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Mihai Lazar, Ecaterina Constanta Barbu, Cristina Emilia Chitu, Mihaela Buzoianu, Andreea Catalina Petre, Catalin Tiliscan, Stefan Sorin Arama, Victoria Arama, Daniela Adriana Ion and Mihaela Cristina Olariu
Diagnostics2024, 14(24), 2811; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14242811 (registering DOI) - 13 Dec 2024
Background/Objectives: We aimed to characterize the fibrosis following COVID-19 pneumonia, using quantitative analysis, after three months and subsequently, after two years of patients’ release from the hospital, and to identify the risk factors for pulmonary fibrosis. Methods: We performed a retrospective, observational cohort
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Background/Objectives: We aimed to characterize the fibrosis following COVID-19 pneumonia, using quantitative analysis, after three months and subsequently, after two years of patients’ release from the hospital, and to identify the risk factors for pulmonary fibrosis. Methods: We performed a retrospective, observational cohort study on 420 patients with severe forms of COVID-19. For all patients, we registered demographic, inflammatory and biochemical parameters, complete blood count and D-dimers; all patients underwent three computed tomography scans (at admittance, at 3 months and at 2 years). Results: We found fibrosis in 67.9% of patients at the 3-month evaluation and in 42.4% of patients at the 2-year evaluation, registering a significant decrease in the severe and moderate fibrosis cases, with a slight increase in the mild fibrosis cases. The risk of fibrosis was found to be proportional to the values of age, duration of hospital stay, inflammatory markers (ESR, fibrinogen), cytolytic markers (LDH, AST) and D-dimers. The highest correlations with lung fibrosis were registered for interstitial pulmonary involvement (for the 3-month evaluation) and total pulmonary involvement (for the 2-year evaluation). Conclusions: Lung fibrosis represents a significant post-COVID-19 complication found in 42% of patients with severe forms of pneumonia at the 2-year evaluation. A significant overall decrease in the severity of lung fibrosis was registered at the 2-year evaluation compared to the 3-month evaluation. We consider that the amount of interstitial pulmonary involvement represents the optimal parameter to estimate the risk of lung fibrosis following SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.
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Anna Puigdellívol-Sánchez, Marta Juanes-González, Ana Calderón-Valdiviezo, Helena Losa-Puig, Roger Valls-Foix, Marta González-Salvador, Celia Lozano-Paz and Josep Vidal-Alaball
Microorganisms2024, 12(12), 2589; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12122589 (registering DOI) - 13 Dec 2024
No hospitalizations or deaths occurred in residents with the COVID-19 infection, treated with antihistamines and azithromycin, of two external nursing homes during the first wave. We assessed whether patients receiving chronic antihistamines in our institution showed better clinical evolution. COVID-19 admissions and related
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No hospitalizations or deaths occurred in residents with the COVID-19 infection, treated with antihistamines and azithromycin, of two external nursing homes during the first wave. We assessed whether patients receiving chronic antihistamines in our institution showed better clinical evolution. COVID-19 admissions and related deaths in the public Hospital of Terrassa (n = 1461) during the pandemic period (11 March 2020–5 May 2023) and cases (n = 32,888) during the period of full suspicion diagnosis (1 June 2020–23 March 2022) were referred to as the number of chronic treatments (nT) including or not including antihistamines (AntiHm or NOAntiHm), and their vaccination status before the first infection (VAC or NoVAC) in our assigned population (n = 140,681 at March 2020) was recorded. No deaths occurred in patients treated with up to ≤6 nT in the AntiHm group in all ages. A significant reduction in hospital admission was observed in the 2–7 nT groups either below or over 60 years old [Odds Ratio (OR) NoAntiHm/AntiHm = 1.76–1.32, respectively, in NoVAC or VAC (OR = 2.10 overall] and in the older ≥8 nT group (OR = 2.08 in NoVac]. In conclusion, patients with chronic antihistamine prescriptions, alone or with polypharmacy, showed reduced hospital admission and mortality rates, suggesting the safety of antihistamine treatment and the need to confirm its effectiveness in a prospective trial.
