Microfinancing from the Zakat Fund in Baitulmal Aceh and the Readiness of Malaysia's Asnaf Entreprenuers

The recent Covid-19 pandemic has swept the globe. As a result, there has been a spike in the number of relative poor who are experiencing economic hardships. This poses a predicament for the unbankable, reducing their options to apply for funding via banking products. With the available financial capacity, zakat institutions are viewed as the closest alternative in terms of being a source of funding, either through the microfinacing method or the qard hasan principle. Zakat is considered capable of becoming a social entrepreneurial system and a worthy alternative. The question is whether Islam permits microfinancing using zakat funds. If permitted, what is the rationale for distributing zakat through microfinance? Are there asnaf entreprenuers in Malaysia ready to take microfinance from the zakat fund to finance their businesses? This study is done using the case study method by conducting a semi-structured interview with zakat expertise and asnaf entreprenuers. Based on the content analysis, the findings of the study indicate that Islam permits microfinance using zakat funds. Asnaf entreprenuers are likewise eager to acquire microfinance from zakat money in order to strengthen their economic position and develop in life. This microfinancing is expected to have a good effect, particularly on the rising demand for asnaf entreprenuers. So, it is expected that asnaf entreprenuers will be able to switch from being a zakat recipient to a zakat payer within a certain amount of time. This will increase the amount of zakat and decrease the number of poor people. Even the poor's economy can be stimulated without usury (riba). © 2023 UNIVERSITY OF ZILINA.

Social Intelligence as a Factor of Socio- Psychological Adaptation of University Students with Special Educational Needs during Distance Learning due to the COVID-19

The article is devoted to the research of social intelligence as a factor of socio-psychological adaptation of university students with special educational needs during distance learning. Study methods of social intelligence and socio-psychological adaptation are used. The respondents' contingent of consisted of 78 students with special educational needs. The average level of social intelligence was empirically established in part students, which testifies to their ability to understand properly and the ability to behavior in almost half of life situations. Almost a quarter of students have a higher than average level of social intelligence and the same part is lower than average, which confirms their ability to understand and predict other people's behavior in almost three quarters and one quarter of life situations, respectively. Students do not have high and low levels of social intelligence. Most students (almost two-thirds) have an average level of adaptability and mal-adaptability;instead, a minority (almost one third) is at a high level. Adaptability and mal-adaptability, respectively, indicate consistency and inconsistency between the needs of the individual and the requirements of the social environment. Students with a low level of adaptability and mal-adaptability were not found. The defined statistically significant relationship of social intelligence with adaptability (direct) and maladaptive (reverse) shows the influence of social intelligence on the effectiveness of socio-psychological adaptation of students. The results of the research proved that social intelligence is a factor of socio-psychological adaptation of students with special educational needs during distance learning.

Change Management Of Patient Associations In Italy: From Emergency Response To Organizational Learning

Introduction. The role of associations dedicated to patient advocacy has assumed strategic importance within the most advanced health systems, including the Italian NHS. In this period of strong national and international emergency, the associations of citizens and patients have also changed their actions and have implemented others to alleviate the discomforts of sick people in Italy, collaborating with institutions and health services. Methods. Data were collected using a semi-structured survey, with both yes / no and open questions, developed and administered by the Patient Advocacy LAB (ALTEMS- Catholic University of Sacred Heart) to 150 patient advocacy associations. The organizational changes and the initiatives adopted by patient associations during the COVID-19 emergency was investigated. Results. The majority of the initiatives adopted by patient advocacy associations during the COVID-19 pandemic have been introduced during the first wave (March- June 2020), and that most of them have been maintained to (December 2020). These initiatives included improvements and updating of the communication tools aimed at reaching the higher number of patients. Thanks to these new approaches, the empathy and the assistance to patients have been increased. In addition, a number of training initiatives have been developed online and they have been followed by a large number of patients and caregivers. At an operative level, during the pandemic, many patient advocacy associations have provided their support to distribute masks, gloves, and therapies to patients. Unfortunately the fundraising activities suffered due to the lockdown, and the main problems were related to social distancing and lack of public campaigns. The institutional relationships have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and they mainly regarded the participation in legislative interventions. Among the initiatives adopted, our sampled associations affirmed that they would like to maintain the social support provided to patients experienced during the pandemic. Finally we calculated a resiliency score and we discovered that the majority of the sampled associations developed an intermediate level of resiliency and that it is positively correlated with their tenure. Conclusions. Our results provide a fresh view about the role of patient advocacy associations during the pandemic indicate their important role within the NHS.

