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AbstractThis research seeks to identify critical factors that impact adoption of cloud services in higher education institutes (HEIs) and provide a comparative analysis between pre and post COVID scenarios. To formulate a more comprehensive adoption model for cloud services, authors have amalgamated the Technology Acceptance Model with categorical variables and conducted a comparative analysis for Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities in India for both periods (i.e., pre and during COVID). Data was obtained from 867 students studying in 25 different Indian universities. The results show that knowledge sharing, security, and privacy are associated with perceived usefulness. Results indicate that cloud computing adoption does lead to innovation, which in turn, improves the academic performance of HEIs. We believe that the findings of our study provide suggestive evidence acknowledging the benefits of cloud computing adoption in enhancing academic performance in HEIs, especially in the context of a developing country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The state of Louisiana ranked 4th in the US for per capita overdose rates as 56 out of 100,000 persons died due to overdose and 1,300 of those deaths involved opioids. Opioid involved deaths increased 131% between 2019 and 2022. A pharmacist-led opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) program was developed at a SSP in New Orleans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this research is to characterize the clients who participated in the OEND and to assess their learned knowledge and behaviors over time. Methods: A pharmacist led OEND program was created in April 2020 at a syringe service program (SSP) in New Orleans, Louisiana. OEND was provided by a licensed pharmacist and student pharmacists. OEND coincided with the SSPs activities one time a week. Participants first received harm reduction supplies through the SSP and then had the option of receiving OEND. Patients' demographic information was collected. Participants who said they received opioid overdose education from our OEND program were verbally given a knowledge and behavior assessment. Participants knowledge and behaviors were scored using a rubric. Results: A total of 32 OEND sessions were held from July 2020 through February 2023 resulting in 1453 overall participant interactions. Repeat participants completed 269 visits and averaged 2.3 visits in three years. The average age of participants who received OEND was 40 years old. Additionally, participants who accessed OEND were primarily white (67.77%, n = 811/1300) and mostly male (59.15%, n = 769/1300). Among the participants who visited the OEND station more than once, 160 responses were collected for how helpful the previous education session had been. Of these responses, 75% (= 120/160) were "Very helpful". Participants who repeated the program retained knowledge and showed a positive change in their behaviors regarding opioid overdose reversal. Conclusions: OEND programs established at SSPs play an important role in providing education to PWUD. Participants knowledge sustained over time; however, refresher education sessions may be valuable to ensure participants stay accurately informed. Participants find OEND helpful. As naloxone continues to become increasingly available, OEND is necessary in preventing opioid overdose deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work introduces CovidSafe, a framework designed to classify COVID patients as positive or negative based on CXR images. With the global impact of COVID-19, there is a need for effective tools to aid in patient diagnosis. CovidSafe utilizes a multi-model deep feature extractor, combining features from the ResNet family and an Auto-Encoder. The ResNet 18, ResNet 34, and ResNet 50 architectures are employed, with model weights fine-tuned for optimal performance. The framework leverages these ResNet models and the Auto-Encoder to extract relevant features. Features from intermediate layers of the ResNet models are extracted to capture increasingly complex and high-level information, while bottleneck features from the Auto-Encoder capture compressed, abstract representations and important characteristics of the images for classification. These features are then used for analysis and classification within the CovidSafe framework. To ensure accessibility for online users, the model is integrated into a web application. Through experimental analysis, the performance of the model is evaluated using various metrics. Results indicate that CovidSafe outperforms baseline models, achieving a precision of 98.67%, a recall of 98.62%, and an F1-score of 98.64%. These promising results highlight the efficacy of CovidSafe in accurately classifying COVID patients based on CXR images, making it a valuable diagnostic tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite adverse events following immunization (AEFI) being well described in vaccine trials, there is a need to produce more real-world data on events supposedly attributed to vaccination against COVID-19. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of AEFI in the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines in the state of Brazil and to verify whether such events differ among the types of vaccines offered in this country. Methods: A population-based study using linked administrative data on vaccine registry and adverse events following immunization in 2021 and 2022. The study included 10,169,378 individuals aged 18 or over who lived in Bahia and received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines. We calculated AEFI prevalence and verified differences among vaccines by logistic regression to estimate crude and adjusted by sex and age group prevalence ratio (PR). Results: The prevalence of AEFI was 74.3 per 100,000 doses applied, with a higher rate of nonserious events, mainly following the ChAdOx1-S. More than two-thirds of these adverse effects occurred in women, and almost half were between 30 and 49 years old. The individuals who received ChAdOx1-S had a 125% higher prevalence than those who received CoronaVac. Those who received BNT162b2 and Ad26.COV2.S had a 71% and 58%, respectively, lower prevalence of AEFI than those who received CoronaVac. Conclusions: The use of vaccines against COVID-19 has proven to be positive and effective in combating SARS-CoV-2, significantly reducing morbidity and mortality from the disease. We cannot deny the presence of adverse events in the context of vaccination. However, the vaccines have proven to be safe and reliable. The results of this study offer relevant data that can contribute to the qualification of AEFI pharmacovigilance in Brazil and worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Pituitary apoplexy (PA) has been increasingly reported in association with both infection from and vaccination for COVID19. Our aim was to analyse the available published cases and compare the clinical characteristics in the two groups (infection vs vaccination). Methods: We systematically reviewed the published literature for all cases of PA associated with COVID19 infection or vaccination. We also presented two cases managed at our Centre. Results: Collectively, fortythree cases were analysed. Patients with PA after COVID19 vaccination (n = 7), compared with patients with PA after COVID19 infection (n = 36), were significantly younger (p = 0.009) and had a more abrupt onset of PA (p = 0.022), but showed a milder hormonal involvement (p = 0.008) and a lower rate of persistent hypopituitarism during follow-up (p = 0.001). Patients in the vaccination group did not have clinical risk factors for PA, although this difference did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: PA associated with COVID19 is a rare but clinically significant entity, although pathophysiological details of this association are lacking. Given the significantly different clinical presentation, we could speculate that PA induced by COVID19 vaccination might represent a distinct clinical entity, with different pathophysiological mechanism, compared to PA from COVID19 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Passive antibody