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The aim of this study is to learn about the experiences of university teachers during and after emergency remote teaching (ERT), which emerged in the context of isolation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Its methodology has a qualitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional and descriptive design with a phenomenological approach. As results, the university professors consulted consider that during the ERT, the time dedicated to work increased, both due to meetings outside the timetable and to the creation of educational materials. They express having to use their own resources to teach their subjects online and also detail that there is a lack of technological training. The teachers also commented that they suffered health problems, such as visual weakness, body aches, stress, anxiety and depression. In conclusion, teachers face the situation by updating themselves in information and educational technologies, being flexible and adapting. A limitation of this study is that the sample was obtained with a non-probabilistic method by convenience, in 35 Mexican Institutions of Higher Education (IESM), so it is difficult to generalize these results to all Mexico.
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Through a mixed approach, the research aimed to study the Paraguayan social structure in its relationship with the situation of the child and adolescent population in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This made it possible to identify three risks: first, the increase in poverty, because of the suspension of economic activities and the reduction in income. Second, the risk of social fragmentation, where the institutional support of the State focuses assistance on a segregated manner and, many times, under clientelist criteria, dismantling certain types of organization and collective action. Third, the affront against integrity, in which girls and adolescents are victims of gender inequalities. The three risks synthesize living conditions associated with concrete vulnerabilities, erected on the fragile terrain of poverty, precariousness, and exclusion.
ABSTRACT
Through a mixed approach, the research aimed to study the Paraguayan social structure in its relationship with the situation of the child and adolescent population in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This made it possible to identify three risks: first, the increase in poverty, because of the suspension of economic activities and the reduction in income. Second, the risk of social fragmentation, where the institutional support of the State focuses assistance on a segregated manner and, many times, under clientelist criteria, dismantling certain types of organization and collective action. Third, the affront against integrity, in which girls and adolescents are victims of gender inequalities. The three risks synthesize living conditions associated with concrete vulnerabilities, erected on the fragile terrain of poverty, precariousness, and exclusion.
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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a socioeconomic crisis, increasing food insecurity. Government measures have not been enough, and the community has organized itself to solve its food needs. In Chile, the "Ollas Comunes" (OC) have re-emerged: self-managed social organizations whose purpose is to feed community members in a situation of hunger. The study aims to describe the characteristic elements of the operation of the OC in Chile during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method(s): This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study, which uses quantitative and qualitative data. Through an online form, information was collected from 117 OC nationwide. Result(s): On average, nine people work in the OC, with different tasks. The OC operated mainly three days a week in community spaces and in the more vulnerable neighborhoods. The volunteers recognized that the OC arose from a community need that the government could not attend to;the OC promoted social participation and helped the vulnerable population. Conclusion(s): This research could help develop public policies that consider these community organizations and their role in food insecurity and take advantage of the community capacity.Copyright © 2022 Sociedad Espanola de Nutricion Comunitaria. All rights reserved.
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Background/Aim: Long COVID-19 is one of the post-infection challenging issues. We aimed to assess the prevalence and characteristics of this syndrome in patients with autoimmune and rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) through a multicentre international e-surveys (The COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases) COVAD study. Method(s): The COVAD group comprised of collaborators from 109 countries. An online survey platform was conducted in Jan-July 2022 to capture self-reported COVID-19 infection and vaccination data in patients with AIRDs and healthy controls (HCs). Long COVID-19 was defined as per WHO definitions as persistence of symptoms beyond 3 months of COVID-19 infection. Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity, and disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were employed. Result(s): Among the 7666 complete survey respondents, 1677 who had taken the survey >90 days of last COVID-19 infection were analyzed. Among them, a total of 8.1% (n = 136) had long COVID-19 syndrome and the median age was 46 (34-55) years, with Male: Female ratio of 1:6.3. The prevalence of long COVID-19 was significantly higher in patients with AIRDs compared to HCs (OR 2 [1.3-2.9], P < 0.001). Respondents with long COVID-19 had worse PROMIS 10a quality of life global physical and mental health score, as well as fatigue and pain VAS compared to those without post-COVID- 19 (all P < 0.001). Among patients with AIRDs, those with long COVID-19 reported to have higher flares of AIRDs following COVID-19 infection (OR 4.3, P < 0.01). On multivariable regression analysis, the characteristics of patients with long COVID-19 were female gender, Caucasian ethnicity and presence of comorbid insomnia. Presence of fatigue, muscle aches, dyspnoea and loss of taste during previous COVID-19 infection were the significant predictors of long COVID-19. Among patients with AIRDs, comorbidities (OR 2.0;95% CI: 1.08-3.6, P = 0.026), and advanced treatment (OR: 1.9;95% CI: 1.08-3.3, P = 0.024), or intensive care (OR: 3.8;95% CI: 1.01-14.4, P = 0.047) for severe COVID-19 were risk factors for long COVID-19. The use of rituximab, iv immunoglobulins (IVIG), mycophenolate mofetil and anti-TNF agents use also predicted long COVID-19. Conclusion(s): Patients with AIRDs are at higher risk of long-COVID- 19 syndrome. Associated comorbid conditions and advanced treatment or intensive care for severe COVID-19 confer a higher risk.