Perception of peruvian university students about virtual education during the COVID-19 pandemic

Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced higher education institutions to implement the virtual teaching-learning modality in order not to interrupt the educational service, comply with the provisions of social distancing and thus avoid increasing the rate of infections. However, this disrup-tion brought with it some unforeseen problems and limita-tions during its implementation. Therefore, the objective of this research was to analyze the perception of university students in the Madre de Dios region about virtual education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The approach was quanti-tative, the design was non-experimental, and the type was cross-sectional descriptive. The sample was made up of 302 students to whom the PAVDO-C Questionnaire was applied, an instrument with adequate levels of validity based on con-tent and reliability. According to the results, the perception of 41.4% of the students about the virtual education that was being implemented was partially favorable, 33.4% was favorable and 25.2% was unfavorable. Likewise, it was deter-mined that some sociodemographic and academic variables such as gender, university of origin, employment status, and area of residence were significantly associated with said perception. Finally, it was concluded that the students were characterized by having a partially favorable perception of virtual education, for which universities needed to continue developing the digital and didactic skills of teachers so that they can improve their virtual pedagogical practice and thus teaching. be more suitable. Copyright © 2022, Venezuelan Society of Pharmacology and Clinical and Therapeutic Pharmacology. All rights reserved.

Sexual Dimorphism in Hospital Outcomes Among COVID-19 Hospitalizations

Introduction: According to recent global estimates there are nearly 530 million cases and 6.3 million deaths due to novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Studies have shown that COVID-19 disproportionately affects males than females. In this study we looked at differences in in-hospital outcomes of COVID-19 based on sex using a larger administrative database. Hypothesis: The adverse in-hospital outcomes of COVID-19 will be significantly higher among males. Method(s): This was a retrospective analysis of the California State Inpatient Database 2020. All COVID-19 hospitalizations with age 18 years and above were included for the analysis. These hospitalizations were classified into males and females. The main outcomes of the study were inhospital mortality, prolonged length of stay, vasopressor use, mechanical ventilation, and ICU admission. Any length of stay >=75th percentile value for the entire cohort was considered as prolonged length of stay. Logistic regression analyses after adjusting for covariates were used to compare COVID-19 related outcomes between males and females. Result(s): A total of 95,180 primary COVID-19 hospitalizations were included for the analysis. Of these 52465 (55.1%) were males and 42715 (44.9%) were females. Among these hospitalizations, mortality (12.4% versus 10.1%, P<0.001), prolonged length of stay (30.6% versus 25.8%, P<0.001), vasopressor use (2.6% versus 1.6%, P<0.001), mechanical ventilation (11.8% versus 8.0%, P<0.001), and ICU admission (11.4% versus 7.8%, P<0.001) were significantly higher among males. Logistics regression analysis showed that males had significantly greater odds for mortality (aOR, 1.38, 95% CI: 1.32-1.44), prolonged length of stay (aOR, 1.35, 95% CI: 1.31-1.39), vasopressor use (aOR, 1.59, 95% CI: 1.51-1.66), mechanical ventilation (aOR, 1.62, 95% CI: 1.47- 1.78), and ICU admission (aOR, 1.58, 95% CI: 1.51-1.66). Conclusion(s): Adverse outcomes such as mortality, prolonged length of stay, vasopressor use, mechanical ventilation, and ICU admission were independently associated with male sex. These findings could be due differences to both biological and social factors between the sexes. Future studies should explore these factors to efficiently control COVID-19.

Acute Isolated Diastolic Hypotension and History of Substance Abuse in the Development of Delirium

