Spread Of Coronavirus Disease Research Articles

Impact of Government Healthcare Policy Changes on Consumption and Human Movements During COVID-19: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis in Korea.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has altered daily behavioral patterns based on government healthcare policies, including consumption and movement patterns. We aimed to examine the extent to which changes in the government's healthcare policy have affected people's lives, primarily focusing on changes in consumption and population movements. We collected consumption data using weekly credit card transaction data from the Hana Card Corporation and population mobility data using mobile phone data from SK Telecom in Seoul, South Korea. Interrupted time-series analysis was used to calculate the relative risk ratio and perform the intervention effects when government healthcare policy changes. We found that leisure and outside movements were the most immediately affected by changes in government healthcare policies. It took over 2 years and 11 months, respectively, for these sectors to return to their pre-COVID-19 routines. Enhancing healthcare policies presents advantages and disadvantages. Although such policies help prevent the spread of COVID-19, they also reduce consumption and mobility, extending the time needed to return to pre-COVID-19 levels. Government healthcare policymakers should consider not only disease prevention but also the impact of these policies on social behaviors, economic activity, and mobility.

Agenda-setting for iron deficiency anaemia prevention and control policies in Iran by multiple streams framework

BackgroundAccording to the WHO report and evaluations, Iran has a moderate prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). The present study evaluates Iran’s IDA prevention and control policies by analysing the agenda-setting policy using the multiple streams framework (MSF).MethodsThe present study used Kingdon’s MSF model to analyse policies related to IDA in Iran qualitatively. First, the policy documents were reviewed (n = 12), and then in-depth interviews were conducted with key stakeholders (n = 33) using the framework analysis method. MAXQDA version 2020 was used to categorize the data codes of the interviews and extract related themes.ResultsThe main factors of the problem stream were the prevalence of IDA among Iranian pregnant women, children and adolescents and its risk factors in Iran. The policy stream focuses on mounting the staff in health centres, preventing non-communicable diseases and parasites in the health system, and promoting health programs, such as supplementation, education and fortification. The current political stream regarding IDA shows that national and international support can provide the right political atmosphere for this issue. There are challenges and obstacles related to implementing these policies in Iran, including the preference for treatment over prevention in the health sector, the existence of many economic problems and the limitation of distribution and access to health services owing to some unforeseen issues, such as sanctions or the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).ConclusionsThe topic of IDA prevention policymaking has entered a new phase. Responsible organizations, such as the Ministry of Health, should emphasize more in allocating budgets for preventive programs, and key organizations, such as the WHO, should support low- and middle-income countries to empower them towards important preventive strategies.

African women, religion and pandemics: Some initial responses to COVID-19

In citing some qualitative case studies and in building on analytical-survey research design, this article explores the place of African women in warding off the pandemics, with particular reference to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in its initial stages (March 2020). With Africa being the most religious continent in the 21st century, African women who led the onslaught against COVID-19 (refer to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf [EJS], Graca Machel, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Vera Songwe, Maria Ramos, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr and Blen Sahilu, among others), were largely informed by a religio-cultural concern for the ‘other’ (ubuntu). In demonstrating their sociocultural role of standing out as the bulwark against threats to familyhood, African women met in Monrovia-Liberia on 08 March 2020 during the inauguration of Amujae Leadership Forum that cropped up as a barricade against further COVID-19 spread. In a nutshell, the article draws from Sirleaf’s approach in combating the 2014–2016 Ebola pandemic and samples other leading African women’s contributors who played a pivotal role in responding to the initial stages of the pandemic, a phenomenon that traces its roots from the African heritage.Contribution: This article foregrounds the interface between African women, religious inspiration and health-related matters; and indeed enriches HTS Journal and the academic world. As by-products of a religiously inclined continent, African women’s initial response to the pandemic in March 2020 is well-rooted in their religio-cultural backcloth.

