Assessment of positive airway pressure treatment adherence and sleep quality in sleep apnea patients during COVID-19 pandemic: multi-center cross-sectional study results

Background: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), related to their disease consequences and treatment modalities, are physically and mentally vulnerable during the outbreak. Objectives: To investigate the association between pandemic-related changes and positive airway pressure (PAP) adherence and sleep quality in OSA patients. Methods: This was a multi-center cross-sectional study, and the necessary data were collected prospectively. A total of 221 patients were included in the study, who were invited from four different centers from June 1 - December 1, 2020. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was administered to evaluate sleep quality. Information on demographics positive airway pressure (PAP) device use, Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a questionnaire collected related changes. Patients >18 years with a diagnosis of OSA and prescribed PAP treatment before the pandemic period were included in the study. Lack of cooperation with the questionnaires and incompliant with PAP treatment for longer than one year were the exclusion criteria. Results: Of the 221 participants, 79.2% were men. The mean apnea-hypopnea index was obtained at 40.8+or-24.3. A positive COVID-19 test was reported in nine cases, and three patients had hospitalization. During the pandemic, 102 (46.2%) subjects were retired, 26 (11.8%) lost their jobs, and 34 (15.3%) reported home office work or on-call or on leave. Poor sleep quality was found in 54 (24.4%) individuals. It was also reported that poor sleep quality was more common in those who reported mask use difficulty (38.7% vs. 18.9%;P=0.004) and increased or decreased PAP use (increased, decreased, no change in PAP use: 45.5%, 36.0%, 19.4%, respectively;P=0.01). The good sleep quality group had higher PAP use than the poor sleep quality group (6.2+or-1.5 vs. 5.3+or-2.4 night/week;P=0.002;6.2+or-1.5 vs. 5.5+or-2.2 hour/night;P=0.01). Conclusions: Pandemic period had several negative effects on sleep apnea patients regarding sleep quality and social lives which also influenced PAP adherence in OSA patients. Most patients did not change their regular PAP use attitudes during this period. Similar to the pre-COVID-19 disease period, PAP adherence and compliance positively influenced sleep quality;people who were "good sleepers" were the ones who were the "good PAP device users".

Face masks as sources of cross-contamination during food preparation

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, mask-wearing has become a common practice in the foodservice industry to prevent the spread of respiratory diseases. Like kitchen utensils, a mask may serve as a vehicle for cross-contamination of pathogens during food handling. The objective of this study was to quantify cross-contamination between tasks of handling contaminated chicken and chopping lettuce. Chicken breasts were inoculated with a high or a low level of nonpathogenic Escherichia coli surrogates (ca. 6 or 4 log CFU/ml) and sliced for 1, 5, or 10 min. During slicing, duplicate, single-use medical masks were touched each minute. One mask was immediately sampled, but the second mask was used to contaminate lettuce by touching the mask each minute while chopping the lettuce for 5 min. E. coli were enumerated from the second mask and lettuce. Masks touched while slicing both high- and low-inoculated chicken showed significant contamination (0.8-4.9 log CFU/cm2) after each slicing scenario of 1, 5, or 10 min (P > 0.05). Lettuce was significantly contaminated regardless of inoculation level (1.0-3.2 log CFU/g). Slicing time was a significant factor in some cases (P < 0.05), whereas inoculation level was not (P > 0.05). Data indicate masks can be a source of cross-contamination if not replaced appropriately.

Computerized intelligence and mathematical models for COVID-19 management: a short communication

The onset of COVID- 19 pandemic has resulted in the transition from the conventional face to face health care strategies to computerized approaches, considering distances, the importance of quarantine, and early diagnosis and management. As far as the rapid management of the infection is concerned, telemedicine has been introduced as a beneficial approach. The use of telemedicine is thought to decrease the risk of cross contamination. Moreover, it provides the access to the health care for remote locations. The health care staff can use the computational analyses to get rapid access to the accurate epidemiological and laboratory data. The risk assessment provided by the mathematical models seems beneficial for decision-making in regards to the prognosis and management. We aimed to explore the breakthrough of telemedicine regarding the pandemic, also attempting to describe the related problems and challenges.

