MFS Design in Appstore-enabled Smart Featurephones for Low-literate, Marginalized Communities

Mobile Financial Services (MFS) has gained significant popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among marginalized and low-income, low-literate communities around the world. Such communities have not been traditionally considered while designing MFS services via smartphone apps or USSD services in featurephones. Financial constraints limit such end-users towards basic featurephones, where recent appstore support has made it possible to deploy app-based MFS solutions beyond USSD. This new featurephone platform is a relatively underexplored area in terms of addressing design issues related to aforementioned end-users while developing MFS solutions. Our work addresses this gap by presenting qualitative findings on barriers to technology access focused on MFS solutions in marginal communities. We present a prototype non-USSD, app-based solution on an appstore-supported featurephone platform designed via a human-centered approach. This work has the potential to increase the financial inclusivity of marginalized communities in cashless MFS transactions via low-cost, appstore-enabled featurephones. © 2023 ACM.

Synthesis and Antiviral Efficacy of Pyrimidine Analogs Targeting Viral Pathways

To date, viruses are known to cause chronic to acute pathogenesis. Nevertheless, antiviral drugs have been known for their medicinal applications for the last few decades to treat infections caused by these pathogens. Despite advancements in the field of vaccination and antiviral drugs, there is a need for a molecule that can eradicate or control viral infection without getting resistance from pathogens will be a real challenge. This review covers possible ways to treat viral infections with pyrimidine and its mimics compared to known antiviral drugs. A comprehensive study of the report accomplished synthetic routes of pyrimidine analogs and their target-specific antiviral potential. The present review article covers literature from 2018 to 2022.

Prevention of COVID-19 coronavirus infection with aminodihydrophthalazinedione sodium (Galavit) in medical staff of the "red zone": results of the multicenter observational study

COVID-hospital healthcare workers belong to a high-risk SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aminodihydrophthalazinedione sodium (Galavit) belongs to the group of immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory drugs. It has been shown that aminodihydrophthalazinedione sodium is effective in the prevention of acute respiratory infections, respiratory tract diseases and ENT-organs of bacterial and viral etiology. The purpose of the study. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of immunoprophylaxis of new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) with aminodihydrophthalazinedione sodium in healthcare workers providing medical care in the "red zone". Material and methods. A multicenter prospective-retrospective observational comparative non-randomized study in healthcare workers providing medical care in the "red zone" was conducted. 428 participants were included in the study: the observation group - healthcare workers who administered aminodihydrophthalazinedione sodium (Galavit) for prophylactic purposes (n=214), and control group (n=214). The observation period of the participants or the period of collecting retrospective data in the study was 30 days. The results of PCR tests and tests for antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed, clinical status (COVID-19 in any form) was assessed. Descriptive statistic methods and Pearson chi2 test were used. The risk ratios, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated with them. The influence of potential confounding factors (age, gender, work place in clinical site, the presence or absence of concomitant disease) on the clinical status were analyzed using logistic regression. The analysis of propensity score matching was carried out. The Stata/IC 14.2 for Windows software used for statistical analysis. Results and discussion. Observational study results describe the risk ratios and odds ratios of infection with a new coronavirus (COVID-19) in healthcare workers providing medical care in the "red zone" considering prophylactic administration of aminodihydrophthalazinedione sodium (Galavit). 205 (95.8%) participants in the group of healthcare workers who took aminodihydrophthalazinedione sodium (Galavit) for prophylactic purposes and 194 (90.7%) participants in control group had a negative PCR test during the observation period, chi2=4.48, p=0.034. The risk of a positive status according to the PCR test for 30 days in the preventive group was 0,04, and in the control group 0.09. The risk difference was -0.05 [95% confidence interval (CI) -0.099;-0.004]. The adjusted odds ratio using multiple logistic regression was - 0.41 (95% CI 0.18-0.93). No adverse events were observed during the prophylactic administration of aminodihydrophthalazinedione sodium over 30 days. Conclusion. Galavit preventive administration in a tablet form at a dose of 50-100 mg per day by employees of medical institutions providing medical care to patients with CIVID-19 significantly reduces the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and more than 2 times increases the chances not ill of new coronavirus infection. Galavit administration up to 30 days at a dose of 50-100 mg was well tolerated, no adverse events were registered.Copyright © 2022 by the authors.

