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Intro: In the first year of SARS-CoV-2 (CoV-2) pandemic, prevalence of common respiratory viruses, like influenza A/B (Flu A/B) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), had a temporary decrease in worldwide circulation, Portugal being no exception. Since this type of viruses share similar routes of transmission with CoV-2, the preventive social measures implemented to avert the spread of the new virus had a significant impact in their transmission as well. With the evolution of pandemic in association with the application of different levels of lockdown restrictions and the reopening of society across several countries, a boost of the circulation of Flu A/B and RVS and/or a change in their seasonal epidemiology can occur and co-infection with CoV-2 may be a possibility. The aim of this work was the evaluation of the Flu A/B and RSV circulation during the last year in COVID-19 samples. Method(s): Between May 2021 and January 2022, about 104 205 human clinical samples for routine CoV-2 diagnostic were tested using Alinity M (Abbott) Resp- 4-Plex assay which simultaneously detected targets from CoV-2, Flu A/ B and RSV. Finding(s): A total of 6627 (6.36%) CoV-2, 483 (0.46%) Flu A, 42(0.04%) Flu B and 2606 (2.50%) RSV positive cases were detected, point out the presence of 75 co-infections: 57 RSV/CoV-2, 17 Flu A/ CoV-2 and 1 Flu B/CoV-2. In accordance with the increase of cases of both viruses, RSV/CoV-2 co-infection occurred mainly between August and December 2021 and Flu A/ CoV-2 between December 2021 and January 2022. It was observed a high RSV season atypically early (August) with only 15.8% of the concomitant cases occurring in children. Conclusion(s): In conclusion, this study reports that co-infection arose between these viruses highlighting the importance of a continuous respiratory pathogen surveillance during pandemics, as well as atypically peaks in atypical periods can emerge when restrictions change.Copyright © 2023
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Objective: To measure the prevalence of skin lesions in health personnel related to the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Method(s): A cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative study was carried out;A questionnaire was applied to medical and nursing staff who treated patients with COVID-19, the most frequent adverse reactions caused by: masks, gloves, glasses, protective clothing and alcohol gel were quantified. Result(s): 90 people participated, of which 81 (90%) presented skin lesions associated with PPE. The accessory that caused the most injuries was the mask (87.7%), followed by glasses (85.5%) and alcohol gel (82.2%). The most frequent reaction to masks was nasal bridge ulcer (68.9%);in glasses it was pressure injury to the forehead (76.7%);and due to the use of alcohol gel it was dryness (75.5%). Conclusion(s): Prolonged use (>5 hours) of PPE can cause adverse skin effects in healthcare personnel. The mask was the accessory that generated the most skin lesions, with pressure ulcers on the nasal bridge being the most frequent.Copyright © 2022, Fundacion Index. All rights reserved.
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An appreciative inquiry approach oriented eight semi-structured interviews conducted with teachers from Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Italy, Spain, Canada, Bangladesh and India to identify their intrinsic and extrinsic strengths and understand how they were able to translate them into practice during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Commitment and determination, collegial support and solidarity were some of the common driving forces identified, despite the differences in teachers' backgrounds, education systems, policies and cultures. Our research sheds light on opportunity solving in times of crisis as well as on the way education systems worldwide can renew themselves to ensure innovative and inclusive quality education. ©, University of Cambridge, Faculty of Education.
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The present paper describes the hybrid and online learning during Covid-19 in the Graphical Engineering subject in the School of Industrial Engineering at Universitat Politecnica de Valencia. The methodology applied and the results of the hybrid and online learning are also presented. The study is focused on the description of the development of all aspects involved in online learning as the Learning Management System, the Virtual Laboratory, Evaluation System and Online Learning Tool. Likewise, technological advances made it possible to introduce improvements not only in online education but also in face-to-face university education. These technological advances helped us to shift in an easy way from face-to-face learning to online and hybrid learning during the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite many troubles with the online learning, it was developed in an excellent way. © 2022 IEEE.
