COVID-19 Commons^™

Covid-19: Launching Neurosurgery Into The Era Of Telehealth In The United States, Christina Huang Wright, James Wright, Berje Shammassian

Faculty Scholarship

The authors discuss the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of telehealth in the United States.

Antibody Testing For Covid-19: Can It Be Used As A Screening Tool In Areas With Low Prevalence?, Sweta Mathur

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Steam Treatment For Rapid Decontamination Of N95 Respirators And Medical Face Masks, Sarah N. Redmond, Lucas D. Jones, Curtis J. Donskey

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Management Of Patients With Cerebellar Ataxia During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Aasef G. Shaikh

Faculty Scholarship

The current worldwide severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has brought some medical systems to the brink of collapse. This crisis is also negatively impacting the care of patients with non-COVID-19 conditions, including those with cerebellar ataxia (CA). Older patients with CA and those with immune-mediated ataxias on immunosuppressive medication are potentially at high risk of developing serious complications of the infection, although it is also possible that immunosuppressive agents may provide a defense against cytokine storm. This has implications for even greater attention to preventing contracting the disease through physical distancing …

Flattening The Curve In Covid-19 Using Personalised Protective Equipment: Lessons From Air Pollution, Sanjay Rajagopalan

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Aga Institute Rapid Review Of The Gi And Liver Manifestations Of Covid-19, Meta-Analysis Of International Data, And Recommendations For The Consultative Management Of Patients With Covid-19, Perica Davitkov, Yngve Falck-Ytter

Faculty Scholarship

Background & aims: Multiple gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, including diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, and abdominal pain, as well as liver enzyme abnormalities, have been variably reported in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This document provides best practice statements and recommendations for consultative management based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of international data on GI and liver manifestations of COVID-19. Methods: We performed a systematic literature search to identify published and unpublished studies using OVID Medline and preprint servers (medRxiv, LitCovid, and SSRN) up until April 5, 2020; major journal sites were monitored for US publications until April 19, 2020. We pooled …

Adapting To Uncertainty: Nursing Responsiveness To Covid-19, Scott Emory Moore

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Changes In Gastroenterology And Endoscopy Practices In Response To The Covid-19 Pandemic: Results From A North American Survey, Zachary L. Smith

Faculty Scholarship

Digestive manifestations appear to be common in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19). Gastroenterologists will invariably come into contact with infected patients, and the risk of intraprocedural exposure is well established. Recommendations have been issued to guide personal protective equipment (PPE) use and the triage of procedural urgency, among other operational considerations. In response, institutions providing gastroenterology and endoscopy services have taken urgent action to protect patients and staff, but the uptake and extent of these practice changes in North America is unknown. We conducted a survey of gastroenterology and endoscopy practices to assess the response to the COVID-19 pandemic …

Effectiveness Of Ultraviolet-C Light And A High-Level Disinfection Cabinet For Decontamination Of N95 Respirators, Curtis J. Donskey

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) including N95 respirators are an urgent concern in the setting of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Decontamination of PPE could be useful to maintain adequate supplies, but there is uncertainty regarding the efficacy of decontamination technologies. Methods: A modification of the American Society for Testing and Materials standard quantitative carrier disk test method (ASTM E-2197-11) was used to examine the effectiveness of 3 methods, including ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light, a high-level disinfection cabinet that generates aerosolized peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide, and dry heat at 70°C for 30 minutes. We assessed the decontamination of 3 …

Head And Neck Survivorship Care In The Times Of The Sars-Cov-2 Pandemic, Victoria Huang

Faculty Scholarship

With the arrival of the coronavirus disease (SARS-CoV-2) in the United States, care practice paradigms have drastically changed. Data from China suggest that the new virus poses additional risks as case fatality of patients with cancer was higher at 5.6% compared to 2.3% of the general population. There are three proposed major strategies to address care for patients with cancer in this SARS-CoV-2 pandemic with postponing treatment for those with stable cancer, increasing personal protection provisions for patients with cancer, and increasing monitoring if a patient becomes infected with SARS-CoV-2. In this present commentary, we discuss the unique mental health …

How Big Data And Artificial Intelligence Can Help Better Manage The Covid-19 Pandemic, Giovanni Damiani

Faculty Scholarship

SARS-CoV2 is a novel coronavirus, responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic declared by the World Health Organization. Thanks to the latest advancements in the field of molecular and computational techniques and information and communication technologies (ICTs), artificial intelligence (AI) and Big Data can help in handling the huge, unprecedented amount of data derived from public health surveillance, real-time epidemic outbreaks monitoring, trend now-casting/forecasting, regular situation briefing and updating from governmental institutions and organisms, and health facility utilization information. The present review is aimed at overviewing the potential applications of AI and Big Data in the global effort to manage the pandemic. …

