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Introduction: It is a common observation patients with large prostatic have smaller visible length of the catheter. Study questions: Does extraurethral catheter length (EUCL) have correlation with ultrasound prostate measurements? Can EUCL and clinical parameters predict need for prostate surgery?. Adult men on catheter for retention due to BPH were included. The EUCL was measured from the external urethral meatus to the end of the catheter. Detailed clinical and Ultrasound measurements like intravesical prostate protrusion (IPP), transverse prostate width (TPW), axial prostate length (APL), sagittal prostate maximum length (SPL), prostate weight (PW) were performed. Retention while on alpha blockers and failed voiding trial with alpha blockers were the indications for surgery. Need for surgery was classified as pass/fail. Machine learning decision tree analysis in 80/20 fashion was done using python and scikit. Ethics committee approval taken. Result(s): 110 patients were recruited (Jul 18-Mar 20, recruitment stopped due to COVID related restrictions) EUCL had a negative relationship with IPP, TPW, APL, SPL, PW. Retention episode while on alpha blocker and EUCL smaller than 169 mm were the strongest predictors for need for surgery. Conclusion(s): As the prostate increased in size EUCL decreased. Retention while on alpha blocker and EUCL <169 mm predicted the need for surgery. EUCL may be used at primary healthcare setting especially in resource poor setting as surrogate marker for prostate size and need for surgery.
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Our purpose in this study is to gain a better understanding of COVID-19's effects on the IT industry by doing empirical research on a variety of issues that have influenced current Indian IT enterprises. We were inspired to develop this concept because COVID-19 has had a significant influence on many firms, and this will help business owners identify the causes that are causing them to close their doors due to financial losses. Specifically, machine learning algorithms will aid in the classification of data into several categories in which organizations operate, and companies will be able to forecast whether they will profit or suffer a drop in income based on this information. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
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Objective: This study aimed to categorize and analyze the public response toward third/booster shots of COVID-19 on Twitter. Methods: We downloaded the COVID-19 vaccine booster shots related Tweets using the Twitter API. The collected Tweets were pre-processed to prepare them for analysis by (1) removing non-English language tweets, retweets, emojis, emoticons, non-printable characters, the punctuation marks, and the prepositions, (2) anonymizing the identity of the users, and (3) normalizing various forms of the same words. We used the state-of-the-art BertTopic modeling library to identify the most popular topics. Results: Of 165,048 Tweets collected, 36,908 Tweets were analyzed in this study. From these tweets, we identified 9 topics, which were about Biden administration, Pfizer & BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, eligibility for booster shots, side effects, Donald Trump, variants of the Novel Coronavirus, and conspiracy theory & propaganda. The mean of sentiment was positive in all topics. The lowest and highest mean of sentiments were for the Donald Trump topic (0.0097) and the Johnson & Johnson topic (0.1294), respectively. Conclusions: The topics identified in this study not only accurately reflect the contemporary COVID-19 discussion, but also the high degree of politicization in the USA. While the latter might be a result of our rejection of non-English tweets, it is reassuring to see our fully automated, unsupervised pipeline reliably extract such global features in the data at scale. We, therefore, believe that the methodology presented in this study is mature and useful for other infoveillance studies on a wide variety of topics. © 2022 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
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Background and Aim: The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged coronavirus epidemic as a pandemic and declared the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern. Emerging research has suggested that these various restrictions, as well as the fear of the virus itself, may have caused children to experience negative mental health consequences. Due to increased amounts of time spent at home the parents need to be aware about the changes in the mental and physical health of the children. This study, thus aimed to survey the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on physical and mental health of school-going children. Material(s) and Method(s): A cross sectional survey was designed to analyse the impact of COVID-19 on the physical and mental health of children. The data is collected with the use of online survey platform. A semi structured questionnaire was developed with several open and close ended questions to examine the effect of lockdown on the mental and physical health of the children from parent-reported changes. Any mental health issues and emotional problems newly emerged or aggravated during lockdown were also enlisted. Another objective was to determine the level of awareness amongst parents about the importance of PA for the child. Result(s): A total of 200 children were included in the study. When the comparison was done in time from before and after lockdown, it was found that the hours spent on mobile were increased from 2 hours to 5 hours. There was significant decrease in the time spend for physical activity. A total of 65% of the respondents reported that there was change in the behaviour of the children. Around 58% of the children had shown the physical changes like eyestrain, fatigue, neck pain, head ache, lower back pain and major problem with increase in weight of children. Conclusion(s): More research is needed to improve our understanding of the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's mental health, especially with regards to the identification of protective factors found in children who may have been less affected by the pandemic. Copyright © 2023, Institute of Medico-legal Publication. All rights reserved.