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In recent years, online courses have become very popular due to the restrictions on the movement of people resulting from the COVID pandemics. The expansion of online learning platforms has renewed interest in developing techniques for delving into student behavior and improving their learning experience. This paper proposes a novel analysis of data obtained from Moodle's Activity Log using Learning Analytics techniques and different clustering algorithms. The main goal is to understand the students' task-related behavior, to generate a comprehensible model, and to comprehend how it is related to their academic performance. The students were grouped using a single feature calculated for each task the students must complete in the course. The results show that this single feature is enough to model the students' behavior and their academic performance. Different clustering algorithms and number of clusters were used, and K-Means algorithm with three clusters achieved the best result. These three groups are comprehensible and explain the students' behavior according to their activity in the task's submission. The clusters also have a direct relation to the students' final grade in the course, being one of them composed of students at risk of failure. © 2022 IEEE.
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Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to deterioration of mental health in health care professionals, and the situation of nurses caring for patients with chronic kidney disease is currently unknown. Objective: To identify psychological well-being and differences according to demographic and professional variables in nurses performing haemodialysis in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study carried out on 52 nurses performing renal replacement therapy in intensive care and renal therapy units in COVID-19 times, who gave their consent. Sociodemographic, academic and work-related variables were obtained and the PGWBI scale was used to establish levels of psychological well-being. The Mann-Whitney and Kruskall-Wallis tests were used, and Dunn's post-test was performed to compare differences between the variables studied. Results: The mean age of the nurses studied was 36.56±6.95 years. The levels of psychological well-being were positive in all the categories of the scale, with the exception of anxiety and depression. Similarly, it was found that the variables gender, marital status, job stability, length of service, salary remuneration and academic training showed differential behaviour in the categories assessed by the instrument. Conclusions: High levels of psychological well-being were identified in nurses providing care in renal replacement therapy patients in times of COVID-19 pandemic, where factors such as marital status, post-graduate training and having job stability with better salary income positively influence the categories that contributed to the psychological well-being scores of the nurses assessed. © 2022, Sociedad Espanola de Enfermeria Nefrologica. All rights reserved.
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The first case of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in Peru was reported on March 6, 2020. As of September 7, 2020, about 700 000 cases of COVID-19 resulting in 29,976 deaths have been confirmed by the Ministry of Health. Among COVID-19 patients with co-morbidities, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been recognized as a risk factor for severe disease. Patients with T2DM may experience diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic (HHS) if infected with the coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Regular blood analysis including arterial blood gas is essential in monitoring the care of patients with T2DM infected with COVID-19. We report five cases of DKA in patients with underlying T2DM that presented with severe COVID-19 infection.
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This article shows that in the period January 22-June 28, 2020, the combined data set of cumulative recoveries and deaths from the current coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic falls on the Kermack and McKendrick approximated solution of the epidemiological SIR contagious disease model. Then, as an original contribution of this work, based on the knowledge of the infectious period of any epidemic, a methodology is presented in order to find numerical solutions of the full SIR model that reproduce the observed data of the epidemic in case it could be described by the SIR model. The methodology is first illustrated by finding a solution of the SIR model that describes the epidemic data of the Bombay plague of 1905-06 analyzed by Kermack and McKendrick. After that, the methodology is applied to numerically solve the full set of differential equations of the SIR contagious model on the above mentioned coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic data set. We also show that the Kermack and McKendrick approximation is observed on the counted combined aggregated recovered and deaths cases from some individual countries and also in some of the cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases of individual countries. © 2021 Sociedad Mexicana de Fisica. All rights reserved.
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Background/Case Studies: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has left more than 650.000 diseased worldwide, without a specific treatment nor vaccine, leaving patients with risk factors, like cancer or severe illness, without therapeutic options. Convalescent plasma, previously described in viral infections, has proved to be safe and effective. Here, we describe our findings in specific donor population studied. Study Design/Methods: Across social media, a call was made for COVID-19 recovered patients to donate convalescent plasma. There were considered male donors and female donors with and without pregnancy records. Volunteers were tested for IgG anti SARS-CoV-2 antibodies titers, HIV, HCV, HBV, Chagas disease, HTLV I and II, syphilis and were performed NAT for HIV, HBV and HCV. All women and men with blood transfusions records had anti HLA antibodies measured. The characteristics of age, sex, antibody titers, anti HLA antibodies, blood group, and its relationship with the severity of the infection are described. Results/Findings: Data analysis included 864 patients tested. 22,7% had IgG titers less than 1:320, while 31% had titers of 1:320, and 31% had titer at least 1:640. 15,3% was deferred because microbiologic studies (8 donors) or anti HLA antibodies (124 patients). From group with less than 1:320, the average age was 37,5 years, 44,3% were women, and 100% had mild infection requiring no hospitalization, while the 1:320 titers group had an average age of 34 years, with a 50% of women. For group with at least 1:640 titers, average age was 38 years, with a 44% of women. The major proportion of donors with severe illness were fromO (+) factor. From all tested women, a 26,6% had anti HLA (+) antibodies. From 4 male donors with history of transfusion, 1 had anti HLA (+) antibodies. Conclusions: In our population, 73% of potential donors had enough IgG antibodies to be collected. Including women with pregnancy record, makes possible increase the universe of convalescent plasma donors.
