Michael M. Touchton, Felicia Marie Knaul, Hector Arreola-Ornelas, Renzo Calderon-Anyosa, Silvia Otero-Bahamón, Calla Hummel, Pedro Pérez-Cruz, Thalia Porteny, Fausto Patino, Patricia J. Garcia, Jorge Insua, Oscar Mendez, Carew Boulding, Jami Nelson-Nuñez, V. Ximena Velasco Guachalla
We provide policy lessons for governments across Latin America by drawing on an original dataset of daily national and subnational non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) during the COVID-19 pandemic for eight Latin American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru. Our analysis offers lessons for health system decision-making at various levels of government and highlights the impact of subnational policy implementation for responding to health crises. However, subnational responses cannot replace coordinated national policy; governments should emphasize the vertical integration of evidence-based policy from national to local levels while tailoring local policies to local conditions as they evolve. Horizontal policy integration across sectors and jurisdictions will also improve coordination at each level of government. The Latin American experiences with policy and politics during the COVID-19 pandemic project glocal health policy recommendations that connect global considerations with local needs.
{"title":"Learning from Latin America: Coordinating Policy Responses across National and Subnational Levels to Combat COVID-19","authors":"Michael M. Touchton, Felicia Marie Knaul, Hector Arreola-Ornelas, Renzo Calderon-Anyosa, Silvia Otero-Bahamón, Calla Hummel, Pedro Pérez-Cruz, Thalia Porteny, Fausto Patino, Patricia J. Garcia, Jorge Insua, Oscar Mendez, Carew Boulding, Jami Nelson-Nuñez, V. Ximena Velasco Guachalla","doi":"10.3390/covid3090102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid3090102","url":null,"abstract":"We provide policy lessons for governments across Latin America by drawing on an original dataset of daily national and subnational non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) during the COVID-19 pandemic for eight Latin American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru. Our analysis offers lessons for health system decision-making at various levels of government and highlights the impact of subnational policy implementation for responding to health crises. However, subnational responses cannot replace coordinated national policy; governments should emphasize the vertical integration of evidence-based policy from national to local levels while tailoring local policies to local conditions as they evolve. Horizontal policy integration across sectors and jurisdictions will also improve coordination at each level of government. The Latin American experiences with policy and politics during the COVID-19 pandemic project glocal health policy recommendations that connect global considerations with local needs.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":"38 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136236440","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Esther K. Nanfuka, Agatha Kafuko, Rita Nakanjako, James T. Ssenfuuma, Florence Turyomurugyendo, Jingo Kasule
Institutional quarantine was one of the key public health measures used to control the spread of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Institutional quarantine has been associated with several psychosocial and economic risks. However, little is known about the psychosocial and economic risks it poses to affected persons in low-resource countries since it is a relatively new strategy for controlling disease spread in these settings. This article provides insights into the economic and psychosocial risks encountered by affected persons in a low-resource context. Narrative interviews were conducted with 20 adults placed under institutional quarantine to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda. Individuals confined in institutional quarantine experienced an intricate range of economic and psychosocial risks including loss of livelihood and/or income, financial distress, fear, worry, anger, loneliness, and stigma. The experience of specific risks was shaped by an intersection between individual and contextual factors. However, disregard for economic and social issues and shortcomings in the implementation of institutional quarantine contributed profoundly to the occurrence of risks. Safety nets to address the emergent financial insecurities of quarantined individuals and their families and bridging gaps in the implementation of institutional quarantine may help to minimise the associated economic and psychosocial risks in Uganda and similar contexts.
