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Working outside of the employer's physical space using information and communication technology can be labeled as telework. With the Covid-19 pandemic, telework assumed an unprecedented relevance with substantial impact for the future. Therefore, the development of assessment scales that allow a better comprehension of telework is essential. In this study, the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Impact of Telework on Career Scale (ITCS) were assessed tested on 533 workers, and confirmatory analyses were performed on 532 remote workers. Results suggested good psychometric properties and a two-factor structure, Work-Related Well-Being, and Psychological Well-Being. Furthermore, this Portuguese sample considered that telework has little impact on the connection with colleagues, employers, and the probability of being promoted, but it can promote work-related satisfaction and performance, as well as reduce work-family conflict. Implications for scale usage are discussed.
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This chapter serves as the conclusion to the whole book, which covers different regions around the globe. In this regard, it proffers global perspectives to social development's responses to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and how the world was impacted by this virus. In essence, it examines a multiplicity of issues pertaining to COVID-19. It must be noted that the issues raised in this book's chapters are not exhaustive. Nevertheless, they encompass the following: social issues, social work strategies and responses at the local and global level, responses of social work educators and students, and a focus on a post-pandemic global scenario. In arriving at the book's conclusion, the editors also reflect on their personal journeys, which they had embarked upon when they started writing this book, in dire and perilous circumstances. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.
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Working outside of the employer's physical space using information and communication technology can be labeled as telework. With the Covid-19 pandemic, telework assumed an unprecedented relevance with substantial impact for the future. Therefore, the development of assessment scales that allow a better comprehension of telework is essential. In this study, the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Impact of Telework on Career Scale (ITCS) were assessed tested on 533 workers, and confirmatory analyses were performed on 532 remote workers. Results suggested good psychometric properties and a two-factor structure, Work-Related Well-Being, and Psychological Well-Being. Furthermore, this Portuguese sample considered that telework has little impact on the connection with colleagues, employers, and the probability of being promoted, but it can promote work-related satisfaction and performance, as well as reduce work-family conflict. Implications for scale usage are discussed. © 2022 AIDEP. All rights reserved.
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Introduction The use of fingolimod as a long-term therapy in people with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) is associated with a small increase in the risk of herpes virus reactivation and respiratory tract infections. At the moment, the outbreak of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 brings new challenges to physicians when deciding to continue or stop the treatment with fingolimod. Objective We report one MS patient tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 that has not discontinued fingolimod treatment and developed only mild symptoms from COVID-19. Method(s): Descriptive observational study. Discussion and conclusion The effects of COVID-19 infection on MS patients treated with fingolimod are still uncertain. This case report outlines promising results by demonstrating a patient who didn't stop the fingolimod treatment during COVID-19 infection and developed only mild symptoms. Nevertheless, more studies are necessary to evaluate the risks and benefits of fingolimod in MS patients infected with COVID-19.Copyright © 2022 The Authors
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The use of distance education using digital tools in higher education has increased over the last decade, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has resulted in schools shutting down all across the world. This paper aims to present a brief summary of the Digitools Project and a multicultural analysis of the use of e-learning during Covid-19 in six countries. The methodology used was a survey by questionnaire involving teachers, librarians and students. The analysis of the questionnaire results allowed us to identify which dimensions to assess the sustainability of eLearning namely the organizational, socio-cultural and technological context. It also made it possible to assess the perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, intention to use, actual use and perceived satisfaction. Furthermore, personal, technological and organizational dimensions are also valued for e-learning usage. After reviewing the state of the art, there was a need to define a strategic training plan for the acquisition of basic and advanced skills for eLearning's implementation and usage. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
