Risk factors and strategies for prevention of depression, anxiety and eating disorders among adolescents during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: a review

The purpose of this review is to identify prevalent trends and risk factors in depression,anxiety,and eating disorders in the adolescent population in the post coronavirus disease 2019(COvID-19)scenario.We examined the literature published on adolescent mental health since the COVID-19 pandemic.We chose to summarize studies published from 2019 to 2022,using bibliographic search tools.We developed criteria for selecting articles for our review using diagnostic indicators and keywords.Mental health conditions such as depression,anxiety and eating disorders are commonly prevalent in this population and have shown increasing rates in the past three years.Some risk factors associated with these diagnoses include reduction in social interaction,increased workloads,routine shifts,sleep quality,social media usage and parental involvement.Routines,sleep cycles,physical activity,and social media should all be considered as a part of prevention in this population.Approaches that seem to be successful include maintaining social ties and avoiding negative social media usage with harmful content.Increased global public awareness,as well as parental awareness,through media campaigns,is critical to slowing the spread of mental health challenges in adolescents and teenagers in the post-COvID-19 era.

Daily activities and training experiences of urology residents during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Indonesia: A nationwide survey

Objective:To explore the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic on the training experiences of urology residents in Indonesia.Methods:A cross-sectional study using a web-based questionnaire(SurveyMonkey)involved all registered urology residents in Indonesia.The questionnaire was structured in Bahasa Indonesia,composed of 28 questions,and divided into three sections:demographic characteristics,current daily activities,and opinions regarding training experiences during the COVID-19 outbreak.The survey was distributed to all respondents via chief of residents in each urology center from May 26,2020 to Jun 2,2020.Results:Of the total 247 registered urology residents,243 were eligible for the study.The response and completeness rate for this study were 243/243(100%).The median age of respondents was 30(range:24e38)years old,and 92.2%of them were male.Among them,6(2.5%)respondents were confirmed as COVID-19 positive.A decrease in residents’involvement in clinical and surgical activities was distinguishable in endourological and open procedures.Most educational activities were switched to web-based video conferences,while others opted for the in-person method.Smart learning methods,such as joining a national or international speaker webinar or watching a recorded video,were used by 93.8%and 80.7%of the respondents,respectively.The respondents thought that educational activities using web-based video conferences and smart learning methods were effective methods of learning.Overall,the respondents felt unsure whether training experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic were comparable to the respective period before.Conclusion:The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected urology residents’training experiences.However,it also opened up new possibilities for incorporating new learning methodologies in the future.

Exploring the potential mechanisms of impairment on genitourinary system associated with coronavirus disease 2019 infection:Bioinformatics and molecular simulation analyses

Objective:The novel coronavirus(severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2)has been spreading worldwide since December 2019,posing a serious danger to human health and socioeconomic development.A large number of clinical trials have revealed that coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)results in multi-organ damage including the urogenital system.This study aimed to explore the potential mechanisms of genitourinary damage associated with COVID-19 infection through bioinformatics and molecular simulation analysis.Methods:We used multiple publicly available databases to explore the expression patterns of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2),transmembrane serine protease 2(TMPRSS2),and CD147 in major organs in the healthy and disease-specific populations,particularly the genitourinary organs.Single-cell RNA sequencing was used to analyze the cell-specific expression patterns of ACE2,TMPRSS2,CD147,cytokine receptors,and cytokine interacting proteins in genitourinary organs,such as the bladder,kidney,prostate,and testis.Additionally,gene set enrichmentanalysis was used to investigate the relationship between testosterone levels and COVID-19 vulnerability in patients with prostate cancer.Results:The results revealed that ACE2,TMPRSS2,and CD147 were highly expressed in normal urogenital organs.Then,they were also highly expressed in multiple tumors and chronic kidney diseases.Additionally,ACE2,TMPRSS2,and CD147 were significantly expressed in a range of cells in urogenital organs according to single-cell RNA sequencing.Cytokine receptors and cytokine interacting proteins,especially CCL2,JUN,and TIMP1,were commonly highly expressed in urogenital organs.Finally,gene set enrichment analysis results showed that high testosterone levels in prostate cancer patients were significantly related to the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway which were associated with COVID-19.Conclusion:Our study provides new insights into the potential mechanisms of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 damage to urogenital organs from multiple perspectives,which may draw the attention of urologists to COVID-19 and contribute to the development of targeted drugs.