{"title":"Psychosocial and Economic Risks of Institutional Quarantine in a Low-Resource Setting: Experiences of Affected Persons during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Uganda","authors":"Esther K. Nanfuka, Agatha Kafuko, Rita Nakanjako, James T. Ssenfuuma, Florence Turyomurugyendo, Jingo Kasule","doi":"10.3390/covid3090101","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid3090101","url":null,"abstract":"Institutional quarantine was one of the key public health measures used to control the spread of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Institutional quarantine has been associated with several psychosocial and economic risks. However, little is known about the psychosocial and economic risks it poses to affected persons in low-resource countries since it is a relatively new strategy for controlling disease spread in these settings. This article provides insights into the economic and psychosocial risks encountered by affected persons in a low-resource context. Narrative interviews were conducted with 20 adults placed under institutional quarantine to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda. Individuals confined in institutional quarantine experienced an intricate range of economic and psychosocial risks including loss of livelihood and/or income, financial distress, fear, worry, anger, loneliness, and stigma. The experience of specific risks was shaped by an intersection between individual and contextual factors. However, disregard for economic and social issues and shortcomings in the implementation of institutional quarantine contributed profoundly to the occurrence of risks. Safety nets to address the emergent financial insecurities of quarantined individuals and their families and bridging gaps in the implementation of institutional quarantine may help to minimise the associated economic and psychosocial risks in Uganda and similar contexts.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":"22 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135207533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aganze Gloire-Aimé Mushebenge, Samuel Chima Ugbaja, Nonkululeko Avril Mbatha, Rene B. Khan, Hezekiel M. Kumalo
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, has sparked intense research on its spike protein, which is essential for viral entrance into host cells. Viral reproduction and transmission, host immune response regulation, receptor recognition and host cell entrance mechanisms, as well as structural and functional effects have all been linked to mutations in the spike protein. Spike protein mutations can also result in immune evasion mechanisms that impair vaccine effectiveness and escape, and they are linked to illness severity and clinical consequences. Numerous studies have been conducted to determine the effects of these mutations on the spike protein structure and how it interacts with host factors. These results have important implications for the design and development of medicines and vaccines based on spike proteins as well as for the assessment of those products’ efficiency against newly discovered spike protein mutations. This paper gives a general overview of how spike protein mutations are categorized and named. It further looks at the links between spike protein mutations and clinical outcomes, illness severity, unanswered problems, and future research prospects. Additionally, explored are the effects of these mutations on vaccine effectiveness as well as the possible therapeutic targeting of spike protein mutations.
{"title":"A Comprehensive Analysis of Structural and Functional Changes Induced by SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Mutations","authors":"Aganze Gloire-Aimé Mushebenge, Samuel Chima Ugbaja, Nonkululeko Avril Mbatha, Rene B. Khan, Hezekiel M. Kumalo","doi":"10.3390/covid3090100","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid3090100","url":null,"abstract":"The emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, has sparked intense research on its spike protein, which is essential for viral entrance into host cells. Viral reproduction and transmission, host immune response regulation, receptor recognition and host cell entrance mechanisms, as well as structural and functional effects have all been linked to mutations in the spike protein. Spike protein mutations can also result in immune evasion mechanisms that impair vaccine effectiveness and escape, and they are linked to illness severity and clinical consequences. Numerous studies have been conducted to determine the effects of these mutations on the spike protein structure and how it interacts with host factors. These results have important implications for the design and development of medicines and vaccines based on spike proteins as well as for the assessment of those products’ efficiency against newly discovered spike protein mutations. This paper gives a general overview of how spike protein mutations are categorized and named. It further looks at the links between spike protein mutations and clinical outcomes, illness severity, unanswered problems, and future research prospects. Additionally, explored are the effects of these mutations on vaccine effectiveness as well as the possible therapeutic targeting of spike protein mutations.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":"42 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135304720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The objective of this study was to explore the potential enhancement of response within GP medical centres in New Zealand when facing heightened healthcare demand during a pandemic. This investigation sheds light on effective crisis management and leadership. By elucidating the contributions of this research, we gain a deeper appreciation of its importance in advancing our understanding of pandemic management. This study has yielded fresh insights and knowledge, beneficial to both academic and real-world applications, particularly concerning the adoption and effects of leadership and management within the healthcare domain amidst crisis situations. Using a multiple case study design, we conducted 86 in-depth interviews with staff from 16 General Practice centres in New Zealand. The critical activities delivered during the first six months of the COVID pandemic to keep New Zealand communities safe during the initial COVID-19 outbreak were (a) leadership in health service planning, including workforce planning, new operational processes, and expansion in the use of Information Communication Technology systems by the GP medical centres; (b) environment disinfection using national guidelines, education and establishment of respiratory clinics and expanding testing sites in GP medical centres; and (c) education and outreach to the patients including the protection of Māori, Pasifika, and remote communities. The decision to adopt a localised response to the pandemic, centralise testing, and better understand local-level needs prompted GP medical centres to communicate and engage early and effectively with patients. This enabled centres to lead and manage the COVID-19 pandemic with greater efficiency in the first six months of the outbreak. The New Zealand government’s “team of 5 million” COVID-compliance campaign program provided clear and persistent communication by the Ministry of Health. This campaign assisted in a better national understanding and compliance with the regulation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The dedication of medical centre managers to forward planning using contingency and accrued funding and setting up Community-Based Assessment Centres and respiratory clinics, including walk-in and outreach services, proved to be highly effective. GP centres led the way in COVID-19 pandemic planning, response, and management.