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Our purpose in this study is to gain a better understanding of COVID-19's effects on the IT industry by doing empirical research on a variety of issues that have influenced current Indian IT enterprises. We were inspired to develop this concept because COVID-19 has had a significant influence on many firms, and this will help business owners identify the causes that are causing them to close their doors due to financial losses. Specifically, machine learning algorithms will aid in the classification of data into several categories in which organizations operate, and companies will be able to forecast whether they will profit or suffer a drop in income based on this information. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
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BodyThere is a growing interest and use of cellular therapies in almost all fields of medicine. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are pluripotent in their ability to differentiate in chondrocytes, adipocytes and osteoblasts. They more recently were reported to have significant immune activity, primarily by producing anti-inflammatory molecules. They can be derived from umbilical cords, adipose tissue and bone marrow primarily. Recent studies have tested their safety and efficacy in immune mediated diseases including graft versus host disease, inflammatory bowel disease and Type I diabetes among others. Reports of uncontrolled trials of MSCs in China suggest safety and efficacy of MSCs as treatment for refractory lupus. Based on encouraging results of a Phase I trial of 6 patients with lupus treated with MSCs, we initiated the first placebo- controlled trial of MSCs to treat lupus patients refractory to standard of care medications. There are nine participating centers across the US. The trial has two cohorts, one receiving low dose MSCs (one million cells/kg) and a high dose cohort of five million cells per kg, given as a one- time infusion. Patients then attend 10 follow-up visits over a year. Primary outcome is a decrease in the SRI of 4 at week 24. Inclusion criteria are patients with confirmed lupus refractory to 6 months of standard of care therapy defined by a SLEDAI of 6 or greater at screening. Exclusions were ongoing use of biologics, pregnancy, active infections, cancer, active CNS lupus or advanced renal disease. The first patient was screened in November of 2018. Patients are randomized with a 2/1 ratio of MSCs/placebo. Cohort 1 consisting of 41 patients was completed in May of 2021. We have infused 10 out of 40 patients in Cohort 2 to this point. Extensive studies of B cell, T cell, monocyte, dendritic cell and PMN number, function and phenotype are being performed. To this point there are no safety signals or concerns with DSMB reviews quarterly. There have been no SAEs attributed to the investigational product. Given the blind of the study, we cannot report on efficacy, though there are a number of participants who met the primary outcome of an SRI of 4 at 24 weeks. COVID had a profound impact on the study due to halting of enrollment for 5 months and a need for video visits due to institutional policies. A significant issue was protocol changes regarding disease activity measures in video visits. Other delays included a designed 12-week safety assessment upon completion of Cohort 1 prior to enrollment in Cohort 2 as well as a staggered start for the first six patients in Cohort 2 requiring a safety assessment by the DSMB chair at week 1 post infusion prior to the screening of the next patient. ConclusionsThere is no safety signal between the active treatment and placebo group in either Cohort to this date. Efficacy assessments await completion of the study as the two cohorts are combined for determination of efficacy. COVID has a profound impact on enrollment and management of the study. Results of the validity of assessment of different disease measures via video appointments is being assessed to inform future trials. We believe we will reach our enrollment goal and the study will answer the primary aim of whether MSCs are a potential therapeutic for patients with refractory lupus.
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COVID-19 belongs to a group of Coronavirus diseases that SARS-CoV-2 causes. The virus spreads from one person to another via the respiratory droplets from an infected individual produced when such an individual coughs, talks, or sneezes. The symptoms of the diseases range from mild to severe, and individuals at age extremities, that are, very old (from 65 years of age), are highly exposed to severe complications. The symptoms manifest from the second day, fourteen days after exposure to the virus. COVID strains keep on changing as a result of mutations in the viral genomic composition. Different variants of COVID-19 exist;these variants vary in severity, as reported by the World Health Organization. There are thousands of variants of COVID in the world;the virus mutates all the time, making the changes inconsequential. Some of the mutations make the virus more infectious, and some mutated viral strains tend to be dominant. Variants of concern include those that have the most potentially concerning changes. India is among the nations where the virus strains have been reported to dominate and spread to other nations. The virus is claiming the lives of many individuals, with every strain spreading from one country to another. The article will address the research review on types of COVID variants and COVID-19 epidemiology in the world. Copyright © 2022, Institute of Medico-legal Publication. All rights reserved.