Endemic-epidemic modelling of school closure to prevent spread of COVID-19 in Switzerland

The goal of this work was to quantify the effect of school closure during the first year of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Switzerland. This allowed us to determine the usefulness of school closures as a pandemic countermeasure for emerging coronaviruses in the absence of pharmaceutical interventions. The use of multivariate endemic-epidemic modelling enabled us to analyse disease spread between age groups which we believe is a necessary inclusion in any model seeking to achieve our goal. Sophisticated time-varying contact matrices encapsulating four different contact settings were included in our complex statistical modelling approach to reflect the amount of school closure in place on a given day. Using the model, we projected case counts under various transmission scenarios (driven by implemented social distancing policies). We compared these counterfactual scenarios against the true levels of social distancing policies implemented, where schools closed in the spring and reopened in the autumn. We found that if schools had been kept open, the vast majority of additional cases would be expected among primary school-aged children with a small fraction of cases filtering into other age groups following the contact matrix structure. Under this scenario where schools were kept open, the cases were highly concentrated among the youngest age group. In the scenario where schools had remained closed, most reduction would also be expected in the lowest age group with less effects seen in other groups.

PENYULUHAN DALAM UPAYA PENCEGAHAN COVID-19 DENGAN PENYEMPROTAN DISINFEKTAN DAN PENERAPAN ATURAN KESEHATAN DI DESA PAKUTANDANG, KECAMATAN CIPARAY, KABUPATEN BANDUNG

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new type of disease that has never been identified in humans. This disease infects the respiratory tract and is usually transmitted through close physical contact and respiratory droplets. This community service activity aims to increase knowledge and insight among participants regarding the importance of maintaining and following health regulations to minimize and stop the spread of COVID-19 and realize changes in healthy behavior during the pandemic. The methods used are counseling, simulation, and evaluation methods. Before carrying out this activity, socialization was carried out first by visiting the Pakutandang Village office, meeting and discussing with the Pakutandang Village Head regarding the needs that could be provided to minimize and stop the spread of COVID-19, and asking for permission to carry out community service activities. The results of the service show that the service activities went smoothly. Participants participate actively and collaboratively in discussion and question-and-answer activities. This service activity increases and broadens the knowledge and perspectives of the participants, including lecturers at Bale Bandung University, village heads, and government officials from the Pakutandang Village Office, students at the Faculty of Agriculture, Bale Bandung University, residents of Pakutandang Village and the COVID-19 task force in Ciparay District. Thus, the participants understood the importance of following health regulations and continuous spraying of disinfectants in the school and home environment around Pakutandang Village in implementing healthy behavior changes during the pandemic. The activity results will enable the implementation of good habits in complying with health protocols in the school and home environment, especially in Pakutandang Village, Ciparay District.

Towards resilient communities: Evaluating the nonlinear impact of the built environment on COVID-19 transmission risk in residential areas

Reflections on urban epidemics often drive improvements in the resilience of the built environment. However, the assessment regarding the nonlinear influence of the community environment on the spread of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is inadequate. This study analyzed the influential mechanism of built environment factors on the epidemic risk in residential areas, using Shanghai as a case study. During the lockdown in April 2022, Shanghai reported daily data on COVID-19 outbreaks in residential areas, amounting to a total of 90,324 entries. Based on a GIS-based grid analysis approach, we employed a Random Forest (RF) model and a Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) model to investigate the marginal effects and spatial heterogeneity of environmental factors on the mean count of COVID-19 outbreak days (MC) in residential areas within each grid zone. The results show that the value of MC forms a ring-mountain distribution surrounding the city's outer ring road. The RF model (R² = 0.57) demonstrates that the house price, population density, family number, and the standard deviation of building height (BH_SD) significantly correlated with MC, with the relative importance of 25 %, 13 %, 11 %, and 6 %, respectively. The MGWR model (R² = 0.63) highlights the spatial heterogeneity of family number, house age, house price, property fee, and delivery density. We also found that property fee and green rate were negatively correlated with the MC. These findings help improve responses to public health emergencies and create more resilient communities to cope with pandemics.

A Novel Cell- and Virus-Free SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibody ELISA Based on Site-Specific Labeling Technology.

