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Copyright of Konuralp Medical Journal / Konuralp Tip Dergisi is the property of Duzce University Medical School and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Biomédica: Revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud is the property of Instituto Nacional de Salud of Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Konuralp Medical Journal / Konuralp Tip Dergisi is the property of Duzce University Medical School and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Dados - Revista de Ciências Sociais is the property of DADOS and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Biomédica: Revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud is the property of Instituto Nacional de Salud of Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Konuralp Medical Journal / Konuralp Tip Dergisi is the property of Duzce University Medical School and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: COVID-19 vaccines have been rolled out recently in several parts of the world. Although the protective efficacy is frequently discussed, little is known about the real-world post-vaccination experience outside of clinical trial conditions. Knowledge about what to expect after vaccination will help educate the public, dispel misinformation and reduce vaccine hesitancy Material & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted and all individuals who received COVID 19 vaccine at COVID 19 VACCINATION OPD at G S Medical college and Hospital at Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, after 20th may 2021 were included in the study. Conclusion: It was observed that among the total participants majority (73.2%, 309) showed symptoms following COVID 19 vaccination. About (64.7%, 273) of the participants suffered from fever, (12.1%, 51) experienced joint pain followed by (9%, 38) chills and (5.7%, 24) myalgia. About (80.8%, 164) of study participants among the age group of 20-29 years followed by (81.6%, 62) of the study participants among the age group < 20 years observed post vaccination symptoms and this association was found to be statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Contaduría y Administración is the property of Facultad de Contaduria y Administracion-Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of African Journal of Reproductive Health is the property of Women's Health & Action Research Centre and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Lockdown during COVID-19 led to teachers and children shifting to online classes, using visual display terminals (VDTs) for education, resulting in increased screen time. The present study was done to assess and understand the nature and magnitude of the problem and to suggest preventive or remedial measures. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted. The questionnaire was prepared for an online survey (using Google Forms) and circulated among school children belonging to different schools across India using multiple groups on social media. A total of 3327 participants from 46 schools across India participated in the survey. We found a marked rise in cumulative screen time for both teachers and students before and during the lockdown. There was a threefold increase in the number of participants with a cumulative screen time 6 h or more compared to the pre-COVID era. Teachers (older participants) had worse symptom scores than students. Larger screens, like televisions, were better VDTs compared to smartphones, tablets, or laptops. School administrators and policymakers should pay due attention to institutionalizing the guidelines about class duration, appropriate screens, and stipulating break duration during online classes, which will continue to remain the predominant mode of education for teachers and students alike, at least in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents the importance of risk management during the covid 19 pandemic in the health, economy and education sector in Kosovo.Since early times, man has begun to choose ways, methods, and tools to reduce or mitigate the material and non-material consequences that have been presented to him the various risks that we may encounter must be foreseen and managed so that they can be easily overcome.One of the unexpected things that we can encounter in life is various epidemics such as the covid 19 pandemic, which requires management and a series of commitments to overcome the crisis.The main purpose of this study is to look at the effect of the covid 19 pandemic and the importance of risk management in the health, economy, and education sector in Kosovo and how the government has reflected with its measures against this pandemic in Kosovo.The methodology of this study is descriptive methods to describe the measures undertaken by the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, which includes a response plan in three main areas, namely health, economy, and education.A secondary data collection methodology was used in this research.The data are taken from the results published by the Friedrich-EbertStiftung-Kosovo Office (FES). Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung office in Pristina.As for the impact of Covid-19, on the labor market in Kosovo, according to the (LFS) Labor Force Survey of 2019, the unemployment rate in Kosovo was 25.7%, or in absolute numbers 125,305 unemployed people. While the employment rate was around 30.1%, or in absolute numbers, the number of employees was 368,180 people.According to the obtained results, it appears that Covid-19 has harmed companies and all sectors in Kosovo.The research mainly has a descriptive nature of the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the health, economy, and education sector in Kosovo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a marked increase in alcohol and drug-induced deaths. In the US, there was a rapid increase in the rate of alcohol- and drug-induced deaths within the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic years. This study examines mortality data within Hawai'i to assess both alcohol and drug-induced mortality during the pandemic compared to the nation overall. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Underlying Cause of Death database were used to compare numbers and rates of alcohol-induced, drug-induced, and all-cause deaths among individuals aged 15 years or older between 2018 and 2021. The percentage of alcohol-induced and drug-induced deaths in the US and Hawai'i increased annually in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Unlike the US, in Hawai'i between 2020 and 2021 the age-adjusted rate of drug-induced deaths per 100 000 people decreased from 20.6 to 18.6. Overall, this study found that alcohol-related deaths in Hawai'i increased similarly to those in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longitudinal analysis of antibody responses following three-dose COVID-19 vaccination in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) has been limited. From August 2021 to February 2023, sequential anti -SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG titers were determined in 45 patients with CLD who received two or three doses of COVID-19 vaccine. The geometric mean of anti-spike IgG at four weeks after the second and third doses were 1313.16 BAU/mL and 3042.29 BAU/mL, respectively, and it decreased significantly from four to 24 weeks after the second (1313.16 vs. 198.42 BAU/mL, p = 0.002) and the third (3042.29 vs. 636.71 BAU/mL, p < 0.001) dose. The anti-spike IgG titers in participants receiving prime-boost homologous mRNA vaccines (BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273) were comparable between participants with and those without significant liver fibrosis at each follow-up time point. This study demonstrated a notable decrease in anti-spike IgG after completion of the vaccination schedule in patients with CLD, highlighting the importance of additional booster doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 is now the major issue in global health. Evidence implies that patients with diabetes are at a higher risk of severe disease or death due to COVID-19 than individuals without diabetes. Aim to explore the effect of the coronavirus disease lockdown on diabetes patients living in JAZAN, Saudi Arabia Subject and Methods this was a cross-sectional study that was carried out among adult and adolescent diabetic people in 2020, toward COVID-19 pandemic effects on diabetic patients in jazan, who had attended Prince Mohammed bin Nasser Hospital in jazan, Saudi Arabia. The sample size taken in ; the total respondents were 110., The study population included adult and adolescent male and female diabetic patients, Age was categorized into four subgroups, starting from the 21-35 years group to the above 46 years. Patients were asked. The results found A majority of the responders (55.5% ) were -Patients were asked fearing to contract coronavirus infection more than non-diabetic people, A majority of the responders (53.6% ) were Agree, Patients were asked Having had any online/virtual appointment during COVID-19 pandemic, found A majority of the responders (56.4% ) were Agree Patients were asked. Recommendation Further studies are needed to explore the exact psychological effect of COVID- 19 on diabetic patients. For people living with diabetes it is important to take precautions to avoid the virus if possible. The recommendations that are being widely issued to the general public are doubly important for people living with diabetes and anyone in close contact with people living with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares relative risk perceptions of residents to inbound tourists from countries with different COVID-19 profiles. Results suggest residents are able to distinguish between COVID-19 risks based on the incidence of COVID-19 in the tourists' source country. Residents' risk perceptions were better aligned with the absolute number of cases (ignoring population size) in tourists' country of origin than with the number of COVID cases per capita. This was primarily influenced by China's relatively large population. The results suggest people can accurately assess relative risk, especially when the media provides quality information (as was the case for COVID-19 cases). By examining perceptions of residents rather than tourists, this paper adds new insights into tourism outcomes of successful crisis management, especially in the context of public health disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Education / Revue Canadienne de l'Éducation is the property of Canadian Society for the Study of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

After COVID-19, various working conditions and working environment at work sites which are the premise of labour rights were treated as the agenda for consultation and agreement of labour management, collective bargaining and agreement, and the contents that need to be responded to at the national level were reviewed. In response to many points that COVID-19 has exposed individual workers' vulnerabilities and inequality, we would like to examine how to systematically compensate for this from the perspective of trade unions. And at this draft for this, it analyses the impact of COVID-19 on a survey of 918 members of six-member unions affiliated to the FKTU in South Korea. And it states that the following practical measures are needed, based on the relational approach: establishment of standards for recognising COVID-19 infectious diseases as occupational diseases and industrial accidents, establishment of standardised safety and health guidelines, strengthening the participation of trade unions in the occupational safety and health management system and labour supervision system, protection of vulnerable working groups and strengthening of labour rights, introduction of statutory paid sick leave and sickness allowance, protection of foreign migrant workers who provide essential work for the lower layers of the labour market, collection and development of COVID-19 data focussing on the labour market and labour relations, monitoring of companies receiving public funds and the establishment of an evaluation system and the involvement of trade unions, the development of various campaigns for the ratification of the ILO Social Security Convention, and a new social contract for occupational safety and health in the COVID-19 situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Health History is the property of University of Toronto Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this phenomenological study, we explored what and how 15 counselor trainees experienced online learning, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. We identified three emerging themes that illumi- nated the essence of their online learning experiences: (a) multifaceted factors contribute to counselor trainees’ satisfaction with online learning; (b) counselor trainees constantly compare online learning to in-person learning; and (c) counselor trainees’ online learning is interfaced with COVID-19. We also provided implications for counselor educators and supervisors in the light of our findings. Finally, we highlighted the limitations of our study as well as the directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment delay in head and neck cancer is a major problem, with impact on survival. The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, evolving in waves around the world, caused diagnostic and therapeutic delays in certain cancers. The main objective of the present study was to analyze whether there was a change in wait times during three successive waves in our center. This was a single-center retrospective study of patients with a first diagnosis of head and neck cancer. Three groups, corresponding to waves 2, 3 and 4, were compared to a control group