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Introduction: Western experience shows that with subsequent waves of corona virus disease-2019 (Covid-19), children were affected more and required hospitalization. Universal Covid-19 vaccination among children is difficult to advocate given the low severity of Covid-19 in this age group. Objectives: This study assesses vaccine hesitancy (VH) among an urban-majority survey-population in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and the factors bearing on it. Method: A 26-point questionnaire was circulated among parents with children up to 18 years of age online as well as offline, assessing age, education, urban vs. rural dwelling, previous Covid-19 and Covid-19 vaccination status and the existing information regarding Covid-19 in children in previous and impending waves. Intention of the respondents to vaccinate their children immediately, wait-and-watch or not vaccinate at all and reasons leading to it were explored. The primary outcome was VH (wait-and-watch or not-opting-tovaccinate). Intention to vaccinate immediately was taken as reference. We used multinomial logistic regression to assess the association of outcome with age, gender, education, previous Covid-19 and vaccination status. Analysis was done using STATA-16 software.Results: Of 1102 respondents, VH was reported by 37.6%. Respondents who were older, females, unvaccinated, believed Covid-19 would not be more severe among children and those having safety concerns with vaccines were more likely to report VH. Vaccine related information obtained from healthcare workers was associated with the least VH. Rapid development and approval of vaccines did not affect VH. Conclusions: Age, gender, Covid-19 vaccination status of parents and perception of severity of Covid-19 among children were major determinants of VH in our study. Source of vaccine-related (mis)information concerns related to short and long-term safety of vaccines was significantly associated with VH © Open Access Article published under the Creative Commons Attribution CC-BY License
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COVID has drastically impacted organ donation across the world, leading to untold misery for thousands of patients who have been waiting for organs. Early rules on the use of organs from COVID positive or affected donors were stringent due to the fear of spread of disease or thrombotic complications in patients who received these organs. However much has changed in the past two years. Most of our adult population has either been infected with COVID, or has received two doses of vaccine, or both. The current variant, despite being more infective, is associated with mild disease, especially in those who have been vaccinated Our armamentarium against severe COVID has improved dramatically in the past year- we have effective vaccines, monoclonal antibodies for treatment of mild COVID in high risk patients and post exposure and antiviral prophylaxis and treatment which can substantially reduce the risk of severe COVID requiring ICU admission. The risk of transmission of COVID infection has to be balanced against the risk of patients dying with end organ disease. We will have to learn to live with COVID- this also means investigating whether organs from donors who are, or have been COVID positive can be used with acceptable risk -benefit in selected patients with end stage organ failure. This document is a summary of evidence and information regarding donor screening for SARS-CoV-2 and considerations for organ acceptance from donors with a history of COVID-19.
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Purpose Solid Organ Transplant recipients (SOT) are at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Mortality rates reported between 13 to over 30% in SOT recipients. SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination may help reduce the morbidity and mortality of COVID‐19 among SOT. There is paucity of literature of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination efficacy in lung transplantation recipients . The purpose of the study was 1) to evaluate SARS-CoV-2 vaccination efficacy & safety in lung transplantation recipients and 2) to assess the need for 3rd booster dose. Methods A retrospective study (from Jan 2021 till Oct 2021) of lung transplantation recipients receiving 2 doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination available in India i.e. ChAdOx1 nCoV- 19 Corona Virus Vaccine (Recombinant) or Whole-Virion Inactivated Vero Cell vaccine, was done to evaluate vaccination efficacy and safety. SARS-CoV-2 spike COVID antibodies levels were checked 4 weeks after 2nd dose of vaccination. Local and Systemic reactions to vaccination were noted Results 11 Bilateral lung transplantation recipients and 4 Combined Heart-Lung transplantation recipients received SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Out of 15 recipients, 11 recipients received ChAdOx1 nCoV- 19 Corona Virus Vaccine (Recombinant) and 4 recipients received Whole-Virion Inactivated Vero Cell vaccine. 12 recipients developed mild pain at vaccination site, 2 recipients developed local tenderness and 1 recipient developed redness at vaccination site as part of local reaction . 5 recipients developed fever, 5 recipients experienced fatigue/bodypain, 2 recipients had vomiting, 2 recipients experienced headache & 1 recipient developed abdominal pain as part of systemic reactions. 8 (53.3%) out of 15 recipients developed significant SARS-CoV-2 spike antibodies level demonstrating vaccination efficacy. 7 (46.6%) recipients demonstrated lower SARS-CoV-2 antibodies titre (Less than cut off values) indicating no significant vaccination efficacy. 1 recipient developed vaccine breakthrough mild infection after 2nd dose. Conclusion Our experience has shown that SARS-CoV-2 vaccination efficacy was demonstrated in nearly 50 % of lung transplantation recipients. The study also showed safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in such immunocompromised subset. However, for those recipients with no vaccination efficacy, utility of 3rd booster dose and at what interval needs more research.