{"title":"COVID-19 Pandemic Planning and Management: The Case of New Zealand General Practice Medical Centres","authors":"Nargis Mashal, Sussie C. Morrish","doi":"10.3390/covid3090099","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid3090099","url":null,"abstract":"The objective of this study was to explore the potential enhancement of response within GP medical centres in New Zealand when facing heightened healthcare demand during a pandemic. This investigation sheds light on effective crisis management and leadership. By elucidating the contributions of this research, we gain a deeper appreciation of its importance in advancing our understanding of pandemic management. This study has yielded fresh insights and knowledge, beneficial to both academic and real-world applications, particularly concerning the adoption and effects of leadership and management within the healthcare domain amidst crisis situations. Using a multiple case study design, we conducted 86 in-depth interviews with staff from 16 General Practice centres in New Zealand. The critical activities delivered during the first six months of the COVID pandemic to keep New Zealand communities safe during the initial COVID-19 outbreak were (a) leadership in health service planning, including workforce planning, new operational processes, and expansion in the use of Information Communication Technology systems by the GP medical centres; (b) environment disinfection using national guidelines, education and establishment of respiratory clinics and expanding testing sites in GP medical centres; and (c) education and outreach to the patients including the protection of Māori, Pasifika, and remote communities. The decision to adopt a localised response to the pandemic, centralise testing, and better understand local-level needs prompted GP medical centres to communicate and engage early and effectively with patients. This enabled centres to lead and manage the COVID-19 pandemic with greater efficiency in the first six months of the outbreak. The New Zealand government’s “team of 5 million” COVID-compliance campaign program provided clear and persistent communication by the Ministry of Health. This campaign assisted in a better national understanding and compliance with the regulation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The dedication of medical centre managers to forward planning using contingency and accrued funding and setting up Community-Based Assessment Centres and respiratory clinics, including walk-in and outreach services, proved to be highly effective. GP centres led the way in COVID-19 pandemic planning, response, and management.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":"55 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135437101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Laura M. Grajeda, Renata Mendizábal-Cabrera, Juan Carlos Romero, María Reneé López, Evelyn Morales, Beatriz López, Emily Zielinski, Celia Cordón-Rosales
Public market workers may be disproportionally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 due to interactions with shoppers. We aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and determine whether occupation or adherence to preventive practices were associated with exposure. From July to December 2021, we longitudinally surveyed two Guatemalan markets twice. We collected blood to detect anti-S IgA, anti-S IgG, and anti-N IgG using ELISA, and a nasopharyngeal swab to detect SARS-CoV-2 using rRT-PCR. We estimated seroprevalences and assessed associations using generalized estimating equations. Of 229 workers, 109 (48%) participated in the first survey and 87 (38%) in the second. At baseline, 77% were female, 64% were aged <40, and 81% were vendors. Overall, the seroprevalence increased between surveys (61% to 89% for anti-S IgA, 53% to 91% for anti-S IgG, and 22% to 29% for anti-N IgG), but the magnitude differed by vaccination status and antibody type. The prevalence of infections decreased from 13% to 1% and most were asymptomatic. Vendor occupation was associated with IgA and IgG anti-S in males but not females. Using a mask was a protective measure. Most market workers had been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, possibly through asymptomatic individuals. Masking is a protective measure to be prioritized during high transmission.