corresponding to a pre-pandemic period. Study data comprised median times between first consultation and tumor board meeting (C1-TB) and between tumor board meeting and treatment (TB-T). The significance threshold was set at P < 0.005. Ninety-six patients were included in the control group, and 154 in the "waves 2-3-4" group. There was no increase in C1-TB interval (respectively 35 and 26 days, P = 0.046) or TB-T interval (respectively 27 and 28 days, P = 0.723). Intervals between first consultation and tumor board meeting and between tumor board meeting and treatment did not increase during the 2nd, 3rd and 4th waves of COVID-19 in our center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long COVID—persistent health complications after recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 infection—is associated with activity limitations in nearly 48 million U.S. adults, affecting work, leisure, family, and community functioning. Occupational therapists are experts in customizing interventions to maximize performance of daily routines, and often treat individuals who experience similar functional impacts to those observed in long COVID. The large number of people experiencing new disability, as well as a lack of medical treatment options, make occupational therapy a crucial component of long-COVID research and multidisciplinary management. In this column, we discuss actionable steps occupational therapists can take to place them at the forefront of maximizing functional and quality-of-life outcomes for people with long COVID. In this The Issue Is column the authors discuss actionable steps occupational therapists can take to place them at the forefront of maximizing functional and quality-of-life outcomes for people living with long COVID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Points: Question: What are the associations between mental illnesses and diagnosed COVID-19 by vaccination status in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 and the general population? Findings: In this cohort study, depression, serious mental illness, general anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, addiction, self-harm, and suicide were elevated during weeks 1 through 4 after COVID-19 diagnosis compared with before or without COVID-19. Incidence was lower in people who were vaccinated when they had COVID-19 and incidence was higher, and persisted longer, after hospitalization for COVID-19. Meaning: The findings support recommendation of COVID-19 vaccination in the general population and particularly among those with mental illness, who may be at higher risk of both SARS-CoV-2 infection and adverse outcomes following COVID-19. This cohort study evaluates associations between mental illness and COVID-19 by vaccination status. Importance: Associations have been found between COVID-19 and subsequent mental illness in both hospital- and population-based studies. However, evidence regarding which mental illnesses are associated with COVID-19 by vaccination status in these populations is limited. Objective: To determine which mental illnesses are associated with diagnosed COVID-19 by vaccination status in both hospitalized patients and the general population. Design, Setting, and Participants: This study was conducted in 3 cohorts, 1 before vaccine availability followed during the wild-type/Alpha variant eras (January 2020-June 2021) and 2 (vaccinated and unvaccinated) during the Delta variant era (June-December 2021). With National Health Service England approval, OpenSAFELY-TPP was used to access linked data from 24 million people registered with general practices in England using TPP SystmOne. People registered with a GP in England for at least 6 months and alive with known age between 18 and 110 years, sex, deprivation index information, and region at baseline were included. People were excluded if they had COVID-19 before baseline. Data were analyzed from July 2022 to June 2024. Exposure: Confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis recorded in primary care secondary care, testing data, or the death registry. Main Outcomes and Measures: Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) comparing the incidence of mental illnesses after diagnosis of COVID-19 with the incidence before or without COVID-19 for depression, serious mental illness, general anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, addiction, self-harm, and suicide. Results: The largest cohort, the pre–vaccine availability cohort, included 18 648 606 people (9 363 710 [50.2%] female and 9 284 896 [49.8%] male) with a median (IQR) age of 49 (34-64) years. The vaccinated cohort included 14 035 286 individuals (7 308 556 [52.1%] female and 6 726 730 [47.9%] male) with a median (IQR) age of 53 (38-67) years. The unvaccinated cohort included 3 242 215 individuals (1 363 401 [42.1%] female and 1 878 814 [57.9%] male) with a median (IQR) age of 35 (27-46) years. Incidence of most outcomes was elevated during weeks 1 through 4 after COVID-19 diagnosis, compared with before or without COVID-19, in each cohort. Incidence of mental illnesses was lower in the vaccinated cohort compared with the pre–vaccine availability and unvaccinated cohorts: aHRs for depression and serious mental illness during weeks 1 through 4 after COVID-19 were 1.93 (95% CI, 1.88-1.98) and 1.49 (95% CI, 1.41-1.57) in the pre–vaccine availability cohort and 1.79 (95% CI, 1.68-1.90) and 1.45 (95% CI, 1.27-1.65) in the unvaccinated cohort compared with 1.16 (95% CI, 1.12-1.20) and 0.91 (95% CI, 0.85-0.98) in the vaccinated cohort. Elevation in incidence was higher and persisted longer after hospitalization for COVID-19. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, incidence of mental illnesses was elevated for up to a year following severe COVID-19 in unvaccinated people. These findings suggest that vaccination may mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19 on mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integrated home-based medical care (iHBMC) program has been implemented by the Taiwanese government since 2016. The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) accelerated the shift from hospital-based to community-based healthcare, with a special focus on advanced home care for frail older adults. This study focuses on home-based advanced care, such as hospital at home (HaH), aiming to explore the feasibility and resilience of HaH within a home-based medical care model in a rural community in Taiwan. We conducted a retrospective review of medical records from February 2020 to August 2022. Two clinical professionals reviewed and abstracted data from the electronic medical records of 189 patients receiving home healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. The HaH event was calculated if patients had any acute infection and received treatment at home. A total of 62 HaH events occurred during 2020–2022 and the average HaH events per person was 1.4. In these events, the top reason for patients receiving HaH was pneumonia, followed by urinary tract infection, soft tissue infection, and sepsis. 