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2021

COVID-19

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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Likely Community Transmission Of Covid-19 Infections Between Neighboring, Persistent Hotspots In Ontario, Canada, Ben C. Shirley, Eliseos J. Mucaki, Peter Rogan Dec 2021

Likely Community Transmission Of Covid-19 Infections Between Neighboring, Persistent Hotspots In Ontario, Canada, Ben C. Shirley, Eliseos J. Mucaki, Peter Rogan

Biochemistry Publications

Introduction: This study aimed to produce community-level geo-spatial mapping of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ontario Canada in near real-time to support decision-making. This was accomplished by area-to-area geostatistical analysis, space-time integration, and spatial interpolation of COVID-19 positive individuals.
Methods: COVID-19 cases and locations were curated for geostatistical analyses from March 2020 through June 2021, corresponding to the first, second, and third waves of infections. Daily cases were aggregated according to designated forward sortation area (FSA), and postal codes (PC) in municipal regions Hamilton, Kitchener/Waterloo, London, Ottawa, Toronto, and Windsor/Essex county. Hotspots were identified with area-to-area tests including Getis-Ord Gi*, Global …


Likely Community Transmission Of Covid-19 Infections Between Neighboring, Persistent Hotspots In Ontario, Canada [Version 1; Peer Review: Awaiting Peer Review], Elisios J. Mucaki, Ben C. Shirley, Peter K. Rogan Dec 2021

Likely Community Transmission Of Covid-19 Infections Between Neighboring, Persistent Hotspots In Ontario, Canada [Version 1; Peer Review: Awaiting Peer Review], Elisios J. Mucaki, Ben C. Shirley, Peter K. Rogan

Research Articles

This study aimed to produce community-level geo-spatial mapping of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ontario Canada in near real-time to support decision-making. This was accomplished by area-to-area geostatistical analysis, space-time integration, and spatial interpolation of COVID-19 positive individuals.


Maintaining Physical Activity During Covid-19: The Influence Of Psychosocial Variables In Individuals With Back Pain, Heidi Stabbert Dec 2021

Maintaining Physical Activity During Covid-19: The Influence Of Psychosocial Variables In Individuals With Back Pain, Heidi Stabbert

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Stressor events, such as COVID-19, may trigger adaptive or maladaptive pain management strategies among individuals with persistent low back pain (LBP). Individuals with lower fear avoidance, depression and anxiety, and greater positive affect and quality of life may better maintain positive pain management strategies during stressor events. This study investigated psychosocial characteristics of individuals with LBP who demonstrated adaptive pain management strategies during COVID-19, indicated by maintenance of physical activity (PA). Individuals with persistent LBP (age 22.4 (3.4) years, n=25) from an existing longitudinal cohort participated. Participants completed a baseline survey prior to COVID-19 quantifying demographics, pain characteristics, the Physical …


The Mystery Of Covid-19 Reinfections: A Global Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Rubaid Azhar Dhillon, Mohammad Aadil Qamar, Jaleed Ahmed Gilani, Omar Irfan, Usama Waqar, Mir Ibrahim Sajid, Syed Faisal Mahmood Dec 2021

The Mystery Of Covid-19 Reinfections: A Global Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Rubaid Azhar Dhillon, Mohammad Aadil Qamar, Jaleed Ahmed Gilani, Omar Irfan, Usama Waqar, Mir Ibrahim Sajid, Syed Faisal Mahmood

Department of Medicine

Background: As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, reports on disparities in vaccine roll out alongside COVID-19 reinfection have been emerging. We conducted a systematic review to assess the determinants and disease spectrum of COVID-19 reinfection.
Materials and methods: A comprehensive search covering relevant databases was conducted for observational studies reporting Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) confirmed infection and reinfection cases. A quality assessment tool developed by the National Institute of Health (NIH) for the assessment of case series was utilized. Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan 5.3 for pooled proportions of findings in first infection and reinfection with a 95% confidence interval …


Adverse Reactions Following Covid-19 Vaccination: An Ecuadorian Experience, Emanuel Vanegas, Karla Robles-Velasco, María F. Osorio, María José Farfán Bajaña, Zouina Sarfraz, Azza Sarfraz, Juan Carlos Fernández Cadena, Derly Madeleiny Andrade Molina, Matias Panchana Lascano, Ivan Cherrez-Ojeda Dec 2021

