Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Period Research Articles

Radiation exposure of patients from computed tomography for COVID-19 diagnosis

BackgroundDuring the global Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, numerous computed tomography (CT) scans were conducted to assess pulmonary abnormalities associated with COVID-19. A number of studies have contributed to our current understanding of radiation doses in the context of chest CT scans for COVID-19 diagnosis, but there remains a discernible gap in the literature regarding organ-level dose assessments. Materials and methodsWe estimated organ and effective dose for the COVID-19-related chest CT patients in the following three steps. First, we collected CTDIvol and DLP from the literature published during and after COVID-19 pandemic period. Second, we developed the probability density functions (PDFs) for the CTDIvol and the starting location of CT scans by age groups from which 1000 sets of patient and technique parameters were created. With CT organ dose calculation software, National Cancer Institute dosimetry system for CT (NCICT), we calculated 1000 sets of plausible organ and effective doses and evaluated summary statistics for the patient population. ResultsThe standard dose protocol administered approximately five times higher CTDIvol (5.4 mGy) to patients undergoing COVID-19-related chest CT scans compared to the low dose protocol (1.1 mGy). The median lung dose (11.8 mGy) for the 1-year-old patients was about 1.5 times greater than that (7.8 mGy) of the adult patients. We found that 75% of whole COVID-19-related CT patients would have received effective doses less than 6.4 mSv and 1.5 mSv when scanned by standard dose and low dose protocols, respectively. ConclusionWe evaluated the distribution of organ and effective dose for the COVID-19-related chest CT patients worldwide by collecting comprehensive data of CTDIvol for the COVID-19-related chest CT scans from the literature and combining them with NCICT organ dose calculator. While past studies have predominantly reported basic CT dose descriptors, our work takes it a step further by reporting organ-level doses and effective doses. Subsequent research endeavors could involve enhancing the precision of radiation dose assessment through the collection of a subset of electronic CT records.

Prevalence of neck pain in higher secondary students (8th to 12th standard) due to e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic period: An online survey

IntroductionNeck pain is a typical complaint among people who spend a lot of time on their devices. Due to the pandemic situation, students have recently shifted their studies from the classroom to e-learning, causing them to spend excessive hours on gadgets. Thus, it is of utmost importance to study the prevalence of neck pain in students using gadgets for e-learning. The purpose of this research was to study the prevalence of neck pain in higher secondary students using electronic gadgets for e-learning during the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic period. MethodA survey-based study was carried out on 1007 students from 8th to 12th grade. Data was collected via Google Form and analyzed using SPSS software. Mann Whitney-U test and the Kruskal Wallis test were used for a comparative analysis. ResultsIn this study, a total of 1007 students participated, out of whom 615 reported experiencing neck pain. Of those experiencing neck pain, 268 were males and 347 were females, with mean pain intensities of 4.64 and 4.77 respectively. ConclusionThe findings of the present study suggest that the prevalence of neck pain is higher in students using gadgets for e-learning.

Physical Activity and Psychological Wellbeing Among Healthcare Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Regular physical activity (PA) contributes to physicaland mental wellbeing.Due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related lockdowns in 2020, regular PA had been adjusted. Furthermore, students became accustomed to studying at home. Students in the healthcare field, in particular, have a better understanding of the link between PA and mental health. This study aimed to assess the association between psychological wellbeingand PA among healthcare studentsat one public university in Saudi Arabiaduring the COVID-19 pandemic period. This was a cross-sectional study conducted between November 2021 and February 2022. Healthcare students at one public university in Saudi Arabia were invited to participate in an online survey, consisting of three sections. The first section contained questions about demographic data. The second section was the International Physical Activity-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), which is composed of seven questions designed to assess the level of PA. The third part isThe Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), which is a self-reported questionnaire comprising 20 questions that assessed depressive symptoms on a four-point scale. Descriptive statistics,Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal Wallis test were used to analyze the collected data using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 28.0 (Released 2021; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). The total responses received were 197 (response rate=60%). The majority of students in this sample were performing inadequate PA and reported depressive symptoms. No association was found between the amount of PA practiced and psychological wellbeing. There was a significant difference between specialties in relation to PA. The majority of students in this sample were performing inadequate PA and reported depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown. The importance of PA should be promoted among healthcare students.

