The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical guidance, risk assessment and support for UK obstetric sonographers

UK obstetric sonographers adapted their working practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in response to new guidance issued by professional organisations, and requirements for on-going departmental risk assessments. This study aimed to provide an insight into the implementation of this guidance, completion of risk assessments and perception of support within UK obstetric ultrasound departments during the pandemic period. Obstetric sonographers working in the UK (n=138) used the Qualtrics XMTM platform to complete an anonymous, online, cross-sectional survey about their working experiences during the pandemic. Participants responded to closed questions about national guidance, risk assessments and their perception of support whilst providing fetal ultrasound screening services. Respondents provided additional detail about their experiences in these areas via free-text boxes. Over 90% of respondents were aware of, or had read guidance issued by professional organisations, although sonographers rated the overall usefulness of new guidelines at an average of 5.2/10 (where 0 = not useful at all, and 10 = extremely useful). Challenges for the implementation of guidance in departments were also identified, mostly related to the clinical working environment, including limitations of physical space (76.3%), time constraints (67.5%) and ventilation (61.3%). Most sonographers (77.2%) were aware that a departmental risk assessment had been undertaken, with waiting areas, scan rooms and clinically vulnerable staff highlighted as the most concerning factors. Sonographers felt most supported by their ultrasound colleagues (83.5%) and line managers (41.2%). They felt least supported by senior management and leadership personnel (60.8%), other antenatal colleagues (51.5%) and professional organisations (41.2%). Whilst most sonographers were aware of published COVID-19 guidance, challenges for its implementation in clinical departments were identified. Local risk mitigation strategies often did not prioritise the scan room environment, despite it being highlighted as a concern. Support from the wider, senior service team and professional organisations will be essential to facilitate post-pandemic recovery of the workforce.

Impact of anti-epidemic measures on the dynamics of the incidence of COVID-19 in medical organizations with a psychoneurological profile

Aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of anti-epidemic measures (CAM) complex on the dynamics of the epidemic process of COVID-19 in a controlled cohort of patients. Material and methods. Patients from 30 social long-term care institutions of the city were included in the study, including neuropsychiatric boarding schools, boarding houses for labor veterans, gerontological centers, and houses for stage veterans. A total of 8303 patients participated in the study, of which 4237 were men (mean age 53.6 years) and 4066 were women (mean age 62.0 years). Vaccination was carried out with Gam-Covid-Vac. Results and discussion. For the entire observation period from March 2020 to August 2021, 1619, cases of COVID-19 or 19.5% of the total number of patients were registered among patients. At the initial epidemic stage (spring-summer 2020), the incidence of COVID-19 among patients was explosive. At the same time, in the autumn-winter period of 2020, an increase in the incidence of COVID-19 was also observed. However, much less pronounced than in April 2020. Despite the progress, it was decided to strengthen the sanitary and anti-epidemic regime in institutions with the introduction of additional preventive measures. One of the most effective long-term algorithms for reducing the infectious disease incidence was vaccination. In this regard, the Moscow Department of Healthcare suggested the need for voluntary vaccination of 100% of patients in all institutions at the beginning of 2021. In the spring of 2021, the number of cases began to increase in the city. The increase in the incidence of COVID-19 was insignificant among the patients of institutions: the maximum number of cases detected in one month during this period was 13 people (in April), or 60.5 times less than in April 2020, and 2.5 times less than in October 2020. The incidence of COVID-19 has become sporadic rather than epidemic. Conclusion. The introduction of CAM in long-term care social institutions in the early stages of the epidemic contributed to a decrease in the incidence of COVID 19. 100% vaccination of patients in combination with other prevention measures reduced the incidence of COVID-19 by more than 28 times. At the same time, it was found that there is a trend of increasing incidence depending on the increase in the level of independent activity of patients.Copyright © 2023 The authors.