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Introducao: A Leucemia Mieloide Aguda (LMA) e uma doenca agressiva, e em geral, de prognostico reservado. O tratamento com intuito curativo e realizado com altas doses de quimioterapia, seguido ou nao por transplante de medula ossea (TMO) alogenico. Porem, a recidiva ainda representa um desafio a ser superado, levando a busca de novas opcoes terapeuticas, como o inibidor de bcl-2, Venetoclax. Objetivo: Relatar o caso de um paciente jovem com LMA recidivada com resposta ao tratamento baseado em Venetoclax, seguido por TMO alogenico. Metodo: Levantamento de dados do prontuario e revisao da literatura. Relato do caso: VSV, sexo masculino, 21 anos, diagnosticado com LMA em 18/02/2020, mielograma com 60,4% blastos, com fenotipo CD45+ intermediario;CD34+;CD13+;CD33 parcial;CD64 parcial;HLA-DR parcial;MPO parcial e cariotipo 46, XY [20]. Sem possibilidade de avaliacao molecular da doenca. O paciente recebeu tratamento de inducao padrao (D3A7) atingindo remissao completa apos um ciclo e seguindo com consolidacao com 3 ciclos de ARA-C 3g/m2 ate maio de 2020 (optou-se por nao realizar o 4ciclo devido a pandemia por COVID19). Apresentava doenca residual minima (DRM) negativa em reavaliacao medular de agosto de 2020, mantendo-se ate junho de 2021, quando apresentou recidiva com 33,8% de blastos em imunofenotipagem de reavaliacao. Internado em julho de 2021 para QT de resgate com FLAG, evoluiu com choque septico e insuficiencia respiratoria, sendo necessario suporte em unidade de terapia intensiva. Apos recuperacao clinica, obteve novamente DRM negativa, sendo encaminhado para TMO alogenico aparentado (irma "full match"). Entretanto, enquanto aguardava o transplante, apresentou nova recidiva (IF com 5,4% de blastos), sendo optado por tratamento com Venetoclax + Azacitidina, com reducao de DRM para 1,5%. Recebeu o segundo ciclo de Venetoclax combinado com citarabina, devido a indisponibilidade da Azacitidina, seguido por DRM negativa. O paciente foi submetido ao TMO alogenico em 31/03/22, com avaliacao medular no D+60 com quimerismo de 100%, mantendo DRM negativa no D+120. Discussao: O uso do inibidor de BCL-2 (Venetoclax), em combinacao com agentes hipometilantes ou doses baixas de citarabina, foi aprovado para pacientes recem-diagnosticados com LMA inelegiveis para quimioterapia intensiva, revolucionando o tratamento da doenca. Publicacoes recentes vem demonstrando novos beneficios dessa associacao, tanto previamente ao TMO (em primeira linha ou com doenca recidivada), como na terapia de resgate para recidiva pos-TMO. Tambem tendo sido evidenciado sucesso terapeutico em faixas etarias menores (incluindo criancas). Esses novos estudos motivaram o uso de terapia baseada em venetoclax nesse paciente jovem, com doenca recidivada, conseguindo atingir e manter DRM negativa. Conclusao: O caso relatado demonstra eficacia do Venetoclax (em combinacao com hipometilante ou citarabina) em promover remissao profunda da doenca, tornando o paciente habil para o transplante e aumentando a probabilidade de sobrevida a longo prazo. Copyright © 2022
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Introduction: Cannabis-induced psychotic disorder (CIPD) is defined by the development of psychotic symptoms during or briefly after intoxication with cannabis or withdrawal from cannabis. The social measures and restrictions implemented following the COVID-19 pandemic might have had an impact on cannabis availability, as suggested by patients from our clinical practice, reporting a shortage of the substance. Objective(s): To compare sociodemographic, clinical characteristics and admission rates of inpatient treatment for cannabis-induced psychotic disorder in COVID-19 pandemic period and prepandemic period. Method(s): Retrospective observational study of inpatient admissions for CIPD in a psychiatry inpatient unit of a tertiary hospital. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software, version 27.0. Result(s): Our sample included 120 inpatient admissions, corresponding to 80 patients. Compared to 2018 and 2019, in 2020 there was an overall reduction of 21.5% in inpatient admissions (n=618, 549 and 458, respectively). The number of admissions for CIPD in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 up to september were, respectively, 29, 32, 10 and 31 (5.2%, 6.1%, 2.2% and 7.2% of respective annual admissions). We found no statistically significant differences regarding sociodemographic and clinical characteristics in patients admitted for CIPD during 2020. Conclusion(s): These results suggest a disproportionate reduction of inpatient admissions due to CIPD in 2020, followed by an expressive increase in the number of admissions in 2021up to september. This might be related to cannabis availability returning to regular levels. However other factors must be considered, such as the delay of treatment due to reduced accessibility to health care.
