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COVID-19 pandemic has created chaos in almost every walk of life. The harsh impact of the disease is mainly rooted to the rapid and easy spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus through airborne and fomite routes. Thus, disinfection of contaminated surfaces and air is important to hamper COVID-19 disease transmission. Ozone being a potent gaseous disinfectant has been utilized to inactivate a wide-range of viruses and has more recently gained interest in the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2. This article critically reviews the current state-of-knowledge on disinfection of surface-adhered and airborne SARS-CoV-2 by ozone. The transmission and survival characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 alongside the specificity of ozone inactivation process are reviewed. Distinct focus is then given to reviewing the status of ozone inactivation of surface-adhered and airborne SARS-CoV-2 in terms of experimental investigations, kinetics, and influence of the operational factors on the inactivation process. Ozone inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 is compared to other enveloped viruses, and the challenges and future prospects of ozone inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 are also addressed. © 2022 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
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The building industry has become a critical economic sector for country's development. Due to covid-19, world's most industrialised countries saw significant declines in their GDP. An effective supply chain system ensures higher efficiency rates, better customer relationship and service, reduced production costs and an overall improvement in the financial performance of a construction company. The entry of covid-19 in Kashmir has adversely impacted the supply chain of construction industry and the economy. So, there is a need to mitigate the impact of covid-19 pandemic on the supply chain management for the better future of construction industry. The aim of this paper is to capture the issues, challenges and implications of the covid-19 pandemic on supply-chain activities in Kashmir, India. This also provides strategies and insights on mitigating the risks and impact of the pandemic on supply chain management. Based on the issues identified, a questionnaire survey was conducted to assess the impact of these factors on supply chain management. Exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modelling was used to analyse the factors. The problematic causes include reduction in supply chain flexibility and difficulties in supply chain collaboration. There is a need to diversify the supply chains and avoid the single source of supply. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
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Background: The inflated use of digital screens has completely changed the lives of people physically, mentally and psychologically. The covid-19 pandemic has also compelled people of all age groups to shift to digital media. The average screen time usage is 7-9 hours a day which is alarming. Aim(s): To find out the relation of screen time with ophthalmic problems among medical students. Study Design: Cross-sectional study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Community Medicine, HITEC-IMS Taxila from 1st January 2020 to 30th June 2020. Methodology: One hundred and fifty two medical students were included using non probability convenience sampling technique. An electronic questionnaire was developed and Google forms were used for data registration. Result(s): The relation between screen time duration with difficulty in refocusing (p=0.05) and eye redness (p=0.05). No relation was found between screen duration and headache, eye strain, blurred vision and refractive errors. Conclusion(s): High screen time is found to be related to ophthalmic problems like difficulty refocussing and eye redness which if not addressed properly might result in detrimental effects. Copyright © 2022 Lahore Medical And Dental College. All rights reserved.
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Introduction: Self medication may be defined as the practice of use of medication for the treatment of any disease on their own without consulting concerned health care professional. If the practice is not correctly done due to lack of knowledge in students pursuing medical studies without evaluation by the trained medical professionals it can lead to ineffective treatment which can result in unnecessary expenses and drug dependence over a period of time. AIM: This study was conducted to find out self medication behaviour and its associated factors amongst dental students of Government Dental College and Hospital, Srinagar. Materials and methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted on 100 dental students and interns from Government Dental College And Hospital, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir between the month of September 2021 to November 2021 after ethical clearance was taken from said institution under order no GDC/Pedo/1677. A convenience sampling technique was used and survey consisting of 11 questions was be distributed amongst the dental students which included the questions of demographic variables and information related self medication with painkillers during the COVID times of 2020-2021 for any painful ailment and to evaluate awareness about side effects and loop holes of self medication. Data was collected and was statistically analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.