therapies, typically administered via parenteral routes, have played a crucial role in the initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the ongoing evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has revealed significant limitations of this approach, primarily due to mutational escape and the inadequate delivery of antibodies to the upper respiratory tract. To overcome these challenges, we propose a novel prophylactic strategy involving the intranasal delivery of an antibody in combination with an Fc-binding nanodisc. This nanodisc, engineered to specifically bind to the Fc regions of IgG antibodies, served two key functions: extending the antibody's half-life in the larynx and trachea, and enhancing its neutralization efficacy. Notably, Sotrovimab, an FDA-approved monoclonal antibody that has experienced a significant decline in neutralizing potency due to viral evolution, exhibited robust antiviral activity when complexed with the nanodisc against all tested Omicron variants. Furthermore, the Fc-binding nanodisc significantly boosted the antiviral efficacy of the soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (sACE2) Fc fusion protein, which possesses broad but modest antiviral activity. In ACE2 transgenic mice, the Fc-binding nanodisc protected better than sACE2-Fc alone with two more log reduction in lung viral titer. Therefore, the intranasal Fc-binding nanodisc offers a promising and powerful approach to counteract the diminished antiviral activity of neutralizing antibodies caused by mutational escape, effectively restoring antiviral efficacy against various evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The influence of COVID19 vaccination on the risk of different neurological diseases has been subject of intense investigation. No large scale results have been published so far in the population of around 10 million people of Lombardia in Italy. Methods: Linkable administrative health databases from the Lombardia region were used. By using the adapted self controlled case series (SCCS) method for event dependent exposures, we estimated the relative incidence of different neurological diseases following pre-specified windows at risk after vaccination and after COVID-19 infection in the over-12 population of Lombardia. Follow-up time before vaccination (Pre-Vax period) was compared with follow-up time 0–28 days (high-risk period) from the day of vaccination as well as for COVID infection. The SCCS model was fitted using a conditional Poisson regression model to estimate the relative incidences (RI) and their 95% Confidence Intervals (CI). Results: The 28-day post-vaccination period was associated with a significant increase in the occurrence of ischemic stroke, cerebral haemorrhage, TIAs and myelitis (IRR 1.44, 1.50, 1.67 and 2.65 respectively). When the risk conferred by COVID19 infection was assessed in the same cohort, significant IRR were greater in the occurrence of ischemic stroke, cerebral haemorrhage, and TIAs (IRR 5.6, 3.62, 6.83) and includes also Multiple Sclerosis, neuromyelitis, and polymyositis (5.25, 8.81, 5.67). Conclusions: Our data suggest that the increased risk of non-inflammatory CNS disorders following COVID-19 vaccination is lower than the risk conferred by COVID-19 infection, and that COVID-19 infection increases the risk of some inflammatory and non inflammatory neurological disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global outbreak of the COVID19 pandemic dramatically changed people's life's and their travel behavior in 2020. Consequently, capturing these changes accurately and providing valid annual transport statistics constitutes a tremendous challenge all over the world. Against this background and the lack of a single comprehensive source of data revealing the ground truth, we present a data fusion approach to provide valid annual transportation statistics for Germany during the COVID19 pandemic. Therefore, we adapted our existing model approach at generating annual, national statistics for Germany on passenger transport. Unlike in the existing model, we do not model the whole year as one, but divide the year into pandemic stages in order to model passenger transport demand as adequately as possible within each stage. Three travel surveys capturing the altered travel behavior in the different stages of the pandemic were used in order to adapt our passenger kilometers travelled (PKT) model, which bases on a cross-sectional national household travel survey which in many countries serves as the data basis for providing annual transportation statistics. The main results show a decline in the overall number of trips in 2020 in Germany of around a quarter and around a third less kilometers travelled compared to 2019. These changes in travel behavior differ considerably between different modes of transport, trip purpose and the different stages of the pandemic in 2020. The results produced were validated on the basis of other studies and further sources of data such as floating car data and automated count stations for bicycle traffic and ensure reliable passenger transport statistics in the years of the COVID19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines international student experiences from two different yet intersecting dimensions: immobility and racism on campus during COVID-19. In addition to pre-existing challenges, COVID-19 introduced additional barriers to international student life. During the pandemic, international students encountered an unexpected remote education system designed to bridge their transnational connection with American higher education. This study aims to uncover the experiences of Chinese and Korean students and understand how COVID-19 further complicated their situations. The research reveals that international students also faced discrimination at various levels, exacerbated by heightened anti-Asian sentiments and the political climate during the pandemic. As hate incidents increased, international students began to recognize that educational institutions were not safe spaces but rather contact zones operating within power differentials. However, this study concludes that despite the intensified vulnerability caused by COVID-19, international students demonstrated resilience through various copying mechanisms while finding this period of immobility meaningful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background There is limited data that assessed the changes in public confidence in routine childhood and adult vaccines after Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We, therefore, assessed these changes and the reasons; if any; for these changes and measured the impact of COVID-19 on peoples’ thoughts regarding routine vaccinations in Saudi Arabia. Methods We undertook a cross-sectional online study in Saudi Arabia from November 2023 to April 2024. Participation was voluntary for those above 18 years and lived in Saudi Arabia. The study tool was an online self-administered questionnaire. Data gathered were analyzed using the SPSS version 25 software. Results A total of 1217 Saudi Arabian participants were enrolled. Among the total participants, only 32.4% (n = 394) participants were males. Most of the participants (55%, n = 679) were from the western region and were married (56.9%, n = 693). Most participants (71%, n = 873) revealed that the routine vaccination plays an important role in protecting them and their children from infectious diseases. The confidence in routine vaccination after the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t change among 59% (n = 723), decreased in 22% (n = 261) and increased in 19% (n = 238) of the participants. The most common reason for the change in participants’ confidence (68%, n = 743) in routine vaccination after the COVID-19 pandemic was the fear of the impact of COVID-19 vaccine on the immune system or the body’s ability to respond correctly to routine vaccines. Conclusions We have showed that there is little change in the confidence of routine vaccination among people in Saudi Arabia compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study could shed light on the potential challenges and opportunities for promoting vaccine acceptance and uptake in a post-pandemic era.