Cooperate with community health centers to eliminate HCV in low prevalence region of South China

Background: Shenzhen, a city of immigrants in South China, has a low HCV incidence rate of 19.47 per 100,000. To eliminate HCV in this low prevalence region, it may be efficiency to collaborate with the communities to screen HCV in high risk population. There are 849 Community Health Centers up to now in Shenzhen. The study aimed to evaluate the model of HCV elimination in high-risk population with Community Health Centers. Method(s): The Shenzhen Medical Association assigned hepatologists to educate Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) of 13 Community Health Centers in Bao'an District from 2021.6-2022.6. The PCPs need to take HCV knowledge tests before and after the training. Only when all the questions are answered correctly can the test be passed. Then they recommend the high risk population, e.g., PWID, pricking wound, iatrogenic exposure, to do the HCV antibody test and transfer the patients with HCV-Ab (+) to the hepatologist of Shenzhen Bao'an People's Hospital. Result(s): 151 PCPs participated in HCV knowledge education, the pass rate improved from 15.2% to 53.8% after the training. The high risk population screening number in Community Health Centers improved from 192 (a year before) to 300, even affected by the lockdown of COVID-19. The HCV antibody positive rate in high risk population is 4% (12/300), higher than the hospital population (0.8%, Shenzhen Bao'an People's Hospital), the blood donor (0.3%, Shenzhen Blood Center). The HCV-Ab positive patients in communities transferred to Shenzhen Bao'an People's Hospital, where the rate of DAA treatment is improved from 36.6% (a year before) to 64.1%. Conclusion(s): It is an efficient way to achieve HCV elimination earlier to screening in high risk population through PCPs in low prevalence region. Expanding this model to other Community Health Centers in Shenzhen may accelerate HCV elimination. (Figure Presented).

Collaboration between pharmacists in community pharmacy and ambulatory clinic settings: Current state and future directions

Pharmacists in the community and ambulatory settings are primed for collaboration that can optimize care. Now is the time to capitalize on the momentum and positive disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic that propelled pharmacists and their organizations to respond with agility to deliver care in new ways, pivot to develop new partnerships, and leverage technology. The growth of collaborative practice agreements within ambulatory care settings, the enhancement of clinically integrated networks, and the growth in professional organization support create an environment ripe for implementation of pharmacist-to-pharmacist collaborations. The American College of Clinical Pharmacy 2022 Clinical Practice Affairs B Committee sought out literature, as well as prepublication contemporary examples, demonstrating models of intraprofessional collaboration among pharmacists in community and ambulatory settings. The committee formulated six key recommendations to optimize pharmacist collaborations in the community and ambulatory settings and formed a framework for practical implementation strategies at the levels of individual pharmacists, organizations, and educational institutions and for legislative advocacy.Copyright © 2023 Pharmacotherapy Publications, Inc.

Consensus of Chinese experts on the work and demonstration of online Balint groups working committee on doctor-patient relationship, Chinese psychiatrist association, Chinese medical doctor association.

Balint group helps health professionals to get emotional support and different perspectives of feedback, inspire reflection, and alleviate job burnout. During the outbreak of COVID-19, it was difficult for medical staff to carry out the traditional form of in person Balint group. Referring to the work of international pilot online Balint group, leaders of Balint group all over China have accumulated some experience and encountered new problems by using the internet to carry out discussion. In order to assist and standardize the work of online Balint group and enrich the ways of expanding Balint work, the Working Committee on Doctor-patient Relationship, Chinese Psychiatrist Association, Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts to have two rounds of discussion, and developed the consensus on: Principles and forms of online Balint group, the way of using web platforms for demonstration and learning, matters needing attention, the future development, and so on.Copyright © 2021, Peking Union Medical College Hospital. All rights reserved.

