Inequalities Among Political Scientists: Race and Gender Relations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study examines the division of labor among political scientists during different periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. The article explores the hypothesis that the pandemic increased inequalities, especially by exacerbating the burden of housework and care responsibilities for women. We ground our analysis on the results of two surveys conducted in Brazil: one shortly after the onset of the pandemic in June 2020;and the other, more recently, from March 2022, after the ending of social-distancing measures. Brazil is a relevant case study because it was an epicenter of the virus for many months. This public health crisis occurred while a denialist and authoritarian government was in power. Considering gender and race variables, the data show a transformation of the dynamics of time organization during the period. At the beginning of the pandemic, men-primarily white men-devoted more time to academic work;in 2022, the most substantive difference was one of race. We observed a greater convergence among white people, as opposed to Black people, about household chores, with the latter group more overloaded than the former group. Traditional class and race inequalities concerning the Brazilian population can contribute to the explanation for this. When in-person work returned, white political scientists began to outsource domestic care more than their nonwhite counterparts.

PROCALCITONIN AS ANTIMICROBIAL MANAGEMENT TOOL IN COVID-19 PATIENTS

Objective: to investigate the relationship between procalcitonin in the differential diagnosis of bacterial coinfection in COVID-19 patients. Method: a cross-sectional retrospective study conducted between February and March 2021 in the Intensive Care Unit of a public hospital from southern Brazil by filling in a form. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed, as well as of association between variables. Results: of the 231 patients, 28.14% presented infection (63.20% in the lungs), 25% had bacteria isolated, 77.49% used antimicrobials and, in 14.72% of the cases, procalcitonin > 2 ng/mL. There was a significant association between antimicrobial use and infection (p=0.001), isolation of bacteria (p<0.001), topography of the infection (p<0.001) and procalcitonin values (p<0.001). Procalcitonin use showed an association with bacterial infection (p<0.001), isolation of bacteria (p<0.001), antimicrobial use (p=0.001) and death (p<0.001). Conclusion: procalcitonin can reduce empirical antimicrobial use and stimulate detection and identification of pathogens, taking into account the clinical and epidemiological data. © 2023, Universidade Federal do Parana. All rights reserved.

Discursive contexts and pandemic: the construction of discourse objects in the bolsonarist narrative

In this paper, we discuss the construction of discourse objects in the bolsonarist narrative during the Covid-19 pandemic context, focusing on understanding which strategies are chosen in the construction of the bolsonarist discourse so that it is or is not considered a negationist. Thus, based on language studies inserted in the field of Textual Linguistics based on the socio-cognitive perspective, this paper aims to analyze the discursive strategies employed by Jair Bolsonaro in two public speeches. The analysis results indicate that bolsonarist narrative demonstrates a negativistic position by means of referential choices about the global crisis caused by the Covid-19's pandemic.

Telemedicine to Timor-Leste: Implementing an International Cardiac Telehealth Service During Population Dislocation, Floods and COVID-19

Background: The East Timor Hearts Fund (ETHF) has provided cardiac services in Timor-Leste since 2010, conducting three clinics yearly. With international border closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, development of collaborative telehealth services was required. Methods: Scoping discussions identified major challenges (structural, patient-related and medical system-related). At two pilot clinics, patient history, investigation and management were collated. Clinic metrics were compared to an index face-to-face clinic in February 2019. Post-clinic discussions identified areas of success and shortfall in the conduct of the telehealth clinics. Results: 23 patients were reviewed at the online telehealth clinics held onsite at Timorese medical facilities. Compared to an index 2019 clinic, there were markedly lower numbers of new referrals (2 vs 190 patients, 8.7% vs 59.4%). Patients seen at the online clinic were predominantly female (17/23, 73.9%) and Dili-based (18/23, 78.3%) with a mean age of 25.9 ± 7.2 years old. The majority (12/23, 52.2%) had isolated rheumatic mitral valve disease. Investigations including electrocardiography, pathology, echocardiography and 6-minute walk tests were conducted in select patients. Medication advice was provided for 10 (43.5%) patients. 11 patients (47.8%) were deemed to require urgent intervention. Post-clinic discussions indicated general satisfaction with telehealth clinics, although frustration at current inability to provide interventional services was highlighted. Conclusion: Our pilot telehealth clinics indicate that capacity-building telemedicine can be rapidly implemented in an emergency setting internationally. Clinic design benefits from careful identification and resolution of challenges to optimise flow. Cardiac patients in Timor-Leste have a significant burden of disease amenable to intervention.

