Extracting Temporal Relationships in EHR: Application to COVID-19 Patients.

Association rules are one of the most used data mining techniques. The first proposals have considered relations over time in different ways, resulting in the so-called Temporal Association Rules (TAR). Although there are some proposals to extract association rules in OLAP systems, to the best of our knowledge, there is no method proposed to extract temporal association rules over multidimensional models in these kinds of systems. In this paper we study the adaptation of TAR to multidimensional structures, identifying the dimension that establishes the number of transactions and how to find time relative correlations between the other dimensions. A new method called COGtARE is presented as an extension of a previous approach proposed to reduce the complexity of the resulting set of association rules. The method is tested in application to COVID-19 patients data.

Small Cell Carcinoma of the Vagina: First Systematic Review of Case Reports and Proposal of a Management Algorithm.

OBJECTIVES: Small cell carcinoma of the vagina (SmCCV) is an extremely rare disease. Evidence-based data and specific guidelines are lacking. We conducted the first systematic review of case reports to provide the most overall picture of SmCCV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Literature search in PubMed and Scopus was performed using the terms "small cell carcinoma" and "vagina." English-language case reports of primary SmCCV up to January 2022 were included. RESULTS: Twenty-nine articles describing 44 cases met our inclusion criteria. We report a new case of our hospital. The global median overall survival (mOS) was 12.00 months (95% CI = 9.31-14.69). The mOS was not reached for stage I, and it was 12.00, 12.00, 9.00, and 8.00 months for stages II, III, IVA, and IVB, respectively (statistically significant differences between stage I and stages II, III, or IVA [log rank p = .003-.017]). Thirty-five cases received local treatments (77.8%). The mOS of patients treated with surgery ± complementary chemotherapy, radiotherapy ± complementary chemotherapy, chemoradiation ± complementary chemotherapy, and surgery + radiotherapy ± complementary chemotherapy were 11.00, 12.00, 17.00, and 29.00 months, respectively. The use of adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy (64.5%, mostly platinum + etoposide) showed longer mOS (77.00 vs 15.00 months). Four of 5 tested cases presented human papillomavirus infection, 3 of them presenting type 18. CONCLUSIONS: Small cell carcinoma of the vagina shows dismal prognosis. Multimodal local management plus complementary chemotherapy seems to achieve better outcomes. Human papillomavirus could be related to the development of SmCCV. A diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm is proposed.

Teleworking in times of a pandemic: An applied study of industrial companies

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of teleworking on self-reported job satisfaction and workers’ productivity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey was administered to 331 teleworkers belonging to industrial companies, whose data were analyzed with a PLS-SEM structural equation model. The results indicate that communication with coworkers, time spent teleworking, and workplace suitability positively affect self-reported productivity, while trust on the part of supervisors and workplace suitability positively affect job satisfaction. On the other hand, work-family conflict negatively affects job satisfaction and self-reported productivity, whereas communication with coworkers, support from supervisor and time spent teleworking have no significant effect on job satisfaction. This study provides relevant information for industrial organizations to improve the job-satisfaction and productivity in large scaled teleworking contexts, as should have been implemented during the mandatory preventive isolation due to the health crisis related to the transmission of SARs-CoV-2.

Role of telemedicine in the management of oral anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation: a practical clinical approach.

Compared with face-to-face consultations, telemedicine has many advantages, including more efficient use of healthcare resources, partial relief of the burden of care, reduced exposure to COVID-19, treatment adjustment, organization of more efficient healthcare circuits and patient empowerment. Ensuring optimal anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation patients is mandatory if we want to reduce the thromboembolic risk. Of note, telemedicine is an excellent option for the long-term management of atrial fibrillation patients. Moreover, direct oral anticoagulants may provide an added value in telemedicine (versus vitamin K antagonists), as it is not necessary to monitor anticoagulant effect or make continuous dosage adjustments. In this multidisciplinary consensus document, the role of telemedicine in anticoagulation of this population is discussed and practical recommendations are provided.

COVID-19 Follow-App. Mobile App-Based Monitoring of COVID-19 Patients after Hospital Discharge: A Single-Center, Open-Label, Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: In the midst of a pandemic, apps can be used to provide close follow-up, ensure that patients are monitored at home, avoid excessive pressure on medical facilities, prevent the movement of people (both patients and health professionals), and reduce the risk of infection. OBJECTIVE: To adapt and validate the use of a smartphone application for outpatient follow-up of COVID-19 patients after hospital discharge. METHODS: We conducted an open-label clinical trial at Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron in Barcelona, Spain. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to be followed by the Farmalarm app or by their primary care center. The primary endpoint was the reduction in the need for in-person return visits. RESULTS: From 31 March to 4 May 2020, 150 patients were enrolled in the study at hospital discharge: 74 patients were randomized to the experimental group, and 76 to the control group. All patients in the control group and all except for six in the experimental group completed the study. During hospitalization, before study inclusion, all but 4 (97.3%) had viral pneumonia, 91 (60.7%) required supplemental oxygen, and 16 (10.7%) required intensive care unit (ICU) admission. COVID-19-related return visits to the emergency department were significantly higher in the control group (7.9% vs. 0%; p = 0.028) in the per-protocol analysis. Telephone consultations with the emergency department were performed by 12 (15.8%) patients in the control group and 0 (0%) in the experimental group (p < 0.001). Satisfaction with outpatient monitoring was rated higher by the experimental group (5 vs. 4 points; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Following COVID-19 hospital discharge, home follow-up via a mobile app was effective in reducing in-person return visits without undermining patient satisfaction or perception of health, compared with standard follow-up.