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This paper analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the student’s academic performance in the School of Engineering at Universidad Nacional de Colombia – Bogota Campus. The impact is assessed from a quantitative approach based on (i) student’s grades, (ii) student’s progress in their curriculum and (iii) dropped courses. In addition, results from a faculty survey (qualitative approach) are presented to expand some explanatory perspectives on the main academic changes during the pandemic. Results show a significant increase in the average numerical grade as well as in the probability of a course being dropped during the pandemic conditions. Furthermore, the student’s average curriculum progress per semester grew approximately 18%. A differentiated academic impact, depending on sex and family income was observed which may be included in future post-pandemic programs. The survey reflects a new faculty’s perspective on evaluation tools and methodologies. © The author;licensee Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
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The State of Emergency declaration in Japan due to the COVID-19 pandemic affected many aspects of society in the country, much like the rest of the world. One sector that felt its disruptive impact was education. As educational institutions raced to implement emergency remote teaching (ERT) to continue providing the learning needs of students, some have opened to innovative interventions. This paper describes a case of ERT where Filipino vocabulary was taught to a class of Japanese students taking Philippine Studies in a Japanese university using a cognitive innovation based on virtual reality, an immersive technology often researched for immersion and presence. Students were divided into three groups to experience six lessons designed around virtual reality photo-based tours at different immersion levels. While the effect of immersion on satisfaction was not found to be statistically significant, presence and satisfaction were found to be correlated. Despite challenges that were encountered, benefits like enjoyment, increased engagement, and perceived learning were reported by the students. Our findings exemplify how emerging multisensory technologies can be used to enhance affective and cognitive dimensions of human experience while responding to gaps created by the spatial limitations of remote learning.
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Objective: To measure the effects of the prone position on ventilatory parame-ters in the treatment of patients with acute respiratory syndrome secondary to COVID-19. Methods: Through a descrip-tive, cross-sectional, prospective study, a sample of 103 patients with acute respira-tory syndrome (ARDS) secondary to COVID-19 was studied. The patients were placed in the prone position indefinitely and clinical ventilatory pa-rameters were monitored such as blood pressure oxygen (PaO2), oxygen saturation (SatO2) and relationship between partial pressure of oxy-gen and inspired fraction of oxygen (PaO2/FiO2). Results: The concentration of FiO2 decreased from 100% in the su-pine position to 69% in the prone position, the PaO2/FiO2 increased from 74 to 122 millimeters of mercury (mmHg), the basal PaO2 was recorded at 51 mmHg and after the change in position it was of 89 mmHg, also the SatO2 improved from 84% to 93%. Conclusions: The prone position can significantly improve the PaO2, SatO2 values, as well as the PaO2/FiO2 ratio, and in general, the clinical status of the patient with ARDS.
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OBJECTIVES: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a multifactorial syndrome with significant interactions between genetic and environmental factors. This study specifically investigates the association between family history of alcohol problems (FHAP) and family history of depression (FHD), and how these relate to different clusters of depressive symptoms. METHODS: Correlations between FHAP and FHD and different clusters of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were studied. We sampled 333 employees from a general hospital who had been receiving a psychiatric consultation between 2005 and 2012. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) models were conducted to explore these correlations. RESULTS: There was a significant positive correlation between FHAP and BDI affective score. This result remained significant even after the adjustment for other variables considered as important factors for MDD, such as gender, age, marital status, education, ethnic group and FHD. More specifically, FHAP was correlated with dissatisfaction and episodes of crying among the affective symptoms. FHAP showed no statistical difference in any of the other clusters score or in the BDI total score. Moreover, as expected, we found a correlation between FHD and BDI total score and Somatic and Cognitive clusters. CONCLUSION: FHAP should be routinely investigated in individuals presenting with depressive symptoms. This is especially important in cases presenting with dissatisfaction and episodes of crying in patients who do not endorse criteria for MDD. Due to study limitations, the findings require replication by neurobiological, epidemiological and clinical studies.
