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Clinical presentation of COVID-19 infection can be variable in the current pandemic even in patients presenting to the clinic with a mild history of upper respiratory complaints. Various cutaneous manifestations have been noticed in COVID-19 patients with herpes zoster (HZ) being one among them. HZ is an infection that results when varicella zoster virus reactivates from its latent state in the posterior dorsal root ganglion. Here, we aim to expand our knowledge by reporting three cases of associated zoster infection in COVID-19 patients admitted to our intensive care unit in view of respiratory complaints. All the three patients admitted, had revealed lymphocytopenia at the time of HZ diagnosis, and were managed conservatively throughout the course. In all the cases, acyclovir/valacyclovir led to the resolution of lesions in 10 days. No postherpetic sequelae were observed. We here suggest that the clinical presentation of HZ at the time of the current pandemic should be considered as an alarming sign for a latent subclinical SARS CoV-2 infection and thorough follow-up of such patients be adopted.Copyright © 2021 Bali Journal of Anesthesiology. All rights reserved.
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a very low interest rate policy was economically applied in Korea, and various investment activities through loans were activated. Real estate and stock prices rose rapidly, and many people became involved in stock investments because of economic instability. However, hastily started investment behavior resulted in economic loss and addictive behavior in stocks. The phenomenon of using stock investment to satisfy individual sensation seeking or addictive dependence on stocks due to lowered life satisfaction expectancy can become a serious social problem. However, the improvement of distress tolerance and the ability to endure pain despite frequent stock price fluctuations or lowered life satisfaction expectancy would be good alternatives to prevent stock addiction tendency. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to test the moderating effect of distress tolerance on the effect of adults' sensation seeking and life satisfaction expectancy in stock addiction tendencies. The participants were 272 adults with stock investment experience. As a result, distress tolerance significantly moderated the positive effect of sensation seeking on stock addiction tendency. In addition, life satisfaction expectancy did not significantly increase in the group with high distress tolerance even if life satisfaction expectancy was lowered. These results suggest that stock addiction can be prevented by enhancing distress tolerance.
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Background: Since the outbreak of COVID-19, vaccination has been considered as an important measure against it. Side effects have always been an inseparable component of vaccination, which in this study, Sinopharm vaccine, its side effects and the differences of their manifestation amongst men and women have been investigated. Objective(s): This study aimed to compare the side effects of the Sinopharm vaccine among men and women working in some medical centers in Tehran, Iran. Method(s): This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study on 890 healthcare workers of 7 medical centers in Tehran within 2 months, from late June to late August 2021. The samples were selected by the complete enumeration method, and the required data were collected using a questionnaire. Only those who received the Sinopharm vaccine at least 10 days before the study were included. Result(s): Of 890 participants, 22.96% and 77.30% were women and men, respectively, and 65.8% of women and 78.1% of men were in the age range of 20-29 years. It was revealed that 74.75% of women and 26.16% of men had at least one side effect. The incidence of at least one side effect was significantly higher in women than in men (P<0.001). It was also found that 12 side effects were significantly higher in women than in men. Most men and women had side effects within the first 24 h after vaccination. There was no significant difference in taking therapeutic measures to reduce or minimize the post-vaccination complications between men and women;however, 9.4% of men and 27.2% of women reported a decline in their ability to perform daily activities as they were unable to do their everyday tasks the day after vaccination which was significantly different between the two groups (P<0.001). Conclusion(s): The results showed that the occurrence rate of side effects after receiving the Sinopharm vaccine was significantly higher in women than in men. Moreover, women were significantly less able to perform daily routines than men.Copyright © 2022, Author(s).
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Studies about headaches associated with acute ischemic stroke in patients suffering from migraine were limited, and therefore we present a clinical case of central post-stroke pain (CPSP) in a 47-year-old woman with migraine and lacunar infarcts in the medulla oblongata and also possible mechanisms of CPSP in patients with migraine. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed lacunar infarction in the medulla oblongata on the right (vertebral artery basin) and a single focus of gliosis in the parietal lobe on the right. Magnetic resonance angiography of cerebral vessels showed the fetal type of structure of both posterior cerebral arteries. This clinical case is a complex clinical situation of a combination of secondary headaches (post-stroke) in a patient with a primary headache (migraine), which was successfully treated by the combined administration of first-line drugs for the treatment of neuropathic pain in a patient with lacunar infarcts in the medulla oblongata. The treatment of CPSP is a difficult task due to the insufficiently unexplored mechanisms of development, the most effective approaches are those aimed at reducing the increased excitability of neurons.Copyright © 2023, Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists. All rights reserved.