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to the global spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), creating an urgent need for updated methods to evaluate immune responses to vaccines and therapeutic strategies. In this study, we introduce a novel cell-free, virus-free SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody ELISA (NAb-ELISA), which is based on competitive inhibition of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of spike protein binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. In this method, site-specific biotinylated hACE2-Fc-Avi recombinant protein is immobilized onto a 96-well plate for capture, and the RBD-Fc-vHRP recombinant proteins serve as detection probes. Evaluation of sera from wild type (WT) or Delta RBD-immunized mice using the NAb-ELISA and pseudovirus neutralization tests (pVNTs) demonstrated strong correlations between assays (R2 = 0.91 and 0.90 for the WT and Delta groups, respectively). Additionally, the NAb-ELISA successfully detected cross-neutralizing activity in sera, though with slightly lower correlation to pVNT (R2 = 0.70-0.83). By employing NAb-ELISA instead of an indirect ELISA for hybridoma screening, five monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with neutralizing activities against WT, Delta, and BA.2 pseudoviruses were obtained. This assay offers a straightforward, rapid, and safe approach to characterizing vaccine-induced antibody responses and mAb neutralization activity. Notably, the NAb-ELISA platform can be quickly adapted to assess neutralizing antibody responses against emerging mutant strains, addressing the rapid mutation of the virus.

Demographic and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 epidemic in Albania.

This study provides a general overview of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Albania. The aim was to assess the spread of COVID-19 in the country by describing the demographic and epidemiological characteristics. We performed a 12-month national observational, epidemiological study. The data were extracted from the national digital system of Infectious Diseases Information and included all reported COVID-19 cases. Demographic data, number of tests, number of confirmed positive cases, and number of deaths were analyzed to build a general overview of the pandemic in Albania. The database comprised 251,139 tested individuals and 250,926 were reported as confirmed cases. The average age of the tested cases was 44.83 years; 19.8% of the studied individuals were 51-60 years old and this group had the highest proportion (51.7%) of females. The estimated prevalence of COVID-19 in Albania was 51.31% (110,397 cases). Tirana, the capital of Albania, had the highest percentage of COVID-19 positive cases (44.9%) with an incidence rate 3,879.02 individuals/100,000 inhabitants. The COVID-19 curve reached its peak in February 2021 with 54,046 cases. The mortality rate was 1.18/1000 inhabitants. This demographic and epidemiological analysis provides a better understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic, and. the findings can contribute towards perception and re-investigation of the spread of COVID-19 in Albania, However, further studies covering longer periods and deeper analysis are needed for developing an epidemiological mathematical model, as a tool to develop and implement specific strategies for monitoring future pandemics.

Impact of universal masking in reducing the risk of nosocomial respiratory viruses among people with cancer.

Universal masking within healthcare settings was adopted to combat the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In addition to mitigating the risk for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, it also had an added benefit of preventing the nosocomial transmission of other respiratory viral diseases. This study examines the impact of the masking intervention on nosocomial respiratory viral infections (RVI) in vulnerable sub-populations of people with cancer at a tertiary care hospital. Interrupted time series analysis. We reviewed non-SARS-CoV-2 nosocomial RVI between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2023 and compared its quarterly trends before (January 2017 to March 2020) and after (April 2020 to December 2023) the universal masking intervention was implemented. Prior to the masking policy, there was no significant change in the quarterly rate of non-SARS-CoV-2 nosocomial RVI (baseline trend: P = 0.662). Crude infection rates decreased from 5.6% preintervention to 4.3% after the masking policy was implemented (P < 0.001). Quarterly trends continued to steadily decline post-intervention (β = -0.10, SE = 0.04, P < 0.007). Our results suggest that universal face masking is associated with reduced non-SARS-CoV-2 nosocomial RVI, providing further evidence to support the continued use of face masks in healthcare settings to protect the health of immunocompromised patients.

