ABSTRACT
Acute appendicitis (AA) is one of the most common surgical emergencies in children. Some reports have suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic was responsible for delays in the diagnostic and proper treatment of AA in pediatric patients. The aim of our study was to perform a retrospective study of cases of AA in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection treated in a highly endemic area for COVID-19 in Romania during a 2-year time interval. The SARS-CoV-2 infection had no unfavorable impact on children who presented with AA. Further data analysis should clarify the overall influence of COVID-19 on the management of surgical pediatric patients in such endemic areas.
Subject(s)
Appendicitis , COVID-19 , Humans , Child , COVID-19/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2 , Retrospective Studies , Appendicitis/complications , Appendicitis/epidemiology , Appendicitis/surgery , Pandemics , Romania/epidemiology , Acute DiseaseABSTRACT
Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection is a rare condition but can represent a medical emergency. It is probably related to alveolar damage secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection, which allows air to escape in the surrounding lung tissue. Cough and airways' barotrauma are also mentioned as contributing mechanisms. Treatment is generally conservative, but surgery may be required in severe cases. This paper presents the case of a 16-year-old girl with COVID-19-associated SPM who was treated conservatively in our department. The clinical course was favorable with resolution of respiratory symptoms and radiological (chest CT scan) image of pneumomediastinum. The patient was discharged 7 days after the confirmation of the initial SP diagnosis with appropriate treatment and recommendations for isolation. The sudden occurrence of chest pain and dyspnea should raise the suspicion of SPM in COVID-19 patients. Close surveillance and proper radiological monitoring are required in such cases. Treatment should be strictly individualized based on clinical course and radiological appearance.
ABSTRACT
The paper presents some preliminary research results, obtained within the framework of the project Multiparticipant cooperative decision-making: consensus building vs. crowdsourcingbased decisions, concerning the introduction to a crowdsourcing effort meant to mobilize students to forward thinking of their studies. A study was conducted by Bucharest University of Economic Studies and by Warsaw School of Information Technology under the auspices of the Polish Academy of Sciences and relevant data were collected using a questionnaire delivered to Romanian and Polish students. The results were interpreted in order to extract relevant information about expected nature of work after graduating, based on gender, nationality and university. Crowdsourcing solutions are presented in order to reveal their advantages applicable in collaborative environments.
ABSTRACT
The outbreak of COVID-19 seriously challenges every government with regard to capacity and management of public health systems facing the catastrophic emergency. Culture and anti-epidemic policy do not necessarily conflict with each other. All countries and governments should be more tolerant to each other in seeking cultural and political consensus to overcome this historically tragic pandemic together.