title: Laboratory-Proven Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Infection on 18F-FDG PET/CT

text: An 87-year-old man with primary salivary duct carcinoma and hepatic metastases was referred for restaging. F-FDG PET/CT demonstrated new FDG-avid ground-glass opacities with intralobular septal thickening in both lungs with a peripheral dominant distribution. This was interpreted as a pattern highly suggestive of COVID-19 pneumonia, and the referring physician was contacted. The patient was currently asymptomatic and without clinical evidence of active pneumonia. However, the patient tested positive for COVID-19 using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. This case demonstrates that even asymptomatic outpatients undergoing PET/CT should be evaluated for radiologic findings suggestive of COVID-19 during this pandemic.


title: [Coronavirus disease 2019 and hypertension in 2 children]

text: This article reports the diagnosis and treatment of two children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and hypertension. Case 1 was a boy aged 13 years and 3 months, with the main manifestations of fever and dry cough; chest CT showed ground-glass opacities, and the nucleic acid test of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) yielded a positive result. Case 2 was a boy aged 13 years and 8 months and had no clinical symptoms; chest CT showed no abnormality, while the nucleic acid test of SARS-CoV-2 yielded a positive result. Both cases were shown with family aggregation of SARS-CoV-2 infection. They had obesity and a family history of hypertension. Continuous blood pressure monitoring in the resting state during hospitalization showed that blood pressure was above the 95% reference interval of normal value for children of the same age, and the two boys were given calcium channel blockers or ß-receptor blockers and were then recovered. It is concluded that comprehensive management of children with COVID-19 and underlying cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, should be taken seriously during the epidemic.


'Medications should be prescribed by doctors, not the president': leading Brazilian scientist discusses the pandemic


title: SARS-CoV-2 is not detectable in the vaginal fluid of women with severe COVID-19 infection

text: BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) is mainly spread through respiratory droplets or direct contact. But the infection condition of genital system is still unknown. This study aimed to evaluate whether or not SARS-CoV-2 is found in the vaginal fluid of women with COVID-19 illness. METHODS: 10 women with confirmed severe COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to in Tongji Zhongfa Hospital Intensive care union(ICU) ward from Feb 4, 2020 to Feb 24, 2020 were included. Clinical records, laboratory results, and computer tomography(CT)-scan examination were retrospectively reviewed. The evidence of genital infection potential was accessed by testing for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in vaginal fluids obtained from vaginal swab samples. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was used to confirm the SARS-CoV-2 infection in vaginal fluids. RESULTS: The clinical characteristics of these ten women were similar to those reported severe COVID-19 patients. All ten patients were tested for SARS-CoV-2 in vaginal fluid, and all samples tested negative for the virus. CONCLUSION: Findings from this small group of cases suggest that no SARS-CoV-2 virus existing in the vaginal fluids of severe COVID-19 patients.


title: Expecting the unexpected: Echo laboratory preparedness in the time of COVID-19

text: COVID-19 poses a unique set of challenges to the healthcare system due to its rapid spread, intensive resource utilization, and relatively high morbidity and mortality. Healthcare workers are at especially high risk of exposure given the viruses spread through close contact. Reported cardiac complications of COVID-19 include myocarditis, acute coronary syndrome, cardiomyopathy, pericardial effusion, arrhythmia, and shock. Thus, echocardiography is integral in the timely diagnosis and clinical management of COVID-19 patients. Rush University Medical Center has been at the forefront of the COVID-19 response in Illinois with high numbers of cases reported in Chicago and surrounding areas. The echocardiography laboratory at Rush University Medical Center (RUMC) proactively took numerous steps to balance the imaging needs of a busy, nearly 700-bed academic medical center while maintaining safety.


title: Targeting SARS-CoV-2 with AI- and HPC-enabled Lead Generation: A First Data Release

text: Researchers across the globe are seeking to rapidly repurpose existing drugs or discover new drugs to counter the the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). One promising approach is to train machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) tools to screen large numbers of small molecules. As a contribution to that effort, we are aggregating numerous small molecules from a variety of sources, using high-performance computing (HPC) to computer diverse properties of those molecules, using the computed properties to train ML/AI models, and then using the resulting models for screening. In this first data release, we make available 23 datasets collected from community sources representing over 4.2 B molecules enriched with pre-computed: 1) molecular fingerprints to aid similarity searches, 2) 2D images of molecules to enable exploration and application of image-based deep learning methods, and 3) 2D and 3D molecular descriptors to speed development of machine learning models. This data release encompasses structural information on the 4.2 B molecules and 60 TB of pre-computed data. Future releases will expand the data to include more detailed molecular simulations, computed models, and other products.


title: Persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in the environment and COVID-19 transmission risk from environmental matrices and surfaces

text: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading around the world, representing a global pandemic, counting, as of June 5th, 2020, over 6,600,000 confirmed cases and more than 390,000 deaths, with exponentially increasing numbers. In the first half of 2020, because of the widespread of the COVID-19, researches were focused on the monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in water, wastewater, sludge, air, and on surfaces, in order to assess the risk of contracting the viral infection from contaminated environments. So far, the survival of the novel Coronavirus out of the human body has been reported for short time periods (from hours to few days, in optimized in vitro conditions), mainly because of the need of an host organism which could consent the viral attack, and due to the weak external membrane of the virus. SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding strategies in the environment, either through animate and unanimate matrices, or exploiting the organic matter in water, wastewater, and waste in general, have been discussed in the present article. We concluded that, besides the high infectuousness of the novel Coronavirus, the transmission of the pathogen may be efficiently contained applying the adequate preventive measures (e.g., personal protection equipments, and disinfecting agents), indicated by national and international health authories.


title: Response of UK interventional radiologists to the COVID-19 pandemic - survey findings

text: BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented effect upon the National Health Service (NHS). Like other specialties, Interventional Radiology (IR) rapidly adapted to the evolving situation. Members of BSIR were surveyed to obtain a snapshot of the experiences of UK IRs in response to COVID-19. An electronic survey was compiled using Google Forms, approved by the BSIR Council Officers and distributed to BSIR members by email on 18 th April 2020. A total of 228 responses were received. The survey was open for a 14-day period and the data analysed in Microsoft Excel 365. The response rate was 29% (228/800). RESULTS: Two thirds of respondents work in a Tertiary unit and 33% deliver IR in a District Hospital. 84% have a day-case facility. After the COVID-19 crisis, 81% of respondents were able to maintain 24-7 On-call service. 59% of respondents had been required change their day to day practice to allow the on-call service to continue. 55% of respondents were involved in providing a central line service. Of those questioned, 91% continued to offer endovascular services, 98% genitourinary and 92% hepatobiliary services, although a degree of service reduction was described. 38% have provided IR trainees with additional training material during this pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: This survey has confirmed that the responses of UK IR departments to the COVID-19 crisis have ensured vital on-call and urgent services have continued, including ongoing availability of most IR sub-specialties. Availability of a day case facility has possibly influenced the positive response.


title: Nucleic acid recognition and antiviral activity of 1,4-substituted terphenyl compounds mimicking all faces of the HIV-1 Rev protein positively-charged α-helix

text: Small synthetic molecules mimicking the three-dimensional structure of α-helices may find applications as inhibitors of therapeutically relevant protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions. However, the design and use of multi-facial helix mimetics remains in its infancy. Here we describe the synthesis and application of novel bilaterally substituted p-terphenyl compounds containing positively-charged aminoalkyl groups in relative 1,4 positions across the aromatic scaffold. These compounds were specifically designed to mimic all faces of the arginine-rich α-helix of the HIV-1 protein Rev, which forms deeply embedded RNA complexes and plays key roles in the virus replication cycle. Two of these molecules recognized the Rev site in the viral RNA and inhibited the formation of the RRE-Rev ribonucleoprotein complex, a currently unexploited target in HIV chemotherapy. Cellular assays revealed that the most active compounds blocked HIV-1 replication with little toxicity, and likely exerted this effect through a multi-target mechanism involving inhibition of viral LTR promoter-dependent transcription and Rev function. Further development of this scaffold may open new avenues for targeting nucleic acids and may complement current HIV therapies, none of which involve inhibitors interfering with the gene regulation processes of the virus.