Adverse Reactions Following Covid-19 Vaccination: An Ecuadorian Experience, Emanuel Vanegas, Karla Robles-Velasco, María F. Osorio, María José Farfán Bajaña, Zouina Sarfraz, Azza Sarfraz, Juan Carlos Fernández Cadena, Derly Madeleiny Andrade Molina, Matias Panchana Lascano, Ivan Cherrez-Ojeda

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Limited large-scale studies have been conducted to investigate the adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccine in Latin America, particularly among the healthcare worker (HCW) population in Ecuador. The objective of this study was to assess a cohort of Ecuadorian healthcare workers for adverse reactions following vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Methods: We conducted an observational cross-sectional study to assess the potential adverse reactions to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine among a sample of healthcare workers (HCWs) in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, from March to May 2021.
Results: The sample comprised 1291 patients, with a mean age of 39.3 years (SD, …


Upregulated Type I Interferon Responses In Asymptomatic Covid-19 Infection Are Associated With Improved Clinical Outcome, Kiran I. Masood, Maliha Yameen, Javeria Ashraf, Saba Shahid, Syed Faisal Mahmood, Asghar Nasir, Nosheen Nasir, Bushra Jamil, Najia Karim Ghanchi, Iffat Khanum, Safina Abdul Razzak, Akber Kanji, Rabia Hussain, Martin E. Rottenberg, Zahra Hasan Nov 2021

Upregulated Type I Interferon Responses In Asymptomatic Covid-19 Infection Are Associated With Improved Clinical Outcome, Kiran I. Masood, Maliha Yameen, Javeria Ashraf, Saba Shahid, Syed Faisal Mahmood, Asghar Nasir, Nosheen Nasir, Bushra Jamil, Najia Karim Ghanchi, Iffat Khanum, Safina Abdul Razzak, Akber Kanji, Rabia Hussain, Martin E. Rottenberg, Zahra Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Understanding key host protective mechanisms against SARS-CoV-2 infection can help improve treatment modalities for COVID-19. We used a blood transcriptome approach to study biomarkers associated with differing severity of COVID-19, comparing severe and mild Symptomatic disease with Asymptomatic COVID-19 and uninfected Controls. There was suppression of antigen presentation but upregulation of inflammatory and viral mRNA translation associated pathways in Symptomatic as compared with Asymptomatic cases. In severe COVID-19, CD177 a neutrophil marker, was upregulated while interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) were downregulated. Asymptomatic COVID-19 cases displayed upregulation of ISGs and humoral response genes with downregulation of ICAM3 and TLR8. Compared across …


The Impact Of Disease Control Measures On The Spread Of Covid-19 In The Province Of Sindh, Pakistan, Bilal Ahmed Usmani, Mustafain Ali, Muhammad Abul Hasan, Amna Rehana Siddiqui, Sameen Siddiqi, Aaron Guanliang Lim, Saad Ahmed Qazi Nov 2021

The Impact Of Disease Control Measures On The Spread Of Covid-19 In The Province Of Sindh, Pakistan, Bilal Ahmed Usmani, Mustafain Ali, Muhammad Abul Hasan, Amna Rehana Siddiqui, Sameen Siddiqi, Aaron Guanliang Lim, Saad Ahmed Qazi

Community Health Sciences

The province of Sindh reported the first COVID-19 case in Pakistan on 26th February 2020. The Government of Sindh has employed numerous control measures to limit its spread. However, for low-and middle-income countries such as Pakistan, the management protocols for controlling a pandemic are not always as definitive as they would be in other developed nations. Given the dire socio-economic conditions of Sindh, continuation of province-wise lockdowns may inadvertently cause a potential economic breakdown. By using a data driven SEIR modelling framework, this paper describes the evolution of the epidemic projections because of government control measures. The data from reported …


Insights Into Using Plants In Management Of Viral Diseases., Vyacheslav Dushenkov, Anna Dushenkov Nov 2021

Insights Into Using Plants In Management Of Viral Diseases., Vyacheslav Dushenkov, Anna Dushenkov

Publications and Research

Botanical therapeutics possess a unique potential in the treatment of viral diseases. The pharmacological base and clinical use of botanical therapeutics have been extensively reviewed. The mode of action(s) may be built either on the direct interference with the virus's ability to enter human cells, virus replication, or exerting immune-modulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. The adjuvant treatment with botanical therapeutics has the potential to result in advances in symptom resolution, decrease in disease burden and shortening its duration.