MEDICAL STUDENTS PERSPECTIVE ON THE TEACHINGPROCESS OF RADIOLOGY DURING AND AFTER THECOVID-19 PANDEMIC

Background: Over the last few years, radiology teaching and training have transformed from traditional lectures to early team-based clinical learning and case-based teaching. Objectives: To assess the perspective of undergraduate medical students regarding radiology teaching during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)pandemic. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate medical students from third year to interns enrolled in Taif University for the academic year 2023-2024. An online, self-administered questionnaire was utilized for data collection. It contains 20 questions divided into three sections: I) general information and students demographic data (4 questions) II) questions related to the students teaching-learning experiences after the COVID-19 pandemic period (8 questions) and III) questions related to the students teaching-learning experiences in the COVID-19 pandemic period (8 questions). Results: A total of 204 students were included in the study. They were equally distributed according to their gender and almost equally distributed according to their academic year. The majority (86.3%) of them used tablets as the primary device for e-learning during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Significant improvements were observed in the perspective of the participants regarding the quality of on-site radiology teaching (p<0.001), their performance in on-site radiologyteaching (p=0.007), and thoughts related to radiology teaching via e-learning (p=0.023) after the COVID-19 pandemic compared to it during the pandemic. Conclusion:Medical students generally view radiology education positively after the pandemic. However, improvements in the structures and assessments of both online and onsite radiology teaching are needed. Interestingly, female students found e-learning and assessments more valuable, while older students appreciated the overall structure more.

The association between interest of nutritional supplements and COVID-19 pandemic - evidence from Google Trends

BackgroundDue to the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020, the interest of nutritional supplements has emerged. Limited data are available on how the COVID-19 pandemic affects the search interest in nutritional supplements in Taiwan and worldwide. The study aims to investigate changes in public search interest of nutritional supplements pre- and during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsOur World in Data dataset was used to collect both global and local (Taiwan) number of COVID-19 newly confirmed cases and deaths. Google Trends search query was being used to obtain relative search volumes (RSVs) covering a timeframe between 2019 to 2022. Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficients were used to measure relationships between confirmed new cases and deaths and RSVs of nutritional supplements. Multivariate analysis was conducted to examine the effect of domestic and global new cases and deaths on the RSVs of nutritional supplements.ResultsThe mean RSVs for nutritional supplements were higher during the COVID-19 pandemic period (between 2020 to 2022) compared to the pre-pandemic period (year of 2019) for both Taiwan and worldwide. In terms of seasonal variations, except for vitamin D, the mean RSVs of probiotics, vitamin B complex, and vitamin C in winter were significantly lower compared to other seasons in Taiwan. The RSVs of nutritional supplements were not only affected by domestic cases and deaths but also by global new cases and deaths.ConclusionsThe interests in nutritional supplements had substantially increased in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The RSVs of nutritional supplements in Taiwan were not only influenced by global and domestic pandemic severity but also by seasons.

Insight into the management of patients with melanoma in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: A single-center experience

Background/Aim. Despite all innovations in medicine, melanoma still has a rising incidence and high mortality and thus represents a significant challenge for the healthcare system. The pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), spanning three years, redirected healthcare resources, suspended preventive programs, and strained the healthcare system, significantly impacting melanoma management. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of melanoma patients. Methods. This retrospective study analyzed melanoma patients treated at a single tertiary care center over two distinct three-year periods: pre-COVID period (2017-2020) and the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020-2022). The following data were collected and compared: patient demographics, melanoma characteristics, time intervals from biopsy to surgery, and the share of thin and thick melanoma. Results. During the COVID-19 pandemic period, there was a 30% reduction in melanoma patients compared to the pre-COVID- 19 period. The decline was most pronounced in 2020 when the state of emergency was introduced in the country. Thin melanoma percentage as a measurement of successful screening programs decreased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic (11.57% vs. 24.01%), while median Breslow thickness remained stable. The distribution of different histological types was consistent across both periods. The average time from biopsy to surgery remained similar between the two periods, around 40 days. Conclusion. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, melanoma remains a critical healthcare issue. This study emphasized the significance of prioritizing melanoma care in emergencies, ensuring patient identification and timely treatment in order to optimize survival and minimize treatment costs.