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Introduction: Thyroid hormones (TH) controls pro and antiinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress and are crucial during COVID-19 once might be important for neurodegeneration and synaptic plasticity regulation. Our objective was to study the association between TSH and TH serumlevels collected during the first 48 hours of hospital admission and risk of post-COVID-19 cognitive impairment. Method(s): We conducted an observational, longitudinal, and prospective cohort study to investigate serum TH levels in adult COVID-19 patients, admitted between June and August 2020, and to determine whether they are associated with post-COVID-19 cognitive impairment. We collected laboratory (thyroid function and inflammatory biomarkers) of 273 COVID-19 hospitalized patients. After hospital discharge (30 - 45 days), 74 patients (filtered by eligibility criteria) were followed and subdivided into non-cognitive impairment (47) and cognitive impairment (27) groups, based on a score of >23 or <=23 on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), respectively. We performed a Mann-Whitney test, ROC curve, a univariate and a multivariate logistic regression to identify biomarkers of poor cognitive outcomes. Result(s): 74 patients [male 66.2%;mean age: 56 (45-68) years] were stratified. Overall, during hospitalization, and their mean length of hospital stay was 6 (4-8) days. Spearman's correlation analysis showed that the MMSE was inversely proportional to age, TSH, IL-6, and D-dimer. We found three COVID-19- related cognitive impairment predictors using the ROC curve (AUC score): age (AUC= 0.82), serum IL-6 (AUC= 0.68), and TSH (AUC= 0.63). TSH levels were lower in non-cognitive impairment compared with cognitive impairment patients [TSH: 0.99 (0.66 - 2.0) pg/mL vs. 1.44 (0.63-3.1) pg/mL, p = 0.06]. In multivariate logistic regression (corrected by comorbidities), these biomarkers represented independent risk factors for cognitive impairment related to post-COVID-19 syndrome. The cutoff points were: (i) TSH >3.63 lIU/mL (OR 14.9 CI 2.06-309, p = 0.02);(ii) age >60 years (OR 9.06 CI 2.7 - 35, p = 0.0006);and (iii) IL-6 > 68 pg/mL (OR 4.24 CI 1.45-13, p = 0.009). We did not find a significant difference in fT4, fT3 or rT3 levels on cognition outcome. Conclusion(s): TSH serum levels on hospital admission might be of used as prognostic biomarkers of post-COVID cognitive impairment.
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The anti-vaccine movements have gained expressiveness in recent years, leading to the realization that diseases, previously eradicated, started to return. The pandemic of the new coronavirus rekindled the debate, leading the Supreme Court to consider constitutional compulsory vaccination, never forced, provided that, among other requirements, immunizers have a scientific basis. Adopting the phenomenological method, combined with the case study - by analyzing the decisions of the STF on the matter –, and the method of bibliographic approach, this article aims to analyze to what extent the STF effectively closed the question about the State having (or not) the power to compel the individual to be vaccinated. The first section is dedicated to the study of anti-vaccine movements, with data exposure and the historical resumption of the movement. The second section analyzes the decisions of the STF, issued at the end of 2020, as well as the operation of the rhetoric of truth in contemporary times and the relationship of mandatory vaccination with the principles of bioethics. The discussion on the credibility of the safety and efficacy of vaccines, to justify the compulsory application, goes beyond legal and political limits, deflating the decision of the Superior Court. Therefore, it appears that the STF did not resolve the issue, it only relegated the debate to science and the formation of truth in contemporary times. © 2022
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Introduction: The sleep-wake rhythm irregularities can cause poor sleep quality and mood changes, such as increased fatigue and sleepiness in the students in consequence of the academic tasks and social life. Objective: The objective of this study was to verify the sleep quality, sleepiness, alertness state and mood state of the university students prior to the day-night-shift classes (online) during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Methods: One hundred sixty-eight university students of both sexes, with a mean age of 23.8±5.4 years, registered from the 2nd to the 7th period in three courses (Medicine, Nursing and Physiotherapy) of the two Brazilian private university in the day (n=90) and night-shift (n=78) were participated of this study. The measurements of sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index - PSQI), sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), alertness state (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale), mood state (Brazil Mood Scale - BRAMS), fatigue (FB) and vigor BRAMS domains (VB) were performed immediately prior to the classes online (day shift = 7h00;night shift = 19h00). The normality of the data was verified using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The Mann-Whitney U test of independent samples was used to compare the variables between day-shift and night-shift university students. The size of the Cohen effect (ES) was estimated. The α-level for all analysis was set at ≤0.05. Results: The results showed there was a significant difference in sleep quality, fatigue mood domain, and alertness state between university students in the day and night shifts: sleep quality - PSQI (U= 2789.5;p=0.02;ES=0.46), alertness state - KSS (U= 2933.0;p=0.04, ES=0.48) and FB mood domain (U= 2877.0;p=0.05;ES=0.31). However, there was no difference in sleepiness (ESS) and Vigor mood domain (BRAMS) between day-shift and night-shift students. Therefore, the night-shift university students showed a significant worsening of the sleep quality, fatigue mood and alertness state compared to the day-shift students prior the classes. Conclusion: The results indicated that night-shift students were inattentive, fatigue, and sleepy prior to their academic activities (classes), in addition to presenting poor sleep quality (IQSP>5). Thereby, strategies implementation such as naps, restorative sleep, blue light therapy, and sleep hygiene are important to improve the alertness, attention, general health, and academic performance of the university students during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
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COVID-19 pandemic forced many countries to adopt lockdown measures, temporarily closing factories, diminish maritime traffic and reducing the mobility of people in the cities. Analysis from the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) and Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) on board Europe's Sentinel-5P, 3A/B respectively, for the first wave of the COVID-19, have shown a substantial improvement in air and water quality. More specifically, since COVID-19 lockdown until the end April, Lisbon and Porto were at their lowest PM10 levels of about 20% and a drop of 33% in 2 years, while Madrid had a significant drop since lockdown with vales significantly below 2018 levels but still close to 2019 levels. In terms of NO2 levels, Lisbon had an historical minimum of the last 2 years, dropping more than 40% during most of April 2020. Finally, Madrid had 2-year lowest level of more than 30% since lockdown. Concerning the water quality in the Portuguese coastal waters, it was verified an increase in water transparency since confinement started until May, accordingly to the Total Suspended Matter (TSM) indicator. From February to March, March to April and April to May there was a reduction in TSM levels of 17%, 37% and 53% respectively.