Impact of COVID-19-induced home quarantine on parental stress, as well as anxiety and depression among children

Background: One of the most important harmful effects related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the psychological effects that can affect all population groups. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of home quarantine caused by COVID-19 on parents' stress, as well as children's anxiety and depression. Methods: This study included 230 parents who had children aged 5-12 years. The data were collected using the Children Symptom Inventory (CSI-4) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), which were sent to people through the social messenger WhatsApp. (22). Different variables including the impact of the event, avoidance, intrusion, hyperarousal, anxiety, and depression were measured and analyzed using these two questionnaires. Results: The results of the correlation analysis showed that the impact of the quarantined event caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the IES-R subscales in parents were directly and significantly related to the anxiety and depression scores in their children. In addition, multivariate regression analysis showed that higher IES-R scores by parents can significantly predict higher anxiety and depression scores in children. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that the home quarantine caused by the COVID-19 pandemic causes stress in parents and this also increases anxiety and depression in their children. Therefore, it is suggested that in addition to the management, control, and treatment of these types of pandemic diseases, special attention be paid to their psychological effects, especially during home quarantine.

Foreign research progress on social impact and emergency management in the post-pandemic era

We define the concept and analyze the connotation of the post-pandemic era by reviewing the recent foreign research on social impacts, risk prevention and control, and emergency management in the post-pandemic era. The current state of foreign research in the post-pandemic era is outlined, and the progress of foreign research on social impacts like urban planning and travel patterns, as well as core issues like risk prevention and control and emergency management in the post-pandemic era is analyzed in detail. The characteristics and shortcomings of existing research are summarized and future research in the postpandemic era is also forecasted. COVID-19 has had a huge impact on how people socialize, travel, and work, as well as changing industry trends, technical advancements, and social governance. Uncertainty is the most significant risk feature of the post-pandemic era, and the coupling of numerous hazards poses a new set of challenges to emergency management practices.

Human mobility impacts on the surging incidence of COVID-19 in India

Human mobility triggers how fast and where infectious diseases spread and modelling community flows helps assess the impact of social distancing policies and advance our understanding of community behaviour in such circumstances. This study investigated the relationship between human mobility and the surging incidence of COVID-19 in India. We performed a generalised estimating equation with a Poisson log-linear model to analyse the daily mobility rate and new cases of COVID-19 between 14 March and 11 September 2020. We found that mobility to grocery and retail locations was significantly associated (p < 0.01) with the incidence of COVID-19, these being crowded and unorganised in most parts of India. In contrast, visits to parks, workplaces, and transit stations did not considerably affect the changing COVID-19 cases over time. In particular, workplaces equipped with social distancing protocols or low-density open spaces are much less susceptible to the spread of the virus. These findings suggest that human mobility data, geographic information, and health geography modelling have significant potential to inform strategic decision-making during pandemics because they provide actionable knowledge of when and where communities might be exposed to the disease.

Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among undergraduate students in Kenya: a case study of the University of Nairobi

Objective: To evaluate the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among undergraduates in Kenyan universities. Design: Evaluation design. Setting: University of Nairobi's Main Campus, Nairobi, Kenya. Subjects: Undergraduate students at the University of Nairobi. Background: The fight against COVID-19 pandemic has utilized the information model for behavior change. The prevention behavior to adopt included wearing masks, keeping social distance and the COVID-19 vaccine uptake. However, there is still a knowledge-behavior among high-risk groups like the youth. Based on the Integrated Model of Behavior Prediction, the study sought to evaluate the determinants for the COVID vaccine uptake among undergraduates. Materials & Methods: A survey of undergraduates at the University of Nairobi's Main campus was conducted with a systematic selection of a sample using students class registers. Results: From 384 respondents, the study found that the uptake of coronavirus vaccine was positively correlated with COVID-19 saliency (r=0.211), skills and competency (r=0.146), behavioral intentions (r=0.159) and environmental factors (r=0.211). Conclusion: The uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among undergraduate students in Kenya is determined by all factors in the Integrated Model of Behavior Prediction such as vaccine saliency, behavioral intentions, environmental constraints and skills and competency. Therefore, increasing the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among undergraduates may involve addressing all these factors.

Analysis and prediction of the COVID-19 pandemic in Senegal using the SIR model

In this study, the mathematical SIR model (Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (cured and deceased)) was applied to the case of Senegal during the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, from March 1, 2020, to March 30, 2021, the transmission and recovery rates as well as the number of reproduction were calculated and analyzed for the impact of the decisions taken by the Senegalese government. In both waves, the variation of the basic reproduction number as a function of time, with values below one towards the end of each study period, confirms the success of the Senegalese government in controlling the epidemic. The results show that the solution of mandatory mask-wearing is the best decision to counter the spread of the disease. Indeed, the mean number of reproduction is 2.11 in the first wave, and the second wave has a lower mean value of 1.23, while the decisions are less restrictive during this latter wave. Also, a short-term prediction model (about 4 months) was validated on the second wave. The validation criteria of this model reveal a good match between the results of the simulated model and the COVID-19 data reported via the Ministry of Health, Solidarity, and Social Action of Senegal.