Updated trends in the outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest from 2017-2021: Prior to and during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

This study aims to describe out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) characteristics and trends before and during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Taiwan. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using a 5-year interrupted time series analysis. Eligible adults with non-traumatic OHCAs from January 2017 to December 2021 in 3 hospitals (university medical center, urban second-tier hospital, and rural second-tier hospital) were retrospectively enrolled. Variables were extracted from the emergency medical service reports and medical records. The years 2020 and 2021 were defined as the COVID-19 pandemic period. Outcomes included survival to admission after a sustained return of spontaneous circulation, survival to hospital discharge, and good neurological outcomes (cerebral performance category score 1 or 2). We analyzed 2819 OHCA, including 1227 from a university medical center, 617 from an urban second-tier hospital, and 975 from a rural second-tier hospital. The mean age was 71 years old, and 60% of patients were males. During the COVID-19 pandemic period, video-assisted endotracheal tube intubation replaced the traditional direct laryngoscopy intubation. The trends of outcomes in the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods varied among different hospitals. Compared with the pre-pandemic period, the outcomes at the university medical center during the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly poorer in several respects. The survival rate on admission dropped from 44.6% to 39.4% (P=0.037), and the survival rate to hospital discharge fell from 17.5% to 14.9% (P=0.042). Additionally, there was a notable decrease in patients' good neurological outcomes, declining from 13.2% to 9.7% (P=0.048). In contrast, the outcomes in urban and rural second-tier hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly differ from those in the pre-pandemic period. COVID-19 may alter some resuscitation management in OHCAs. There were no overall significant differences in outcomes before and during COVID-19 pandemic, but there were significant differences in outcomes when stratified by hospital types.

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Traumatic Bone Fracture Patterns and Hospital Outcomes in 1646 Elderly Patients: A Retrospective Study in Turkey.

BACKGROUND During the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-related lockdowns, modifications in trauma-related behavior and other factors in the elderly population may have occurred. The present retrospective study aimed to compare outcomes from emergency admissions to a major trauma center in Turkey of 1646 elderly patients with traumatic bone fractures that occurred before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cohort of 1646 elderly trauma patients admitted between September 15, 2019 and September 15, 2020 were retrospectively scanned from the hospital registry system and were grouped as admitted during the COVID-19 pandemic before (Group 1), during (Group 2), or after (Group 3) the lockdown restrictions. Demographic and clinical data were examined by making comparisons between the 3 groups. RESULTS In all groups, female sex was more prevalent. Fractures were more common in the ulna and femur than in other bones (P=0.026, P=0.035). Among the groups, in Group 2, injuries due to the mechanism of falling from one's own height on the ground were more prominent (79.2%). Hospital costs were lower in Group 1 (P<0.001). The majority of hospitalized patients (n=874; 53.1%) were in Group 2 (P=0.009). CONCLUSIONS During pandemic lockdowns, the mechanism of falling from one's own height was more common in the elderly population. The ulna and femur were the predominant bones fractured. Therefore, during lockdown periods, precautions should be taken to prevent the elderly from falling from their own height.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare-Associated Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This study investigated how the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the rate of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar were searched to identify potentially eligible studies published from December 2019 to September 2022. A random effect model was used to determine the changes in the rate of HAIs during the pandemic. Thirty-seven studies, mostly from the United States (n = 13), were included. Fifteen studies described how the pandemic affected the rate of CLABSIs and CAUTIs, and eight of them showed a significant increase in CLABSIs. The risk of CLABSIs and CDIs was 27% (pooled odds ratio [OR]: 0.73; confidence interval [CI]: 0.61-0.89; p < 0.001) and 20% (pooled OR: 1.20; CI: 1.10-1.31; p < 0.001) higher during the pandemic compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic period, respectively. However, the overall risk of HAIs was unaffected by the pandemic (pooled OR: 1.00; 95 CI: 0.80-1.24; p = 0.990). Furthermore, there were no significant changes in the risk of CAUTIs (pooled OR: 1.01; 95 CI: 0.88-1.16; p = 0.890), and SSIs (pooled OR: 1.27; CI: 0.91-1.76; p = 0.16) between the two periods. The COVID-19 pandemic had no effect on the overall risk of HAIs among hospitalized patients, but an increased risk of CLABSIs and CDI were observed during the pandemic. Therefore, more stringent infection control and prevention measures and prudent interventions to promote the rational use of antibiotics are warranted across all healthcare facilities to reduce the burden of HAIs.