INTRODUCTION: In a prior analysis, delirium was seen more often in patients with at least one incident of IDH in the first 48 hours compared to those who remained normotensive (8.1 vs 3.0%). Here we explored events over the entire hospital stay and focused on a subpopulation of patients with a history of substance abuse (SA). Their treatment would include a narcotic or benzodiazepine, as potential vasodilators they could increase the likelihood of IDH. METHOD(S): We performed Aa retrospective chart review of patients >18 years with blunt trauma, Glascow Coma Scale >= 14 and head/neck Abbreviated Injury Score <= 1 admitted to our Level I trauma center from 8/1/16 to 4/1/20, to avoid potential confounding from COVID-19., was doneperformed. This study focused on two groups: normotensive (systolic blood pressure (SBP) >100 and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) >60) throughout their stay and IDH (SBP > 100 and DBP < 60) at any point during their admission. We compared them these two groups on the occurrence of delirium after an IDH episode using. The statistical comparisons were done using chi-square tests and logistic regressions, which included other patient characteristics associated with IDH and delirium. RESULT(S): A total of 1656 patients met inclusion criteria and were assessed for delirium (613 normotensive and 1043 IDH). As hypothesized, delirium was significantly more likely in the IDH than in the normotensive group (5.1 vs 1.5%;p < 0.001). As predicted patients with SA history were more likely to have IDH (62.2 vs 56.0%) and were more likely to develop delirium (6.2% vs. 3.4%) although these differences were not statistically significant. The IDH effect on delirium was significant only for patients without SA history and SA history was significant for delirium only in the normotensive group (both p <.0.001). The effect of IDH and its interaction with SA remained significant in multivariate analysis. Age also remained an independent risk factor for delirium. CONCLUSION(S): These results confirm our prior work on the association of IDH and delirium and suggest that SA has an impact on IDH. Surprisingly, these two factors do not appear to compound each other. This pattern remains significant in a multivariate approach. More exploration of the interaction of substance abuse on IDH and other factors is needed.

Covid Redux: The Risk to Critically Ill Cancer Patients Remains High

INTRODUCTION: Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic there has been an evolution of variant strains that have spread throughout the world. As time has passed, clinicians have appreciated that these variants have different symptomology and clinical course. As our understanding of the disease process has progressed, medical management has evolved. Throughout, cancer patients have represented a uniquely at-risk population. We sought to compare the characteristics of critically ill cancer patients with Omicron variant to those infected with the ancestral strain. METHOD(S): Single-center retrospective cohort study analyzed all cancer patients >=18 years of age with current or past (< 2 years) diagnosis of cancer, who were admitted to ICU with COVID-19. The ancestral strain period was defined as March 1 to June 30, 2020, and the Omicron variant period was December 15, 2021 to April 1, 2022. Demographics, clinical and laboratory data of critically ill cancer patients were extracted from electronic health record and an ICU database. RESULT(S): A total of 127 patients were analyzed (38 Omicron and 89 ancestral strain). Median age was similar (67 years Omicron, 65 ancestral) and slightly higher male (47% Omicron, 58% ancestral). There was a higher number of hematologic malignancy (53% Omicron, 43% ancestral). Mechanical ventilation and vasopressors were less commonly used (58% and 53% Omicron, 67% and 71% ancestral), respectively. Prone positioning was utilized less frequently (47% Omicron, 56% ancestral) as was tracheostomy (11% omicron, 34% ancestral). ICU mortality was similar in both groups, (39% vs 37% however, hospital mortality was higher (55% Omicron group, 45% ancestral). CONCLUSION(S): Critically ill cancer patients infected with the Omicron variant may be less likely to undergo tracheostomy however, they are more likely to die during their hospitalization. Even with higher hospital mortality Omicron patients also seemed to be less acutely ill as their requirement for mechanical ventilation, vasopressors and prone positioning was lower. This should be considered as we counsel patients and set expectations about what might happen during a COVID admission to the ICU.

Hyperglycemia in Covid-19 Infection without Diabetes Mellitus: Association with Inflammatory Markers