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Discussion forum is an integral part of many MOOCs as it provides a platform for peer interaction among learners. The quality of peer interaction is an indicator of the potential for peer learning. Thus, quality of peer interaction provides instructors with an actionable insight into the extent of critical or higher level thinking that learners are engaged in and is a measure of the learning effectiveness of the course. It is daunting for instructors to manually analyze the forum messages to gain this insight. To address this issue, we attempted to develop a system for automatic classification of forum messages that will inform instructors on the quality of peer interaction happening in the forum. Our system classifies messages into predefined classes based on the Interaction Analysis Model phases. We explored and implemented multiple machine learning models. A general accuracy of 95%-97% was observed among the models and no model outperformed the other by a great margin. The needfor such a system has become all the more relevant in the current Covid-19 pandemic situation, where all physical classrooms have had to migrate to an online setting. © 2021 29th International Conference on Computers in Education Conference, ICCE 2021 - Proceedings. All rights reserved
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The SARS-CoV-2 virus, accountable for the COVID-19 pandemic, is now sweeping the globe. As a result, as this disease resists testing and adoption of new treatments, repositioning existing medications may provide a quick and appealing method with established safety, features, and dose used. They are not, however, specific or focused. However, numerous medications have been studied for their efficacy and safety in treatment of COVID-19, with the majority currently undergoing clinical trials. The goal is to rapidly expand novel preventative and therapeutic medications, as well as to apply preventive methods such as early patient identification, isolation, and treatment. Moreover, reducing transmission through physical contact is also important. In the fight against this dangerous disease, finding the proper treatment is crucial. This article summarizes several anti-malarial, anti-parasitic, monoclonal antibodies, immunosuppressant, and immunomodulating agents in clinical trials for COVID-19. The purpose of this article is to evaluate and explore the potential roles of several medications now utilized in COVID-19.
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Purpose: The present study aims to measure the global research landscape on coronavirus indexed in the Web of Science from 1989 to 2020. The study examines growth rates, authorship trends, institutional productivity, collaborative networks and prominent authors, institutions and countries. Design/methodology/approach: The research literature on coronavirus published globally and indexed in the Web of Science core collection was retrieved using the term “Coronavirus” and its related and synonymous terms (e.g. COVID-19, SARS-COV, SARS-COV-2 and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) as per the Medical List of Subject Headings. A total of 5,625 publications were retrieved;however, the study was restricted to articles only (i.e. 4,471), and other document types were excluded. Quantitative and visualization techniques were used for data analysis and interpretation. VOSViewer software was employed to map collaborative networks of authors, institutions and countries. Findings: A total of 4,471 articles have been published on coronavirus by 99 countries of the world with the maximum contribution from the USA, followed by the People's Republic of China. The United States, China, Canada, Netherlands and Germany are the front runners in the collaborative network and form strong sub-networks with other countries as well. More than 1,000 institutions collaborate in the field of coronavirus research among 99 contributing countries. The authorship pattern shows that 97.5% of publications are contributed by authors in collaboration in which 77.5% of publications are contributed by four or more than four authors. The range between degree of collaboration (DC) varies from 0.89 in 1993 to 1 in 2000 with an average of 0.96 from 1989 to 2020. The results confirm that the coronavirus research is carried out in teamwork at the individual, institutional and global levels with high magnitude and density of collaboration. The relative growth of the literature has shown inconsistency as a decreasing trend has been observed from 2007 onwards, thereby increasing the doubling time from 4.2 in the first ten years to 17.3 in the last ten years. Research limitations: The study is limited to the publications indexed in the Web of Science;the findings cannot be generalized across other databases. Practical implications: The results of the study may help medical scientists to identify the progress in COVID-19 research. Besdies, it will help to identify the prolific authors, institutions and countries in the development of research. Social implications: The current COVID-19 pandemic poses urgent and prolonged threats to the health and well-being of the population worldwide. It has not only attacked the health of the people but the economy of nations as well. Therefore, it is feasible to know the research landscape of the disease to conquer the problem. Originality/value: The current COVID-19 pandemic poses urgent and prolonged threats to the health and well-being of the population worldwide. It has not only attacked the health of the people but also the economy of nations as well. Therefore, it is feasible to know the research landscape of the disease to conquer the problem. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.
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Lung transplantation is a definitive treatment option for select end-stage lung disease patients. Post lung transplantation, immunosuppression plays a significant role in a successful outcome. Rejection and infection are commonly encountered where immunosuppression plays an important role. Many immunosuppressive strategies have been designed and their protocols might vary from center to center. This review will focus on these perspectives as well as emerging perspectives during COVID times. © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.