Impact of COVID-19 pandemic confinement on the behavior of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and confinement have affected access to the health system and have impacted people's mental health, particularly families of children with autism spectrum di-sorder (ASD). Objective: To investigate the perceptions of parents of children with ASD regarding benefits, positive changes, and difficulties in behavioral management at home during the first con-finement due to COVID-19 in Chile. Subjects and Methods: We performed an exploratory cross-sectional qualitative study including 118 parents of individuals with ASD aged between 2 and 15 years. An online questionnaire, prepared by a multidisciplinary committee of national experts using Delphi methodology was applied, which contains four open-ended questions related to children's behavior (difficulties, improvements, benefits, and professional support required) during the pan-demic. Results: Parents perceived that confinement increased emotional stress for adults and chil-dren, which could exacerbate behavioral problems. The interviewees perceived improvements in child social-affective, individual autonomy, and communication skills. The family and resilience aspects, such as time-sharing that emerged during the pandemic to support children's needs, were appreciated. Parents also reported the need for professional support in behavioral and emotional management during confinement. Conclusion: Caregivers value the integration of the family into therapies during confinement. It is necessary to complement these results with additional studies exploring different life contexts of families with children with ASD in Chile and the impacts of long-term confinement.

Agricultural Trade and Investments between Latin America and China: Development, Implications, and Challenges

Agriculture has progressively decreased in its proportion of the value of international trade flows, being largely surpassed by extractive industries and, above all, manufacturing. Latin America, and especially South America, however, is one of the regions where the highest percentage of total trade comes from agricultural trade. China has become a preferred destination for Latin American agricultural exports, with China seeing Latin America as a strategic partner in guaranteeing its food security. The objective of this chapter is to analyze the agricultural trade and investment relationship between China and Latin America, starting with an overview of the recent evolution of agricultural export and import flows between China and Latin America and its implications, followed by an analysis of the agricultural investment strategies that China has developed in Latin America and the agricultural trade agreements China has made with Latin American countries, and finishing with an exploration of the effects of COVID-19 on Sino-Latin American agricultural trade and some adaptation strategies that have been implemented. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

[Bibliometric analysis of scientific publications on COVID-19 elaborated by staff of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social]

BACKGROUND: Since the beginning of the pandemic, new knowledge about COVID-19 obtained by research has been disseminated in medical and scientific journals, but the large number of publications that have been generated in such a short time has been impressive. OBJECTIVE: To perform a bibliometric analysis of the published articles in medical-scientific journals carried-out by the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) personnel on COVID-19. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Systematic review of the literature, identifying the publications included in the PubMed and EMBASE databases, up to September 2022. Articles on COVID-19 were included, in which at least one author had IMSS affiliation;there was no restriction on the type of publication, so original articles, review articles, clinical case reports, etc. were included. The analysis was descriptive. RESULTS: 588 abstracts were obtained, of which 533 full length articles met the selection criteria. Most were research articles (48%), followed by review articles. Mainly clinical or epidemiological aspects were addressed. They were published in 232 different journals, with a predominance of foreign journals (91.8%). Around half of the publications were carried out by IMSS personnel together with authors from other institutions, national or foreign. CONCLUSIONS: The scientific contributions prepared by IMSS personnel have contributed to understanding clinical, epidemiological and basic aspects of COVID-19, which has had an impact on improving the quality of care for its beneficiaries.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic confinement on the behavior of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and confinement have affected access to the health system and have impacted people's mental health, particularly families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Objective(s): To investigate the perceptions of parents of children with ASD regarding benefits, positive changes, and difficulties in behavioral management at home during the first confinement due to COVID-19 in Chile. Subjects and Methods: We performed an exploratory cross-sectional qualitative study including 118 parents of individuals with ASD aged between 2 and 15 years. An online questionnaire, prepared by a multidisciplinary committee of national experts using Delphi methodology was applied, which contains four open-ended questions related to children's behavior (difficulties, improvements, benefits, and professional support required) during the pan-demic. Result(s): Parents perceived that confinement increased emotional stress for adults and chil-dren, which could exacerbate behavioral problems. The interviewees perceived improvements in child social-affective, individual autonomy, and communication skills. The family and resilience aspects, such as time-sharing that emerged during the pandemic to support children's needs, were appreciated. Parents also reported the need for professional support in behavioral and emotional management during confinement. Conclusion(s): Caregivers value the integration of the family into therapies during confinement. It is necessary to complement these results with additional studies exploring different life contexts of families with children with ASD in Chile and the impacts of long-term confinement. Copyright © 2022, Sociedad Chilena de Pediatria. All rights reserved.