INTRODUCTION: New onset hyperglycemia is common in patients with severe Covid-19 infection. Cytokine storm due to Covid-19 infection is an important etiology for new-onset hyperglycemia, but factors like direct SARS-CoV-2 induced pancreatic beta-cell failure have also been postulated to play a role. We assessed the validity of the cytokine-induced hyperglycemia hypothesis by evaluating the association between inflammatory markers and new onset hyperglycemia in non-diabetic patients with Covid-19 infection. METHOD(S): We conducted a retrospective case-control study on adults without diabetes mellitus hospitalized for Covid-19 infection. The serum levels of glucose and inflammatory markers at presentation before initiation of corticosteroid were collected. Hyperglycemia was defined as glucose levels >=140mg/dL. CRP >=100mg/L, ferritin >=530ng/ mL, LDH>=590U/L, and D-dimer >=0.5mg/L were considered elevated. We used Chi-square test for categorical variables, Mann Whitney U test for continuous variables, and calculated the logistic regression for hyperglycemia. RESULT(S): Of the 520 patients screened, 248 met the inclusion criteria. Baseline demographics were equally distributed between the two groups. There were no statistically significant differences between serum inflammatory markers except LDH in patients with or without new-onset hyperglycemia [CRP(58.1%vs.65.6%,p-0.29), ferritin (48.4%vs.34.9%, p-0.14),D-dimer (37.1%vs.37.1%,p-0.76) & LDH (19.4%vs11.8%,p-0.02)]. However, Logistic regression analysis showed no difference in LDH levels between the two groups (OR-1.623,p-0.256). Additional analysis showed significantly higher mortality (24.2%vs.9.1%,p-0.001;OR-2.528,p-0.024) and length of stay(8.89 vs 6.69,p-0.026) in patients with hyperglycemia. CONCLUSION(S): Our pilot study showed no association between inflammatory marker levels and new-onset hyperglycemia in non-diabetic patients with Covid-19 infection, thus questioning the validity of the Covid-19 cytokine storm-induced stress hyperglycemia hypothesis. Our study also showed that new-onset hyperglycemia is an independent risk factor for higher mortality and length of stay. In light of the findings of our small single-center study, it becomes imperative to undertake a larger prospective study to understand the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 infectioninduced hyperglycemia.

Reduction of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Surface Microbial Burden and related Healthcare Associated Infections with the implementation of an Advanced Photocatalytic Oxidation Technology in a Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit

Background. Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria have been long established as a major cause of infections. MRSA infections occurring in blood or other sterile sites are associated with poorer health outcomes and an increased risk of mortality, especially when acquired in a healthcare setting. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has not only stymied reduction efforts but has precipitated increases in invasive HO-MRSA infections, with increases seen of 12-34% in national MRSA standardized infection ratios in 2020 compared to 2019. The facility had seen similar increases of HO-MRSA infections, defined as a positive culture on or after the 3rd hospital day, despite no change in clinical practice. Methods. A prospective study was conducted in a 22 bed Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit from November 2021 to March 2022. 50 surface samples were collected from surfaces throughout the unit including two nurses' stations, physician charting area, and 5 areas in 7 patient rooms. The advanced photocatalytic oxidation (aPCO) equipment was then installed in the HVAC ductwork throughout the ICU and activated. Sampling was then repeated every four weeks during the study period. The facility's normal disinfection protocols were unchanged. HO-MRSA infections attributed to the unit were also tracked during the study period. Changes in MRSA surface burden were calculated using a repeated methods ANOVA with post hoc analyses as appropriate. Rates of HO-MRSA infections per 1,000 patient days were compared using the chi-square test. Results. There was a 98% statistically significant decrease in MRSA surface burden from the baseline to final post-activation test. The average colony forming unit count (CFU) went from 427 to 3 CFU/100cm2 during the same time. HO-MRSA infections also had a statistically significant decrease when compared to the same time frame a year prior and the immediate 6 months prior to the study. Conclusion. The aPCO technology resulted in a reduction of MRSA on frequently touched surfaces in a high-traffic ICU. Corresponding decreases in HO-MRSA cases were also seen. This study highlights a novel aPCO technology and its efficacy at reducing microbial burden and healthcare-onset MRSA infections despite no change in practice and through the continued COVID-19 pandemic.

Plasma with high titers of anti-SARS-Cov2 antibodies improves outcome of COVID-19 in patients with hematological malignancy and cancer in a randomized controlled trial

