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Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 (Coronavirus type 2 causing severe acute respiratory syndrome) presents systemic manifestations such as fever, anosmia, cough, sore throat and headache, dyspnea, tiredness, malaise, diarrhea. There are reports of developing dysgeusia, xerostomia, and vesiculobullous lesions as oral manifestations related to COVID-19. Objective(s): To identify the most prevalent oral manifestations associated with COVID-19 in a group of Paraguayans. Material(s) and Method(s): An electronic survey was used from January to March 2022. Data were presented as frequencies and percentages and analyzed using the chi2 test. Statistical analysis was performed with R software version 4.0.3. Result(s): The sample consisted of 478 people, most female from 15 to 34 years old. 65.48% stated that they had had at least one oral symptom or sign during COVID-19. The loss in the sensation of bitter tastes (34.31%), the alteration of the taste of food (32.43%), and the loss of sweetness (32.01%) were the most prevalent symptoms. In addition, it was found that among the people who developed moderate to severe COVID-19, there was a more significant number (77.78%) of oral manifestations compared to the participants who developed it mildly (63.92%) (chi2;p= 0.044). Conclusion(s): More than half of the respondents presented oral manifestations, more frequent in those who developed moderate to severe COVID-19. Results will serve as a basis for future research and thus strengthen the surveillance of this disease.
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Wavelet power spectrum (WPS) and wavelet coherence analyses (WCA) are used to examine the co-movements among oil prices, green bonds, and CO2 emissions on daily data from January 2014 to October 2022. The WPS results show that oil returns exhibit significant volatility at low and medium frequencies, particularly in 2014, 2019-2020, and 2022. Also, the Green Bond Index presents significant volatility at the end of 2019-2020 and the beginning of 2022 at low, medium, and high frequencies. Additionally, CO2 futures' returns present high volatility at low and medium frequencies, expressly in 2015-2016, 2018, the end of 2019-2020, and 2022. WCA's empirical findings reveal (i) that oil returns have a negative impact on the Green Bond Index in the medium term. (ii) There is a strong interdependence between oil prices and CO2 futures' returns, in short, medium, and long terms, as inferred from the time-frequency analysis. (iii) There also is evidence of strong short, medium, and long terms co-movements between the Green Bond Index and CO2 futures' returns, with the Green Bond Index leading.
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Background: Until January 2022, 8.975.458 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Spain. In December of 2020, the European Union authorized the first mRNA vaccines against SARS-COV- 2, developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, with two doses separated by 21 and 28 days, respectively. Reports of severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, have prompted concern that the new mRNA vaccine platform has the potential to cause allergic reactions (including anaphylaxis) at a greater rate than other vaccines. Method(s): Immunization process started at Hospital Ramon y Cajal (Madrid, Spain) in January 2021. The hospital provided a form to report any adverse effect after the first or second dose of the vaccine. Until today, in our Allergy Department, we have received more than 500 patients with suspected adverse reaction to the vaccine, although the data in this publication are collected from January 2021 to September 2021. All of them were referred from different services (Occupational Risk Prevention Department, Preventive Medicine Department, General Practitioners and other specialties) by telephone, e-mail or personally at our service. Result(s): Out of the 139 vaccinated patients who reported adverse effects, 131 had a reaction with the first dose, of whom 65% were women. 51% were local reactions and 49% systemic, of which 62% were immediate reactions. We performed diagnostic tests in 55% of the patients: prick test (with macrogol, triamcinolone, dexketoprofen, methylprednisolone acetate, PEG), ID test (with triamcinolone, dexketoprofen, methylprednisolone acetate) with immediate reading and delayed reading in case of delayed reactions, epicutaneous tests (with PEG and polysorbate 80) and blood tests in systemic reactions. All diagnostic tests showed negative results. 82% of patients that reported adverse effects after the first dose tolerated the second dose of the vaccine without incidents. Only one patient had a reaction to the first and second dose despite a negative study, a 58-year- old woman who presented an urticarial rash 24 hours after administration. 8 patients, all of them women, were referred for reaction after the second dose, 87% of whom had tolerated the first dose. Conclusion(s): This single-center experience suggests that most patients who had mild reactions to the first dose of mRNA vaccines have received the second dose uneventfully or with only mild repeat reactions.