Glaucoma Characteristics and Influencing Factors during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Huizhou Region.

Glaucoma in individuals who tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the pandemic outbreak has not been comprehensively studied. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the characteristics and risk factors of glaucoma during the COVID-19 pandemic in Huizhou. Retrospective data from outpatients with glaucoma at the Huizhou Hospital Affiliated with Guangzhou Medical University and Longmen County People's Hospital were collected during two periods: the COVID-19 pandemic period (Phase A: December 1, 2022, to January 19, 2023) and the prevention and control period (Phase B: December 1, 2021, to January 19, 2022). The demographic characteristics of the outpatients during both phases were compared. The characteristics of glaucoma in patients with COVID-19 during Phase A were examined. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing the development of acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG) in Phase A patients. The proportion of patients with glaucoma was significantly higher during Phase A than during Phase B at both hospitals. No statistically significant differences were observed between patients with glaucoma during Phases A and B for age, sex, and region. A high COVID-19-positive rate was associated with old age, females, AACG, newly diagnosed glaucoma, and binocular involvement during phase A. Females testing positive for COVID-19, glaucoma that started after testing positive for COVID-19, and a history of medication use were associated with a higher proportion of AACG in phase A. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified testing positive for COVID-19 as an independent potential risk factor for developing AACG. In summary, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Huizhou, patients with COVID-19 were primarily affected by AACG, especially females, older individuals, and those with binocular involvement. Testing positive for COVID-19 increases the risk of developing AACG.

How did the outcome of international cooperation in school-based management help schools respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal?

PurposeThis study aims to determine how school-based management (SBM) capacity developed through international cooperation functioned to overcome challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Nepal.Design/methodology/approachThe research structure was designed based on the success case method. The researchers conducted a questionnaire survey of head teachers to understand schools’ responses during the COVID-19 pandemic period, identified likely success-case schools, held workshops at the likely success-case schools and conducted in-depth interviews with head teachers and school management committee (SMC) members to understand how SBM functioned and contributed to the success cases.FindingsStorytelling from the success-case schools provided reliable evidence that the localised approaches of SBM are effective for planning and implementing suitable responses at school. The reviews of the head teachers showed that both head teachers and teachers had strong leadership and understood the importance of collaboration with teachers, SMC members, Parent Teacher Association (PTA), guardians and students. Although the research could not show clear evidence of a causal relationship between their achievement and Japan’s project input, the success-case schools clearly benefited from the head teachers’ appropriate execution of SBM with their strong leadership as well as the collaborative efforts of the stakeholders.Originality/valueThe research tries to clarify the influence of the effects of SBM capacity development projects by analysing the changes of head teachers and teachers through the storytelling aspect of the success case method with in-depth consideration of actual school responses during the emergency period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Graduate and postgraduate educational challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic period: its impact and innovations—a scoping review