Circular medicine. a paradigm of sustainability and resilience in education and professional development

Circular economy is a model of economic, social and environmental production and consumption, aimed to build a sustainable society in tune with the available resources. In the Brundtland Report, (1987, United Nations) sustainability it is defined as an approach focused on "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." The European Medical Association (EMA), that has currently more than 50 000 members, is involved in the advancement of health, pursuing educational and professional goals addressed to the quality of environment, lifestyle and civil society through a circular medicine approach. This is a comprehensive strategy, integrating best medical practice, bioinformatics and molecular biology with economy, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Circular Medicine is the resilient framework linking all these topics with circular economy methods. Innovative possibilities of circular medicine are many: it is a comprehensive paradigm shift, countering a non-medicine based on simplistic algorithms with guidelines of insufficient effectiveness, reliability and generalizability, often passed off as innovative Artificial-Intelligence approaches. We launched in 2020 a still ongoing survey aimed at the dissemination of information and at a greater sensitivity of all our members and followers on these topics, striving to build circular medicine in the real-world. This position document is based on its preliminary results: 1. Studying and investigating the links among health, climate change, biodiversity, circular economy, robust Artificial Intelligence and Machine learning support are goals and needed practice suitable to be pursued by EMA and other medical and scientific associations. Circular economy will be fruitfully used in health facilities, including hospitals, with health professionals and life science researchers acting also in the role of influencers and opinion leaders. 2. The interventions based on epidemiology, environmental sciences, best practice in medicine, sustainable technologies and molecular biology, the pillars of a potential framework of circular medicine, need a robust bioinformatics and Artificial Intelligence support. 3. Academic curricula and health professionals CME courses should provide stronger digital knowledge, reliable procedures trainings and expertise along these lines. Daily routine of clinical observation and participatory dialogue are key elements for the progress toward a culture, practice and accomplishments of circular economy and medicine. 4. Molecular biology, still the most innovative field of medical and life science, has a role for strengthening the pathways of the circular economy, as a reliable and resilient basis of "circular medicine." 5. The lessons of COVID19, the ongoing battles for healthier lifestyles dealing with nutrition, exercise and against alcohol and cigarette smoking, and the concept of smart cities are some of the cornerstones of the proposed strategy for a real-world circular medicine. Debunking interventions against the misuse of scientific and medical are means for the development of circular economy and medicine. Effective roadmaps, guidelines and grids for recognizing and counteracting the overlap of bullying, imposter's fear, insufficient expertise and knowledge, fake assertions and evaluations are actively developed by EMA's ad-hoc workshops. AI knowledge and skills should be implemented within innovative molecular biology and medical best-practice academic-CME curricula.Copyright © 2023 The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

COVID-19 and Type II NSTEMI: A Comprehensive Overview

Introduction: Data on the incidence of type 2 NSTEMI (T2MI) in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection has been limited to single-center studies. We propose to define the incidence of T2MI in a national cohort and identify pre-hospital patient characteristics associated with a diagnosis of T2MI in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We will also examine the impact of T2MI on morbidity and mortality. Method(s): We performed a retrospective analysis on data from the American Heart Association COVID-19 Cardiovascular Disease Quality Improvement Registry. This national registry contains data on tens of thousands of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 from at least 122 centers across the United States. From January 2020 through May 2021, there were 709 (2.2%) out of 32,015 patients with a coded diagnosis of T2MI. We performed Wilcoxon tests, chi-squared test, and multivariable logistic regression to (1) identify predictive pre-hospital patient characteristics (Table 1) of T2MI for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and (2) investigate the impact of T2MI on mortality and morbidity. Result(s): Patients in the T2MI group were older (71 vs. 63 years, p<0.001), and in forward selection analyses, patients with a diagnosis of T2MI had higher odds of known HTN (OR 1.79 [1.01-3.1], p=0.026) and heart failure (OR 3.46 [2.24-5.34], p<0.001). Increased age, admission troponin, CRP, and d-dimer were also associated with higher odds of T2MI. Hispanic race (OR 0.517 [0.289-0.924], p=0.026) and use of antihyperglycemics (OR 0.562 [0.377-0.836], p=0.005) were both associated with lower odds of T2MI. T2MI led to increased mortality (HR 1.32, [1.17-1.5], P<0.001) and morbidity including cardiac arrest, major bleeding, and stroke. Conclusion(s): A history of heart failure was the strongest predictor of T2MI in hospitalized COVID19 patients. Patients with a T2MI compared to those without, had significantly higher mortality and morbidity. Limitations include the heterogenous ascertainment of the T2MI diagnosis across sites in this registry.