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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a series of new challenges to governments and healthcare systems. Testing is one important method for monitoring and controlling the spread of COVID-19. Yet with a serious discrepancy in the resources available between rich and poor countries, not every country is able to employ widespread testing. Methods and Objective: Here, we have developed machine learning models for predicting the prevalence of COVID-19 cases in a country based on multilinear regression and neural network models. The models are trained on data from US states and tested against the reported infections in European countries. The model is based on four features: Number of tests, Population Percentage, Urban Population, and Gini index. Result(s): The population and the number of tests have the strongest correlation with the number of infections. The model was then tested on data from European countries for which the correlation coefficient between the actual and predicted cases R2 was found to be 0.88 in the multi-linear regression and 0.91 for the neural network model Conclusion(s): The model predicts that the actual prevalence of COVID-19 infection in countries where the number of tests is less than 10% of their populations is at least 26 times greater than the reported numbers. Copyright © 2022 Hashim et al.
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The building industry has become a critical economic sector for country’s development. Due to covid-19, world’s most industrialised countries saw significant declines in their GDP. An effective supply chain system ensures higher efficiency rates, better customer relationship and service, reduced production costs and an overall improvement in the financial performance of a construction company. The entry of covid-19 in Kashmir has adversely impacted the supply chain of construction industry and the economy. So, there is a need to mitigate the impact of covid-19 pandemic on the supply chain management for the better future of construction industry. The aim of this paper is to capture the issues, challenges and implications of the covid-19 pandemic on supply-chain activities in Kashmir, India. This also provides strategies and insights on mitigating the risks and impact of the pandemic on supply chain management. Based on the issues identified, a questionnaire survey was conducted to assess the impact of these factors on supply chain management. Exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modelling was used to analyse the factors. The problematic causes include reduction in supply chain flexibility and difficulties in supply chain collaboration. There is a need to diversify the supply chains and avoid the single source of supply.
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Background: COVID-19 pandemic, the new panorama that we are facing makes it difficult for many people to grasp and assimilate all that is going on. This challenge can become severe in people with autism, both in children and in adults around 10% of autistic individuals have co-occurring physical conditions. Parents of children with ASD in Saudi Arabia face several challenges. Aim: To Assess Autism Spectrum Disorder Parental Quality of Life During Covid 19 Method: Descriptive community base study was conducted at the city of Al-Taif using semi-structured questionnaire during Feb. 2022, A total of 76 parents living in Al-Taif participated in the study Results: The study shows that the most frequency of effect of the emerging corona virus Covid 19 on making the lives of children with autism more isolated distributed among study sampling parents of autism children was to a certain extent, the percentage 31, the most frequency of effect of the emerging corona virus Covid 19 on health condition of children with autism distributed among study sampling parents of autism children was disagree, the percentage 32.8, the most frequency effect distribution of emerging coronavirus Covid 19 pandemic on aggressive of children with autism was disagree and the percentage 32.8, and the most frequency effect distribution of emerging coronavirus Covid 19 pandemic on learning of children with autism was strongly agree and the percentage 44.8. Conclusion: The Corona epidemic has doubled the suffering of children with special needs, as the quarantine period and the reduction in the movement to go out to schools and movement have been an incomprehensible thing for them, and it is difficult for them to realize its risks, and the deterioration of their health condition has increased in light of their failure to follow the treatment and follow-up sessions in the Autism House and clinics for months Also. Children of this category are unable to express what is going on inside them towards the ongoing developments of people wearing masks and social distancing, which has been imposed in varying proportions for weeks and months, even for a short period.
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Introduction: The latest global pandemic is caused by SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. 6% of patients are admitted to the hospital, with 20% of those admitted to the intensive care unit due to acute respiratory distress syndrome.
