ABSTRACT
Background: Several pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines involved in COVID-19 and it is reasonable to speculate that their removal from blood might limit organ damage. Hemoperfusion with CytoSorb is a technique developed to adsorb molecules in the middle molecular weight range (up to 55 kDa). Studies in vitro and in vivo have shown that HP is highly effective in clearing blood from a number of cytokines. Method(s): We report a case series of 9 consecutive COVID-patients admitted to our COVID Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Five of them were treated with HP using CytoSorb (T), due to the heavy emergency overload it was impossible to deliver blood purification in the other 4 patients (C), who were also considered as potential candidates by the attending medical team. All patients had pneumonia and respiratory failure requiring continuous positive airway pressure. Different antibacterial prophylaxes, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory therapies including steroids were delivered. Result(s): Our results show a better clinical course of T compared to control patients (C), in fact all T except 1 survived, and only 2 of them were intubated, while all C required intubation and died. CRP decreased in both groups, but to a greater extent after HP. Lymphocytopenia worsened in control patient but not in treated patient after HP. Procalcitonin increased in 2 of the not treated patients. In all survived patients (n = 4) HP reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, as IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IL-8. Notably, a striking effect was observed on IL-6 levels that at the end of the second session were decreased by a 40% than before the first treatment. Serum levels of IL-8 and TNF-alpha were lowered within normal range. In all patients the treatment was safe and there were no complications. Conclusion(s): Our study suggests a potential efficacy of HP in an early phase of viral infection not only for improving survival in the treated patients but also by the remodeling treatment-associated cytokine levels.
ABSTRACT
Background. The COVID-19 pandemic had and still has a major impact on the design and realization of studies with volunteers due to the associated restrictions in face-to-face research. In connection with vulnerable target groups in particular, alternative study designs have to be considered. In the AuRorA project, a voice-controlled robotic kitchen assistance system was developed for supporting older adults in need of care. We will present how we planned and conducted the evaluation of the system despite pandemic restrictions. Methods. We carried out an iterative risk management based on ISO 12100:2010 with a multidisciplinary team before starting the study. In addition to the consideration of personnel safety in human-robot interaction, additional focus was placed on subject safety with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results. The risk management revealed that the study cannot be conducted via face-to-face with the target group. As a result, the study was performed via an online survey. We evaluated the robotic system using questionnaires. We simulated and filmed an exemplary cooking process and implemented the video into the survey. The target group was reached via mail. Discussion. Other research groups also struggeled to adapt their studies to the pandemic situation. However, no best practice example exist yet. With our risk management, we were able to adapt our study design. However, only part of the target group could be reached. In addition, it can be questioned wether the ISO, which adresses machine safety, was an efficient application of risk management in this area. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
ABSTRACT
In this period of COVID-19 emergency, online inquiry-based educational paths are of crucial importance for school. Here, we present a didactic path for training high-school teachers to be developed online, using as a starting point the physics of neutron stars. Our aim is to train teachers in performing at distance inquiry activities based on real experimental data and in acquiring the skills to use such activities in classwork. The path is scheduled to be tested for the first time in Spring 2021.