Relationship between changes in lifestyle and sleep duration due to the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in older adults: A cross-sectional study

Objectives In response to the spread of COVID-19, a state of emergency was declared on April 7, 2020. People were asked to stay at home unless necessary, and studies conducted in Japan and other countries have investigated the impact of these restrictions on the lives and health of older adults. While some studies have focused on sleep, a crucial aspect of the health of older adults, little is known about the relationship between sleep and various lifestyle changes experienced by older adults in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Herein, we aimed to investigate the factors associated with changes in sleep duration among older adults before and after the spread of COVID-19.Methods A random sample of 1,808 men and women aged 65-84 years who lived in Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan was selected. A self-administered anonymous survey was mailed to the participants. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with decreased sleep duration compared to the COVID-19 pre-pandemic. Factors such as basic attributes, lifestyle changes compared with that during pre-pandemic period, stress levels, and involvement with the community were considered in the analysis.Results Of the 1,808 distributed surveys, 1,305 were returned (response rate: 72.2%). After excluding participants with missing data (n＝108), 1,197 responses were included in the final analysis (valid response rate: 66.2%). Among these, 155 participants (12.9%) reported decreased sleep duration. Decreased "social activities/connectedness" (odds ratio [OR]: 2.55, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.54-4.22), reduced "average duration of exercise on exercise days" (OR: 2.69, 95% CI: 1.38-5.24), and self-reported "stress in the past month" (OR: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.43-4.06) were significantly associated with decreased sleep duration.Conclusion The spread of COVID-19 was associated with decreased sleep duration among older adults. This decrease was linked to reduced social activity and participation, decreased exercise, and increased stress. To mitigate these effects, maintaining social participation and activities, scheduling regular and manageable exercise routines, and implementing effective stress management strategies while adhering to infection control practices are important.

Developing a Novel Contact Tracing Mobile Application for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for Improving Testing Capacity and Controlling the Spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria

In this study, a novel contact tracing model that leverages smartphone technology to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and extend the duration of contact tracing efforts is developed. This model utilizes smartphones as identification systems, collecting data on the proximity of other smartphone users through integrated Bluetooth and GPS technology. The study examines the frequency, duration, and proximity of interactions between smartphone devices in a clinical setting, highlighting potential implications for infectious disease transmission to pilot the mobile application developed. Contact data from six pairs of devices were analyzed, focusing on metrics such as total contacts, total contact time, average contact time, average distance, and the percentage of contacts occurring within 1.5 meters. The results showed varying levels of interaction across device pairs, with Devices 1 &amp; 3 showing the highest number of contacts (175), and Devices 3 &amp; 4 displaying the longest average contact time (20,133,193.01 seconds). Correlation analysis revealed weak and statistically insignificant relationships between total contacts and average distance (r = 0.13, p = 0.81), contact time and the percentage of close contacts (r = -0.15, p = 0.78). These findings suggest that while there are observable trends in contact patterns, the statistical insignificance highlights the need for further investigation to establish stronger associations that could inform infection control practices in healthcare settings.

Active-type piezoelectric smart textiles with antifouling performance for pathogenic control

Recently, an investigation into preventive measures for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has garnered considerable attention. Consequently, strategies for the proactive prevention of viral pathogens have also attracted significant interest in the field of wearable devices and electronic textiles research, particularly due to their potential applications in personal protective equipment. In this study, we introduce smart textiles designed with optimized piezoelectric devices that exhibit antifouling performance against microorganisms and actively inactivate viruses. These active-type smart textiles, which incorporate advanced lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics, a stretchable interconnector array, and polymeric fabric, demonstrate effective antifouling capabilities, detaching approximately 90% of Escherichia coli and 75% of SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, they inactivate viruses, releasing ~26.8 ng of N protein from ruptured SARS-CoV-2, using ultrasonic waves within the wearable platform. Experimental results show that piezoelectric smart textiles significantly reduce the spread of COVID-19 by leveraging the electrical and acoustic properties of PZT ceramics.

