Assessing the Satisfaction of Kashan University of Medical Sciences Staff with Virtual Education Implemented Through Social Media during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and the need for social distance, the use of e-learning has become essential. The use of e-learning has always been associated with many challenges. Considering the importance of this issue and the lack of a study on virtual education in social media, the purpose of this study was to assess the satisfaction level of staff of Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran, with virtual education provided through social media during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The present cross-sectional-analytical study was conducted in 2020 using cluster sampling method on 300 staff of Kashan University of Medical Sciences in the occupational groups of health workers, health care providers, experts, physicians, and staff experts. The data collection tool was a validated questionnaire from other studies and was provided to the participants virtually. This questionnaire contained 6 demographic questions and 17 questions related to the satisfaction of the subjects. The questionnaire had three sections: training course content, training presentation method, and training program through virtual media. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS software and various statistical tests. Findings: The lowest level of satisfaction was related to educational content with a score of 17.59 and educational method with 25 scores had the highest level of satisfaction. In general, the level of satisfaction with e-learning in women was higher than men, but this relationship was not significant (P > 0.05). In addition, the health care group had the highest and the expert group had the lowest overall satisfaction score of the training provided. Conclusion: The results indicate that the level of total satisfaction is approximately high, so in addition to education, special attention should be paid to its quality. Evaluating the opinions of Kashan Health Department staffs about the quality of education in the virtual context is not only a criterion for evaluating the quality of teaching but also focuses on the possibilities and necessities of improving and evaluating education by discovering educational shortcomings. © 2022, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.

The role of hemostatic system and the importance of blood coagulation in COVID-19: a review study

Background and Aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disorder that can affect many body systems, including the hemostatic system. In this study, we aim to investigate the role of hemostatic system and the blood coagulation in COVID-19. Methods & Materials In this review study, the articles were searched using the keywords COVID-19, Respiratory infection, and Coagulopathy in Google Scholar, PubMed, Google Springer and Science Direct databases. Ethical Considerations: Ethical principles in writing this article were observed in accordance with the guidelines of the National Ethics Committee and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Results Many changes in the coagulation profile of infected patients were reported, including changes in the platelet count, fibrinogen/fibrin degradation product, D-Dimer, fibrinogen, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time. With the increase in the number of patients with COVID-19, several studies found out the occurrence of thrombosis and coagulopathy in patients. Conclusion: Due to the increase in the occurrence of coagulation disorders in patients with COVID-19, the administration of anticoagulants is needed for their treatment;it can play an effective role in improving the prognosis of patients.

Clinical Characteristics of a Group of Patients Confirmed with COVID-19 at a Hospital in Tehran, Iran: A Retrospective Case Report

Introduction: The present study examines clinical features of patients infected with the 2019 sever acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-Cov-2) leading to the coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-2019) in Rasool Akram hospital, Tehran, Iran. Material(s) and Method(s): This was a retrospective case report performed at Rasool Akram hospital, Tehran, Iran. A total of 77 patients referred to the hospital with SARS-Covid-2 infection. Data of the present study has been collected from March 5th to April 5th 2020. Result(s): Intensive care unit (ICU) has admitted 20 patients out of 77 patients. Among this sample, 23 patients were infected with acute respiratory syndrome and the other 18 remaining passed away. The calculated mean age of the patients admitted to the ICU was 60.8, 18 out of whom had deceased. In our results, male patients outnumber female patients where male patients account for 62.33% and female patients account for 37.66% of the whole study population. The most frequent and usual sings of this disease first reported as respirational distress or dyspnea (54.54%), coughs (54.54%) and myalgia (25.97). Only 3.89% of the patients had chest pain or chest discomfort. The most common comorbidities among those patients taken in the ICU and or deceased were diabetes, cardiovascular problems, hypertension and endocrine system problems. Out of 18 deaths, 11 (61.11%) cased had comorbidities. Among radiography and CT-scan results, 62.79% of the patients had involvement on chest radiography and 98.15% of the patients showed consolidation with ground glass opacities and 83.33% showed pleural effusion on their scan results. Conclusion(s): Having as much thorough information as possible about the characteristics of the patients infected with this virus helps us make better and sooner judgmental calls and more accurate diagnosis.Copyright © 2020 Ubiquity Press. All rights reserved.