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has transformed the global view of education, including graduate and postgraduate education making the development of an alternative approach in times of social isolation an academic imperative. The present review aims to investigate the challenges experienced among undergraduate and postgraduate education and the strategies adopted to address these challenges during the pandemic.MethodThe preferred reporting items for the systematic review and meta-analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) were followed. The aim was to include journal articles published in the English language that discussed the influence of the pandemic on educational processes and applied innovative approaches as a solution to educational challenges. From January to August 2020, PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were searched for articles, yielding 10,019 articles. Two groups of authors examined the retrieved articles separately to avoid any risk of bias. The title and abstract of the articles were used for scrutiny, followed by full-text screening based on the established inclusion and exclusion criteria. The facts and findings of the studies were also discussed based on per capita income, literacy rate, and Internet accessibility.ResultsThirty of the obtained articles were included in the study. The selected articles were from North and South/Latin America, Asia & Pacific, South Africa, and Europe regions. Nineteen of the selected articles dealt with undergraduate education, ten with postgraduate, and one with both groups. The affordability of digital devices and the availability of Internet services were the major challenges for low- and middle-income economies. The ZOOM platform has been adopted by more than 90% of the education systems.ConclusionMeans of communication, including visual media, digitized content, and other web-based platforms, have been recognized as efficient learning and training tools, but have not been fully accessible for mass application and use due to the lack of availability of resources, their cost, and insufficient training among the users. In light of this review, it is suggested that harmonized and collaborative efforts should be made to develop cost-effective and user-friendly tools to overcome the current challenges and prevent future educational crises.Systemic review registrationThe review was not registered.

Changes in the clinical and histopathological features of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers after COVID-19 lockdown period

Abstract Introduction: Studies show that the number of skin cancers diagnosed and treated during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown periods has decreased. Objectives: Comparing demographic and histopathological changes in skin cancer cases after the COVID-19 lockdown period with the prepandemic period. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study of skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma [BCC], squamous cell carcinoma [SCC], and malignant melanoma [MM]) diagnosed before the COVID-19 pandemic period (January 1, 2018–January 1, 2020) and after the COVID-19 pandemic period (June 1, 2022–January 1, 2023). A comparison was made between the two groups in terms of the duration of admission to the hospital, the tumor diameter at the time of admission, and the histopathological features of the tumor. Results: A total of 422 bcC, 257 SCC, and 67 MM cases were evaluated. After the COVID-19 pandemic period, the mean age at diagnosis was lower, and the mean time to diagnosis was shorter in BCC and SCC cases compared to the prepandemic period. There was no statistically significant difference in tumor thickness, tumor diameter, ulceration, lymphovascular invasion, or perineural invasion in nonmelanoma skin cancers before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Although there was no significant difference between melanoma cases in terms of age, gender, mean duration of diagnosis, location, and presence of ulceration or mitosis, the rate of in situ/invasive melanoma increased in the post-COVID period. Conclusions: This study may allow an assessment that the COVID-19 lockdown period does not have a negative impact on skin cancers. However, for a more accurate assessment, studies with a larger sample size and longer follow-up periods are needed.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Tuberculosis and HIV services in Ghana: An interrupted time series analysis.

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) burden, coupled with unprecedented control measures including physical distancing, travel bans, and lockdowns of cities, implemented to stop the spread of the virus, have undoubtedly far-reaching aftereffects on other diseases. In low and middle-income countries (LMICs), a particular worry is the potential impact on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Tuberculosis (TB), as a consequence of possible disruption to health services and limiting access to needed life-saving health care. In Ghana, there is a paucity of information regarding the impact of COVID-19 on disease control, particularly TB and HIV control. This study sought to contribute to bridging this knowledge gap. The study involved the analysis of secondary data obtained from the District Health Information Management System-2 (DHIMS-2) database of Ghana Health Service, from 2016 to 2020. Data were analysed using an interrupted time-series regression approach to estimate the impact of COVID-19 on TB case notification, HIV testing, and Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) initiations, using March 2020 as the event period. The study showed that during the COVID-19 pandemic period, there was an abrupt decline of 20.5% (955CI: 16.0%, 24.5%) in TB case notifications in April and 32.7% (95%CI: 28.8%, 39.1%) in May 2020, with a median monthly decline of 21.4% from April-December 2020. A cumulative loss of 2,128 (20%; 95%CI: 13.3%, 26.7%) TB cases was observed nationwide as of December 2020. There was also a 40.3% decrease in people presenting for HIV tests in the first month of COVID-19 (April 2020) and a cumulative loss of 262620 (26.5%) HIV tests as of December 2020 attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic. ART initiations increased by 39.2% in the first month and thereafter decreased by an average of 10% per month from May to September 2020. Cumulatively, 443 (1.9%) more of the people living with HIV initiated ART during the pandemic period, however, this was not statistically significant. This study demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted TB case notifications and HIV testing and counselling services, However, ART initiation was generally not impacted during the first year of the pandemic. Proactive approaches aimed at actively finding the thousands of individuals with TB who were missed in 2020 and increasing HIV testing and counselling and subsequent treatment initiations should be prioritised.