“There is Always a New Normal” - Psychological Transformation of Nurses - A Postpandemic Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND: The spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has significantly diminished worldwide, but post-COVID-19 psychological experiences are rarely documented. Understanding the individual psychological needs and challenges of working during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as resilience and psychological health in continuing work in its aftermath, is essential. OBJECTIVE: The objective is to explore the nurses’ perspectives on psychological resilience and confidence following the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A descriptive phenomenological design and purposive sampling approach was employed. Registered nurses working at the largest health organization in Qatar, which includes 14 health facilities, were invited to participate in this study. Seventeen nurses who were working in the facilities and were deployed during the first, second, and third waves of COVID-19 participated in the interviews. Data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews and analyzed using the inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: The psychological transformation of participants was summarized into three themes: Fear zone, learning zone, and growth zone. These themes were classified into 13 sub-themes. Fear and anxiety, influence of media and news, safety concerns, and frequent changes in policies and guidelines were the factors in the fear zone. Coping mechanisms, teamwork, establishing compassionate care, and social acceptance, helped them learn psychologically in the learning zone. Growth factors such as personal and professional benefits, confidence and resilience, a sense of satisfaction, and changed life perceptions were identified in the growth zone. CONCLUSION: Working during COVID-19 imposed many challenges on nurses, such as increased workload and stress. However, the different waves of the pandemic have contributed to increased resilience, confidence, and a deeper sense of life meaning in nurses. Their experiences in handling difficult situations during the pandemic have made them more confident in dealing with stressful situations and working under pressure.

COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia: an epidemiological analysis of 2020-2021.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic proved challenging for the healthcare systems. This study is an analysis of the epidemiological situation of COVID-19 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and the impact of the control measures on the epidemiological trends of the disease. A retrospective study was conducted on COVID-19 cases confirmed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in KSA from March 2020 to December 2021. The numbers of confirmed, recovered, and death cases was analyzed and classified by age, gender, and nationality. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis for the disease trends and some of the control measures were conducted. All statistical analysis was carried out using the IBM SPSS version 26. There were 549,810 confirmed cases from March 2, 2020, to December 1, 2021. The highest number of cases was during the summer months. Men accounted for 70% of all reported cases. 65% of incidents involved people aged 20-50 years. Saudi nationals represented 63% of the total cases. There was a decline in both confirmed and fatality cases in 2021 compared to 2020 (OR = 2.1, p < 0.001; and OR = 2.53, p < 0.001 respectively). Furthermore, the precautionary measures implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19 had a positive effect in reducing disease incidences (correlation 0.75, p < 0.001). The Saudi government has had exceptional success in controlling COVID-19 by expanding screening tests, launching immunization campaigns, and training physicians.

Analysis of the impact of coronavirus infection on human health: epidemiological data, vaccination strategies, psychological aspect, consequences (literature review)

The COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease 2019) pandemic has caused widespread morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic crisis around the world. Since its first outbreak in 2019, COVID-19 has evolved continuously, leading to the emergence of several variants that have gained greater transmission efficiency, severity, and immune evasion properties. Vaccination has proven to be an important strategy to control the spread of the virus and mitigate its impact. The development of multiple COVID-19 vaccines within 1 year of the virus's emergence was unprecedented. The purpose of the article was to analyze and summarize the scientific literature on the impact of COVID-19 on global health, including epidemiological data, vaccination strategies, psychological impact of the pandemic, and human health outcomes. The analysis found that COVID-19 vaccination has been very effective in reducing morbidity, hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions. However, ongoing surveillance, monitoring of options and adaptive vaccination strategies are crucial to maximize the benefits of vaccination and effectively control the spread of the virus. Globally, the dramatic and rapid spread of COVID-19 has triggered social changes that have led to an increased burden of mental health and fear-related behaviors. The physical and social distancing imposed in many parts of the world has had a significant impact on how the general population communicates and interacts with each other. Extreme avoidance of the lack of social contact has created a sense of "disconnection" that has been further exacerbated by the inability to meet friends and family at social gatherings and supportive places such as churches, restaurants, workplaces, and sports facilities. The closure of schools and many businesses, along with rising unemployment, further exacerbated feelings of isolation, financial hardship, anxiety, and depression. The article provides information on the mental impact of COVID-19 on patients, namely, the virus contributes to mental distress, anxiety, depression, suicide risk, post-traumatic stress disorder, cognitive impairment and sleep disorders. Keywords: COVID, spread, vaccines, anxiety, depression.