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Latin America was one of the hotspots of COVID-19 during the pandemic. Therefore, understanding the COVID-19 mortality rate in Latin America is crucial, as it can help identify at-risk populations and evaluate the quality of healthcare. In an effort to find a more
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Latin America was one of the hotspots of COVID-19 during the pandemic. Therefore, understanding the COVID-19 mortality rate in Latin America is crucial, as it can help identify at-risk populations and evaluate the quality of healthcare. In an effort to find a more flexible and suitable model, this work formulates a new quantile regression model based on the unit ratio-Weibull (URW) distribution, aiming to identify the factors that explain the COVID-19 mortality rate in Latin America. We define a systematic structure for the two parameters of the distribution: one represents a quantile of the distribution, while the other is a shape parameter. Additionally, some mathematical properties of the new regression model are presented. Point and interval estimates of maximum likelihood in finite samples are evaluated through Monte Carlo simulations. Diagnostic analysis and model selection are also discussed. Finally, an empirical application is presented to understand and quantify the effects of economic, social, demographic, public health, and climatic variables on the COVID-19 mortality rate quantiles in Latin America. The utility of the proposed model is illustrated by comparing it with other widely explored quantile models in the literature, such as Kumaraswamy and unit Weibull regressions.
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The rising interest in organic products aligns with a global push for sustainable development, notably through initiatives like the European Green Deal introduced by the European Commission. In Romania, although organic farming and product consumption are increasing, they remain well below the EU
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The rising interest in organic products aligns with a global push for sustainable development, notably through initiatives like the European Green Deal introduced by the European Commission. In Romania, although organic farming and product consumption are increasing, they remain well below the EU averages. This study explores Romanian consumers’ and non-consumers’ perceptions and attitudes toward organic products in a contemporary context shaped by post-COVID-19 adjustments and geopolitical tensions. By developing consumer profiles, the study provides insights to help manufacturers and sellers diversify their strategies such as to meet the EU Green Deal targets. Data were collected from 833 respondents using an online survey and then analyzed with SPSS 23.0. The sample is more representative of young, well-educated, urban residents and, therefore, not fully representative of the entire Romanian population. Descriptive statistics revealed socio-demographic profiles and means for variables reflecting consumer attitudes toward organic products. Exploratory factor analysis with Varimax rotation identified core dimensions among variables and cluster analysis was used to identify different consumer groups. Findings show that typical organic product consumers are younger, well educated, and value quality, reflecting a commitment to sustainable choices. However, high prices are the main barrier to market growth, deterring many potential consumers. Additionally, there is considerable skepticism about organic foods, with doubts about their advantages over conventional products, and a lack of information limits consumer understanding of organic product benefits. These obstacles hinder broader adoption of organic foods in Romania. Future public policies should better support organic market chains to promote the positive externalities of such products such as to meet the ambitious EU Green Deal targets.
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Background: Diabetes and hypertension are major global health challenges aggravated by COVID-19’s impact on healthcare and lifestyle factors. This study aims to compare the prevalence and associated socio-demographic factors of these conditions before and after the pandemic (2019 vs. 2022). Materials and [...] Read more.
Background: Diabetes and hypertension are major global health challenges aggravated by COVID-19’s impact on healthcare and lifestyle factors. This study aims to compare the prevalence and associated socio-demographic factors of these conditions before and after the pandemic (2019 vs. 2022). Materials and Methods: We used data from Italy’s “Aspects of Daily Life” survey; 74,294 adults were included. Results: Results show a rise in diabetes prevalence from 7.76% in 2019 to 8.49% in 2022 (p < 0.05), while hypertension did not show this. Logistic regression analysis for the years 2019 and 2022 revealed a statistically significant association between the year 2022 and increased odds of diabetes (OR = 1.08, p = 0.008). BMI’s role as a risk factor intensified, with higher odds ratios (ORs) for both conditions in overweight and obese individuals in 2022. For example, obesity-related ORs for diabetes increased from 2.45 (95%CI 1.73–3.47) in 2019 to 3.02 (95%CI 2.09–4.35) in 2022, and for hypertension from 2.86 (95%CI 2.28–3.58) to 3.64 (95%CI 2.87–4.61). Lower education levels also showed a greater association with hypertension risk in 2022; subjects with only middle or high school diplomas had significantly higher ORs than individuals with higher education; there was a non-significant trend in 2019. However, diabetes risk associated with lower education remained stable and significant in both years. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the pandemic may have increased risk factors for diabetes and hypertension, particularly BMI and educational level, compared with the literature on the increased burden of chronic diseases during COVID-19.