Breastfeeding and infection control measures among lactating COVID-positive mothers: a retrospective study

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding along with infection prevention measures is recommended for lactating COVID-positive mothers as benefits outweigh the risk. Aims and Objectives: The present study was undertaken to assess the feeding and infection prevention measures among the COVID-19 infected lactating mothers in Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry to identify areas of concern. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional and observational study was conducted by telephonic survey after verbal consent on a series of 103 COVID-positive postnatal mothers regarding their feeding practices and infection prevention measures. Descriptive statistics was used. Results: Breastfeeding was given by 72 (69.9%), mixed feeding by 27 mothers (26.2%), and formula feeds by four (3.9%). Overall, exclusive breastfeeding was given by 66 mothers (64.1%). With respect to infection prevention measures, high performance of frequent/always was observed for use of hand hygiene (n=90, 87.3%) and use of mask (n=81, 78.5%). Conclusion: Despite the pandemic situation, the most COVID-positive mothers breastfed their infants with fair compliance to infection prevention measures.

Analysis of the diet of obese elementary school students using various dietary intake survey methods

Purpose: Childhood obesity has become a social problem due to the social distancing necessitated by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. This study aimed to identify the dietary problems of obese children through various dietary assessment methods and to confirm the usefulness of each method. Methods: The subjects were 88 students in the 4th to 6th grade of elementary school who participated in the nutrition camp organised by the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, 2020. To evaluate dietary problems and assess diet quality, 24-hour meal records, monthly food intake frequency, and Dietary Screening Test (DST) data were analyzed. Results: Of the subjects, 15.7%, 30.3%, and 53.9% were normal weight, overweight, and obese, respectively. The average age was 11.77 +or- 0.77 years and the average body mass index was 23.96 +or- 3.01 kg/m2. It was observed from the 24-hour meal record method that the overweight and obese subject groups consumed fewer green vegetables (p < 0.001) and white vegetables (p < 0.01) than the normal weight group. In the monthly food intake frequency method, the consumption of ramen (p < 0.01), snacks (p < 0.05), and sausages (p < 0.05) were high in the obese group, and that of anchovies, broccoli, and sweet pumpkin was high in the normal group (p < 0.05). The comparative data from the DST revealed that the overweight and obese groups had less vegetable intake than the normal weight group (p < 0.01) and had higher intakes of dairy products, fast food, and sweet snacks (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The usefulness of each method in the dietary evaluation of obese children was confirmed. To address the problem of obesity, it is necessary to evaluate the dietary problem and approach it with a customized solution tailor-made for the individual subject.

Cholera, 2021

This report highlights the challenges faced by the global health community in managing cholera outbreaks during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and in areas with humanitarian crises and large population movements. In 2021, cholera outbreaks surged, particularly in West Africa, while preventive measures to control COVID-19, such as handwashing and social distancing, may have reduced cholera transmission. However, the pandemic's impact on healthcare access, laboratory capacity, and disease reporting systems, especially in crisis-affected regions, hindered cholera response capacity. Despite efforts to support vulnerable populations and reduce cholera transmission, climate events, and population displacement continued to expose susceptible communities. Globally, 90 countries reported data on cholera, with 35 countries reporting 223,370 cases and 4159 deaths, representing a 30% decrease in reported cases from 2020 but a significant increase in the number of deaths. Nigeria accounted for 50% of reported cases and had the highest number of deaths. Laboratory confirmation of suspected cholera cases remains a priority, and strategic, systematic testing by rapid diagnostic tests should be increased to meet the goals of the global roadmap to end cholera. The collection of demographic information, including age and gender, is also essential to target response measures accordingly.

Viral diseases of poultry in Assam, India: a review

The Indian poultry market is estimated to have an annual growth rate of 8.1% as of today. However, infectious diseases in poultry pose an important constraint in the growth and development of this sector in our region. Among infectious diseases, viral diseases of poultry pose a serious threat to the poultry industry from an economic point of view. Several viral disease outbreaks have been reported by various researchers from different parts of the country. Among the common viral diseases of poultry, incidences of Newcastle disease, Avian Influenza, Fowl Pox, Infectious Bursal Disease, Marek's disease, Infectious Bronchitis, Infectious Laryngotracheitis and Inclusion Body Hepatitis are significant in Assam as well as other parts of India. Thorough epidemiological studies followed by the identification of different serotypes, pathotypes, strains, etc. by genotyping and molecular characterization of viral disease pathogens may lead to ways to control and eradicate the diseases. Importance should be given to maintaining basic preventive measures like biosecurity, farm hygiene, and proper vaccination. In a developing country like India, disease outbreaks can impact the country's economy. In this study, a brief view of the common viral disease of poultry and its diagnosis and control strategies in Assam, India is depicted. However, this review well indicates a plethora of avian diseases that have occurred over the years causing a severe impact on poultry farming as a whole.