The trends and outcomes of inflammatory bowel disease surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic: A retrospective propensity score-matched analysis from a multi-institutional research network.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Elective operations and surveillance endoscopies were postponed for IBD patients to preserve healthcare resources and to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This study aimed to describe the trends and outcomes of IBD surgery during the pandemic. This was a retrospective propensity score-matched analysis using data extracted from TriNetX, a multi-institutional research database. IBD patients admitted for surgery were identified between March 2019 to February 2020 (prepandemic) and March 2020 to February 2023 (pandemic). The monthly volume of IBD surgical procedures was compared during the pandemic to the prepandemic period. After matching, the risk of adverse outcomes following IBD surgery was compared between the 3 years of the pandemic compared to the prepandemic cohort. There was a reduction in both elective and emergency IBD operations during the pandemic. These trends were not significant. After matching, the risks of returning to theaters and hospital readmission were comparable across the 3 years of the pandemic. In the first and second years of the pandemic, elective patients were at a greater risk of mortality (risk ratio [RR], 2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.160-3.448 and RR, 1.778; 95% CI, 1.003-3.150, respectively) and the emergency cohort had a higher risk of critical care admission (RR, 1.759; 95% CI, 1.126-2.747 and RR, 1.742; 95% CI, 1.131-2.682, respectively). Our study highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of IBD patients undergoing surgery. These results provide insights into the management of IBD surgery during times of crisis and can help guide decision-making and resource allocation for IBD patients requiring surgical intervention.

Adequate serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels are correlated with low anti-PF4 levels in mild COVID-19 Patients: An observational study.

The worldwide spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in an unparalleled health emergency of global proportions. Around 31% of individuals with COVID-19 experience thrombosis associated with hypercoagulation. COVID-19 patients have shown an increase in platelet activation, but the mechanism has not been fully understood yet. One theory suggests that this could be related to the heparin-induced thrombocytopenia phenomenon, where platelet activation involves anti-PF4 antibodies that are associated with thrombosis. Vitamin D has been established to exert an influence on immunological responses and inflammation. The aim of this study is to analyze the correlation between serum 25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol [25(OH)D] levels and anti-PF4 antibodies among COVID-19 patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 160 COVID-19 patients at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital and Wisma Atlit Hospital Jakarta from October 2021 to January 2022. The mean serum 25(OH)D level was 15.1 ng/mL. A significant negative correlation was found between serum 25(OH)D and anti-PF4 levels in mild COVID-19 patients (P = .035; R = -0.236). Remarkably, P-selectin levels were significantly higher in the moderate COVID-19 group compared to the severe group (P = .031). Serum 25(OH)D level had a significant negative correlation with anti-PF4 level in mild COVID-19 patients. Thus, it is highly recommended to ensure that serum 25(OH)D levels are maintained above 30 ng/mL. Remarkably, the P-selectin level was significantly higher in the moderate COVID-19 group compared to the severe group.

COVID-19 and diabetes research: Where are we now and what does the future hold? A bibliometric visualization analysis