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Millions of people will now suffer from long-term smell loss as a result of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Smell is an integral component of the flavor of foods, which is one of the primary drivers of ingestive behavior. When individuals lose their sense of smell, they find food to be less flavorful and less enjoyable, which negatively impacts their quality of life. To compensate, many individuals alter their diet by focusing on tastes, chemesthesis (e.g., chili pepper heat, menthol cooling), and the texture of foods to make it more palatable. Some diet alterations, such as increasing salt use, can result in a lower diet quality, and an increased risk for chronic disease. Sensory nutrition is an area of research that focuses on how the chemical senses (e.g. taste, smell, chemesthesis) and oral somatosensation) affect dietary choices and health. Sensory nutrition strategies designed for individuals with smell loss may help improve the flavor and liking of foods while improving diet quality, and are a necessary area of future research to help improve health and quality of life in the growing population with smell loss.Copyright © 2022 The Author(s)
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Public health officials are gravely concerned about the harm that viral illnesses continue to pose to humanity, various viral outbreaks, including the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona-Virus (MERS-CoV), H1N1 influenza, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and SARS CoV-2 or COVID-19 that struck the globe in December 2019. A wide range of COVID-19 oral symptoms, such as ulceration, blisters, enanthems, hemorrhagic sores and cheilitis. Aim(s): to investigate the prevalence of oral symptoms amongst COVID-19 patients due to the disease's aggressive nature and diverse symptomatology and to assess the impact of oral health conditions on COVID-19 disease severity in a sample of Iraqi people. Material(s) and Method(s): a cross-sectional study was conducted on (200) patients in total, (81) male and (119) female, who were identified as SARS-COV2 patients. Result(s): COVID confirmed patients were involved in the present study with mean age (36.69+/-17.22) years & age range of (16-78) years. at least one of the oral manifestations was present in 72.5% of the patients, while about 27.5% did not experience any oro-facial symptoms. The oral symptom with the highest prevalence was dry mouth 50% followed by gustatory dysfunction 37% then burning mouth sensation 22.5% after that the oral pain 17%;myofacial pain 15.5 %;stomatitis\mucositis 14.5%;the prevalence of aphthous lesions, fissural cheilitis and tongue depapillation were at the same percentage which was 9.5%;then candidiasis 7.5%;the least prevalent oral symptoms was gingival bleeding at percentage of 2.5%. Conclusion(s): COVID-19 has a noticeable effect on oral cavity, there was a correlations between some general and orofacial manifestations of COVID-19.Copyright © 2023, Codon Publications. All rights reserved.
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December 2019 has become one of the most surprising days in the whole world in light of the flare-up of a most infectious sickness brought about by novel Covid or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study is conducted to assess the benefits of the use of home remedies to prevent the cause of Covid-19 and evaluate the assessment of dietary changes and physical activity in the prevention of Covid-19. A questionnaire-based online survey is conducted using Google forms consisting of multiple-choice questions about home remedies, lifestyle and dietary changes made by the people during this pandemic. These home remedies included using different types of herbal preparations, steam inhalation, physical exercise and OTC medications for prophylaxis. Questions likewise included about being infected by Coronavirus-19(during first wave or second) and their recovery period, additionally collected their viewpoint for changes made, for example how much they are useful in the prevention of the attack and whenever encountered any undesirable impacts. Total responses were 210, among which 121(57.6%) responses were from females and 89(42.4%) from males. 65 people tested Covid positive (42 during the first wave and 23 during the second wave). 118(56.2%) of people think these changes are very beneficial. (Rated 4 and 5 out of 5 points). From our survey, we concluded that different herbal preparations of their composition, which they thought are helpful, and steam inhalations have been used. Rating regarding the use and effectiveness was also found to be average. Further studies are needed to prove and provide clear evidence about adverse and side effects associated with the use of herbal products.Copyright © 2022 Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. All rights reserved.
