ABSTRACT
Background and rationale: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is a respiratory tract infection because of a novel coronavirus. The clinical picture ranges from asymptomatic to severe manifestations mandating intensive care and respiratory support. We aimed to assess the serum level of iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and transferrin saturation in COVID-19 patients and their relation to disease severity and outcome. Methodology: This observational cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19 who were admitted to Kasr Al-Ainy hospitals between June and December 2020.Serum levels of iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and transferrin saturation were measured for all study populations. Result: One hundred patients were involved in this research, 51males and 49 females, with a mean age of 51±14.9years. Regarding the disease severity,53% were moderate cases, 34% were mild, and 13% were severe cases. Fifty-two (54.2%) patients showed normal serum levels of iron, 38 patients (39.6%) showed high serum levels of iron, and 6 patients (6.3%) showed low serum levels of iron. The mean ±SD values of iron, TIBC, and transferrin saturation were 163.1±105 mcg/dL, 366 ± 162.6 mcg/dL, 44.4 ± 20.2 %, respectively. Iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC) levels and transferrin saturation did not show a significant association as regards either COVID-19 severity or mortality. Mortality and deterioration were detected in 31.7% out of 60 patients with COVID-19. The results showed that obese patients showed a higher percentage of severe COVID-19,which was statistically significant (p=0.037).There was a statistically significant higher mortality rate in patients with severe COVID-19 (p=0.000).High mortality was observed significantly in patients with diabetes mellitus (p=0.041).Iron levels, total iron binding capacity (TIBC) levels and transferrin saturation did not show a significant association regarding either COVID-19 severity or mortality. Conclusion: In our study, COVID-19 severity was not related to iron metabolism but was affected by obesity and diabetes mellitus. COVID-19 mortality was significantly associated with diabetes. © 2020 The author (s). Published by Zagazig University.
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 mass vaccination has led to drastic reduction in hospitalizations and mortality. A number of case reports have emerged reporting coronavirus disease 2019 infection within days following vaccination. There is a need to understand development of immune antibodies in the early post-vaccination period. A prospective analysis of immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G kinetics was conducted during the first 28 d following vaccination with either CanSino or Sinovac vaccines in a cohort of 40 healthy volunteers. Serial blood samples were collected from the volunteers right before the first dose of vaccine (d 0) and then on d 4, d 7, d 14, d 21, d 24 and d 28 post-vaccination. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, circulating anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 receptor binding domain immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G antibodies were analyzed. Most vaccine recipients (31/40) did not develop any circulating immunoglobulin M. The remaining 9 recipients showed a typical immunoglobulin M curve with antibodies appearing on d 4, peaking on d 7 and declining on d 21 and beyond. Immunoglobulin G response was more typical within 38/40 recipients showing the appearance of immunoglobulin G on d 4, which continued till the end of the study period. This study demonstrates that vaccine-induced immunoglobulin M-based immunity cannot be relied during the first few days following vaccination and more time is needed to have a better picture of the real situation.
ABSTRACT
Background: Atrial fibrillation and/or flutter is a common comorbidity in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Objective(s): We aimed to assess the effect of atrial fibrillation and/or flutter on the outcomes of COVID-19 patients in a nationally representative sample. Method(s): We conducted a population-based analysis utilizing data from the national inpatient sample database. Hospitalized adults >= 18 years who were hospitalized with COVID-19 during the year 2020 were included. We used multivariate logistic regression models to investigate the outcomes in patients who had atrial fibrillation or flutter. Result(s): Among 1,018,115 (Nationally weighted sample) admissions with COVID-19, 154795 cases (15.2%) had atrial fibrillation and/or flutter. Patients with atrial fibrillation and/or flutter had significantly higher adjusted odds of all-cause in-hospital mortality (Odds Ratio [OR], 1.78 [confidence interval (CI), 1.75-1.80]), acute stroke (OR, 1.96 [CI, 1.85-2.07]), acute coronary syndrome (OR, 1.43 [CI, 1.37-1.48]), acute heart failure (OR, 4.24 [CI, 4.15-4.34]), cardiogenic shock (OR, 3.07 [CI, 2.85-3.30]), need for vasopressors (OR, 2.14 [CI, 2.06-2.22]), cardiac arrest (OR, 1.95 [CI, 1.89-2.02]), need for mechanical ventilation (OR, 1.79 [CI, 1.77-1.82]), acute kidney injury (OR, 1.25 [CI, 1.23-1.27]), major bleeding (OR, 1.82 [CI, 1.73-1.92]) compared to those patients without atrial fibrillation or flutter. On subgroup analysis, the risk for mortality was highest among atrial flutter (OR, 2.91), followed by atrial flutter and fibrillation group (OR, 2.38), followed by only atrial fibrillation group (OR, 1.71) (P value <0.001 for all) when compared to non-atrial fibrillation, non-atrial flutter in patients with COVID-19. Conclusion(s): Atrial fibrillation and flutter are associated with higher inpatient mortality and worse outcomes in COVID-19 patients. [Formula presented]Copyright © 2023
