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The COVID-19 brought several new challenges for the students and lecturers, particularly in higher education. The conventional physical classroom was almost instantly pushed into a new environment: a remote session class. And this lecturing paradigm shift occurred, necessarily, in a short period of time. The lecturing players suffered the pressure of using different learning tools and methodologies while exposing themselves to, in most part of cases, unexpected cybersecurity threats. The purpose of this article is to clarify all the new menaces that arose during this period. Also, to understand the level of exposure and impacts on the lecturer and student to this quick but necessary paradigm shift. Methodologically: two focus groups were undertook to capture representations of students about uses of computer technology;differences in exposure to threats before and during the pandemic and impacts on society;student's needs regarding the topic and suggestions about strategies for increasing overall knowledge about it. Answers were treated recurring to software webQDA®—Qualitative Data Analysis Software for analysis of qualitative data. Results depict the exposure to cybersecurity issues and some level of knowledge about them, inducing preventive practices when using informatics technology. Sense of increasing insecurity in society is associated with the statement of increasing activity regarding cybercrime, giving way to the assumption of the need of awareness and knowledge of general public regarding this issues, and rise suggestions on teaching approaches directed to the subject. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
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Background and Objective. Convalescent plasma therapy (CPT) may reduce the risk of disease progression among patients with COVID-19. This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CPT in preventing ICU admission among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods. In this open-label randomized controlled trial, we randomly assigned hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 in a 1:1 ratio to receive convalescent plasma as an adjunct to standard of care or standard of care alone. The primary endpoint was ICU admission within first 28 days of enrolment. Primary safety endpoints include rapid deterioration of respiratory or clinical status within four hours of convalescent plasma transfusion and cumulative incidence of serious adverse events during the study period including transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO), severe allergic reactions, and transfusion-related infections. Results. A total of 22 patients were assigned to receive convalescent plasma as an adjunct to standard of care and 22 to receive standard of care alone. The median time from onset of COVID-19 symptoms to study enrolment was eight days (IQR, 4 to 10). Two patients (9.1%) in the CPT group and one patient (4.5%) in the control group were admitted to the ICU. The primary outcome measure, ICU admission, was not different between the two groups (q-value >0.9). No patient who received convalescent plasma had rapid deterioration of respiratory/clinical status within four hours of transfusion and none developed TRALI, TACO, anaphylaxis, severe allergic reactions, or transfusion-related infections. There was also no significant difference in the secondary outcomes of 28-day mortality (two patients in the CPT group and none in the control group, q-value >0.90), dialysis-free days, vasopressor-free days, and ICU-free days. Conclusions. Among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, no significant differences were observed in the need for ICU admission between patients given CPT as adjunct to standard of care and those who received standard of care alone. Interpretation is limited by early termination of the trial which may have been underpowered to detect a clinically important difference. © 2023 University of the Philippines Manila. All rights reserved.
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Objective: To verify the presence of tomographic alterations in the paranasais sinus of patients diagnosed with Covid-19 and to evaluate the presence of an association between olfactory symptoms and the involvement of these sinus. Method(s): This is an observational cross-sectional study that analyzed computed tomography of the nose and paranasal sinus (SSCT) of patients with Covid-19 regarding the presence of mucous thickening in the paranasal sinus. Patients who underwent RT-PCR examination for detection of Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) and TCSPN infection from March 2020 to March 2021 were included. Patients with a history of previous nasosinusal surgery, recent facial trauma, age below 18 years or with incomplete information in medical records were excluded. Result(s): A total of 65 individuals were included, of whom 28 were diagnosed with Covid-19. In tomographic analysis, an association was observed between Covid-19 infection and mucous thickening of the bilateral maxillary sinus (p = 0.038) and mucous thickening of the bilateral ethmoidal sinus (p = 0.005). No significant association was found between mucous thickening of the sphenoid and frontal sinus with virus infection. The complaint of olfactory dysfunction was reported by 20% of the patients, with no association with tomographic alterations or Covid-19 infection. Conclusion(s): Covid-19 virus infection possibly causes an injury to the mucosa of ethmoidal cells due to the inflammatory process resulting from viral infection. The lesion of the mucosa of the ethmoidal sinuses may cause alteration in the drainage physiology of the maxillary sinuses due to blockade of the middle meatal tract - site of drainage of the maxillary sinus - and lead to edema of the mucosa of this sinus. This change in the mucosa of the ethmoidal sinus may also be the cause of olfactory disorders presented by patients, as well as may cause lesions in the olfactory nerve. Keywords: Covid-19;SARS-CoV-2;Anosmia;Tomography;Paranasal sinuses. Copyright © 2022
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The aim of this study was to investigate the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic in the city of Natal, RN, considering the age group of patients affected by the disease and their possible comorbidities, through epidemiological indicators. Therefore, we took a retrospective approach of the numbers, highlighting the prevalence of COVID-19, from the confirmed cases in the year 2020 until the date of January 26, 2021. This is a study with a transversal methodology, of a qualitative and quantitative nature. Patient documents were sought in the Epidemiological Bulletin of the Public Health Secretariat (SESAP/RN), Central Laboratory (LACEN/RN), Kaggle - Coronavirus Brazil, Ministry of Health (MH) Department of Primary Care (DPC), National Registry of Health Facilities (NRHF), SUS Virtual Learning Environment at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (AVASUS/UFRN), Google COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in the Coronavirus Impact Panel. In Brazil there are already more than 9,834,513 confirmed cases and almost 239,245 thousand deaths (data collected until February 15, 2021) and in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) there are 147,631 confirmed new cases and 3,381 deaths (data from February 15, 2021). The current scenario requires preventive actions of self-care and collective protection, so that, in this way, there is a reduction in the risks of the virus infecting people from the most vulnerable groups, but this requires the involvement of the mass population.