77.4% of patients completed the HaH treatment and did not experience any recurrent acute infections in the 30-day follow-up. Different forms of home healthcare enhance the resilience of medical care provision in rural areas. As Taiwan approaches a hyper-aged society by 2025, it is crucial that National Health Insurance policies support various home-based care models that address transportation issues and maintain high care standards in underserved rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The use of prone position (PP) has been widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whereas it has demonstrated benefits, including improved oxygenation and lung aeration, the factors influencing the response in terms of gas exchange to PP remain unclear. In particular, the association between baseline quantitative computed tomography (CT) scan results and gas exchange response to PP in invasively ventilated subjects with COVID-19 ARDS is unknown. The present study aimed to compare baseline quantitative CT results between subjects responding to PP in terms of oxygenation or CO2 clearance and those who did not. METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective observational study including critically ill, invasively ventilated subjects with COVID-19-related ARDS admitted to the ICUs of Niguarda Hospital between March 2020-November 2021. Blood gas samples were collected before and after PP. Subjects in whom the PaO2 /FIO2 increase was ≥ 20 mm Hg after PP were defined as oxygen responders. CO2 responders were defined when the ventilatory ratio (VR) decreased during PP. Automated quantitative CT analyses were performed to obtain tissue mass and density of the lungs. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-five subjects were enrolled, of which 116 (93%) were O2 responders and 51 (41%) CO2 responders. No difference in quantitative CT characteristics and oxygen were observed between responders and non-responders (tissue mass 1,532 ± 396 g vs 1,654 ± 304 g, P = .28; density -544 ± 109 HU vs -562 ± 58 HU P = .42). Similar findings were observed when dividing the population according to CO2 response (tissue mass 1,551 ± 412 g vs 1,534 ± 377 g, P = .89; density -545 ± 123 HU vs -546 ± 94 HU, P = .99). CONCLUSIONS: Most subjects with COVID-19-related ARDS improved their oxygenation at the first pronation cycle. The study suggests that baseline quantitative CT scan data were not associated with the response to PP in oxygenation or CO2 in mechanically ventilated subjects with COVID-19-related ARDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary pneumonia has a significant clinical impact on critically ill patients with COVID-19. Considering potential geographic variations, this study explores the clinical implications of secondary pneumonia within East Asian populations. This multicenter, retrospective cohort study enrolled critical COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care units (ICUs) admission in Taiwan from December 31, 2020, to June 1, 2022. Among the 187 critical COVID-19 patients, 80 (42.8%) developed secondary pneumonia. The primary causative pathogens were gram-negative bacilli (GNB) (76.8%). Gram-positive cocci and fungi were mainly observed during the initial two weeks of ICU stay. Notably, the incidence of pulmonary aspergillosis was 9.2% during the first week of ICU stay and all Staphylococcus aureus were susceptible to methicillin. Multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) were responsible for 28.3% of the cases, exhibiting significantly longer ICU stays compared to the non-MDRO group (median, 27 vs. 14 days, P < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores were associated with a significantly increased risk of secondary pneumonia. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in patients with secondary pneumonia than in those without (37.7% vs. 16.7%, P = 0.02) and survival analysis demonstrated gram-negative bacilli-related secondary pneumonia contributed to a worse prognosis. Secondary pneumonia in critical COVID-19 patients significantly raised in-hospital mortality and extended hospital and ICU stays. Moreover, the presence of GNB notably predicted an unfavorable prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a qualitative study that employed exploratory design to inquire from 15 participants of Central University (Ghana) about their experience with the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana. An in-depth interview was conducted, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that participants experienced fear expressed in four key domains reported under four key themes thus: Experiencing psychological distress; Burden of economic hardships; Fear of inefficient health system; and Educational disruptions and worries involved in online teaching and learning. The study concludes that the upsurge of COVID-19 has triggered psychological, economic, and educational conundrums that have to be addressed. This paper contributes to the growing body of studies on COVID-19 and effects on lecturers and students. The burgeoning evidence of the mental health distress following COVID-19 should be a wake-up call for universities and Ghana as a whole to invest both in infrastructure and manpower in this area of health care delivery. Vaccine hesitancy research must be conducted to improve upon health educational campaigns. The significant disruption from the pandemic is a fair warning to all stakeholders to make educational e-learning infrastructure resilient against similar future shocks. The implications of the findings for health and educational policies in Ghana are addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D)-printed models of bones are a convenient and durable alternative to real bone specimens, and they have been used in anatomy laboratories. It is necessary to identify the precise advantages of 3D-printed models from all perspectives; not only the improvement in students' knowledge of anatomy but also the students' assessment of such models. Here, students of veterinary medicine and animal science evaluated the reproducibility and effectiveness of 3D-printed models as a learning tool by completing our questionnaires, with a focus on their understanding of the skull-morphological differences among dog breeds. With the COVID-19 pandemic having obliged veterinary universities to provide courses online, we also investigated how the pandemic affected the students' evaluation of the 3D-printed models. The questionnaire results revealed that the animal science students were satisfied with the reproducibility of the 3D-printed models, but the veterinary students were not (they preferred to use real specimens). The skull differences were well understood by both types of students, indicating that 3D-printed models are effective for learning about