analyze the seroprevalence against SARS-CoV-2 in users in treatment for addictions in Madrid and to describe the factors related to the infection in this group. METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study (June-October 2020), in a non-probabilistic sample of 473 patients with Substance Use Disorder, from the 8 Addiction Care Centers (CAD) of the Madrid City Council. Their demographic, habits and health characteristics, IgM and IgG for SARS-CoV-2, previous PCR, presence of symptoms, contact with COVID-19 cases were described, and multivariate analysis was performed using binary logistic regression. RESULTS: 5.1% of the users had positive serology for SARS-CoV-2 (5.8% in men and 2.7% in women). The patients with the highest percentage of seropositivity were between 50-59 years old (8.3%), being the most prevalent main substance consumed alcohol (7.4%). Having a previous positive CRP showed a significant odds ratio (OR) regarding being seropositive in the frequentist analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The highest seroprevalence rate occurred among men, epidemiologically known factors being the ones that showed the greatest strength of association. The CAD seropositive user profile was a man at the age of 50, an alcohol user and without comorbidities. No characteristic related to substance use was found to justify the difference in risk of infection with the general population.

Surveillance Web System and Mouthwash-Saliva qPCR for Labor Ambulatory SARS-CoV-2 Detection and Prevention.

This study provides a safe and low-cost in-house protocol for RT-qPCR-based detection of SARS-CoV-2 using mouthwash-saliva self-collected specimens to achieve clinical and epidemiological surveillance in a real-time web environment applied to ambulatory populations. The in-house protocol comprises a mouthwash-saliva self-collected specimen, heat virus inactivation, and primers to target virus N-gene region and the human RPP30-gene. Aligning with 209 SARS-CoV-2 sequences confirmed specificity including the Alpha variant from the UK. Development, validation, and statistical comparison with official nasopharyngeal swabbing RT-qPCR test were conducted with 115 specimens of ambulatory volunteers. A web-mobile application platform was developed to integrate a real-time epidemiological and clinical core baseline database with mouthwash-saliva RT-qPCR testing. Nine built-in algorithms were generated for decision-making on testing, confining, monitoring, and self-reports to family, social, and work environments. Epidemiological and clinical follow-up and SARS-CoV-2 testing generated a database of 37,351 entries allowing individual decision-making for prevention. Mouthwash-saliva had higher sensitivity than nasopharyngeal swabbing in detecting asymptomatic and mild symptomatic cases with 720 viral copy number (VCN)/mL as the detection limit (Ct = 37.6). Cycling threshold and viral loading were marginally different (p = 0.057) between asymptomatic (35 Ct ± 2.8; 21,767.7 VCN/mL, range 720-77,278) and symptomatic (31.3 Ct ± 4.5; 747,294.3 VCN/mL, range 1433.6-3.08 × 106). We provided proof-of-concept evidence of effective surveillance to target asymptomatic and moderate symptomatic ambulatory individuals based on integrating a bio-safety level II laboratory, self-collected, low-risk, low-cost detection protocol, and a real-time digital monitoring system. Mouthwash-saliva was effective for SARS-CoV-2 sampling for the first time at the community level.

Contribution of the occupational health to the COVID-19 pandemic control

When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a public health emergency of international concern, the Spanish Ministry of Health called the health, labor, social security authorities, Labor and Social Security Inspection, National Institute of Security and Occupational Health, employers, unions, occupational risk prevention services, mutual societies and scientific societies of occupational medicine and nursing, to collaborate in the control of the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in companies. The Occupational Health Group of the Public Health Commission of the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System, developed the Procedure for the prevention of occupational risks in the face of exposure to SARS-CoV-2, which has been updated 15 times until the date. It contains the prevention measures to be implemented in the workplaces: organizational and collective protection, personal protection, especially vulnerable worker and risk level, study and management of cases and contacts that occurred in the company, collaboration in the management of temporary disability and, more recently, reincorporation and management of vaccinated workers. As a result of these cooperation and collaboration frameworks, a series of activities were deployed in the workplace, which are described in this article.

Clinical aspects of covid-19 in cancer patients

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, has represent-ed a scientific and sanitary challenge in recent months. Subjects of advanced age appear to be the most frequently affected;in addition, these tend to present comorbidities such as hyperten-sion, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and cancer;worsening the prognosis and clinical course of the infection. The impact of the pandemic on oncologic patients has been massive. Observational studies have shown that infection rates tend to be much higher in cancer patients in comparison with the general population. Like-wise, oncologic patients have greater risk of de-veloping severe complications of COVID-19, including death. Moreover, cancer treatments im-plicate constant visits to healthcare institutions, significantly increasing the risk of viral transmission independently of the treatment received. Furthermore, various antineoplastic treatments have immunosuppressing effects, and treating oncologists face the uncertainty of suspend-ing or continuing treatment in patients at risk of COVID-19. The objective of this review is to ad-dress relevant clinical aspects of COVID-19 in patients with cancer, and revise current recommendations regarding therapeutic management in this context.