Psychiatric emergency department visits during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic.

Previous research has demonstrated the negative impact of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on mental health. To examine changes in the Chinese psychiatric emergency department (PED) visits for mental health crises that occurred during the pandemic. Before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, PED visit counts from the largest psychiatric hospital in China between 2018 and 2020 were investigated. Electronic medical records of 2020 PED visits were extracted during the COVID-19 pandemic period and compared for the same period of 2018 and 2019. Overall, PED visits per year increased from 1,767 in 2018 to 2210 (an increase of 25.1%) in 2019 and 2,648 (an increase of 49.9%) in 2020. Compared with 2 years before the epidemic, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the proportion of PED visits among patients with stress disorders, sleep disorders, and anxiety disorders increased significantly. In terms of the distribution of demographic characteristics, age shows a younger trend, while the gender difference is not significant. These findings suggest that PED care-seeking increases during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need to integrate mental health services for patients with stress, sleep, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders during public health crises.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Incidence of Pediatric Acute Otitis Media in Seoul, South Korea.

The implementation of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may affect the incidence of infectious diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the incidence of pediatric acute otitis media (AOM) after the COVID-19 outbreak in Seoul, South Korea. Retrospective cohort. Tertiary referral center. We ascertained the daily number of COVID-19 and pediatric AOM patients between January 20, 2020, and June 19, 2020. During the same period, the number of children using public transportation was used as an index for implementing NPIs. The same period 1 year ago was set as the control period. Diagnostic. The differences in the incidence of AOM and implementation of NPIs between the COVID-19 pandemic and control period were analyzed using segmented regression analyses. Negative values of difference meant that the number in the COVID-19 pandemic period declined compared with the control period. The study period was divided into two sections based on the change point of the COVID-19 cases. In the first period, the increased number of COVID-19 cases decreased, and in the second period, the number of COVID-19 cases increased again. Similar trends were observed in the incidence of AOM and NPI implementation. Before the change point, the study found a significant decreasing trend in the differences in pediatric AOM cases and children using public transportation. However, these trends changed after the change point, with a significant increase in both indices. Our findings indicate that NPIs for COVID-19 may influence the incidence of pediatric AOM.

The Correlation between Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions and COVID-19 Data in the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic Period.

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) has become the deadliest virus to affect the international community in recent history, with more than 760 million people infected and more than 6.87 million deaths as of March 2023; therefore, based on Hofstede's national cultural theory, this study collected Hofstede's six national cultural dimensions on a global scale, namely, power distance (PDI), individualism/collectivism (IDV), masculinity/femininity (MAS), uncertainty avoidance (UAI), long-term/short-term orientation (LTO), and indulgence/restraint (IVR) scores, and COVID-19 data from the World Health Organization (WHO) from 22 February 2020 to 30 February 2021. Then, based on eight items of global COVID-19 data, this study analyzed the correlation between Hofstede's six dimensions and the COVID-19 data from six regions (Africa (AFRO), Europe (EURO), the Americas (AMRO), the Western Pacific (WPRO), South East Asia (SEARO), and the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO)) divided by the WHO. This study found the following: (1) Hofstede's six cultural dimensions indeed have a significant correlation with the COVID-19 data of different WHO regions in different ways. (2) Except for IDV and UAI, PDI is a highly critical factor and has a significant correlation with the COVID-19 data from AFRO and EMRO. MAS also is an important factor and has a significant correlation with COVID-19 data from WPRO and SEARO. Meanwhile, LTO has a significant correlation with some COVID-19 data from the AMRO region, and IVR has a significant correlation with some COVID-19 data from the EURO region. Finally, the new insights from this study are worthy of further study by scholars, and they will be of great help to global governments and medical institutions in formulating policies to suppress infectious diseases in the future.