Global pattern and determinants of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)vaccine coverage and progression:a global ecological study

Background:Understanding and minimizing existing global coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)vaccination disparities is critical to global population health and eliminating health inequities.The study aims to investigate the disparities of vaccination coverage and progression and the associated economic and educational determinants to inform global COVID-19 vaccination strategies.Methods:COVID-19 vaccination coverage data from 206 countries used in the study were derived from“Our World in Data”website.After obtaining the vaccination coverage indicators,we fitted the progression indicators for vaccination.Correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were used to examine the effects of gross domestic product(GDP)per capita,Gini index,education,and their interactions on the coverage and progression of the COVID-19 vaccination.Results:The coverage of COVID-19 vaccination ranged from less than 30 doses to more than 150 doses per hun­dred people,from less than 15%to more than 75%for proportion of people vaccinated,from less than 15%to more than 60%for proportion of people fully vaccinated.Similarly,the progression of vaccination ranged from less than 0.1 to more than 0.6 for progression of total number of doses,from less than 0.1 to more than 0.3 for progression of proportion of people vaccinated,and from less than 0.1 to more than 0.4 for progression of propor­tion of people fully vaccinated.GDP per capita and education were positively associated with the coverage and progression,while Gini index was negatively associated with the coverage and progression.Negative interaction between GDP per capita and education was also observed for coverage(0=-0.012 to-0.011,P<0.05)and progression(0=-0.012 to-0.011,P<0.05).Conclusions:Substantial geographic disparities existed for the coverage and progression of COVID-19 vaccination.

Prevalence and predictors of smartphone addiction and insomnia among nurses working in the outpatient department after the second wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

Objectives:The present study aims to assess the prevalence and predictors of smartphone addiction and insomnia among nurses working in the outpatient department(OPD)after the second wave of the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.Materials and Methods:A descriptive,cross-sectional study was carried out among 117 OPD nurses between October and December 2021 using a purposive sampling technique.Two self-reported standardized scales,the Smartphone Addiction Scale-ShortVersion and Insomnia Severity Index were used.Kolmogorov–Smirnov test,Mann–Whitney U,and Kruskal–Wallis Htest were used.Pearson’s correlation and Scatter plot were used to determine the relationship between the study variables.A stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was also performed.Results:The majority of participants had slight smartphone addiction(78.6%)and suffered from sub-threshold to severe forms of insomnia(73.5%).A significant mild positive correlation was found between smartphone addiction and insomnia(r=0.195,P<0.05).Stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis predicted factors such as female gender and exposure to smartphones for more than 5 years influencing smartphone addiction.A strong influence of exposure to the smartphone for more than 5 years was found on insomnia severity.Conclusion:Smartphone addiction and insomnia were identified problems among nurses working in the OPD after the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic,requiring an urgent need to identify and manage various factors responsible for smartphone addiction and insomnia such as female gender and years of exposure to smartphones.