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Alcohol-Related Disorders , Depressive Disorder, Major , Depression , Humans , Psychiatric Status Rating ScalesABSTRACT
Introduction: Vaccination against COVID-19 has been widely recommended for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), although the effect of different disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) on said immunization is not well known. Some studies begin to point out a relationship between DMTs of greater efficacy with a lower rate of seroprotection. Objectives: To assess serological response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in MS patients receiving disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) in a real-life setting. Methods: Anti-spike protein-based serology was measured in 191 patients with MS and 6 patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Patients were either untreated or under treatment with different DMTs. A group of healthy subjects similarly vaccinated served as control. The percent of subjects that developed protective antibodies, the antibody-titer, and lymphocyte counts were evaluated. Results: Patients and controls were vaccinated with different available vaccines: BNT162b2 (68.6%), mRNA-1273 (5.4%), ChAdOx1-S (20.7%) and Ad26COVS1 (4.3%). Protective serological response was observed in 100% of controls, NMOSD, untreated (n=19), Interferon-beta (n=17), Glatiramer-acetate (n=15), Cladribine (n=11), Dimethyl-fumarate (n=15), Teriflunomide (n=29) and Natalizumab (n=25) patients. 100% was also observed in Alemtuzumab (n=11) patients but none received treatment dose in last year. Serological response was observed in 42%, 44% and 0% of Fingolimod (n=12), Ocrelizumab (n=26) and Rituximab (n=6) patients respectively. Time from the last dosing was related to serological response in anti-CD-20 therapies;age, disease duration, disease phenotype, vaccine used, or lymphocyte counts did not affect humoral response to COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusions: Anti-CD20 therapies and Fingolimod seem to condition a lower humoral response to vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Vaccination prior initiation of these DMTs medication administration would be recommendable whenever possible.
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Introduction: Small subepithelial gastrointestinal lesions (SEL), often defined as submucosal tumours, or subepithelial tumours (SET) confirmed once characterized by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), could generate anxiety and fear of cancer. Aims & Methods: The main aim was to assess the anxiety burden and cancerophobia in patients with a small-sized SEL diagnosis or SET in periodic EUS surveillance. Secondary aims: to evaluate possible factors or patients characteristics influencing on anxiety or fear of cancer degree. Methods: Observational prospective study. Consecutive inclusion of all patients with a small-sized SEL diagnosis (requiring an EUS performance), or patients with a previously catalogued SET under echoendoscopy surveillance. Evaluation of the anxiety-distress degree and fear of cancer using two specific designed and validated instruments-questionnaires: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), anxiety and depression subscales [0-7 points normal;8-10 borderline;11-21 pathologic], and global-distress scale [0-10 points normal;11-17 borderline;18-42 pathologic];and Cancer Worry Scale (CWS) [6-10 points low;11-15 moderate;16-20 high;21- 24 very high]. ClinicalTrials.gov register: NCT04316000. Due to SARS-CoV2 (Covid-19) pandemia and its implications for outcomes bias, the study was prematurely suspended. Results: Two participating centres, 40 patients (inclusion period: September 2019-February 2020). Mean HADS-anxiety: 7.2 (+/- 4.3) [= borderline anxiety];HADS-distress: 11.4 (+/- 7.7) [= borderline distress];CWS: 11.0 (+/- 4.1) [= moderate concern]. Belief on probability of having GI cancer now: 20.7% (+/- 23.6);belief on probability of getting GI cancer in 10 years: 28.6% (+/- 24.3). Impact on quality of life: Yes 40% (16/40). Female sex (n- 26) vs. male (n-14) subanalysis: HADS-anxiety 8.0 vs. 5.9;HADS-distress 12.7 vs. 9.0;CWS 11.5 vs. 9.9. Family history of cancer YES (n-29) vs. NO (n- 11) subanalysis: HADS-anxiety 8.1 vs. 5.0;HADS-distress 12.7 vs. 8.0;CWS 11.7 vs. 9.1. Conclusion: Patients with SEL diagnosis or SET under EUS surveillance present a moderate anxiety-distress degree and a moderate concern about having cancer, partially affecting their quality of life. Family history of cancer and female gender are factors that can increase anxiety and cancerophobia degree. Modifying the submucosal tumour term use for subepithelial lesion in conventional endoscopy reports, and suggesting the SETs removal in case of significant anxiety-cancerophobia, could be measures to be adopted, providing a transversal approach to patients' health.