{"title":"Seroprevalence of IgA and IgG against SARS-CoV-2 and Risk Factors in Workers from Public Markets of Guatemala","authors":"Laura M. Grajeda, Renata Mendizábal-Cabrera, Juan Carlos Romero, María Reneé López, Evelyn Morales, Beatriz López, Emily Zielinski, Celia Cordón-Rosales","doi":"10.3390/covid3090097","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid3090097","url":null,"abstract":"Public market workers may be disproportionally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 due to interactions with shoppers. We aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and determine whether occupation or adherence to preventive practices were associated with exposure. From July to December 2021, we longitudinally surveyed two Guatemalan markets twice. We collected blood to detect anti-S IgA, anti-S IgG, and anti-N IgG using ELISA, and a nasopharyngeal swab to detect SARS-CoV-2 using rRT-PCR. We estimated seroprevalences and assessed associations using generalized estimating equations. Of 229 workers, 109 (48%) participated in the first survey and 87 (38%) in the second. At baseline, 77% were female, 64% were aged <40, and 81% were vendors. Overall, the seroprevalence increased between surveys (61% to 89% for anti-S IgA, 53% to 91% for anti-S IgG, and 22% to 29% for anti-N IgG), but the magnitude differed by vaccination status and antibody type. The prevalence of infections decreased from 13% to 1% and most were asymptomatic. Vendor occupation was associated with IgA and IgG anti-S in males but not females. Using a mask was a protective measure. Most market workers had been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, possibly through asymptomatic individuals. Masking is a protective measure to be prioritized during high transmission.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":"214 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134911393","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tiffany Eatz, Alejandro Max Antonio Mantero, Erin Williams, Charles J. Cash, Nathalie Perez, Zachary J. Cromar, Adiel Hernandez, Matthew Cordova, Neha Godbole, Anh Le, Rachel Lin, Sherry Luo, Anmol Patel, Yaa Abu, Suresh Pallikkuth, Savita Pahwa
The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate the association between human blood type and COVID-19 in both inpatient and longitudinal populations and (2) identify the association between blood type and severity of COVID-19 via presence of cellular biomarkers of severe infection in hospitalized individuals at our institution in South Florida. This study consisted of (1) a single-center retrospective analysis of 669 out of 2741 COVID-19-positive, screened patients seen from 1 January 2020 until 31 March 2021 at the University of Miami Emergency Department (ED) who tested positive for COVID-19 and had a documented ABO blood type and (2) a longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 immunity study (“CITY”) at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, consisting of 185 survey participants. In an inpatient setting, blood type appeared to be associated with COVID-19 severity and mortality. Blood type O sustained less risk of COVID-19 mortality, and blood type O- demonstrated less risk of developing COVID-19 pneumonia. Inpatients with O- blood type exhibited less biomarkers of severe infection than did other blood types. In a longitudinal setting, there was no association found between blood type and SARS-CoV-2 infection.