ABSTRACT
The main objective of this research is to analyze the fundamental differences in the basic indicators of the emerging corona virus, COVID-19, especially the number of total cases and the number of deaths resulting from it in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in order to evaluate the precautionary measures taken by KSA. In this research, time series models were studied to predict the number of cases infected with COVID-19 that can be expected weekly in KSA during a period spanning a whole year using the numbers of weekly infections (WC) in KSA during the period from January 2021 to January 2022. The future values of injuries and deaths resulting from them were predicted using the time series method according to the current and previous values, and the E-Views statistical software package was used, which was specifically designed to process time series data. The study proved that there were statistically significant differences in the number of weekly infections with the corona virus, in addition to the presence of statistically significant differences in the number of weekly deaths resulting from the corona virus in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study also demonstrated the existence of a statistically significant correlation between the number of weekly infections with the corona virus and the deaths resulting from it in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The automatic regression integrated moving average (ARIMA) model was used as one of the time series prediction methods and the prediction procedures were determined using the ARIMA model. The results of the analysis showed that the ARIMA(1, 2, 0) model gave the best results for prediction and data analysis. It is highly advised to maintain the social distancing with all safety measures.
ABSTRACT
Background: COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with an increased risk of both inpatient and outpatient pneumonia. Objective: To describe the effect of COVID-19 virus on patients with kidney disease and renal transplants and analyse the outcomes of patients at the time of the study. Patients and Method: This is a descriptive study conducted in Baghdad Medical City, Al Shifa Center (single centre study). The study included 13 RTPCR-positive patients who were screened in the inpatient and outpatient departments. All patients received treatment according to the Iraq Ministry of Health protocol with dose adjusted as per the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Result: The mean age of participants was 51.46 years with males more than females. Among the positive cases, 2 had acute kidney injury (15.4%), 3 had chronic kidney diseases (23.1%), 5 had end-stage renal disease (38.5%), and 3 had had renal transplants (23.1%). 6 patients out of 13 were diabetic, 11 were hypertensive, and 1 patient had heart failure. 7 (53.8%) patients were given conservative treatment, 4 were given isolated conventional haemodialysis, and only 2 patients were kept in an intensive care unit on continuous renal replacement therapy. 2 male patients died during the treatment. Conclusion: Chronic kidney disease is a risk factor for COVID-19 infection and more mortality and infection were found in male patients as compared to female patients in our study. © 2022: Author(s).
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus pandemic has opened new business models for the banking, sector to come up with new products or services that would support the growth of the economy. Nowadays, electronic business enables business firms to use new business models including e-personalization and e-customization. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of e-personalization and e-customization in achieving e-customer satisfaction. Descriptive-analytical approach was used to answer the study questions and test its hypotheses using PLS "V. 3" and SPSS v23. A total of (887) questionnaires were valid for analysis out of (920) questionnaires distributed randomly in (13) banks in Amman-Jordan from the customer perspective. The findings revealed that there was a significant positive impact of e-personalization and e-customization on e-customer satisfaction. Thus, the study concluded that the Jordanian banking sector should invest heavily in innovative business models during Covid-19 which are enabled by electronic business platforms to enhance e-customer satisfaction. © 2022 DAR Publishers/The University of Jordan. All Rights Reserved.