IDWeek 2022

IDWeek is the joint annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA), the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS) and the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP). For the first time since the COVID-19 public health emergency began, IDWeek 2022 returned to in-person attendance. It was held in Washington, D.C., and the meeting comprised 5 days of live sessions and on-demand content that included posters and oral presentations.Copyright © 2023 Clarivate.

Vaccination against covid-19 for patients with primary immunodefi ciency and hereditary angioedema: The position paper of the Russian association of allergology, clinical immunology, and the national association of experts in primary immunodefi ciencies.

Since the end of 2019, the whole world has been suff ering from the Corona virus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic due to the potentially severe acute respiratory infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. To date, the infection has led to more than 4 million deaths worldwide, and>140 thousand deaths in Russia. Vaccination against COVID-19 plays a key role in stopping the pandemic. According to the existing experience in infection prevention, mass vaccination will reduce the virus's expansion and the risk of vaccine-resistant strains developing. In the context of COVID-19, the question of the feasibility and safety of vaccination for patients with primary immunodefi ciency and hereditary angioedema arises. The Russian Association of Allergists, Clinical Immunologists, and the National Association of Experts in Primary Immunodefi ciencies have developed and approved a position paper on the vaccination for patients with primary immunodefi ciency and hereditary angioedema against COVID-19. This position paper provides answers to key questions regarding vaccination for patients with these diseases.Copyright © 2020 Pharmarus Print Media License.

Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Maternal SARS-CoV-2 Infection

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has spread worldwide and threatened human's health. With the passing of time, the epidemiology of coronavirus disease 2019 evolves and the knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 infection accumulates. To further improve the scientific and standardized diagnosis and treatment of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in China, the Chinese Society of Perinatal Medicine of Chinese Medical Association commissioned leading experts to develop the Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Maternal SARS-CoV-2 Infection under the guidance of the Maternal and Child Health Department of the National Health Commission. This recommendations includes the epidemiology, diagnosis, management, maternal care, medication treatment, care of birth and newborns, and psychological support associated with maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is hoped that the recommendations will effectively help the clinical management of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection.Copyright © Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Abstracts From the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention/Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health 2022 Scientific Sessions

The proceedings contain 385 papers. The topics discussed include: racial and ethnic differences in the population burden of dementia attributable to modifiable risk factors in the United States;higher visit-to-visit variability in fasting glucose and HbA1c is associated with decline in global cognitive performance: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA);prevalence of stroke symptoms among Hispanic/Latino adults in the Hispanic community health study/study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL);educational attainment and dementia risk: mediation by vascular risk factors at mid-life in the atherosclerosis risk in communities (ARIC) study;a healthy plant-based diet was associated with slower cognitive decline in African Americans: a biracial community-based cohort of older adults;outcome preferences related to cardiovascular preventive therapies in older adults: an online survey;subclinical myocardial injury, coagulopathy, and inflammation in Covid-19: a meta-analysis;COVID-19 and type II NSTEMI: a comprehensive overview;association of antecedent statin use with outcomes of people with Covid-19 admitted at northwestern medicine health system;and social determinants of health and ambulatory outcomes among Covid-19 positive patients: differences by race/ethnicity.

Hypofractionated Postmastectomy Radiotherapy (HF-PMRT): What did We Learn from COVID-19 Era?