Impact of "COVID-19" lockdown on male sexual behavior in Egyptian sample

Objective: To assess the changes in the sexual behavior of Egyptian married men during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, the sexual behavior of 164 Egyptian married men was examined through an online questionnaire, designed by the authors, and uploaded to strictly male social media groups using Google Forms. The questionnaire included demographic and clinical variables about age, stress level about COVID-19, fear of infection during sexual relations and also compared sexual behavior before the COVID-19 lockdown. Results: 39.17% of the sample reported decrease in sexual desire, 28.05% reported decrease in sexual frequency, 17.68% reported decrease in sexual satisfaction and 22% reported fear of infection with COVID-19 during sexual relations. Severe stress about COVID-19, increased rate of marital conflicts and fear of infection with COVID-19 during sexual relations were significantly associated with decreased sexual desire, frequency and satisfaction. Conclusions: This study demonstrated severe stress about COVID-19, increased rate of marital conflict and fear of infection with COVID-19 during sexual activity, all of which were significantly associated with decreased levels of sexual desire, frequency and satisfaction respectively among married Egyptian men during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Promoting education to manage stress, decreasing marital conflicts and the correction of the mistaken belief that COVID-19 is a sexually transmitted disease is highly important to promote healthy sexual relations during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown period.

The next frontier: assessing the feasibility of eradicating mammalian pests from Auckland Island. (Special Issue: Restoration of New Zealand subantarctic islands.)

Auckland Island, the fifth largest island in New Zealand, is the only island in New Zealand's subantarctic region where introduced mammalian pests remain (pigs, Sus scrofa;mice, Mus musculus;cats, Felis catus). The island has unique biodiversity and is a key site for progressing New Zealand's goal to be free of several introduced predators by 2050. Recent island eradication successes have rekindled interest in eradicating pests from Auckland Island, and for the first time considering all three pests in one project. Over a 3-year period, we tested the feasibility of eradicating pigs, mice and cats by looking at what it would take to succeed, rather than what we could practically deliver with the tools we currently have. We proposed adaptations to current methods and used an evidence-based approach by undertaking large-scale field trials to test uncertainties and emerging technologies in-situ. We gathered data and evaluated proposed methods against five established principles of eradication while considering the logistics and infrastructure requirements of the project. Eradicating pigs, mice and cats from Auckland Island is worthwhile and feasible but dependent on further development of emerging technologies and capabilities for efficient delivery with an acceptable level of risk. Three eradication operations are required with specific sequencing and timing, supported by initial establishment of infrastructure. The project needs a large investment spread over 8 to 10 years to yield permanent and internationally important benefits with low ongoing cost to sustain. The feasibility study exposed the project's scale and was used to inform decision makers, who postponed the work in 2020 in response to the economic impacts of COVID-19. The study focusses future preparations on identified planning issues and dependencies to progress project readiness in anticipation of it being launched when economic conditions allow.

A recent survey looked at the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on pest management practices in low-income housing

Surveys were conducted in New Jersey, Tennessee, Indiana and Arizona in collaboration with low-income housing agency to investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pest control practices and pest infestations in five states. In total, 39 completed surveys were received. Survey data indicates the majority (77 percent) of housing agencies used contracted pest control services. Only 11 percent of surveyed agencies used in-house staff to deal with pest issues. In-house staff are familiar with the properties and residents. Using in-house licensed staff to manage pest issues has several advantages: it saves the cost of staff escorting contractors one to two days a month in each property;it is more flexible than hiring a con-tractor for scheduling, treating emergency complaints and planning follow-up in-spections and re-treatments;and it is likely much cheaper for in-house staff to conduct nonchemical control procedures such as rodent proofing, decluttering or cleaning compared to contracted services. This study found evidence of decreased pest control cost due at least partially to reduced service visits as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Seventy-six percent of surveyed agencies experienced changes in scheduled services, and all of the changes were pandemic-related policy changes implemented by the housing agencies. The current contracted services generally met the expectations of the housing agencies. Housing managers and residents believe that lack of resident cooperation and property maintenance are responsible for high pest prevalence or control failures. There were increased pest complaints (except bed bugs) and infestations in low-income housing with the greatest increase associated with cockroaches. Despite the continued high pest infestation rates, the current pest control contracts meet the housing agencies' expectations. There remains a strong need to educate housing agency personnel and residents to help them adopt more effective pest management policies and contracts and to reduce the indoor pest infestations significantly.

