ABSTRACT
Malaysian organizations are following different methods for cybersecurity risk assessment such as Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies (COBIT) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 27001. The higher education institutions in Malaysia are facing the same difficulties as different standards and approaches are used to evaluate the cybersecurity risk of their institutions. So, there is a lack of a cybersecurity risk assessment approach that takes Malaysian and international standards into consideration. This paper aims to develop a cybersecurity risk assessment approach for higher education institutions in Malaysia. The methodology of conducting this research is qualitative research using a case study. The framework has considered international cybersecurity standards such as the Holistic cybersecurity maturity assessment framework (HCYMAF) and local cybersecurity standards such as National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) and the Malaysia Cyber Security Strategy (MCSS). In addition, a measurable instrument to assess cybersecurity risk has been proposed. The subject-matter expert can apply this approach to assess their organization's cybersecurity maturity and risk. The findings of this study shall be useful in overcoming the drawbacks of employing non-standard procedures in such evaluations, resulting in more accurate and reliable evaluation outcomes. © 2022 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
Medicine is critical to our everyday lives and to the well-being of individuals of all ages and backgrounds. With the beginning of the Corona pandemic and a rise in Corona virus infection cases, the use of medications to prevent and recover from infection has increased, as well as to treat illness consequences, has grown. The effectiveness of medicines is greatly influenced by the expiration date. In this paper, a system for pharmacy or medical store's information storage system was developed and enhanced by automatically monitoring the validity of medications on a periodic basis and sending expiry reports to medicine authorities through e-mail to warn them that a medicine is approaching expiration. The system was also enhanced with internet of thing (IoT) for fast and secure delivery of the medicine validity report. © 2022 Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Healthcare information technology integration is an essential factor to improve healthcare quality services. During COVID 19 epidemic, there is a high necessity to set up a comprehensive framework for integrating healthcare information systems (IHIS). Most of the existing works address this issue from technical perspectives. This study aims to create a comprehensive understanding and identify the crucial dimensions of the IHIS at an organizational level using the human, organization, and technology model (HOT-fit model). To achieve the study's goal, the qualitative evaluation method is adopted to explore and analyze the existing studies on IHIS from organizational perspectives. The study investigates the key dimensions that affect the development of IHIS at the organizational level, which do not adequately discuss in the previous studies. The findings indicate that the key IHIS dimensions could be recognized by using the three dimensions of IT infrastructure, and organizational process, as well as the human factor. From the other side, the organization would be able to curb the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak as the conceptual framework highlighted the relationships among the dimensions by facilitating the information sharing within an organization to attain coordination and cooperation between stakeholders which can improve the monitoring capability in the system. This study contributes to academic research, by producing a conceptual framework for IHIS dimensions. As the framework can be used as a guideline by healthcare decision-makers and healthcare project managers to understand the integration requirements at the organizational level. © 2022 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
According to the World Health Organization, there are approximately 17.9 million people in the world who will die under the cause of Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in 2019. Heart and Brain are both related to Cardiovascular diseases. Even if the patients do not pass away due to the disease, the post-effect of this illness burdens the patients and their families. Also, the outbreak of COVID-19 makes the patients take a risk of undergoing rehabilitation in the hospital. Thus, a smart healthcare solution which is a Smart Healthcare Tracker through the Internet of Things is designed. The system consists of an EMG sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, and heart rate/pulse oximeter connected to ESP 32 with an interface of NodeMCU to study the patients' health condition for arms and legs strength by sending the data to the caregivers or physicians. The project aimed to obtain a consistent and accurate reading for each of the features for arms and legs strength analysis and sleeping disturbance analysis. The BLYNK app is also applied to the project design as a platform to display the analysis result to the caregivers/physicians on the gadgets at any time and anywhere. The prototype has been constructed and the data collection is built successfully. The prototype is trusted to obtain accurate and consistent results and can provide a sustainable way for the rehabilitation to indicate the health condition and the recovery stage of the patients. © 2021 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
Covid-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus named as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 binds angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is greatly expressed in different tissues including lung alveolar type II cells. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 triggers acute host immune response, inflammatory reactions and cytokine storm leading to acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Different studies reported the pleiotropic effects of statins such as the anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory effects via modulation of antigen presentation and adhesion of inflammatory molecules since;statins have potential anti-oxidant and redox balance effects that improve endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular integrity. Objective of the present study is to verify the beneficial and harmful effects of statins in Covid-19. Statins upregulates ACE2 receptors and attenuates the down-regulation effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the ACE2 receptors. Consequently, reduction of ACE2 receptors augment the deleterious effect of angiotensin II (AngII) which causes vasoconstriction and initiation of ALI. On the other hand, statins therapy may increase risk of viral infections such as SARS-CoV-2 via lowering of low density lipoprotein (LDL) since;circulating LDL adhere and inactivates SARS-CoV-2. Statin therapy improves the outcomes of Covid-19 pneumonia through anti-inflammatory, immune-modulation, and in vitro anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects. The antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects may reduce Covid-19 induced-coagulopathy and progression of ARDS.