Background. Patients with hematological malignancy or other cancers as well as immunosuppression bear a high risk for severe COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) are efficient at early stages of the disease but may lose potency with new variants. Trials on plasma from convalescent donors in unselected patients have not shown clinical benefit. No randomized trials focussing on patients with underlying disease have been published. Methods. We conducted an open-label, multicenter, randomized controlled trial to evaluate efficacy of plasma (CVP - convalescent or after vaccination) in patients with COVID-19 at high risk for adverse outcome in Germany. We assessed the effect of high-titer CVP (2 units from different donors, 238-337 ml each, on subsequent days). Patients with hematological or other malignancy (group 1), immunosuppression (group 2), age >50 and <=75 years and lymphopenia and/or high D-dimers (group 3) or age >75 years (group 4) who were hospitalized with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and with an oxygen saturation <=94% were included. Primary outcome measure was time to clinical improvement on a seven-point ordinal scale, secondary outcome was mortality (Janssen et al. Trials 2020 Oct 6;21(1):828). Results. Overall, 133 patients were randomized, 68 received CVP with an additional 10 patients as a crossover on day 10. Median age (range) was 68 years (39-95) in the CVP group and 70 (38-90) in controls. For the entire cohort, no significant difference was seen in time to improvement (median days: CVP 12.5 vs. control 18;HR 1.24 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83-1.85), p=0.29). Subgroup analysis (group 1+2) revealed shortened time to improvement (median days CVP 13 vs. control 32;HR 2.03 (95%CI 1.17-3.6), p=0.01) and mortality was reduced (mortality CVP n=6 (18%) vs. control n=10 (29%). No significant differences in time to improvement were observed in group 3 or 4 (HR 0.72 (95%CI 0.41-1.28), p=0.26). No relevant adverse events were observed. Conclusion. CVP improves time to clinical improvement and mortality for COVID-19 patients with underlying hematological disease/cancer or other reasons of impaired immune response. Even with new variants, high-titer CVP may offer a widely available and inexpensive therapy option in high-risk groups. Funding. BMBF FKZ 01KI20152;EudraCT 2020-001632-10.

Clinical Characteristics and Vertical Transmission of Pregnant Women with SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Their Neonates

Background. Pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection are known to have a poor prognosis. In addition, the previous meta-analysis revealed that SARS-CoV-2 infection in neonates born from pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection is about 2%. However, there are limited data on the clinical characteristics of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection and their neonates and the vertical transmission rate in South Korea. Methods. Pregnant women confirmed as SARS-CoV-2 infection were retrospectively reviewed in Asan Medical Center from September 1 2020 to April 26 2022. All neonates from SARS-CoV-2-infected women underwent SARS-CoV-2 PCR within 24 hours after the birth and 48-hour interval if he or she stayed in the hospital. Results. A total of 60 pregnant women gave birth by cesarean section (n=40, 67%) or vaginal delivery (n=20, 33%). Among them, three women gave birth to twins (63 neonates). Delivery was carried out at the average gestational age of 268 days (+/- 14.0), and 9 patients (15%) had underlying diseases. Of these 60 patients, 11 (18%) received COVID-19 vaccination. Pneumonia was confirmed by chest radiograph in 7 patients (12%), and 2 patient (3%) required supplemental oxygen therapy who eventually recovered. The mean weight of 63 newborns was 3137 g (+/- 558), and 8 neonate (13%) was a low-birth weight (< 2500 g), and 12 neonate (19%) was premature (< gestational age 37 weeks). Apgar score was 8.1 points (+/- 1.2) at 1 minute and 9.1 points (+/- 0.8) at 5 minutes. Five neonates (8%) required mechanical ventilation, who eventually recovered. All 63 neonates revealed negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR results with 24 hours after the birth. After 48 hours, 45 newborns exhibited negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR results. So, there was no vertical transmission among 63 neonates (0%, 95% CI 0-6). Conclusion. Our experiences about pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection revealed that obstetric outcomes were favorable and the vertical transmission risk was low. Balancing risks about the infection control of pregnant women and their neonates during the COVID-19 pandemic are needed.

Screening Test Accuracy and Reliability of the Parent-Report Preschool SDQ in Primary Care Settings

Objectives: Approximately 18% of preschoolers have significant mental health problems, yet there is no agreed-upon standard of care for routine identification of psychiatric problems in young children. This study evaluated the screening test accuracy and reliability of the parent-report Preschool SDQ (P-SDQ) in primary care settings. Method(s): A total of 183 healthy children, 2 to 4 years old, enrolled in a longitudinal cohort through a multisite primary care research network. Parents completed the P-SDQ at baseline and at 2 and 12 weeks later. At 12 weeks, 107 parents participated in a semi-structured diagnostic phone interview, the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment (PAPA);criterion validity between the P-SDQ scores at baseline and the presence of psychiatric diagnoses (Dx) at 12 weeks was evaluated using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), 95% CI. We assessed the test-retest reliability using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC 2,1) and internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha for the total difficulties score (TDS), and internalizing (INT) and externalizing (EXT) subscales using data at baseline and 2 weeks. Result(s): Of 183 parents (child mean age 39.3 months;46.4% male), 120 completed the P-SDQ at 2 weeks. Among the 107 (58.4%) who participated in the PAPA, 26 (24.3%) children had any diagnosis (Dx), 22 (21%) had INT Dx, and 9 (8%) had EXT Dx. The TDS performed satisfactorily against any Dx with AUC = 0.67 (0.55-0.79). The AUC for an EXT Dx and INT Dx were 0.77 (0.60-0.94) and 0.61 (0.47-0.74), respectively. A threshold of >10 for the TDS had 50% sensitivity and 78% specificity to identify any Dx. A threshold of >7 for the INT scale had 18% sensitivity and 99% specificity to identify an INT Dx. A threshold of >6 for the EXT scale had 78% sensitivity and 71% specificity to identify an EXT Dx. ICC (2,1) for TDS, INT, and EXT scores were 0.72, 0.62, and 0.79, respectively. Internal consistency of the TDS was good (Cronbach's alpha = 0.72). Conclusion(s): The screening test accuracy and reliability of the P-SDQ total difficulties score supports its use to identify young children at risk for psychiatric diagnoses, and in particular externalizing diagnoses, in primary care. Limitations include the small sample size and adjustments to recruitment during COVID-19. DIAG, PSC, ADMIN Copyright © 2022

