Planning cities for pandemics: A review of urban and transport planning lessons from COVID-19

For the past years, the world has been facing one of the worst pandemics of modern times. The COVID-19 outbreak joined a long list of infectious diseases that turned pandemic, and it will most likely leave scars and change how we live, plan, and manage the urban space and its infrastructures. Many fields of science were called into action to mitigate the impacts of this pandemic, including spatial and transport planning. Given the large number of articles recently published in these research areas, it is time to carry out an overview of the knowledge produced, synthesising, systematising, and critically analysing it. This article aims to review how the urban layout, accessibility and mobility influence the spread of a virus in an urban environment and what solutions exist or have been proposed to create a more effective and less intrusive response to pandemics. This review is split into two avenues of research: spatial planning and transport planning, including the direct and indirect impact on the environment and sustainability. © 2023 ICE Publishing: All rights reserved.

COVID-19 infection and vaccination in patients with hereditary angioedema: a multicentric study.

Summary: Background. Due to similarities between the pathophysiological mechanisms of hereditary angioedema (HAE) and COVID-19, it has been hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 infection may trigger HAE attacks or, alternatively, that HAE patients may experience different of COVID-19 disease severity. Furthermore, the potential for COVID-19 vaccination to trigger angioedema attacks in patients with HAE is still not completely defined. The objective is to characterize the exacerbations and clinical manifestations associated with COVID-19 infection and describe the adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with HAE.Methods. Retrospective observational, descriptive, non-interventional, multicenter study conducted in four Allergy Units and Departments in Central Portugal between March 2020 and July 2022. HAE patient data were obtained from electronic medical records. Results. The study included 34 patients (67.6% female): 26 with HAE type 1, 5 with HAE type 2, and 3 with HAE with normal C1 inhibitor. Most patients with HAE type 1 and 2 were receiving long-term prophylaxis. Among the 32 patients who received COVID-19 vaccination, 86 doses, were administered with one angioedema attack (1.2%) associated with vaccination. A small increase in the average number of attacks was observed in the year following COVID vaccination (7.1 versus 6.2 in the previous year, p = 0.029), however, this difference is unlikely to be clinically significant, as the context of the COVID-19 pandemic likely introduced numerous confounders. During the study period, 16 HAE patients had COVID-19, all presenting with mild disease. Four out of 16 patients (25%) reported angioedema attacks during COVID-19, and 43.8% during the convalescence period (3 months after infection). Conclusions. Patients with HAE can safely receive COVID-19 vaccination. The severity of COVID-19 infection does not appear to be increased in HAE patients.

How do social responsibility and social entrepreneurship generate value creation in pandemics?

Purpose: Using self-determination theory and individual social responsibility’s (ISRs) association with pure social entrepreneurship, this study aims to answer the following question: How and why have the different actors responded to the crisis caused by the pandemic? Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative research (multiple case studies) was adopted, resorting to interviewees with seven economic and non-economic actors in the Portugal context. Findings: The results obtained, using MAXQDA software, show that those carrying out actions of social responsibility have a high degree of self-determination and intrinsic motivation, and are true social entrepreneurs, which lets them improve the well-being of those around them. In addition, these individuals feel good about themselves by performing these actions, as they measure their performance by the social impact of their actions on society in general. Practical implications: This study suggest there is a high awareness amongst people to exercise that responsibility in a voluntary way, through humanitarian initiatives and campaigns brought about especially by an unprecedented pandemic. In practice, people joining these initiatives motivate many others towards the causes, creating the will to continue in the future and satisfy unmet needs provoked by social crises. Originality/value: This study is innovative because it is related to filling the gaps identified, mainly by carrying out an empirical study about ISR, rather than that of firms, where studies are more common. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Selective Trunk Block combined with Superficial Cervical Plexus Block for Humeral Surgery: Report of two cases

Introduction: Regional techniques are valuable tools in this specific pandemic context, inclusive in terms of patient and team safety. The authors report the ultrasound-guided selective trunk block (STB) of the brachial plexus with superficial cervical plexus (SCP) for proximal humeral fracture surgery. Case reports: Case 1: 52-year-old male proposed for open reduction and fixation (ORF) of the humerus. Case 2: 53-year-old male proposed for ORF of oblique fracture of the humeral shaft. Both patients were obese, had a hypertensive disease, and a positive test for SARS-COV2. The procedures were performed under ultrasound-guided STB and SCPB using 15 + 3 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine and 10 + 3 mL of lidocaine 1,5%. Intraoperatively, dexamethasone 4 mg, propofol IV perfusion titrated for BIS 60-70, and paracetamol 1g were administered. None of the patients experienced pain, desaturation, or any other complications. Postoperatively, there was no need for rescue analgesia. They had no complications on discharge and globally were satisfied with the technique. Discussion: When a patient with a positive test for SARS-COV2 needs surgery, regional anesthesia allows minimal aerosolization without airway manipulation, but also adds advantages in terms of hemodynamic stability, postoperative analgesia with decreased opioid consumption, and patient's recovery time. In these case reports, SCPB with Selective Trunk Block (upper trunk - C5 and C6, middle trunk - C7, and inferior trunk - C8-T1) allow the ideal target for a safe and effective block, avoiding unwanted side effects.

Performance assessment of 11 commercial serological tests for SARS-CoV-2 on hospitalised COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: Commercial availability of serological tests to evaluate immunoglobulins (Ig) targeting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has grown exponentially since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Thorough validation of these tests is important before use as epidemiological tools to infer seroprevalence in specific populations and as diagnostic tools to complement molecular approaches (e.g., quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction). METHODS: Commercial serological tests from 11 suppliers were assayed side-by-side using 126 samples from SARS-CoV-2-infected inpatients and 36 from healthy and HIV-infected individuals. RESULTS: The majority of the tests assayed have >95% specificity. For the sensitivity calculation, samples were stratified by days since symptoms onset; sensitivity peaks at 16-21 days for IgM and IgA (maximum 91.2%, Euroimmun) and, dependant on the test, at 16-21 or >21 days for IgG (maximum 94.1%, Snibe). Data from semiquantitative tests show that patients with a severe clinical presentation have lower levels of Ig targeting SARS-CoV-2 at <10 days since symptoms onset and higher levels at >21 days, compared to patients with a non-severe presentation. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the heterogeneity of sensitivity and generally high specificity of the serological tests and establishes a basis for their usefulness to complement diagnostic techniques and population seroprevalence studies.