Fatal intracerebral haemorrhage associated with thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome after ChAdOx1-S vaccine. / Hemorragia intracerebral fatal asociada al síndrome de trombosis con trombocitopenia tras la vacuna ChAdOx1-S.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on health, society and economics worldwide. Therefore, vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have recently emerged as an important measure to fight the pandemic. ChAdOx1-S (Oxford-AstraZeneca) is an adenovirus-vectored vaccine that expresses the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. It shows an acceptable safety profile. Nevertheless, several cases of unusual thrombosis and thrombocytopenia have been reported after initial vaccination with ChAdOx1-S mimicking autoimmune heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. This condition has been called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) and complications such as intracerebral haemorrhage have been described. CASE REPORT: We present a case of intracerebral haemorrhage after ChAdOx1-S vaccination. Middle-aged patient with no prior medical history was seen in the emergency room 16 days after the first dose of ChAdOx1-S vaccine with sudden onset left hemiplegia and severe holocranial oppressive headache. She did not receive heparin treatment in the previous 100 days. Blood test showed moderate thrombocytopenia and a right frontal lobar haemorrhage was seen on computed tomography scan, computed tomography venography was negative for thrombosis. The presence of antibodies against platelet factor 4 was confirmed. The patient's neurological condition progressively worsened. She developed a treatment resistant intracranial hypertension syndrome and she died three weeks later. CONCLUSIONS: TTS is a rare adverse effect of ChAdOx1-S vaccine, defined by the presence of thrombosis in uncommon locations. In our case we report an spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage probable due to the thrombocytopenia related to probable TTS. It represents a rare clinical presentation of TTS.

TITLE: Hemorragia intracerebral fatal asociada al síndrome de trombosis con trombocitopenia tras la vacuna ChAdOx1-S.Introducción. La pandemia por COVID-19 ha tenido un impacto devastador en la salud, la sociedad y la economía en el mundo. Por ello, las vacunas contra el coronavirus del síndrome respiratorio agudo grave 2 (SARS-CoV-2) han surgido como medida importante para combatir la pandemia. ChAdOx1-S (Oxford-AstraZeneca) es una vacuna vectorizada por adenovirus que expresa la proteína de espiga del SARS-CoV-2. Se han notificado varios casos de trombosis y trombocitopenia inusuales tras la ChAdOx1-S que imitan la trombocitopenia autoinmune inducida por heparina. Esta situación se denomina síndrome de trombosis con trombocitopenia (STT), y se han descrito casos de hemorragia intracerebral secundaria. Caso clínico. Presentamos un caso de hemorragia intracerebral tras la vacunación con ChAdOx1-S. Una paciente de mediana edad sin antecedentes médicos de interés fue atendida en urgencias 16 días después de la primera dosis de ChAdOx1-S con una hemiplejía izquierda de inicio repentino y una cefalea opresiva holocraneal grave. No recibió heparina los 100 días anteriores. El análisis de sangre mostró trombocitopenia moderada y en la tomografía computarizada se observó una hemorragia lobar frontal derecha sin trombosis en la venografía por tomografía computarizada. Se confirmó la presencia de anticuerpos contra el factor 4 de las plaquetas en la sangre. La paciente presentó un síndrome de hipertensión intracraneal resistente al tratamiento y falleció tres semanas después. Conclusiones. El STT es un efecto adverso infrecuente de la vacuna ChAdOx1-S que se define por la presencia de trombosis en localizaciones infrecuentes. En nuestro caso, describimos una hemorragia intracerebral espontánea secundaria a la trombocitopenia desencadenada por el STT. Representa una presentación clínica poco frecuente del STT.

A State-of-the-Art Approach to Unlock the Potential of Complex Sour Reservoirs in Southern Oman During Global Market Downturn

