ABSTRACT
With the integration of technology into learning environments, traditional learning approaches have begun to leave their place to current learning approaches. One of the current learning approaches that has been popularly used recently is blended learning. Because of the various advantages it provides, blended learning is preferred by learners, teachers, and educational institutions. With the current COVID-19 pandemic, higher education institutions' interest in blended learning has increased. This growing interest raises the issue of how efficient blended learning should be. In this context, researchers investigated the requirements of effective blended learning for higher education institutions in this chapter. In the chapter, the researchers also discuss the contents of blended learning models that can be used in higher education, current research, blended learning adoption process in higher education, and tips for effective blended learning. © 2023 by IGI Global. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 has several clinical manifestations in the respiratory system and the cardiovascular system. Pneumothorax and myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) are two different clinical complications in COVID-19. However, pneumothorax and MINOCA have not been described yet in the same patient until now. A COVID-19 patient was admitted due to respiratory distress. He had pneumothorax and MINOCA. We report how we proceeded with diagnosis and treatment of pneumothorax and MINOCA. Respiratory and cardiovascular system manifestations of COVID-19 have made numerous clinical appearances. MINOCA and pneumothorax are rare clinical appearances, but they can be seen in COVID-19 as shown in our case. Copyright © 2022 Czech Society of Cardiology Z.S. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Advanced age is an important prognostic indicator for the mortality of coronavirus disease 2019, especially in patients over 65. Patients with chronic underlying conditions such as hypertension showed the worst outcomes. This study aimed to identify predictors of mortality in elderly hypertensive patients hospitalized in intensive care units. Material(s) and Method(s): Demographic, clinical, treatment, and laboratory data were extracted from electronic medical records and compared between survivors and non-survivors. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods were used to explore the indicators of in-hospital mortality. Result(s): One hundred and ninety-eight patients with a median age of 75 years (65-94 years) were included in this study, of whom 95 were discharged from the intensive care units, and 103 died. Shortness of breath [hazard ratio (HR): 1.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04-2.61, p: 0.034], C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio (>51.32) (HR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.12-2.97, p: 0.015), serum creatinine (>1.62 mg/dl) (HR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.13-3.33, p: 0.001), aspartate transaminase (>34 u/l) (HR: 1.99, 95% CI: 1.28-3.09, p: 0.002), D-dimer (>781 ng/ml) (HR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.04-2.43, p: 0.031), leukocyte (>12,000' 103/microl) (HR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.09-2.59, p: 0.018) and lymphocyte count, (<=660' 103/microl) (HR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.17-2.63, p: 0.006) were independent predictors for mortality in elderly hypertensive patients. Conclusion(s): Using these predictors with cut-off values can identify patients at risk of death and needing aggressive intervention earlier in the disease course. Copyright © 2022, Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved.