Prototype of a Device for the Automatic Measurement of Physiological Signals to Assist the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Patients with Covid-19

This article describes the design, construction and preliminary results of a device to automate the mea-surement of physiological signals to assist in the diag-nosis and monitoring of COVID-19. The device uses a system to controlling linear actuators to turn on/off certified biomedical instruments, in addition to algo-rithms for image recognition of displays with measure-ments of temperature, oxygen saturation, pressure and heart rate. The system also includes a mobile ap-plication, which receives data in real time and creates a database for medical evaluation. Results obtained with the device have demonstrated to provide a high percentage of efficiency in the data acquisition. After several trials with users, SUS and PSSUQ tests were applied to allow verifying the users' feedback regard-ing the satisfaction and usability of the prototype, with high score, showing the good acceptance of the device from the users.

Scale of concern about the contagion of a variant of COVID-19 in university students of physical education, recreation and sports: construct validity and reliability

Introduction: There is no valid and reliable instrument of concern about a variant of COVID-19 contagion to face the post-pandemic challenge in Physical Education, Recreation and Sport university students who are being trained in the university institution. Objective: To evaluate the content validity, internal consistency, and reliability of a scale of concern about a variant of COVID-19 contagion in Physical Education, Recreation and Sport university students. Methods: An exploratory study with a quantitative cross-sectional approach and a nonprobabilistic sample was carried out. The instrument consists of an online survey, sent through announcements and institutional emails to the Physical Education, Recreation and Sport students, obtaining 331 participants (219 men, 72,2%, and 112 women, 23,8%), whose ages range between 17 and 24 years, with an average age of 21,3 years. Results: The exploratory factorial analysis indicated that the instrument allowed the factorial analysis (kmo = 0.874;bartlett <0,001), while the confirmatory factorial analysis showed that it was not necessary to eliminate any element. Finally, the item-total correlations range from 0, 72 to 0, 82, and the internal consistency was good (α = 0,91).Conclusions: The scale of concern about covid-19 contagion is a valid and reliable instrument in Physical Education, Recreation and Sport Colombian university students © Este material es publicado según los términos de la Licencia Creative Commons Atribución–NoComercial 4.0. Se permite el uso, distribución y reproducción no comerciales y sin restricciones en cualquier medio, siempre que sea debidamente citada la fuente primaria de publicación

PROFESSORS' PERCEPTION OF THE USE OF DIGITAL SKILLS AND GAMIFICATION IN A PERUVIAN UNIVERSITY

The COVID-19 pandemic has produced profound changes in higher education, with the replacement of face-to-face instruction with distance or remote education, which involves the management of digital skills by teachers and students. The purpose of this research is to analyze the perception of professors with regard to digital skills and the use of gamified strategies in the teaching-learning process in a virtual context. A questionnaire was sent to 81 professors in different areas of knowledge at a Peruvian public university during the first academic semester of 2020. A strong correlation (r≥.700, p=.01) was found between the use of ICT and gamification as a resource for teaching-learning, and a moderate correlation between the knowledge of digital competences and the possibilities of application as part of the instructional strategies. From the results obtained, it is clear that the participants have a positive perception of digital skills and gamified strategies, regardless of academic degree or area of knowledge. This could provide support for the update of those proposals targeting professors in order to improve their digital skills © Article's contents are provided on an Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 Creative commons International License. Readers are allowed to copy, distribute and communicate article's contents, provided the author's and JOTSE journal's names are included. It must not be used for commercial purposes. To see the complete licence contents, please visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Governance of parenting in poor households: NGOs and their actions during the pandemic

This article analyzes the parenting practices of poor families located in the city of Ibagué (Colombia), which emerged in the families' relationships with an NGO that provided them with support during the COVID-19 pandemic. An ethnographic methodology was used, complemented with dialogic and participatory strategies. Two types of parenting practices were identified: food-based care and educational support. While the first was based upon receiving donations and was subject to market dynamics, the second was based on the allocation of educational roles to parents and caregivers so that they could teach their children based on the State's guidelines. The authors conclude that these interventions support families to self-manage their precarious situation in the framework of the legitimation of a neoliberal social order. © 2023 Authors. All rights reserved.

Obesity Aggravates Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury (IRI)-Induced AKI in Mice

Background: Obesity, which is becoming increasingly common worldwide, is known to be associated with cardiovascular disease and progression of chronic kidney disease, due to inappropriate activation of the renin-angiotensin system. Many angiotensin II effects are dependent on AT1 stimulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In COVID-19 patients, overweight and obesity are associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome and AKI. Although obesity increases oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and inflammation, its effect on IRI-induced AKI is unknown. We hypothesized that obesity would aggravate renal IRI in mice. Method(s): We fed mice a high-fat or standard diet (45 and 10 kcal% fat, respectively) for 8 weeks. Some then underwent bilateral 30-min clamping of the kidney hila and subsequent reperfusion (groups: obese, normal, obese+IRI and normal+IRI). All studies were performed 48 h after IRI. Data are mean+/-SEM. Result(s): Body weight (g) was 33+/-1.7, 32+/-0.7, 27+/-1.4 and 26+/-0.9 in the obese, obese+IRI, normal and normal+IRI groups, respectively (P<0.001). Mortality was 42% and 25% in the obese+IRI and normal+IRI groups, respectively (P <0.05);there were no deaths in the non-IRI groups. Serum glucose and cholesterol did not differ among the groups. Creatinine clearance (mL/min/100g BW) was 0.20+/-0.05 and 0.20+/-0.07 in the obese+IRI and normal+IRI groups, respectively, vs. 0.34+/-0.06 and 0.40+/-0.08 in the obese and normal groups, respectively. Renal p65 protein expression (%) was 127+/-4.8 in the obese+IRI group, vs. 100+/-4.1, 92.5+/-4.8 and 107+/-3.7, respectively, in the normal, obese and normal+IRI groups (P<0.05). Conclusion(s): In obese individuals with AKI, ROS could be a therapeutic target (FAPESP, NWO).

Evaluation and follow-up in functionality in patients with Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome associated with COVID-19 (MIS-C)

In June 2020 appeared the first cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19 in Chile. Possible sequelae associated with this condition are still unknown. Objective(s): To describe the functional status of children with MIS-C admitted to a high complexity Hospital. Patients and Method: Descriptive, prospective study. Sample of 28 patients. The functional status was evaluated during Hospitalization, and in the first and fourth months after discharge with the Functional Status Scale (FSS), Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI-CAT), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), PImax and PEmax, and dynamometry. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was screened with the Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS). Result(s): Mean age 63.6 months. Sixteen were women and 60.7% presented no comorbidities. Half of the cases presented with Shock. Mean hospitalization was 9 days. Twenty-two patients were admitted to the ICU;54% required me-chanical ventilation and/or vasoactive drugs, and 82% had cardiac repercussions. During hospitalization, 82.3% presented some physical alteration, 29.1% of them were confirmed ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW), and 16.6% were suspected cases. Thirteen patients presented emotional symptoms, 39.2% had post-ICU syndrome. Most of the patients (58.8%) had an unfavorable Functional Situation and recovered 4 months post-discharge. All patients reversed echocardiographic abnormalities in the first month and regained muscle strength in the fourth month. 38.5% of subjects reported suboptimal values in the 6MWT and 66.6% presented alteration in the post-traumatic stress screening. Conclusion(s): Most of the patients presented functional compromise with favorable recovery despite the severity of the symptoms and possible secondary complications after ICU. Copyright © 2022, Sociedad Chilena de Pediatria. All rights reserved.

A differential therapeutic consideration for use of corticosteroids according to established COVID-19 clinical phenotypes in critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the use of corticosteroids was associated with Intensive Care Unit (ICU) mortality among whole population and pre-specified clinical phenotypes. DESIGN: A secondary analysis derived from multicenter, observational study. SETTING: Critical Care Units. PATIENTS: Adult critically ill patients with confirmed COVID-19 disease admitted to 63 ICUs in Spain. INTERVENTIONS: Corticosteroids vs. no corticosteroids. MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Three phenotypes were derived by non-supervised clustering analysis from whole population and classified as (A: severe, B: critical and C: life-threatening). We performed a multivariate analysis after propensity optimal full matching (PS) for whole population and weighted Cox regression (HR) and Fine-Gray analysis (sHR) to assess the impact of corticosteroids on ICU mortality according to the whole population and distinctive patient clinical phenotypes. RESULTS: A total of 2017 patients were analyzed, 1171 (58%) with corticosteroids. After PS, corticosteroids were shown not to be associated with ICU mortality (OR: 1.0; 95% CI: 0.98-1.15). Corticosteroids were administered in 298/537 (55.5%) patients of "A" phenotype and their use was not associated with ICU mortality (HR=0.85 [0.55-1.33]). A total of 338/623 (54.2%) patients in "B" phenotype received corticosteroids. No effect of corticosteroids on ICU mortality was observed when HR was performed (0.72 [0.49-1.05]). Finally, 535/857 (62.4%) patients in "C" phenotype received corticosteroids. In this phenotype HR (0.75 [0.58-0.98]) and sHR (0.79 [0.63-0.98]) suggest a protective effect of corticosteroids on ICU mortality. CONCLUSION: Our finding warns against the widespread use of corticosteroids in all critically ill patients with COVID-19 at moderate dose. Only patients with the highest inflammatory levels could benefit from steroid treatment.

A differential therapeutic consideration for use of corticosteroids according to established COVID-19 clinical phenotypes in critically ill patients Una consideración terapéutica diferencial para el uso de corticoesteroides en COVID-19 según los diferentes fenotipos clínicos establecidos en pacientes críticos

Objective To determine if the use of corticosteroids was associated with Intensive Care Unit (ICU) mortality among whole population and pre-specified clinical phenotypes. Design A secondary analysis derived from multicenter, observational study. Setting Critical Care Units. Patients Adult critically ill patients with confirmed COVID-19 disease admitted to 63 ICUs in Spain. Interventions Corticosteroids vs. no corticosteroids. Main variables of interest Three phenotypes were derived by non-supervised clustering analysis from whole population and classified as (A: severe, B: critical and C: life-threatening). We performed a multivariate analysis after propensity optimal full matching (PS) for whole population and weighted Cox regression (HR) and Fine-Gray analysis (sHR) to assess the impact of corticosteroids on ICU mortality according to the whole population and distinctive patient clinical phenotypes. Results A total of 2017 patients were analyzed, 1171 (58%) with corticosteroids. After PS, corticosteroids were shown not to be associated with ICU mortality (OR: 1.0;95% CI: 0.98–1.15). Corticosteroids were administered in 298/537 (55.5%) patients of “A” phenotype and their use was not associated with ICU mortality (HR = 0.85 [0.55–1.33]). A total of 338/623 (54.2%) patients in “B” phenotype received corticosteroids. No effect of corticosteroids on ICU mortality was observed when HR was performed (0.72 [0.49–1.05]). Finally, 535/857 (62.4%) patients in “C” phenotype received corticosteroids. In this phenotype HR (0.75 [0.58–0.98]) and sHR (0.79 [0.63–0.98]) suggest a protective effect of corticosteroids on ICU mortality. Conclusion Our finding warns against the widespread use of corticosteroids in all critically ill patients with COVID-19 at moderate dose. Only patients with the highest inflammatory levels could benefit from steroid treatment.

Open-Source Internships With Industry Mentors

Internships help students connect what they have learned in the classroom to the real world, and students with access to internships are more likely to graduate and secure employment. However, many students are unable to find an internship by the time they graduate. This experience report describes a program where volunteer software engineers mentor students as they work on open-source projects in the summer, offered as an alternative to a traditional internship experience. We catalog the considerations involved in providing an experience similar to a traditional internship, describe our program's design, and provide two years' worth of participant evaluations and career outcomes as a measure of efficacy. The program served mostly undergraduates from non-R1 schools who are underrepresented in technology, and achieved similar educational outcomes to a traditional internship program. Most promisingly, mentors were willing to serve as a professional reference for 80% of students and the number of graduating seniors who secured full-time employment in technology was 7 points higher than average (despite occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic). © 2022 ACM.

Synthetic antiviral peptides: a new way to develop targeted antiviral drugs

The global concern over emerging and re-emerging viral infections has spurred the search for novel antiviral agents. Peptides with antiviral activity stand out, by overcoming limitations of the current drugs utilized, due to their biocompatibility, specificity and effectiveness. Synthetic peptides have been shown to be viable alternatives to natural peptides due to several difficulties of using of the latter in clinical trials. Various platforms have been utilized by researchers to predict the most effective peptide sequences against HIV, influenza, dengue, MERS and SARS. Synthetic peptides are already employed in the treatment of HIV infection. The novelty of this study is to discuss, for the first time, the potential of synthetic peptides as antiviral molecules. We conclude that synthetic peptides can act as new weapons against viral threats to humans.

Sensitivity and efficiency of RNA sample pooling for real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction testing for SARS-CoV-2

Background: In spite of the worth of pool testing in public health, data on the sensitivity and efficiency of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) pool testing for the diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in middle and low-income countries are limited. Methods: We mixed single specimens of extracted RNA positive for the SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) gene by RT-qPCR with negative specimens, in pools of 4 (n=89), 8 (n=92), 16 (n=102), and 32 (n=105) specimens each. We estimated the average change in cycle threshold (Ct) for each pool size and added it to the Ct values of the first 1,350 tests in our lab, to obtain dilution-corrected Ct values. We estimated pool sensitivity as the proportion of samples with dilution-corrected Ct >40, and used it in simulations of the efficiency (tests used/true case detected) of binary split pool testing. Results: We tested 388 pools. Average Ct changes were 2.21, 2.51, 3.27, and 3.94 cycles, for pools of 4, 8, 16, and 32 specimens, respectively. Corresponding pool tests sensitivities were 91.1%, 89.6%, 85.8% and 82.5%. Pool testing was substantially more efficient than individual testing. For prevalence of 0.5% to 2.0%, the efficiency of pools of ≥8 specimens was 30% to 280% higher, and the number of people tested was 4.4 to 13.9 times higher than those of individual testing. Conclusions: Binary split pool testing substantially increases the number of people tested and the number of true cases detected per test used. This strategy is key to curtail the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, by increasing efficiency in the identification and isolation of symptomatic and asymptomatic infected individuals. © 2022 Journal of Innovation Management. All rights reserved.

A follow-up on quantitative and qualitative olfactory dysfunction and other symptoms in patients recovering from COVID-19 smell loss.

BACKGROUND: Sudden smell loss is a specific early symptom of COVID-19, which, prior to the emergence of Omicron, had estimated prevalence of ~40% to 75%. Chemosensory impairments affect physical and mental health, and dietary behavior. Thus, it is critical to understand the rate and time course of smell recovery. The aim of this cohort study was to characterize smell function and recovery up to 11 months post COVID-19 infection. METHODS: This longitudinal survey of individuals suffering COVID-19-related smell loss assessed disease symptoms and gustatory and olfactory function. Participants (n=12,313) who completed an initial survey (S1) about respiratory symptoms, chemosensory function and COVID-19 diagnosis between April and September 2020, were invited to complete a follow-up survey (S2). Between September 2020 and February 2021, 27.5% participants responded (n=3,386), with 1,468 being diagnosed with COVID-19 and suffering co-occurring smell and taste loss at the beginning of their illness. RESULTS: At follow-up (median time since COVID-19 onset ~200 days), ~60% of women and ~48% of men reported less than 80% of their pre-illness smell ability. Taste typically recovered faster than smell, and taste loss rarely persisted if smell recovered. Prevalence of parosmia and phantosmia was ~10% of participants in S1 and increased substantially in S2: ~47% for parosmia and ~25% for phantosmia. Persistent smell impairment was associated with more symptoms overall, suggesting it may be a key marker of long-COVID illness. The ability to smell during COVID-19 was rated slightly lower by those who did not eventually recover their pre-illness ability to smell at S2. CONCLUSIONS: While smell ability improves for many individuals who lost it during acute COVID-19, the prevalence of parosmia and phantosmia increases substantially over time. Olfactory dysfunction is associated with broader persistent symptoms of COVID-19, and may last for many months following acute COVID-19. Taste loss in the absence of smell loss is rare. Persistent qualitative smell symptoms are emerging as common long-term sequelae; more research into treatment options is strongly warranted given that even conservative estimates suggest millions of individuals may experience parosmia following COVID-19. Healthcare providers worldwide need to be prepared to treat post COVID-19 secondary effects on physical and mental health.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on electrophysiological procedures at a national referral center

