ABSTRACT
Two textile-based printed inspired Folded Dipole Antennas (FDAs) are presented in this paper for health monitoring of Covid-19 infected patients. The first antenna has an overall size of 80 mm × 20 mm and is mounted on the human's chest, while the second one is backed by a 2 × 4 textile Artificial Magnetic Conductor (AMC) array structure and is mounted on a surgical mask that covers the human’s mouth. The first antenna is designed to work at center frequency, bandwidth, and gain of 2.45 GHz, 116.6 MHz and −2.45 dB, respectively. The second antenna works at 2.4 GHz with bandwidth of 76.6 MHz and gain of 2.71 dB. The SAR results equal 0.524 W/Kg and 0.255 W/Kg at 1 g and 10 g, respectively, for the first antenna and 0.0174 W/Kg and 0.0091 W/Kg, respectively, for the second one. The previous specifications of the two antennas enable them to be utilized in wearable applications and Wi-Fi services.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (AIFRS) is aggressive morbidity affecting immunocompromised patients. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may allow secondary fungal disease through a propensity to cause respiratory infection by affecting the immune system leading to dysregulation and reduced numbers of T lymphocytes, CD4+T, and CD8+T cells, altering the innate immunity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (AIFRS) in COVID-19 patients. METHODOLOGY: Data for acute invasive rhinosinusitis was obtained from the Otorhinolaryngology departments at our tertiary hospital at the period from January 2017 to December 2020. Then the risk factors of comorbid diseases and fungal types between post-COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups regarding the incidence of AIFRS are compared. RESULTS: Consequently, the incidence of AIFRS showed a more significant difference (P < 0.05) in post-COVID-19 patients than in non-COVID-19 especially in immunocompromised patients, diabetic, renal, and liver dysfunction patients as well as patients with risk factors of AIFRS. The most common organisms affecting patients with AIFRS are Rhizopus oryzae, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Absidia mucor. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of AIFRS is markedly prominent in post-COVID-19 patients than in those of non-COVID-19, especially in immunocompromised, diabetic, renal, and liver dysfunction patients and patients with risk factors for rhinosinusitis.