Objectives: In breast cancer (BC) patients receiving mastectomy, postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) improves long-term outcomes by decreasing local failure and cancer mortality. However, the optimal PMRT schedule is still under investigation. The present review aims to discuss the evidence regarding hypofractionated (HF) PMRT in BC patients in order to identify the optimal treatment approach. Additional purpose is to highlight what we have learned from COVID-19 era regarding HF schedules for PMRT in BC patients. Mechanism: Between February and November 2021, literature and database research were conducted. Key references were detected from a PubMed query. Range of publication date was between 2000 and 2021. Selection criteria included English language publications in humans. Hand searching included meeting proceedings of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). The website clinicaltrials.gov was also searched. Randomized controlled trials evaluating HF-PMRT were included. Findings in brief: Our research returned 87 published papers. Fourteen trials were included in our final analysis. The comparisons of several different schedules of HF-PMRT with conventional fractionated PMRT provided similar results in terms of locoregional disease control without increasing toxicity. Particularly, an acute skin toxicity incidence grade 2 or higher ranged between 10 and 25% among the studies we analyzed. Conclusion(s): The present paper suggests that safety and efficacy of HF-PMRT is comparable with conventional schedules and standard practice guidelines are already available. COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised the need for increasingly tailored treatment protocols. Modern HF regimens should continue to be the standard of treatment in BC patients who receive PMRT also in the post-COVID-19 era.Copyright © 2023 The Author(s).

COVID-19 pandemic: Practical advice for Endoscopy Units. Mistakes to be avoided. Experience of the Italian North-Eastern Venetian Region.

Italy is the second most affected by coronavirus epidemy country in the world. In this article, members of the Italian Society of Surgical Endoscopy analyze the work of endoscopic units during the COVID-19 pandemic. Authors explain how to stratify patients according to risk groups, how to put on and off personal protective equipment, list decontamination standards for endoscopic equipment and endoscopic room.Copyright © 2020, Media Sphera Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Domestic and foreign guideline overview on prevention and treatment of thromboembolism in patients with coronavirus disease 2019.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can increase the risk of thrombosis and arterial embolism events in patients. The more serious the condition, the higher the risk. Therefore, many academic groups at home and abroad have successively issued guidelines on the prevention and treatment of thrombosis in patients with COVID-19. Among them, American Society of Hematology 2021 guidelines on the use of anticoagulation for thromboprophylaxis in patients with COVID-19 (ASH guidelines) and its updates are newer and have more detailed recommendations on the application of anticoagulant drugs to prevent venous thromboembolism in acutely and critically ill patients with COVID-19. This review aims to provide reference for clinic through general viewing the ASH guidelines as well as other relevant guidelines at home and abroad.Copyright © 2022 Adverse Drug Reactions Journal.

Mental health predictors of medical staff in the early stage of COVID-19 pandemic in Poland

Aim of the study: To identify the sociodemographic predictors of general functioning, stress, anxiety and depression in Polish medical workers' group in the early stage of COVID-19 pandemic. Material(s) and Method(s): A cross-sectional observational study using an online questionnaire was conducted via both professional organizations and social media groups. A total of 303 completed responses were received. More than half of participants (54.8%) work in public hospitals, the majority was females (77.6%), nurses (38.3%), the age was ranged from 22 to 68 years (M = 41.37;SD = 11.38). The semi-structured online questionnaire covered following areas: (1) general sociodemografic data, including health state and COVID-19 related questions;(2) psychological impact and mental health, measured by GHQ-30 and DASS-21. Result(s): Overall, our results showed that sex, years of experience and profession have predictive power to explain mental health being of medical workers during COVID-19. In our study, females reported worse general functioning (GHQ-30) and higher stress (DASS-21) than males. Longer working experience is predictor of better interpersonal relationships (GHQ-30). Discussion(s): Years of experience and gender accounted for 27% of the variance of the level of stress in medical staff group. With the years of experience of healthcare professionals, the stress decreases. Nurses reported less severity of anxiety than other medical workers. We assume those results are connected with education process as well as experience level. Conclusion(s): It may be important to develop a personalized intervention, considering the main predictors of mental well-being. Authorities should consider creating the tailored-made programs for medical professions.Copyright © 2023 Polish Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.