{"title":"Association of ABO Blood Type with Infection and Severity of COVID-19 in Inpatient and Longitudinal Cohorts","authors":"Tiffany Eatz, Alejandro Max Antonio Mantero, Erin Williams, Charles J. Cash, Nathalie Perez, Zachary J. Cromar, Adiel Hernandez, Matthew Cordova, Neha Godbole, Anh Le, Rachel Lin, Sherry Luo, Anmol Patel, Yaa Abu, Suresh Pallikkuth, Savita Pahwa","doi":"10.3390/covid3090098","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid3090098","url":null,"abstract":"The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate the association between human blood type and COVID-19 in both inpatient and longitudinal populations and (2) identify the association between blood type and severity of COVID-19 via presence of cellular biomarkers of severe infection in hospitalized individuals at our institution in South Florida. This study consisted of (1) a single-center retrospective analysis of 669 out of 2741 COVID-19-positive, screened patients seen from 1 January 2020 until 31 March 2021 at the University of Miami Emergency Department (ED) who tested positive for COVID-19 and had a documented ABO blood type and (2) a longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 immunity study (“CITY”) at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, consisting of 185 survey participants. In an inpatient setting, blood type appeared to be associated with COVID-19 severity and mortality. Blood type O sustained less risk of COVID-19 mortality, and blood type O- demonstrated less risk of developing COVID-19 pneumonia. Inpatients with O- blood type exhibited less biomarkers of severe infection than did other blood types. In a longitudinal setting, there was no association found between blood type and SARS-CoV-2 infection.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":"35 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134913682","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In bioinformatics research, traditional machine-learning methods have demonstrated efficacy in addressing Euclidean data. However, real-world data often encompass non-Euclidean forms, such as graph data, which contain intricate structural patterns or high-order relationships that elude conventional machine-learning approaches. Representation learning seeks to derive valuable data representations from enhancing predictive or analytic tasks, capturing vital patterns and structures. This method has proven particularly beneficial in bioinformatics and biomedicine, as it effectively handles high-dimensional and sparse data, detects complex biological patterns, and optimizes predictive performance. In recent years, graph representation learning has become a popular research topic. It involves the embedding of graphs into a low-dimensional space while preserving the structural and attribute information of the graph, enabling better feature extraction for downstream tasks. This study extensively reviews representation learning advancements, particularly in the research of representation methods since the emergence of COVID-19. We begin with an analysis and classification of neural-network-based language model representation learning techniques as well as graph representation learning methods. Subsequently, we explore their methodological innovations in the context of COVID-19, with a focus on the domains of drugs, public health, and healthcare. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with graph representation learning. This comprehensive review presents invaluable insights for researchers as it documents the development of COVID-19 and offers experiential lessons to preempt future infectious diseases. Moreover, this study provides guidance regarding future bioinformatics and biomedicine research methodologies.
{"title":"Advances in the Development of Representation Learning and Its Innovations against COVID-19","authors":"Peng Li, Mosharaf Md Parvej, Chenghao Zhang, Shufang Guo, Jing Zhang","doi":"10.3390/covid3090096","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid3090096","url":null,"abstract":"In bioinformatics research, traditional machine-learning methods have demonstrated efficacy in addressing Euclidean data. However, real-world data often encompass non-Euclidean forms, such as graph data, which contain intricate structural patterns or high-order relationships that elude conventional machine-learning approaches. Representation learning seeks to derive valuable data representations from enhancing predictive or analytic tasks, capturing vital patterns and structures. This method has proven particularly beneficial in bioinformatics and biomedicine, as it effectively handles high-dimensional and sparse data, detects complex biological patterns, and optimizes predictive performance. In recent years, graph representation learning has become a popular research topic. It involves the embedding of graphs into a low-dimensional space while preserving the structural and attribute information of the graph, enabling better feature extraction for downstream tasks. This study extensively reviews representation learning advancements, particularly in the research of representation methods since the emergence of COVID-19. We begin with an analysis and classification of neural-network-based language model representation learning techniques as well as graph representation learning methods. Subsequently, we explore their methodological innovations in the context of COVID-19, with a focus on the domains of drugs, public health, and healthcare. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with graph representation learning. This comprehensive review presents invaluable insights for researchers as it documents the development of COVID-19 and offers experiential lessons to preempt future infectious diseases. Moreover, this study provides guidance regarding future bioinformatics and biomedicine research methodologies.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":"26 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135739737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jelger Louwsma, Bas Langeveld, Jacqueline M. Luyendijk, H. V. D. van den Oever
The value of D-dimer assessments in ICU patients with COVID-19 for the prediction of pulmonary embolism (PE) is unclear. The present study had two purposes: 1. To assess the specificity of elevated absolute D-dimer values for PE on admission to the ICU. 2. To assess the specificity of a D-dimer increment for the development of PE during an ICU stay. D-dimer values were paired with the results of a CT pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) and compared in patients with and without PE on admission. In patients without PE on initial imaging and available repeat CTPA during an ICU stay, D-dimer increments between initial and repeat imaging of patients developing PE during an ICU stay were compared with those with persistently no PE. On admission, D-dimers in patients with PE were higher than those in patients without PE (median 850 vs. 6060 μg/L; p < 0.0001). Using a cut-off of 9000 μg/L, the specificity for predicting PE was 100% (CI 95.3–100%). Delta D-dimer during an ICU stay was greater in patients with PE (median 7983 vs. 3815 μg/L; p < 0.005). Using a cut-off of 8000 μg/L, specificity was 100% (CI 79.4–100%). Strongly elevated D-dimer values on admission and marked increases in D-dimer during ICU stays have a high specificity for predicting pulmonary embolism in critically ill COVID-19 patients.