Psoriasis-COVID 19 Infection: Treatment Options


Community Mitigation During SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Mission Impossible in Developing Countries


Public Masking: An Urgent Need to Revise Global Policies to Protect against COVID-19


The coronavirus stress: A reality check of India's mental health social agenda


title: "Cell Phone Acne" Epidemic during COVID-19 Pandemic

text: As the world plunges into the longest and the biggest lockdown in world's history, most of us are turning towards an increased use of mobile phones as the most convenient way to stay connected. However, this convenience is also taking a toll on the overall skin health, particularly in the patients of acne.


title: COVID-19-associated meningoencephalitis complicated with intracranial hemorrhage: a case report

text: The coronavirus pandemic that started in December 2019 is mainly related to clinical pictures consistent with respiratory symptoms; nevertheless, reports about neurological complications have recently appeared in the medical literature. We describe a case of a 36-year-old coronavirus-positive patient that was admitted on emergency basis; his clinical presentation included neurological symptoms such as drowsiness and mild confusion. Imaging revealed findings consistent with meningoencephalitis complicated by intracerebral hematoma and subdural hematoma. The latter was surgically evacuated after it became chronic and evidence of coronavirus was found in the fluid. Our experience confirms that neurological complications might be a likely event in COVID-19. Although uncommon, the possible occurrence of meningoencephalitis should be kept in mind by physicians involved in the management of COVID-19 patients. Early recognition of brain involvement may provide better prognosis, preventing evolution into intracerebral hemorrhagic events.


title: Unified statistical inference for a novel nonlinear dynamic functional/longitudinal data model

text: In light of recent work studying massive functional/longitudinal data, such as the resulting data from the COVID-19 pandemic, we propose a novel functional/longitudinal data model which is a combination of the popular varying coefficient (VC) model and additive model. We call it Semi-VCAM in which the response could be a functional/longitudinal variable, and the explanatory variables could be a mixture of functional/longitudinal and scalar variables. Notably some of the scalar variables could be categorical variables as well. The Semi-VCAM simultaneously allows for both substantial flexibility and the maintaining of one-dimensional rates of convergence. A local linear smoothing with the aid of an initial B spline series approximation is developed to estimate the unknown functional effects in the model. To avoid the subjective choice between the sparse and dense cases of the data, we establish the asymptotic theories of the resultant Pilot Estimation Based Local Linear Estimators (PEBLLE) on a unified framework of sparse, dense and ultra-dense cases of the data. Moreover, we construct unified consistent tests to justify whether a parsimony submodel is sufficient or not. These test methods also avoid the subjective choice between the sparse, dense and ultra dense cases of the data. Extensive Monte Carlo simulation studies investigating the finite sample performance of the proposed methodologies confirm our asymptotic results. We further illustrate our methodologies via analyzing the COVID-19 data from China and the CD4 data.


title: Suggestions on surgical treatment during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic

text: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus, is now generating a global epidemic, leading to a severe public health emergency. Until April 12, 2020 around 1,700,954 confirmed cases and 105,633 deaths have been reported all over the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Under this circumstance, surgical activities should be carefully evaluated to avoid excessive occupation of limited medical resources, and to reduce the possibility of hospital infection. China has achieved an inspiring achievement on epidemic control. Here, we reviewed available studies on surgical activities during the outbreak, in combination with our current experience, with the aim of providing feasible suggestions on surgical issues during the COVID-19 pandemic.


La chirurgie digestive urgente, victime collatérale de la crise du Covid-19?


title: CT characteristics and diagnostic value of COVID-19 in pregnancy

text: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the computed tomography (CT) characteristics and diagnostic value of novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP or COVID-19) in pregnancy. METHODS: This study included ten pregnant women infected with COVID-19, treated in the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from January 20, 2020 to February 6, 2020. Clinical and chest CT data were collected and clinical symptoms, laboratory indicators, and CT images were analyzed to explore CT characteristics and diagnostic value for COVID-19 during pregnancy. RESULTS: Laboratory examination showed that white blood cell count was normal in nine patients, and slightly higher in one patient (10.23 × 109). The lymphocyte ratio decreased in two patients by 12% and 14%, respectively. The levels of C-reactive protein was elevated in seven patients (range, 21.16-60.3 mg/L) and the levels of D-dimer was increased in eight patients (range, 507-2141 ng/mL). Six patients had low levels of total protein (range, 35.3-56.5 mg/L). Two patients showed small patchy ground glass opacity (GGO) involving single lung, while eight patients showed multilobe GGO in both the lungs, with partial consolidation. Peripheral and non-peripheral lesion distributions were seen in ten (100%) and four (40%) patients, respectively. There were four patients who had signs of intra-bronchial air-bronchogram, six patients had small bilateral pleural effusions, while none had lymphadenopathy. Dynamic observations were performed in four patients after COVID-19 treatment. Among these four patients, one patient showed normal on the initial examination, and new lesions were observed after 3 days; 1 patient showed progression after 7 days of treatment, with expansion of the lesion area; and the other 2 patients showed improvement after 14 days of treatment, with reduction in the density and area of lesions and appearance of linear opacity. CONCLUSIONS: The CT characteristics of COVID-19 in pregnancy were mainly observed in early and progressive stages, and multiple new lesions were common. And there were consolidations of varying sizes and degrees within the lesion. Moreover, the original ground glass lesions could be fused or partially absorbed. Six patients had small bilateral pleural effusion. In summary, CT scans can play an important role in early screening, dynamic observation, and efficacy evaluation of suspected or confirmed cases of pregnant women with COVID-19.


docid: ksgypcau

title: A preceding low-virulence strain pandemic inducing immunity against COVID-19

text: Countries highly exposed to incoming traffic from China were expected to be at the highest risk of COVID-19 spread. However, COVID-19 case numbers (infection levels) are negatively correlated with incoming traffic-level. Moreover, infection levels are positively correlated with population-size, while the latter should only affect infection-level once herd immunity is reached. These could be explained if a low-virulence strain (LVS) began spreading a few months earlier from China, providing immunity from the later emerging known SARS-CoV-2 high-virulence strain (HVS). We find that the dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic depend on the LVS and HVS spread doubling-times and the delay between their initial onsets. We find that LVS doubling-time to be $T_L\sim1.59\pm0.17$ times slower than the HVS ($T_H$), but its earlier onset allowed its global wide-spread to the levels required for herd-immunity. In countries exposed earlier to the LVS and/or having smaller population-size, the LVS achieved herd-immunity earlier, allowing less time for the spread of the HVS, and giving rise to lower HVS-infection levels. Such model accurately predicts a country's infection-level ({\rm R^{2}=0.74}; p-value of {\rm 5.2\times10^{-13}}), given only its population-size and incoming-traffic from China. It explains the negative correlation with incoming-traffic ($c_{exp}$), the positive correlation with the population size (n_{pop}) and their specific relations (${\rm N}_{{\rm cases}}\propto n_{pop}^{{\rm T_{L}/{\rm T_{H}}}}\times c_{exp}^{{\rm T_{L}/{\rm T_{H}-1}}}$). We find that most countries should have already achieved herd-immunity. Further COVID-19-spread in these countries is limited and is not expected to rise by more than a factor of 2-3. We suggest tests/predictions to further verify the model and biologically identify the LVS, and discuss the implications.


title: Épidémie de COVID-19 et prise en charge des conduites suicidaires : challenge et perspectives./ [Suicidal behavior in light of COVID-19 outbreak: Clinical challenges and treatment perspectives]

text: OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic affected today more than 3,000,000 worldwide, and more than half of humanity has been placed in quarantine. The scientific community and the political authorities fear an epidemic of suicide secondary to this crisis. The aim of this review is to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the dimensions of the suicidal process and its interaction with the various risk factors. We also propose innovative strategies to manage suicidal behavior in the context of pandemic. METHODS: We carried out a narrative review of international publications dealing with major pandemics (COVID-19, SARS) and their influence on suicidal vulnerability. RESULTS: Many factors are likely to increase the emergence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts during this crisis. Social distancing and quarantine could increase the feeling of disconnection and the perception of social pain in vulnerable individuals. Some populations at high suicidal risk could be further impacted by the current pandemic: the elderly, medical staff and individuals exposed to economic insecurity. Several innovative tools adapted to the constraints of social distancing and quarantine may prevent suicide risk: e-health, VigilanS, buddhist-derived practices and art engagement. CONCLUSIONS: This unprecedented crisis may interact with certain dimensions of the suicidal process. However, it is time to innovate. Several suicide prevention tools all have their place in new modes of care and should be tested on a large scale.


Covid-19, prison crowding, and release policies


Are We Harming Cancer Patients by Delaying Their Cancer Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic?


title: Neuropsychiatric symptoms and quality of life in Spanish patients with Alzheimer's disease during the COVID-19 lockdown

text: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The COVID-19 epidemic is affecting almost all individuals worldwide, and patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and amnesic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are particularly at risk due to their characteristics and age. We analysed the impact of the pandemic on these patients' neuropsychiatric symptoms and their quality of life after 5 weeks of lockdown in Spain. METHODS: A total of 40 patients with a diagnosis of MCI (n = 20) or mild AD (n = 20) from the Cognitive Stimulation Program of the Cognitive Disorders Unit were evaluated. All patients had undergone a previous evaluation during the month before the lockdown, and were re-evaluated after 5 weeks of lockdown. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and EuroQol-5D questionnaire (EQ-5D) were used to assess neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients and the quality of life in patients as well in caregivers. RESULTS: The mean (SD) total baseline NPI score was 33.75 (22.28), compared with 39.05 (27.96) after confinement (P = 0.028). The most frequently affected neuropsychiatric symptoms were apathy [4.15 (3.78) vs. 5.75 (4.02); P = 0.002] and anxiety [3.95 (3.73) vs. 5.30 (4.01); P = 0.006] in patients with MCI, and apathy [2.35 (2.70) vs. 3.75 (3.78); P = 0.036], agitation [0.45 (1.14) vs. 1.50 (2.66); P = 0.029] and aberrant motor behaviour [1.25 (2.86) vs. 2.00 (2.93); P = 0.044] in patients with AD. We did not observe differences in EQ-5D scores during the re-evaluation. The 30% of patients and 40% of caregivers reported a worsening of the patients' health status during confinement. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show the worsening of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with AD and MCI during 5 weeks of lockdown, with agitation, apathy and aberrant motor activity being the most affected symptoms.