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La pandemia por la nueva infección respiratoria conocida como enfermedad coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), causada por el virus SARS-CoV-2, ha desencadenado una perturbación sin precedentes en la actividad habitual de los servicios de cirugía oral y maxilofacial en España, retrasando la atención rutinaria de pacientes e intervenciones quirúrgicas programadas. Los cirujanos orales y maxilofaciales son uno de los colectivos sanitarios con mayor riesgo de infección nosocomial por el estrecho contacto que se produce con los pacientes asintomáticos y sintomáticos con infección por SARS-CoV-2 a través de la cavidad oral y orofaringe. El propósito del presente documento ha sido actualizar la evidencia disponible para el manejo y tratamiento seguro y efectivo en consulta, cirugías ambulatorias, programadas y urgentes y hospitalización, minimizando al mismo tiempo, tanto como sea posible, el riesgo de contagio para el cirujano oral y maxilofacial, personal sanitario y pacientes. Este documento pretende esclarecer los aspectos más significativos y crear un protocolo común de manejo de pacientes con COVID-19 en cirugía oral y maxilofacial durante la fase aguda de propagación y de control posterior de la pandemia en nuestro país The pandemic due to the new respiratory infection known as coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19), caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has triggered an unprecedented disruption in the normal activity of oral and maxillofacial surgery departments in Spain, delaying routine patient care and elective surgical interventions. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are one of the healthcare groups with the highest risk of nosocomial infection because of the close contact that occurs with asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection through the oral cavity and oropharynx. The purpose of this document has been to update the available evidence for the safe and effective management and treatment in outpatient clinic, ambulatory, elective and emergency surgeries, and hospitalization, while minimizing as much as possible the risk of infection for the oral and maxillofacial surgeon, health workers and patients. This document aims to clarify the most significant aspects and create a common protocol for the management of patients with COVID-19 in oral and maxillofacial surgery during the acute stage of spread and subsequent control of the pandemic in our country
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The pandemic due to the new respiratory infection known as coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19), caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has triggered an unprecedented disruption in the normal activity of oral and maxillofacial surgery departments in Spain, delaying routine patient care and elective surgical interventions. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are one of the healthcare groups with the highest risk of nosocomial infection because of the close contact that occurs with asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection through the oral cavity and oropharynx. The purpose of this document has been to update the available evidence for the safe and effective management and treatment in outpatient clinic, ambulatory, elective and emergency surgeries, and hospitalization, while minimizing as much as possible the risk of infection for the oral and maxillofacial surgeon, health workers and patients. This document aims to clarify the most significant aspects and create a common protocol for the management of patients with COVID-19 in oral and maxillofacial surgery during the acute stage of spread and subsequent control of the pandemic in our country. © 2020 SECOM.
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ABSTRACT The pandemic due to the new respiratory infection known as coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19), caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has triggered an unprecedented disruption in the normal activity of oral and maxillofacial surgery departments in Spain, delaying routine patient care and elective surgical interventions. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are one of the healthcare groups with the highest risk of nosocomial infection because of the close contact that occurs with asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection through the oral cavity and oropharynx. The purpose of this document has been to update the available evidence for the safe and effective management and treatment in outpatient clinic, ambulatory, elective and emergency surgeries, and hospitalization, while minimizing as much as possible the risk of infection for the oral and maxillofacial surgeon, health workers and patients. This document aims to clarify the most significant aspects and create a common protocol for the management of patients with COVID-19 in oral and maxillofacial surgery during the acute stage of spread and subsequent control of the pandemic in our country.
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Objective: To recognize the usefulness of incorporating Three-Dimensional models of standardized humans in electronic health records, in the context of the development of a teledentistry web platform designed for the attention of the elderly population in COVID-19 pandemic context. Material and Methods: A teledentistry web platform designed with different modules for clinical records. Through a new user-computer interface with a standardized virtual 3D phantom, an extraoral physical examination, an intraoral examination section was modeled. A label-associated marker is allowed to record descriptive aspects of the findings. A 3D odontogram represents multiple patient’s conditions for each of the 32 dental positions. Results: From a total of 135 patients registered on the platform, 51 markers and 33 photographs associated with the surface of the virtual 3D phantoms were recorded. For the Location parameter: Hard palate 27.6%, inserted gingiva 15.7%, tongue 15.6%. For the Type of lesion parameter (according to the information entered in the pathology selector): unidentified 35.3%, sub-prosthetic stomatitis 23.5%, irritative fibroma 9.8%. Through the registration of the exact location of the finding in the virtual phantom by a 3D marker, the 3D modeling of the oral pathologies contributed to a better diagnosis, improving the remote communication between the attending dentist and specialists. Conclusion: The combination of the 3D modeling and anatomical-referencing in a teledentistry platform can become a powerful tool for the dental practice, due to their utility and specificity. © 2022, Universidad de Concepcion. All rights reserved.