rare skeletal specimens. The veterinary students who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic tended to choose real specimens more often than those who did not have this experience. Our results suggest that the use of 3D-printed models as an introduction and the use of real specimens in anatomy laboratory courses can be adequate for veterinary students. Together our findings suggest ways to improve the educational performance of 3D-printed models for veterinary students who need to understand the anatomy of many species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Latinxs lack equitable access to science-based, accessible, trustworthy, and bilingual health information and rely heavily on TV news as a source of health information. This study examines how TV news media convey COVID-19 health- and safety-related information to the public, focusing on communications that target Latinxs in the US, a group disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Method: To understand how information targets Latinxs, we analyzed conceptual metaphors used in Spanish and English descriptions of the COVID-19 pandemic using TV news archive. Metaphor is an integral part of daily communication that can help people explain what is abstract in terms of what is concrete. Our analysis focused on prominent COVID-19 metaphors in both languages: war, journey, and natural disaster. Results: Similar to previous studies, we found that war metaphors were pervasive in English, for instance, as in 'Diagnostic testing is the only weapon that allows you to fight COVID-19' and 'a 15-day battle with COVID-19.' A new finding was that war metaphors were even more common in Spanish than in English. The journey metaphor had similar rates of use in both languages, while the natural disaster metaphors were more common in English than in Spanish. Conclusions: Our work provides novel insights into how TV news reports use metaphor to convey information about COVID-19 to viewers in English and Spanish. We also offer implications on using culturally informed language and conclude with directions for future research to guide health communications serving linguistic minority communities such as Latinxs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Historical marginalisation and ongoing trust deficits in health and government systems shape present-day vaccine perceptions among marginalised communities. This paper sought to understand the role of trust in decision-making about COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the transgender and disability communities in India. Methods: Using a participatory approach we interviewed 24 community representatives, identifying themselves as transgender individuals or as persons with disability, and 21 key informants such as vaccine programme managers, vaccine providers, and community advocates. We undertook an inductive thematic analysis of the data using a socio-ecological model. Results: Fear of side effects in relation to specific needs of the two communities and mistrust of systems involved in vaccination shaped four different pathways for vaccine decision-making. Mistrust of systems was influenced by past negative experiences with the health system, creating contexts in which information and misinformation are shared and interpreted. Participants negotiated their doubts about safety and mistrust of systems by interacting with different sources of influence showing patterns of decision-making that are dynamic, context-dependent, and intersectional. Conclusion: These findings will help in determining the content, strategies and approaches to equitable vaccine communication for these two communities. The two communities ought to be included in vaccine trials. Vaccine information must respond to the specific needs of these two communities which could be enabled by collaboration and engagement with community members and influencers. Finally, long-term investment towards the needs of marginalised communities is vital to dismantle cycles of marginalisation and distrust and in turn improve vaccine acceptance and uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Severely ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) show an increased risk of new‐onset atrioventricular blocks (AVBs), associated with high rates of short‐term mortality. Recent data suggest that the uncontrolled inflammatory activation observed in these patients, specifically interleukin (IL)‐6 elevation, may play an important pathogenic role by directly affecting cardiac electrophysiology. The aim of our study was to assess the acute impact of IL‐6 changes on electrocardiographic indices of atrioventricular conduction in severe COVID‐19. Methods: We investigated (1) the behavior of PR‐interval and PR‐segment in patients with severe COVID‐19 during active phase and recovery, and (2) their association with circulating IL‐6 levels over time. Results: During active disease, COVID‐19 patients showed a significant increase of PR‐interval and PR‐segment. Such atrioventricular delay was transient as these parameters rapidly normalized during recovery. PR‐indices significantly correlated with circulating IL‐6 levels over time. All these changes and correlations persisted also in the absence of laboratory signs of cardiac strain/injury or concomitant treatment with PR‐prolonging drugs, repurposed or not. Conclusions: Our study provides evidence that in patients with severe COVID‐19 and high‐grade systemic inflammation, IL‐6 elevation is associated with a significant delay of atrioventricular conduction, independent of concomitant confounding factors. While transient, such alterations may enhance the risk of severe AVB and associated short‐term mortality. Our data provide further support to current anti‐inflammatory strategies for severe COVID‐19, including IL‐6 antagonists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the association of time to oral and maxillofacial surgery after Covid-19 infection with the risk of postoperative complications in a population from China. In the current study, a total of 1342 consecutive patients underwent general anesthesia (GA) in the maxillofacial district of the Chinese Oral and Maxillofacial COVID Collaborative, which consists of 27 teaching hospitals. Pulmonary, cardiovascular and thrombotic complications were monitored for 1 month after GA surgery (GAS) and their incidence was reported for the first 30 days. Post-operative complications were observed in 4 of 1076 cases (0.37%) who had suffered from mild Omicron infection and in none of the controls. Results from the Quasi-Poisson multivariate regression models showed that Omicron infection was not associated with increased post-operative complications compared to controls. Among the infected patients, delays of >4 but not >6 weeks were associated with lower OR of complications (0.08, 95% CI 0.01–0.78 and 0.06, 95% CI 0.01–1.80, respectively). Findings of this study suggest that delaying surgery for a