title: Re-evaluation of retested nucleic acid-positive cases in recovered COVID-19 patients: Report from a designated transfer hospital in Chongqing, China

text: Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China [1], a large number of confirmed cases met the discharge criteria (one of which is two consecutive negative nucleic acid tests with an interval of at least 24 h) [2]. Previous studies have paid more attention to the epidemic situation of COVID-19 and patient diagnosis and treatment. Close attention also should be paid to the discharged patients. Surprisingly, a previous follow-up reported that some patients' nucleic acid retest results were positive again after discharge [3]. Factors impacting these follow-up test results should be further investigated. Since the first confirmed case was diagnosed in our hospital (Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, the designated transfer hospital) on February 4th, we confirmed a total of 17 cases. All patients infected with the novel coronavirus were transferred to a designated hospital in Southwest China's Chongqing by ambulance with an inbuilt negative-pressure chamber [4]. In the follow-up examination of these patients, RT-PCR tests were conducted again 3 days after discharged from the designated hospital. Four patients showed recurrence of positive results after a few days of discharge. Thus, we examined these cases herein, aiming to provide information for policy formulation and modification of discharge plans.


title: Can Artificial Intelligence and Internet be the Solution to Prevent the Exponential Spread of COVID-19?

text: BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) and internet can have a promising role in maximizing safety and preventing the rapid terrifying spread of COVID-19. With the exponential increase in the number of COVID-19 patients, there is a high possibility that the physicians and health care workers will not be able to cover all of these cases. Thus, computer scientists should contribute in this struggle against COVID-19 by introducing more intelligent solutions to achieve a rapid control of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to provide analysis for the current literature along with discussing the possible applicability for the available ideas that utilize AI to prevent and control COVID-19 showing how the current systems may be of use in a particular area to build a comprehensive view. This can be of great help to many healthcare administrators, computer scientists, and policy makers around the world. METHODS: We conducted an electronic search of articles that utilize MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Embase and Web of Knowledge databases to formulate a comprehensive view that summarize different ideas about the most recent approaches to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 using AI. RESULTS: Our search identified the 10 most recent artificial intelligence approaches, which were suggested to be able to give the best solutions for maximizing safety and preventing the spread of COVID-19. The approaches included detection of suspected cases, large scale screening, monitoring, interactions with experimental therapies, screening pneumonia, internet of intelligent things for data and information, resources allocation, predictions, modeling and simulation, and robotics for medical quarantine. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that the most approaches which almost have none or very few studies are the usage of AI for COVID-19 interactions with experimental therapies, usage of AI for resources allocation to COVID-19 patients, and usage of AI and internet of intelligent things for COVID-19 data and information. However, other approaches including usage of AI for COVID-19 predictions, usage of AI for COVID-19 modeling and simulation, and usage of AI robotics for medical quarantine should be furtherly emphasized to be adopted by researchers since these important approaches lack sufficient number of studies. Therefore, our recommendation for computer scientists is to focus on these approaches that are still not being adequately covered.


"Daily Work in the Fever Clinics of Wuhan Union Hospital During the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Epidemic: A Special Spring Festival in Wuhan, China"


In the Era of COVID-19: The Role of Spine Surgeons at the Epicenter of the Outbreak


title: Hydroxychloroquine or Chloroquine for Treatment or Prophylaxis of COVID-19: A Living Systematic Review

text: BACKGROUND: Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have antiviral effects in vitro against severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). PURPOSE: To summarize evidence about the benefits and harms of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for the treatment or prophylaxis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). DATA SOURCES: PubMed (via MEDLINE), EMBASE (via Ovid), Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, bioRxiv, Preprints, ClinicalTrials.gov, World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry from 1 December 2019 until 8 May 2020. STUDY SELECTION: Studies in any language reporting efficacy or safety outcomes from hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine use in any setting in adults or children with suspected COVID-19 or at risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. DATA EXTRACTION: Independent, dually performed data extraction and quality assessments. DATA SYNTHESIS: Four randomized controlled trials, 10 cohort studies, and 9 case series assessed treatment effects of the medications, but no studies evaluated prophylaxis. Evidence was conflicting and insufficient regarding the effect of hydroxychloroquine on such outcomes as all-cause mortality, progression to severe disease, clinical symptoms, and upper respiratory virologic clearance with antigen testing. Several studies found that patients receiving hydroxychloroquine developed a QTc interval of 500 ms or greater, but the proportion of patients with this finding varied among the studies. Two studies assessed the efficacy of chloroquine; 1 trial, which compared higher-dose (600 mg twice daily for 10 days) with lower-dose (450 mg twice daily on day 1 and once daily for 4 days) therapy, was stopped owing to concern that the higher dose therapy increased lethality and QTc interval prolongation. An observational study that compared adults with COVID-19 receiving chloroquine phosphate 500 mg once or twice daily with patients not receiving chloroquine found minor fever resolution and virologic clearance benefits with chloroquine. LIMITATION: There were few controlled studies, and control for confounding was inadequate in observational studies. CONCLUSION: Evidence on the benefits and harms of using hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine to treat COVID-19 is very weak and conflicting. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.


title: Drugs that aggravate the course of COVID-19 : really ?/ Traitements aggravant une infection par le COVID-19 : vraiment ?

text: The safety of NSAIDs, corticosteroids and renin-angiotensin inhibitors in COVID-19 is challenged NSAIDs may interfere with the defense process against viral infection and are best avoided Systemic corticosteroids have not shown benefit in viral infection, including other coronavirus;thus they should be avoided, unless prescribed for another indication The benefit-risk ratio is however clearly in favor of continuing inhaled corticosteroids in patients with asthma or COPD ACE inhibitors and sartans upregulate the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the pulmonary receptor for SARS-CoV-2 Any possible clinical impact of these treatments on COVID-19 infection remains to be clarified;in the meantime, they should be continued La securite des AINS, corticoides et antihypertenseurs agissant sur le systeme renine-angiotensine lors dinfection a COVID-19 est mise en question Les AINS pourraient interferer avec le processus de defense face a une infection virale ;ils sont donc plutot a eviter Les corticoides systemiques nont pas montre de benefice lors dinfections virales, y compris a dautres coronavirus ;ils sont a eviter, sauf si prescrits pour une autre indication Le rapport benefice/risque est en revanche clairement en faveur de la poursuite des corticosteroides inhales chez les asthmatiques ou BPCO Les IEC et les sartans modulent lexpression de lenzyme de conversion de langiotensine 2 (ACE2), recepteur pulmonaire du SARS-CoV-2 Limpact clinique de ces traitements sur linfection a COVID-19 reste a preciser ;en attendant, ils sont a poursuivre


title: [Drugs that aggravate the course of COVID-19 : really ?]

text: The safety of NSAIDs, corticosteroids and renin-angiotensin inhibitors in COVID-19 is challenged NSAIDs may interfere with the defense process against viral infection and are best avoided Systemic corticosteroids have not shown benefit in viral infection, including other coronavirus;thus they should be avoided, unless prescribed for another indication The benefit-risk ratio is however clearly in favor of continuing inhaled corticosteroids in patients with asthma or COPD ACE inhibitors and sartans upregulate the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the pulmonary receptor for SARS-CoV-2 Any possible clinical impact of these treatments on COVID-19 infection remains to be clarified;in the meantime, they should be continued


title: Genotype and phenotype of COVID-19: Their roles in pathogenesis

text: COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus with an outbreak of unusual viral pneumonia in Wuhan, China, and then pandemic. Based on its phylogenetic relationships and genomic structures the COVID-19 belongs to genera Betacoronavirus. Human Betacoronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV) have many similarities, but also have differences in their genomic and phenotypic structure that can influence their pathogenesis. COVID-19 is containing single-stranded (positive-sense) RNA associated with a nucleoprotein within a capsid comprised of matrix protein. A typical CoV contains at least six ORFs in its genome. All the structural and accessory proteins are translated from the sgRNAs of CoVs. Four main structural proteins are encoded by ORFs 10, 11 on the one-third of the genome near the 3'-terminus. The genetic and phenotypic structure of COVID-19 in pathogenesis is important. This article highlights the most important of these features compared to other Betacoronaviruses.


Letter to the editor in response to: Telemedicine for diabetes care in India during COVID19 pandemic and national lockdown period: Guidelines for physicians


title: Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 Strike on Arab Countries and Territories: A Situation Report I

text: The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new virus called COVID-19 or 2019-nCoV that first identified in Wuhan, China. The disease causes respiratory illness (such as the flu) with other symptoms such as a cough, fever, and in more severe cases, difficulty breathing. This new Coronavirus seems to be very infectious and has spread quickly and globally. In this work, information about COVID-19 is provided and the situation in Arab countries and territories regarding the COVID-19 strike is presented. The next few weeks main expectations is also given.


title: Anti-HCV, nucleotide inhibitors, repurposing against COVID-19

text: AIMS: A newly emerged Human Coronavirus (HCoV) is reported two months ago in Wuhan, China (COVID-19). Until today >2700 deaths from the 80,000 confirmed cases reported mainly in China and 40 other countries. Human to human transmission is confirmed for COVID-19 by China a month ago. Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) reports, SARS HCoV is responsible for >8000 cases with confirmed 774 deaths. Additionally, MERS HCoV is responsible for 858 deaths out of about 2500 reported cases. The current study aims to test anti-HCV drugs against COVID-19 RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, sequence analysis, modeling, and docking are used to build a model for Wuhan COVID-19 RdRp. Additionally, the newly emerged Wuhan HCoV RdRp model is targeted by anti-polymerase drugs, including the approved drugs Sofosbuvir and Ribavirin. KEY FINDINGS: The results suggest the effectiveness of Sofosbuvir, IDX-184, Ribavirin, and Remidisvir as potent drugs against the newly emerged HCoV disease. SIGNIFICANCE: The present study presents a perfect model for COVID-19 RdRp enabling its testing in silico against anti-polymerase drugs. Besides, the study presents some drugs that previously proved its efficiency against the newly emerged viral infection.


title: Ortopedia tra ragione e passione. Linee guida e linee d'ombra./ [Orthopedics between reason and passion. Guidelines and shadow lines.]

text: For over 20 years the Evidence-Based Orthopaedics Working Group (GLOBE) has been promoting evidence-based medicine (EBM) in orthopaedics and traumatology. However, despite a constant and wide-ranging editorial production and fruitful collaborations with colleagues and institutions at national and international level, the orthopaedic scientific community finds it difficult to recognize the EBM model as a solid reference: there are few guidelines available, there is little awareness of their usefulness, and the complexity of the methodology of production and adaptation of documents widens the gap between the orthopaedic real world and that of clinical epidemiology. After a quick analysis of the causes of this contrast, the authors reflect on the possible solutions to the problem, and propose to collaborate for a simplification of the guidelines production methodology, using innovative models of literature review, which have proved to be effective to make the best knowledge available quickly during the CoViD-19 pandemic.