Which Outcomes Are Most Important To Measure In Patients With Covid-19 And How And When Should These Be Measured? Development Of An International Standard Set Of Outcomes Measures For Clinical Use In Patients With Covid-19: A Report Of The International Consortium For Health Outcomes Measurement (Ichom) Covid-19 Working Group, William H. Seligman, Luz Fialho, Nick Sillett, Christina Nielsen, Farhala Mari Baloch, Philip Collis, Ingel K M. Demedts, Marcelo P. Fleck, Maiara A. Floriani, Nasreen Muhammad Nov 2021

Which Outcomes Are Most Important To Measure In Patients With Covid-19 And How And When Should These Be Measured? Development Of An International Standard Set Of Outcomes Measures For Clinical Use In Patients With Covid-19: A Report Of The International Consortium For Health Outcomes Measurement (Ichom) Covid-19 Working Group, William H. Seligman, Luz Fialho, Nick Sillett, Christina Nielsen, Farhala Mari Baloch, Philip Collis, Ingel K M. Demedts, Marcelo P. Fleck, Maiara A. Floriani, Nasreen Muhammad

Section of Cardiology

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in widespread morbidity and mortality with the consequences expected to be felt for many years. Significant variation exists in the care even of similar patients with COVID-19, including treatment practices within and between institutions. Outcome measures vary among clinical trials on the same therapies. Understanding which therapies are of most value is not possible unless consensus can be reached on which outcomes are most important to measure. Furthermore, consensus on the most important outcomes may enable patients to monitor and track their care, and may help providers to improve the care they offer through …


The Radiological Presentation Of Rasmussen Aneurysm Secondary To Pulmonary Tuberculosis And Covid-19: A Case Report, Adnan Arif, Khurram Khaliq Bhinder, Azza Sarfraz, Zouina Sarfraz, Miguel Felix, Ivan Chérrez-Ojeda Nov 2021

The Radiological Presentation Of Rasmussen Aneurysm Secondary To Pulmonary Tuberculosis And Covid-19: A Case Report, Adnan Arif, Khurram Khaliq Bhinder, Azza Sarfraz, Zouina Sarfraz, Miguel Felix, Ivan Chérrez-Ojeda

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Rasmussen aneurysm is rare diagnosis occurring in patients with long-standing tuberculosis. TB-COVID-19 co-infection in the context of Rasmussen aneurysm is a rare occurrence, yet new cases are emerging. An elderly male was recently diagnosed with TB-COVID-19 co-infection and presented with sudden onset massive hemoptysis. The patient was diagnosed with Rasmussen aneurysm after being evaluated by computed tomography pulmonary angiogram due to a suggestive clinical presentation. Interventional radiologists planned for embolization of pulmonary artery, with an unidentifiable source. It was suspected that the patient's source of bleeding was hampered due to local tamponade effect or thrombosis of the aneurysm. The patient …


Is Covid-19 Impacting Cancer Screening In Pakistan? An Observational Study Of Cancer Screening Test Requests During The Pandemic, Sibtain Ahmed, Muhammad Abbas Abid, Noureen Niaz Ali, Junaid Ahmed, Imran Siddiqui Nov 2021

Is Covid-19 Impacting Cancer Screening In Pakistan? An Observational Study Of Cancer Screening Test Requests During The Pandemic, Sibtain Ahmed, Muhammad Abbas Abid, Noureen Niaz Ali, Junaid Ahmed, Imran Siddiqui