Aminothiols exchange in coronavirus disease 2019

Objective:Clinical manifestation of the inflammatory process in its relation to biochemical markers(total cysteine[Cys],cysteine-glycine[CysGly],glutathione[GSH],glutamate-cysteine[Glu-Cys],homocysteine[Hcy],the ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione[GSH/GSSG],the ratio of reduced to oxidized cysteine[CySH/CySS],malondialdehyde-oxidized low-density lipoproteins[MDA-oxLDL])has been studied in patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).Material and methods:48 patients with mild to severe COVID-19 and 20 healthy volunteers were included in our research.The participants were divided into 4 experimental groups according to inflammation intensity estimated based on the serum levels of interleukin 6(IL-6).Results:All 4 groups showed the prevalence of male patients and elevated serum levels of IL-6(by 54.6%).There was no comorbidity in patients with mild COVID-19(nasopharyngitis symptoms)and in healthy control subjects.50%of patients with lung damage had accompanying diseases.Alterations of aminoethyl metabolism were detected in COVID-19 patients:as reflected by the decreased levels of Cys,CysGly,and Glu-Cys and the increased levels of GSH as compared to the control group.Conclusion:Elevation of IL-6 over 7.5 pg/mL was associated with decreased GSH/GSSG and CySH/CySS ratios indicating enhanced oxidative stress and was followed by protein oxidation,specifically MDA-oxLDL.

The origin, transmission and clinical therapies on coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) outbreak——an update on the status

An acute respiratory disease,caused by a novel coronavirus(SARS-CoV-2,previously known as 2019-nCoV),the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)has spread throughout China and received worldwide attention.On 30 January 2020,World Health Organization(WHO)officially declared the COVID-19 epidemic as a public health emergency of international concern.The emergence of SARS-CoV-2,since the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARSCoV)in 2002 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus(MERS-CoV)in 2012,marked the third introduction of a highly pathogenic and large-scale epidemic coronavirus into the human population in the twenty-first century.As of 1 March 2020,a total of 87,137 confirmed cases globally,79,968 confirmed in China and 7169 outside of China,with 2977 deaths(3.4%)had been reported by WHO.Meanwhile,several independent research groups have identified that SARS-CoV-2 belongs toβ-coronavirus,with highly identical genome to bat coronavirus,pointing to bat as the natural host.The novel coronavirus uses the same receptor,angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2)as that for SARS-CoV,and mainly spreads through the respiratory tract.Importantly,increasingly evidence showed sustained human-tohuman transmission,along with many exported cases across the globe.The clinical symptoms of COVID-19 patients include fever,cough,fatigue and a small population of patients appeared gastrointestinal infection symptoms.The elderly and people with underlying diseases are susceptible to infection and prone to serious outcomes,which may be associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)and cytokine storm.Currently,there are few specific antiviral strategies,but several potent candidates of antivirals and repurposed drugs are under urgent investigation.In this review,we summarized the latest research progress of the epidemiology,pathogenesis,and clinical characteristics of COVID-19,and discussed the current treatment and scientific advancements to combat the epidemic novel coronavirus.

Traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of coronavirus disease 2019:a review

prevalence.A number of clinical workers and researchers have made great efforts to understand the pathogenesis and clinical characteristics and develop effective drugs for treatment.However,no effective drugs with antiviral effects on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 have been discovered currently.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has gained abundant experience in the treatment of infectious diseases for thousands of years.In this review,the authors summarized the clinical outcome,pathogensis and current application of TCM on coronavirus disease 2019.Further,we discussed the potential mechanisms and the future research directions of TCM against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Identifying critically ill patients at risk of death from coronavirus disease

BACKGROUND:A pandemic of coronavirus disease(COVID-19)has been declared by the World Health Organization(WHO)and caring for critically ill patients is expected to be at the core of battling this disease.However,little is known regarding an early detection of patients at high risk of fatality.METHODS:This retrospective cohort study recruited consecutive adult patients admitted between February 8 and February 29,2020,to the three intensive care units(ICUs)in a designated hospital for treating COVID-19 in Wuhan.The detailed clinical information and laboratory results for each patient were obtained.The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality.Potential predictors were analyzed for possible association with outcomes,and the predictive performance of indicators was assessed from the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.RESULTS:A total of 121 critically ill patients were included in the study,and 28.9%(35/121)of them died in the hospital.The non-survivors were older and more likely to develop acute organ dysfunction,and had higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA)and quick SOFA(qSOFA)scores.Among the laboratory variables on admission,we identifi ed 12 useful biomarkers for the prediction of in-hospital mortality,as suggested by area under the curve(AUC)above 0.80.The AUCs for three markers neutrophilto-lymphocyte ratio(NLR),thyroid hormones free triiodothyronine(FT3),and ferritin were 0.857,0.863,and 0.827,respectively.The combination of two easily accessed variables NLR and ferritin had comparable AUC with SOFA score for the prediction of in-hospital mortality(0.901 vs.0.955,P=0.085).CONCLUSIONS:Acute organ dysfunction combined with older age is associated with fatal outcomes in COVID-19 patients.Circulating biomarkers could be used as powerful predictors for the in-hospital mortality.