What the cruise-ship outbreaks reveal about COVID-19


title: On Construction of weighted orthogonal matrices over finite field and its application in cryptography

text: In this article, we propose a method to construct self orthogonal matrix, orthogonal matrix and anti orthogonal matrix over the finite field. Orthogonal matrices has numerous applications in cryptography, so here we demonstrate the application of weighted orthogonal matrix into cryptography. Using the proposed method of construction we see that it is very easy to transmit the private key and can easily convert the encrypted message into original message and at the same time it will be difficult to get the key matrix for intruder.


title: Comparison of different exit scenarios from the lock-down for COVID-19 epidemic in the UK and assessing uncertainty of the predictions

text: We model further development of the COVID-19 epidemic in the UK given the current data and assuming different scenarios of handling the epidemic. In this research, we further extend the stochastic model suggested in \cite{us} and incorporate in it all available to us knowledge about parameters characterising the behaviour of the virus and the illness induced by it. The models we use are flexible, comprehensive, fast to run and allow us to incorporate the following: -time-dependent strategies of handling the epidemic; -spatial heterogeneity of the population and heterogeneity of development of epidemic in different areas; -special characteristics of particular groups of people, especially people with specific medical pre-histories and elderly. Standard epidemiological models such as SIR and many of its modifications are not flexible enough and hence are not precise enough in the studies that requires the use of the features above. Decision-makers get serious benefits from using better and more flexible models as they can avoid of nuanced lock-downs, better plan the exit strategy based on local population data, different stages of the epidemic in different areas, making specific recommendations to specific groups of people; all this resulting in a lesser impact on economy, improved forecasts of regional demand upon NHS allowing for intelligent resource allocation.


Volver a empezar: cirugía electiva durante la pandemia del SARS-CoV2. Recomendaciones desde la Asociación Colombiana de Cirugía


The COVID-19 Pandemic: Ethical and Scientific Imperatives for "Natural" Experiments


title: Cryo-EM structures of HKU2 and SADS-CoV spike glycoproteins provide insights into coronavirus evolution

text: Porcine coronavirus SADS-CoV has been identified from suckling piglets with severe diarrhea in southern China in 2017. The SADS-CoV genome shares ~95% identity to that of bat α-coronavirus HKU2, suggesting that SADS-CoV may have emerged from a natural reservoir in bats. Here we report the cryo-EM structures of HKU2 and SADS-CoV spike (S) glycoprotein trimers at 2.38 Å and 2.83 Å resolution, respectively. We systematically compare the domains of HKU2 spike with those of α-, ß-, Î³-, and Î´-coronavirus spikes, showing that the S1 subunit N- and C-terminal domains of HKU2/SADS-CoV are ancestral domains in the evolution of coronavirus spike proteins. The connecting region after the fusion peptide in the S2 subunit of HKU2/SADS-CoV adopts a unique conformation. These results structurally demonstrate a close evolutionary relationship between HKU2/SADS-CoV and ß-coronavirus spikes and provide insights into the evolution and cross-species transmission of coronaviruses.


title: Decoy ACE2-expressing extracellular vesicles that competitively bind SARS-CoV-2 as a possible COVID-19 therapy

text: The novel strain of coronavirus that appeared in 2019, SARS-CoV-2, is the causative agent of severe respiratory disease, COVID-19, and the ongoing pandemic. As for SARS-CoV that caused the SARS 2003 epidemic, the receptor on host cells that promotes uptake, through attachment of the spike (S) protein of the virus, is angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). In a recent article published by Batlle et al. (Clin. Sci. (Lond.) (2020) 134, 543-545) it was suggested that soluble recombinant ACE2 could be used as a novel biological therapeutic to intercept the virus, limiting the progression of infection and reducing lung injury. Another way, discussed here, to capture SARS-CoV-2, as an adjunct or alternative, would be to use ACE2+-small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). A competitive inhibition therapy could therefore be developed, using sEVs from engineered mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs), overexpressing ACE2.


title: Perceived stress associated with COVID-19 epidemic in Colombia: an online survey

text: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and variables related to perceived stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in a sample of Colombian adults using a designed online cross-sectional survey. Adults answered a version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) modified for COVID-19 (PSS-10-C), with Cronbach alpha equal to 0.86. In total, 406 individuals aged between 19 and 88 years (M = 43.9; SD = 12.4) agreed to participate in the survey: 61.8% were females, 90.6% had a university degree, 44.1% were health professionals, and 45.7% considered public health policies for preventing the spread of the disease inconsistent with scientific recommendations. PSS-10-C scores ranged from 0 to 36 (M = 16.5; SD = 7.3); 58 individuals (14.3%) scored for high perceived stress (cut-off point = 25). The inconsistency between policies and scientific evidence was significantly related to high perception of stress associated with COVID-19 (OR = 2.36; 95%CI: 1.32-4.20), after adjusting for gender. We concluded that the study group presented the prevalence of perceived stress associated with COVID-19 at high levels, arising from the inconsistent strategies developed by health authorities in view of scientific recommendations. Further researches must address the psychosocial aspects of epidemics.


title: A conceptual model for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Wuhan, China with individual reaction and governmental action

text: The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, emerged in Wuhan, China in the end of 2019, has claimed more than 2600 lives as of 24 February 2020 and posed a huge threat to global public health. The Chinese government has implemented control measures including setting up special hospitals and travel restriction to mitigate the spread. We propose conceptual models for the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan with the consideration of individual behavioural reaction and governmental actions, e.g., holiday extension, travel restriction, hospitalisation and quarantine. We employe the estimates of these two key components from the 1918 influenza pandemic in London, United Kingdom, incorporated zoonotic introductions and the emigration, and then compute future trends and the reporting ratio. The model is concise in structure, and it successfully captures the course of the COVID-19 outbreak, and thus sheds light on understanding the trends of the outbreak.


Patient-Driven Discontinuation of Apremilast During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Two Canadian Academic Hospital Clinics and One Community Practice


Survey of public understanding regarding SARS-CoV-2


title: Understanding dynamics of pandemics

text: Along the centuries, novel strain of virus such as influenza produces pandemics which increase illness, death and disruption in the countries. Spanish flu in 1918, Asian flu in 1957, Hong Kong flu in 1968 and swine flu in 2009 were known pandemic which had various characteristics in terms of morbidity and mortality. A current pandemic is caused by novel corona virus originated from China. COVID-19 pandemic is very similar to Spanish, Hong Kong, Asian and swine influenza pandemics in terms of spreading to world by the mobilized people. Burden of pandemic is considered in terms of disease transmissibility and the growth rate of epidemic and duration of pandemic can be calculated by transmissibility characteristic. The case definition, finding out cases and first case cluster, proper treatment, sufficient stockpiles of medicine and population cooperation with the containment strategy should be considered for reduction of burden of pandemic.


title: PGLP: Customizable and Rigorous Location Privacy through Policy Graph

text: Location privacy has been extensively studied in the literature. However, existing location privacy models are either not rigorous or not customizable, which limits the trade-off between privacy and utility in many real-world applications. To address this issue, we propose a new location privacy notion called PGLP, i.e., \textit{Policy Graph based Location Privacy}, providing a rich interface to release private locations with customizable and rigorous privacy guarantee. First, we design the privacy metrics of PGLP by extending differential privacy. Specifically, we formalize a user's location privacy requirements using a \textit{location policy graph}, which is expressive and customizable. Second, we investigate how to satisfy an arbitrarily given location policy graph under adversarial knowledge. We find that a location policy graph may not always be viable and may suffer \textit{location exposure} when the attacker knows the user's mobility pattern. We propose efficient methods to detect location exposure and repair the policy graph with optimal utility. Third, we design a private location trace release framework that pipelines the detection of location exposure, policy graph repair, and private trajectory release with customizable and rigorous location privacy. Finally, we conduct experiments on real-world datasets to verify the effectiveness of the privacy-utility trade-off and the efficiency of the proposed algorithms.


