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OBJECTIVE: To present an established practice protocol for safe and effective hospital-setting ophthalmic practice during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Literature was reviewed to identify articles relevant to COVID-19 pandemic and ophthalmology. The following keywords were used: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 and telemedicine, combined with eye, ophthalmology, conjunctivitis and tears. Data were extracted from the identified manuscripts and discussed among subspecialists to obtain consensus evidence-based practice. RESULT(S): A protocol for ophthalmic practice in the era of COVID-19 pandemic was established. The protocol covered patient screening, clinic flow, required personal protective equipment and modifications of ophthalmic equipment for improved safety. CONCLUSION(S): Important literature emerged with respect to the practice of ophthalmology in the era of COVID-19. An evidence-based ophthalmic practice protocol was established and should be modified in the future to accommodate new insights on the COVID-19 pandemic.Copyright © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
ABSTRACT
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, national lockdowns, and their impact on travel and tourism, studies relating to inbound tourism are not only important but a necessity. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate how age, gender, and employment status influence the tourist experience of the quality of accommodation and ancillary services provided in South Africa. Using a web-based data collection method, 319 questionnaires were statistically analysed. The findings from the study revealed that no significant differences existed amongst the different genders of the respondents based on their experiences of the quality of accommodation and ancillary services. However, significant differences were found between various age groups and the quality of accommodation and ancillary services. The study further found that tourists with different employment statuses do not hold different views of the quality of accommodation and ancillary services. Based on the findings, valuable recommendations are offered that could be used by tourism destinations and the government in South Africa to attract inbound tourists. For example, tourist destinations could divide their markets into groups based on age to improve the quality of their accommodations and other services. © 2022 AJHTL /Author(s) ;Open Access – Online @ www.ajhtl.com
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Viral infections may trigger diabetes. Clinical data suggest infection with the pandemic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), may impact glucose homeostasis in patients. Notably, cases of new-onset diabetes upon SARS-CoV-2 infection have been reported. However, experimental evidence of pancreatic infection is still controversial. Aims & Methods: Here, we employ cadaveric human pancreatic islets, as well as pancreatic tissue from deceased COVID-19 patients to investigate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the pancreas. Results: We show that human β-cells express viral entry proteins ACE2 and TMPRSS2, making them susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication. Our data further demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 infects and replicates in ex vivo cultured human islets and infection. This infection is associated with morphological, transcriptional and functional changes, such as reduction of insulin-secretory granules in β-cells and impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. In COVID-19 post-mortem examinations, we detected SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein in pancreatic exocrine cells, and in cells that stain positive for the β-cell marker NKX6.1 in all patients investigated. Conclusion: Taken together, our data define the human pancreas as a target of SARS-CoV-2 infection and suggest that β-cell infection might contribute to the metabolic dysregulation observed in patients with COVID- 19.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by beta-corona-virus SARS-CoV-2, has spread to over 180 countries worldwide and poses a severe health risk to the global population. While the most common symptoms are fever, cough and in severe cases pneumonia, about 10 % of patients also show a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Additionally, high titers of the virus can be detected in faeces of patients, even long after nasopharyngeal swabs are tested negative. It is therefore of high interest to not only investigate the viral effects on the lung, but also to take a closer look at the effects of SARS-CoV-2 in the gastrointestinal tract. Immune histological stainings of different tissues and organs of the GI tract showed strong expression of the viral entry receptor ACE2 especially in the small intestine. To investigate whether the virus is able to infect and replicate in intestinal tissue, human stem cell derived intestinal organoids were used. Compared to intestinal cell lines cultivated in monolayer, organoids have the advantage of forming complex 3D structures with different compartments and generating not only one but all cell types of the intestine. Just like in primary tissue, a strong expression of ACE2 was detectable in intestinal organoids. Organoids were infected with wildtype SARS-CoV-2 and analysed after different time points for infection. 24 h after infection, viral spike protein was already detectable in the organoids, however only in a small proportion of cells. After 48 h the virus had spread throughout around 70 % of the cells, indicating that it cannot only infect but also successfully replicate in intestinal organoids. Infected cells showed signs of cell death and the morphology of organoids was visibly disturbed by the presence of the virus. The data suggest that intestinal organoids can be used as a tool to investigate the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the gastrointestinal tract in vitro and to test potential compounds and inhibitors that might be able to inhibit viral infection or replication.
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Switching to synchronous online lectures during the Covid-19 pandemic poses many challenges for teachers. On-site and online lectures are different in ways that may add new challenges for teachers and students and thus affect teaching quality. While there is a substantial amount of research on conducting online courses and fostering online communication and interaction, the specifics of lectures and the challenges imposed by the emergency shift to an online format are still understudied. Thus, in this contribution, we discuss three core aspects that need re-investigation when switching to an online format: the teaching context, the availability of social information and the social requirements of the learning scenario. The Learning Sciences are equipped to answer to such challenges by providing evidence-based information on requirements and (technological) support for social interaction processes within education. Copyright © 2020 Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education.
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Win or lose - -the beauty of competitive games lies in the challenge, accompanied by the rush of adrenaline. Unfortunately, another loyal companion is toxic player behavior, which can ruin a game even before the winner is decided. Yet what happens when opponents suddenly face a much more dangerous, common enemy in the form of a pandemic outbreak? Does such a situation act as common ground, uniting the players and increasing their social awareness? Or do players abuse the game (and other players) even more to release their frustration caused by the pandemic? The results of our ongoing work support the latter hypothesis: in most competitive games, players perceive a notable increase of toxicity, which is an alarming sign and a clear call for more detailed explorations. © 2020 ACM.
ABSTRACT
In early 2020, the virus SARS-CoV-2 evolved into a new pandemic, forcing governments worldwide to establish social distancing measures. Consequently, people had to switch to online media, such as social networks or videotelephony, to keep in touch with friends and family. In this context, online games, combining entertainment with social interactions, also experienced a notable growth. In our work, we focused on the potential of games as a replacement for social contacts in the COVID-19 crisis. Our online survey results indicate that the value of games for social needs depends on individual gaming habits. Participants playing mostly multiplayer games increased their playtime and mentioned social play as a key motivator. Contrarily, non-players were not motivated to add games as communication channels. We deduce that such crises mainly catalyze existing gaming habits. © 2020 ACM.