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: The purpose of this study is to assess how the COVID-19 pandemic affected cancer screening at a large tertiary care setting in the city of Karachi, the third largest city in the world, and to identify if there has been any decrease in cancer screening during the ongoing pandemic.
Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted at the clinical chemistry laboratory at the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi Pakistan. Data for test volumes was extracted from the Integrated Laboratory Management System (ILMS) for the following tumor markers: CA19 Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 (CA …


Low-Cost Peer-Taught Virtual Research Workshops For Medical Students In Pakistan: A Creative, Scalable, And Sustainable Solution For Student Research, Ronika Devi Ukrani, Ayesha Niaz Shaikh, Russell S. Martins, Syeda Sadia Fatima, Hamna Amir Naseem, Mishall Ahmed Baig Nov 2021

Low-Cost Peer-Taught Virtual Research Workshops For Medical Students In Pakistan: A Creative, Scalable, And Sustainable Solution For Student Research, Ronika Devi Ukrani, Ayesha Niaz Shaikh, Russell S. Martins, Syeda Sadia Fatima, Hamna Amir Naseem, Mishall Ahmed Baig

Medical College Documents

Background: Pakistan has not been a major contributor to medical research, mainly because of the lack of learning opportunities to medical students. With the increase in online learning systems during COVID-19, research related skills can be taught to medical students via low-cost peer taught virtual research workshops.
Aim of the study: To assess the effectiveness of a comprehensive low-cost peer-taught virtual research workshops amongst medical students in Pakistan.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study assessed the effectiveness of five virtual research workshops (RWs) in improving core research skills. RWs for medical students from across Pakistan were conducted over Zoom by medical students …


Non-Compliance To Social Distancing During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study Between The Developed And Developing Countries, Faiqa Binte Aamir, Syeda Maria Ahmad Zaidi, Saadia Abbas, Syed Roohan Aamir, Syed Nauman Ahmad Zaidi, Karishma Kanhya Lal, Syeda Sadia Fatima Oct 2021

Non-Compliance To Social Distancing During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study Between The Developed And Developing Countries, Faiqa Binte Aamir, Syeda Maria Ahmad Zaidi, Saadia Abbas, Syed Roohan Aamir, Syed Nauman Ahmad Zaidi, Karishma Kanhya Lal, Syeda Sadia Fatima

Medical College Documents

Background: Despite mass vaccination campaigns, the world has seen a steady rise in the number of SARS-CoV-2 cases, with 178,765,626 cases and 3,869,994 COVID-19 related deaths by June 19th, 2021. Therefore, it is important to enforce social distancing to control its spread. With the variation observed in the severity of the pandemic in different countries, it is also imperative to study the social distancing behaviors amongst the population in developed and developing countries.
Design and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 384 participants from 14 different countries were surveyed via an online REDCap form.
Results: In …


Colchicine, Covid-19 And Hematological Parameters: A Meta-Analysis, Musharraf Sarwar, Zahid Ali, Mahnoor Fatima, Zouina Sarfraz, Azza Sarfraz, Ivan Cherrez-Ojeda Oct 2021

Colchicine, Covid-19 And Hematological Parameters: A Meta-Analysis, Musharraf Sarwar, Zahid Ali, Mahnoor Fatima, Zouina Sarfraz, Azza Sarfraz, Ivan Cherrez-Ojeda

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Introduction: Colchicine has the potential in reducing patient morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 infection owing to its anti-inflammatory properties. This study aims to determine the efficacy of colchicine in optimizing inflammatory hematological biomarker levels among COVID-19 patients.
Methods: In accordance to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement guidelines, a systematic search was conducted using the following keywords: Colchicine, covid*, SARS-CoV-2, anti-inflammatory, trials, clinical, hematological, laboratory. Databases were searched from December 2019 until August 26, 2021: MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Scopus, and EMBASE. Other sources were located through ClinicalTrials.Gov, manually searching SAGE, Science Direct, Elsevier, …


The State Of The Hospitality Industry 2021 Employment Report: Covid-19 Labor Force Legacy, Robertico R. Croes, Kelly Semrad, Manuel A. Rivera Oct 2021

The State Of The Hospitality Industry 2021 Employment Report: Covid-19 Labor Force Legacy, Robertico R. Croes, Kelly Semrad, Manuel A. Rivera