period of 4–6 weeks following infection can provide a protective effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to analyse the short- and long-term effects of entering the Spanish labour market under tough economic conditions on young immigrant–native earnings and employment outcomes. Design/methodology/approach: The authors use cohorts, where the entry cohort into the labour market is the unit of observation. As a database, the authors use the continuous sample of working histories covering the period 2007–2021. Then, the authors estimate the model using weighted least squares. Findings: The results show that the great recession and COVID-19 led to a blockage at the entrance of the labour market, reducing the number of workers. Additionally, the authors observe an adverse impact in terms of employment and earnings on those entering the labour market. Besides, this effect varies in intensity and persistence for natives and immigrants, as well as by country of birth, age of entry, gender and educational level. Originality/value: A contribution to the literature is the analysis of the earnings and employment trajectories of young people entering the Spanish labour market for the first time during an adverse shock, such as the 2008 economic crisis or the COVID-19 crisis, and the possible differences that exist between native and immigrant workers. So, the authors analyse the labour market trajectories of workers covering the most recent years. Likewise, the authors carry out an extensive heterogeneity analysis in which they distinguish workers by educational level, gender, age of entry into the labour market and immigrants by their country of birth. This represents an additional contribution. The use of a cohort approach also contributes to the existing literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2-year-old boy tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and, after 30 days of mild- moderate respiratory symptoms, suddenly deteriorated and required extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation. Lung biopsy was performed with findings consistent with organizing pneumonia. He received intensive therapy with high-dose methylprednisolone, intravenous immune globulin, rituximab, and plasmapheresis without improvement. He died after 85 days hospitalization. This case highlights unique presentations of COVID-19 and reaffirms the concept that, while rare in Hawai‘i, pediatric COVID-19 is an ongoing problem and that severe, even fatal, disease can occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Prone positioning (PP) has demonstrated its potential for improving outcomes in patients with ARDS who require invasive mechanical ventilation. However, the ability of prolonged proning to reduce mortality in patients with COVID-19 specifically, sessions lasting > 24 h remains uncertain. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we examined 158 subjects with COVID-19 pneumonia who required mechanical ventilation due to moderate-to-severe ARDS. Seventy-six subjects were placed in standard PP and 82 in extended PP, defined as prone sessions lasting at least 32 h. Our primary aim was to evaluate the effect of EPP on 90-d survival in subjects with COVID-19 with acute severe respiratory failure. To ensure the reliability of our findings and to minimize bias, we applied 3 adjustment approaches: cardinality matching (CM), matching weighting (MW), and inverse probability of treatment weighting with stabilized and trimmed weights (SW). We used Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models to analyze the effects of EPP on 90-d mortality and sensitivity analysis by calculating E-values. RESULTS: The overall crude 90-d mortality rate was 31.7%. The unadjusted 90-d mortality rates were 19.5% in the EPP group and 44.7% in the SPP group (hazard ratio [HR] 0.35 [95% CI 0.19- 0.63], P < .001). After adjustment for confounding factors using CM, MW, and SW, baseline covariates were balanced between the 2 groups. Subjects in the EPP group exhibited lower 90-d mortality rates after adjustment using CM (HR 0.42 [95% CI 0.23-0.79], P = .007), MW (HR 0.45 [95% CI 0.21-0.95], P = .036), or SW (HR 0.29 [95% CI 0.15-0.56], P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Extended PP was associated with improved 90-d survival in subjects with COVID-19 undergoing mechanical ventilation for severe ARDS. These findings suggest the potential benefit of EPP in the management of COVID-19-related respiratory failure. Further research and prospective studies are warranted to confirm and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 infection previously identified as unexplained cause of pneumonia among groups of patients in China ultimately turned out to be a different entity as the scientific manifestations evolved from asymptomatic to fever, running nose, cold to severe life-threatening pneumonia. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the common symptoms in admitted patients with Covid-19 and to assess the association of different co morbidities with CT severity score. Material and Methods: This was an observational study conducted in admitted patients in a tertiary care hospital. Results: Most of the participants (66.28%) in our study were males. Common presenting symptoms were fatigue in 91.86%, fever in 69.77%, muscle aches/joint pains in 63.95%, dyspnoea in 54.65%, cough in 53.49%, chills in 52.33% and anosmia in 50.0%. The common co morbidities present were hypertension in 48.84%, Diabetes in 33.72%, cardiovascular disease in 24.42%, Hypothyroidism in 20.93%. The disease was of mild severity (CT severity score <7) in 17.44%, moderate severity (CTSS 7-18) in 48.84% and severe (CTSS > 18) in 33.72%. Conclusion: The clinical outcome and CT severity score in COVID-19 subjects largely depends on the presence of different co-morbidities in the infected population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children, women, and older people suffer different types of violence, which appears to have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic and the relative lockdown. The aim of this study is to analyze the literature about gender violence and abuse in the different ages of life and during the COVID-19 lockdown. Data were obtained from an electronic literature search using various online sources such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct and Web of Science. The terms "child abuse" were the most frequently used, followed in frequency by "gender violence," "femicide," and, lastly, "elderly abuse." The first studies considered gender-based violence as a purely physical problem, then, progressively, the analysis focused on the psychological point of view of the issue. There was a greater number of studies in 2020 about violence in comparison with previous years. The social and scientific attention to gender-based violence appeared to be very poor, especially in the case of older people abuse. It is necessary to