Development of septic shock and prognostic assessment in critically ill patients with coronavirus disease outside Wuhan, China

BACKGROUND: The study aims to illustrate the clinical characteristics and development of septic shock in intensive care unit(ICU) patients confirmed with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-Co V-2) infection, and to perform a comprehensive analysis of the association between septic shock and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients with coronavirus disease(COVID-19).METHODS: Patients confirmed with SARS-Co V-2 infection, who were admitted to the ICU of the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen from January 1 to February 7, 2020, were enrolled. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared between patients with and without septic shock.RESULTS: In this study, 35 critically ill patients with COVID-19 were included. Among them, the median age was 64 years(interquartile range [IQR] 59-67 years), and 10(28.4%) patients were female. The median ICU length of stay was 16 days(IQR 8-23 days). Three(8.6%) patients died during hospitalization. Nine(25.7%) patients developed septic shock in the ICU, and these patients had a significantly higher incidence of organ dysfunction and a worse prognosis than patients without septic shock.CONCLUSIONS: Septic shock is associated with a poor outcome in critically ill COVID-19 patients and is one of the hallmarks of the severity of patients receiving ICU care. A dysregulated immune response, uncontrolled infl ammation, and coagulation disorders are strongly associated with the development and progression of COVID-19-related septic shock.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Therapy for Critically Ill Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients in Wuhan,China:A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study

Currently,little in-depth evidence is known about the application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)therapy in coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)patients.This retrospective multicenter cohort study included patients with COVID-19 at 7 designated hospitals in Wuhan,China.The patients were followed up until June 30,2020.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factors associated with unsuccessful ECMO weaning.Propensity score matching was used to match patients who received veno-venous ECMO with those who received invasive mechanical ventilation(IMV)-only therapy.Of 88 patients receiving ECMO therapy,27 and 61 patients were and were not successfully weaned from ECMO,respectively.Additionally,15,15,and 65 patients were further weaned from IMV,discharged from hospital,or died during hospitalization,respectively.In the multivariate logistic regression analysis,a lymphocyte count≤0.5×10^(9)/L and D-dimer concentration>4×the upper limit of normal level at ICU admission,a peak PaCO_(2)>60 mmHg at 24 h before ECMO initiation,and no tracheotomy performed during the ICU stay were independently associated with lower odds of ECMO weaning.In the propensity scorematched analysis,a mixed-effect Cox model detected a lower hazard ratio for 120-day all-cause mortality after ICU admission during hospitalization in the ECMO group.The presence of lymphocytopenia,higher D-dimer concentrations at ICU admission and hypercapnia before ECMO initiation could help to identify patients with a poor prognosis.Tracheotomy could facilitate weaning from ECMO.ECMO relative to IMV-only therapy was associated with improved outcomes in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Comparison of Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Pediatric and Adult Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Shenzhen,China