{"title":"D-Dimer Assessment to Predict Pulmonary Embolism in ICU Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia","authors":"Jelger Louwsma, Bas Langeveld, Jacqueline M. Luyendijk, H. V. D. van den Oever","doi":"10.3390/covid3090095","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid3090095","url":null,"abstract":"The value of D-dimer assessments in ICU patients with COVID-19 for the prediction of pulmonary embolism (PE) is unclear. The present study had two purposes: 1. To assess the specificity of elevated absolute D-dimer values for PE on admission to the ICU. 2. To assess the specificity of a D-dimer increment for the development of PE during an ICU stay. D-dimer values were paired with the results of a CT pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) and compared in patients with and without PE on admission. In patients without PE on initial imaging and available repeat CTPA during an ICU stay, D-dimer increments between initial and repeat imaging of patients developing PE during an ICU stay were compared with those with persistently no PE. On admission, D-dimers in patients with PE were higher than those in patients without PE (median 850 vs. 6060 μg/L; p < 0.0001). Using a cut-off of 9000 μg/L, the specificity for predicting PE was 100% (CI 95.3–100%). Delta D-dimer during an ICU stay was greater in patients with PE (median 7983 vs. 3815 μg/L; p < 0.005). Using a cut-off of 8000 μg/L, specificity was 100% (CI 79.4–100%). Strongly elevated D-dimer values on admission and marked increases in D-dimer during ICU stays have a high specificity for predicting pulmonary embolism in critically ill COVID-19 patients.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44556223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gayani Krishanthi, H. Jayetileke, Jinran Wu, Chanjuan Liu, You-Gan Wang
The utilization of gene selection techniques is crucial when dealing with extensive datasets containing limited cases and numerous genes, as they enhance the learning processes and improve overall outcomes. In this research, we introduce a hybrid method that combines the binary reptile search algorithm (BRSA) with the LASSO regression method to effectively filter and reduce the dimensionality of a gene expression dataset. Our primary objective was to pinpoint genes associated with COVID-19 by examining the GSE149273 dataset, which focuses on respiratory viral (RV) infections in individuals with asthma. This dataset suggested a potential increase in ACE2 expression, a critical receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, along with the activation of cytokine pathways linked to COVID-19. Our proposed BRSA method successfully identified six significant genes, including ACE2, IFIT5, and TRIM14, that are closely related to COVID-19, achieving an impressive maximum classification accuracy of 87.22%. By conducting a comparative analysis against four existing binary feature selection algorithms, we demonstrated the effectiveness of our hybrid approach in reducing the dimensionality of features, while maintaining a high classification accuracy. As a result, our hybrid approach shows great promise for identifying COVID-19-related genes and could be an invaluable tool for other studies dealing with very large gene expression datasets.