Nutrition, affective states and physical activity in Mexican university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an important change in the daily life of university students, impacting their health through their habits and emotional states. Objective: To analyze eating habits and identify their relationship with emotional states, as well as habits associated with the practice of physical activity in university students of the Universidad Vizcaya de las Americas in the Mexican city of Saltillo (Coahuila) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: Quantitative, correlational and cross-sectional design. A non-probabilistic convenience sampling was carried out, 758 university students participated, with a mean age of 22.42 years (SD = 6.09). Results: It was found that 54.7% increased their physical activity practice and 45.7% reported eating more than before the pandemic. 31.3% presented a level of "non-emotional eater", while 25.5% reached a score of "emotional eater". A significant positive correlation (rho = 0.497, p <0.05) was found between the emotional eater index and negative affective states. The most frequently experienced affective state was being attentive (<(X)over bar>= 2.92, S.D. = 1.13). Conclusions: The study of the implications of the pandemic in the health habits and emotional states of university students will allow generating strategies for making timely decisions for the adoption and maintenance of healthy habits.

Contribution of the occupational health to the COVID-19 pandemic control

When the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 as a public health emergency of international concern, the Spanish Ministry of Health called the health, labor, social security authorities, Labor and Social Security Inspection, National Institute of Security and Occupational Health, employers, unions, occupational risk prevention services, mutual societies and scientific societies of occupational medicine and nursing, to collaborate in the control of the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in companies. The Occupational Health Group of the Public Health Commission of the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System, developed the Procedure for the prevention of occupational risks in the face of exposure to SARS-CoV-2, which has been updated 15 times until the date. It contains the prevention measures to be implemented in the workplaces: organizational and collective protection, personal protection, especially vulnerable worker and risk level, study and management of cases and contacts that occurred in the company, collaboration in the management of temporary disability and, more recently, reincorporation and management of vaccinated workers. As a result of these cooperation and collaboration frameworks, a series of activities were deployed in the workplace, which are described in this article.

Mortality of COVID-19 in patients with rheumatic diseases: Comparison to the general population in méxico

Background: COVID-19 outcomes in Mexican patients with rheumatic diseases (RDs) in comparison to general population patients are unknown. Objectives: To compare mortality and hospitalization of COVID-19 patients with RDs and those without. Methods: We included for this study all the Mexican patients with RDs and COVID-19 registered from April 17th to October 30th, 2020 in the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance registry. We compare clinical and demographic characteristics of patients with RDs and COVID-19 to patients with COVID-19 that were selected randomly from the Mexican Epidemiology database (1:3). A logistic regression analysis was performed to adjust for confusion variables. Results: We included 322 patients with COVID-19 and RDs and 969 controls without RDs. Table 1 shows the demographic characteristics and comorbidities of both groups. Bivariate analysis showed that patients with RDs had higher mortality, were older, and were more frequently hospitalized. Comorbidities, such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular and renal diseases were also more frequent in patients with RDs. In the multivariate analysis, having a RD was no longer associated with mortality (Figure 1). Conclusion: Patients with RDs had higher comorbidities, hospitalizations, and mortality than the general population in the bivariate analysis. However, adjusted multivariate analysis showed that the odds for mortality were not increased because of having a RD. These findings suggest that the increased mortality of Mexican patients with RDs may be explained by the higher frequency of comorbidities in this population.

Factors associated with mortality in patients with rheumatic diseases and COVID-19 in Mexico

