Compendium of analytical methods for sampling, characterization and quantification of bioaerosols

Bioaerosols are suspensions of airborne particulate matter of biological origin (BioPM) which includes microorganisms and the products of these organisms. Bioaerosols are ubiquitous in indoor and outdoor environments and can become dispersed by attaching to other particles. Bioaerosols are diverse in terms of their size, composition and biological properties and are an important transmission route for infectious and sensitization agents. More recently, bioaerosols have received significant scientific and societal attention from industry, academia, government and the wider public due to the emergence and global spread of COVID-19 and the threat of bioterrorism. Yet despite their importance for human health, the microbiological components of aerosols and their species dispersal from various environments remains poorly understood. Moreover, there is a lack of understanding of the ecology and role that bioaerosols play in the environment. As a result of these knowledge gaps, health officials and regulators have been hindered in their assessment of public and occupational health exposures and risk. For example, a better understanding of the concentrations and composition of bioaerosols in a particular environment, and the transmission dynamics of pathogens and their components, can inform on the appropriate ventilation rates and hygiene procedures to maintain good air quality and reduce human health risk. However, there are currently many uncertainties still remaining with regard to exposure assessment. To better understand the impact of bioaerosol exposure on human health, comprehensive methods to detect, characterise and quantify bioaerosols are needed. Although significant advances in technologies for bioaerosol sampling and analysis have been achieved over the last two decades or so, a consensus on air sampling methods for a particular context or environment and a universal analysis method still does not exist. This makes it difficult for researchers to compare data across studies, and for regulators to set meaningful exposure limits. BioAirNet is a UKRI NERC-funded project which acts as a leading voice for the UK BioPM science community and operates around four themes: Theme (1) BioPM sources and dynamics;Theme (2) BioPM sampling and characterisation;Theme (3) Human health, behaviour and wellbeing;and Theme (4) Policy and public engagement. As part of Theme 2, researchers, regulators, and public health officials have developed this compendium and Fig. 1 presents an overview of BioAirNet Theme 2. This compendium aims to provide a comprehensive toolbox of current techniques, workflows, and technologies for bioaerosol sampling, characterisation, and monitoring across different environments for researchers, epidemiologists, regulators, public health officials and regulators involved in bioaerosols. The overall goal of this text is to support the development of useful standards to better regulate and monitor bioaerosols worldwide.

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Encephalopathy Induced by COVID-19 Infection

Various factors can lead to thyroiditis, including any acute inflammatory process, especially viral illness. While coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been linked to disorders of various systems, there is a lack of literature showing an association of coronavirus with the cause of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Several possible mechanisms for this outcome have been proposed;chief among them is molecular mimicry. Here, we are reporting a case of Hashimoto's thyroiditis incited by COVID-19 in a 34-year-old obese female who presented with anxiety, behavioral changes, and repeated head movements. The patient had an elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level, a low thyroxine (T4) level, and a positive anti-microsomal antibody screen. The patient also tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA. Ultrasound of the patient's neck showed an enlarged heterogeneous thyroid gland. Thyroid replacement therapy with intravenous levothyroxine was started with the subsequent oral transition. Concurrently, she received antibiotics, steroids, and low-molecular-weight heparin for COVID-19. The patient exhibited significant improvement in her mental status, with an eventual return to baseline. The results of the thyroid panel obtained at the outpatient follow-up were normal. Although there is a paucity of data to show COVID-19 as a cause of this painless thyroiditis, this case demonstrates such causality between these two.

Measuring New Normal Strategy of Brands on Digital Branding during Covid-19

The research addresses the role of digital marketing solutions in creating a synergy of SMEs and the influence of customer perception in building strong branding during COVID-19. The researcher has taken the communication through social media (SCM) as an independent variable, whereas the market shares (MS), brand loyalty (BL), and general feedback from customers (GF) as dependent variables. The information is collected from 100 managers and owners of SMEs from different locations in Saudi Arabia. The correlation analysis of communication through digital media with the market share, brand loyalty, and general feedback of customers is 0.79, 0.75, and 0.84, where there is a strengthening relationship between dependent and independent variables. The significance F value is below 0.05, and the p-value of all three variables is below 0.05, which means that the null hypothesis is rejected as there is a strong relationship between dependent and independent variables. The results show a strong relationship between variables, and organizations need to emphasize adopting digital media. Disciplinary: Management (Marketing & Digital Branding, Marketing Research). (c) 2022 INT TRANS J ENG MANAG SCI TECH.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Gastrointestinal Tract: A Clinical Review.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly throughout the world, causing a pandemic that has resulted in more than 5 million deaths globally. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is known to have high expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors in the human body, making it prone to direct damage from the cellular invasion of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Numerous GI symptoms have been reported among patients with COVID-19. This systemic review details the mechanism and effects of COVID-19 on the GI tract along with the hepatobiliary and pancreatic systems.