Physical Distancing With Social Connectedness, Kurt C. Stange

Faculty Scholarship

In light of concerns over the potential detrimental effects of declining care continuity, and the need for connection between patients and health care providers, our multidisciplinary group considered the possible ways that relationships might be developed in different kinds of health care encounters.We were surprised to discover many avenues to invest in relationships, even in non-continuity consultations, and how meaningful human connections might be developed even in telehealth visits. Opportunities range from the quality of attention or the structure of the time during the visit, to supporting relationship development in how care is organized at the local or system level …

Anticoagulation In Covid-19, Bassam Atallah

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Geospatial Analysis Of Covid-19 And Otolaryngologists Above Age 60, Jeremy S. Ruthberg, Humzah A. Quereshy, Tarun K. Jella, Brian D'Anza, Nicole Maronian, Todd D. Otteson

Faculty Scholarship

Objective: The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is disproportionately impacting older individuals and healthcare workers. Otolaryngologists are especially susceptible with the elevated risk of aerosolization and corresponding high viral loads. This study utilizes a geospatial analysis to illustrate the comparative risks of older otolaryngologists across the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods and materials: Demographic and state population data were extracted from the State Physician Workforce Reports published by the AAMC for the year 2018. A geospatial heat map of the United States was then constructed to illustrate the location of COVID-19 confirmed case counts and the distributions of ENTs …

A Marker Of Systemic Inflammation Or Direct Cardiac Injury: Should Cardiac Troponin Levels Be Monitored In Covid-19 Patients?, Bassam Atallah

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Sars-Cov-2 Infection In A Patient On Chronic Hydroxychloroquine Therapy: Implications For Prophylaxis, Khalid M. Dousa, Sharad S. Malavade, Jennifer Furin, Barbara Gripshover, Marjorie Hatszegi, Leila Hojat, Elie Saade, Robert A. Salata

Faculty Scholarship

People exposed to COVID-19 have a risk of developing disease, and health care workers are at risk at a time when they are badly needed during a health care crisis. Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have been used as treatment and are being considered as prophylaxis. Our patient developed COVID-19 while on hydroxychloroquine and although more work is needed, this calls into question the role of these medications as preventive therapy.

Infectious Diseases Society Of America Guidelines On The Treatment And Management Of Patients With Covid-19, Amy Hirsch, Yngve Falck-Ytter

Faculty Scholarship

Background: There are many pharmacologic therapies that are being used or considered for treatment of COVID-19. There is a need for frequently updated practice guidelines on their use, based on critical evaluation of rapidly emerging literature. Objective: Develop evidence-based rapid guidelines intended to support patients, clinicians and other health-care professionals in their decisions about treatment and management of patients with COVID-19. Methods: IDSA formed a multidisciplinary guideline panel of infectious disease clinicians, pharmacists, and methodologists with varied areas of expertise. Process followed a rapid recommendation checklist. The panel prioritized questions and outcomes. Then a systematic review of the peer-reviewed and …

It's Not The Heat, It's The Humidity: Effectiveness Of A Rice Cooker-Steamer For Decontamination Of Cloth And Surgical Face Masks And N95 Respirators, Sarah N. Redmond, Lucas D. Jones, Curtis J. Donskey

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

What Constitutes Urgent Endoscopy? A Social Media Snapshot Of Gastroenterologists' Views During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Zachary L. Smith

Faculty Scholarship

Background and study aims: There is a consensus among gastroenterology organizations that elective endoscopic procedures should be deferred during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the decision to perform urgent procedures and to defer entirely elective procedures is mostly evident, there is a wide "middle ground" of time-sensitive but not technically urgent or emergent endoscopic interventions. We aimed to survey gastroenterologists worldwide using Twitter to help elucidate these definitions using commonly encountered clinical scenarios during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A 16-question survey was designed by the authors to include common clinical scenarios that do not have clear guidelines regarding the timing or …

Working During Covid-19, Wku Staff Senate

Staff Council

Email from WKU Senate to WKU staff regarding working conditions during COVID-19.

Virtual Visits For Care Of Patients With Heart Failure In The Era Of Covid-19: A Statement From The Heart Failure Society Of America, Eiran Z. Gorodeski

Faculty Scholarship

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, US federal and state governments have implemented wide-ranging stay-at-home recommendations as a means to reduce spread of infection. As a consequence, many US healthcare systems and practices have curtailed ambulatory clinic visits—pillars of care for patients with heart failure (HF). In this context, synchronous audio/video interactions, also known as virtual visits (VVs), have emerged as an innovative and necessary alternative. This scientific statement outlines the benefits and challenges of VVs, enumerates changes in policy and reimbursement that have increased the feasibility of VVs during the COVID-19 era, describes platforms and models of care for …

Practice Recommendations For Lung Cancer Radiotherapy During The Covid-19 Pandemic: An Estro-Astro Consensus Statement, Gregory Videtic