Doctors With Borders: The Impact Of International Travel Bans on Timorese Citizens Awaiting Cardiac Intervention

Background: In Timor-Leste, cardiac interventions and surgical procedures are largely provided by the East Timor Hearts Fund. Since March 2020, no Timorese patients have been able to travel to Australia for humanitarian cardiac procedures. Methods: We describe patients awaiting cardiac intervention as of March 2020, documenting their outcomes eighteen months later in August 2021. Contact with healthcare facilities (the national hospital, local clinics or online telehealth) was identified. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE;death, heart failure admission or stroke) were documented and demographic characteristics compared between patients experiencing MACE versus those remaining symptomatically stable. Results: In March 2020, 35 patients were waitlisted for cardiac intervention (68.6% female, mean age 26.8 ± 9.4 yrs). Eighteen months later, 9 (25.7%) patients experienced definite MACE, comprising 3 sudden deaths and 14 admissions for decompensated heart failure. A further 10 patients (28.6%) had newly-disconnected phone numbers, implying possible additional deaths. 15 patients attended online telehealth clinics;7 (46.7%) had deteriorating NYHA scores. 14 patients (40.0%) were symptomatically stable. Patients experiencing MACE had been waitlisted a median of 30 months by August 2021 compared to 22 months for stable patients. Conclusions: At least one-quarter and possibly over half of a humanitarian charity’s patient list died or developed severe heart failure following eighteen months’ delay to cardiac intervention during international border closures from COVID-19. Patients attending online telehealth clinics reported high rates of morbidity and deteriorating symptoms. Abrupt border closures leaving a country without access to humanitarian surgery highlight the vulnerabilities of short-term medical mission models.

A literature review of causal relationships in 21st century skills and digital leadership

The world today is constantly changing and evolving. The industry 4.0 revolution, digitisation, the arrival of the Internet of Things and the global health emergency caused by the Covid-19 crisis, are factors that have made companies have to adapt their business models and forms working to this new reality. For this reason, the need for improvement and adaptation of skills of employees and organisational capabilities is no longer a competitive advantage but necessary to survive. Digital competences, 21st century skills and digital leadership are concepts that have been widely studied theoretically in the last ten years. In addition, some empirical studies have established causal hypotheses between factors related to the skills of employees and company variables. Resilience, organisational learning capacity, agility, work engagement and motivation are the key factors that companies must promote and ensure among their employees for a correct evolution and adaptation to this new global situation. Copyright © 2022 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Losses in Life Expectancy at Birth from 2020: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Structure of Mortality by Sex and Age in Brazil

The large volume of deaths caused by Covid-19 in Brazil has led specialists to consider its negative impact on life expectancy at birth. The life expectancy at birth of Brazilians is characterized by a systematic growth trend, reflecting the combination of the demographic and the epidemiological transition. The decrease in infant mortality, followed by the fall in adult and later elderly deaths, has changed over time the structure of mortality in the country. Nevertheless, the new coronavirus pandemic is changing again, at least in the short term, this configuration of deaths, mainly due to the disproportionate mortality rates among the elderly population. Therefore, the aim of this chapter is to measure the impact of mortality caused by Covid-19 on life expectancy at birth of the Brazilian population for the year 2020. To this end, the method of multiple decrements was used, based on Chiang’s (Annu Rev Public Health 12:281–307, 1991) idea of competitive risks. The results reveal a decrease in male life expectancy of 1.98 years, reaching 73.99 years, practically the level of 2011. For women, the decrease will be smaller, at 1.82 years, reaching 81.22 years – a level among those reached between 2012 and 2013. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