Measurement of ampicillin and penicillin G antibiotics in wastewater treatment plants during the COVID-19 pandemic: A case study in Isfahan

Background: In recent years, the world has faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a significant increase in the use of antibiotics to control the COVID-19 and other secondary infections. The non -biodegradable characteristics of antibiotics and their residues in the environment leads to increased microbial and drug resistance. Therefore, due to the high importance of antibiotics, two antibiotics, ampicillin and penicillin G, were studied in Isfahan municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).Methods: Sampling was performed for two months during 13 sampling periods and antibiotics were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detector (HPLC/UV) instrument.Results: Ampicillin and penicillin G were identified in all samples taken from the both WWTPs. The average concentration of penicillin G in WWTP E and S at the influent, effluent and its removal efficiency were 1050.54 +/- 761.43 ug/L, 52.89 +/- 49.27 ug/L, 89.80 +/- 19.42%, 2055.12 +/- 1788.08 ug/L, 143.01 +/- 162.59 ug/L and 82.76 +/- 21.85%, respectively. Also, the average concentration of ampicillin in WWTP E and Sin the influent (796.44 +/- 809.6 and 447.1 +/- 322.39 ug/L), effluent (48.94 +/- 24.25 and 90.31 +/- 75.91 ug/L), and its removal efficiency (86.22 +/- 19.84% and 66.85 +/- 24.88%) were determined.Conclusion: In two studied WWTPs, the concentration of antibiotics was higher during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison with previous studies. The statistical analysis showed that there was no significant relationship between the concentration of antibiotics in WWTPs (P < 0.05). Also, the statistical results indicated that the correlation is not significant between removal efficiency of antibiotics and removal efficiency of wastewater main parameters.

Assessing the level of Coronavirus disease anxiety and its related factors in third-trimester pregnant women referring to the health centers of Isfahan during the pandemic

Background: Pregnancy as a sensitive period of a woman's life can be affected by various psychological factors. Covid-19 pandemic is a new phenomenon;and there is limited information about its psychological consequences such as the Coronavirus disease anxiety in these women. So, the present study aimed to determine the level of Covid-19 anxiety in the third trimester of pregnancy and its related factors.

Monitoring of Amoxicillin and Cephalexin Antibiotics in Municipal WWTPs During Covid-19 Outbreak: A Case Study in Isfahan, Iran

Antibiotics are non-biodegradable drugs that inhibit the expansion and growth of microorganisms. Especially with the prevalence of Covid-19. the consumption of antibiotics has increased. Therefore. the presence of most prescribed antibiotics from beta-lactams including amoxicillin and cephalexin were studied at two municipal WWTPs in Isfahan. The analytical method was to extract antibiotics from the aqueous phase and then detected them via HPLC/UV. Samples were collected from 2 WWTPs for 13 sampling periods over 2 months between February and March 2020 during the outbreak of Covid-19. In WWTP A. the average concentration of amoxicillin in influent. effluent, and its removal efficiency was 509.64 +/- 161.97 mu g/L, 352.96 +/- 203.88 mu g/L, 34.35 +/- 31.38%, and the average concentration of cephalexin in influent. effluent, and its removal efficiency was 189.42 +/- 176.06 mu g/L, 32.6 +/- 49.59 mu g/L, 78.75 +/- 23.81%, respectively. In WWTP B. the average concentration of amoxicillin in influent, effluent, and its removal efficiency was 2134.82 +/- 3031.53 mu g/L, 401.09 +/- 205.86 mu g/L, and 54.82 +/- 33.29%. respectively. Also, the average concentration of cephalexin in influent. effluent. and its removal efficiency was 183.69 +/- 123.48 mu g/L, 23.01 +/- 40.71 mu g/L, and 87.65 +/- 21.76%, respectively. According to Mann-Whitney test results, the concentration of antibiotics in both WWTPs had significant differences (p-value < .05), and according to results from the Spearman test no correlation between removal efficiency of antibiotics with other principles wastewater parameters was observed.

Assessing the level of Coronavirus Disease Anxiety and its related factors in third-trimester pregnant women referring to the health centers of Isfahan during the pandemic

Background: Pregnancy as a sensitive period of a woman's life can be affected by various psychological factors. Covid-19 pandemic is a new phenomenon;and there is limited information about its psychological consequences such as the Coronavirus disease anxiety in these women. So, the present study aimed to determine the level of Covid-19 anxiety in the third trimester of pregnancy and its related factors. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 215 pregnant women with 28-33 weeks of gestational age were studied. The samples were selected from the health centers and hospitals in Isfahan, Iran, by cluster sampling. A questionnaire of Demographic, fertility and Coronavirus-related factors as well as the Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (including psychological and physical components) were completed by the mothers in person. The data was analyzed by SPSS-24 software using One-way analysis of variance, independent t-test, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, Pearson and Spearman correlation tests. Result: The results showed that the mean score of Corona disease anxiety in pregnant women was 11.45 +/- 7.56. Anxiety was reported to be low in 62.8% of pregnant women, moderate in 32.6% and high in 4.6%. The mean score of the psychological component (8.40 +/- 4.78) was higher than the score of the physical component (3.06 +/- 3.59). Working women, women with client-related occupations, and those having a working husband had lower anxiety scores. Factors such as death of family members due to Coronavirus disease and higher gestational age were associated with a significant increase in Corona anxiety score. Conclusion: Considering that death of a family member due to Coronavirus disease and higher gestational age are associated with higher Coronavirus disease anxiety, the results of this study can be used to identify high-risk pregnant women and suggest early psychological interventions for preventing pregnancy anxiety complications.