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Introduction: Mental health has been affected during the pandemic by COVID-19, also in nursing students a negative effect on their levels of depression and anxiety has been observed. Objective: To describe the relationship between sociodemographic factors and mental health of nursing students in times of COVID-19. Methods: Quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study, whose population was 577 nursing students of a private university in Trujillo, Peru, enrolled in the semester 2021-01. A sample of 328 students was taken by non-probabilistic convenience sampling. Data were collected using the questionnaires to evaluate anxiety symptoms (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9), these instruments were sent through a Google form. Data were processed and described in absolute frequencies and percentages;Pearson's Chi-square test was used for inferential analysis. Results: The sociodemographic factors show that 31.10% belonged to the first cycle, 95.70% were female, 31.40% were aged up to 18 years, 92.10% were single, 68.90% professed the Catholic religion and 85.40% indicated residing in the department of La Libertad. It was also found that 45.40% of the students had mild anxiety and 19.80% severe anxiety;in addition, 39.60% did not present depressive symptoms, 18.90% presented mild major depression and 2.10% severe major depression;only a significant statistical relationship was found between the gender factor and depressive symptoms (p < 0.05). Conclusions: No relationship was found between sociodemographic factors and anxiety symptoms. © 2022, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.
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Background: in the history of humanity, the great pandemics have represented important and terrible scourges for the human race and the development of society. Objective: to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of COVID 19 in the Cumanayagua municipality, Cienfuegos province, during the year 2021. Methods: A retrospective study of a series of cases was carried out, whose universe consisted of 5,710 positive cases for COVID 19. Variables studied: cases according to months, statistical weeks, age, sex, presence or absence of symptoms, clinical manifestations, source of infection, popular council, health area and deceased. Results: The months of August and September predominated with higher positive cases and deaths, more frequent in females, as well as in young adults. The highest percentage presented clinical symptoms, cough and asthenia were the most reported symptoms, followed by headache and runny nose. Being a contact of a positive case prevailed as a source of infection, the mountainous area reported a lower frequency of cases. Conclusions: The pandemic was an event that caused anguish, restlessness and anxiety on the planet. Being aware of your history is essential to differentiate progress from your progress and thus anticipate and take action for more challenging and dire situations. To this end, knowing its clinical and epidemiological characteristics and its constant updating is valuable to conceive the behavior of the COVID-19 disease, which behaved with an increase in the period studied in the municipality of Cumanayagua.
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Background: health workers are the ones who remained on the front line of the response to COVID-19, so they were in greater danger in situations of potential exposure. Objective: to characterize health workers sick with COVID-19, from March 2020 to September the 30th, 2021, according to sociodemographic and epidemiological variables. to characterize sociodemographically and epidemiologically health workers sick with COVID-19, from March 2020 to September the 30th, 2021. Methods: Observational, descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in Cienfuegos. The universe was made up of all health workers diagnosed with COVID-19, during the study period. The variables were: age, sex, municipality of origin, occupational profile, clinical status at diagnosis, source of infection. The primary source for obtaining information was the database of the Health Surveillance Department of the Provincial Health Directorate. The processing was done using SPSS version 21.0. Results: the months with the highest diagnosis were July and August. The female sex was the most represented and the age groups of 25-34 and 45-54 years old. The Cienfuegos municipality was the one with the highest number of cases. Doctors and nurses were the most represented. The possible source of infection was extrainstitutional. 83.7% of the total cases showed some symptom. Conclusions: the largest number of health workers were infected in the peak months of the pandemic, but in most of them the infection occurred extra-institutionally.