Recent years and especially the coronavirus pandemic have been very challenging for the oil industry, resulting in a significant reduction in investment, forcing companies to review budgets and search for more efficient and economical technologies to achieve the target level of hydrocarbon production and revenue generation. In PDO, one of the most challenging fields is "AS", where extreme downhole conditions require a very well-engineered approach to become economical. This field has already seen some of the most advanced technology trials in PDO that are also covered in multiple SPE papers. Based on the new approaches and techniques that were successfully implemented on recently drilled wells, it was decided to review the older, previously fractured wells in the area and assess them for a refracturing opportunity. The main challenge in this project was that these older wells were previously hydraulically fractured in multiple target intervals, therefore both zonal isolation and successful placement of the new fracs were becoming the major concerns. As the planned coverage by the new fractures was to ensure no bypassed pay, the only applicable technology on the market was a pinpoint fracturing process, whereby the targeted placement is achieved through limited entry perforations and focused energy of the injected fluid. The subject pinpoint technology anticipates that the limited entry sandblasting perforation is created and then proppant laden fluid is pumped through a sandblasting nozzle which is part of either a coiled tubing (CT) or a jointed pipe (JP) Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA), and the backside (or the annulus of the injection path) is used to maintain the positive backpressure from the top. This technology allows for choosing a desirable order of target interval selection inside the well, unlike conventional plug and perf or a simplified multistage completion, where the treatments must be placed only in order from bottom to top. Another advantage of this approach is a faster frac cycle through the elimination of wellbore cleanout requirement. Being a unique and first-ever application in the Middle East, using CT for placing frac treatments through a jetting nozzle demonstrates the full scale potential of this approach not only in conventional wells but also in complex, sour and High Pressure (HP) environments that are often found in the Sultanate of Oman and in the Middle East. This paper will cover the advantages and disadvantages, complexity and requirements, opportunities and lessons learnt in relation to this approach. © 2022, Society of Petroleum Engineers

Increased levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 are associated with adverse outcome in pregnant women with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: In addition to the lungs, the placenta and the endothelium can be affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF) are markers of endothelial dysfunction and could potentially serve as predictors of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to investigate the association of serum concentrations of sFlt-1 and PlGF with the severity of COVID-19 in pregnancy. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study carried out in a tertiary care hospital in Mexico City, Mexico. Symptomatic pregnant women with a positive reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction test for SARS-CoV-2 infection who fulfilled the criteria for hospitalization were included. The primary outcome was severe pneumonia due to COVID-19. Secondary outcomes were intensive care unit (ICU) admission, viral sepsis and maternal death. sFlt-1 levels were expressed as multiples of the median (MoM). The association between sFlt-1 and each adverse outcome was explored by logistic regression analysis, adjusted for gestational age for outcomes occurring in more than five patients, and the predictive performance was assessed by receiver-operating-characteristics-curve analysis. RESULTS: Among 113 pregnant women with COVID-19, higher sFlt-1 MoM was associated with an increased probability of severe pneumonia (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.817 (95% CI, 1.365-2.418)), ICU admission (aOR, 2.195 (95% CI, 1.582-3.047)), viral sepsis (aOR, 2.318 (95% CI, 1.407-3.820)) and maternal death (unadjusted OR, 5.504 (95% CI, 1.079-28.076)). At a 10% false-positive rate, sFlt-1 MoM had detection rates of 45.2%, 66.7%, 83.3% and 100% for severe COVID-19 pneumonia, ICU admission, viral sepsis and maternal death, respectively. PlGF values were similar between women with severe and those with non-severe COVID-19 pneumonia. CONCLUSION: sFlt-1 MoM is higher in pregnant women with severe COVID-19 and has the capability to predict serious adverse pregnancy events, such as severe pneumonia, ICU admission, viral sepsis and maternal death. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Digital Tool to Detect the State of Languishing of Students During the Covid-19 Pandemic

This paper presents a mobile application prototype that pretends to identify the state of languishing in postgraduate students, who have been dealing with social distancing due COVID-19 pandemic. In order to make visible the social significance of tools that encourage students and other users to understand their emotions and to look for a good mental health accompanied by specialists, with the knowledge that no one is spare of suffering from an emotional problem. In addition, the data obtained may be used to take appropriate measures by the corresponding authorities by the hand of mental health specialized. The presented prototype development process in this paper responds to an interface design based on human-computer interaction methods and tools and shows some suggested improvements after the evaluating phase. © 2021, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

THE MEDIATING ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STRENGTHS BETWEEN ACADEMIC/WORK INTERFERENCE AND MENTAL HEALTH DURING COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

The psychological impact due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has been evidenced. Some of the variables associated with this have been the presence of previous financial problems, being students or being inactive, all of them issues related to the work and academic scope. Consequently, the main objective of the work was to analyze the mediating role that personal strengths for mental health have in the face of academic/work interference caused by lockdown due to COVID-19 in Spain based on work status (students, workers active and inactive), controlling in turn for other sociodemographic variables (sex and age). For the data collection of this descriptive cross-sectional study, an online survey was used, composed of instruments to assess the degree of interference in academic/work activities (ad hoc), maladaptive coping strategies (COPE-28), resilience (CD-RISC), covitality (SEHS), healthy habits (ad hoc), psychological well-being (WHO-5) and psychological distress (PHQ-4). The results showed: on the one hand, that the groups of students and inactivity showed worse mental health indicators and personal resources, while the opposite effect was found in the group of active workers;and, on the other hand, the PROCESS mediation models (model 4) evidenced a damping effect of personal resources between perceived academic/work interference and psychological adjustment indicators (well-being and psychological distress), regardless of the work category. In conclusion, the protective role of personal resources in psychological adjustment during lockdown due to COVID-19 is highlighted.