increase general attention to the topic to correctly identify each form of abuse and to be able to take care of the subjects most at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using novel national data, we examined the association between 2020 federal COVID-related funding targeted to health centers (i.e., H8 funding) and health center workforce and operational capacitymeasures thatmay be important for preserving patient access to care and staff safety. We assigned health centers to quartiles based on federal funding distribution per patient and used adjusted linear probability models to estimate differences in workforce and operational capacity outcomes across quartiles from April 2020 to June 2022. We found a nearly 6-fold difference in 2020 H8 funding per patient when comparing health centers in the lowest versus highest quartiles. Despite this difference, health centers' outcomes improved similarly across quartiles over time, with the lowest-funded health centers having the greatest staffing and service capacity challenges. Our findings suggest that COVID-related health center funding may have contributed to stabilization of health centers'workforce and operations. Amid concerns about staff turnover, sustained investments targeted to supporting workforce retention at health centers can help to ensure ongoing delivery of critical services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pilgrimage is a common phenomenon in all the major religions. Earlier studies showed that the pilgrimage sector has high resilience to crises. However, COVID-19 has affected and continues to have adverse impacts on pilgrimage tourism. Recognising the dearth of research addressing this developing crisis and its impact on pilgrimage tourism, this research note aims to explore the challenges and opportunities pilgrims face due to COVID-19. Hundred and fifty media articles from thirty countries are thematically analysed to address the aim of this research. The results indicate nine challenges and five opportunities for pilgrims due to COVID-19, which have varied implications for the pilgrimage sector as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Collaboration between palliative care units (PCUs) and community palliative care (CPC) services is key to providing integrated care across inpatient and outpatient settings, in response to local and global challenges. Aim: To identify the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and local CPC service changes on admissions, discharges, and patient access to a metropolitan Australian specialist PCU. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of PCU admissions was performed across three six-month periods, in 2017, 2019, and 2021. Patients' demographics and primary diagnoses were assessed for association with CPC service involvement prior to their first PCU admission. Admission characteristics including referral location, indication for admission, length of stay, palliative care phase and place of death were compared between the three time periods. Results: There were 707 admissions during the studied time periods, corresponding to 589 unique patients, of whom 89% had a principle diagnosis of malignancy. Non-cancer and haematology patients were less likely to be linked with a CPC service prior to their first admission. Most admissions (51%) were arranged directly to the PCU from the community. Compared to earlier time periods, during the COVID-19 pandemic, patients had shorter admissions, were more likely to be discharged in the deteriorating or terminal phases, and had four times the odds of dying at home. Conclusion: COVID-19 had significant impacts on the characteristics of PCU admissions, which has ongoing implications for CPC services. Continuous service delivery evaluation and adaptation are required to ensure equitable access to palliative care during periods of change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare pre-extubation physiological characteristics and ultrasound variables between patients intubated for COVID-19 compared to a clinical population and those intubated for other reasons. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) for more than 48 h. Patients were divided into two groups: those intubated for COVID19-induced ARDS and those intubated for other clinical reasons. Ultrasound assessment of lung and diaphragm function was performed before extubation. The results were compared between the two groups of patients. Results: In comparison with the patients without COVID-19, those with the disease were younger (a median age of 58 [46-76] years vs. a median age of 75 [69-85] years; p = 0.01), had fewer comorbidities (a median Charlson Comorbidity Index of 2 [1-4] vs. a median Charlson Comorbidity Index of 5 [4-6]; p < 0.01), and were less severely ill at admission (a median APACHE II score of 9 [8-14] vs. a median APACHE II score of 18 [13-22]; p < 0.01). In addition, the median duration of IMV was longer in the COVID-19 patients (11 [9-23] days vs. 6 [3-8] days; p < 0.01). Although extubation success rates were similar between the COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups (22 [71%] vs. 35 [77.8%]), median lung ultrasound score differed between the two groups (23 [18-25] vs. 15 [11-18]; p < 0.01), as did median diaphragmatic excursion (2.1 [1.7-2.4] vs. 1.7 [1.2-2.0]; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Although patients with COVID-19 requiring ventilatory support are younger and have fewer comorbidities than those intubated for other clinical reasons, they experience longer hospital stays. Although lung ultrasound score can differ between patients with and without COVID-19, these differences do not significantly translate into extubation success rates. Therefore, the utility of ultrasound scores in weaning COVID-19 patients from IMV needs further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic led to worldwide school closures and a sudden shift to online instruction, which adversely effected academic performance for many students. This study investigated whether demographic characteristics were associated with decreased academic outcomes among newly struggling high school students during Covid-19 online learning. Specifically, the study examined four key characteristics: 1) gender, 2) race/ethnicity, 3) low household income status, and 4) special education status. Newly struggling students were defined as those who received a D or F as their final course grade in two or more classes during the first semester of online learning in 2020, compared to one or no D or F final course grades during the same period in 2019 with in-person instruction. Data from a high school in the Midwestern United States were analyzed to compare final course grades between fall 2019 and fall 2020. Correlational analysis revealed that students from low-income households experienced a more significant decline in grades than their peers not from low-income households. These students