{"title":"Enhancing Feature Selection Optimization for COVID-19 Microarray Data","authors":"Gayani Krishanthi, H. Jayetileke, Jinran Wu, Chanjuan Liu, You-Gan Wang","doi":"10.3390/covid3090093","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid3090093","url":null,"abstract":"The utilization of gene selection techniques is crucial when dealing with extensive datasets containing limited cases and numerous genes, as they enhance the learning processes and improve overall outcomes. In this research, we introduce a hybrid method that combines the binary reptile search algorithm (BRSA) with the LASSO regression method to effectively filter and reduce the dimensionality of a gene expression dataset. Our primary objective was to pinpoint genes associated with COVID-19 by examining the GSE149273 dataset, which focuses on respiratory viral (RV) infections in individuals with asthma. This dataset suggested a potential increase in ACE2 expression, a critical receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, along with the activation of cytokine pathways linked to COVID-19. Our proposed BRSA method successfully identified six significant genes, including ACE2, IFIT5, and TRIM14, that are closely related to COVID-19, achieving an impressive maximum classification accuracy of 87.22%. By conducting a comparative analysis against four existing binary feature selection algorithms, we demonstrated the effectiveness of our hybrid approach in reducing the dimensionality of features, while maintaining a high classification accuracy. As a result, our hybrid approach shows great promise for identifying COVID-19-related genes and could be an invaluable tool for other studies dealing with very large gene expression datasets.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44934518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This paper highlights curriculum and policy reforms and innovations in a Higher Education (HE) institution in response to undergraduate student perspectives about the phenomenon of the COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the New Zealand government (2020–2022). The advent of the coronavirus pandemic precipitated unexpected and unprecedented changes in HE learning and in the pedagogy required for undergraduate students. Consequently, HE institutions have had to be agile, resulting in ‘emergency’ adaptations to curriculum practice and policy implementation. This paper discusses triggers for change, reactions to restrictions, strategic measures, and the emergence of a ‘new normal’ from an undergraduate student perspective. Local and global concerns about student participation in undergraduate study (in Sport and Recreation), sport, and physical activity during restricted periods prompted the researchers to investigate the challenges these young people faced. Student voice was collected through semi-structured interviews and focus groups, collected post lockdown periods. Research findings, elicited from lecturers using a collaborative auto-ethnographical method, along with interpretative analysis (hermeneutic phenomenology) of students’ perspectives about the four pillars of lifestyle, active lives, learning, and livelihood provide insights about the impact of unexpected curriculum and policy change for HE students in New Zealand. This research provides real-time data to inform recommendations on policy and practice in HE institutions, to enhance student wellbeing in times of crises, like the COVID-19 pandemic.
{"title":"Sport and Recreation Undergraduate Students’ Perspectives on Disruption of Lifestyle, Active Lives, Learning, and Livelihood during Pandemic Times","authors":"Kath Godber, Denise Robyn Atkins","doi":"10.3390/covid3090094","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid3090094","url":null,"abstract":"This paper highlights curriculum and policy reforms and innovations in a Higher Education (HE) institution in response to undergraduate student perspectives about the phenomenon of the COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the New Zealand government (2020–2022). The advent of the coronavirus pandemic precipitated unexpected and unprecedented changes in HE learning and in the pedagogy required for undergraduate students. Consequently, HE institutions have had to be agile, resulting in ‘emergency’ adaptations to curriculum practice and policy implementation. This paper discusses triggers for change, reactions to restrictions, strategic measures, and the emergence of a ‘new normal’ from an undergraduate student perspective. Local and global concerns about student participation in undergraduate study (in Sport and Recreation), sport, and physical activity during restricted periods prompted the researchers to investigate the challenges these young people faced. Student voice was collected through semi-structured interviews and focus groups, collected post lockdown periods. Research findings, elicited from lecturers using a collaborative auto-ethnographical method, along with interpretative analysis (hermeneutic phenomenology) of students’ perspectives about the four pillars of lifestyle, active lives, learning, and livelihood provide insights about the impact of unexpected curriculum and policy change for HE students in New Zealand. This research provides real-time data to inform recommendations on policy and practice in HE institutions, to enhance student wellbeing in times of crises, like the COVID-19 pandemic.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41365190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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