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Background: The Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has caused more than 120 million cases and more than 2 million deaths from its inception until March 2021, causing a great social and emotional impact. Our objective is to evaluate the emotional distress on the cancer population after the second wave and to compare it indirectly with the onset of the pandemic. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional, single-center study of 102 Spanish cancer patients recruited between the months of January and March 2021. Patients of any age, with tumors of any location and in any phase of the disease were included. Socioeconomic, health care and psychological variables have been collected, using the Kessler K-10 scale for the assessment of psychological distress. The association analysis of socio-sanitary variables with emotional variables was carried out using the Chi-square test in SPSS v25. Results: In our cohort, 74% of the cases were between 50 and 74 years old. The most represented tumors were breast (26%) followed by colorectal cancer (18%). 51% were retired people and 19% had temporary work disability, while around 6% were unemployed. 15% reported a change in income and around 19% lived alone without companions. Regarding health variables, 11% had presented symptoms associated with SARS CoV2 infection, 21% reported a longer waiting time for diagnostic test or initiation of oncological treatment, and 17% highlighted a shorter attention time by their medical oncologist. In relation to the emotional impact, a statistically significant relationship (p <0.05) was observed between the female sex and greater nervousness, retired people and less nervousness and despair, as well as the delay in health care and greater feeling of uselessness, despair, restlessness and depression, especially if this occurred more than 1 occasion. Conclusions: the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has caused a worsening of the socioeconomic and health conditions of cancer patients, persisting beyond the second pandemic wave. This is causing a chronification of the psychological impact in this population that could be improved with adequate prevention measures and better health care. Legal entity responsible for the study: The authors. Funding: Has not received any funding. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
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BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected the care of patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD). It has been reported that older adults and those with comorbidities, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease are prone to develop severe disease and poorer outcomes. By virtue of their average old age, multiple comorbidities, immunosuppression and frequent contact with other patients in dialysis facilities, chronic HD patients are at particular risk for severe COVID-19 infection. The aim of this study was to compare clinical presentation, laboratory and radiologic data and outcomes between HD and non-HD COVID-19 patients and find possible risk factors for mortality on HD patients. METHOD: A single center retrospective cohort study including patients on HD hospitalized with a laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infection, from March 1st to December 31st of 2020 and matched them to non-dialysis patients (non-HD) (1:1). Data regarding patient baseline characteristics, symptoms, laboratory and radiologic results at presentation were collected, as well as their outcomes. Categorical variables are presented as frequencies and percentages, and continuous variables as means or medians for variables with skewed distributions. A paired Student's t-test was performed on parametric continuous values or Mann-Whitney for non-parametric continuous variables. Chi-squared test was performed for comparing categorical variables. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for mortality on HD patients. A p-value of less than 0,05 indicated statistical significance. RESULTS: A total of 34 patients HD patients were included, 70,6% male, mean age of 76,5 years, median time of dialysis of 3,0 years. Among them 85,3% were hypertensive, 47,1% diabetic, 47,1% had cardiovascular disease, 30,6% pulmonary chronic disease and 23,5% cancer. The most frequent symptoms were fever (67,6%), shortness of breath (61,8%) and cough (52,9%). At admission, 55,9% of patients needed oxygen supply, one required mechanic ventilation and was admitted to intensive care unit. Regarding laboratory data, the most common features were lymphopenia in 58,9% (median-795/uL), elevated LDH in 64,7% (median-255 U/L), raised C-reactive protein in 97,1% (median-6,3 mg/dlL, raised D-dimer in 95,8% (median 1,7 ng/mL), and all patients presented high ferritin (median 1658 ng/mL) and elevated Troponin T (median 130ng/mL). The majority presented with radiologic changes, particularly bilateral infiltrates in 29,4%. Concerning clinical outcomes, the median hospitalization time was 11 days and 13 patients (38,2%) developed bacterial superinfection. Mortality rate was 32,4%. When matched to 34 non-HD patients there was no statistical significant differences in sex, age and comorbidities. The HD group had a tendency to more ventilator support need (p=0,051), higher ferritin and troponin levels (p=<0,001 for both), whereas the non-HD group presented with greater levels of transaminases (p= 0,017). There was o significant difference in hospitalization time (median of 11 vs 7 days, p=0,222) neither in mortality (median of 32,4 vs 35,3%, p=0,798). When the logistic regression was performed, only bacterial superinfection was a predictor for mortality on hemodialysis patients (p=0,004). CONCLUSION: Our study compared outcomes for COVID-19 patients on chronic HD to non-dialysis patients and showed no difference in hospitalization time nor in death rate. In spite of these results, the mortality in patients on chronic HD is still not negligible, with up to 32% of in-hospital mortality. Bacterial superinfection is a predictive risk factor for mortality. Hence the importance of interventions to mitigate the burden of COVID-19 in these patients, by preventing its spread, particularly in hemodialysis centers.
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In pandemic times, like the one we are witnessing for COVID-19, the discussion about new efficient and rapid techniques for diagnosis of diseases is more evident. In this mini-review, we present to the virological scientific community the potential of attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy as a diagnosis technique. Herein, we explain the operation of this technique, as well as its advantages over standard methods. In addition, we also present the multivariate analysis tools that can be used to extract useful information from the data towards classification purposes. Tools such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Successive Projections Algorithm (SPA), Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Linear and Quadratic Discriminant Analysis (LDA and QDA) are covered, including examples of published studies. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy are emphasized, as well as future prospects in this field of study that is only growing. One of the main aims of this paper is to encourage the scientific community to explore the potential of this spectroscopic tool to detect changes in biological samples such as those caused by the presence of viruses.