Dick Pope Sr. Institute Publications

The purpose of this study is to investigate the COVID-19 pandemic's ongoing impact on the U.S. hospitality industry. The report details the primary economic issues the industry faces as well as provides a unique workforce analysis that anticipates continued labor shortages as the country moves towards an endemic. The research was conducted using a national survey with almost 1,000 U.S. hospitality workers. The survey includes questions pertaining to COVID-19 related hospitality employee topics such as: the impact COVID-19 had on hospitality jobs, employees' intentions to leave the industry, employees likelihood to accept or look for a hospitality job, employees' perceived …


Role Of Gut Microbiome In Covid-19: An Insight Into Pathogenesis And Therapeutic Potential, Ikram Hussain, Gabriel Liu Yuan Cher, Muhammad Abbas Abid, Muhammad Bilal Abid Oct 2021

Role Of Gut Microbiome In Covid-19: An Insight Into Pathogenesis And Therapeutic Potential, Ikram Hussain, Gabriel Liu Yuan Cher, Muhammad Abbas Abid, Muhammad Bilal Abid

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), resulted in an unprecedented global crisis. Although primarily a respiratory illness, dysregulated immune responses may lead to multi-organ dysfunction. Prior data showed that the resident microbial communities of gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts act as modulators of local and systemic inflammatory activity (the gut-lung axis). Evolving evidence now signals an alteration in the gut microbiome, brought upon either by cytokines from the infected respiratory tract or from direct infection of the gut, or both. Dysbiosis leads to a "leaky gut". The intestinal permeability then allows access to …


Chronic Long-Covid Syndrome: A Protracted Covid-19 Illness With Neurological Dysfunctions, Abdul Mannan Baig Oct 2021

Chronic Long-Covid Syndrome: A Protracted Covid-19 Illness With Neurological Dysfunctions, Abdul Mannan Baig

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

After almost a year of COVID-19, the chronic long-COVID syndrome has been recognized as an entity in 2021. The patients with the long-COVID are presenting with ominous neurological deficits that with time are becoming persistent and are causing disabilities in the affected individuals. The mechanisms underlying the neurological syndrome in long-COVID have remained obscure and need to be actively researched to find a resolution for the patients with long-COVID. Here, the factors like site of viral load, the differential immune response, neurodegenerative changes, and inflammation as possible causative factors are debated to understand and investigate the pathogenesis of neuro-COVID in …


Covid-19 Vaccination In Sindh Province, Pakistan: A Modelling Study Of Health Impact And Cost-Effectiveness, Carl A B. Pearson, Fiammetta Bozzani, Simon R. Procter, Nicholas G. Davies, Maryam Huda, Henning Tarp Jensen, Marcus Keogh-Brown, Muhammad Khalid, Sedona Sweeney, Sergio Torres-Rueda Oct 2021

Covid-19 Vaccination In Sindh Province, Pakistan: A Modelling Study Of Health Impact And Cost-Effectiveness, Carl A B. Pearson, Fiammetta Bozzani, Simon R. Procter, Nicholas G. Davies, Maryam Huda, Henning Tarp Jensen, Marcus Keogh-Brown, Muhammad Khalid, Sedona Sweeney, Sergio Torres-Rueda

Community Health Sciences

Background: Multiple Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines appear to be safe and efficacious, but only high-income countries have the resources to procure sufficient vaccine doses for most of their eligible populations. The World Health Organization has published guidelines for vaccine prioritisation, but most vaccine impact projections have focused on high-income countries, and few incorporate economic considerations. To address this evidence gap, we projected the health and economic impact of different vaccination scenarios in Sindh Province, Pakistan (population: 48 million).
Methods and findings: We fitted a compartmental transmission model to COVID-19 cases and deaths in Sindh from 30 April to 15 …


Rhabdomyolysis And Covid-19, Brett T. Swanson Oct 2021

Rhabdomyolysis And Covid-19, Brett T. Swanson

Student Publications

This paper seeks to summarize recent research findings concerning the link between rhabdomyolysis and COVID-19. While most commonly known as a respiratory disease, COVID-19 has strong direct effects on the kidneys which presents a serious challenge to treatment and care of patients. New research also suggests that COVID-19 directly damages skeletal muscle tissue as well, and rhabdomyolysis induced as a result of viral attack or secondary factors can also place major strain on the kidneys. Both COVID-19 and rhabdomyolysis can lead to acute kidney injury on their own, and their combined effects can present severe clinical complications. This body of …