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Aim: To assess the main radiological feature of chest radiography for diagnosis and evaluation of COVID-19 patients. Methodology: A literature search was performed with the use of search engines. The following search engines provided us articles for this systematic review from until 27 February 2021: PubMed, NCBI, Medline, Medscape, and Google Scholar. We included only those articles in which CXR was performed on infected patients for the detection and evaluation of COVID-19. Results: out of eighty (80) articles, only twelve (12) were included in this review to assess the main radiological feature of chest radiography of COVID-19 patients. Patients who went for chest x-ray have shown following radiographic features with pooled percentages as mentioned GGO 32.38%, consolidation 35.15%, vascular congestion sign 7.92%, nodules 33.57% whereas pleural effusion accounts 19.36%, pneumothorax 18.55%, and lymphadenopathy was noted on 1.96%. Pooled Percentages of radiographic features of COVID-19 patients in right lung, left lung or both affected lungs were 21.32%, 5.77% and 47.78% respectively. This calculation is showing B/L lung involvement is more dominant as compare to right and left lung independently. Conclusion: Chest radiograph can be helpful modality in the diagnosis, evaluation and follow-up of SARS- CoV 2 pneumonia patients. Consolidation, GGO with peripheral distribution of lesion and bilateral pneumonia are most common findings of COVID-19 on chest X-ray. Chest x-ray are the baseline/first line approach for COVID-19 as it is easily available. Moreover, in late stages multiple radiological findings are quite helpful.
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Introduction: Patients with liver (L) and/or kidney (K) transplants might be at increased risk of adverse outcomes from COVID-19 because of coexisting comorbidities and use of immunosuppressants. We aimed to assess the clinical outcomes in L/K patients, clinical characteristics of patients requiring hospitalization, pattern of liver injury, mortality rate and changes made in immunosuppression regimen. Methods: In this single cohort study, we collected data on 21 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID infection, who had previously received liver and/or kidney transplant. Results: 6 patients (pts) underwent L+K transplant and 15 patients L alone. 8 pts were hospitalized and 13 pts stayed at home and completed quarantine. Mean age at the time of COVID infection was 58.4±12.4 and mean BMI 30.6±4.8. Patients who require hospitalization for COVID were older (Median 64.5 [IQR 7.8] yr) compared to patients who stayed at home and completed quarantine (59 [23] yr), however the difference was not significant (P=0.3). Pts who require hospitalization for COVID infection were closer to the time of transplantation (3.2 [2.7] yr) compared to patients who stayed at home and completed quarantine (5.3[12.8]yr ), however the difference was not significant (P=0.2). Mean LFTs in hospitalized patients were: ALT 65.9, AST 69.8, Bili 2.8, Alk Phos 121.5. Patients who were hospitalized, none of them required intubation or ICU stay. Out of 8 hospitalized pts, 3 patients developed AKI and 7 of them had history of DM. 5 of the hospitalized patients received IV steroids, 4 received Remdesivir and 2 patients needed Plaquenil during hospitalization. None of them needed liver biopsy. Myfortic was held in all hospitalized patients. Tacrolimus dose was decreased in 4 pts, not changed in 2 pts and increased in 1 patient. One patient was on cyclosporine and dose was decreased. Out of 21 total pts, one patient died and she was a female, 52 Years old with hx of ERSD on HD. In home quarantine group (13 pts), Tacrolimus dose did not require adjustments and Myfortic was increased one patient. Conclusion: We saw good outcome (no death) in transplant patients who got COVID and did not require hospitalization or change in immunosuppression. However, in hospitalized patient, we ended up stopping Myfortic and changes were made to tacrolimus, either complete stoppage, decreased dose and even increased dose in one patient. One LT patient who died was hospitalized with COVID and ESRD requiring HD was noted as a major comorbidity in that patient..