Update: COVID-19 Among Workers in Meat and Poultry Processing Facilities ― United States, April–May 2020


title: Granulocyte-targeted therapies for airway diseases

text: The average respiration rate for an adult is 12-20 breaths per minute, which constantly exposes the lungs to allergens and harmful particles. As a result, respiratory diseases, which includes asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and acute lower respiratory tract infections (LTRI), are a major cause of death worldwide. Although asthma, COPD and LTRI are distinctly different diseases with separate mechanisms of disease progression, they do share a common feature - airway inflammation with intense recruitment and activation of granulocytes and mast cells. Neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, and mast cells are crucial players in host defense against pathogens and maintenance of lung homeostasis. Upon contact with harmful particles, part of the pulmonary defense mechanism is to recruit these cells into the airways. Despite their protective nature, overactivation or accumulation of granulocytes and mast cells in the lungs results in unwanted chronic airway inflammation and damage. As such, understanding the bright and the dark side of these leukocytes in lung physiology paves the way for the development of therapies targeting this important mechanism of disease. Here we discuss the role of granulocytes in respiratory diseases and summarize therapeutic strategies focused on granulocyte recruitment and activation in the lungs.


title: Reducing Aerosol Generation During Ventilator Weaning in a Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patient Using a Supraglottic Airway: A Case Report

text: We report weaning from mechanical ventilation with no coughing in a patient with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Substituting the endotracheal tube for a supraglottic airway (SGA), which is less stimulating to the trachea, can reduce coughing with weaning from mechanical ventilation and extubation. Personal protective equipment is in short supply worldwide. Reducing spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is beneficial in terms of occupational health of health care workers.


title: Prudently conduct the engineering and synthesis of the SARS-CoV-2 virus

text: Regarding to the recent work of engineering SARS-CoV-19 virus and the publication "Rapid reconstruction of SARS-CoV-2 using a synthetic genomics platform" by researchers at University of Bern, this paper comments on the "dual-use" problem and regulation issue of synthetic biology from the perspective of responsible (research and) innovation, biosafety and biosecurity. Based on the ethical and legal framework, the authors suggest to conduct such research with high potential risks prudently and responsibly.


title: Asymptomatic and Human-to-Human Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a 2-Family Cluster, Xuzhou, China

text: We report epidemiologic, laboratory, and clinical findings for 7 patients with 2019 novel coronavirus disease in a 2-family cluster. Our study confirms asymptomatic and human-to-human transmission through close contacts in familial and hospital settings. These findings might also serve as a practical reference for clinical diagnosis and medical treatment.


Aesthetic Surgery During COVID-19


Thyroid cytology in the times of coronavirus


Personal Experiences With COVID-19 and Diabetes Technology: All for Technology Yet Not Technology for All


title: Clinical characteristics and drug therapies in patients with the common-type coronavirus disease 2019 in Hunan, China

text: Background Clinical characteristics of patients with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may present differently within and outside the epicenter of Wuhan, China. More clinical investigations are needed. Objective The study was aimed to describe the clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, and therapeutic methods of COVID-19 patients in Hunan, China. Setting The First Hospital of Changsha, First People's Hospital of Huaihua, and the Central Hospital of Loudi, Hunan province, China. Methods This was a retrospective multi-center case-series analysis. Patients with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis hospitalized at the study centers from January 17 to February 10, 2020, were included. The following data were obtained from electronic medical records: demographics, medical history, exposure history, underlying comorbidities, symptoms, signs, laboratory findings, computer tomography scans, and treatment measures. Main outcome measure Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics and treatments. Results A total of 54 patients were included (51 had the common-type COVID-19, three had the severe-type), the median age was 41, and 52% of them were men. The median time from the first symptoms to hospital admission was seven days. Among patients with the common-type COVID-19, the median length of stay was nine days, and 21 days among patients with severe COVID-19. The most common symptoms at the onset of illness were fever (74.5%), cough (56.9%), and fatigue (43.1%) among patients in the common-type group. Fourteen patients (37.8%) had a reduced WBC count, 23 (62.2%) had reduced eosinophil ratio, and 21 (56.76%) had decreased eosinophil count. The most common patterns on chest-computed tomography were ground-glass opacity (52.2%) and patchy bilateral shadowing (73.9%). Pharmacotherapy included recombinant human interferon α2b, lopinavir/ritonavir, novaferon, antibiotics, systematic corticosteroids and traditional Chinese medicine prescription. The outcome of treatment indicated that in patients with the common-type COVID-19, interferon-α2b, but not novaferon, had some benefits, antibiotics treatment was not needed, and corticosteroids should be used cautiously. Conclusion As of February 10, 2020, the symptoms of COVID-19 patients in Hunan province were relatively mild comparing to patients in Wuhan, the epicenter. We observed some treatment benefits with interferon-α2b and corticosteroid therapies but not with novaferon and antibiotic treatment in our study population.


ACGME's Early Adaptation to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Principles and Lessons Learned


title: Leveraging Data Preparation, HBase NoSQL Storage, and HiveQL Querying for COVID-19 Big Data Analytics Projects

text: Epidemiologist, Scientists, Statisticians, Historians, Data engineers and Data scientists are working on finding descriptive models and theories to explain COVID-19 expansion phenomena or on building analytics predictive models for learning the apex of COVID-19 confimed cases, recovered cases, and deaths evolution curves. In CRISP-DM life cycle, 75% of time is consumed only by data preparation phase causing lot of pressions and stress on scientists and data scientists building machine learning models. This paper aims to help reducing data preparation efforts by presenting detailed schemas design and data preparation technical scripts for formatting and storing Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 daily data in HBase NoSQL data store, and enabling HiveQL COVID-19 data querying in a relational Hive SQL-like style.


title: Haemorrhagic conjunctivitis with pseudomembranous related to SARS-CoV-2

text: Purpose: To describe the multiplicity of ocular manifestations of COVID-19 patients, we report a case of pseudomembranous and hemorrhagic conjunctivitis related with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in a patient of intensive care unit (ICU). Observations: A 63-year-old male was admitted in intensive care unit (ICU), seven days after the beginning of an influenza-like symptoms, to manage an acute respiratory syndrome related with SARS-CoV-2. Chest scan showed interstitial pneumonia with "crazy paving" patterns. At day 19, ocular examination at the patient's bed described petechias and tarsal hemorrhages, mucous filaments and tarsal pseudomembranous. Conjunctival scrapings and swabs did not identify any bacteria or virus. To our knowledge, we described the first case of pseudomembranous conjunctivitis in a COVID-19 patient. Conclusion and importance: Considering that SARS-CoV-2 is present in tears and conjunctival secretions, external ocular infections could be factors of infectious spreading. Physicians should be aware of late (>2 weeks) ocular complications in COVID-19 patients to prevent sequelae.


title: A numerical study of ventilation strategies for infection risk mitigation in general inpatient wards

text: Aerial dispersion of human exhaled microbial contaminants and subsequent contamination of surfaces is a potential route for infection transmission in hospitals. Most general hospital wards have ventilation systems that drive air and thus contaminants from the patient areas towards the corridors. This study investigates the transport mechanism and deposition patterns of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) within a typical six bedded general inpatient ward cubicle through numerical simulation. It demonstrates that both air change and exhaust airflow rates have significant effects on not only the airflow but also the particle distribution within a mechanically ventilated space. Moreover, the location of an infected patient within the ward cubicle is crucial in determining the extent of infection risk to other ward occupants. Hence, it is recommended to provide exhaust grilles in close proximity to a patient, preferably above each patient's bed. To achieve infection prevention and control, high exhaust airflow rate is also suggested. Regardless of the ventilation design, all patients and any surfaces within a ward cubicle should be regularly and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to remove microbial contamination. The outcome of this study can serve as a source of reference for hospital management to better ventilation design strategies for mitigating the risk of infection.


A catabolic state in a kidney transplant recipient with COVID-19


title: MSCs transplantation may be a potential therapeutic strategy for COVID-19 treatment

text: At present, SARS-Cov-2 is spread all over the world, becoming a serious threat to people's health. SARS-Cov-2 has a strong infection, and the mortality rate of severe patients after infection is high, but there is no effective treatment. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory functions, which can reduce the occurrence of cytokine storm syndrome and acute respiratory distress syndrome. At the same time, MSCs can reduce the level of pulmonary fibrosis and enhance tissue injury repair. In this short report, combined with the progress of preclinical and clinical research, we comment the efficacy of MSCs in the treatment of COVID-19.


title: Impacts of Covid-19 mode shift on road traffic

text: This article is driven by the following question: as the communities reopen after the COVID-19 pandemic, will changing transportation mode share lead to worse traffic than before? This question could be critical especially if many people rush to single occupancy vehicles. To this end, we estimate how congestion will increases as the number of cars increase on the road, and identify the most sensitive cites to drop in transit usage. Travel time and mode share data from the American Community Survey of the US Census Bureau, for metro areas across the US. A BPR model is used to relate average travel times to the estimated number of commuters traveling by car. We then evaluate increased vehicle volumes on the road if different portions of transit and car pool users switch to single-occupancy vehicles, and report the resulting travel time from the BPR model. The scenarios predict that cities with large transit ridership are at risk for extreme traffic unless transit systems can resume safe, high throughput operations quickly.


title: Robust predictive model for Carriers, Infections and Recoveries (CIR): predicting death rates for CoVid-19 in Spain

text: This article presents a new model to predict the evolution of infective diseases under uncertainty or low-quality information, just as it has happened in the initial scenario during the CoVid-19 spread in China and Europe. The model has been used to predict the death rate in Spain but can be used to predict the demand of ICUs or mechanical ventilators under different restraint policies. The main novelty of the model is that it keeps track of the date of infection of a single individual and uses stochastic distributions to aggregate individuals who share the same date of infection. In addition, it uses two types of infections, mild and serious, with a different recovery time. These features are implemented in a set of differential equations which determine the number of Carriers, Infections, Recoveries, Hospitalized and Deaths. Comparison with real data shows good agreement.


title: Perceptions of obstetricians and pediatricians about the risk of COVID-19 for pregnant women and newborns

text: OBJECTIVE: To assess the perception of obstetricians and pediatricians about risks of COVID-19 on pregnant women and possible complications in newborns. METHODS: A structured 27-item online survey was sent via social media messaging to obstetricians and pediatricians from public, academic, and private sectors in Jordan between March 23-30, 2020. Descriptive statistics were used to represent numbers and percentages of participants' responses to survey items. RESULTS: A total of 147 physicians participated (107 obstetricians, 40 pediatricians). Participants were well informed about the symptoms, diagnosis, modes of transmission, and methods of prevention. Participants had variable perceptions about COVID-19 risk during pregnancy, including potential vertical transmission, preferred route of delivery, and safety of breastfeeding. Most participants felt that pregnant women should be prioritized for testing and medical care provision. CONCLUSION: While evidence-based strategies to reduce the risks of COVID-19 in pregnant women and newborns are evolving, healthcare providers showed excellent knowledge of the infection and were vigilant regarding its complications for mothers and newborns. To ensure safe pregnancy, physicians must keep informed of developing guidance on best and safest prenatal and perinatal health services. Implementing local hospital policies and adequate training in infection control measures is strongly encouraged.


