Digital Commons Network^™

Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Visual Outcomes Of Diabetic Macular Edema Patients At A Tertiary Care Veterans Affairs Center, Philip Zhou, Jie Gao, Xiaofan Huang, Kristen A Staggers, Kristin Biggerstaff, Silvia Orengo-Nania, Roomasa Channa

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: There are limited studies on factors that impacted retina clinic patient outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate visual and anatomic outcomes in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) requiring anti-VEGF injections at the veterans' affairs tertiary care eye clinic in Houston, TX.

METHODS: Patient volume from April 2020 was compared to that of April 2019 to determine attendance changes. To evaluate outcomes, we reviewed patients with DME who had scheduled appointments during April 2020. We tracked changes in central foveal thickness (CFT) and Snellen visual acuity (VA) measurements. Patient outcomes were classified as poor (defined as …

Social And Demographic Disparities In The Severity Of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Children, Fabio Savorgnan, Sebastian Acosta, Alexander Alali, Axel Moreira, Ananth Annapragada, Craig G Rusin, Saul Flores, Rohit S Loomba, Alvaro Moreira

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Social constructs are known risk factors for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. A review of 206 patients demonstrated that children who were non-Hispanic Black, over the age of 12 years or living in a disadvantaged neighborhood associated with severe multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (intensive care unit admission, intubation and/or vasopressor use).

Evolution Of International Pediatric Endoscopic Practice Changes During The Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic, Wenly Ruan, Douglas S Fishman, Diana G Lerner, Raoul I Furlano, Mike Thomson, Catharine M Walsh

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has drastically altered endoscopic practices. We initially reported the international impact of COVID-19 on pediatric endoscopic practice. This follow-up study aimed to assess changes 7 months following the initial survey to delineate practice change patterns as the pandemic evolved.

METHODS: Pediatric gastroenterologists who responded to the initial survey were re-surveyed seven months later using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap). The survey recorded information on changes in pediatric endoscopic practice patterns, including COVID-19 screening and testing processes and personal protective equipment (PPE) utilization. Additionally, endoscopists' risk tolerance of COVID-19 transmission was evaluated.

RESULTS: Seventy-five …

Aberrant Fibrin Clot Structure Visualized Ex Vivo In Critically Ill Patients With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection, Lisa S Brubaker, Arun Saini, Trung C Nguyen, Marina Martinez-Vargas, Fong W Lam, Qizhi Yao, Michele M Loor, Todd K Rosengart, Miguel A Cruz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVES: Disseminated fibrin-rich microthrombi have been reported in patients who died from COVID-19. Our objective is to determine whether the fibrin clot structure and function differ between critically ill patients with or without COVID-19 and to correlate the structure with clinical coagulation biomarkers.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional observational study. Platelet poor plasma was used to analyze fibrin clot structure; the functional implications were determined by quantifying clot turbidity and porosity.

SETTING: ICU at an academic medical center and an academic laboratory.

PATIENTS: Patients admitted from July 1 to August 1, 2020, to the ICU with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 …

Covid-19 And Transition To Distance Learning: Perspectives Of Postsecondary Teachers In Kenya, James Ogechi Kereri, Grace Moraa Kennedy, Dovison Kereri

Faculty Publications

Several countries have transitioned to online and/or virtual learning to minimize the impact of Covid-19 on education. In Kenya, schools were closed for the better part of 2020 and reopened back on relying on an online mode and/or virtual learning. However, very little is known about the impact of such transition on postsecondary educators. Therefore, this research aims to bridge this gap by investigating the impact of online and/or virtual learning transition on postsecondary educators based on age, gender, location, and academic rank. Using a nationally distributed web-based survey, the study utilized data from 117 educators across Kenya who participated …

Constructing A Software Tool For Detecting Face Mask-Wearing By Machine Learning, Ashraf Abdulmunim Abdulmajeed, Tawfeeq Mokdad Tawfeeq, Marwa Adeeb Al-Jawaherry