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic in a short period, where a tragically large number of human lives being lost. It is an infectious pandemic that recently infected more than two hundred countries in the world. Many potential treatments have been introduced, which are considered potent antiviral drugs and commonly reported as herbal or traditional and medicinal treatments. A variety of bioactive metabolites extracts from natural herbal have been reported for coronaviruses with some effective results. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved numerous drugs to be introduced against COVID-19, which commercially available as antiviral drugs and vaccines. In this study, a comprehensive review is discussed on the potential antiviral remedies based on natural and synthetic drugs. This review highlighted the potential remedies of COVID-19 which successfully applied to patients with high cytopathic inhibition potency for cell-to-cell spread and replication of coronavirus. © 2020, The Tunisian Chemical Society and Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
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In this report, we present a pre-organization summary of the fourth workshop on emerging software engineering education (WESEE) held in virtual mode on February 25, 2021, co-located with the 14th Innovations in Software Engineering Conference (ISEC 2021), February 25-27, 2021. The 4th edition of WESEE, a half-day workshop, focuses on open discussions and brainstorming sessions with a theme "Software Engineering Education during COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond". The workshop consists of two invited talks of 45 minutes each, two hands-on activities, followed by an open-ended concluding discussion session (30 minutes). A total of 70-75 participants including academic faculty members, students, and industry practitioners participated virtually in the workshop. © 2021 Owner/Author.
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SESSION TITLE: Medical Student/Resident Disorders of the Mediastinum Posters SESSION TYPE: Med Student/Res Case Rep Postr PRESENTED ON: October 18-21, 2020 INTRODUCTION: Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is a rare condition that can be congenital or acquired. Patients of the novel Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain intubated for prolonged periods that can give rise to a multitude of complications. Here we present a case of a 53-year-old female who got intubated after developing COVID pneumonitis, complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). She developed TEF at the end of the third week of intubation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old female presented to the hospital with hypoxemic respiratory failure caused by COVID pneumonitis. She got intubated and her hospital course was complicated by ARDS. She got extubated by the end of the third week but reintubated for persistent hypoxemia two days later. She was on the pressure control mode of ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 16, Inspiratory Pressure ( Pi) of 19 and peak pressure of 35. Suddenly, she developed hypoxemia and gastric distension on the same ventilator settings and her peak pressure dropped to 22. The X-ray of the abdomen was normal. Sudden dropping of peak pressure prompted the clinician to get computerized tomography (CT) scan of the neck which revealed trachea-esophageal fistula. (Figure 1,2,3). She was treated with tocilizumab, Flolan, and broad-spectrum antibiotics. The fistula was bypassed temporarily with a tracheostomy tube and a plan was made to follow up with the surgery team for possible surgical intervention. DISCUSSION: COVID-19 patients who develop severe respiratory disease remain on mechanical ventilation for a prolonged time period. In addition to the lack of specific guidelines to treat this disease, the severity of illness, heavy sedation, and significantly long time period of intubation add to poor outcomes in these patients. Complications of prolonged intubation include ventilator-dependent respiratory failure, ulceration, granulation tissue formation, tracheal or laryngeal stenosis, and rarely tracheoesophageal fistula to name a few. [1] The sudden deterioration of respiratory status, dropping peak pressures, and gastric distension are a few signs of fistulous opening in the trachea. The commonest site of TEF is at the bifurcation of the trachea. [2] These patients should be extubated as early as their respiratory status allows but should not be delayed for more than two weeks to avoid these complications. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe COVID-19 disease remained intubated for a prolonged period. Tracheostomy tube placement should not be delayed or they can develop multiple complications. If a patient develops sudden desaturation, gastric distension, or drops peak pressures without changing the baseline ventilator settings, TEF should always be in the differentials, and management should proceed with either immediate surgical intervention or supportive care temporarily and surgical intervention later in course Reference #1: Surgery and perioperative management for post-intubation tracheoesophageal fistula: case series analysis.Puma F, Vannucci J, Santoprete S, Urbani M, Cagini L, Andolfi M, Potenza R, Daddi NJ Thorac Dis. 2017 Feb;9(2):278-286. Reference #2: Moersch HJ, Tinney WS. A fistula between the esophagus and the tracheobronchial tree. Medical Clinics of North America. 1944 Jan 1;28(4):1001-7. DISCLOSURES: no disclosure on file for Asad Chohan;No relevant relationships by Soban Farooq, source=Web Response no disclosure on file for Rajesh Kumar;No relevant relationships by S Roomi, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Rehan Saeed, source=Web Response no disclosure on file for Maryam Siddique;No relevant relationships by Usama Talib, source=Web Response