Characteristics of Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan in COVID-19 Patients and Their Relationship with Mortality Rate

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the demographic features in patients with Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) and to determine the relationship between Computerized Tomography (CT) and mortality. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the characteristics for diagnosis and severity of involvement in primary imaging, their adaptation to the course of the disease, and their relationship with mortality. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on the medical records of 212 patients with suspected COVID-19 admitted to the teaching hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences from February 20, 2009 to August 2020. The patients’ CT images were also assessed and the frequency of abnormalities was determined. Results: The Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test was positive in 204 patients (99%). Consolidation was observed in all the 206 patients. The highest degree of lung involvement (90%) was observed in 69 patients (33.5%). Atoll sign was also diagnosed in 121 cases (58.7%). Besides, crazy-paving reticular lines, subpleural sparing, and bronchial distortion were observed in 129 (62.6%), 88 (42.7%), and 124 patients (60.2%), respectively. In addition, multi-segment was detected in the CT scan results of 194 cases (94.2%), which was higher compared to the single segment seen in 12 patients (5.8%). Conclusion: CT scan is a relatively sensitive technique for diagnosing COVID-19. The study results revealed a significant relationship between CT scan and death. The disease severity was also accurate using this method.

Resilience, occupational burnout, and parenting stress in nurses caring for COVID-19 patients

Introduction: Care of patients with coronavirus disease may have an impact on the occupational burnout, resilience, and parenting of nurses. The study was performed to evaluate occupational burnout, resilience, and parenting stress in nurses caring for COVID-19 patients. Material and methods: This cross-sectional study was based on Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement. A total of 630 nurses caring for COVID-19 patients in 5 hospitals were selected via convenience sampling. Participants completed the scales online. Data were analyzed in SPSS v. 22. Results: A total of 420 nurses completed and returned the questionnaires. The resilience mean score of the nurses who participated in the present study was 32.33 +/- 2.57 and the occupational burnout mean score was 32.33 +/- 2.57. Also, the parenting stress mean score of the 310 nurses who were married and had children was found to be 17.53 +/- 1.58 during the COVID-19 crisis. Occupational burnout has a negative correlation with resilience and a positive correlation with parenting stress and can predict 61.32% of changes in the occupational burnout variance of nurses Conclusions: Resilience, parenting stress, marital status, number of children, employment status, and gender predicted a high percentage of the nurses' occupational burnout variance. The nurse managers should use these findings to provide appropriate environments for nurses, to develop more comprehensive plans in support of nurses for the current and future crises.

Impact of Weather Conditions on the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States: A Big Data Analytics Approach

It is 2020 and the world is dealing with a unique pandemic situation as the infamous Coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused an emergency in many countries. Assessing the death rate and confirmed cases of this epidemy with respect to external causes can be extremely beneficial;however, it comes with its own challenges. In this study, we aim to model and investigate the correlation between meteorology factors and the COVID-19 situation in the United States. To that end, we make use of two datasets for Spatiotemporal analysis. We first gather the surveillance data of COVID-19 released by Johns Hopkins University for the past few months and then fuse it with the meteorology data that we collect from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration accordingly. The meteorology dataset provides different useful factors including but not limited to the minimum and maximum temperature of each day, all in Fahrenheit. We seek to find out the relationship between the weather condition and the virus spread and the number of death rates in different states of the United States. © 2020 IEEE.

The role of public trust and media in the psychological and behavioral responses to the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: We investigated the level of psychological problems, perceived risk, safety behaviors, and the potential roles of demographic variables, public trust, media, and prior anxiety to illness during the COVID-19pandemic among Iranians. Method: In this cross sectional study, using a convenient and snowball sampling method, we distributed an online questionnaire to participants and collected data on their demographic variables, mental health status, the consumption of and level of trust to various media, the level of public trust, and perceived risk and safety behaviors regards COVID-19. Our final sample consisted of 1881 Iranian residents. We used descriptive analysis, bivariate correlation, univariable and multivariable linear regression analysis, and univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis for data analysis. Results: The mental health problems have increased in comparison to past national survey;24.1% vs 10.39% for depression, 37.93% vs 16.7% for social dysfunction, and 41.33% vs 29.5% for anxiety, and 31.12% vs 29.08% for somatization. We also found high percent of acute stress 52.71% (95% CI: 50.45-54.96). Being female, married, and having a higher educational level increased the odds of safety behaviors. Public trust and national media can regulate the negative effect of the pandemic, while increasing perceived risk and appropriate safety behaviors can decrease psychological problems and disorders. However, social media increases perceived risk, safety behaviors, and psychological problems, especially severe acute stress. Conclusion: We are in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and its negative effects will increase. Many people have lost their relatives, their jobs, their social contacts, and are faced with a surge of negative news. Authorities should consider these critical issues and adopt appropriate communicative and supportive approaches to prevent their negative effects at both individual and societal levels.