Relative Risk Of Anxiety And Depression Among Covid-19 Survivor Healthcare Workers From A Tertiary Care Hospital In Pakistan: A Pilot Cohort Study, Farnaz Zahoor, Zahid Nazar, Sarwat Masud, Rehana Rahim Oct 2021

Relative Risk Of Anxiety And Depression Among Covid-19 Survivor Healthcare Workers From A Tertiary Care Hospital In Pakistan: A Pilot Cohort Study, Farnaz Zahoor, Zahid Nazar, Sarwat Masud, Rehana Rahim

Department of Emergency Medicine

Longitudinal studies for determining the risk of anxiety and depression among COVID-19 survivor healthcare workers are lacking. This study aimed to determine the risk of anxiety and depression among healthcare workers that survived COVID-19 infection through a six-month post-recovery follow-up. This was a cohort study conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, from 1st March to 30th August 2020. A total of 64 subjects participated. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used for assessing the anxiety and depression symptoms. HADS has three score cutoff as normal, borderline abnormal and, abnormal anxiety/depression. For the purpose …


Impact Of Covid-19 On The Pre And Post Analytical Clinical Laboratory Testing Processes- A Performance Evaluation Study Using Six Sigma, Sibtain Ahmed, Farhat Jahan, Muhammad Umer Naeem Effendi, Farooq Ghani Oct 2021

Impact Of Covid-19 On The Pre And Post Analytical Clinical Laboratory Testing Processes- A Performance Evaluation Study Using Six Sigma, Sibtain Ahmed, Farhat Jahan, Muhammad Umer Naeem Effendi, Farooq Ghani

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the total testing process using six sigma metrics based on a comparison of pre and during pandemic periods.
Material & methods: The study duration was over 12 months, 6 months before and 6 months after the COVID-19 onset in Pakistan in March 2020 after the recognition of the first case, using quality indicators (QIs). QIs were chosen from a model of QIs recommended by the CAP. Analysis was performed using Six Sigma calculators and QIs were expressed in percentage (%) and Sigma value were computed. …


Persistence Of Post-Covid Lung Parenchymal Abnormalities During The Three-Month Follow-Up, Ali Bin Sarwar Zubairi, Anjiya Shaikh, Syed Muhammad Zubair, Akbar Shoukat Ali, Safia Awan, Muhammad Irfan Sep 2021

Persistence Of Post-Covid Lung Parenchymal Abnormalities During The Three-Month Follow-Up, Ali Bin Sarwar Zubairi, Anjiya Shaikh, Syed Muhammad Zubair, Akbar Shoukat Ali, Safia Awan, Muhammad Irfan

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

Introduction: COVID-19-associated pulmonary sequalae have been increasingly reported after recovery from acute infection. Therefore, we aim to explore the charactersitics of persistent lung parenchymal abnormalities in patients with COVID-19.
Material and methods: An observational study was conducted in patients with post-COVID lung parenchymal abnormalities from April till September 2020. Patients ≥18 years of age with COVID-19 who were diagnosed as post-COVID lung parenchymal abnormality based on respiratory symptoms and HRCT chest imaging after the recovery of acute infection. Data was recorded on a structured pro forma, and descriptive analysis was performed using Stata version 12.1.
Results: A total of 30 …


Pressure Injury As Insidious Comorbidity In Ventilator-Dependent Respiratory Failure (Vdrf) Secondary To Covid-19: A Case Report, Carlos Rodriguez, Karyn R. Doddy, Napatkamon Ayutyanont Sep 2021

Pressure Injury As Insidious Comorbidity In Ventilator-Dependent Respiratory Failure (Vdrf) Secondary To Covid-19: A Case Report, Carlos Rodriguez, Karyn R. Doddy, Napatkamon Ayutyanont

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Research Objectives: To highlight opportunities to decrease adverse outcomes in the acute management of COVID-19 infection.

