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Spontaneous intraparenchymal cerebral hemorrhages (SIPH) account for 10–15% of acute strokes. Sorting these patients according to the risk of harboring an underlying vascular etiology may help selecting the patients who would mostly benefit from Multidetector CT Angiography (MDCTA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of Non-Contrast brain CT (NCCT) in predicting possible vascular etiologies in patients with SIPH. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the NCCT of 334 patients who presented with SIPH from March 2017 to March 2021 and we looked for vascular etiologies in the CTA which was performed for these patients. We used NCCT criteria to predict the presence of any vascular etiologies in SIPH patients and proposed a scoring system based on these criteria which might predict the risk of vascular ICH (VICH score). Out of 334 evaluated patients, 9.3% had an underlying vascular etiology. Independent predictors of the vascular etiology included: age < 46 years, no history of hypertension and coagulation disorders, lobar hemorrhages, and presence of significant perilesional edema. We used these criteria and NCCT classification to create a practical scoring system to predict the risk of vascular ICH (VICH). In our study, VICH score ≥ 4 had 51.6% sensitivity and 96.4% specificity for predicting a positive MDCTA as the maximum optimal cut-off point. The VICH score seemed to be successful in predicting vascular etiologies in this retrospective cohort of 334 patients. This scoring system can be used to select patients if there are limited resources to perform CT angiography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In this trial, effects of glargine on hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes mellitus type II who were undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CAGB), were examined. Methods: Seventy diabetic patients who were candidate for off-pump CABG were randomly divided into the following two groups (1) Control group who were treated with normal saline + regular insulin and (2) Glargine group who received glargine + regular insulin. Normal saline and glargine were administered subcutaneously 2 hours before surgery, and regular insulin was injected before, during and after the surgery in the intensive care unit (ICU) in both groups. Finally, levels of blood sugar before, 2 hours after starting the surgery and at the end of the surgery, were recorded. Blood sugar levels during ICU stay were also measured every 4 hours for 36 hours. Results: There were no significant differences in blood sugar levels between the groups at the three time points (i.e. before, 2 hours after starting the surgery and at the end of the surgery). In addition, during 36 hours of ICU stay, blood sugar levels did not show significant variations between the groups; however, 20 hours after ICU admission, blood sugar level was significantly higher in the glargine group (P = 0.04). Conclusion: The results indicated that both glargine and regular insulin effectively control the blood glucose in diabetic patients undergoing CABG. However, the blood sugar fluctuation was less in the glargine group than control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: On March 20, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection in most countries worldwide as a pandemic. COVID-19 is mainly disseminated through human-to-human transmission route via direct contact and respiratory droplets. Telehealth and/or telemedicine technologies are beneficial methods that could be employed to deal with pandemic situation of communicable infections. The purpose of this proposed systematic review study is to sum up the functionalities, applications, and technologies of telemedicine during COVID-19 outbreak. Material and Methods: This review will be carried out in accordance with the Cochrane Handbook and PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) reporting guidelines. PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for related articles. Randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials published in English in scientific journals were identified to be evaluated for eligibility. Articles conducted on telemedicine services (TMS) during COVID-19 outbreak (2019-2020) were identified to be evaluated. Results: The literature search for related articles in PubMed and Scopus databases led to the identification and retrieval of a total of 1118 and 485 articles, respectively. After eliminating duplicate articles, title and abstract screening process was performed for the remaining 1440 articles. The current study findings are anticipated to be used as a guide by researchers, decision makers, and managers to design, implement, and assess TMS during COVID-19 crisis. Conclusion: As far as we know, this systematic review is conducted to comprehensively evaluate TM methods and technologies developed with the aim of controlling and managing COVID-19 pandemic. This study highlights important applications of telemedicine in pandemic conditions, which could be employed by future health systems in controlling and managing communicable infections when an outbreak occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 has disseminated globally, and COVID-19 has been labeled as a public health emergency of global concern by the World Health Organization. Since 2019-nCoV (2019 new coronavirus) has a long incubation period and high infectivity, e-Health and its subsets in medical informatics have evolved as a suitable solution to enable the continuity of health services delivery. Also, new health care models are required during the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed systematic review aims to examine and summarize evidence related to medical informatics applications in COVID-19 crisis, as evidence-based approaches. Material and Methods: A research team consisting of experts in the fields of medical informatics and systematic review methods were guided this review according to the Cochrane Handbook and PRISMA reporting guidelines. PubMed and Scopus databases were searched. Eligibility criteria for including studies reviewed was randomized and non-randomized controlled trials published in English language. Articles performed on medical informatics applications in COVID-19 pandemic during 2019-2020 were identified. Two independent reviewers will assess articles eligibility and extract data into a spreadsheet using a structured pilot-tested form. Collected data and evidence will be synthesized using a thematic synthesis approach. The risk of bias will be assessed in all included studies using appropriate tools. Results: The literature search led to the identification of a total of 1882 and 854 articles retrieved from the PubMed and Scopus databases, respectively. After removing duplicates, 2716 articles remained and underwent title and abstract screening process. The results of this review are expected to be served as a basis for assisting researchers, decision makers, medical informatics specialists, politicians, and others in developing, implementing, and evaluating IT-based tools and interventions to help medical staff in combating and eradicating COVID-19. Conclusion: This systematic review is the first comprehensive evaluation of MI methods