Introduction The rapid development of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 has revolutionized vaccinology, offering hope for swift responses to emerging infectious diseases. Initially met with skepticism, mRNA vaccines have proven effective and safe, reducing vaccine hesitancy amid the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that the time required to modify mRNA vaccines to counter new mutant strains is significantly shorter than the time it takes for pathogens to mutate and generate new variants that can thrive in vaccinated populations. This highlights the notion that mRNA vaccine technology appears to be outpacing viruses in the ongoing evolutionary race.Areas covered This review article offers valuable insights into several crucial aspects of mRNA vaccine development and deployment, including the fundamentals of mRNA vaccine design and synthesis, the utilization of delivery systems, considerations regarding vaccine safety, the longevity of the immune response, strategies for modifying the original mRNA vaccine to address emerging mutant strains, as well as addressing vaccine hesitancy and potential approaches to mitigate reluctance.Expert opinion Challenges such as stability, storage, manufacturing complexities, production capacity, allergic reactions, long-term effects, accessibility, and misinformation must be addressed. Despite these hurdles, mRNA vaccine technology holds promise for revolutionizing future vaccination strategies.

Abstract Background Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is among the most unequal regions in the world in terms of wealth and household income. Such inequalities have been shown to influence different outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the disruption of routine health services. The aim of this paper is to examine socioeconomic inequalities in household experiences of healthcare disruption in LAC countries from mid-2020 to late 2021. Methods We used household-level data from the COVID-19 High Frequency Phone Surveys (HFPS), conducted in 14 LAC countries in one round in 2020 and 24 countries in two rounds in 2021. Ordinary least square and Logit multivariate regressions were conducted to examine the correlation between reported healthcare disruptions with household characteristics for 2020 and 2021. Since household income levels were not directly collected in the HPFS, we created an index of inequality and estimated the relative index of inequality. Results When analyzing 2020–2021 together, reported healthcare disruptions were lower if the respondent was employed or did not report lack of food in the last month; if the household had more people aged 65 or older or more rooms to sleep in. When analyzed separately in 2020 and 2021, having more people aged 65 or older or not experiencing food insecurity remained stable factors for lower odds of disruption in both years. In addition, being employed was associated with lower odds of disruption in 2020, while being male or having more rooms to sleep in were associated with lower odds of disruption in 2021. Regarding wealth differences in 2021 (it was not possible to compute it for 2020), households with the lowest wealth were 27.3% more likely to report a care disruption than households with the highest wealth. Conclusions The socioeconomic status of households in LAC was a relevant factor in explaining the disruption of healthcare during the COVID19 pandemic, with a clear social gradient where the wealthier a household, the less likely it was to experience disruption of care. Food security, employment, and gender policies should be integral to preparing for and responding to future shocks such as pandemics. Prioritizing the most affected populations, like the elderly during COVID-19, can enhance the health system effectiveness.

Background & Aims: COVID-19 is one of the most significant diseases of recent years, spreading globally through human-to-human transmission. The purpose of this study is to investigate the seroepidemiological titers of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the urban population of Urmia city based on samples from individuals who referred to local laboratories. This study aims to provide new insights into the epidemiologic behavior of COVID-19 in society. Materials & Methods: Approximately 4,000 people who referred to the laboratories of Urmia participated in this study. Plasma levels of IgM and IgG antibodies were measured, and the frequency of positive antibody titers in the entire population was calculated based on demographic characteristics such as age and gender. IgM and IgG levels were compared between the two genders. Additionally, IgM and IgG levels were compared across age groups: children and adolescents under 20 years old; young adults (20–40 years old); middle-aged individuals (40-60 years old); and the elderly (60 years and older). Results: In this study, the frequencies of IgM+ and IgG+ were determined as well as the frequency of (IgM/IgG+) among the participants. Plasma levels of IgG were not different between women and men, whereas IgM levels were higher in women than in men. The plasma levels of antibodies in the age groups of children and young people were lower than in the middle-aged and elderly age groups. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight that older adults and individuals with confirmed infections mounted a stronger antibody response. Additionally, the differences in IgM levels between genders warrant further research to explore their potential clinical significance.