Tomographic changes of the paranasais sinuses of patients with Covid-19

Objective: To verify the presence of tomographic alterations in the paranasais sinus of patients diagnosed with Covid-19 and to evaluate the presence of an association between olfactory symptoms and the involvement of these sinus. Method(s): This is an observational cross-sectional study that analyzed computed tomography of the nose and paranasal sinus (SSCT) of patients with Covid-19 regarding the presence of mucous thickening in the paranasal sinus. Patients who underwent RT-PCR examination for detection of Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) and TCSPN infection from March 2020 to March 2021 were included. Patients with a history of previous nasosinusal surgery, recent facial trauma, age below 18 years or with incomplete information in medical records were excluded. Result(s): A total of 65 individuals were included, of whom 28 were diagnosed with Covid-19. In tomographic analysis, an association was observed between Covid-19 infection and mucous thickening of the bilateral maxillary sinus (p = 0.038) and mucous thickening of the bilateral ethmoidal sinus (p = 0.005). No significant association was found between mucous thickening of the sphenoid and frontal sinus with virus infection. The complaint of olfactory dysfunction was reported by 20% of the patients, with no association with tomographic alterations or Covid-19 infection. Conclusion(s): Covid-19 virus infection possibly causes an injury to the mucosa of ethmoidal cells due to the inflammatory process resulting from viral infection. The lesion of the mucosa of the ethmoidal sinuses may cause alteration in the drainage physiology of the maxillary sinuses due to blockade of the middle meatal tract - site of drainage of the maxillary sinus - and lead to edema of the mucosa of this sinus. This change in the mucosa of the ethmoidal sinus may also be the cause of olfactory disorders presented by patients, as well as may cause lesions in the olfactory nerve. Keywords: Covid-19;SARS-CoV-2;Anosmia;Tomography;Paranasal sinuses. Copyright © 2022

Difficulties Faced By Dentists During COVID Pandemic-A Survey

Aim: To assess the hardships faced by dentists during covid pandemic. Introduction: COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The primary clinical appearances are respiratory in nature. Dental practitioners are among the most elevated hazard categories for transmission of covid since numerous dental methods have the potential to transmit the disease. Material(s) and Method(s): A cross sectional survey via an online questionnaire of 11 close ended questions was done. It was circulated via Google forms. The questionnaire contains questions on demographic details also. Data was collected and tabulated in excel sheet and statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 23. A total of 133 dentists responded to the study. Result(s): Most of the dentists reported that they were worried about operational and financial challenges to run their practice during Covid-19 pandemic. 53.4% of the dentists were male while 46.6% of the participants were female. Most of the dentists agreed that they are at higher risk of contracting covid-19 than other medical professionals. Most of the dentists agreed that they may be the major cause of transmitting the infection to their patients. Conclusion(s): During Covid-19, dentists had to face a lot of ethical and moral dilemmas along with facing operational challenges. This led to a negative impact on their lives, the present study draws our attention towards the hardships they faced. Copyright © 2022 Ubiquity Press. All rights reserved.

FIRST ONLINE LEARNING CLASS EXPERIENCE DURING THE MOVEMENT CONTROL ORDER (MCO) CAUSED BY THE COVID-19: HOW DO STUDENTS REACT?