ATYPICAL PRESENTATION OF COVID-19 IN AN ADOLESCENT RENAL TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT

Towards the end of 2019, a new coronavirus (CoV) was described emerging from Wuhan, China. Given its phylogenetic similarity to SARS-CoV, the new coronavirus was named severe-acute respiratory syndrome virus-2 and the disease it caused was named coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). There are few reports of paediatric renal transplant recipients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and, although guidelines for the management of solid-organ transplant recipients exposed to SAR-CoV-2 have been published, there are few paediatric-specific guidelines. We present a case of an unusual presentation of COVID-19 in an adolescent transplant recipient who presented with transient facial angioedema and a non-specific skin rash. She developed acute kidney injury, which resolved without any intervention. We suggest that, in future, an international registry of paediatric transplant recipients infected with COVID-19 be established to delineate more clearly the presenting features, clinical course and challenges encountered in treating these patients. © 2021, Allergy Society of South Africa. All rights reserved.

The impact of intellectual capital on supply chain agility and collaborative knowledge creation in responding to unprecedented pandemic

This study explores the relationships between intellectual capital, supply chain agility, collaborative knowledge creation, and corporate sustainability during unprecedented crises such as the COVID-19 epidemic. Data were collected from food and beverages firms and analyzed using Smart-Partial Least Squares (Smart-PLS) structural equation modeling software. The sample consisted of 289 managers, directors, and heads of department. The results reveal that intellectual capital significantly impacts supply chain agility, collaborative knowledge creation, and corporate sustainability. Furthermore, the findings confirm that collaborative knowledge creation and supply chain agility significantly impact corporate sustainability during the COVID-19 crises. This study contributes to the literature on intellectual capital, dynamic capabilities, supply chain management, and knowledge management, and the role of these capabilities in preserving corporate sustainability during unprecedented crises.

Social Sciences In The Covid-19 Pandemic: Work Routines And Inequalities

The purpose of this text is to analyze the consequences of the covid-19 pandemic in the academic work routines of Social Sciences in Brazil. The study is based on the results of a survey disseminated with the support of professional associations in Anthropology, Political Science, Sociology and International Relations. The article presents the profile of the 1,073 participants and their perceptions about the effects of the crisis on training, teaching and research activities, as well as on the division of tasks in the private sphere. Although most respondents said they felt negative impacts of the pandemic, there are disparities by discipline, gender and race. The data reinforce the importance of discussing productivity evaluation parameters sensitive to inequalities. © 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on otorhinolaryngology residency training

Introduction: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has created challenges to otolaryngology practices. Despite statements aimed at guiding the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response, data reporting its effects on otolaryngology case volume and residency are lacking. The aim of this study is to discuss the challenges otolaryngology residents encountered through data analysis during the SARS-CoV-2 first outbreak in a tertiary care hospital. Method: Data were retrospectively collected by chart revision. Two periods were analyzed and compared from March 15 until May 31 of 2019 and 2020, respectively. We collected data from appointments, surgeries performed, and emergency department admissions including demographic data from patients. Results: From March 15, 2020, to May 31, 2020, residents participated with the primary surgeon in 331 procedures compared with 63 procedures between the same period in 2019. There was a 55.28% reduction in otolaryngology appointments during the outbreak (22% in-person appointments, 78% telehealth appointments). Data also showed a reduction in emergency department admissions of 57.4% and 60.3% in adults and children, respectively, although demographic features did not differ. One resident demonstrated COVID-19 symptoms with no hospitalization needed for a total 30 workdays lost. Conclusion: These data provide the real-world impact on workload and learning opportunities for otolaryngology residency needs during the first COVID-19 outbreak. While measures had to be taken to support the COVID-19 response, the reduction observed will probably affect residents experience and overall competence.