Multifocal laminar cortical brain lesions: a consistent MRI finding in neuro-COVID-19 patients


Cardiovascular Research at the frontier of biomedical science


Convalescent COVID-19 Patients on Hemodialysis: When Should We End Isolation?


title: Long-Term ACE Inhibitor/ARB Use Is Associated with Severe Renal Dysfunction and Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with severe COVID-19: Results from a Referral Center Cohort in the North East of France

text: BACKGROUND: In patients with severe COVID-19, data are scarce and conflicting regarding whether chronic use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) influences disease outcomes. In patients with severe COVID-19, we assessed the association between chronic ACEI/ARB use and the occurrence of kidney, lung, heart, and liver dysfunctions and the severity of the inflammatory reaction as evaluated by biomarkers kinetics, and their association with disease outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective longitudinal cohort study on consecutive patients with newly diagnosed severe COVID-19. Independent predictors were assessed through receiver operating characteristic analysis, time-series analysis, logistic regression analysis, and multilevel modeling for repeated measures. RESULTS: On the 149 patients included in the study 30% (44/149) were treated with ACEI/ARB. ACEI/ARB use was independently associated with the following biochemical variations: phosphorus >40 mg/L (odds ratio [OR], 3.35, 95% CI, 1.83-6.14), creatinine >10.1 mg/L (OR, 3.22, 2.28-4.54), and urea nitrogen (UN) >0.52 g/L (OR, 2.65, 1.89-3.73). ACEI/ARB use was independently associated with acute kidney injury, AKI stage ≥1 (OR, 3.28, 2.17-4.94). The daily dose of ACEI/ARB was independently associated with altered kidney markers with an increased risk of +25 to +31% per each 10 mg increment of lisinopril-dose equivalent. In multivariable multilevel modeling, UN >0.52 g/L was independently associated with the risk of acute respiratory failure (OR, 3.54, 1.05-11.96). CONCLUSIONS: Patients chronically treated with ACEI/ARB who have severe COVID-19 are at increased risk of acute kidney injury. In these patients, the increase in UN associated with ACEI/ARB use could predict the development of acute respiratory failure.


title: False-positive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction screening for SARS-CoV-2 in the setting of urgent head and neck surgery and otolaryngologic emergencies during the pandemic: Clinical implications

text: BACKGROUND: No reports describe falsepositive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for novel coronavirus in preoperative screening. METHODS: Preoperative patients had one or two nasopharyngeal swabs, depending on low or high risk of viral transmission. Positive tests were repeated. RESULTS: Forty-three of 52 patients required two or more preoperative tests. Four (9.3%) had discrepant results (positive/negative). One of these left the coronavirus disease (COVID) unit against medical advice despite an orbital abscess, with unknown true disease status. The remaining 3 of 42 (7.1%) had negative repeat RT-PCR. Although ultimately considered falsepositives, one was sent to a COVID unit postoperatively and two had urgent surgery delayed. Assuming negative repeat RT-PCR, clear chest imaging, and lack of subsequent symptoms represent the "gold standard," RT-PCR specificity was 0.97. CONCLUSIONS: If false positives are suspected, we recommend computed tomography (CT) of the chest and repeat RT-PCR. Validated serum immunoglobulin testing may ultimately prove useful.


title: Mechanisms involved in the development of thrombocytopenia in patients with COVID-19

text: Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Emerging genetic and clinical evidence suggests similarities between COVID-19 patients and those with severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East respiratory syndrome. Hematological changes such as lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia are not rare in COVID-19 patients, and a smaller population of these patients had leukopenia. Thrombocytopenia was detected in 5-41.7% of the patients with COVID-19. Analyzing the dynamic decrease in platelet counts may be useful in the prognosis of patients with COVID-19. However, the mechanisms underlying the development of thrombocytopenia remain to be elucidated. This review summarizes the hematological changes in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and possible underlying mechanisms of thrombocytopenia development.


title: Coronavirus Disease 2019 Presenting as Conjunctivitis

text: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The world is currently challenged to handle this pandemic. The common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath. There are few reports on the association of SARS-CoV-2 with ocular abnormalities including conjunctivitis. We report a case of a 54-year-old woman who presented solely with conjunctivitis subsequently diagnosed with COVID-19. A lack of full history of her travel abroad was another issue leading to a delay in evaluating her COVID-19 status that increased the infection risk to her managing team. Thus, primary care practitioners should be suspicious of this atypical feature of COVID-19, thus enabling us to identify such patients at entry points. Maintaining safety measures while managing patients is also crucial.


title: Why re-invent the wheel if you've run out of road?

text: The COVID-19 disruption to 'business as usual' presents an opportunity for a profound change in oral healthcare experience for our patients and our profession. While the prospect of change has dominated professional dialogue for years, the post-COVID-19 era offers choices with respect to pace, proximity, preparedness, protection and equity. There is potential for a determined revision of the current activity-driven clinical approach, with the adoption of the minimally invasive oral care philosophy into routine practice and use of technology to remotely support our patients. Throughout COVID-19, the whole of the dental profession has demonstrated adaptability in redeployment and compassion in delivering care in a variety of settings. These vital traits and bold clinical leadership, prepared to make timely choices and act fast, will underpin our successful transition towards the safe resumption of routine dental services. In making the right choices, we have at hand a future integrated dental team care model with time to concentrate on personalised prevention advice, as well as the provision of effective, highly skilled treatment.


title: Public opinion and perception of rosé veal in the UK

text: Rosé veal is understood as meat from male purebred dairy calves. The UK veal market is limited, and calves are often killed at birth due to lack of purpose. A questionnaire, completed by 1002 respondents, investigated the UK public knowledge, perceptions and opinions of rosé veal, and whether raising awareness would sustain the rosé veal market. Most respondents (66%) did not eat rosé veal, mainly due to limited availability or exposure (31%) and animal welfare concerns (17%). A third of respondents knew the differences between rosé and white veal. After defining this, 61% of respondents would eat rosé veal, compared to 23% of respondents who ate it beforehand. Most respondents (91%) were willing to pay more for rosé veal burgers than the proposed average price for beef burgers. Increasing availability is key to encourage the sustainability of rosé veal production in the UK. These findings are useful for dairy farmers to strategically promote the use of purebred dairy bull calves.


title: Learning from Covid

text: Mrs. Clark's case was an ordinary consult in an extraordinary time. She was refusing dialysis, but the psychiatric unit had concluded that she lacked capacity for such decision-making. The only difference between Mrs. Clark's current hospitalization and the last two was that it was April 2020 and a virus called Covid-19 had overtaken our hospital. As the chief of Montefiore Medical Center's bioethics service, when I received a consult before the virus, I always saw the patient. Whether the patient had been in a vegetative state for a day or for years, it didn't matter. I would lay my hand on a leg or an arm and observe. But Covid-19 enforced physical boundaries between my team and our patients; I would not be able to meet Mrs. Clark. Our hospital responded to the attack on human connection by getting creative. We asked ourselves, which tools are still available to us? Answering this involved, in part, finding new ways for our team of clinical ethicists to support the clinicians caring for Mrs. Clark.


Sleep labs, lung function tests and COVID-19 pandemic - Only emergencies allowed!


Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis after SARS-CoV-2 infection


title: Stop Doing Needless Things! Saving Healthcare Resources During COVID-19 and Beyond

text: The COVID-19 outbreak is putting tremendous strain on the US healthcare system, with a direct impact on medical professionals, hospital systems, and physical resources. While comprehensive public health and regulatory efforts are essential to overcome this crisis, it is important to recognize this moment as an opportunity to provide more intelligent and more efficient care in spite of increasing patient volumes and fewer resources. Specifically, we must limit unnecessary and wasteful medical practices and improve the delivery of those services which enhance the quality of patient care. In doing so, we will increase availability of the critical resources required for the provision of high-quality care to those in greatest need both now and in the future.


title: Global supply-chain effects of COVID-19 control measures

text: Countries have sought to stop the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by severely restricting travel and in-person commercial activities. Here, we analyse the supply-chain effects of a set of idealized lockdown scenarios, using the latest global trade modelling framework. We find that supply-chain losses that are related to initial COVID-19 lockdowns are largely dependent on the number of countries imposing restrictions and that losses are more sensitive to the duration of a lockdown than its strictness. However, a longer containment that can eradicate the disease imposes a smaller loss than shorter ones. Earlier, stricter and shorter lockdowns can minimize overall losses. A 'go-slow' approach to lifting restrictions may reduce overall damages if it avoids the need for further lockdowns. Regardless of the strategy, the complexity of global supply chains will magnify losses beyond the direct effects of COVID-19. Thus, pandemic control is a public good that requires collective efforts and support to lower-capacity countries.


title: Difference of coagulation features between severe pneumonia induced by SARS-CoV2 and non-SARS-CoV2

text: Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is commonly complicated with coagulopathy, the difference of coagulation features between severe pneumonia induced by SARS-CoV2 and non-SARS-CoV2 has not been analyzed. Coagulation results and clinical features of consecutive patients with severe pneumonia induced by SARS-CoV2 (COVID group) and non-SARS-CoV2 (non-COVID group) in Tongji hospital were retrospectively analyzed and compared. Whether patients with elevated D-dimer could benefit from anticoagulant treatment was evaluated. There were 449 COVID patients and 104 non-COVID patients enrolled into the study. The 28-day mortality in COVID group was approximately twofold of mortality in non-COVID group (29.8% vs. 15.4%, P = 0.003), COVID group were older (65.1 ± 12.0 vs. 58.4 ± 18.0, years, P < 0.001) and with higher platelet count (215 ± 100 vs. 188 ± 98, ×109/L, P = 0.015), comparing to non-COVID group. The 28-day mortality of heparin users were lower than nonusers In COVID group with D-dimer > 3.0 µg/mL (32.8% vs. 52.4%, P = 0.017). Patients with severe pneumonia induced by SARS-CoV2 had higher platelet count than those induced by non-SARS-CoV2, and only the former with markedly elevated D-dimer may benefit from anticoagulant treatment.


Optimizing clinical staffing in times of a pandemic crisis such as COVID-19. Letter: Staffing with disease-based epidemiologic indices may reduce shortage of intensive care unit staff during the COVID-19 pandemic


The importance of the minimum dosage necessary for UVC decontamination of N95 respirators during the COVID-19 pandemic


The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak: think the unthinkable and be prepared to face the challenge


Just one more hygiene practice in COVID-19


title: Short-term forecasts of COVID-19 spread across Indian states until 1 May 2020

text: The very first case of corona-virus illness was recorded on 30 January 2020, in India and the number of infected cases, including the death toll, continues to rise. In this paper, we present short-term forecasts of COVID-19 for 28 Indian states and five union territories using real-time data from 30 January to 21 April 2020. Applying Holt's second-order exponential smoothing method and autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model, we generate 10-day ahead forecasts of the likely number of infected cases and deaths in India for 22 April to 1 May 2020. Our results show that the number of cumulative cases in India will rise to 36335.63 [PI 95% (30884.56, 42918.87)], concurrently the number of deaths may increase to 1099.38 [PI 95% (959.77, 1553.76)] by 1 May 2020. Further, we have divided the country into severity zones based on the cumulative cases. According to this analysis, Maharashtra is likely to be the most affected states with around 9787.24 [PI 95% (6949.81, 13757.06)] cumulative cases by 1 May 2020. However, Kerala and Karnataka are likely to shift from the red zone (i.e. highly affected) to the lesser affected region. On the other hand, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh will move to the red zone. These results mark the states where lockdown by 3 May 2020, can be loosened.


title: Cardiac Rehabilitation During Quarantine in COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges for Center-Based Programs

text: Because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, many cardiac rehabilitation (CR) services and programs are stopped. Because CR is a class I level A recommendation with clinical benefits that are now well documented, the cessation of CR programs can lead to dramatic consequences in terms of public health. We propose here a viewpoint of significant interest about the sudden need to develop remote home-based CR programs both in clinical research and in clinical care routine. This last decade, the literature on remote home-based CR programs has been increasing, but to date only clinical research experiences have been implemented. Benefits are numerous and the relevance of this approach has obviously increased with the actual health emergency. The COVID-19 crisis, the important prevalence of smartphones, and high-speed Internet during confinement should be viewed as an opportunity to promote a major shift in CR programs with the use of telemedicine to advance the health of a larger number of individuals with cardiac disease.


title: Spezielle ophthalmologische Schutzmaßnahmen in der COVID19Pandemie./ [COVID-19 preparedness in ophthalmology]

text: BACKGROUND: Healthcare work is a risk factor for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). OBJECTIVES: To review risk mitigation strategies in ophthalmology during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Risk mitigation strategies to maintain ophthalmology care, to prevent collateral damage from care disruption, and to prevent the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are summarized based on the example of a tertiary referral center in Germany. RESULTS: Clinical management strategies included restricted access to buildings, triage systems, telemedicine approaches, strategies for rapid treat and release, and transparent communication strategies. Strategies to protect patients and staff relied on both standard hygiene precautions and the use of personal protective equipment for prevention of droplet infections. Physical barriers supported risk mitigation strategies. CONCLUSION: To maintain ophthalmological care during the COVID-19 pandemic, a coordinated, multifaceted approach using risk mitigation strategies to protect staff, patients, and the public was initiated.


title: BCG vaccine and COVID-19: implications for infection prophylaxis and cancer immunotherapy

text: The COVID-19 pandemic has killed over 400 000 people globally. Ecological evidence indicates that countries with national universal BCG vaccination programs for tuberculosis (TB) prevention have a much lower incidence of severe COVID-19 and mortality compared with those that do not have such programs. BCG is a century old vaccine used for TB prevention via infant/childhood vaccination in lowto middle-income countries with high infection prevalence rate and is known to reduce all-cause neonatal mortality. BCG remains the standard immunotherapy treatment for patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer globally for more than 44 years. Several trials are, therefore, investigating BCG as a prophylactic against COVID-19 in healthcare workers and the elderly. In this commentary, we discuss the potential mechanisms that may underlie BCG associated heterologous protection with a focus on tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) organogenesis. Given the significance of TLSs in mucosal immunity, their association with positive prognosis and response to immune checkpoint blockade with a critical role of Type I interferon (IFN-1) in inducing these, we also discuss potentiating TLS formation as a promising approach to enhance anti-tumor immunity. We propose that lessons learned from BCG immunotherapy success could be applied to not only augment such microbe-based therapeutics but also lead to similar adjunctive IFN-1 activating approaches to improve response to immune checkpoint blockade therapy in cancer.


COVID-19 pneumonia: what is the role of imaging in diagnosis?


title: Transmission and risk factors of OF COVID-19

text: SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is transmitted through respiratory secretions and saliva. The virus can also live for short periods of time (1 to several hours) on fomites such as doorknobs, handrails, and tables. Aerosolization of the virus can occur during procedures including bronchoscopy, endotracheal intubation, and administration of nebulized treatments. Asymptomatic shedding of the virus does occur and may account for up to 60% of cases. Risk factors for a more severe course of COVID-19 include age 65 and older, living in a nursing home or long term care facility, chronic lung disease, and others.


title: Searching for SARS-COV-2 on Particulate Matter: A Possible Early Indicator of COVID-19 Epidemic Recurrence

text: A number of nations were forced to declare a total shutdown due to COVID-19 infection, as extreme measure to cope with dramatic impact of the pandemic, with remarkable consequences both in terms of negative health outcomes and economic loses. However, in many countries a "Phase-2" is approaching and many activities will re-open soon, although with some differences depending on the severity of the outbreak experienced and SARS-COV-2 estimated diffusion in the general population. At the present, possible relapses of the epidemic cannot be excluded until effective vaccines or immunoprophylaxis with human recombinant antibodies will be properly set up and commercialized. COVD-19-related quarantines have triggered serious social challenges, so that decision makers are concerned about the risk of wasting all the sacrifices imposed to the people in these months of quarantine. The availability of possible early predictive indicators of future epidemic relapses would be very useful for public health purposes, and could potentially prevent the suspension of entire national economic systems. On 16 March, a Position Paper launched by the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA) hypothesized for the first time a possible link between the dramatic impact of COVID-19 outbreak in Northern Italy and the high concentrations of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) that characterize this area, along with its well-known specific climatic conditions. Thereafter, a survey carried out in the U.S. by the Harvard School of Public Health suggested a strong association between increases in particulate matter concentration and mortality rates due to COVID-19. The presence of SARS-COV-2 RNA on the particulate matter of Bergamo, which is not far from Milan and represents the epicenter of the Italian epidemic, seems to confirm (at least in case of atmospheric stability and high PM concentrations, as it usually occurs in Northern Italy) that the virus can create clusters with the particles and be carried and detected on PM10. Although no assumptions can be made concerning the link between this first experimental finding and COVID-19 outbreak progression or severity, the presence of SARS-COV-2 RNA on PM10 of outdoor air samples in any city of the world could represent a potential early indicator of COVID-19 diffusion. Searching for the viral genome on particulate matter could therefore be explored among the possible strategies for adopting all the necessary preventive measures before future epidemics start.