Design: Descriptive single-subject study

Setting: Inpatient/Acute rehabilitation

Participants: A 47-year-old female with Ventilator-Dependent Respiratory Failure (VDRF) secondary to COVID-19.

Interventions: In the ED, Patient was started on antibiotics (azithromycin, ceftriaxone), nebulizer treatments, intravenous fluids, and intramuscular corticosteroids (methylprednisolone).
On hospital admission, she was initiated on antiviral Remdesivir and received 1 unit of convalescent plasma. Self-proning was encouraged, yet Patient required progressive increase in oxygen (O2) supplementation. She was intubated from Hospital Day (HD) 4 to 7. Wound care assessments began on HD10; wounds to …


Covid-19 And Family Planning In The Eastern Mediterranean Region, Azza Sarfraz, Zouina Sarfraz, Sameer Saleem Tebha, Namrata Hange, Kuchalambal Agadi, Alanna Barrios, Manish Kc, Gaurav Patel Sep 2021

Covid-19 And Family Planning In The Eastern Mediterranean Region, Azza Sarfraz, Zouina Sarfraz, Sameer Saleem Tebha, Namrata Hange, Kuchalambal Agadi, Alanna Barrios, Manish Kc, Gaurav Patel

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

No abstract provided.


Improving Social Justice In Covid-19 Health Research: Interim Guidelines For Reporting Health Equity In Observational Studies, Alba Antequera, Daeria O. Lawson, Stephen G. Noorduyn, Omar Dewidar, Marc Avey, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Catherine Chamberlain, Holly Ellingwood, Damian Francis, Sarah Funnell Sep 2021

Improving Social Justice In Covid-19 Health Research: Interim Guidelines For Reporting Health Equity In Observational Studies, Alba Antequera, Daeria O. Lawson, Stephen G. Noorduyn, Omar Dewidar, Marc Avey, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Catherine Chamberlain, Holly Ellingwood, Damian Francis, Sarah Funnell

Woman and Child Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the global imperative to address health inequities. Observational studies are a valuable source of evidence for real-world effects and impacts of implementing COVID-19 policies on the redistribution of inequities. We assembled a diverse global multi-disciplinary team to develop interim guidance for improving transparency in reporting health equity in COVID-19 observational studies. We identified 14 areas in the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) checklist that need additional detail to encourage transparent reporting of health equity. We searched for examples of COVID-19 observational studies that analysed and reported health equity analysis across one …


Acceptance Rates And Beliefs Toward Covid-19 Vaccination Among The General Population Of Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Farah Yasmin, Waleed Asghar, Maryam Salma Babar, Hiba Khan, Shoaib Ahmad, Zaid Hameed, Muhammad Sohaib Asghar, Hamza Nauman, Abdullah Khan Khattak Sep 2021

Acceptance Rates And Beliefs Toward Covid-19 Vaccination Among The General Population Of Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Farah Yasmin, Waleed Asghar, Maryam Salma Babar, Hiba Khan, Shoaib Ahmad, Zaid Hameed, Muhammad Sohaib Asghar, Hamza Nauman, Abdullah Khan Khattak

Medical College Documents

Developing countries like Pakistan have previously suffered from barriers to acceptance of vaccination by the public because of financial and belief barriers. This study aims to explore these beliefs and highlight concerns regarding vaccine hesitancy in the general population of Pakistan since they are a hindrance to an effective coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) immunization in the country. A cross-sectional study was performed involving 1,778 participants from all four provinces of Pakistan. Results from the study showed more than half of the participants to be unsure of the safety (50%) and efficacy (51%) of the vaccine, whereas 42% were concerned about the …


Comparative Analysis Of N95 Respirators Fit Testing With Commercially Available And In House Reagent, Erum Khan, Joveria Farooqi, Humaira Shafaq, Kaleem Ullah Khushik, Syed Shamim Raza, Sara Khan, Zohra Rafiq, Bushra Ahmed, Shazia Chisti, Kehkashan Imtiaz, Hasnain Zafar, Afia Zafar Sep 2021