Background: Several factors may be associated with the severity of COVID-19. Lifestyle, social relations, and socio-economic status can also influence how external stressors, including health crises, are perceived. However, limited research has addressed their role as risk factors in the severity of COVID-19 in both hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients. Aims: The present study was conducted with the aim of In the investigation of the role of lifestyle, social relations and socio-economic status of the family in the severity of Covid-19. Methods: This cross-sectional (analytical) research included all individuals aged 18 years and older in Kerman city who had experienced COVID-19 between March 2020 and April 2021. The statistical sample, selected through stratified random sampling, comprised 180 hospitalized patients and 220 non-hospitalized patients out of a total of 146,000 patients. Data were collected using lifestyle questionnaires (Laali, 2013), quality of relationships (Pierce, 1991), and demographic questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using the logistic regression method with SPSS26 software. Results: Logistic regression revealed that lifestyle, social relations, and socio-economic status significantly contribute to the severity of COVID-19 infection in both hospitalized and non-hospitalized adults. The likelihood of hospitalization is higher in COVID-19 patients with an inappropriate lifestyle, low socio-economic status, and weak social relations (p> 0.05). Conclusion: Recognizing the role of these factors in the severity of COVID-19 enhances officials' understanding of their impact and strengthens preparedness for responding to potential future outbreaks or other infectious epidemics.

El Kadri Filho F, de Lucca SR. Telework Conditions, Ergonomic and Psychosocial Risks, and Musculoskeletal Problems in the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2022;64(12):e811. Escudero-Castillo I, Mato-Díaz FJ, Rodriguez-Alvarez A. Furloughs, teleworking and other work situations during the COVID-19 lockdown: Impact on mental well-being. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021;18(6):2898. Suroso B, Wahyu A, Saleh LM, Muis M, Thamrin Y. Risk Analysis of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) Among Computer User Workers in Makassar. Tec Empresarial. 2024;19(1):174-88. Cuerdo-Vilches T, Navas-Martín MÁ, Oteiza I. Working from home: Is our housing ready? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021;18(14):7329. Niu Q, Nagata T, Fukutani N, Tezuka M, Shimoura K, Nagai-Tanima M, Aoyama T. Health effects of immediate telework introduction during the COVID-19 era in Japan: A cross-sectional study. 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The effect of training and workstation adjustability on teleworker discomfort during the COVID-19 pandemic. Applied Ergonomics. 2022;102:103749. Garcia M-G, Aguiar B, Bonilla S, Yepez N, Arauz PG, Martin BJ. Perceived physical discomfort and its associations with home office characteristics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Human Factors. 2022:00187208221110683. Investigating the impact of teleworking during the COVID-19 pandemic on work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and psychosocial factors of employees: a review article Ghasemi N1, Fallah H2, Nabian M3, Ghasemi M4, Halvani Gh5, Najafipour A6[1] 1 Master of ergonomic, Department of occupational health, School of health, Yazd university of medical sciences, Yazd, Iran 2 Assistant professor, Department of occupational health, School of health, Yazd university of medical sciences, Yazd, Iran 3 Orthopedics assistant professor, Trans-disciplinary research Institute of COTAR, Tehran, Iran 4 Associate Professor, School of nursery, Islamic Azad University, Arak Science and Research Unit, Arak, Iran 5 Associate Professor, Department of occupational health, School of health, Yazd university of medical sciences, Yazd, Iran 6 Medical student, Medical school, Tehran university of medical sciences, Tehran, Iran Abstract Introduction: Advances in technology have increased job flexibility for employees and employers alike. On the other hand, effective teleworking requires planning, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many employees to quickly change their workplace from outside to home, without ensuring that the conditions are ready. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of teleworking on musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial factors in the days of Corona. Materials and Methods: This research was done by a review method. Articles were searched from 2020 to 2023 on PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar sites with the key words Ergonomics, Teleworking, MSDs, and COVID19. Results: A total of 93 articles were reviewed. By evaluating the titles, 45 related articles and 30 articles were selected by reviewing the abstracts, and finally 13 articles which full text was available were selected. These articles refer to the study of the effects of teleworking on musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial factors in the era of Corona. Conclusion: Most of the studies point to the increase of musculoskeletal disorders. Teleworkers have experienced more musculoskeletal pain and discomfort in different areas of the body. Longer working hours with shorter breaks to meet increased work demands, social isolation, lack of support from colleagues, blurred boundaries between work and home, and omnipresence of work are some of the psychosocial and organizational factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders. For some employees, teleworking will remain a common way of working in the post-pandemic era. Therefore, it is necessary to identify telework-related risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders and address them with timely telework preventive measures and the individual needs of employees.