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The online environment has long been a sensory interaction between a brand or product and its consumers through visual imagery and sonic elements. While newer technologies have developed that cater to a customer's more psychological need for haptics (touch), gestation, and olfaction, brands have not explored its true potential. Immersions and other forms of Human-Computer interaction have vastly developed and present scope for more than just a single sense for online consumers. While brands are employing these multisensory interfaces (vs. single-sensory) in certain product categories, it remains to be seen whether customers who unknowingly experience sensations online want to adapt to it. Several product categories could find multisensory elements beneficial. This study aims to delve deeper and understand the motivations of such behavior and identify the need for a customer to engage all its senses beyond the traditional visuals and sound while interacting with brands virtually for a more holistic experience. While external environmental factors such as pandemics have resulted in the inevitable loss of physical touchpoints, the aim is to determine whether sensory elements beyond images and sounds will benefit customer engagement.Copyright © 2022 Novyi Russkii Universitet. All rights reserved.
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Pseudo-haptics refers to the simulation of haptic sensations without the use of haptic interfaces, using, for example, audiovisual feedback and kinesthetic cues. Given the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to online learning, there has been a recent interest in pseudo-haptics as it can help facilitate psychomotor skills development away from simulation centers and laboratories. Here we present work-in-progress that describes the study design of a pseudo-haptics for virtual anesthesia skills development. We anticipate this work will provide greater insight to pseudo-haptics and its application to anesthesia-based training. © 2022 IEEE.
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This paper focuses on the extraordinary 245-metre-long Pergola on Hampstead Heath, designed by renowned landscape architect Thomas Mawson between 1905 and 1925, and funded by William Lever, Lord Leverhulme, owner of the property. The paper focuses on the Pergola's potential as an exemplar for considering more creative, sensory and sociable provision for urban pedestrians After detailing its origins and key features, the discussion explores the shifting uses of the Pergola over the past hundred years as it has changed from private realm to public space, yet these changes have accentuated its enduring landscape architectural qualities as a structure for pleasurable walking. The paper particularly focuses how the structure has been adopted as a contemporary site for walking and as a venue for numerous photographic and filmic practices. I conclude by suggesting that these virtues might inform more assiduous pedestrians provision following the rise in walking during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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SARS-CoV-2 infection has been associated with multiple neurological manifestations. One such manifestation, which has been described since the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and is relevant for current neurological practice, is Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). The literature describes neurotoxic mechanisms of the virus itself and the possible pathways by which it may affect the peripheral nerves in experimental studies;however, we still lack information on the mechanisms causing the immune response that gives rise to GBS in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Colombia is one of the Latin American countries worst affected by the pandemic, with the third-highest number of cases in the region;thus, it is essential to recognise GBS, as this potential postinfectious complication may severely compromise the patient's functional status in the absence of timely diagnosis and treatment. We present a series of 12 cases of GBS associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection from hospitals in 4 different Colombian cities and describe the clinical presentation, laboratory and electrophysiological study findings, and treatment.Copyright © 2022 Sociedad Espanola de Neurologia
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This study aimed to predict the medical students attitudes toward e-learning concerning their sensation-seeking traits during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. For this purpose, through a cross-sectional study, the required data was collected using two questionnaires from 921 students at a University of Medical Sciences. The findings showed that there is a significant negative correlation between the participants attitudes toward e-learning regarding the four investigated personality traits, thrill and adventure seeking (TSA), experience seeking (ES), disinhibition (DIS), and boredom susceptibility (BS), r=-0.38,-0.20,-0.07, and-0.09, respectively (p 0.05). In addition, the three traits of ES, TAS, and Dis could significantly predict 15.9% of the participants attitudes toward e-learning. The findings imply that higher sensation seekers may not welcome e-learning programs. © 2022 IGI Global. All rights reserved.
