Sinus, middle-ear and mastoid radiological findings of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of radiological inflammation within the paranasal sinuses, middle ear and mastoid in patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to examine consecutive adults (aged over 18 years) with coronavirus disease 2019 (confirmed on polymerase chain reaction within 7 days of imaging) who underwent computed tomography of the head between 1 March 2020 and 24 June 2020. Lund-Mackay and mastoid and middle-ear opacification scores were used to categorise the extent of sinus and mastoid opacification on axial and coronal computed tomography images. RESULTS: Of 147 patients originally identified, only 83 met the inclusion criteria. Sinus opacification was present in 51.8 per cent of patients (n = 43), and middle-ear or mastoid opacification was observed in 24.1 per cent (n = 20). There was no statistically significant difference in sinus or middle-ear and mastoid opacification between patients after stratification based on 30-day all-cause mortality. CONCLUSION: Radiological computed tomography findings suggest mild mucosal disease within the sinuses, middle ear and mastoid. There was no statistical correlation between such opacification and 30-day mortality.

Extension brief: providing educational support during a public health emergency

This article briefly describes a series of extension materials created by LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant to assist different sectors of the community to respond to public health concerns associated with COVID-19. The materials created included a series of fact sheets on a variety of issues, including food delivery and take-out, fishing safety information and seafood processing plants. In addition, a series of six posters was developed to create awareness of social distancing among store employees and customers. Two fact sheets were created for the seafood industry. "Fishing Safety and Information During a Public Health Emergency" highlights the health of people working on the boats, the proper use of disinfectants, and considerations when fishers sell their catch directly to consumers. The other fact sheet is "Public Health Emergency Response for Seafood Processing Plants During COVID-19," which provides guidance on the risks associated for processing plants during the pandemic, how to identify high-risk areas, and how to control and prevent the transmission of the virus among employees and visitors. The goal is to minimize person-to-person contact in the plant and during processing. To help create awareness on the control and prevention of the transmission of COVID-19, graphics and videos are available on the LSU AgCenter website for sharing through social media.

Benefit-Cost Ratios of Continuing Routine Immunization During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Africa

Disruptions in routine immunization caused by COVID-19 put African countries with large vaccine-preventable disease burdens at high risk of outbreaks. Abbas et al. (2020) showed that mortality reduction from resuming immunization outweighs excess mortality from COVID-19 caused by exposure during immunization activities. We leverage these estimates to calculate benefit-cost ratios (BCRs) of disrupted immunization and apply cost of illness (COI) and value of statistical life-year (VSLY) approaches to estimate the cost of excess child deaths from eight vaccine-preventable diseases. BCRs were computed for each country, vaccine, and Expanded Program on Immunization visit. Secondary estimates that include the cost of providing immunization are presented in scenario analysis. Suspended immunization may cost $4949 million due to excess mortality using the COI approach, or $34,344 million using the VSLY approach. Likewise, excess COVID-19 deaths caused by exposure from immunization activities would cost $53 and $275 million using the COI and VSLY approaches, respectively. BCRs of continuing routine immunization are 94:1 using COI and 125:1 using VSLY, indicating that the economic costs of suspending immunization exceed that of COVID-19 deaths risked by routine immunization. When including the costs of providing routine immunization during the COVID-19 pandemic, the BCRs are 38:1 and 97:1 using the COI and VSLY approaches, respectively.

Shaping the virtual learning environment: Emojis as a novel feedback modality for content delivery in postgraduate medical education

Introduction: Postgraduate medical education in the wake of a pandemic has sparked creativity, evolving novel platforms concordant with socially distanced learning. Inevitably, evaluation is critical in navigating improvements in content delivery. However, as culture continues to shift away from didactic teaching, students are at risk of 'feedback overload'. We propose a novel emoji scale to facilitate rapid appraisal. Method: A three-point emoji scale was developed within the novel virtual learning environment for core surgical training in the West Midlands. Engagement with the emoji system was assessed and correlated with conventional post-course questionnaires. Results: The novel emoji systemprovided a rapid mechanism for trainees to express opinion on individual modules immediately following completion. Parallels to social media meant this modality felt familiar to trainees. Simplification of feedback permitted prompt, targeted review of modules for improvement, as opposed to laborious collection and analysis of standard post-course questionnaires. Literature review revealed limited research regarding similar emoji-based responses, or the validity of Likert or free-text based feedback systems. Conclusion: As virtual learning evolves following COVID-19, feedback systems help guide evolution. Emoji-based feedback may provide the key to prompt, accessible evaluation of VLE platforms.

A type I IFN, prothrombotic hyperinflammatory neutrophil signature is distinct for COVID-19 ARDS

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe critical condition with a high mortality that is currently in focus given that it is associated with mortality caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Neutrophils play a key role in the lung injury characteristic of non-COVID-19 ARDS and there is also accumulating evidence of neutrophil mediated lung injury in patients who succumb to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Methods: We undertook a functional proteomic and metabolomic survey of circulating neutrophil populations, comparing patients with COVID-19 ARDS and non-COVID-19 ARDS to understand the molecular basis of neutrophil dysregulation.

The Response of the British Library's Conservation Department to the COVID-19 Situation

The British Library's conservation department faced a significant range of challenges arising from the COVID-19 situation and the limited time available to respond to them. By drawing on areas in which the department already had particular strengths, such as risk management, salvage planning and training, we were able to address these issues and support the operational requirements not only of our own area but also of the wider Library, in dealing with both immediate concerns and longer-term issues relating to the resumption of normal activities. This has encouraged us to look at underlying assumptions about our working practices, enabling us to revise our approaches in ways which not only respond to the current situation but also have far-reaching benefits.

Personal protective equipment for COVID-19 in eye care

The main role of personal protective equipment (PPE) within health care settings is to reduce the potential risk of transfer of infectious microorganisms between health care workers and patients. During the pandemic, this is more important than ever. © 2020, International Centre for Eye Health.

How to adapt your eye service in the time of COVID-19

Eye services must adapt to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. © 2020, International Centre for Eye Health.