Objective Here we aimed to investigate the difference in clinical characteristics and outcomes between pediatric and adult patients with COVID-19.Methods A total of 333 consecutive patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection treated in the departments of Internal medicine of Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital from January 11 th to February 10 th,2020 were included.The data were obtained from electronic medical records.The epidemiological data,clinical characteristics,length of hospital stays,and outcomes of pediatric and adult patients were compared.Results Compared with adult patients,pediatric patients had a shorter time of symptom onset to hospitalization than adults[median time,1(IQR,1.0-1.0)d vs.3(IQR,2.0-6.0)d,P<0.001],milder or fewer symptoms,less severe chest CT findings.The clinical severity classification of children was less severe than adults.Up to 15 th March,the end of the follow-up,33(100%)children and 292(97.3%)adult patients had been discharged from hospital.Only 2(0.7%)adult patients died,with an overall case mortality of 0.6%.The median length of hospital stay of pediatric patients was shorter than that of adult patients[19(95%CI:16.6-21.4)d vs.21(95%CI:19.9-22.1)d,P=0.024].Conclusion Pediatric patients with COVID-19 had milder or less clinical symptoms,less evident pulmonary imaging changes,better prognosis,and shorter length of hospital stay.

Safety management of nasopharyngeal specimen collection from suspected cases of coronavirus disease 2019

This article introduces safety management strategies of nasopharyngeal specimen collection from suspected cases of coronavirus disease 2019 in a tertiary designated hospital.The key points include establishing a special sampling room,strict sterilization of the entire environment,training of professional nurses,enhancement of personal protection,standardization of methods and processes for swab collection,and a timely and safety sample submission.More than 11,000 nasopharyngeal specimens were collected by eight nurses,with an average of 1,375 specimen swab collections each nurse,and no one was infected.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: how countries shouldbuild more resilient health systems for preparedness and response

Objective: A resilient health system plays a crucial role in pandemic preparedness and response. Althoughthe World Health Organization (WHO) has required all states parties to strengthen core capacities to respondto public health emergencies under the International Health Regulations (2005), the actions of most countriesto combating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has showed that they are not well-prepared. This crosssectionalstudy aimed to examine the health system resilience of selected countries and analyze their strategiesand measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: This study selected five countries including the Iran, Japan, Republic of Korea (South Korea), the U.K.,and the U.S., based on the severity of the national epidemic, the geographical location, and the developmentlevel. Cumulative number of death cases derived from WHO COVID-19 dashboard was used to measure theseverity of the impact of the pandemic in each country;WHO State Parties Self-Assessment Annual Reporting (SPAR)Scores and Global Health Security (GHS) Index were applied to measure the national health system resilience;and research articles and press materials were summarized to identify the strategies and measures adopted bycountries during response to COVID-19. This study applied the resilient health systems framework to analyzehealth system resilience in the selected countries from five dimensions, including awareness, diversity, selfregulation,integration and adaptation.Results: The SPAR Scores and GHS Index of the four developed countries, Japan, South Korea, the U.K. and theU.S. were above the global and regional averages;the SPAR Scores of Iran were above the global average whilethe GHI Index lain below the global average. In terms of response strategies, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. investedmore health resources in the treatment of severe patients, while South Korea and Iran had adopted a strategyof extensive testing and identification of suspected patients. In terms of specific measures, all the five countriesadopted measures such as restrictions on entry and international travel, closure of schools and industries,lockdown and quarantine. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of implementing these measures varied acrosscountries, based on the response strategies.Conclusion: Although SPAR Scores and GHS Index have evaluated the national core capacities for preparednessand response, the actions to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the fact that most countries stilldo not build resilient health systems in response to public health emergencies. Health system strengtheningand health security efforts should be pursued in tandem, as part of the same mutually reinforcing approach todeveloping resilient health systems.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and global mental health