Faculty Scholarship

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused radiotherapy resource pressures and led to increased risks for lung cancer patients and healthcare staff. An international group of experts in lung cancer radiotherapy established this practice recommendation pertaining to whether and how to adapt radiotherapy for lung cancer in the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: For this ESTRO & ASTRO endorsed project, 32 experts in lung cancer radiotherapy contributed to a modified Delphi consensus process. We assessed potential adaptations of radiotherapy in two pandemic scenarios. The first, an early pandemic scenario of risk mitigation, is characterized by an altered risk-benefit ratio of radiotherapy for lung …

Covid-19 Pandemic Through The Lens Of A Gastroenterology Fellow, Raj Shah, Sagarika Satyavada, Mayada Ismail, Michael Kurin, Zachary L. Smith, Gregory S. Cooper, Amitabh Chak

Faculty Scholarship

On Tuesday, March 10, 2020, an institutional e-mail sent from our hospital president confirmed the first 3 cases of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in our healthcare system. Twenty-four hours later, we learned that one of our co-fellows had been exposed and was forced into self-quarantine. Suddenly, what had seemed to be a distant problem hit close to home. As we sat around the “fellows’ room” (socially distanced as much as possible in the luxurious expanse that is common to fellows’ quarters), the uncertainty about our future raised several questions. How would we be impacted as we journeyed through …

Ua35/8 Reveille, Vol. 28, No. 1, Wku Veterans Upward Bound

WKU Administration Documents

Newsletter created by and about WKU Veterans Upward Bound.

• COVID-19 Temporarily Closes Veterans Upward Bound
• Veternas Administration Partners with Treasury Department to Deliver Economic Impact Payments to Veternans & Survivors

Ua3/10 President's Message - Spring Semester, Wku President's Office - Caboni

WKU Administration Documents

President's Message emails sent by Timothy Caboni to faculty & staff during spring semester, 2020.

• Announcing WKU Restart Committees & Commencement Update
• Big Red is in the Final Four! Vote Now!
• Big Red Restart Draft
• Big Red Restart Panel
• Big Red Restart Plan Answers
• COVID-19 & Holiday Schedule
• COVID-19 Testing
• COVID-19 Update
• COVID-19 Update – March 13^th
• COVID-19 Update 4.6.20
• COVID-19 Update: 3/17/20
• End of Semester
• Executive Order to Close Non-Life-Sustaining Businesses to In-Person Traffic
• Healthy On the Hill
• New Vice President for Enrollment & Student Experience – Ethan Logan

Aga Institute Rapid Recommendations For Gastrointestinal Procedures During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Perica Davitkov, Yngve Falck-Ytter

Faculty Scholarship

Multiple questions have been raised regarding the GI and liver manifestations of COVID-19 infection and the implications of SARS-CoV-2 infection on GI endoscopy. A joint society statement by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the American College of Gastroenterology, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy on March 15, 2020 highlighted the potential for SARS-CoV-2 transmission through droplets, an established mode of transmission, and possibly fecal shedding, and the associated risk for transmission to endoscopy personnel during GI endoscopy procedures. In this document, we seek to summarize the data and provide evidence-based …

Unprecedented Solutions For Extraordinary Times: Helping Long-Term Care Settings Deal With The Covid-19 Pandemic, Robin L.P. Jump

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Correspondence Re: Covid-19, Wku Board Of Regents

Board of Regents Documents

Letter from WKU Board of Regents to WKU faculty & staff thanking them for professionalism under strain of COVID-19 restrictions.

Role Of Changes In Sars-Cov-2 Spike Protein In The Interaction With The Human Ace2 Receptor: An In Silico Analysis, Joseph Thomas Ortega

Faculty Scholarship

Many human viral diseases are a consequence of a zoonotic event. Some of the diseases caused by these zoono- tic events have affected millions of people around the world, some of which have resulted in high rates of mor- bidity/mortality in humans. Changes in the viral proteins that function as ligands of the host receptor may pro- mote the spillover between species. The most recent of these zoonotic events that have caused an ongoing epi- demic of high magnitude is the Covid-19 epidemics caused by SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study was to de- termine the mutation(s) in the sequence …

Unrevealing Sequence And Structural Features Of Novel Coronavirus Using In Silico Approaches: The Main Protease As Molecular Target, Joseph Thomas Ortega

Faculty Scholarship

Direct-acting antivirals are effective tools to control viral infections. SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus associated with the epidemiological outbreak in late 2019. Previous reports showed that HIV-1 protease inhibitors could block SARS-CoV main protease. Based on that and using an in silico approach, we evaluated SARS-CoV-2 main protease as a target for HIV-1 protease inhibitors to reveal the structural features related to their antiviral effect. Our results showed that several HIV inhibitors such as lopinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir produce strong interaction with the active site of SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Furthermore, broad library protease inhibitors obtained from PubChem and ZINC (www.zinc.docking.org) were …