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Aim: To analyze suspected adverse events (AEs) caused by SARS-CoV-2 vaccines administered to community pharmacists (CP) and auxiliary personnel. Methods. Design: Cross-sectional observational study, in February-April 2021. Subjects: Pharmacists, technicians and auxiliaries who work in contact with the public, of legal age, vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. Variables: Number, type and frequency of AEs, demographic characteristics. Procedure: A formulary was enabled on the website of the Association of Pharmacists of Pontevedra. It was announced to all the associates CP of the province its existence and the convenience of completing it. Outcomes: 167 participants, of whom 153 manifested symptoms related with reactivity to the vaccine, 122 (93.1%) women and 31 (86.1%) men. 146 (95.4%) who received VaxzevriaR, 116 (79.4%) women and 30 (20.6%) men and 7 (4.6%) who received ComirnatyR, 6 (85.7%) women and 1 (14.3%) man. 823 AEs were reported, 811 (5,3 SD=2,8 AEs, 0-12 per patient) with VaxzevriaR and 12 (0,9 SD=1,0 AEs, 0-3 per patient) with ComirnatyR. Most frequent AEs: pain at the injection site, 128 (87.7%), chills, 107 (73.3%) and muscle pain, 106 (72.6%). In all three, we found a higher proportion of women than men (p<0.01). The maximum number of AEs manifested by a participant was 12. 132 (86.3%) vaccinated who reported AEs, 106 (86.9%) women and 26 (83.9%) men, needed medication to relieve symptoms. 77 (46.1%) could not carry out their daily activities and 47 (28.1%) could not work the next day. Conclusions: The number of AEs reported by vaccinated pharmacists and auxiliary personnel was high. Although they were not serious, they considerably affected their daily and work activity.
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The pandemic caused by COVID-19 is a health crisis that has had a major impact on the tourism sector worldwide. In mid-March 2020, all tourism activity in Spain was paralysed, restricting the demand for tourism-related goods and services with measures such as border closures, restriction of non-essential mobility and home confinement. This article analyses the impact of the pandemic on the tourism sector in each of the Spanish autonomous communities, how this health crisis has affected the reception of travellers and, as a consequence, the number of overnight stays, as well as which types of accommodation (hotel, extra-hotel and rural) have seen the greatest reduction in tourism demand. The results obtained confirm the negative effects that tourism activity has suffered due to the pandemic and its incidence in each autonomous community, which has accentuated the existing imbalances in the tourism sector, causing a turning point before and after the health crisis. © 2022 Asociacion de Geografos Espanoles. All rights reserved.
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Green bonds play a pivotal role in the financing of sustainable infrastructure systems. Likewise, CO2 emissions and oil prices can cause an impact on the green bonds market. In order to better understand this issue, this study analyzes the relationship among green bonds, CO2 futures' prices, and oil prices using a daily data set that includes 2,206 observations corresponding to daily information from 1 January 2014 to 15 June 2022. The Granger Causality Test and the Dynamic Conditional Correlation (DCC-Garch) Model were employed to conduct this analysis. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was performed to identify crisis periods concerning the sample period and provide an analysis of DCC-Garch results during extreme market conditions like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Granger Causality Test results present a unidirectional causality running from the Green Bond Index to the oil price returns. Also, there is a unidirectional causality running from the Green Bond Index to the CO2 futures' returns. Additionally, a unidirectional causality runs from the oil price returns to the CO2 futures' returns. The results for the DCC-Garch indicate a positive dynamic correlation between the Brent oil price return and the CO2 futures' returns. Finally, the Green Bond Index shows a negative dynamic correlation to the oil return and the CO2 futures' returns presenting a strong correlation in uncertainty periods.
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The current health emergency, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has presented teachers at all levels of education with the challenge of online education, which, in many cases, has meant redesigning the teaching and learning process. In this context, teachers have had to develop, in record time, the necessary skills to continue teaching. Within this framework, a study has been presented on the self-perception a group of teachers in initial training in Galicia (Spain) have about their level of digital teaching competence, in general, and about their knowledge as professionals capable of creating educational digital content. For this purpose, an ad hoc questionnaire was developed, based on the Common Framework for Digital Competence in Teaching and the international frameworks of the International Society for Technology Education (ISTE) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), with the participation of students linked to educationalscientific subjects in the Early Childhood Education and Primary Education degrees at the University of Vigo during the academic year 2019-2020. The results of the study show a medium-low level in “digital competence” and in the sub-competence of “content creation”. In contrast, there is a very positive attitude towards the educational use of information and communication technologies (ICT). Furthermore, the results indicate that personal circumstances such as gender, age and the educational level of the subject’s mother may influence the future teachers’ perception of their knowledge, skills and attitudes towards ICT and the creation of digital content. © 2022, Educacao e Pesquisa. All Rights Reserved.