The mental health effects of the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic may shape population health for many years to come.Failure to address the mental health issues stemming from the pandemic is likely to prolong its impact.The COVID-19 pandemic has created a significant global challenge and,in lower-income countries,even a disruption of mental health services.Given our experience with previous pandemics,the present COVID-19 crisis can be expected to cause psychological trauma,and steps are needed to address this issue proactively.Policies focusing on the long-term mental health consequences of COVID-19 may equal the importance of those currently seeking to mitigate its physical effects.The implications of the GOVID-19 pandemic for mental health call for a greater focus on the needs of those with mental disorders and on mental health issues affecting health care workers and the general public.Timely preventive and therapeutic mental health care is essential in addressing the psychosocial needs of populations exposed to the pandemic.In addition to specialist care,"task-shifting"and digital technologies may provide cost-effective means of providing mental health care in lower-income countries worldwide as well as in higher-income countries with mental health services overwhelmed by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.In view of the ever-increasing pressure on global health systems resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic,adopting and adapting"task-shifting",i.e.,the delegation of psychotherapeutic interventions to trained non-specialists,as an element of the provision of mental health services,is overdue.Digital technologies can be used to enhance social support and facilitate resilience to the detrimental mental health effects of the pandemic;they may also offer an efficient and cost-effective way to provide easy access to mentalhealth care.

Virtual healthcare services and digital health technologies deployed during coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic in South Africa:a systematic review

Aims:To identify virtual healthcare services and digital health technologies deployed in South Africa during coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)and the challenges associated with their use.Metiiods:To determine the status of digital health utilization during COVID-19 in South Africa,the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses model was used to perform a systematic and in-depth critical analysis of previously published studies in well-known and trusted online electronic databases using specific search keywords words that are relevant to this study.We selected published peer-reviewed articles available from the onset of COVID-19 to July 2021.Results:Total of 24 articles were included into this study.This study revealed that South Africa adopted digital technologies such as SMS-based solutions,mobile health applications,telemedicine and telehealth,WhatsApp-based systems,artificial intelligence and chatbots and robotics to provide healthcare services during COVID-19 pandemic.These innovative technologies have been used for various purposes including screening infectious and non-infectious diseases,disease surveillance and monitoring,medication and treatment compliance,creating awareness and communication.The study also revealed that teleconsultation and e-prescription,telelaboratory and telepharmacy,teleeducation and teletraining,teledermatology,teleradiology,telecardiology,teleophthalmology,teleneurology,telerehabilitation,teleoncology and telepsychiatry are among virtual healthcare services delivered through digital health technologies during COVID-19 in South Africa.However,these smart digital health technologies face several impediments such as infrastructural and technological barriers,organization and financial barriers,policy and regulatory barriers as well as cultural barriers.Conclusion:Although COVID-19 has invigorated the use of digital health technologies,there are still some shortcomings.The outbreak of pandemics like COVID-19 in the future is not inevitable.Therefore,we recommend increasing community networks in rural areas to bridge the digital divide and the modification of mHealth policy to advocate for the effective use of innovative technologies in healthcare and the development of sustainable strategies for resources mobilization through private-public partnerships as well as joining available international initiatives advocating for smart digital health.

Occupational health protection for health workers during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic:6P-approach in China

Health workers(HW)are on the frontline fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic,they are exposed to multiple occupational hazards.This article analyzed the comprehensive measures of protecting HWs during the COVID-19 response in China.Occupational health protection of HWs was one of the key strategies of the public health measures adopted against the COVID-19 outbreak from the earliest stage in China.This prioritization of HWs health protection was based on the technical and policy guidance of WHO and International Labor Organization as well as the experiences from previous outbreaks in China.The comprehensive measures in China can be summarized as‘6P-approach’:public health emergency response,prompt learning from lessons,proactive measures of occupational health,precaution strategies against occupational hazards,personal protective equipment and medical devices supply,and professional networking.Through this 6P-approach,China was able to minimize the incidence of COVID-19 infection among HWs,while successfully containing the outbreak dxuing the first quarter of 2020.Although the COVID-19 vaccines have been rolled out,however,the COVID-19 pandemic is still under rapidly evolving situation.Experiences from China may provide other countries with an example of prioritizing and incorporating occupational health protection of HWs in their public health measures responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public health preparedness and responses to the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic in South Asia:a situation and policy analysis