Baghdad Science Journal

In the pandemic era of COVID19, software engineering and artificial intelligence tools played a major role in monitoring, managing, and predicting the spread of the virus. According to reports released by the World Health Organization, all attempts to prevent any form of infection are highly recommended among people. One side of avoiding infection is requiring people to wear face masks. The problem is that some people do not incline to wear a face mask, and guiding them manually by police is not easy especially in a large or public area to avoid this infection. The purpose of this paper is …

Emerging Trends In Healthcare Driven By The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Review From Health Informatics Perspective., Venugopal Mudgundi, Bhargav Desai, Farhad Nasar

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

The COVID-19 pandemic is the first of its kind to hit the world in the modern information age. People working in healthcare across the globe have harnessed technological advances and modern digital tools in innovative new ways. This has brought specific, more recent trends in healthcare delivery to the forefront. In this review, we present a collection of articles that highlight some of the emerging trends in healthcare driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and that have the potential to transform healthcare in the coming decades. We provide a brief commentary on the opportunities and challenges for each trend.

Hemoglobin As A Predictor For Covid-19 Disease Severity, Nicholas Sarcia, Dan Thai, Andrea M. Bodine Md

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Background: The dilemma of who is at highest risk for COVID-19 severe disease and death persists. Hemoglobin levels may be an indicator of COVID-19 disease severity. There is inconsistent data on Emergency Department (ED) hemoglobin levels and severity of disease. Our objective was to examine if COVID-19 patients presenting with abnormal hemoglobin levels have an increased risk of severe disease and in-hospital mortality.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA to investigate the relationship of COVID-19 disease severity with hemoglobin level. Inclusion criteria consisted of ED patients over 18 years with …

Disease Severity In Covid-19 Breakthrough Cases, Dan Thai, Nicholas Sarcia, Andrea M. Bodine Md

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Background

Vaccine breakthrough is a phenomenon wherein vaccinated individuals become infected with disease despite adequate protection. During this study period, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported 66.6% of US people have been fully vaccinated. Any measures to improve trust would increase vaccination rates. This study aims to understand vaccine breakthrough cases in COVID-19 by comparing their severity to unvaccinated cases. Our objective is to compare disease severity based on the worst initial vital signs (temperature, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation), length of stay (LOS), and age between vaccinated and unvaccinated COVID-19 cases.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study at …

Assessing Structural And Functional Brain Alterations And Work-Related Fatigue In Non-Hyposmic And Hyposmic Covid-19 Survivors, Rakibul Hafiz

Dissertations

In the year 2019, life began to change at the advent of a global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus. Mask mandates and mass vaccinations have mitigated the effects significantly, yet cases keep rising with new variants, especially, in densely populated countries, like India. Recent neuroimaging evidence shows the virus can attack the central nervous system (CNS). However, exactly which brain regions undergo structural and functional changes remain largely unknown. Many patients experience 'loss of/reduced sense of smell' (i.e., hyposmic) and an alarming number of survivors develop persistent symptoms ('long-COVID') for several months after initial infection. Fatigue is the most …

2022-05-31_Michiganoverview_Covidlongtermcare, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Long Term Care Data

The COVID Long Term Care Facilities page was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 data page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/stats/data-about-places/long-term-care-data.

This report is created by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services from data self-reported by long-term care facilities into EMResource. Data for all reporting facilities is posted weekly each Monday.

The information below represents COVID-19 data reported directly to MDHHS by licensed and operating Skilled Nursing, Home for the Aged and Adult Foster Care facilities (licensed to serve 13 or more individuals) in Michigan from January 1, 2020. All long-term care facilities additionally have an obligation to report COVID-positive residents and/or staff …

A Pilot Evaluation Of Katatagan Online: Benefits And Challenges Of An Online Resilience Program In The Philippines During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Maria Regina M. Hechanova, Arsenio S. Alianan Jr., Angelique P. Villasanta, Camille Therese C. Yusay, Avegale C. Acosta, Katrine S. Bunagan, Jason O. Manaois, Gayle A. Gomez