SAFETY OF Ad26.COV2.S AND AZD1222 COVID-19 VACCINES AMONG ADULTS IN MALAWI

Background: The safety profiles of the Ad26.COV2.S and AZD1222 COVID-19 vaccines have not been described in a general population in Malawi. We present self-reported adverse reactions (AE) following receipt of these vaccines in Malawi as part of a phone-based syndromic surveillance survey. Method(s): We conducted phone-based syndromic surveillance surveys among adults (>=18 years) with verbal consent from July 2020 to April 2022. We used secure tablets through random digit dialing to randomly select mobile phone numbers and electronic data collection forms. Survey questions included whether the respondent had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccines, whether they had experienced any AE following vaccination, and the severity of the AE. We used multivariable analysis to identify factors associated with self-reported adverse reactions post-COVID-19 vaccination. Result(s): A total of 11,924 (36.0%) out of 33,150 participants reported receiving at least one dose of either Ad26.COV2.S or AZD1222 between July-December 2021;65.1% were female. An estimated 49.2% of the vaccine recipients reported at least one AE, 90.6% of which were mild, and 2.6% were severe. About 16.9% (n=656) of respondents who received the first dose of AZD1222 had AE, while 50.2% (n=2,823) of those who received the second dose of AZD1222 and nearly all individuals (n=2,385) who received Ad26.COV2.S reported AE. Joint pain (45.5%), fever (26.7%), headache (26.1%), pain at the injection site (24.4%), and fatigue (16.6%) were among the commonly reported AE. Males were less likely to report an AE compared to females [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 0.81 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75-0.88]. Older age was associated with reduced odds of an AE compared to those aged 18-24 years: 65 years+ (AOR 0.62, 95% CI 0.50- 0.77). The likelihood of reporting AE increased with education level: tertiary education AOR 2.63 95% CI 1.96-3.53. Respondents who thought COVID-19 vaccines were not safe were more likely to report post-vaccination adverse reactions than those who thought it was very safe (AOR 1.44, 95% CI 1.30-1.61). Conclusion(s): Ad26.COV2.S and AZD1222 vaccines are well-tolerated, with primarily mild and few severe AE among adults living in Malawi. Self-report of AE following COVID-19 vaccine receipt is associated with gender, age, education, and concern about the safety of the vaccines. Recognizing these associations is key when designing and implementing COVID-19 vaccination communication messages to increase vaccination coverage.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences on children's internet addiction and use of smartphone and tablet

BACKGROUND: Digital devices have represented a fundamental resource for maintaining communication relationships during the period of restrictive measures imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. However it is evident that this period has contributed to increase the risks connected to the inappropriate use of digital devices. The aim of our study is to demonstrate how the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdown had an impact on children's use of digital devices. METHOD(S): One hundred and thirty children aged between six and 18 from Montalto di Castro were recruited in the study carried out in November 2020. All participants were asked to fill in two identical questionnaires: questions of the first questionnaire were related to the pre-lockdown period, while questions of the second questionnaire were related to the period between March and November 2020. RESULT(S): The average age of the 130 participants was 11.8+/-2 years. The amount of time spent by using digital devices is significantly lower in the pre-lockdown period than in the lockdown period (P<0.02). The smartphone addiction index is significantly lower in the pre-lockdown period (P<0.001). The analysis of headaches in the early morning hours - considered as one of the effects deriving from the use of the smartphone before sleeping - showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). There are also significant differences related to physical activity and its frequency, with data showing the increase of children who did not perform physical activity (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION(S): This study does not only show a constant increase over time of the smartphone/tablet use, but also how the pandemic and social restrictions have worsened the phenomenon itself. This is particularly evident for the duration of exposure to screens, the addiction to smartphones, the quality of sleep and the practice of physical activity.Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA.