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Objective: to assess the extent to which dynamic and innovative capabilities contribute to companies facing turbulent crisis scenarios such as the covid-19 pandemic. Methods: the research is characterized by a quantitative approach through an online survey and analysis by structural equation modeling (SEM). The study sample consisted of 166 companies. Results: The results showed that in the face of crisis environments (unexpected situations), companies with dynamic capabilities could deal more effectively with impacts in the face of crisis. On the other hand, but less significantly (p<0.10), innovation presents itself as a context of risk enhanced by crisis scenarios. Conclusions: The article theoretically contributes to the relationship between the themes of dynamic capacity, innovation, and impacts of the crisis, through a structural model, in the context of the pandemic generated by covid-19. From a managerial and practical perspective, the research highlights the importance of developing dynamic capabilities to face crises, as well as innovation, in the sense of being ready to face difficult scenarios, showing that companies with developed dynamic capabilities were able to face the crisis more satisfactorily. Finally, through factor analysis in a methodological way, the research refines the relationship between relevant themes (dynamic capacity and innovation) given the empirical-contextual axis (covid-19 crisis).
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Objetivo: Relatar os achados morfológicos de infecção disseminada por Histoplasma capsulatum encontrados em sangue periférico de paciente imunossuprimido. Relato: Paciente do sexo masculino, 51 anos, transplantado renal há 20 anos, doador vivo aparentado. Dá entrada em um Pronto Socorro da cidade de São Paulo relatando febre não aferida e calafrios há uma semana, associado a quadro de tosse e prurido. Exame para detecção do novo coronavírus há três dias, negativo. Por se tratar de paciente transplantado renal é internado em isolamento e evoluiu com sepse e IRA (Injúria Renal Aguda), secundárias a possível processo infeccioso e com hipercalemia, acidose metabólica e úlceras duodenais hemorrágicas. Os exames laboratoriais mostraram: PCR = 37 mg/dL, Creatinina = 4,16 mg/dL, Leucócitos = 3.150/mm3, Neutrófilos = 2.390/mm3. TC de tórax demonstra consolidação localizada em LSD e LMD com formato de árvore em brotamento. Foi descartada a hipótese de pneumonia bacteriana e levantada a suspeita de infecção fúngica ou por micobactéria pulmonar. Evoluiu com piora do estado geral, impossibilitando a realização de broncoscopia para biopsia e/ou lavado. Os testes sorológicos foram negativos para: antígeno de Cryptococcus neoformans, IgM e IgG para Mycoplasma pneumoniae, anticorpos totais para Paracoccidioidomicose e Histoplasmose, mas positivos para antígeno de Aspergillus. Ao longo da evolução, a análise morfológica da série branca do hemograma demonstrou a presença de inclusões citoplasmáticas em neutrófilos compatíveis com possível fungo encapsulado, provavelmente Histoplasma. As mesmas formas foram observadas em raros monócitos e livres em meio às plaquetas. Apesar da imediata instituição do tratamento, o paciente teve evolução desfavorável. Conclusão: A histoplasmose se mostrou uma doença com capacidade de disseminação até em paciente com níveis baixos de imunossupressão, como neste caso relatado, após 20 anos de transplante. A análise morfológica ganhou papel de destaque no diagnóstico, geralmente realizado por outras metodologias específicas, nesse caso impossibilitadas pelas condições clínicas do paciente. Foi o hemograma o primeiro exame que conseguiu apresentar dados conclusivos da infecção por histoplasma, podendo auxiliar a equipe médica a tomar condutas direcionadas para o tratamento. O resultado positivo de Aspergillus do paciente sofreu provável reação cruzada com Histoplasma devido a limitações técnicas do método. O papel do morfologista se mostrou crucial nesse caso, demonstrando a importância de manter equipes bem treinadas e preparadas para atuar em casos raros e difíceis. Sendo assim, esse trabalho traz imagens de achados que poderão auxiliar outros morfologistas na identificação do patógeno em suas rotinas.