Background & objectiveThe extensive spread of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide has caused a dramatic negative impact on many individuals' health. This study aims to systematically and comprehensively analyze the current status and possible future directions of diabetes mellitus (DM) and COVID-19 research. MethodsWe obtained publications about COVID-19 and DM from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) using the search terms "COVID-19″ and similar terms combined with "DM" and similar terms, with a date range of January 2020 to May 2024. And we used CiteSpace V 6.3.R2 to perform the bibliometric visualization analysis. ResultsThe search enrolled 6266 publications. The USA is a country with the most publications; Harvard University was the most productive institution in this field. The highest-ranked journal was the PLOS ONE, and the most cited journal was Lancet. The 20 most cited journals have all been cited 28754 times, accounting for 28 % of the total cites; the range of those journals was 790–3197. Publications on COVID-19 and DM research exhibited a distinct trajectory, shifting from an initial emphasis on understanding the impact of diabetes on COVID-19 infection and its associated pathophysiological mechanisms to a focus on analyzing the differential responses of diverse patient populations. Subsequently, research has progressed to examine the effects of medications and vaccines, as well as the long-term consequences of COVID-19 in diabetic individuals. Throughout this research endeavor, the exploration of diverse therapeutic interventions, their efficacy, and ultimate outcomes have consistently remained a paramount focus. And " metabolic syndrome," " long COVID," and " gestational diabetes" are still likely to be the hotspots and frontiers of research in the future. ConclusionsThis bibliometric analysis related to DM in COVID-19 illuminates the current research situation and developmental trends, supporting researchers in the exploration of prospective directions for research.

Dual isotope analysis reveals the COVID-19 lockdown impact on nitrate aerosol sources and formation pathways in Shanghai

Nitrate (NO3−) is an important contributor to PM2.5 which can adversely affect the environment and human health. A noticeable decrease in NOx concentrations has been reported due to the lockdown measures implemented to curb the spread of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, questions remain, regarding the nonlinear relationship between NOx and NO3−. Here, we collected PM2.5 samples in two periods, before and during the lockdown of COVID-19 in Shanghai. Dual isotopes (δ18O-NO3− and δ15N-NO3−) of NO3− were measured to investigate the formation pathways and potential sources of NO3−. The results showed that the concentration of NO3− decreased significantly during the lockdown period compared to the period before the lockdown. Additionally, the hydroxyl pathway was the dominant contributor to NO3− production during the lockdown period, while N2O5 hydrolyses dominated the formation of NO3− before the lockdown. This change is largely attributable to alterations in the oxidative potential of the environment. In comparison to the period preceding the lockdown, the relative contributions of each NOx source remained largely unchanged throughout the lockdown periods. Nevertheless, the concentration of NO3− contributed by each NOx source exhibited a notable decline, particularly the mobile sources and coal combustion. Furthermore, the reduction extent of NO3− due to the lockdown period was also greater than the reduction during the Clean Air Actions (2013–2017). Our findings provide evidence that the COVID-19 lockdown led to a decrease in NO3− concentration due to changes in the formation pathway and reductions in NOx emissions from various sources.

Comorbid Diseases and Outcomes of Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients Admitted to an Indonesian Intensive Care Unit from May to October 2021

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2). The spread of COVID-19 has become a worldwide health threat, with 583,038,110 cases and a death toll of 6,416,023. This study attempted to determine the relationship of age, sex, and comorbid diseases with the outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients at Prof. Dr. IGNG Ngoerah Central General Hospital, Denpasar, Indonesia. Methods: This analytic study employed a retrospective approach, analyzing secondary data from medical records using a purposive sampling method. The research included univariate analysis, bivariate analysis using the chi-square test, and multivariate analysis using a general linear model performed with the assistance of IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 23.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., USA). A statistical analysis result with a p-value of less than 0.05 was deemed significant. Results: A total of 264 critically ill COVID-19 patients were hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit of Prof. Dr. IGNG Ngoerah Central General Hospital from May to October 2021. Comorbid diseases were present in 215 patients. The comorbid diseases that had the greatest impact on increasing mortality were diabetes mellitus, hypertension, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease (p=0.000–0.006, 95% CI). Conclusion: Age and sex do not have any significant relationship with the outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients. Meanwhile, comorbid diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and renal and cardiovascular diseases, pose a significant impact on the mortality rate of critically ill COVID-19 patients. Highlights: This study investigated patients who were critically ill with COVID-19 to determine the relationship between age, sex, comorbidities, and patient outcomes. The findings of this study may provide additional data on the impact of comorbidities on the severity of COVID-19, which can be valuable to prevent mortality due to the infection.