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Background/Case Studies: With SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and the potential use of convalescent plasma, most blood banks were forced to coordinate calling strategies, donor selection, and convalescent plasma production, with no new resources. The first infected patient in Chile was reported on March 03, 2020. The objective of this study is to describe our selection strategy and its efficiency. Study Design/Methods: The project was approved by the ethics committee. In our country, a multicentric nation-wide network of blood banks was created, with eight centers collecting convalescent plasma. A donor registration web site was created with volunteer inscription, which had specific questions that could result in an immediate deferral, and this web site was promoted on TV and in social media. After that phase, a brief telephonic survey was performed to schedule the date and hour for on-toone interviews, and select potential donors eligible for testing. They were tested for HIV, HBV, HCV, HTLV I and II, Chagas disease and syphilis, NAT for HIV, HBV y HCV, anti HLA antibodies and anti SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. PCR for SARS-CoV-2 was performed in all donors with less than 28 days since last symptoms. After all these studies, apheresis was indicated for selected donors. Results/Findings: From 5008 inscriptions on the web site, 21.1% were deferred automatically at the web site level. A total of 1165 volunteers were interviewed in our institution, and, from them, 25.8% were excluded after the questionnaire (73%) or because of poor venous access (27%). From the 864 accepted and tested volunteers, 0.9%were deferred because of microbiological studies, 22.6% for less than 1:320 antibodies titers. From 465 women tested, 26.6% were excluded for the presence of anti HLA antibodies. Finally, 536 donors were able to proceed with apheresis. Conclusions: The 46% from total volunteers were finally able to proceed to apheresis in our institution. The cooperative effort between institutions allowed us to start working within four weeks since the first case was reported in our country, with 444 effective apheresis performed over the course of 16 weeks.
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Background/Case Studies: During the coronavirus pandemic, where there is no known treatment, nor vaccine, convalescent plasma transfusion became an alterna-tive for patients who had a severe condition, or with risk factors that promoted serious disease. Study Design/Methods: The project was submitted to the ethics committee, for convalescent COVID-19 plasma administration in patients with severe criteria, without severity criteria but with risk factors, and for active cancer patients. The allowed criteria for convalescent plasma transfusion were IgG antiSars CoV2 antibody titers greater than 1:320 and negative serological and NAT tests for HIV, HBV, HCV, HTLV, Syphilis, and Chagas. All women were also tested for HLA, which was required to be negative. Each unit of plasma had 200cc and the patients were transfused with 2 units. Funds were provided by private institutions and public hospitals. Private clinics, military forces hospitals and blood centers were invited to participate in this network. A donor registration web page was created. The donor blood bank interview was standardized. The plasma apheresis process was standardized according to equipment, and the processing, storage, distribution, and management of apheresis was standardized in all centers. All traceability and adverse events related to transfusion were recorded according to national regulations. Results/Findings: A total of 31 institutions received convalescent plasma, of which 11 were public institutions, 17 private institutions, and 3 from military forces hospitals (1 public, and 1 private institution were exclusive for oncologic patients). Of these, 48% were in Santiago (capital city) and 52% outside of the capital (corresponding to 13 different cities) including 3500 kms from north to south inside of the Chilean territory. Eight institutions produced convalescent plasma, of which 88% were private, 12% of the military forces. Of these, 25% were outside the capital. Four centers used Terumo BCT equipment (4 Spectra OptiaR, and 2 Trima AccelR), 2 used Haemonetics (MCS+9000R), and 2 Fresenius Kabi equipment (Com.tecR). A total of 5008 voluntary donors were registered on the website, of whom 1400 donors were interviewed at all producing centers. A total of 594 apheresis was made from 463 donors;82% of patients donated one time and 18% donated 2 or more times. A total of 1540 plasmas were produced, and to date a total of 263 patients had been transfused and a total of 737 units had been delivered. Of these only 10% had an adverse reaction to mild transfusion (fever greater than 38.5°C), and only 2 (0.7%) serious adverse reaction. None of the transfused died due to the transfusion or a secondary complication derived from it. Conclusions: This is the largest study conducted in the country. This is the first time that a public-private network has been generated that covers different regions of the country. Safety is consistent with what is reported in the literature.
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This comment shows that data regarding cumulative confirmed cases from the coronavirus COVID-19 disease outbreak, in the period December 31, 2019–June 29, 2020 of some countries reported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, can be adjusted by the exact solution of the Kermack – McKendrick approximation of the SIR epidemiological model.