Students were compelled to study online when the fatal COVID-19 outbreak hit Malaysia. Students believe it to be difficult to adopt a learning style as a result. Hence, a lot of them say they are stressed out, have red eyes, are worn out, have back discomfort, and eventually, their academic performance suffers. This study investigates the impact of first-time online learning on students' academic performance while under a total lockdown or mobility control order during COVID-19. The technique used in this study was applied to survey questions that were collected via Google Forms from university students in Malaysia. 172 respondents admitted to taking part in this study. All indicated antecedents, including the learning environment, course design, time management, teacher quality, and resource management and utilization, are predictors of mandatory online learning adoption, according to the survey questionnaire. Most students also think enrolling in an online course will help them get better scores. This study may be the first to examine how online learning programs affect students' performance during COVID-19 and the Movement Control Order (MCO). Government organizations will be able to create new regulations that benefit students best if the infrastructure is improved and the internet connection is less expensive.

Phenocomb, a Tool for Evaluating Complex Phenotypes in High-Dimension Cytometry Datasets

Background Modern cytometry can simultaneously measure dozens of markers, empowering investigation of complex phenotypes. However, manual gating relies on previous biological knowledge, and clustering/dimension-reduction tools fail to capture discrete phenotypes. Consequently, complex phenotypes with potential biological importance are often overlooked. To address this, we developed PhenoComb, an R package that allows agnostic exploration of complex phenotypes by assessing the frequencies of all marker combinations in cytometry datasets. Methods PhenoComb uses signal intensity thresholds to assign markers to discrete states (e.g. negative, low, high). As Pheno- Comb works in a memory-safe manner, time and disk space are the only constraints to the number of markers and discrete states that can be evaluated. Next, the number of cells per sample from all possible marker combinations are counted and frequencies assessed. PhenoComb provides several approaches to perform statistical comparisons, evaluate the relevance of phenotypes, and assess the independence of identified phenotypes. PhenoComb also allows users to guide analysis by adjusting several function arguments such as identifying parent populations of interest, filtering low-frequency populations, and defining a maximum marker complexity. PhenoComb is compatible with local computer or server-based use. Results In testing of PhenoComb's performance on synthetic datasets, computation on 16 markers was completed in the scale of minutes and up to 26 markers in hours. We applied PhenoComb to two publicly available datasets: an HIV flow cytometry dataset (12 markers and 421 samples) and the COVIDome CyTOF dataset (40 markers and 99 samples). In the HIV dataset, PhenoComb identified immune phenotypes associated with HIV seroconversion, including those highlighted in the original publication. In the COVID dataset, we identified several immune phenotypes with altered frequencies in infected individuals relative to healthy individuals. Conclusions PhenoComb is a unique and powerful tool for agnostically assessing phenotypes. By more fully utilizing the high-dimension data in single cell datasets, PhenoComb empowering exploratory data analysis and discovery of phenotypes for further characterization.

Comparison of Wrist and Forehead Temperature Measurements as Screening Methods during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Background: Temperature screening checkpoints have become prevalent in all public places during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contactless screening methods have been adopted for the early detection and isolation of febrile patients. The tympanic method closely resembles the body core temperature, however, they are not in use due to the disposal charges. This study aims to compare the efficacy of wrist and forehead temperature methods with the standard tympanic temperature. In light of the fact that a large population require rapid screening and that forehead temperature measurement being influenced by the environment, we investigated the accuracy and benefits of wrist temperature measurement in various environments. Material(s) and Method(s): This study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Perundurai, Tamilnadu. All the visitors who presented to the OPD between 6th April-13th May 2020 were included in the study. The exclusion criteria were those with ear discharge and tympanic membrane perforation. All the participants were made to wait for 10 minutes in the waiting hall to ensure temperature-controlled settings. We consecutively collected wrist, forehead, and tympanic temperature readings of all participants using infrared thermometers. Fever was defined as a temperature above 37.5degreeC. The data was analyzed using the Bland-Altmann plot in MS Excel 2016. Result(s): A total of 514 participants were enrolled in the study. The mean difference ranged from 2.10 to -2.00 for the forehead measurements and 2.00 to -2.00 for wrist measurements. The agreements for each method with tympanic temperature were calculated. (Forehead temperature: 1.23 to -1.17;Wrist temperature: 1.23 to -1.13). Conclusion(s): The study concluded that the wrist temperature was more stable than the forehead temperature. However, these methods did not provide any diagnostic cut-off value. Furthermore, the asymptomatic nature of some COVID-19 cases reduced the sensitivity of these tests. Further studies are advised to explore the validity of wrist temperature. Copyright © 2022 International Journal of Academic Medicine and Pharmacy. All rights reserved.