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Purpose: The increased COVID-19 severity observed in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) has been widely reported. In addition, several studies have shown a reduced humoral and cellular response after mRNA vaccination in this population compared to hemodialysis patients. However, there is currently no information on real-life clinical protection (deaths and hospitalizations), a gap that this study aims to fill. Method(s): Observational prospective study. A total population of 1336 KTR and hemodialysis patients from three dialysis units affiliated to Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain, vaccinated with two doses of mRNA-1273 (Moderna) or BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines. The outcomes measured were SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosed by a positive RT-PCR fourteen days after the second vaccine dose, hospital admissions derived from infection, and a severe COVID-19 composite outcome, defined as either ICU admission, invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation, or death. Result(s): Six per cent (18/302) of patients on hemodialysis were infected, of whom four required hospital admission (1.3%), only one (0.3%) had severe COVID-19, and none of them died. In contrast, 4.3% (44/1034) of KTR were infected, and presented more hospital admissions (26 patients, 2.5%), severe COVID-19 (11 patients, 1.1%) or death (4 patients, 0.4%). There were no correlations on the multivariate analysis between measured outcomes and baseline characteristics nor immunosuppressive treatment. Conclusion(s): The study highlights the need for further booster doses in KTR. In contrast, the hemodialysis population appears to have an adequate clinical response to vaccination, at least up to four months from its administration.
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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of skin manifestations in a period of 3 months after COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective and longitudinal study done from October 1st to November 30th, 2020, in which patients older than 18 years, recovered from COVID-19, were evaluated from day 14 to day 90 after the infectious process. RESULTS: There were included 204 patients (113 women and 91 men);51% of patients developed symptoms and hair loss was the most frequent of them, followed by itching and xerosis. Telogen effluvium was the most frequent diagnosis (29.4%), with a mean disease onset of 39.15 days;11.6% developed rash, the most common was the morbilliform and papulosquamous rash. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent form of cutaneous affection in postinfectious period of COVID-19 is telogen effluvium;however, it is possible to find other manifestations, such as xerosis cutis and rash.
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The University Outreach Psychological Services for Art Schools is a project of the Centre for Higher Education Studies and Improvement, and the University Outreach Division, of the University of Havana. This project applies the Child and Adolescent Behavior Questionnaire (CABQ) to test psychological aptitudes of Cuban National Ballet School candidates. The CABQ asses typical childhood and adolescence behaviors based on parents or teachers reports. This work explains the potential CABQ relevance as a psychometric instrument for screening of COVID-19 pandemic psychological effects on children and adolescents. The results indicate that the University Outreach Procedures can fulfill the beneficiaries' specific demands while could also be generalized to search suitable solutions to macro-social problems. Overall, this effort brings attention on the need to systematically update University Outreach Procedures to achieve university social responsibility role.
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Due to the important family role that grandmothers play in raising their grandchildren, this work studies the lesser-known role of grandfathers. For this, a group of 110 male participants (mean 73.6 years) was interviewed, for analysis of: a) their level of satisfaction in five types of active roles with their grandchildren, alone, and with their spouses, before and during the Covid-19 lockdown;and b) their general perception of the role of being a grandparent. The data obtained were analyzed with descriptive and non-parametric inferential methods (Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, chi square, and correlations). Data showed that participants, who were mostly married and retired, showed three satisfaction levels with their grandchildren: high for family celebrations, average for activities involving play and sociocultural transmission, and low for housework and academic/intellectual activities. Participants' age, marital status, health status, and education, as well as the age and number of grandchildren, were associated with these satisfaction levels. Most participants favored the formal grandparenting role, and marital status, health status, education, and grandchildren's age and sex were associated with their views of grandparenting roles. Physical contact during the Covid-19 lockdown dropped by 72.7%. We concluded that activities shared between grandfathers and grandchildren and views on the grand-parenting role are influenced by the sociodemographic variables of both. More research is needed to expand this knowledge.