Low COVID-19-related knowledge and access to adequate handwashing among patients with chronic diseases in rural Rwanda: a cross-sectional survey

Background:The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) misinformation and inadequate access to hygiene and sanitation amenities could hamper efforts to contain COVID-19 spread in resource-limited settings. In this study, we describe knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms and preventive measures, sources of information, and access to adequate handwashing among patients with chronic diseases in three Rwandan rural districts during the onset of COVID-19 in Rwanda.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of ultraviolet light sterilization in aerosols contaminated by SARS-CoV-2

Direct contact and aerial dissemination are the main transmission mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2. A direct approach to limiting airborne viral transmissions is to inactivate them within a short period of time after their production is ultraviolet C (UVC) light. In this sense, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using ultraviolet light in the sterilization of aerosols contaminated by SARS-CoV-2. For the study, all patients who were admitted to the COVID ward with positive swab results were analyzed. The patient chosen for the study had a positive result and had had 8 days of symptoms. Measurements of contamination from aerosol deposition on the CT table were performed in triplicate, using sterile swabs with viral transport medium. The patient was kept alone inside this room for 30 minutes, producing aerosols so that air contamination could occur. Afterwards, measurements were performed using exposure to ultraviolet C light, collected at 0, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes, after the patient had left the tomography room. This sequence of measurements was carried out in 6 days, the first day being without exposure to UVC light and 5 days with exposure to UVC light. After data collection, swab analysis was performed for the results using the RT-PCR method. The results found for collections from time 0 to 180 minutes were negative for the 6 days of study. The patient's swab results were positive from the first to the last day of the study. Thus, the effectiveness of using ultraviolet light as a form of decontamination is concluded, along with the antimicrobial action of the disinfectant, as the absence of the live virus highlights the importance of hygiene care to prevent the recurrence of contamination after cleaning.

A leading policy maker for the veterinary environments at As

Infection control has always been, and always will be, the core of preparedness against infectious diseases. As an example, the covid-19 outbreak highlights the consequences serious infectious diseases can have on our civilization, and not least how important it is to be prepared for new pandemics. In April 2008, the authorities decided to move the Veterinary College (NVH) and the Veterinary Institute (VI) to As. One of the reasons for moving was that the old building mass at Adamstua no longer met modern and up-to-date requirements for infection control. This article describes the development of the infection control concept as a leading premise for planning the new veterinary buildings at As. It deals with the period with the design of the draft project and preliminary project, that is to say the time from the authorities' decision to relocate until the initial grant was given in 2013.No detailed description of how the individual buildings have been designed to ensure infection control has been given. The functionality of the infection control in the new facilities can only be assessed once the premises have been put into use and tested over time.

Determinants and adoption of Coronavirus prevention measures among residents of Addis Ababa: a health belief model

Given the significance of addressing the knowledge gaps in the prevention and control of the disease, this study examined the knowledge, perceptions, and behaviour of individuals about COVID-19 in Addis Ababa. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between March and May 2020 via internet-based and face-to-face surveys using a health belief model (HBM)-informed questionnaire. A purposively sampled of 250 individuals from all sub-cities, aged18 and above took part in the study. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyse the data. The findings showed that a large majority of respondents had appropriate knowledge about the symptoms and transmission mechanisms of COVID-19. Only around half of the people surveyed thought they were unlikely to acquire the disease. The majority of those surveyed said that taking preventative measures (proper hand washing, keeping physical distance, and staying at home) was critical in combating the disease. A large majority of the respondents reported difficulty in implementing the recommended preventive actions and a significant positive correlation was found between educational level and adoption of preventive actions. There was a discrepancy between respondents' level of knowledge of the importance of taking coronavirus transmission prevention measures and the reported actual practice. Failing to translate knowledge about sickness symptoms and transmission pathways into behavioural action/change might obstruct measures to virus-combating. The study concluded that lack of knowledge or shortage of information among the population is not a prominent challenge, but resistance and negligence to adhere to COVID-19 preventive measures are. Hence, policy measures should be targeted at dealing with resistance and negligence.

Effect of COVID-19 control measures on other respiratory transmitted diseases

Introduction: Measures to control COVID-19 epidemic are likely to enable the control of other respiratory transmitted diseases.