ABSTRACT
This paper describes an empirical study carried out with 40 Spanish deaf people, users of sign language, between 19 and 45 years of age, which gathers their perceptions of aspects related to the incidence of the COVID-19 pandemic and its repercussions. During the pandemic, people with hearing disabilities, among other groups, were forgotten. They suffered from accessibility problems to the information issued by the authorities, violating their right to be informed and exposing their health to COVID-19. In this work, we identify the problems they suffered and what effects COVID-19 had on their lives. This will help to take the appropriate measures to restore their rights and design policies and strategies to deal with any new future health emergency. For this, an ad hoc questionnaire was designed, adapted to easy reading and sign language. This was publicized via email and WhatsApp through the Association of Deaf People of Granada and Province (Spain) and was responded to online and by video call with the collaboration of sign language interpreters using the LimeSurvey platform. The results discover (1) the difficulties of communication barriers in the relationship with health professionals and institutions, as well as in the spheres of work and education, (2) similarities with the rest of the population in the negative effects of confinement, and (3) presence of positive effects, such as the development of positive activities and emotions. The study highlights the need to increase economic and institutional support aimed at improving coping resources, access to information, and the reduction of social and institutional barriers that would allow people with hearing disabilities to successfully face future health problems of a global nature such as that experienced with COVID-19.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Pandemics , Humans , Health Services Accessibility , COVID-19/epidemiology , Hearing , PerceptionABSTRACT
Herein, the effect of three deterpenated fractions from Origanum majorana L. essential oil on the physicochemical, mechanical and biological properties of chitosan/ß-chitin nanofibers-based nanocomposite films were investigated. In general, the incorporation of Origanum majorana L. original essential oil or its deterpenated fractions increases the opacity of the nanocomposite films and gives them a yellowish color. The water solubility decreases from 58% for chitosan/ß-chitin nanofibers nanocomposite film to around 32% for the nanocomposite films modified with original essential oil or its deterpenated fractions. Regarding the thermal stability, no major changes were observed, and the mechanical properties decreased. Interestingly, data show differences on the biological properties of the materials depending on the incorporated deterpenated fraction of Origanum majorana L. essential oil. The nanocomposite films prepared with the deterpenated fractions with a high concentration of oxygenated terpene derivatives show the best antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, with fungal growth inhibition of around 85.90%. Nonetheless, the only nanocomposite film that does not present cytotoxicity on the viability of L929 fibroblast cells after 48 and 72 h is the one prepared with the fraction presenting the higher terpenic hydrocarbon content (87.92%). These results suggest that the composition of the deterpenated fraction plays an important role in determining the biological properties of the nanocomposite films.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To determine intraobserver and interobserver variability in the measurement of different cervical length (CL) components at the first trimester (endocervical canal and isthmus), describe the optimum measurement method (single line or two lines) and establish a normality curve of first trimester CL in our population.Methods: Women who attended the first-trimester US scan, between 11.0 and 13.6 weeks of gestation at Vall d'Hebron Universitary Hospital, Barcelona, Spain were included. Inclusion criteria were singleton pregnancies in women over 18 years of age, no gestational complications, uterine malformations or uterine surgery. Lengths of the endocervical canal and uterine isthmus were measured using two methods.Results: Both methods for endocervical canal measurement, single line and two lines, showed low intraobserver variability between examiners, with no statistical differences in the majority of measurements. A correct correlation existed between examiners using the single-line two-line measurements, with a concordance correlation coefficient of 0.76.Conclusions: Cervical length in the first trimester was reproducible for the same physician and between different physicians; however, it is essential to ensure examiners receive adequate training in the technique.