Background: As of the 25th of January 2021, more than 150 thousand deaths as consequence of COVID-19 have been reported in Mexico [1]. Advanced age, male gender and comorbidities have been described as risk factors for severe disease and mortality in general population [2]. COVID-19 mortality in Mexican patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) is unknown. Objectives: To describe characteristics of Mexican patients with RMDs and COVID-19, and to analyse factors associated with mortality. Methods: The Global Rheumatology Alliance COVID-19 (GRA) physician reported registry, is an international effort to collect information on COVID19 in adult patients with RMDs. GRA is an observational registry. The first patient from Mexico was registered on April 17, 2020. All Mexican patients registered in GRA until October 30, 2020 were included in this analysis. The association of mortality with demographic and clinical variables was estimated using logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 323 patients were registered, with a median age of 52 (IQR 41-61) years old, 166 (51.4%) patients lived in Mexico City. The most frequent RMDs were rheumatoid arthritis, 149 (46.1%) and systemic lupus erythematosus, 24 (19.8%). Over a third of patients with RMDs and COVID-19 (119 (36.8%)) were hospitalized, and 43 (13.3%) died. Table 1 shows clinical and demographic characteristics. In the univariable analysis, the absence of comorbidities was a protective factor, OR 0.3 (95% CI 0.1-0.6). Factors associated with mortality at COVID-19 diagnosis were age over 65 years old, having type 2 diabetes, chronic renal insufficiency, treatment at COVID-19 diagnosis with corticosteroids or with CD20 inhibitors. In the multivariable adjusted analysis, these factors remained independently associated with mortality. No associations with other treatments or comorbidities at COVID-19 diagnosis were found. Conclusion: Mexican patients with RMDs and COVID-19 in the GRA physician reported registry had a mortality of 13.3%. Factors associated with mortality were those described in the general population, such as older age and being on corticosteroids and CD20 inhibitors treatment at COVID-19 diagnosis.

Safety and efficacy of anakinra in severe SARS-CoV2 infection (covid19) at a tertiary hospital

Background: SARS-CoV-2 virus is a novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 disease, which in its most severe form produces life-threatening atypical pneumonia and ARDS. Coronaviruses induce dysregulation of the immune system resulting in a cytokine storm syndrome with activation of the macrophage mediated mainly by IL-1 and IL-6. Although there is no specific treatment to date, researchers have explored novel approaches through targeting both IL-6 and IL-1. Anakinra is a recombinant human IL-1 receptor antagonist that prevents IL-1β and IL-1α binding and therefore blocks signal transduction. Its high bioavailability, rapid action, relatively short half-life and good safety profile make it a promising drug. Objectives: Analyse the experience of administering Anakinra for severe forms of COVID19 in patients hospitalised at a tertiary hospital. Methods: Retrospective single-center study in which all patients admitted for COVID-19 and treated with Anakinra from April 1st to the end of the 1st wave (July 2020) were included. Medical records were reviewed to collect demographic, clinical and lab test data, using Brescia-COVID respiratory severity scale, SaFi, CRP, Ferritin, LDH and lymphocytes. Variables were assessed at baseline, 72h and 7 days after treatment initiation. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed, including a sub-analysis of patients who received anakinra as the only biological treatment. Results: 54 patients were included, of which 37 male (68.5%) with a median age of 69.5 years (36-94). Comorbidities were lung disease 14 pts (25.9%), cardiovascular disease 39 pts (72.2%), Diabetes Mellitus 11 pts (20.4%), kidney disease and rheumatic disease each in 6 pts (11.1%), and immunosuppression 13 pts (24.1%). Each patient received a mean of 4.85 doses of anakinra (± 3.96). Other therapies included low-dose steroids (70.3%);high-dose steroids: 1mg/kg (87%), bolus (24%), Tocilizumab (57.4%), Infliximab (24.1%), Lopinavir/Ritonavir (48%), Hydroxychloroquine (94.4%), and Azithromycin (79.6%). Mortality was 22% overall, 75% due to COVID19, 8.3% due to infectious complications and 16.7% due to non-infectious complications. In the group receiving Anakinra as only biological drug, mortality accounted for 17.9% of patients, 75% due to COVID19 and 25% to non-infectious complications. No adverse effects related to anakinra were observed Conclusion: Anakinra in severe SARS-CoV-2 infection offers respiratory improvement and partial lab tests improvement. No adverse effects were observed.

Covid-19, Education and Children's Rights in Spain

The measures adopted in the Royal Decree declaring the state of alarm against the epidemic caused by Covid-19 have a direct impact on children and adolescents. The aim of this article is to analyse the complex relationships between the right to health protection, the right to education and the rights of the child. The suspension of face-to-face teaching has meant not only that many children may see their school learning slowed down, especially those from more vulnerable backgrounds, but also that they are no longer protected and lose the possibility of achievement better living conditions, due to the positive effect that school has as a tool to compensate for social inequalities. In view of this situation, it seems necessary that the last part of the article also addresses a serious reflection on the conditions and the moment in which one should return to the classroom. As well as on the measures to be taken to guarantee the quality and equity of the educational system, bearing in mind that the disease will continue to be present in our lives and therefore the risk of new infections. Having a National Digitalization Plan, reviewing the curriculum and providing reinforcement programs are challenges for our educational system, but can become opportunities to improve its quality and equity.