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Weiqi, defensive qi (qi defensivum, weiqi) is deployed throughout the external surfaces (extima, biao) and flows through the channels. This defensive qi (qi defensivum, weiqi) protects the body from external heteropathies (xie). It also regulates body temperature, sweating, circadian rhythm and sensory perceptions. In the system of six main channels in the Treatise on Cold Damage (Shanghan lun) a disorder of the major yang (yang maior, taiyang) is regarded as an illness of the defensive qi (qi defensivum, weiqi). In the four-levels model of Warm Diseases (morbi temperati, wenbing) a disturbance of this defensive layer (qi defensivum, weiqi) is related to the early stage of fever caused by warm pathogens (calor heteropathies, rexie) as, for example, in the case of influenza, pneumonia, Covid-19, etc. This article cites passages from the Treatise on Cold Damage (Shanghan lun) and from the doctrine of Warm Diseases (morbi temperati, wenbing) for the treatment with Chinese phytotherapy;it also describes the corresponding acupuncture points and moxibustion treatments and how the theory of defensive qi (qi defensivum, weiqi) is to be applied in the treatment of long Covid, sleep disorders, depression and anxiety, sweating and bi-syndrome.Copyright © 2023, The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.
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Covid 19 is a pandemic disease spread almost in the whole world. To date, no medical advancement to curb the virus. Coronavirus is an enveloped virus transmitted from the biological and non-biological surface by direct or indirect contact. Limited literature revealed that the enveloped virus can be killed by disinfectants. There are many biocidal agents used for decontamination of the virus, yet they have many issues like toxicity, killing time, activation requirement, etc. Some are specific to the inanimate surface but not used by a human being. This current situation showed an urgent need for a biocidal agent which can act on biological as well as non-biological surfaces without any potential toxicity. Moreover, it should be easy to handle, inexpensive, and safe for the environment. Hypochlorous acid is a weak acid that acts as a powerful disinfectant and shows biocidal efficacy against a wide range of microorganisms. Hypochlorous acid is simple to use, inexpensive, eco-friendly, non-toxic, and stable. The properties of HOCl can be regulated at the site of preparation and therefore, its compliance is high. Hypochlorous acid seems to be a promising agent in disinfection and sterilization in healthcare facilities. Due to its diverse biocidal actions, it may be used as a potent disinfectant against novel coronavirus.Copyright © 2022 Bentham Science Publishers.
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Wearable sensors and machine learning algorithms are widely used for predicting an individual's thermal sensation. However, most of the studies are limited to controlled laboratory experiments with inconvenient wearable sensors without considering the dynamic behavior of ambient conditions. In this study, we focused on predicting individual dynamic thermal sensation based on physiological and psychological data. We designed a smart face mask that can measure skin temperature (SKT) and exhaled breath temperature (EBT) and is powered by a rechargeable battery. Real-time human experiments were performed in a subway cabin with twenty male students under natural conditions. The data were collected using a smartphone application, and we created features using the wavelet decomposition technique. The bagged tree algorithm was selected to train the individual model, which showed an overall accuracy and f-1 score of 98.14% and 96.33%, respectively. An individual's thermal sensation was significantly correlated with SKT, EBT, and associated features.
Subject(s)
Masks , Railroads , Humans , Skin Temperature , Temperature , Thermosensing/physiologyABSTRACT
During the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing masks in public spaces has become a protective strategy. Field tests and questionnaire surveys were carried out at a university library in Guangzhou, China, during June 2021 and January 2022. The indoor environmental parameters were observed, thermal sensation votes of students on various environmental parameters were collected, symptoms of students wearing masks were quantified, and the appropriate amount of time to wear masks was established. To identify acceptable and comfortable temperature ranges, the relationship between thermal sensation and thermal index was investigated. During summer and winter, people wearing masks are symptomatic for a certain duration. The most frequently voted symptom was facial heat (62.7 % and 54.6 % during summer and winter, respectively), followed by dyspnea. During summer, more than 80 % of the participants subjects were uncomfortable and showed some symptoms after wearing masks for more than 2 h (3 h during winter). In the summer air conditioning environment in Guangzhou, the neutral Top was 26.4 °C, and the comfortable Top range was 25.1–27.7 °C. Under the natural ventilation environment in winter, the neutral Top was 20.5 °C, and the comfortable Top range was 18.5–22.5 °C. This study may provide guidance for indoor office work and learning to wear masks in Guangzhou. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd
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COVID-19 has caused stress, negative emotions, and a reduction in physical and social activity due to the lockdown measures that were necessary for public health. During this period, many had to negotiate professional and familial responsibilities and were challenged to carve out time for leisure indoors. Using autoethnography as a method of inquiry, this research explores 'armchair travel' through video games as a leisure activity. Therefore, the article discusses memories and feelings of escaping the confines of domestic space from the perspective of self. Armchair travel via video games may provide an endless array of sights and sensations, bringing up feelings of leisure and contentment when real-world isolation and restriction are the norms. [ FROM AUTHOR]