Dynamic assessment of interleukin-6 during hemodialysis and mortality in COVID 19

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The impact of the newly discovered severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) in hemodialysis patients remains poorly characterized. Some hemodialysis techniques reduce systemic inflammation but their impact on COVID-19 has not been addressed. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate factors associated to mortality in COVID-19 hemodialysis patients, including the impact of reducing interleukin-6 using a cytokine adsorbent filter. METHOD: This is a prospective single-center study including 16 hemodialysis patients with COVID-19. All were dialyzed using a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) filter. Interleukin-6 levels were obtained before and after the first admission hemodialysis session and at one week. Also we collected serum samples from 8 patients of our unit as controls: 4 in online hemodiafiltration (OLHDF) and 4 in high-flux hemodialysis Baseline comorbidities, laboratory values, chest X-ray and treatments were recorded and compared between survivors and non-survivors. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were included (13 males, mean age 72±15 years). Four patients (25%) died. Factors associated to mortality were dialysis vintage (p=0.01), the presence of infiltrates in chest X-ray (p=0.032), serum C-reactive protein (p=0.05) and lactate dehydrogenase (p=0.02) at one week, the requirement of oxygen therapy (p=0.02) and the use of anticoagulation (p<0.01). At admission, post-dialysis interleukin-6 levels were higher (p<0.01) in non-survivors and these patients differed from survivors in the reduction of interleukin-6 levels during the dialysis session despite using a PMMA filter (survivors vs non survivors (25 [17-53]% vs -3 [-109-12] %, p=0.04). CONCLUSION: In hemodialysis COVID-19 patients, a positive balance of interleukin-6 during the session was associated to higher mortality.

Effectiveness of educational intervention in knowledge on covid-19 and biosafety in helping nurses exposed to the sars-cov-2

Introduction: The contingency imposed by the COVID-19 to the nursing staff to take measures stricter of biosafety, in order to reduce or to eliminate the risk of infection. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of educational intervention in knowledge on COVID-19 and biosafety in helping nurses exposed to the SARS-CoV-2.Methods: Quasi-experimental quantitative research without control group in helping nurses of the province Mayabeque in the period February-April 2020. Universe 80 nurses, conforming two groups according to professional level;Group I (26 technicians) and group II (54 graduates). A patterned opinion poll was applicable and coefficient of Kuder-Richardson was calculated and Alfa of Cronbach. Frequency distributions, in the case of the quantitative variables were used: Stocking, standard deviation, variance, minimal/maximum value, the association between variables obtained himself with the proof not parametric of stations with sign of Wilcoxon. Results: The female sex predominated (23.75% technical group, 56.25% graduates group). The mean age was higher in the graduates (39,72 years) regarding (34,42 years). The level of knowledge of COVID-19 rose after the intervention (69,23% group I, 74.07% group II) whilst the knowledge on principles and standards of biosafety increased in both groups (88.46% and 100%). The knowledge about precautions standards rose in 65.38% technical group and 92.59% graduates group. Conclusions: The educational intervention in the knowledge on COVID-19 and biosafety in helping nurses exposed to the SARS-CoV-2, was effective with statistical significance in the level of knowledge of the group licenced regarding the technician. © 2021, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.

Financial management and satisfaction with life in colombians during confinement by COVID-19

The health emergency generated by COVID-19 has led governments worldwide to take measures, in some departments, and-or states more rigorously than in others, to control morbidity and mortality through measures of protection. The acquisition of services and supplies at high costs, the closure of the productive sector, and the obligation of confinement in most sectors have negatively impacted the economy in the state, business, and personal finances, affecting the quality of life of the population. Objective: To describe personal financial management and satisfaction with life during confinement by COVID-19 in Colombia. M ethod: A descriptive quantitative study was carried out, in which 293 Colombians over 18 years of age, from all regions of the country. The Financial Management instrument and the Life Satisfaction Scale were used. Data analysis was performed with SPSS version 23 statistical software, using descriptive statistics parameters such as absolute frequencies and percentage graphs. Results: 66 % of the participants do not have additional income to the main occupation, 39 % have not paid their obligations promptly during confinement, 42 % consider that the economic situation has worsened compared to the previous year and state feel uncertain about financial commitments, 23 % of the sample stated that life circumstances are not right, expressing not feeling satisfied and 38 % require changing aspects of their lifestyle. Conclusion: Colombians experience satisfaction, conformity with what they have experienced in different aspects of life, despite the financial crisis generated by COVID-19. © 2020 Academia Nacional de Medicina. All rights reserved.