Social Transformations Journal of the Global South

This study examines the feasibility of a virtual peer support resilience program for Filipinos during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study used a mixed-method design with pre- and post-test surveys measuring adaptive coping, psychological well-being, depression, anxiety, and stress. Interviews and open-ended questions in post-program surveys also elicited reactions, learnings, and suggestions of participants. Seventy-one (71) participants, a majority of whom were female (82%), with ages ranging from 20–65 participated in the program. Paired sample t-tests revealed significant increases in adaptive coping, non-reactivity, resilience, and well-being, and significant decreases in depression and stress symptoms. Participants found the program useful, accessible, and …

Covid-19 Negatively Impacted Health And Social Relationships Among Working-Age Adults With Disabilities, Claire Pendergrast, Shannon M. Monnat

Population Health Research Brief Series

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are related to personal care and mobility. COVID-19 disrupted access to care for many working-age adults with ADL difficulties, potentially creating negative health and social impacts. This research brief shows that working-age adults (18-64) with ADL difficulty faced worse health and social impacts than their peers without ADL difficulty during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The needs of people with disabilities must be prioritized in policy decisions to increase equity and reduce health disparities during the ongoing COVID-19 response and in future public health emergencies.

A Global Experiment On Motivating Social Distancing During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Nicole Legate, Thuy Vy Nguyen, Netta Weinstein, Arlen Moller, Lisa Legault, Zahir Vally, Zuzanna Tajchman, Andras N. Zsido, Miha Zrimsek

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This crosscountry, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Covid-19 Prevention Practices Of Healthcare Workers In Indonesia: A Mobile-Based Cross-Sectional Survey, Besral Besral, Zulvi Wiyanti, Dion Zein Nurizin, Milla Herdayati, R Sutiawan, Martya Rahmaniati, Popy Yuniar

Kesmas

Knowledge of disease can affect attitudes and prevention practices, and wrong attitudes and practices can directly increase the risk of disease infection. This study aimed to describe the knowledge, attitudes, and COVID-19 prevention practice of healthcare workers in Indonesia and factors associated with prevention practices. A mobile-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in August 2020 with 254 healthcare workers in Indonesia. The self-administered questionnaire consisted of four parts: 1) sociodemographic information, 2) knowledge of COVID-19, 3) attitudes and anxiety toward COVID-19, and 4) COVID-19 prevention practices. The results indicated that healthcare workers in Indonesia had excellent knowledge and positive attitudes about …

The Influence Of Intrapersonal Constraints On Travel Intention Of People At High Risk From Covid-19 During The New Normal, Dyah Widiyastuti, Ikasari Kusuma Wardhani

Kesmas

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism constraints have created a challenge for inclusive tourism, especially for older people and people with comorbidities. This study examined intrapersonal constraints’ effect on the travel intentions of people facing fewer opportunities for tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which could disrupt their well-being fulfillment. The data were collected through an online survey of Jakarta citizens aged 46 years and older from the end of June to September 2021, and a total of 337 responses were accumulated. This study applied partial least square structural equation modeling to test the moderating effect of intrapersonal constraints toward …

Zoom Fatigue During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Is It Real?, Putri Winda Lestari, Adhila Fayasari

Kesmas

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused drastic changes to social lives moreover the activities done outside, such as work and school. The policy of large-scale social restrictions (LSRR)/Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar (PSBB), which makes people stay at home, also plays an important role in changing the face-to-face activity online. As a solution to the major change, people use video conferencing to keep in touch and still feel like doing "offline" activities. The increasing use of video conferencing has raised concerns about the resulting fatigue, termed "Zoom fatigue." This study aimed to describe Zoom fatigue during the COVID-19 pandemic …

Diabetes Mellitus And Mortality Among Covid-19 Patients In Jakarta, March-August 2020, Endang Widuri Wulandari, Sudarto Rotnoatmodjo, Ngabila Salama

Kesmas

Diabetes mellitus (DM) comorbidity is one of the risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mortality. This study aimed to determine the association of comorbid DM and mortality among COVID-19 confirmed cases in DKI Jakarta Province, controlled with confounding variables from March to August 2020. The study design was a retrospective cohort using cox proportional hazard regression, with a total sample of 1,480. The data consisted of 740 COVID-19 cases with and 740 without comorbid DM. The inclusion criteria were COVID-19 confirmed cases with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) laboratory testing reported to the DKI Jakarta Provincial Department of Health, and …

Global Health Electives In The Covid-19 Era: Resuming Travel And Strengthening Global Health Academic Partnerships., Heather Haq, Amos Msekandiana, Mogomotsi Matshaba, Linoeo Thahane, Jennifer Watts, Reena Tam, Nicole St Clair, Charles Schubert, Amy Rule, Pia Pannaraj, Michael Pitt, David Oleson, Brittany Murray, Lee Morris, Joanne Mendoza, Megan Mchenry, Elizabeth Keating, Kathy Ferrer, Heather Crouse, Tania Condurache, Maneesh Batra, Adelaide Barnes, James Conway

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

No abstract provided.