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Background and Aim: The pandemic context of Covid-19 aroused the emergence of other perceptions of human, social and economic relations. The Covid-19 effects were felt in several parts of the world, with the older adults' population being one of the most affected as they are more fragile and vulnerable. The social isolation of older adults was linked to feelings of loneliness due to the confinement that affected the decrease in social contact. Within this framework, we formulated the following research question: In which way the Covid-19 context be able to shape older adults' post pandemic perceptions of their quality of life? In this regard, the present study's objectives were as follows: 1) To analyze the perceptions of the over-55s regarding the impact of the pandemic situation and its effects in the post-Covid-19 period. 2) To identify the impact of Covid-19 on Critical thinking in the over 55s;3) To interpret how the over-55s project themselves into the future (post-pandemic). Method: Construction, validation, and application of an online questionnaire to 167 individuals aged 55 years or older between 15/09/2020 and 10/02/2021. Content analysis techniques and statistical analysis were used. Results: The results showed that the replies, regardless of age, gender, and academic background, valued health, financial issues, and social relationships. Critical thinking rose in awareness and critical reflection on how to live day to day and use of technologies better. Conclusion: This study points us to the need to build psychological, cultural, and spiritual defenses that we understand as resilience forms. I.e., building a culture of responsibility and ethic of life, sensitive to the needs of each person and the community. Critical thinking helps to overcome difficulties and to improve the quality of life.
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This paper aims to understand how a school that assumes itself as ecopedagogical has proposed and done an educational process, according to its social function, in the context of exceptionality that marks the crossing of the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, problematizing the relations between the conceptions and the quality education. The methodology dialogues the documentary analysis of the Pedagogical Proposal and the Emergency Action Plan for the pandemic period with the narratives of teachers. The results show that the clarity of the educational purposes present in the School's ecopedagogical proposal and in the Covid's Emergency Crossing Plan has given visibility to the school's social function of commitment to full education and to life in its socio-biodiversity, according to the Federal Constitution and the Law of Guidelines and Bases for National Education.
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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has brought about changes in the lives of higher education students that may influence their psychological well-being. Objective: To analyze the association between nursing students’ coping strategies and their psychological well-being during the COVID-19 quarantine. Methodology: Cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational study using a convenience sample of 136 students. Data were collected online using the Portuguese version of the Échelle de Mesure des Mani-festations du Bien-être Psychologique and the Brief COPE. Results: Students in the last years of their undergraduate studies used the instrumental support (p = 0.015) and emotional support (p = 0.009) coping strategies more often and had higher levels of psychological well-being (p = 0.012). Psychological well-being is associated with household income changes (p = 0.024), as well as with religion (r = 0.36;p ≤ 0.01), positive reframing (r = 0.47;p ≤ 0.01), and humor (r = 0.37;p ≤ 0.01) coping strategies. Conclusion: Students’ coping strategies seem to be associated with their psychological well-being during the COVID-19 quarantine. © 2021, Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra. All rights reserved.
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COVID-19 pandemic forced many countries to adopt lockdown measures, temporarily closing factories, diminish maritime traffic and reducing the mobility of people in the cities. Analysis from the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) on board Europe's Sentinel-5P and Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), for the first wave of COVID-19 in 2020, have shown a substantial improvement in air quality. More specifically, since lockdown until the end of April, Lisbon and Porto were at their lowest PM10 levels in 2 years, while Madrid had a significant drop with values considerably below 2018 levels but still close to 2019 values. In terms of NO2 levels, Lisbon had an historical minimum of the last 2 years during most of April 2020 and Madrid had 2-year lowest level since lockdown. Finally, the commercial port of Ponta Delgada (São Miguel, Azores) had a decrease in cruise ship calls during the pandemic, which reduced the number of daily cases with significant NO2 concentrations, comparing to 2019. © 2021 IEEE