Analysing the Effect of Forced Shifting Towards E-Learning during Covid-9 for Student Perceived Satisfaction Variables and Service Quality Dimensions

With the rapid spread of COVID-19 posing indefinite lockdowns globally with easy and cheap access to internet, e-learning tools are gaining popularity as a medium of learning. The area of e learning service quality is getting attention. The spate of conferences and webinars were conducted and many educational institutions have shifted from traditional means of teaching to online virtual classrooms. Many researchers previously suggested that ac-ceptance of e-learning courses is influenced by perceived service quality. However, proper measurement e learning service quality is an issue which remains unaddressed. As far as higher education is concerned, the success, of this program shows varied results. There is a lack of studies especially in the area of student’s perception of e learning service quality in higher education context. The study also assesses the technological forced shifting in the area during covid 19. Therefore this study is initiated with a desire to assess e learning quality vis a vis student satisfaction through SERVQUAL model in higher education. In order to accomplish our objectives and in the light of extant literature review and discussion, the study utilizes adapted SERVQUAL scale. This study, Utilized a SERVQUAL Model for measuring e learning among higher education students. The study assesses unidimension-ality through (CFA). Analysis was conducted to investigate the reliability and validity of the research scale, and the structural equation model (SEM) to examine the hypothesized model. © 2021, Politechnika Lubelska. All rights reserved.

ECMO for Critically Ill COVID-19 with ARDS: A Case Series

Introduction Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) as bridge to recovery in critically ill COVID-19 continues to be commonly utilized strategy in cases with persistent respiratory failure refractory to traditional ventilation support Case Report We report 5 cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection (SARS-CoV-2) who were treated with ECMO (Table 1). All 5 cases presented with fever, cough and shortness of breath and a positive nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 on admission. Case 1, 2, 3 and 5 patients were hypoxemic with saturation less than 90% on admission and decompensated rapidly, whereas Case 4 decompensated after day 14. Mechanical ventilation failed to provide adequate oxygenation in all 5 cases;case 2,3 and 5 were started on recruitment measures with proning while it was not possible for case 1 owing to morbid obesity. Proning was not possible in the case 4 as patient became severely hypoxemic while patient was undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. The case 1-4 remained on ECMO for 19, 17, 17 and 2 days respectively. All except case 2 had improvement in APACHEII and SOFA score after ECMO initiation. All 5 patients had elevated inflammatory markers of serum ferritin, D-dimer, Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP) which trended down after a few days of ECMO initiation All 5 patients received high dose steroids during their stay in the ICU. Case 4 and 5 passed away after compassionate extubation. Case 1-3 had prolonged hospital course with complication of hospital acquired pneumonia requiring multiple courses of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Summary Our observational report of 5 patients reports the use of ECMO in critically ill SARS-CoV-2 with ARDS and difficult to maintain saturation despite mechanical ventilation and proning with recovery for 3 patients. However, given the lack of ECMO centers;this is not a readily available option. Further studies are warranted to investigate the role of ECMO in SARRS-CoV-2 and careful identification of appropriate candidates.

“Clots and Failures” A Case of COVID-19 Causing STEMI and Persistent Cardiogenic Shock Ultimately Requiring LVAD

Introduction We present a case of COVID-19 causing hypercoagulability and inflammatory stress leading to STEMI in a patient who went on to develop persistent cardiogenic shock requiring LVA) implantation. Case Report 57-year-old lady developed COVID-19 infection in May 2020. In June 2020, she presented with chest pain, was noted to have STEMI on EKG, complicated by cardiac arrest with ROSC in 14 minutes. She was in cardiogenic shock as well and was started on veno-arterial ECMO. She underwent left anterior descending artery stent placement. Further hospitalization was complicated by persistent cardiogenic shock and complete heart block and underwent pacemaker and cardiac-defibrillator implantation. She developed pulmonary edema, acute kidney injury requiring hemodialysis, shock liver, and persistent cardiogenic shock. She was weaned off VA-ECMO after 4 days but continued to have severely reduced cardiac function. RHC revealed severe volume overload, pulmonary venous hypertension, low cardiac output, and right heart dysfunction. Echo showed severe LV dysfunction with an EF of 15%. A femoral intra-aortic balloon pump(IABP) was placed on July 7, 2020. An attempt was made to wean her off of IABP on July 10th,however, it was unsuccessful and she was transitioned to axillary intra-aortic balloon pump. She remained IABP dependent thereafter and on July 15th, given persistent cardiogenic shock, decision was made to pursue advanced heart failure therapies. After multi-disciplinary discussion, the decision to pursue LVAD implantation was made. She underwent a successful LVAD implantation on July 20th . She failed an extubation trial and underwent tracheostomy on July 23rd . Post LVAD, she developed atrial fibrillation and was started on digoxin and amiodarone. Her symptoms improved and she was subsequently discharged to rehabilitation in late August on amiodarone, digoxin, metoprolol, prasugrel, warfarin, spironolactone and lisinopril. The detailed timeline is shown in figure 1. Summary Hypercoagulability and severe inflammatory stress leading to life-threatening illness is a significant complication of COVID-19 infection. A low threshold for suspecting and treating hypercoagulability and inflammatory induced myocardial ischemia and injury and cardiogenic shock is a reasonable strategy to decrease acute as well as chronic morbidity and mortality.