Background: There is limited data that assessed the changes in public confidence in routine childhood and adult vaccines after Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We, therefore, assessed these changes and the reasons; if any; for these changes and measured the impact of COVID-19 on peoples' thoughts regarding routine vaccinations in Saudi Arabia. Methods: We undertook a cross-sectional online study in Saudi Arabia from November 2023 to April 2024. Participation was voluntary for those above 18 years and lived in Saudi Arabia. The study tool was an online self-administered questionnaire. Data gathered were analyzed using the SPSS version 25 software. Results: A total of 1217 Saudi Arabian participants were enrolled. Among the total participants, only 32.4% (n = 394) participants were males. Most of the participants (55%, n = 679) were from the western region and were married (56.9%, n = 693). Most participants (71%, n = 873) revealed that the routine vaccination plays an important role in protecting them and their children from infectious diseases. The confidence in routine vaccination after the COVID-19 pandemic didn't change among 59% (n = 723), decreased in 22% (n = 261) and increased in 19% (n = 238) of the participants. The most common reason for the change in participants' confidence (68%, n = 743) in routine vaccination after the COVID-19 pandemic was the fear of the impact of COVID-19 vaccine on the immune system or the body's ability to respond correctly to routine vaccines. Conclusions: We have showed that there is little change in the confidence of routine vaccination among people in Saudi Arabia compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study could shed light on the potential challenges and opportunities for promoting vaccine acceptance and uptake in a post-pandemic era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since February 2020, we have witnessed COVID-19 profoundly disturb ongoing research dynamics – including research collaborations between the Global North and the Global South. Reduced international and regional mobility obliged research collaborations to reinvent their modalities. The role of field-based researchers (those physically 'there') has never been more crucial. This article draws on the testimonies of researchers from the African Great Lakes region to reflect on the positionality of field-based researchers in North–South research collaborations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Their embeddedness in the field foregrounded their complementary strengths in interactions with scholars from the Global North. We also illustrate how vulnerabilities – both unstable employment and field-related risks – were unevenly shared by partners in the Global South and the Global North. In conclusion, the COVID-19 experience inspired us to adhere to new collaboration modalities that move beyond post-colonial dynamics in North–South research collaborations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Even though the COVID-19 emergency has concluded, its consequences are still relevant. Recent evidence suggests that a significant proportion of individuals experience persistent symptoms long after the initial infection has resolved, classified as "Long COVID" condition. Fear of COVID-19 increases anxiety and stress levels in healthy individuals and exacerbates the symptoms of those with pre-existing psychiatric disorders; therefore understanding the impact of the pandemic on psychiatric disorders remains of utmost importance. The present study aimed at assessing the prevalence and predictive factors of fear of COVID-19 in a sample of patients with different psychiatric conditions. Method: A sample of 269 psychiatric patients were recruited from two different tertiary clinics in Italy and assessed with the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). In order to compare patients with a significant fear of COVID-19 or without (Fear+ vs. Fear-) and to identify the main features in terms of clinical dimension, exploratory and predictive analysis were performed. Results. Female gender, age at illness onset, and insight levels emerged as positive predictors of FCV-19S. Conversely, current substance abuse emerged as a negative predictor of fear levels. Moreover, significantly lower FCV-19S scores were observed in patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Conclusions. Specific sociodemographic and clinical factors predicted higher levels of fear of COVID-19 in psychiatric patients. Further studies are warranted to determine the potential long-term consequences of the COVID-19 impact on mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this work was to rapidly produce in plats two recombinant antigens (RBDw-Fc and RBDo-Fc) containing the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike (S) protein from SARS-CoV-2 variants Wuhan and Omicron as fusion proteins to the Fc portion of a murine IgG2a antibody constant region (Fc). Results: The two recombinant antigens were expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana plants, engineered to avoid the addition of N-linked plant-typical sugars, through vacuum agroinfiltration and showed comparable purification yields (about 35 mg/kg leaf fresh weight). Conclusions: Their Western blotting and Coomassie staining evidenced the occurrence of major in planta proteolysis in the region between the RBD and Fc, which was particularly evident in RBDw-Fc, the only antigen bearing the HRV 3C cysteine protease recognition site. The two RBD N-linked glycosylation sites showed very homogeneous profiles free from plant-typical sugars, with the most abundant glycoform represented by the complex sugar GlcNAc4Man3. Both antigens were specifically recognised in Western Blot analysis by the anti-SARS-CoV-2 human neutralizing monoclonal antibody J08-MUT and RBDw-Fc was successfully used in competitive ELISA experiments for binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor to verify the neutralizing capacity of the serum from vaccinated patients. Both SARS-Cov-2 antigens fused to a murine Fc region were rapidly and functionally produced in plants with potential applications in diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Localised swelling at sites of filler injections has been reported in the Moderna mRNA‑1273 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) vaccine trial. Methods: We conducted a review of the existing data and literature on the potential pathophysiology for this adverse event and its potential management. Results: Data from the Moderna and Pfizer COVID‑19 vaccine Phase 3 trial and one case series were available. Three out of 30,400 subjects developed possible filler reaction in the Moderna trial. Two other cases were reported after emergency use authorisation. Reactions occurred at a mean of 1.4 days post‑vaccination. Fillers were injected at a mean of 14.1 months before vaccination. Areas involved included lips, infraorbital areas and tear troughs. Treatment included observation, corticosteroids, antihistamine, hyaluronidase and 5‑fluorouracil. Conclusion: Rare, self‑limiting adverse reactions to dermal fillers have been reported following COVID‑19 vaccination. Clinicians should be aware of this clinical phenomenon and its management, as vaccination is carried out globally [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are infrequently nourished via oral feeding due to aspiration risks. Patients with COVID-19 and on ECMO represent a subpopulation that has additional factors that may affect their swallow function. This study aimed to describe the swallow function and ability to maintain oral feeding in patients with COVID-19 while on ECMO. A retrospective study of patients with COVID-19 who started veno-venous ECMO at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 and August 2020) was conducted at a tertiary care hospital. Clinical swallow evaluations and videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) were analyzed using standardized measurement scales. Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) identified relationships between ECMO and swallowing function at different time points. 19 patients were included; all underwent clinical swallow evaluation and 4 underwent VFSS while on ECMO. Mean age was 43.2 years (standard deviation: 9.2), mean duration of ECMO was 65.7 days (58.7), and mean duration of intubation was 14.4 days (8.6). All patients were able to undergo swallow function evaluation, regain swallow function, and resume oral feeding while cannulated. Duration of ECMO and time to feeding tube removal was positively correlated (r = 0.747, p < 0.001) with patients demonstrating less functional swallowing independence and requiring a more modified diet upon oral diet initiation. Clinical swallow evaluation and videofluoroscopic swallowing evaluation are possible for COVID-19 patients actively on ECMO. Patient swallow function can improve, and oral diet can be achieved while on ECMO, demonstrating benefit of SLP surveillance and swallowing assessment prior to ECMO decannulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WHO declared SARS-COVID19 a pandemic in March 2020. Most governments declared health emergency states and implemented various measures. Since then, changes in the reasons for medical consultations were observed in healthcare institutions. Pediatric endocrinologists perceived an increase in the number of consultations related to early or accelerated CPP during the months following the lockdown that different governments had established. Several papers reported the increment in incidence in Central Precocious Puberty, especially in girls. Reports from different parts of the world highlighted a two to threefold rise in the number of cases of precocious puberty treated in Pediatric Endocrinology Centers. This trend of CPP incidence strongly suggests that changes in habits and the environment in which boys and girls were immersed during the lockdown, have played a significant role in triggering the early onset of the gonadotrophic axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is among the most unequal regions in the world in terms of wealth and household income. Such inequalities have been shown to influence different outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the disruption of routine health services. The aim of this paper is to examine socioeconomic inequalities in household experiences of healthcare disruption in LAC countries from mid-2020 to late 2021. Methods: We used household-level data from the COVID-19 High Frequency Phone Surveys (HFPS), conducted in 14 LAC countries in one round in 2020 and 24 countries in two rounds in 2021. Ordinary least square and Logit multivariate regressions were conducted to examine the correlation between reported healthcare disruptions with household characteristics for 2020 and 2021. Since household income levels were not directly collected in the HPFS, we created an index of inequality and estimated the relative index of inequality. Results: When analyzing 2020–2021 together, reported healthcare disruptions were lower if the respondent was employed or did not report lack of food in the last month; if the household had more people aged 65 or older or more rooms to sleep in. When analyzed separately in 2020 and 2021, having more people aged 65 or older or not experiencing food insecurity remained stable factors for lower odds of disruption in both years. In addition, being employed was associated with lower odds of disruption in 2020, while being male or having more rooms to sleep in were associated with lower odds of disruption in 2021. Regarding wealth differences in 2021 (it was not possible to compute it for 2020), households with the lowest wealth were 27.3% more likely to report a care disruption than households with the highest wealth. Conclusions: The socioeconomic status of households in LAC was a relevant factor in explaining the disruption of healthcare during the COVID19 pandemic, with a clear social gradient where the wealthier a household, the less likely it was to experience disruption of care. Food security, employment, and gender policies should be integral to preparing for and responding to future shocks such as pandemics. Prioritizing the most affected populations, like the elderly during COVID-19, can enhance the health system effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CoVID-19 has been linked to long-term consequences on several human body organs, including lung ailments, kidney malfunctions, heart dysrhythmia, alterations in brain nutrient levels, psychological difficulties, abrupt changes in blood pressure, and more. Because of the considerable variety in the impacts on different body parts, researchers find it challenging to create models that can incorporate these effects for treatment recommendations and future disease prevention scenarios. Thus, this article examines some of the most recently proposed models for identifying the impacts of CoVID19 on various human organs. This review examines the underlying theories in terms of clinical nuances, functional advantages, contextual limits, and potential empirical applications. Based on this discussion, researchers will be able to find the best models for detecting particular diseases on specific body parts. It was discovered that hybrid bioinspired models, when paired with deep learning-based classification algorithms, can effectively detect these impacts. This text also parametrically analyses these models in terms of accuracy, precision, and recall, allowing readers to select the best models for their performance-specific use cases. To expand on this discussion, this book evaluates a unique CoVID19 Classification Rank Metric (CCRM) that integrates these factors for thorough model identification. Based on this criteria, researchers will be able to develop appropriate models for clinical scenarios that have high accuracy, low delay, and scalability while costing less. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investment in cryptocurrencies has garnered substantial attention in the recent past as the prices for these digital currencies started recording all-time highs. While there are numerous contenders in the cryptocurrency market, bitcoin has emerged to be the most popular and sought after digital currency. Despite its popularity, the theoretical understanding of the value of this cryptocurrency is still limited. Hence this study aims to find out the significant predictors of the bitcoin price and build a machine-learning based model to evaluate and predict the complex phenomenon of bitcoin price. Here we contribute to the extant literature by searching for the potential contributors of bitcoin prices ranging from fundamental, macroeconomic, financial, speculative, and technical sources to the most marked event of 2020 i.e., Covid19 pandemic. For this purpose, we have used state-of-the-art machine learning, deep learning, and statistical time-series models (univariate and multivariate) to forecast bitcoin price. The study revealed that deep learning models performed almost at par with Random Forest model for both pre- and whilst-Covid19 era. Traditional time-series models, namely VAR and VECM gave the most consistent performance within acceptable margins for both pre- and whilst-Covid era. We have also found that macroeconomic factors play an important role in determining bitcoin price formulation process during both periods, while mining difficulty and market sentiment factors gain more importance during pre-Covid period. In addition, number of covid cases is also found to be a significant factor for the prediction of bitcoin price during whilst-Covid period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID19 is a pandemic that has affected millions around the world since March 2020. While many patients recovered completely with mild illness, many patients succumbed to various organ morbidities. This heterogeneity in the clinical presentation of COVID19 infection has posed a challenge to clinicians around the world. It is therefore crucial to identify specific organ-related morbidity for effective treatment and better patient outcomes. We have carried out serum-based proteomic experiments to identify protein biomarkers that can flag organ dysfunctions in COVID19 patients. Methods: COVID19 patients were screened and tested at various hospitals across New Delhi, India. 114 serum samples from these patients, with and without organ morbidities were collected and annotated based on clinical presentation and treatment history. Of these, 29 samples comprising of heart, lung, kidney, gastrointestinal, liver, and neurological morbidities were considered for the discovery phase of the experiment. Proteins were isolated, quantified, trypsin digested, and the peptides were subjected to liquid chromatography assisted tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Data analysis was carried out using Proteome Discoverer software. Fold change analysis was carried out on MetaboAnalyst. KEGG, Reactome, and Wiki Pathway analysis of differentially expressed proteins were carried out using the STRING database. Potential biomarker candidates for various organ morbidities were validated using ELISA. Results: 254 unique proteins were identified from all the samples with a subset of 12–31 differentially expressed proteins in each of the clinical phenotypes. These proteins establish complement and coagulation cascade pathways in the pathogenesis of the organ morbidities. Validation experiments along with their diagnostic parameters confirm Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine, Cystatin C, and Catalase as potential biomarker candidates that can flag cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and respiratory disease, respectively. Conclusions: Label free serum proteomics shows differential protein expression in COVID19 patients with morbidity as compared to those without morbidity. Identified biomarker candidates hold promise to flag organ morbidities in COVID19 for efficient patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study is twofold: to describe the prevalence and incidence of pressure ulcers (PUs) among ICU patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify the risk factors associated with the development of PUs in this cohort of ICU patients. Retrospective cohort study of adult critical care patients admitted in two general ICUs of two different countries (Sweden and Portugal) between March 1st, 2020, and April 30th, 2021, through the analysis of the electronic health record database. The prevalence and incidence were calculated, and a multivariate logistic-regression model was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs), of possible risk factors of PU development. The sample consisted of 1717 patients. The overall prevalence of PU was 15.3 %, and the incidence of ICU-acquired PUs was 14.1 %. Most of the pressure ulcers documented in this study were at the anterior part of the body (45.35 %) and regarding classification, Category 2 (38.40 %) and Category 3 (22.71 %) pressure ulcers together accounted for over fifty percent of the cases recorded. In the multivariate logistic regression model for PU, age, having COVID-19 (OR = 1.58, 95 % CI: 1.20–2.09), use of mechanical ventilation (OR = 1.49, 95 % CI: 1.13 = 1.97), use of vasopressors (OR = 1.31, 95 % CI: 1.00–1.70), having a Braden risk score ≤16 at admission (OR = 1.63; 95 % CI: 1.04–2.56), and length of stay (LOS) (OR = 1.43, 95 % CI 1.03–2.00 if LOS 90–260 h, OR = 2.34, 95 % CI: 1.63–3.35 if LOS >260 h) were associated with the likelihood of developing an ICU-acquired PUs. When adjusted for covariates patients with COVID-19 had a higher risk for PU development during the ICU stay compared to patients without COVID-19. Health care personnel in ICU may consider incorporating COVID-19, age, use of mechanical ventilation, vasopressors and estimated LOS in addition to a comprehensive risk assessment including both a risk score and clinical assessment. • The overall prevalence of pressure ulcers (PUs) was 15.3%, with ICU-acquired PUs at an incidence of 14.1%. • The front of the body had most pressure ulcers (45.35%), with 38.40% in Category 2 and 22.71% in Category 3. • Patients with COVID-19 are almost twice as likely to develop pressure ulcers compared to those without the virus (OR=1.58). • Age, COVID-19, mec. ventilation, vasopressors, Braden score ≤16, and stay length are linked to ICU-acquired pressure ulcers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Outbreak of SARS-CoV2 and the COVID-19 pandemic had posed a threat to the healthcare system. The world had witnessed the failure of the healthcare system in the diagnosis, surveillance, and development of therapeutics effective against COVID-19. Hence, research emphasis has been given to technological inventions in developing robust and effective tools to fight against respiratory viral outbreaks, including SARS-CoV2. Methods: The scientific literature was searched and retrieved from PubMed, PubMed