Like rest of the world,the South Asian region is facing enormous challenges with the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.The socio-economic context of the eight South Asian countries is averse to any longterm lockdown program,but the region still observed stringent lockdown close to two months.This paper analyzed major measures in public health preparedness and responses in those countries in the pandemic.The research was based on a situation analysis to discuss appropriate plan for epidemic preparedness,strategies for prevention and control measures,and adequate response management mechanism.Based on the data from March 21 to June 26,2020,it appeared lockdown program along with other control measures were not as effective to arrest the exponential growth of fortnightly COVID-19 cases in Afghanistan,Bangladesh,India,Nepal and Pakistan.However,Bhutan,Maldives and Sri Lanka have been successfully limiting the spread of the disease.The in-depth analysis of prevention and control measures espoused densely populated context of South Asia needs community-led intervention strategy,such as case containment,in order to reverse the growing trend,and adopt the policy of mitigation instead of suppression to formulate COVID-19 action plan.On the other hand,mechanism for response management encompassed a four-tier approach of governance to weave community-led local bodies with state,national and international governance actors for enhancing the countries’emergency operation system.It is concluded resource-crunch countries in South Asia are unable to cope with the disproportionate demand of capital and skilled health care workforce at the time of the pandemic.Hence,response management needs an approach of governance maximization instead of resource maximization.The epidemiologic management of population coupled with suitable public health prevention and control measures may be a more appropriate strategy to strike a balance between economy and population health during the time of pandemic.

Comparison of clinical characteristics in patients with coronavirus disease and influenza A in Guangzhou, China

BACKGROUND: This study aims to compare the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics between patients with coronavirus disease(COVID-19) and influenza A(H1N1), and to develop a differentiating model and a simple scoring system.METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data from patients with COVID-19 and H1N1. The logistic regression model based on clinical and laboratory characteristics was constructed to distinguish COVID-19 from H1N1. Scores were assigned to each of independent discrimination factors based on their odds ratios. The performance of the prediction model and scoring system was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 236 patients were recruited, including 20 COVID-19 patients and 216 H1N1 patients. Logistic regression revealed that age >34 years, temperature ≤37.5℃, no sputum or myalgia, lymphocyte ratio ≥20% and creatine kinase-myocardial band isoenzyme(CK-MB) >9.7 U/L were independent differentiating factors for COVID-19. The area under curves(AUCs) of the prediction model and scoring system in differentiating COVID-19 from H1N1 were 0.988 and 0.962, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There are certain differences in clinical and laboratory features between patients with COVID-19 and H1N1. The simple scoring system may be a useful tool for the early identification of COVID-19 patients from H1N1 patients.

Expanding telemedicine to reduce the burden on the healthcare systems and poverty in Africa for a post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic reformation

The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)global public health emergency,has exposed the fragility of health systems.Access to healthcare became a scarce commodity as healthcare providers and resource-poor popula­tions became victims of the novel corona virus.Therefore,this study focuses on Africa’s readiness to integrate telemedicine into the weak health systems and its adoption may help alleviate poor healthcare and poverty after COVID-19.We conducted a narrative review through different search strategies in Scopus on January 20,2021,to identify available literature reporting implementation of various telemedicine modes in Africa from January 1,2011 to December 31,2020.We summarized 54 studies according to geographies,field,and implementation methods.The results show a willingness to adopt telemedicine in the resource-poor settings and hard-to-reach populations,which will bring relief to the inadequate healthcare systems and alleviate poverty of those who feel the burden of healthcare cost the most.With adequate government financing,telemedicine promises to enhance the treating of communicable and non-communicable diseases as well as support health infrastructure.It can also alleviate poverty among vulnerable groups and hard-to-reach communities in Africa with adequate government financing.However,given the lack of funding in Africa,the challenges in implementing telemedicine require global and national strategies before it can yield promising results.This is especially true in regards to alleviating the multidimensionality of poverty in post-COVID-19 Africa.