were not only more likely to struggle, but also showed a greater increase in D and F course grades between semesters. In contrast, while special education students also saw an increase in D and F final course grades between semesters, the rise was less pronounced compared to their newly struggling sample group peers. This study highlights the impact of demographic factors on academic outcomes during the pandemic, addressing a gap in research on how specific characteristics influenced academic performance amid the shift to online learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic led to worldwide school closures and a sudden shift to online instruction, which adversely effected academic performance for many students. This study investigated whether demographic characteristics were associated with decreased academic outcomes among newly struggling high school students during Covid-19 online learning. Specifically, the study examined four key characteristics: 1) gender, 2) race/ethnicity, 3) low household income status, and 4) special education status. Newly struggling students were defined as those who received a D or F as their final course grade in two or more classes during the first semester of online learning in 2020, compared to one or no D or F final course grades during the same period in 2019 with in-person instruction. Data from a high school in the Midwestern United States were analyzed to compare final course grades between fall 2019 and fall 2020. Correlational analysis revealed that students from low-income households experienced a more significant decline in grades than their peers not from low-income households. These students were not only more likely to struggle, but also showed a greater increase in D and F course grades between semesters. In contrast, while special education students also saw an increase in D and F final course grades between semesters, the rise was less pronounced compared to their newly struggling sample group peers. This study highlights the impact of demographic factors on academic outcomes during the pandemic, addressing a gap in research on how specific characteristics influenced academic performance amid the shift to online learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRAT: Deaf and hard-of-hearing students were greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to communication barriers, social distancing, and difficulties with distance education. Numerous researchers have investigated the experiences of such students during the COVID-19 pandemic, but generally addressed single aspects of their lives; hence, there is a need to investigate the broader impact of the pandemic on deaf students. Notably, very few local or international studies on the experiences of deaf students in Georgia are available. To address this gap, I employed qualitative methods to frame the accounts and memories of deaf students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data for this study were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 12 such students attending specialised boarding schools for the deaf in Georgia. Four main themes were identified: the impact of COVID-19 on their moods, the substantial increase in screen time due to distance learning and screen-based social interactions, the dual nature of COVID-19 as a catalyst for increased interactions with family members, and its role in prompting contemplations of the future. This article describes and explores the lived experiences of deaf students and contributes to the collective memory of affected communities by highlighting the value of individual voices, particularly in a small country that is often unknown or overlooked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This study deals with the COVID-19’s effects on the travel sector in ASEAN countries and applies fractional integration methods. Methodology/Design/Approach – The persistence and seasonality of foreign tourist visitors in ASEAN members is investigated using monthly data at different time periods. Findings – The results demonstrate that the series’ nature has undergone significant changes as a result of the present epidemic, moving from mean reversion in the period before Covid, to its absence once the data of the pandemic are incorporated in the series. In fact, using the whole dataset, the hypothesis of a unit root cannot be rejected and seasonality becomes almost irrelevant in all series examined. On this basis, the results suggest for more active involvement of certain governments in recovering the tourism industry with the intention of reaching the original trend. Originality of the research – To our knowledge ne previous study was conducted to analyze the COVID-19’s effects on the travel sector in ASEAN countries through fractional integration methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By March, 2023, 54 countries, areas, and territories (hereafter CAT) in the WHO European Region had reported more than 2·2 million COVID-19-related deaths to the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Here, we estimated how many lives were directly saved by vaccinating adults in the WHO European Region from December, 2020, to March, 2023. In this retrospective surveillance study, we estimated the number of lives directly saved by age group, vaccine dose, and circulating variant-of-concern (VOC) period, regionally and nationally, using weekly data on COVID-19 mortality and infection, COVID-19 vaccination uptake, and SARS-CoV-2 virus characterisations by lineage downloaded from The European Surveillance System on June 11, 2023, as well as vaccine effectiveness data from the literature. We included data for six age groups (25–49 years, 50–59 years, ≥60 years, 60–69 years, 70–79 years, and ≥80 years). To be included in the analysis, CAT needed to have reported both COVID-19 vaccination and mortality data for at least one of the four older age groups. Only CAT that reported weekly data for both COVID-19 vaccination and mortality by age group for 90% of study weeks or more in the full study period were included. We calculated the percentage reduction in the number of expected and reported deaths. Between December, 2020, and March, 2023, in 34 of 54 CAT included in the analysis, COVID-19 vaccines reduced deaths by 59% overall (CAT range 17–82%), representing approximately 1·6 million lives saved (range 1·5–1·7 million) in those aged 25 years or older: 96% of lives saved were aged 60 years or older and 52% were aged 80 years or older; first boosters saved 51% of lives, and 60% were saved during the Omicron period. Over nearly 2·5 years, most lives saved by COVID-19 vaccination were in older adults by first booster dose and during the Omicron period, reinforcing the importance of up-to-date vaccination among the most at-risk individuals. Further modelling work should evaluate indirect effects of vaccination and public health and social measures. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]