Comparative Analysis Of N95 Respirators Fit Testing With Commercially Available And In House Reagent, Erum Khan, Joveria Farooqi, Humaira Shafaq, Kaleem Ullah Khushik, Syed Shamim Raza, Sara Khan, Zohra Rafiq, Bushra Ahmed, Shazia Chisti, Kehkashan Imtiaz, Hasnain Zafar, Afia Zafar

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: Due to COVID-19, thousands of healthcare workers have been affected and have lost their lives in the line of duty. For the protection of healthcare workers, WHO and CDC have made standard guidelines and requirements for PPE use. N95 masks are amongst the most readily used PPE by healthcare professionals and it is highly recommended by OSHA that every make and model of N95 should go through a fit test at least once in a year.
Method: A total of 30 randomly selected healthcare professionals (who were a regular user of N95 respiratory masks) were subjected to assess in-house …


Voices From A Prison Pandemic: Lives Lost From Covid-19 At Lakeland Correctional, Kimberly Thomas Sep 2021

Voices From A Prison Pandemic: Lives Lost From Covid-19 At Lakeland Correctional, Kimberly Thomas

Articles

Coronavirus tore through jails and prisons like wildfire. In some states, more than half of the people incarcerated there tested positive for COVID-19; nearly 400,000 people in prison across the United States have tested positive. For people in prison, COVID-19 brought the loss of close friends, solitary confinement, loss of connection with family and programming, lack of information, and fear of contracting the virus. It has also reminded those who are incarcerated of the one-dimensional way in which people in prison are perceived. As stated by one collaborator, Cory Souders, "[s]o many men and women who come to prison are …


Higher Entropy Observed In Sars-Cov-2 Genomes From The First Covid-19 Wave In Pakistan, Najia Karim Ghanchi, Asghar Nasir, Kiran I. Masood, Syed Hani Abidi, Syed Faisal Mahmood, Akber Kanji, Safina Abdul Razzak, Waqasuddin Khan, Saba Shahid, Maliha Yameen, Ali Raza, Javaria Ashraf, Zeeshan Ansar Ahmed, Mohammad Buksh Dharejo, Nazneen Islam, Zahra Hasan, Rumina Hasan Aug 2021

Higher Entropy Observed In Sars-Cov-2 Genomes From The First Covid-19 Wave In Pakistan, Najia Karim Ghanchi, Asghar Nasir, Kiran I. Masood, Syed Hani Abidi, Syed Faisal Mahmood, Akber Kanji, Safina Abdul Razzak, Waqasuddin Khan, Saba Shahid, Maliha Yameen, Ali Raza, Javaria Ashraf, Zeeshan Ansar Ahmed, Mohammad Buksh Dharejo, Nazneen Islam, Zahra Hasan, Rumina Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: We investigated the genome diversity of SARS-CoV-2 associated with the early COVID-19 period to investigate evolution of the virus in Pakistan.
Materials and methods: We studied ninety SARS-CoV-2 strains isolated between March and October 2020. Whole genome sequences from our laboratory and available genomes were used to investigate phylogeny, genetic variantion and mutation rates of SARS-CoV-2 strains in Pakistan. Site specific entropy analysis compared mutation rates between strains isolated before and after June 2020.
Results: In March, strains belonging to L, S, V and GH clades were observed but by October, only L and GH strains were present. The …


Balancing Science And Public Policy In Pakistan's Covid-19 Response, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Faisal Sultan, Aamer Ikram, Adil H. Haider, Assad Hafeez, Muhammad Islam Aug 2021

Balancing Science And Public Policy In Pakistan's Covid-19 Response, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Faisal Sultan, Aamer Ikram, Adil H. Haider, Assad Hafeez, Muhammad Islam

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected the world in an unprecedented manner and South Asian countries were among the first to experience imported cases. Pakistan's response to COVID-19 has been under scrutiny for its granularity, reach and impact.
Aims: to evaluate objectively the chronology and depth of the response to COVID-19 in Pakistan.
Methods: We evaluated available national and subnational epidemiological and burden information on COVID-19 cases and deaths in Pakistan, including projection models available to the Government at an early stage of the pandemic.
Results: Pakistan, with a population of 215 million and considerable geographic diversity, experienced case …