Central, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Scielo databases. The scientific literature was screened and selected based on recent studies in the area of nanotechnology based inventions and applications in developing diagnostics, surveillance tools, PPE kits, therapeutics, and vaccines. Results: Based on the scientific literature, there are enormous developments in designing robust diagnostics, surveillance tools, therapeutics, and vaccines. These findings show an increasing demand for nanotechnology-based inventions to tackle zoonotic spillover. Nanotechnology remains a growing area as interdisciplinary science and technology- enable a variety of inventions used in the COVID-19 pandemic. PPE design is a classic example where nanotechnology-driven materials are extensively used. Masks and other fabrics were also developed using nanotechnology-based materials. Conclusion: The study provides insights into nanotechnology based inventions in the fight against respiratory viral pathogens, including SARS-CoV2, and associated diseases. The study showed the application of nanotechnology in the development of diagnostics, surveillance tools, therapeutics, and vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine Learning is recent emerging technique in prediction of various health related issues in medical system. It is very essential to predict the COVID-19 virus before it spreads and affects an entire community. Machine Learning is being used to detect the presence of COVID-19 virus as early as possible by analyzing patient's health condition and collecting data such as gender, age, Body Mass Index (BMI), asthma symptoms, wheezing, dyspnea, respiratory failure, cough, blood sugar level etc., with this information used eighteen machine learning algorithms such as ELM, Logistic Regression, SGD, KNN, SVM, QDA, LDA, XGBoost etc., to analyze the data and predict the presence of COVID-19 virus. Table and Charts are plotted with the help of the results acquired from the machine learning algorithm. As a result, early prediction of COVID-19 becomes possible and huge loss in terms of both health and economy can be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Immune dysregulation and SARS‐CoV‐2 plasma viremia have been implicated in fatal COVID‐19 disease. However, how these two factors interact to shape disease outcomes is unclear.We carried out viral and immunological phenotyping on a prospective cohort of 280 patients with COVID‐19 presenting to acute care hospitals in Boston, Massachusetts and Genoa, Italy between June 1, 2020 and February 8, 2022. Disease severity, mortality, plasma viremia, and immune dysregulation were assessed. A mouse model of lethal H1N1 influenza infection was used to analyze the therapeutic potential of Notch4 and pyroptosis inhibition in disease outcome.Stratifying patients based on %Notch4+ Treg cells and/or the presence of plasma viremia identified four subgroups with different clinical trajectories and immune phenotypes. Patients with both high %Notch4+ Treg cells and viremia suffered the most disease severity and 90‐day mortality compared to the other groups even after adjusting for baseline comorbidities. Increased Notch4 and plasma viremia impacted different arms of the immune response in SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Increased Notch4 was associated with decreased Treg cell amphiregulin expression and suppressive function whereas plasma viremia was associated with increased monocyte cell pyroptosis. Combinatorial therapies using Notch4 blockade and pyroptosis inhibition induced stepwise protection against mortality in a mouse model of lethal H1N1 influenza infection.The clinical trajectory and survival outcome in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 is predicated on two cardinal factors in disease pathogenesis: viremia and Notch4+ Treg cells. Intervention strategies aimed at resetting the immune dysregulation in COVID‐19 by antagonizing Notch4 and pyroptosis may be effective in severe cases of viral lung infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been recognized that a considerable proportion of critically ill patients may die of this disease. The current study aims to assess the overall 1-year outcomes within the UMFST COVID-19 Unit, providing valuable insights into the efficacy of specialized care facilities in managing severe cases of COVID-19. (2) Methods: This is a retrospective monocentric observational study including 294 patients confirmed to have SARS-CoV-2 infection. Demographic data and clinical and paraclinical parameters were assessed. Survival probabilities were estimated using Kaplan–Meier curves. (3) Results: Overall, the 1-year mortality was 89.4%. All deaths occurred in-hospital, with two patients dying after 28 days. Diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney failure, cerebrovascular disease, and atrial fibrillation were more prevalent in deceased patients. Thirty percent of patients needed endotracheal intubation during the first 24 h. The incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia was higher among deceased patients. The SOFA score was significantly different between deceased vs. survivors. The survival analysis showed that the use of noradrenaline increased the likelihood of surviving COVID-19. (4) Conclusions: The severe comorbidities of the patients were the primary factors contributing to the increased mortality rate in the COVID-19 unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) may reduce postoperative complications of obesity--associated restrictive pulmonary syndrome. We evaluated the effects of NIV use after extubation in patients undergoing bariatric surgery on acute changes in lung function. A randomized clinical trial was performed with patients in the immediate postoperative period of bariatric surgery. The intervention group used NIV for 1 hour after arrival at the post-anesthesia recovery room, the control group received standard care. Pulmonary function assessment was performed preoperatively, immediately after surgery and 1 hour after arrival in the recovery room. Statistical analysis was performed using the Generalized Estimation Equations test and Bonferroni's post-hoc test. The significance level adopted was 0.05. A total of 46 individuals were evaluated, of which 31 were able to perform spirometry in the pre and immediate postoperative period. The sample consisted of 25 women, mean age of 42.55 ± 10.39 years and mean Body Mass Index of 50.82 ± 10.20. Preoperative spirometry showed that most patients had mild restrictive disorders (46.7% versus 43.8%) or no respiratory disorder (40% versus 31.3%). In the post-extubation evaluation, most patients had severe restrictive disorder (66.7% versus 53.8%), after one hour in the recovery room, 64.3% versus 60% of patients had severe restriction and 21.4% versus 20% severe obstruction. It was concluded that the use of prophylactic NIV did not improve pulmonary function in the immediate postoperative period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]