Impact of VA's video telehealth tablets on substance use disorder care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Telehealth has the potential to improve health care access for patients but it has been underused and understudied for examining patients with substance use disorders (SUD). VA began distributing video-enabled tablets to veterans with access barriers in 2016 to facilitate participation in home-based telehealth and expanded this program in 2020 due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: Examine the impact of VA's video-enabled telehealth tablets on mental health services for patients diagnosed with SUD. METHODS: This study included VA patients who had ≥1 mental health visit in the calendar year 2019 and a documented diagnosis of SUD. Using difference-in-differences and event study designs, we compared outcomes for SUD-diagnosed patients who received a video-enabled tablet from VA between March 15th, 2020 and December 31st, 2021 and SUD-diagnosed patients who never received VA tablets, 10 months before and after tablet-issuance. Outcomes included monthly frequency of SUD psychotherapy visits, SUD specialty group therapy visits and SUD specialty individual outpatient visits. We examined changes in video visits and changes in visits across all modalities of care (video, phone, and in-person). Regression models adjusted for several covariates such as age, sex, rurality, race, ethnicity, physical and mental health chronic conditions, and broadband coverage in patients' residential zip-code. RESULTS: The cohort included 21,684 SUD-diagnosed tablet-recipients and 267,873 SUD-diagnosed non-recipients. VA's video-enabled tablets were associated with increases in video visits for SUD psychotherapy (+3.5 visits/year), SUD group therapy (+2.1 visits/year) and SUD individual outpatient visits (+1 visit/year), translating to increases in visits across all modalities (in-person, phone and video): increase of 18 % for SUD psychotherapy (+1.9 visits/year), 10 % for SUD specialty group therapy (+0.5 visit/year), and 4 % for SUD specialty individual outpatient treatment (+0.5 visit/year). CONCLUSIONS: VA's distribution of video-enabled tablets during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with higher engagement with video-based services for SUD care among patients diagnosed with SUD, translating to modest increases in total visits across in-person, phone and video modalities. Distribution of video-enabled devices can offer patients critical continuity of SUD therapy, particularly in scenarios where they have heightened barriers to in-person care.

The Use of Tablet PCs in Previously Disadvantaged Secondary Schools in South Africa During the Covid-19 Pandemic

The South African Department of Basic Education (DBE) has considered the introduction of Tablet PCs an important aspect in improving the quality of education in South Africa. The Covid-19 pandemic has hastened the introduction of Tablet PCs due to the increased need for distance and online learning. Educators are often unwilling to accept and use Tablet PCs for teaching and learning because they do not have the necessary skills to integrate Tablet PCs into their pedagogical practices. This paper discusses the practical implications of the introduction of Tablet PCs into previously disadvantaged schools in South Africa specifically during the Covid-19 pandemic. To provide guidance to the DBE, principals, and educators to promote effective use and acceptance of Tablet PCs by educators for classroom and distance learning. © 2023, Association for Information Systems. All rights reserved.

An Evaluation of Output from a Uvc Disinfection System

Purpose: UVC radiation has been proven to kill known pathogens and recent years have seen increased adoption of UVC disinfection technology in healthcare settings in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 and other common hospital-acquired infections. European Council Directive 2006/25/EC outlines the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) levels for workers due to artificial optical radiation. Knowing the output of a UVC disinfection system allows us to better quantify the risks however this quantitative information is not readily available to the user for some systems. The purpose of this study was to measure the output of a UVC disinfection system used in a hospital environment using a light meter calibrated for the UVC range. Material(s) and Method(s): The THOR UVC disinfection system (Finsen Technologies Ltd, UK) was used for this study. This system uses 90- watt TUV PL-L mercury lamps (Philips Lighting, UK) which emit UVC light at 254nm. It features 24 bulbs around a central column, and the system is controlled remotely via a tablet interface. An ILT2400 light meter (International Light Technologies, USA) calibrated for the 254nm UVC range was mounted on a tripod. The output was measured under different conditions to determine repeatability, consistency, and variation with height, distance, orientation, and exposure time. Unless stated otherwise the measurements were taken at a distance of 1m and a height of 1.5m. The test area chosen was representative of the maximum size of a patient room with an area of 31m2. Result(s): The mean maximum output of the system was 2.2+/-0.1 mW/ cm2. This was found to be consistent over a period of 25 minutes. These results were used to calculate the time to reach the MPE (T[MPE]). The output at a tower orientation of 0degree and 180degree was found to be 22% higher than those at orientations of 90degree and 270degree. Conclusion(s): Using these quantitative results, it was possible to determine the maximum permissible exposure time for the UVC radiation emitted from this system. The observed variations in system output due to contributions of scattered radiation, system orientation, and height may have implications for the degree of disinfection achieved. The T[MPE] of 2.6 seconds based on these measurements was 20% lower than the value estimated. The orientation of the system was shown to impact the T[MPE]. These results highlight that a multidisciplinary approach which includes Medical Physics should be taken when introducing these systems to a hospital environment. Note: changed to ePoster after submission.Copyright © 2023 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation.