COVID-19 and Hepatic Artery Thrombosis: A Case Report

Objective: Unusual clinical course Background: Hypercoagulable states, including venous and arterial thromboses, manifesting as pulmonary thromboembolism or stroke have been observed in COVID-19;recently, gastrointestinal thrombotic events have also been reported. This case report describes a patient with COVID-19 and abdominal pain, who developed coagulopathy and a rare association of hepatic artery thrombosis. Common hepatic artery thrombosis is usually observed among liver transplantation patients and has not been described in infectious disease. Case Report: A 45-year-old woman presented in the Emergency Department with a nonproductive cough, sore throat, asthenia, headache, myalgia, anosmia, and dysgeusia. On the 5th day after the onset of these symptoms, she tested positive for SARS-COV-2 and was managed with symptomatic drugs. Although her initial symptoms of COVID-19 improved progressively, on the 14th day she experienced acute abdominal pain. On the 16th day, she was hospitalized and administered intravenous analgesia. Abdominal computed tomography angiography revealed partial thrombosis in the common hepatic artery, which was confirmed by liver Doppler ultrasonography. Protein C and D-dimer levels peaked during this period. Serum tests for thrombophilia were negative. Subcutaneous enoxaparin (60 mg twice daily) was administered during hospitalization, and her abdominal pain improved significantly. She was discharged after 3 days and prescribed an oral anticoagulant for the next 30 days. Conclusions: Thrombotic events are well-recognized complications of COVID-19 and recent reports show gastrointestinal involvement. This report of a rare association of hepatic artery thrombosis highlights the importance of investigating the thrombotic events in patients with abdominal pain and coagulopathy during COVID-19.

The temporality of Anosmia in Patients with COVID19: A Systematic Review

Background and aims: Studies executed during the pandemic on the new coronavirus (COVID-19) demonstrated that complete loss of smell emerged as an important new symptom, however, a qualitative interpretation of this clinical repercussion is still unclear. Thus, it becomes necessary to assess the temporality of anosmia in patients with diagnosis of COVID-19, investigating items such as the period of appearance, duration and recovery rate. Methods: This systematic review was based on the PRISMA Guideline. The bibliographic search was performed in the PubMed/Medline and Scopus databases using the formula: (Anosmia) AND ((SARS-CoV-2) OR (COVID-19)). Studies with finalized publication, in English, Portuguese and Spanish, addressing qualitative characteristics of anosmia, such as the period of appearance, duration, and persistence rate, in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were included. Results: Of 478 articles found, 91 were obtained for full reading, and 21 were included after evaluation by two independent reviewers. In most studies, anosmia manifested after the 3rd day of illness. For patients whose recovery occurred, the duration of the symptom varied from five to 30 days after the condition onset, limited to eight days in 42,8% of articles, with a persistence rate between 8.49% and 47.4%. Conclusion: Although current literature demonstrates inconsistency in the temporality of anosmia in patients diagnosed with COVID-19, the review was able to identify congruence points between the themes. Thus, enabling a better understanding of this symptom's progress, consequently raising pertinent questions with the need for further studies in order to improve medical conduct.

Mobilization of medical students, UNIL, during the COVID-19 pandemic

Medical students from the University of Lausanne volunteered rapidly and in great number to bolster health facilities across Switzerland in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At Unisanté, Center for general practice and public health, University of Lausanne, students recruited as interns discovered the different aspects of primary care. This extraordinary period naturally involves considerable challenges but represents also a precious learning opportunity for future doctors. © 2021 Editions Medecine et Hygiene. All rights reserved.

Inpatient Hospitalizations during the First Wave of COVID-19 in Portugal

The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of the pandemic on inpatient hospital admissions during the first wave in Portugal. Data from hospital admissions in mainland Portugal from 2008 to 2017 were used to forecast inpatient hospital admissions for March to May 2020. The observed number of hospitalizations and their characteristics were compared to forecasted values. Variations were compared by hospital and region. Statistical analysis was used to investigate whether patterns of variations existed according to hospital characteristics. There were 119,315 fewer hospitalizations than expected during March to May 2020 in Portugal, which represented a 57% reduction. Non-COVID-19 hospitalizations had a higher mean length of stay and proportion of inpatient deaths than forecasted values. Differences between observed and forecasted values varied greatly among regions and hospitals. These variations were not associated with COVID-19 hospital admissions, region, forecasted number of hospitalizations, type of hospital, or occupation rate. The impact on inpatient hospital admissions for each hospital was not consistent or proportional to the expected use across Portugal, as indicated by variations between forecasted and observed values. The appropriate planning of future responses may contribute to improving the necessary balance between the level of hospital admissions for usual health needs of the population and the response to COVID-19 patients. © 2021 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.