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), leads to global calamitous effects. Covid-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus named as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Covid-19 is associated with development of hyper-inflammation and/or cytokine storm that together with high viral load trigger tissue damage and multi-organ failures (MOF). Colchicine (CN) is a lipophilic tricyclic alkaloid used for treatment of gout since ancient time. In Covid-19 era, CN is repurposed for treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection depending on its anti-inflammatory and broad-spectrum antiviral effects. Therefore, a recent clinical trial recommends use of CN in treating Covid-19 patients. It has been confirmed that inhibition of neutrophil chemotaxis, lysosomal degranulation, and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines is the main mechanism by which CN produces anti-inflammatory effects. CN attenuates generation of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) with consequent inhibition release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Different studies illustrate that microtubule network is necessary and important for replication of different viruses including SARS-CoV-2 since;intracellular transport of viral particles is mediated through cytosolic microtubules. Therefore, CN therapy is effective in the management of Covid-19 patients when timely administrated through reduction of tissue damage and hyper-inflammations. Thus, the anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and immunomodulatory properties of CN might be the potential mechanisms of CN therapy against Covid-19. The review concludes that CN is a potent anti-inflammatory agent for the management of Covid-19;it inhibits SARS-CoV-2-induced-acute lung injury(ALI) due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-viral effects.
ABSTRACT
Covid-19 is associated with different neurological manifestations. About one third of Covid-19 patients have some neurological disorders as paresthesia, headache, cold extremities and disturbances of consciousness, which are more evident in severely affected patients. These neurological manifestations may coexist or precede the onset of respiratory manifestations by about 2-3 weeks. Acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and associated brain damage may develop due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced-hypoxia. Prolonged hypoxia in late-stage Covid-19 leads to vasodilatation, intracranial hypertension, brain oedema, and AIS. In view of substantial evidence, this perspective explores the potentially direct or indirect effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the Central Nervous System of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. The AIS is the end of most Covid-19-induced neurological complications. Covid-19 can lead to various neurological manifestations due to involvement of CNS directly through olfactory neurons or indirectly through induction of cytokine storm.
ABSTRACT
The importance and benefits of healthcare mobile applications is increasing rapidly, especially when such applications are connected to the internet of things (IoT). This paper describes a smart knowledge-based system (KBS) that helps patients showing symptoms of Influenza verify being infected with Coronavirus, commonly known as COVID-19. In addition to the systems’ diagnostic functionality, it helps these patients get medical assistance fast by notifying medical authorities using the IoT. This system displays patient’s location, phone number, date and time of examination. During the applications’ development, the developers used Twilio, short message service (SMS), WhatsApp, and Google map applications. © 2021 Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Different experimental and approved drugs were tested for coronavirus infection disease (COVID-19) to detect effective one that attenuates or prevents the pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Repurposing of old approved drugs with the potential arrhythmogenic effect such as chloroquine in COVID-19 may increase the risk of sudden cardiac death due to torsadogenic potential. The Food and Drug Administration approved the drugs, such as ivermectin, which can kill SARS-CoV-2 within 48 h. Azithromycin augments the antiviral activity of chloroquine in COVID-19 with a high risk of morbidity and mortality through torsadogenic potential. There were no obvious interactions between ivermectin and azithromycin and without risk of torsadogenic effect despite the prolongation of QT by azithromycin. Therefore, azithromycin-ivermectin is regarded as an effectual combo for COVID-19 in elderly patients with underlying cardiac abnormalities. © 2020 Medknow.
ABSTRACT
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection is a recent pandemic infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). The entry point of SARS-CoV-2 is via angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is highly expressed in the alveolar pulmonary cells. Besides, different peptides and co-mediators such as bradykinin (BK), plasmin, and trans-membrane serine protease may modulate the affinity and binding of SARS-CoV-2 to ACE2. Therefore, this study was planned to review the potential link between the pathogenesis, incidence, and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection regarding the modulation of ACE2 by these mediators. Electronic database searches of Scopus, Web of Science, Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and PubMed was made using MeSH terms, keywords, and title words. Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors might be of value in the reduction of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), respiratory failure, and acute pneumonia that are induced by SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to noteworthy lung injury via downregulation of ACE2, which is attenuated by the administration of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). In SARS-CoV-2 infection, BK and its metabolites are augmented due to the downregulation of ACE2 by SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia is also associated with hyperfibrinolysis as evident with high circulating fibrin degradation products, high plasmin, and presence of hemorrhagic spots in multiple organs. ACEIs improve fibrinolysis via inhibition of PAI-1, while ARBs have a neutral effect on both fibrinolysis and PAI-1. Therefore, these findings show ACEIs but not ARBs as a potential risk for the development of SARS-CoV-2 infection as both plasmin and BK facilitate the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and augment the development of ARDS in SARS-CoV-2 infection. © 2020 Medknow.