Early switch from cladribine to alemtuzumab in highly-active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A case report

Background Management of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and evidence of disease activity during treatment with cladribine tablets represents a challenging point. Objectives To report a patient with highly active multiple sclerosis (HAMS) who has been early switched from cladribine to alemtuzumab owing to tumultuous clinical and radiological activity Methods A single retrospective case report. Results. Treatment with alemtuzumab has led to a complete suppression of disease activity without any evidence of infections or acquired autoimmune diseases. Conclusion Our report suggests that an early switch from cladribine to alemtuzumab, may be safe and efficacious in selected HAMS cases.Copyright © 2022 The Authors

Tele-Audiology: Current State and Future Directions.

The importance of tele-audiology has been heightened by the current COVID-19 pandemic. The present article reviews the current state of tele-audiology practice while presenting its limitations and opportunities. Specifically, this review addresses: (1) barriers to hearing healthcare, (2) tele-audiology services, and (3) tele-audiology key issues, challenges, and future directions. Accumulating evidence suggests that tele-audiology is a viable service delivery model, as remote hearing screening, diagnostic testing, intervention, and rehabilitation can each be completed reliably and effectively. The benefits of tele-audiology include improved access to care, increased follow-up rates, and reduced travel time and costs. Still, significant logistical and technical challenges remain from ensuring a secure and robust internet connection to controlling ambient noise and meeting all state and federal licensure and reimbursement regulations. Future research and development, especially advancements in artificial intelligence, will continue to increase tele-audiology acceptance, expand remote care, and ultimately improve patient satisfaction.

Tablets as a vehicle for imprisoned people's digital connection with loved ones

The intersection between criminal justice and technology is fairly understudied, despite increasing technological advancements in the world and within the criminal justice system. A rather recent addition to the technological landscape of prison is the adoption of tablets used by imprisoned people for communication and connection with loved ones and other activities, which is particularly important given the context of COVID-19, a virus which caused a global pandemic from 2020-2022. While the use of tablets by imprisoned people appears to be a new trend, the use of tablets in prison both prior to and during the pandemic has remained an untested phenomenon, not yet evaluated by social scientists. The dissertation sought to address this gap in literature by interviewing fifteen people formerly incarcerated in the Ohio State Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) and surveying a difficult to reach population, people currently incarcerated in ODRC (n=78), concerning their communication with loved ones using tablets and its meaning on their life and re-entry into society. The results of this study indicate that tablets are socially-situated in nature, and therefore the meaning of tablets depends upon the use of tablets by imprisoned people which is mediated by several factors concerning imprisoned people's individual and environmental contexts. The quantitative study indicates that imprisoned people's use and experience of tablets prior to and during COVID-19 is mediated by their demographic characteristics such as their age, parental status, marital status, and years served in prison, according to the quantitative study. The qualitative study indicates that several factors concerning imprisoned people's life inside of prison (e.g., technical glitches and correctional officers' attitudes) and outside of prison (e.g., their support system and financial standing) mediate their use of tablets in prison, and ultimately undermine the meaning of tablets for imprisoned people. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Doing and talking: People with intellectual disabilities' handling of challenges of remote communication

This article is about the challenge of communication via smartphones and tablets by people with intellectual disabilities (ID). We will give special attention to persons that struggle with verbal communication. One of our co-researchers, the fourth author, has a severe ID. She cannot read, write or use voice assisted technology in any functional manner. As a result of many years of collaboration, and the need for solutions in connection with the challenges with COVID-19, she and her family have developed ways of remote communication that can be mastered both by the person with an ID and the majority (those without similar disabilities). We call it doing and talking. Successful remote communication not only depends on technology and how to use it, but also on communication strategies that both work for the person with an ID and the majority. It is often the case that people with ID are expected to learn the skills necessary to adapt to the majority. We will show that success is just as much a question of the majority learning new skills and strategies that can make real inclusion and collaboration possible. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Single-Dose Bioequivalence Study of Rivaroxaban-Containing Medicinal Products in Healthy Volunteers.