Ultrapotent And Broad Neutralization Of Sars-Cov-2 Variants By Modular, Tetravalent, Bi-Paratopic Antibodies, Shane Miersch, Nitin Sharma, Reza Saberianfar, Chao Chen, Francesca Caccuri, Alberto Zani, Arnaldo Caruso, James Brett Case, Michael S Diamond, Gaya K Amarasinghe, Giuseppe Novelli, Sachdev S Sidhu

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) that target the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein have received emergency use approval for treatment of COVID-19. However, with the emergence of variants of concern, there is a need for new treatment options. We report a format that enables modular assembly of bi-paratopic tetravalent nAbs with antigen-binding sites from two distinct nAbs. The tetravalent nAb purifies in high yield and exhibits biophysical characteristics that are comparable to those of clinically used therapeutic antibodies. The tetravalent nAb binds to the spike protein trimer at least 100-fold more tightly than bivalent IgGs (apparent K

2022-05-30 Michiganoverview_Covidbedppe, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Hospital Data

Contains the tables Statewide Hospital Capacity Report for COVID-19, COVID-19 Metrics, Statewide Hospital Available PPE Tracking for COVID-19, as well as the tables PPE Days On Hand and Patient Census.

Covid-19 Pandemic Handling Strategies By The Baduy Tribe, Randi Irmayanto, Ede Surya Darmawan

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

The first case of COVID-19 in Indonesia was announced by the President on March 2, 2020. As of June 22, 2022, the cumulative number of confirmed positive cases in Indonesia is 6,072,918 cases, with 5,904,825 recoveries and 156,702 deaths. In response to this case, the government made a policy starting with Large-Scale Social Restrictions contained in Government Regulation Number 21 of 2020 until the Enforcement of Restrictions on Community Activities based on levels (4, 3, 2, and 1) set by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The government's strategy to deal with this is through the 5M health protocol (wearing masks, …

Parens Patriae, Punishment, And Pandemics: The State’S Responsibility For Incarcerated Persons During A Public Health Emergency, Meredith Harrell

Journal of Law and Health

This article looks at the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020 and explores the commonalities and differences of states’ actions to protect their citizens, especially the most vulnerable populations. The article discusses the government’s obligations to jailees and prisoners during the COVID-19 pandemic and how incarcerated persons have been consistently failed by the institutions that are required to protect them. The article examines possible remedies for these governmental and institutional failings under the Eighth Amendment and § 1983 civil rights claims. Ultimately the article proposes that monetary damages would provide relief to incarcerated individuals and their families …

The Roles And Policies For The Use Of Telemedicine In Handling Covid-19 Self-Isolation: Literature Review, Rafika Stany Yonathan, Mardiati Nadjib

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

The current COVID-19 pandemic has had various impacts on the world. The unpredictable spike in cases led to an explosion in patient numbers. The problem of limited treatment facilities forces patients to self- isolate at home. Along with technological advances, various facilities have also been created, one of which is telemedicine. This study aims to look at the role of telemedicine as a strategy for handling COVID-19 self-isolated patients in various countries. This study was conducted descriptively with a literature review. The search was carried out on articles published in Indonesian and English through Google Scholar, Pubmed, and Science Direct …

Implementation Of The Covid-19 Risk Communication Policy In Pandeglang 2022, Nahda Salimah, Wahyu Sulistiadi