Suicide Trends in Jordan in Correlation With the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Forensic Medicine Perspective.

Background This study aimed to examine the suicide trends among Jordanians who died by suicide before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and assess their correlation with demographic data, including gender, age, marital status, and the method used for suicide, from a forensic medicine perspective. Methodology This was a retrospective, observational, autopsy-based study. Of the 731 medicolegal autopsies performed at the Al-Hussein New Hospital at Al Salt City between 2017 and 2022, 41 confirmed cases of suicide were identified. Results The study indicated that 75% of the subjects committed suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic period, of whom 13% were children. The average age of those who died by suicide was 32.1 (SD = 12.2) years. Overall, 58.5% were single, 61.0% unemployed, and 53.7% had a mental illness. Males were four times more likely to commit suicide than females. Hanging represented 60.61% of all male suicides, followed by firearms (27.27%); however, females used poisoning. Around 60% and 25% of the study subjects were in the age group of 21-40 years and 41 and more, respectively. The study also identified a statistically significant association between gender, age, and the time of suicide (during COVID-19). The findings of this study could not confirm any association between suicide and mental illness, marital status, and employment status. Conclusions The suicide rate in Jordan increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is alarming that most of those who committed suicide were at a young age and in their productive years.

Changes in Seizure Frequency and Characteristics During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Hospital-based Study

Background: It was found that the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic contributed to changes in the epidemiologic and symptomatic pattern of some neurologic disorders. Objectives: The present study investigated the frequency of seizures and their characteristics from February to August 2020 (the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic) compared to the same period the year before. Materials &amp; Methods: This cross-sectional-analytical study was performed on patients with seizures in Poursina hospital in Guilan province, Iran, between February and August 2020 and the same period the year before. Patients with seizures at the beginning or during hospitalization with at least one seizure in the desired period were included in the study. Results: The increase in seizure frequency during the COVID-19 pandemic versus last year was statistically significant (P=0.014). It also observed a significant difference in seizure etiology (P=0.032), types (P&lt;0.005), and history of seizure (P&lt;0.001). The most prevalent causes of seizures and stroke before and during the COVID-19 pandemic are unknown. The convulsive status epilepticus increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period by 4-fold. Before the pandemic, the patients had a higher prevalence of seizure history. Conclusion: The frequency of seizures, their types, and etiology changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, signifying that COVID-19 can influence on hospital burden of the seizure population.

Applications of Dietary Supplements and Aromatherapy for Prophylactic and Treatment Purposes During COVID-19 Pandemic.

The lack of a specific proven treatment for coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has led individuals to use different treatment options. Although their effects on COVID-19 have not been proven, interest in dietary supplements and aromatherapy has increased during the pandemic period. In this study, use of dietary supplements and aromatherapy was investigated for COVID-19 among individuals living within the borders of Türkiye. This cross-sectional survey study was conducted among 310 individuals. The questionnaire was prepared using online Google Forms and communicated to the participants via social media platforms. The data obtained from the study were analyzed with the statistical program. The analyzes of the survey revealed that participants increased the usage of supplements mostly prophylactic and for treatment purposes during COVID-19 pandemic, 31.9% individuals declared that they consumed herbal tea/products, 38.1% of them used vitamin/mineral supplements (multivitamin-mineral, vitamins B1, B6, B12, C, D, calcium, coenzyme Q10, iron, magnesium, selenium, and zinc), and 18.4% of the individuals applied aromatherapy (meaning treatment with essential oils). As a result of the study, the most commonly used supplement was vitamin D, the most commonly consumed tea was green tea, the essential oil was thyme oil, and the most eaten vegetable was garlic. Moreover, other frequently used herbal products were found to contain ginger and onion as food and peppermint and eucalyptus oils as aromatherapeutics. Participants often reported that they found it safe to use elevated levels of herbs or herbal products against COVID-19. Among the individuals participating in this study, it has been observed that the use of dietary supplements has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The study revealed that vitamin D is prominent in self-medication use. Moreover, interest in aromatherapy and dietary supplements has increased. Among aromatherapeutics, thyme stood out over the applied essential oils.