COVID-19 and Stroke: Incidence and Etiological Description in a High-Volume Center.

BACKGROUND: An increased rate of thrombotic events has been associated to Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) with a variable rate of acute stroke. Our aim is to uncover the rate of acute stroke in COVID-19 patients and identify those cases in which a possible causative relationship could exist. METHODS: We performed a single-center analysis of a prospective mandatory database. We studied all patients with confirmed COVID-19 and stroke diagnoses from March 2nd to April 30th. Demographic, clinical, and imaging data were prospectively collected. Final diagnosis was determined after full diagnostic work-up unless impossible due to death. RESULTS: Of 2050 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, 21 (1.02%) presented an acute ischemic stroke 21 and 4 (0.2%) suffered an intracranial hemorrhage. After the diagnostic work-up, in 60.0% ischemic and all hemorrhagic strokes patients an etiology non-related with COVID-19 was identified. Only in 6 patients the stroke cause was considered possibly related to COVID-19, all of them required mechanical ventilation before stroke onset. Ten patients underwent endovascular treatment; compared with patients who underwent EVT in the same period, COVID-19 was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (50% versus 15%; Odds Ratio, 6.67; 95% CI, 1.1-40.4; p 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of acute stroke in patients with COVID-19 was below 2% and most of them previously presented established stroke risk factors. Without other potential cause, stroke was an uncommon complication and exclusive of patients with a severe pulmonary injury. The presence of COVID-19 in patients who underwent EVT was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality.

Neurological manifestations and implications of COVID-19 pandemic.

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, China and rapidly spread worldwide, with a vast majority of confirmed cases presenting with respiratory symptoms. Potential neurological manifestations and their pathophysiological mechanisms have not been thoroughly established. In this narrative review, we sought to present the neurological manifestations associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Case reports, case series, editorials, reviews, case-control and cohort studies were evaluated, and relevant information was abstracted. Various reports of neurological manifestations of previous coronavirus epidemics provide a roadmap regarding potential neurological complications of COVID-19, due to many shared characteristics between these viruses and SARS-CoV-2. Studies from the current pandemic are accumulating and report COVID-19 patients presenting with dizziness, headache, myalgias, hypogeusia and hyposmia, but also with more serious manifestations including polyneuropathy, myositis, cerebrovascular diseases, encephalitis and encephalopathy. However, discrimination between causal relationship and incidental comorbidity is often difficult. Severe COVID-19 shares common risk factors with cerebrovascular diseases, and it is currently unclear whether the infection per se represents an independent stroke risk factor. Regardless of any direct or indirect neurological manifestations, the COVID-19 pandemic has a huge impact on the management of neurological patients, whether infected or not. In particular, the majority of stroke services worldwide have been negatively influenced in terms of care delivery and fear to access healthcare services. The effect on healthcare quality in the field of other neurological diseases is additionally evaluated.

Cuidados esenciales del recién nacido e infección posnatal por COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2): revisión sistemática

Objetivo: La incertidumbre de una posible transmisión posnatal por SARS-CoV-2 genera un desafío entre aplicar o evitar los cuidados esenciales del recién nacido para prevenir la transmisión. La revisión sistemática tiene como objetivo describir el impacto de los cuidados esenciales del neonato en la transmisión posnatal del SARS-CoV-2. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión sistemática en bases de datos electrónicas, se incluyero studios observacionales, serie de casos y reporte de casos. Dos investigadores de forma independiente evaluaron los criterios de inclusión, la calidad metodológica y la extracción de datos. Resultados: Se tamizaron 208 estudios para una inclusión final de 9 artículos relevantes. El reporte de transmisión del virus SARS-CoV-2 está centrado en la posibilidad de transferencia por la leche materna y ausencia de información acerca de la transmisión por otros cuidados esenciales, sin embargo, se observa un bajo uso en la práctica clínica de los cuidados esenciales del recién nacido hijo de madre con COVID- 19. Conclusiones: La información es limitada sobre la posible transmisión del SARS-CoV-2 a través de los cuidados esenciales del recién nacido, sin embargo, la pandemia ha impactado de forma importante los mismos. Según los hallazgos en la literatura, es mayor el beneficio de estas intervenciones y las recomendaciones científicas promueven su aplicación empleando las medidas de protección personal para la madre y el personal de salud.Alternate :Objective: The uncertainty of a possible postnatal transmission by SARS-CoV-2 creates hallenge between applying or avoiding essential newborn care to prevent transmission. The objective of the systematic review is to describe the impact of essential neonate care o he postnatal transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Methods: A systematic review was carried out in electronic databases, observational studies, case series, and case reports. Two investigators independently assessed the inclusion criteria, methodological quality, and data extraction. Results: 208 studies were screened for a final inclusion of 9 relevant articles. The transmission report of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is focused on the possibility of transfer through breast milk and the absence of information about transmission by other essential care, however, a low use, in clinical practice, of essential care for the newborn child of a mother with COVID-19, is observed. Conclusions: Information is limited on the possible transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through essential newborn care;however, the pandemic has had a significant impact on them. According to the findings in the literature, the benefit of these interventions is greater, and the scientific recommendations promote their application, using personal protection measures for the mother and the healthcare personnel.