ABSTRACT
Over the last decade, Oil & Gas operations have come under tremendous pressures due to increasing production demands and venturing into harsher environmental conditions, increasing the health risks to crew with underlying medical conditions. Although there are strict medical fitness, requirements in place to reduce the vulnerability of crewmembers, increasing number Non Accidental Deaths (NAD) have challenged the Oil & Gas operations. NAD risks are often linked with medical assessment/fitness to work, training and medical emergency response, NAD questions the adequacy of management controls at work locations, especially in remote locations. ADNOC Group Companies adopt very HSE high standards to protect the workers, environment and assets;however, the risks of aggravating underlying medical conditions, illnesses or disorders often materialize and result in NADs. An extended analysis of over historical NAD events was performed and strengths of NAD barriers (Tayab et al, 2012) was assessed. Based on the review NAD Barriers were further redefined as follow: Adequacy of pre-employment medical assessment • Alert of underlying medical conditions • Follow up on chronic medical conditions • Alert for abnormal behaviours • Awareness & Training • It was found that over 70% of NAD cases were triggered due to aggravation of chronic illnesses, approximately 50 % of NAD cases were triggered during the first year of employment, 77% of NAD cases were due to cardiovascular illnesses and 18% were due to suicides and 13% were attributed to COVID & other factors. Additional NAD barriers were identified to update the barrier analysis as follows: • Alert for abnormal behavior • Readiness to manage Medical Emergencies • Welfare & Counselling. © Copyright 2021, Society of Petroleum Engineers
ABSTRACT
-Current study focused on highlighting the influence of shockvertising (Disgusting Images, Sexual References, Profanity/Obscenity, Vulgarity, Impropriety, Moral Offensiveness and Religious Taboos) on consumer behavior in its two dimensions of repurchase intention and word of mouth. Through depending on quantitative approach and utilizing a questionnaire as a tool;researcher distributed on (431) Jordanian consumers within the online social platforms due to COVID 19 lockdown and quarantine. Through SPSS, results of study indicated that shockvertising – along with its variables – plays a role in negatively influencing consumer behavior, analysis also revealed that using religious taboos as advertisement material was the most influential aspect of shockvertising as people tend to act emotionally in reference to their religion, also, results indicated that shockvertising an influence consumer behavior variables and mostly repurchase intention as a consumer is welling to boycott a brand if it presented any offending ad. © 2021, World Scientific and Engineering Academy and Society. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In the past infectious diseases affected the quality of lifestyle during home confinement. The study conducted examines the influence of home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak on lifestyle, mental wellbeing, nutritional status, and sleeping pattern. METHOD: An online multicategorical questionnaire was distributed to collect demographic information combined with the following tools: Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), WHO-5 wellbeing score, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A snowball non-discriminate sampling procedure was conducted to collect data from people attending or working at higher institutions from March 1, 2020 to April 24, 2020. A total of 1723 completed responses (917 males, 37.4 ±13.4 years old and 806 females 32.2 ± 11.5 years old) were collected. RESULTS: The female participants had significantly lower mental health scores than males (53.9% vs. 46.1%). The mental wellbeing scores were higher among participants with medium and high physical activity (PA) levels (p < 0.00). Additionally, the mental wellbeing scores were significantly improved by dietary quality and it's sleeping score (p < 0.001). However, PA was by far the major determinant of the mental health scores. CONCLUSION: Factors such as PA, diet, and sleeping patterns were associated with mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 confinement among Arab participants.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Healthy Lifestyle/physiology , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Arabs , COVID-19/pathology , COVID-19/virology , Exercise , Female , Humans , Male , Mental Health , Middle Aged , Quarantine , Schools , Surveys and Questionnaires , Universities , Young AdultABSTRACT
Background In previous times, infectious diseases affected the quality of human life during home confinement. This study investigated the influence of home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak on lifestyle, mental wellbeing, nutritional status, and sleeping pattern.Method: An online multicategory questionnaire was distributed to collect Demographical information and combined the following tools: Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), WHO-5 wellbeing score, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A snowball none-discriminate sampling procedure was followed to collect data from people attending or working at higher institution had covering the period between Mar/00/2020 and Apr/24/2020. A total of 1723 completed responses (917 Males 37.4 ± 13.4 yrs. old and (806 Females 32.2 ± 11.5 yrs. old) were collected.Results Female participants had significantly lower mental health scores as compared to males (53.9% vs 46.1%). on Mental wellbeing score was better among participants with medium and high Physical Activity Levels (p < 0.00). Additionally, mental wellbeing score was significantly improved by dietary quality and sleeping score (p < 0.001). However, physical activity was by far the major determinants of mental health score.Conclusion Factors such as PA, Diet, sleeping patterns were associated with mental wellbeing during COVID-19 confinement among Arab participants.