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

Currently, the world is experiencing a non-natural disaster, the COVID-19 pandemic. The Indonesian Government issued instructions for handling and controlling COVID-19 by implementing health protocols and vaccinations to reduce the rate of COVID-19 cases. The handling and control of COVID-19 are delivered by increasing public knowledge about COVID-19 through a risk communication approach. Pandeglang area, Banten, had the lowest dose one and two vaccination coverage rates in Banten Province in 2021. Implementing the risk communication policy needs to be considered in successfully handling and controlling COVID-19. This research is qualitative with case study type research. The method of collecting data …

2022-05-29_Michiganoverview_Covidsymptoms, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Syndromic Surveillance System Data

The Syndromic Surveillance System Data report was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 dashboard, from under the link "​Coronavirus Symptoms": https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/stats/coronavirus-symptoms. Data was compiled by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The information was updated twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays.

Syndromic Surveillance System data is obtained from approximately 216 facilities participating in syndromic surveillance (139 Emergency Departments (ED), 77 Urgent Cares) across the State of Michigan. The reporting is based on individuals who present at EDs and may not be representative of the overall population. The coronavirus-like symptoms query searches visit free-text (chief complaint, triage notes, …

Increasing Covid-19 Vaccine Awareness Among Hispanic Families: A Policy Perspective, Allison Chico, Iris Vazquez, Claudia Aguayo, Jose Andres Rozo

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

COVID-19 disproportionally affected Hispanic/Latinx populations exacerbating systemic health inequities. In San Diego County, 44.7% of COVID-19 cases are among Hispanic/Latinxs compared to 31.1% Whites. Community-centered, culturally tailored vaccine programs are essential to close the gap in COVID-19 disparities. This health policy project aimed to explore barriers to COVID-19 vaccination across Hispanics/Latinx in San Diego, communicate findings and seek assistance from elected officials, and collaborate with a community-based organization to provide vaccines utilizing the PRECEDE-PROCEED model. Our project utilized a multicomponent approach. We conducted a screening of 200 participants to identify common barriers for vaccine hesitancy among Hispanics/Latinx individuals across San …

Cardiology Implications Of Ed Covid-19 Patients In An Underserved Rural Health Care Environment, Pedro Colio

Dissertations

Background/Purpose: Positive COVID-19 patients with chronic comorbidities have been associated with severe cardiac complications (e.g., STEMI, NSTEMI, myocarditis, pericarditis, AF) specifically among underserved communities. Acute STEMI and NSTEMI are cardiac conditions associated with ruptured atherosclerotic plaque leading to significant myocardial injury. AF, the most common arrhythmia leading to cerebrovascular accidents, is also common in hospitalized patients with severe illnesses. Myocarditis and pericarditis are inflammatory heart conditions associated with acute viral infections. According to the literature, these cardiac issues have been linked as complications of COVID-19. COVID 19 is an emerging, complex, and costly public health challenge globally with potential lifelong …

The Association Between Loneliness With Increased Mental Health Problems And Substance Use During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Richmond, Virginia, Angela C. Liu, Connor Cox, Mariam Sankoh, James Clifford, Courtney T. Blondino, Chanel Bea, Chimere Miles, Kim Young, Sherika Gillison-Chew, John Richardson-Lauve, Candice Turner, Elizabeth Prom-Wormley

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant psychological distress among U.S. adults leading to increased rates of adverse mental health symptoms and substance use. This study aims to evaluate the consistency of the association between loneliness and increased mental health problems and substance use in Richmond, VA during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods. Data were collected in two phases: 1) internet-based surveys from August 2020 to March 2021 (N=327) and 2) paper-pencil surveys from May to October 2021 (N=225). Logistic regression was used to test the association between loneliness and increased mental health and substance use, while adjusting for sociodemographic factors and …

Learning Modalities And Mental Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Literature Review, Abubakarr Jalloh, Annie D. Morgan

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Purpose: The study’s purpose was to explore how students were learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential mental health outcome(s) that different classroom learning modalities may have on kindergarten-12^th grade school (i.e., K-12) students given that some of them were learning remotely or in-person, while others were doing some form of hybrid.

Methods: This study performed an extensive review of the literature, including health and educational sources from two government agencies, and three school districts in southwest Virginia. The target population for the literature review was K-12 students in the United States, with a focus on the Commonwealth …