Therapeutically, new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are considered to be non-inferior or superior to vitamin K antagonists (warfarin). NOACs are included in current guidelines for the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases. Rivaroxaban medicinal products have been shown to effectively fight thrombotic complications of the new coronavirus infection, COVID-19. The wide clinical use of rivaroxaban products motivates the development of generics. The aim of the study was to compare the pharmacokinetics and safety of rivaroxaban medicinal products in a single-dose bioequivalence study in healthy volunteers under fasting conditions. Material(s) and Method(s): the bioequivalence study compared single-dose oral administration of Rivaroxaban, 10 mg film-coated tablets (NovaMedica Innotech LLC, Russia), and the reference product Xarelto, 10 mg film-coated tablets (Bayer AG, Germany), in healthy volunteers under fasting conditions. The open, randomised, crossover trial included 46 healthy volunteers. Each of the medicinal products (the test product and the reference product) was administered once;blood samples were collected during the 48 h after the administration. The washout between the study periods lasted 7 days. Rivaroxaban was quantified in plasma samples of the volunteers by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Result(s): no adverse events or serious adverse events were reported for the test and reference products during the study. The following pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained for Rivaroxaban and Xarelto, respectively: Cmax of 134.6 +/- 58.0 ng/mL and 139.9 +/- 49.3 ng/mL, AUC0-48 of 949.7 +/- 354.5 ngxh/mL and 967.6 +/- 319.9 ngxh/mL, AUC0- of 986.9 +/- 379.7 ngxh/mL and 1003.6 +/- 320.4 ngxh/mL, T1/2 of 8.2 +/- 3.2 h and 7.8 +/- 3.3 h. The 90% confidence intervals for the ratios of Cmax, AUC0-48, and AUC0- geometric means were 88.04-108.67%, 89.42-104.92% and 89.44-104.81%, respectively. Conclusion(s): the test product Rivaroxaban and the reference product Xarelto were found to have similar rivaroxaban pharmacokinetics and safety profiles. The study demonstrated bioequivalence of the medicinal products.Copyright © 2022 Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction. All rights reserved.

A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Trifarotene Plus Doxycycline for Severe Acne Vulgaris

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of trifarotene plus oral doxycycline in acne. METHOD(S): This was a randomized (2:1 ratio) 12-week, double-blind study of once-daily trifarotene cream 50microg/g plus enteric-coated doxycycline 120mg (T+D) versus trifarotene vehicle and doxycycline placebo (V+P). Patients were aged 12 years or older with severe facial acne (>=20 inflammatory lesions, 30 to 120 non-inflammatory lesions, and <=4 nodules). Efficacy outcomes included change from baseline in lesion counts and success (score of 0/1 with >=2 grade improvement) on investigator global assessment (IGA). Safety was assessed by adverse events and local tolerability. RESULT(S): The study enrolled 133 subjects in the T+D group and 69 subjects in the V+P group. The population was balanced, with an approximately even ratio of adolescent (12-17 years) and adult (>=18 years) subjects. The absolute change in lesion counts from baseline were: -69.1 T+D versus -48.1 V+P for total lesions, -29.4 T+D versus -19.5 V+P for inflammatory lesions, and -39.5 T+D versus -28.2 for non-inflammatory lesions (P<0.0001 for all). Success was achieved by 31.7 percent of subjects in the T+D group versus 15.8 percent in the V+P group (P=0.0107). The safety and tolerability profiles were comparable between the T+D and V+P arms. CONCLUSION(S): T+D was demonstrated to be safe and efficacious as a treatment option for patients with severe acne.Copyright © 2022 Matrix Medical Communications. All rights reserved.

