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Background: We herein report our experience of optimized utilization of tocilizumab for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a limited-resource tertiary care hospital. Methods: This single-center, single-arm, open-label, interventional study was conducted to determine the effect of tocilizumab on the mortality of patients with COVID-19. Results: Fifty-nine patients were administered tocilizumab. Patients who received invasive respiratory support were identified to have a higher risk of mortality than those who received oxygen support. Conclusion: Our study showed that the maximum benefit of tocilizumab was observed as a prophylactic treatment of cytokine syndrome in patients with COVID-19, particularly those with moderate to severe symptoms who are not receiving invasive respiratory support. © 2021 The Authors.
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In this article, a brief biological structure and some basic properties of COVID-19 are described. A classical integer order model is modified and converted into a fractional order model with ξ as order of the fractional derivative. Moreover, a valued structure preserving the numerical design, coined as Grunwald–Letnikov non-standard finite difference scheme, is developed for the fractional COVID-19 model. Taking into account the importance of the positivity and boundedness of the state variables, some productive results have been proved to ensure these essential features. Stability of the model at a corona free and a corona existing equilibrium points is investigated on the basis of Eigen values. The Routh–Hurwitz criterion is applied for the local stability analysis. An appropriate example with fitted and estimated set of parametric values is presented for the simulations. Graphical solutions are displayed for the chosen values of ξ (fractional order of the derivatives). The role of quarantined policy is also determined gradually to highlight its significance and relevancy in controlling infectious diseases. In the end, outcomes of the study are presented. © 2022 Tech Science Press. All rights reserved.
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Aim: Surgical Education is now more widely delivered on virtual platforms due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to centralisation of Vascular Surgery services in North Wales to Glan Clwyd Hospital (Central), Medical Students, Junior Doctors and General Surgical Registrars have reduced exposure to the speciality and the management of common cases in neighbouring hospitals (East and West). Subsequently, we developed a regional virtual teaching programme to help bridge gaps in knowledge and to instil confidence when providing a service. Method: We developed a 4-part didactic webinar educational programme which covered parts of the medical undergraduate and MRCS curricula pertaining to Vascular Surgery. Under/Postgraduate educational leads from Central, East and West were contacted to promote our programme. Webinars were delivered on ZOOM video conferencing once weekly throughout December 2020. Feedback forms were collected on Google Forms™ and used 5-point Linkert scales to grade responses and analysis of data was carried out on Microsoft ExcelVR . Results: 186 feedback forms were collected and respondents reported significant improvements in knowledge in each of the subjects covered: [1] Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms - (2.59±1.07/5 to 4.23±0.65/5, p=<0.0001, n=60), [2] Acute Limb Ischaemia - (2.5561.11/5 to 4.21±0.72/5, p=<0.0001, n=42);[3] Chronic Limb Ischaemia (2.57±1.03/5 to 4.23±0.77/5, p=<0.0001, n=35);[4] Vascular Emergencies (2.94±1.28/5 to 4.37±0.63/5, p=<0.0001, n=49). Overall topic interest, presentational skills and clinical usefulness was also rated highly. Conclusions: Through this virtually delivered regional teaching programme, we successfully enhanced Vascular Surgery knowledge and addressed the educational needs of Medical Students and Junior Doctors across North Wales.
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ABSTRACT: This study aimed to explore the challenges faced by dentists working in rural health centers in Punjab, Pakistan. Data from 90 general dentists was collected from 45 RHCs in Punjab using cluster sampling. The data was collected via telephonic communication by extracting contact numbers from the official website of primary and secondary health care system. The results revealed that 64.6% of general dentists working in RHCs in Punjab are performing dental emergencies while knowing the risk of being Corona positive which was contrary for performing elective dental procedures. The majority of dentists reported unnecessary emphases from the patient's side(72.2%) for executing dental emergencies which was contrary in performing elective dental procedures. Patients' rigid behavior was also reported by 88% of the dentists on treatment refusal due to covid-19 contagion while 12% of patients believed that covid-19 does not exist while considering it a political propaganda for funding from WHO.
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We have carried out a survey among Healthcare professionals in the perceptions and attitude towards COVID-19 and also attempted to reach a few conclusions in the form of recommendations. A questionnaire based online survey was conducted between 1st April 2020 and 30th May 2020. 97.20% (p<0.05) participants suggested that protective mask for the patients or attendants should be made compulsory while coming to the Hospitals. 79.33% (p<0.05) think that post COVID-19 the area outside the doctor's chamber should not be crowded and some measures should be taken in order to reduce the number. In the same line, 83.58% (p<0.05) participants favour, limiting the number of attendants with the patients and making a prior appointment compulsory, 51.97% (p<0.05) wish to switch to virtual counselling. Considering the variation in strains of the virus, different geographical conditions, demography, economic status and healthcare facilities, a uniform policy shouldn't be implemented all across the globe or even for a country.
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Objective: In the given study, we have carried out a survey among general population of Delhi NCR (India) for the knowledge, perceptions, and attitude toward coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and also attempted to reach to a few conclusions in the form of recommendations. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire based online survey (using Google Forms) was conducted between April 2020 and May 2020 to investigative knowledge, perceptions, and attitude toward COVID-19. Chi-square test was used for the computation of p-value. Results: There were total 823 respondents, with 43.01% females and 56.98% males. Around 73.74% respondents believe that it has become a social stigma. About 75.09% were of the opinion that sneezing etiquettes can help in curbing the infection. About 93.43% of study population follows the personal hygiene, 24.78% wished to get insurance coverage. Similarly, interesting data were collected over different aspects of COVID-19. Conclusions: The current pandemic is the first exposure at such a large scale to the existing population but with the progression of time, authorities and general population are collating knowledge about the same. It is to be fought at all the fronts such as medical, social, economic, and psychological. Hence, this type of survey becomes an important tool in decision making.