Background-Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has generated serious repercussions on the health system, reducing the number of all cardiology procedures worldwide. Objectives: Describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the procedures performed by the electrophysiology department in a national referral center. Methods: We made a retrospective review of our data base and we compared procedures made in the last 3 years since 2017 to 2019 with the procedures made in the 2020. We divide the procedures into two large groups: Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices (CIED) related procedures (which included implants, revisions, changes, upgrades and extractions) and electrophysiological studies and ablations (which included conventional and complex procedures). Other types of procedures were no included. Results: There was a significant reduction in all procedures, the average of procedures performed in the last 3 previous years was 467 (there were 479 in 2017, 411 in 2018 and 511 in 2019), while in 2020 we performed only 319 (p = 0.01);this represents a reduction of 33.4% in the total number of procedures performed in our center. There was no statistical difference regarding the CIED related procedures, the average of procedures of the last 3 previous years was 174 (there were 186 in 2017, 148 in 2018 and 188 in 2019), and in 2020 we performed 189 procedures, this value is near to the average of the last 3 previous years and very close to the value of the 2019 (p = 0.46). Regarding the electrophysiological studies and ablations, the average of procedures of the last 3 previous years was 293 (there were 293 in 2017, 263 in 2018 and 323 in 2019), while in 2020 we performed only 129 procedures, considerably decreasing compared to the previous years (p < 0.01). The reduction in the electrophysiological studies and ablations was 55.97%. The most affected months were April, May and June. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic considerably affected the number of electrophysiological procedures in our center, reducing it by 33.4% compared to the previous years. The reduction of procedures fundamentally affected the electrophysiological studies and ablations, reducing them by 55.97%. The number of CIED related procedures were no affected. (Table Presented).

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, using four RT-qPCR assays

Wastewater-based surveillance methods have been implemented in several countries as a tool for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 at a community scale. A variety of methods have been used for concentrating, extracting, and detecting the virus, with no clear consensus on the most effective approach. In this note, we report preliminary findings from a study that is tracking SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with a specific focus on the use of four reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assays for detecting the virus in wastewater. We were able to detect the virus in wastewater samples during the initial rise of cases in the Halifax region in early November 2020. Levels of the targeted SARS-CoV-2 gene fragments increased and fell in response to reported cases of COVID-19. The CDC N1 and E RT-qPCR assays demonstrated greater relative sensitivity than the CDC N2 and N3 assays for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in raw sewage samples.

Percentage of reported Covid-19 cases in Colombia: Estimating the true scale of the pandemic (preprint)

At the outbreak of a virus, data on cases is sparse and commonly severe cases, with a higher probability of a fatal resolution, are detected at a larger rate than mild cases. In addition, in an under-sampling situation, the number of total cases is under-estimated leading to a biased case fatality rate estimation, most likely inflating the virus mortality. In this communication, we present a method to estimate the sub-report in a country that accounts for both the delay time between symptoms onset to death and the countrys demographics. The method is based on the comparison of the corrected case fatality rate (CFR) of the target country with the one of a benchmark country. Using reported data from Instituto Nacional de Salud up to December 28, we utilize our method to provide a comprehensive estimate of the Covid-19 sub-report in Colombia, its regions and some of its cities during 2020.

Psychotic symptoms in COVID-19 patients. A retrospective descriptive study.

Psychotic symptoms have been related to other coronavirus infections. We conducted a single-centre retrospective and observational study to describe new-onset psychotic episodes in COVID-19 patients. Ten patients infected by the novel coronavirus with psychotic symptoms and no previous history of psychosis were identified by the emergency and liaison psychiatry departments. Nine of the cases presented with psychotic symptoms at least two weeks after the first somatic manifestations attributed to COVID-19 and receiving pharmacological treatment. Structured delusions mixed with confusional features were the most frequent clinical presentations. Hence, COVID-19 patients can develop psychotic symptoms as a consequence of multiple concurrent factors.