Athens multifamily therapy after a first psychotic episode: Online therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: The Athens Multifamily Therapy Project (AMFTP) aims to provide systemic multifamily group therapy to youths who experienced a first psychotic episode (FEP) and their families Objectives: Since 2017, we run five groups of five-four families, with a duration of ten months and frequency every two weeks. Participants were recruited from the longitudinal study, Athens FEP Project, which aimed to investigate the involvement of genetic and environmental determinants on psychosis risk. Method(s): During the Covid-19 pandemic, the provision of therapy to the current groups continued through online sessions. Participants were asked to answer qualitative questions on the perceived effectiveness of the therapy on their life as well as on the presenting problem(s) at three time points: middle, end of therapy and 6-month follow-up. Result(s): All members highlighted the significance of the reciprocity in the group communication. They mentioned that sharing and exchanging experiences helped them listen to others and felt heard by them. They moved from feeling fear and embarrassment when discussing the diagnosis and the aftermath, to feeling safety and comfort talking about their difficulties. Qualitative analysis showed no difference in participants' perception of multifamily therapy as helpful between live therapy and online therapy. Conclusion(s): Results suggest that MFT can be a viable way to provide early intervention in FEP even in at online modality.

Negative emotions associated with self-growth among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic appeared globally (1), thus affecting the self-growth of the older population (2). Objective(s): The aim of this study is to identify and analyze the negative emotions felt during the pandemic, as well as their impact on self-growth of 226 older individuals of four nationalities: Mexican, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. Method(s): Thus, a transnational qualitative survey was carried out. A content analysis was performed. Result(s): Seven negative emotions were reported, namely: fear, sadness, anger, grief, annoyance, loneliness and shame. These emotions were considerably associated with the following themes: (1) Sharing experiences;(2) Availability of the partner;(3) Spirituality and religion;(4) Be active;(5) Interest in new projects;(6) Civic participation;(7) Sexual activity. Older participants with Mexican and Italian nationality reported that sharing experiences as the most relevant topic, while for the Portuguese and Spanish participants, having a partner available was more important. Conclusion(s): This study demonstrated that negative emotions cooperated with the self-growth of older individuals during the Covid-19 pandemic. The heterogeneity of experiences lived by each culture was highlighted, underlining the positive side of negative emotions and their strong connection with the self-growth of the older people. 1.von Humboldt S et al. Smart technology and the meaning in life of older adults during the Covid-19 public health emergency period: A cross-cultural qualitative study. Int Rev Psychiatry, 2020;1-10. 2. von Humboldt S et al. Does spirituality really matter? - A study on the potential of spirituality to older adult's adjustment to aging. Jpn Psychol Res, 56;114-125.

Relational factors predict telepsychotherapy acceptance in patients: The role of therapeutic relationship and attachment

Introduction: During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, patients receiving individual psychotherapy needed to transition to telepsychotherapy (TP). Since telemental health appears to be here to stay after the pandemic ends, it is crucial to understand factors that determine whether telemental health is a good fit for patients. Objective(s): The aim of the present study was to (1) explore patients' perception of the therapeutic relationship and attitudes towards TP, and (2) identify predictors of patients' TP acceptance. Method(s): We used a longitudinal design, where patients (N = 719) receiving individual TP during the pandemic participated in an online survey, in which they responded to demographic questions and completed measures of symptom severity, Covid-related distress, attachment style (avoidant/anxious), perceived quality of the therapeutic relationship (working alliance and real relationship), and TP acceptance. Result(s): We found that (1) patients perceived the quality of the therapeutic relationship as reasonably good, and patients' TP acceptance was moderately high. (2) patients' TP acceptance was predicted by their attachment avoidance and their perception of the real relationship, whereas attachment anxiety, working alliance, as well as demographic variables, symptom severity, and Covidrelated distress were unrelated to TP acceptance. The final model showed that perceived strength of the real relationship mediated the relationship between attachment avoidance and TP acceptance. Conclusion(s): Both general (attachment) and situational (therapeutic relationship) relational variables are important predictors of patient's acceptance of TP, and should be considered during decision making about suitability of TP to patients.