Feasibility of automated longitudinal cognitive and mood assessment in the stroke pathway

Introduction: Over 50% of stroke survivors have cognitive impairment. National guidelines promote early cognitive testing however, current penand- paper based tests are not always appropriate, typically take place in hospital and are time costly for busy clinicians. This project aimed to create an easy-to-use cognitive assessment tool specifically designed for the needs of stroke survivors. We used a computerised doctor utilising automatic speech recognition and machine learning. Method(s): Patients were approached if they pass the eligibility criteria of having recent acute stroke/TIA, and do not have pre-existing medical condition i.e dementia, severe aphasia or too medically unwell to complete the assessment. Participants completed the computerised doctor or "CognoSpeak" on the ward using a tablet or at home via a web-version (on home computer or tablet). The assessment included the GAD and PHQ9. All had standard cognitive assessment done with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA). Result(s): Recruitment started on 8th December 2020 and is on-going. 951 people were screened and 104 were recruited. 49 have completed baseline Cognospeak, 8 have withdrawn and 3 have died. The mean NIHSS was 3.8 and mean MoCA of 23.9, 31 were female. Participants had a mean education level of 17 years. Conclusion(s): Preliminary data will be presented highlighting feasibility of an automated cognitive and mood assessment that can be completed at home and on the Hyper-acute Stroke Unit. Screening was adapted due to Covid pandemic and utilising remote consent and participation allowed the project to continue.

Effect and mechanism of Qingre Xiaoyanning Tablet in treatment of coronavirus infection.

Objective To study the anti-coronavirus effect of Qingre Xiaoyanning Tablet (), and provide experimental basis for evaluating its prevention and treatment of coronavirus infection. Methods A total of 96 BALB/c mice with half male and half female were randomly divided into control group, model group, Lianhua Qingwen Capsules (, 0.546 g/kg) group and Qingre Xiaoyanning Tablet (8.72, 17.44, 34.89 g/kg) groups with 16 mice in each group. BALB/c mice were infected with ip cyclophosphamide combined with HCoV-229E coronavirus to establish a model of coronavirus infection. The therapeutic effect of Qingre Xiaoyanning Tablet was evaluated by body weight, lung index, viral load, hemagglutination titer and pathological changes in lung tissue of mice;Levels of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-4, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in alveolar lavage fluid were detected by ELISA;The proportion of macrophages, lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+) and NK cells in lung tissue was detected by flow cytometry;Western blotting was used to detect Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MYD88), inhibitor kappa B kinase-beta (IKK-beta), inhibitor kappa B (IkappaB) and p-IkappaB protein expressions in lung tissue. Results Compared with model group, Qingre Xiaoyanning Tablet significantly increased the body weight of virus infected mice (P < 0.05, 0.01), decreased lung index and hemagglutination titer (P < 0.01), improved lung disease (P < 0.05), and significantly inhibited viral mRNA expression (P < 0.01);TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and VCAM-1 levels in alveolar lavage fluid were decreased (P < 0.05, 0.01), IFN-gamma level was increased (P < 0.05);The percentage of macrophages was significantly decreased (P < 0.05, 0.01), percentage of CD3+, CD4+ lymphocytes and NK cells was increased (P < 0.01);MYD88, TLR4, IkappaB and IKK-beta protein expressions in lung tissue were significantly down regulated (P < 0.05, 0.01). Conclusion Qingre Xiaoyanning Tablet can inhibit the replication of coronavirus in vivo, reduce inflammatory reaction, protect lung tissue, and has obvious anti-coronavirus effect in vivo. Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of TLR4/MyD88/IKK/IkappaB signal pathway and improving immunity.Copyright © 2023 Editorial Office of Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. All rights reserved.