aiming to control and manage covid-19 pandemic. This study highlights applications of medical informatics in pandemic situation and will help future researchers to take the most advantage of using MI in the health system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Kidney transplant outcomes are broadly associated with transplant recipients' capacity in following a complex and continuous self-management regimen. Health information technology has the potential to empower patients. This systematic review aimed to determine the impacts of IT-based interventions for self-management in kidney transplant recipients.Methods: A comprehensive investigation was performed in MEDLINE (via PubMed) and EMBASE (via Scopus) in April 2019. Eligible studies were the randomized controlled trials which aimed to design an automated IT-based intervention. All English papers including adult kidney transplant recipients were included. To assess the clinical trial's quality, Cochrane Collaboration's assessment tool was employed. The articles were integrated based on category of outcomes, characteristics of interventions, and their impact. The interventions were classified based on the used IT-based tools, including smart phones, coverage tools, computer systems, and a combination of several tools. The impact of interventions was defined as: (1) positive effect (i.e. statistically significant), and (2) no effect (i.e. not statistically significant).Results: A total of 2392 articles were retrieved and eight publications were included for full-text analysis. Interventions include those involving the use of computerized systems (3 studies), smart phone application (3 studies), and multiple components (2 studies). The studies evaluated 30 outcomes in total, including 24 care process and 6 clinical outcomes. In 18 (80%) out of 30 outcomes, interventions had a statistically significant positive effect, 66% in process and 33% in clinical outcomes.Conclusions: IT-based interventions (e.g. mobile health applications, wearable devices, and computer systems) can improve self-management in kidney transplant recipients (including clinical and care process outcomes). However, further evaluation studies are required to quantify the impact of IT-based self-management interventions on short- and long-term clinical outcomes as well as health care costs and patients' quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rapid progression of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 presents a real challenge for the whole world. As the usual capacity for citizen care is exceeded, health professionals and governments struggle. One of the most important strategies to reduce and mitigate the advance of the epidemic are social distance measures; this is where telemedicine can help, and provide support to the healthcare systems, especially in the areas of public health, prevention and clinical practices. Objective: To determine the usage of telemedicine in the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: We use a six-step process reflecting the systematicity and transparency which is implemented using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). A comprehensive survey was performed on Medline and Scopus in September 2020. Following studies were considered eligible: randomized and non-randomized clinical trial, and observational studies (cross-sectional, cohort study, case-control), and studies which evaluated at least one outcome. The articles were categorized based type of technology and outcomes. The risk of bias was evaluated by considering type of studies. Results: In this review, 26 out of 2716 retrieved articles met the full-text inclusion criteria. Our study recognized twenty-six studies in the telemedicine domain. Twenty four of these studies applied synchronous methods, e.g. phone or video call consultation, while two of them used asynchronous approaches for the communication in their telemedicine services. Moreover, eight (30%) studies designed online consultation. Forty two outcomes investigated by twenty six studies. All of outcomes in reviewed studies were process of care outcomes. It must be presented in the form of text, not tables or illustrations. Conclusion: Telemedicine has been promoted and scaled up to reduce the risk of transmission, by increasing social distance and reducing contact. During the coronavirus epidemic, telemedicine has been the doctors' first choice to slow down the spread of the disease. The discovery of the important role of telemedicine in disease pandemic is necessary. Especially, video conferences are popular in telemedicine technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: SARS-CoV-2 has spread globally, and COVID-19 is labeled a public health emergency of global concern by the World Health Organization. Since 2019-nCoV has a long incubation period and strong infectivity, e-Health and its subset medical informatics has emerged as one viable solution to allow the continuity of the provision of health services. Also, new health care models are needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed systematic review will examine and summarize the evidence on the applications of medical informatics in covid-19 crisis as evidence-based approaches. Objective: A research team that includes medical informatics and systematic review method experts guided this review according to the Cochrane Handbook and PRISMA reporting guidelines. We search PubMed and Scopus. Eligibility criteria for reviewed studies will be randomized and non-randomized control trails, English language. We will identify articles across 2019-2020 applying the medical informatics in COVID-19 pandemic. Two independent reviewers will assess article eligibility and extract data into a spreadsheet using a structured pilot-tested form. We will synthesize evidence by a thematic synthesis approach. We will evaluate risk of bias in all included studies by favor tools. Material and Methods: The primary result showed a total of 1882 and 854 articles were retrieved from the PubMed and Scopus databases, respectively. After removing duplicates, 2716 articles remained for screening by title and abstract. We expect that our results serve as the basis for helping researchers, decision makers, MI specialist and politicians and other to develop, implement and evaluate IT-based tools and interventions to help medical staff in elimination COVID-19. Results: The primary result showed a total of 1882 and 854 articles were retrieved from the PubMed and Scopus databases, respectively. After removing duplicates, 2716 articles remained for screening by title and abstract. We expect that our results serve as the basis for helping researchers, decision makers, MI specialist and politicians and other to develop, implement and evaluate IT-based tools and interventions to help medical staff in elimination COVID-19. Conclusion: This systematic review aims to identify applications of medical informatics in COVID-19 pandemic. This review is the first attempt to develop an evidence-based methods using a systematic review approach, to the best of our knowledge. The proposed systematic review will inform further research and innovation in terms of benefits and shortcomings that MI may have in the health system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]