Coronavirus: Emocional and social epidemic

Objective: To carry out a systematic review of the emotional and social effects that the world population has suffered in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Methodology: A qualitative approach was used, which allows understanding a phenomenon in a particular way, through analytical research, to study historical concepts and events such as the emotional and social effects associated with the health emergency declared in 191 countries in the face of the COVID pandemic-19. 23 scientific, journalistic and political documents published in reports of the World Health Organization (WHO), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Ministry of Health, National Institute of Health (INS), Universities and journalistic reports were used internationally and nationally. The key words used were: COVID-19, emotional epidemic, social epidemic, stress, anxiety, panic, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Results: The most frequent psychological affectations presented by the population worldwide are: anxiety, stress, episodes of depression, panic attacks. It is found as significant data that OCD patients tend to worsen. Conclusions: It is necessary to consider strategies, actions and protocols of mental health to face the pandemic by CO-VID-19 and to communicate them in a massive way in the community in general.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the organisation of stroke care. Madrid Stroke Care Plan. / Impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19 en la organización asistencial del ictus. Plan Ictus Madrid.

INTRODUCTION: The overload of the healthcare system and the organisational changes made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic may be having an impact on acute stroke care in the Region of Madrid. METHODS: We conducted a survey with sections addressing hospital characteristics, changes in infrastructure and resources, code stroke clinical pathways, diagnostic testing, rehabilitation, and outpatient care. We performed a descriptive analysis of results according to the level of complexity of stroke care (availability of stroke units and mechanical thrombectomy). RESULTS: The survey was completed by 22 of the 26 hospitals in the Madrid Regional Health System that attend adult emergencies, between 16 and 27 April 2020. Ninety-five percent of hospitals had reallocated neurologists to care for patients with COVID-19. The numbers of neurology ward beds were reduced in 89.4% of hospitals; emergency department stroke care pathways were modified in 81%, with specific pathways for suspected SARS-CoV2 infection established in 50% of hospitals; and SARS-CoV2-positive patients with acute stroke were not admitted to neurology wards in 42%. Twenty-four hour on-site availability of mechanical thrombectomy was improved in 10 hospitals, which resulted in a reduction in the number of secondary hospital transfers. The admission of patients with transient ischaemic attack or minor stroke was avoided in 45% of hospitals, and follow-up through telephone consultations was implemented in 100%. CONCLUSIONS: The organisational changes made in response to the SARS-Co2 pandemic in hospitals in the Region of Madrid have modified the allocation of neurology department staff and infrastructure, stroke units and stroke care pathways, diagnostic testing, hospital admissions, and outpatient follow-up.

Acute stroke care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ictus Madrid Program recommendations. / Atención al ictus agudo durante la pandemia por COVID-19. Recomendaciones Plan Ictus Madrid.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in complete saturation of healthcare capacities, making it necessary to reorganise healthcare systems. In this context, we must guarantee the provision of acute stroke care and optimise code stroke protocols to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and rationalise the use of hospital resources. The Madrid Stroke multidisciplinary group presents a series of recommendations to achieve these goals. METHODS: We conducted a non-systematic literature search using the keywords "stroke" and "COVID-19" or "coronavirus" or "SARS-CoV-2." Our literature review also included other relevant studies known to the authors. Based on this literature review, a series of consensus recommendations were established by the Madrid Stroke multidisciplinary group and its neurology committee. RESULTS: These recommendations address 5 main objectives: 1) coordination of action protocols to ensure access to hospital care for stroke patients; 2) recognition of potentially COVID-19-positive stroke patients; 3) organisation of patient management to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare professionals; 4) avoidance of unnecessary neuroimaging studies and other procedures that may increase the risk of infection; and 5) safe, early discharge and follow-up to ensure bed availability. This management protocol has been called CORONA (Coordinate, Recognise, Organise, Neuroimaging, At home). CONCLUSIONS: The recommendations presented here may assist in the organisation of acute stroke care and the optimisation of healthcare resources, while ensuring the safety of healthcare professionals.