Access to tablet injectable opioid agonist therapy in rural and smaller urban settings in British Columbia, Canada: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Rural and smaller urban settings in Canada are disproportionately impacted by the overdose crisis, highlighting the need for novel public health interventions within these jurisdictions. Tablet injectable opioid agonist therapy (TiOAT) programs have been implemented in select rural communities as a means to address drug-related harms. However, little is known about the accessibility of these novel programs. Therefore, we conducted this study to understand the rural context and factors that affected access of TiOAT programs. METHODS: Between October 2021 to April 2022, individual qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 individuals enrolled in a TiOAT program at participating rural and smaller urban sites in British Columbia, Canada. Interview transcripts were coded using NVivo 12 and data were analyzed thematically. RESULTS: TiOAT access varied considerably. TiOAT delivery in rural settings is complicated due to geographic challenges. Participants who were homeless and staying at a nearby shelter or those in centrally-located supportive housing had minimal issues compared to those living in more affordable housing on the outskirts of town with limited transportation options. Dispensing policies that required daily-witnessed ingestion multiple times daily were challenging for most. Only one site provided evening take-home doses whereas participants at the other site could only resort to the illicit opioid supply to address withdrawal outside of program hours. Participants described the clinics as providing a positive and familial social environment compared to experiences of stigma elsewhere. Medication interruptions did occur when participants were in hospital and custodial settings, leading to withdrawal, program discontinuation, and overdose risk. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the beneficial ways in which health services tailored for people who use drugs can create a stigma-free environment with an emphasis on social bonds. Other factors such as transportation access, dispensing policies, and access in rural hospitals and custodial settings produced unique challenges for rural people who use drugs. Public health authorities in rural and smaller settings should consider these factors when designing, implementing, and scaling up future substance use services, including TiOAT programs.

Are South Korean College Students Benefitting from Digital Learning?

With COVID-19, the advancement of mobile devices (e.g., smartphones, laptops, tablets) has brought a welcoming change to education: digital learning. This study addresses the relationship between mobile device use and academic performance through three different models by controlling demographic data, technological infrastructure conditions, and daily total multi-tasking time. The first model emphasized the daily total mobile device use time. The second model divided the daily total mobile device use time into academic and non-academic oriented uses. The final model divided the overall mobile device use into seven specific usage types. The study found that an increase in the daily total mobile device use time negatively affected GPA;only non-academic purpose use time had a negative significance toward GPA;none of the seven usage types were significant in predicting GPA. Based on the findings, suggestions on improvements for the future digital learning policy were proposed.

Feasibility, Safety, Enjoyment, and System Usability of Web-Based Aerobic Dance Exercise Program in Older Adults: Single-Arm Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 epidemic, opportunities for social interaction and physical activity among older people are decreasing, which may have a negative impact on their health. As a solution, a web-based group exercise program provided through a videoconferencing platform would be useful. As a web-based exercise program that older adults can easily, safely, and enjoyably perform at home, we developed a short-duration, light-intensity aerobic dance exercise program. Before studying the effectiveness of this exercise program, its characteristics, such as feasibility, safety, enjoyment, and system usability, should be examined among older adults. OBJECTIVE: This pilot study aimed to examine the feasibility, safety, and enjoyment of a web-based aerobic dance exercise program and the usability of a web-based exercise delivery system using a videoconferencing platform for older adults. METHODS: This study was designed as a prospective single-arm pilot study. A total of 16 older adults participated in an 8-week web-based aerobic dance program held every morning (8:30 AM to 8:50 AM) on weekdays at home. Retention and adherence rates were measured for the program's feasibility. Safety was assessed by the heart rate reserve, an index of exercise intensity calculated from heart rate, and the number of adverse events during exercise sessions. Enjoyment of this exercise program was assessed by an 11-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (not enjoyable at all) to 10 (extremely enjoyable) obtained through telephone interviews after the first-, third-, sixth-, and eighth-week intervention. For usability, the ease of the videoconferencing platform system was assessed through telephone interviews after the intervention. RESULTS: A female participant with hypertension dropped out in the second week because of the continuously reported high blood pressure (≥180 mmHg) before attending the exercise session in the first week. Therefore, the retention rate was 93.8% (15/16). Among the remaining participants, the median (IQR) overall adherence rate was 97.4% (94.7-100). Regarding safety, the mean (SD) heart rate reserve during the aerobic dance exercise was 29.8% (6.8%), showing that the exercise was relatively safe with very light to light intensity. There were no adverse events during the exercise session. The enjoyment score (0-10 points) significantly increased from the first (6.7 [1.7]) to sixth (8.2 [1.3]) and eighth week (8.5 [1.3]). Regarding usability, 11 participants reported difficulties at the beginning, such as basic touch panel operations and the use of unfamiliar applications; however, all got accustomed to it and subsequently reported no difficulty. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed high feasibility, enjoyment, and safety of the web-based aerobic dance exercise program in older adults, and the web-based exercise delivery system may have areas for improvement, albeit without serious problems. Our web-based aerobic dance exercise program may contribute to an increase in physical and social activities among older adults.