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Background: The 21st century has been characterized from the beginning by a health problem that has affected the world and Cuba, ranging from an increase in microbial resistance to the appearance of new infectious diseases, such as COVID-19. Objective: To describe the transmission of COVID-19 in the Abreus municipality, Cienfuegos province, between weeks 29 and 41 of the year 2021. Methods: An observational, descriptive, retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out from week 29-41. The universe consisted of 3,421 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, confirmed by a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) diagnostic test. Results: A high magnitude of transmission was observed with 3,421 cases, 122 on average in week 33. Trend of increased case reporting and transmission speed from statistical week 29 to 35 (385 to 3,421 cases). The maximum peak was observed at statistical week 33, with a decrease from that week;In addition, there was a dispersion in all the popular councils, with a greater concentration in the Abreus (1035) and Horquita (725) popular councils. Viral circulation was above 20% in all weeks and the highest occurred in statistical week 37. Conclusions: COVID-19 in the Abreus municipality had a great impact in the period studied. Useful information was provided for decision-making during the development of the disease and a basis for the evolutionary understanding of future analogous events.
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Background: The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) led to the initial cessation of non-emergent outpatient procedures, resulting in derailment of routine care and screening. After the early phase of PHE, pre-procedural measures such as routine COVID-19 testing were instituted to allow safe resumption of outpatient endoscopy. However, these measures may also cause unintended barriers to access care, particularly for vulnerable groups. We aimed to evaluate patient and clinical factors associated with completion of endoscopic outpatient procedures (EOP) at an ambulatory endoscopy center (AEC) before and during the pandemic. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of all completed EOP at a tertiary AEC during the period prior to the PHE (4/1/2019-02/28/2020) and after re-opening of the unit during the COVID-19 pandemic (05/15/2020-12/31/2020). All routine, nonadvanced procedures (upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, push enteroscopy) were included. Variables evaluated included self-identified race/ethnicity, age, sex, median income by home zip code, insurance coverage and procedural indication (screening/surveillance or diagnostic). Univariate analyses were performed using Fisher-exact, Mann-Whitney U or student's t-test. Multivariable analyses were conducted using logistic regression. Results: In total, 23,086 EOP were included, with 12,161 (52.7%) performed pre-PHE. Compared to pre-pandemic, the pandemic EOP cohort was more likely younger, White, and undergoing a diagnostic procedure (all p<0.05). Conversely, the pandemic cohort had a smaller proportion of Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and Latino/a/x patients compared to the pre-PHE cohort (all p<0.05). On multivariable analysis, White race (OR 1.163;[1.058-1.268]) and diagnostic procedures (OR 1.281;[1.154-1.409]) were independently associated with EOP completion during the pandemic, although there was significant effect modification between these two predictors (interactive term OR 0.807;[0.669-0.945]) (Table 2). On separate multivariable models constructed, Latino/a/x (OR 0.869;[0.731-1.000]) and NHB (OR 0.600;[0.350- 0.849]) patients were independently associated with lower odds of undergoing EOP during the pandemic compared to pre-PHE. Conclusions: Vulnerable groups including NHB, Latino/a/x, and older patients were independently associated with lower odds of EOP completion during the pandemic, particularly for screening procedures. COVID-19 specific measures, such as routine pre-EOP testing, may add barriers to care that disproportionately affect these vulnerable groups. Efforts must be made to ensure equitable access to endoscopic care, including routine screening procedures. Special attention should be paid to vulnerable groups when instituting policies that may affect procedural access, particularly given the risk of an ongoing PHE, to avoid widening existing disparities. (Table Presented)