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Yousef Saeed Alqarni, Fahad T. Alsulami, Farah Kais Alhomoud, Faten Alhomoud, Dhafer Alshayban, Khalid A. Alamer, Bashayer Alshehail, Mohammed M. Alsultan, Ahmed A. Alanazi, Majed A. Algarni and Haifa Abdulrahman Fadil
Background/Objectives: COVID-19 has significantly impacted lives, and data show that receiving a booster vaccination has been demonstrated to lower the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the severity of the risk of infection. The Saudi government has actively promoted booster dose vaccines among university
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Background/Objectives: COVID-19 has significantly impacted lives, and data show that receiving a booster vaccination has been demonstrated to lower the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the severity of the risk of infection. The Saudi government has actively promoted booster dose vaccines among university students who can spread the virus to older populations, especially in high-density environments, where the risk of virus transmission and spread is elevated. This study focuses on the acceptance of COVID-19 booster shots among students at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University. The study assessed students’ willingness to receive a COVID-19 booster dose and the factors influencing their decision. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study design using an online self-administered survey was conducted among medical and non-medical students at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University. A convenience sampling technique was used to recruit participants via email and social media platforms (WhatsApp version 2.3). Quantitative analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 28.0. using descriptive statistics. Logistic regression analysis was used to predict factors affecting COVID-19 booster dose acceptance and hesitancy. Results: Among 315 respondents, 171 (54.3%) were males, and 144 (45.7%) were females. All the respondents fell in the 18–25 years age group. About 173 (54.9%) respondents were from health-related colleges. Overall, 24.44% (77/315) agreed to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose. However, 77.14% (243/315) were confident of getting the vaccine whenever they wanted. About 48.88% (154/315) of respondents considered COVID-19 a serious severe infection, while 14.06% (46/315) of respondents were concerned about the probability of receiving COVID-19 immunization (World Health Organization, 2021). Conclusions: The study revealed that students were not accepting COVID-19 booster doses, highlighting the need for awareness campaigns to dispel myths and improve vaccination rates.
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The first webinar in the series, held on 17 April 2020, saw both Prof. Dr. Antoine Flahault, Director of the Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva, Switzerland, and Prof. Dr. Evelyne Bischof, Associate Professor, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China and Research physician, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland speak on this topic.
The second webinar in the series, entitled “Coronaviruses: history, replication, innate immune antagonism”, saw Prof. Dr. Susan R. Weiss, Professor of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania speak on this topic.
WEBINAR 3: Could the COVID-19 Crisis be the Opportunity to Make Cities Carbon Neutral, Liveable and Healthy
The third webinar in this series was presented by Prof. Dr. Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, a world leading expert in environmental exposure assessment, epidemiology, and health risk/impact assessment with a strong focus and interest on healthy urban living.
WEBINAR 4: COVID-19 - Global Supply Chains and the SDGs
For the fourth webinar of this series, Prof. Dr. Max Bergman, Dr. Dorothea Schostok and Prof. Dr. Patrick Paul Walsh gave a presentation on Global Supply Chains and the SDGs.
WEBINAR 5: The New Role of Family Physicians in Times of COVID-19
The fifth webinar of the COVID-19 Series saw Prof. Dr. Christos Lionis discuss the new role of family physicians that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
WEBINAR 6: Survey on Symptoms/Signs, Protective Measures, Level of Awareness and Perception Regarding COVID-19 Outbreak among Dentists
In the sixth webinar of this series, Prof. Dr. Guglielmo Campus and Prof. Dr. Maria Grazia present and discuss the risk and the preventions that can and should be taken by dentists during this pandemic.
WEBINAR 7: Living with COVID-19: An Early Intervention Therapeutic Strategy to Control the Pandemic
The seventh webinar of the COVID-19 series, Dr. Hamid Merchant discussed the different therapeutic strategies that can be adopted in the early stages of the infection.
WEBINAR 8: Impact of COVID-19 on Routine Immunization, Reproduction and Pregnancy Outcome
For the eighth COVID-19 webinar, Prof. Dr. Jon Øyvind Odland discussed the effect that COVID-19 seems to have on pregnant women; whereas Prof. Dr. Giovanni Gabutti discussed the role of routine immunization as a way of fighting COVID-19.