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PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine consumers' dining behaviors and explore their decision-making process when dining out during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachBased on the extended parallel process model (EPPM) and the related literature, a conceptual model was developed and tested. This study conducted an online survey with 351 responses. In addition, a series of statistical analyses, including descriptive analyses and path analyses, were conducted to analyze the associations among key constructs in the proposed model.FindingsThe findings of this study confirmed the pragmatic utility of applying EPPM in a hospitality management context. The findings of this study also outline the different nature between the participants' enactment of self-protective measures and dining out activities. Lastly, while consumers are hesitant about dining out, the results showed that consumers' dining behaviors are directly related to their personality trait of sensation-seeking.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was delimited to a cross-sectional design and self-reported data. Such information may provide insights into individuals' decision-making and behaviors related to dining in a COVID-19 context. In addition, this study only includes US samples, while future studies can extend this study by including samples from different countries and cultural backgrounds.Originality/valueThis study adopts an interdisciplinary approach, which derives from tourism and hospitality management and public health. As a result, the findings of this study not only identify the major influencers affecting consumers' dining behavior but also help contextualize a public health model and contribute to the tourism and hospitality management literature.
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Working under a significant metabolic rate while wearing an N95 mask increased the heat stress that users of protective clothing experienced. This study investigated in a climatic chamber preset at 25 degrees C and a relative humidity of 65% the changes in thermoregulation and thermal perception of 13 men and 12 women when performing exercises involving different metabolic consumption for 60 min first without wearing an N95 mask for 30 min and then donning a mask. The physiological parameters include the metabolic rate, tympanic temperature, heart rate, skin temperature, skin moisture, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Thermal perceptions, including thermal sensation, humidity sensation, thermal comfort, and thermal acceptance were surveyed. The results show that both N95 mask use and exercising contributed to vigorous thermoregulation, particularly in women. The tympanic temperature was between 35.5 degrees C and 36.5 degrees C during the experiment for both sexes. Skin temperature during the exercise with or without donning a mask was not influenced by the change in workload, indicating a balance in heat exchange between the body and ambient air. Skin moisture increased by 58.91% and 49.99% when the users of masks performed exercises involving moderate and very high metabolic rates, respectively, compared to levels when a mask was not worn. The TEWL of women and men when wearing a mask and jogging increased by 16.35% and 14.89%, respectively, compared to when not wearing the mask. These results suggests a potential thermal stress from using N95 masks and working in a warm environment when the users are not acclimatized.
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Introduction: Urticaria is a common condition which has clinical overlap with urticarial vasculitis, a rare entity affecting <1% of the population. We report a case of typical acute urticaria evolving into urticarial vasculitis. Case Description: A 58-year-old female with a history of endometrial hyperplasia, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and asthma was initially seen in Allergy and Immunology clinic following an episode of severe perioperative anaphylaxis, determined to be due to cefazolin. Two months later, she presented with new-onset urticaria and angioedema following a mild self-resolving viral illness. The rash was pruritic, with migratory lesions lasting for <24 hours, and not associated with ecchymoses upon resolution. Initial physical examination was notable for erythematous wheals with blanching. She was started on high dose second-generation antihistamines and received multiple steroid tapers with transient improvement. Four weeks after initiation of the rash, she developed a new-onset burning sensation at its site and subsequently developed painful hyperpigmented purpuric lesions in prior areas of urticaria. She had no associated fever, ocular involvement, abdominal pain, or joint pains. Laboratory values were significant for negative CBC, CMP, ESR, TSH, tryptase, c-KIT mutation analysis, ANA, C1q, C3, C4, and SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibodies. Extensive autoimmune workup was negative. Skin biopsy revealed leukocytoclastic vasculitis consistent with urticarial vasculitis. Patient was started on omalizumab with initial improvement. Discussion(s): Although initially presenting with acute urticaria, the progression of atypical urticarial symptoms warranted consideration of alternative diagnoses, including urticarial vasculitis. This case highlights the clinical overlap between acute/chronic urticaria and urticarial vasculitis which may result in a delay in diagnosis. Copyright © 2022