A case of goggle-mask-related impetigo at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic


title: From Helpless to Hero: Promoting Values-Based Behavior and Positive Family Interaction in the Midst of COVID-19

text: Parents managing their home environments during government-ordered stay-at-home periods are likely to need new skills for occupying their children's time with activities that promote health and emotional well-being. Moreover, parents and children know they need help managing these circumstances. Perhaps for the first time, behavior analysts hold the reinforcers for increasing parental involvement in effective child-rearing practices. In fact, behavior analysts can help parents enlist their children in managing the household by framing their behavior in terms of hidden superpowers. In the current article, we argue that behavior analysts have a range of tools to offer that are grounded in evidence-based principles, strategies, and kernels-or essential units of behavioral influence. When combined into scheduled daily practices and invoked by children taught to see their use of the tools as nothing short of heroic, these practices function as "vaccinations" that inoculate families against toxic and unsafe behaviors.


docid: mmyujwbw

title: EPO in Patients With COVID-19: More Than an Erythropoietic Hormone


title: Prognostic Value of Cardiovascular Biomarkers in COVID-19: A Review

text: In early December 2019, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) first emerged in Wuhan, China. As of May 10th, 2020, a total of over 4 million COVID-19 cases and 280,000 deaths have been reported globally, reflecting the raised infectivity and severity of this virus. Amongst hospitalised COVID-19 patients, there is a high prevalence of established cardiovascular disease (CVD). There is evidence showing that COVID-19 may exacerbate cardiovascular risk factors and preexisting CVD or may lead to cardiovascular complications. With intensive care units operating at maximum capacity and such staggering mortality rates reported, it is imperative during this time-sensitive COVID-19 outbreak to identify patients with an increased risk of adverse outcomes and/or myocardial injury. Preliminary findings from COVID-19 studies have shown the association of biomarkers of acute cardiac injury and coagulation with worse prognosis. While these biomarkers are recognised for CVD, there is emerging prospect that they may aid prognosis in COVID-19, especially in patients with cardiovascular comorbidities or risk factors that predispose to worse outcomes. Consequently, the aim of this review is to identify cardiovascular prognostic factors associated with morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 and to highlight considerations for incorporating laboratory testing of biomarkers of cardiovascular performance in COVID-19 to optimise outcomes.


title: Clinical characteristics and chest CT imaging features of critically ill COVID-19 patients

text: OBJECTIVES: To compare clinical, laboratory, and chest computed tomography (CT) findings in critically ill patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who survived and who died. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed 60 critically ill patients (43 males and 17 females, mean age 64.4 ± 11.0 years) with COVID-19 pneumonia who were admitted to two different clinical centers. Their clinical and medical records were analyzed, and the chest CT images were assessed to determine the involvement of lobes and the distribution of lesions in the lungs between the patients who recovered from the illness and those who died. RESULTS: Compared with recovered patients (50/60, 83%), deceased patients (10/60, 17%) were older (mean age, 70.6 vs. 62.6 years, p = 0.044). C-reactive protein (CRP) (110.8 ± 26.3 mg/L vs 63.0 ± 50.4 mg/L, p < 0.001) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (18.7 ± 16.6 vs 8.4 ± 7.5, p = 0.030) were significantly elevated in the deceased as opposed to the recovered. Medial or parahilar area involvement was observed in all the deceased patients (10/10, 100%), when compared to only 54% (27/50) in the recovered. Ground-glass opacities (97%), crazy-paving pattern (92%), and air bronchogram (93%) were the most common radiological findings. There was significant difference in diabetes (p = 0.025) and emphysema (p = 0.013), and the odds ratio on a deceased patient having diabetes and emphysema was 6 times and 21 times the odds ratio on a recovered patient having diabetes and emphysema, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Older patients with comorbidities such as diabetes and emphysema, and higher CRP and NLRs with diffuse lung involvement were more likely to die of COVID-19. KEY POINTS: â¢ Almost all patients critically ill with COVID-19 pneumonia had five lung lobes involved. â¢ Medial or parahilar area involvement and degree of lung involvement were more serious in the deceased patients when compared with those who recovered from treatment. â¢ Chronic lung disease, e.g., emphysema, diabetes, and higher serum CRP and NLR characterized patients who died of COVID-19.


title: Characteristics of U.S. Nursing Homes with COVID-19 Cases

text: BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been documented in a large share of nursing homes throughout the United States, leading to high rates of mortality for residents. To understand how to prevent and mitigate future outbreaks, it is imperative that we understand which nursing homes are more likely to experience COVID-19 cases. Our aim was to examine the characteristics of nursing homes with documented COVID-19 cases in the 30 states reporting the individual facilities affected. DESIGN: We constructed a database of nursing homes with verified COVID-19 cases as of May 11, 2020, via correspondence with and publicly available reports from state departments of health. We linked this information to nursing home characteristics and used regression analysis to examine the association between these characteristics and the likelihood of having a documented COVID-19 case. SETTING: All nursing homes from 30 states that reported COVID-19 cases at the facility-level. PARTICIPANTS: Nursing home residents in states reporting data. MEASUREMENTS: Whether a nursing home had a reported COVID-19 case (yes/no), and conditional on having a case, the number of cases at a nursing home. RESULTS: Of 9,395 nursing homes in our sample, 2,949 (31.4%) had a documented COVID-19 case. Larger facility size, urban location, greater percentage of African American residents, non-chain status, and state were significantly (P < .05) related to the increased probability of having a COVID-19 case. Five-star rating, prior infection violation, Medicaid dependency, and ownership were not significantly related. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 cases in nursing homes are related to facility location and size and not traditional quality metrics such as star rating and prior infection control citations.


title: Laboratory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 - A review of current methods

text: At present the whole world is facing pandemic of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19); caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This disease has rapidly spreads across the world from its origin of Wuhan, China and affected millions people worldwide and make them to remain in their homes. The knowledge of available laboratory methods is essential for early and correct diagnosis of COVID-19 to identify new cases as well as monitoring treatment of confirmed cases. In this review we aim to provide the updated information about selection of specimens and availability of various diagnostic methods and their utility with current findings for the laboratory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This will guide the healthcare professionals and government organizations to make strategy for establishing diagnostic facilities for SARS-CoV-2 infections.


title: TICO-19: the Translation Initiative for Covid-19

text: The COVID-19 pandemic is the worst pandemic to strike the world in over a century. Crucial to stemming the tide of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is communicating to vulnerable populations the means by which they can protect themselves. To this end, the collaborators forming the Translation Initiative for COvid-19 (TICO-19) have made test and development data available to AI and MT researchers in 35 different languages in order to foster the development of tools and resources for improving access to information about COVID-19 in these languages. In addition to 9 high-resourced,"pivot"languages, the team is targeting 26 lesser resourced languages, in particular languages of Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia, whose populations may be the most vulnerable to the spread of the virus. The same data is translated into all of the languages represented, meaning that testing or development can be done for any pairing of languages in the set. Further, the team is converting the test and development data into translation memories (TMXs) that can be used by localizers from and to any of the languages.


[Interim Guidelines for Prevention and Control of COVID-19 for Students Back to School]


title: SARS-Cov-2RNA found on particulate matter of Bergamo in Northern Italy: First evidence

text: BACKGROUND: The burden of COVID-19 was extremely severe in Northern Italy, an area characterized by high concentrations of particulate matter (PM), which is known to negatively affect human health. Consistently with evidence already available for other viruses, we initially hypothesized the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 presence on PM, and we performed a first experiment specifically aimed at confirming or excluding this research hyphotesys. METHODS: We have collected 34 PM10 samples in Bergamo area (the epicenter of the Italian COVID-19 epidemic) by using two air samplers over a continuous 3-weeks period. Filters were properly stored and underwent RNA extraction and amplification according to WHO protocols in two parallel blind analyses performed by two different authorized laboratories. Up to three highly specific molecular marker genes (E, N, and RdRP) were used to test the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on particulate matter. RESULTS: The first test showed positive results for gene E in 15 out of 16 samples, simultaneously displaying positivity also for RdRP gene in 4 samples. The second blind test got 5 additional positive results for at least one of the three marker genes. Overall, we tested 34 RNA extractions for the E, N and RdRP genes, reporting 20 positive results for at least one of the three marker genes, with positivity separately confirmed for all the three markers. Control tests to exclude false positivities were successfully accomplished. CONCLUSION: This is the first evidence that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be present on PM, thus suggesting a possible use as indicator of epidemic recurrence.


SARS-CoV-2: una presentación peculiar./ [SARS-CoV-2: A peculiar presentation]


Obesity and COVID-19: The clash of two pandemics


title: The Rapid Transformation of Cardiac Surgery Practice in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: Insights and Clinical Strategies From a Center at the Epicenter

text: BACKGROUND: The onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has forced our cardiac surgery program and hospital to enact drastic measures that has forced us to change how we care for cardiac surgery patients, assist with COVID-19 care, and enable support for the hospital in terms of physical resources, providers, and resident training. METHODS: In this review, we review the cardiovascular manifestations of COVID-19 and describe our system-wide adaptations to the pandemic, including the use of telemedicine, how a severe reduction in operative volume affected our program, the process of redeployment of staff, repurposing of residents into specific task teams, the creation of operation room intensive care units, and the challenges that we faced in this process. RESULTS: We offer a revised set of definitions of surgical priority during this pandemic and how this was applied to our system, followed by specific considerations in coronary/valve, aortic, heart failure and transplant surgery. Finally, we outline a path forward for cardiac surgery for the near future. CONCLUSIONS: We recognize that individual programs around the world will eventually face COVID-19 with varying levels of infection burden and different resources, and we hope this document can assist programs to plan for the future.


title: Fast news or fake news?: The advantages and the pitfalls of rapid publication through pre-print servers during a pandemic

text: Pre-print servers have helped to rapidly publish important information during the COVID-19 pandemic. The downside is the risk of spreading false information or fake news though.


Weight Stigma and the "Quarantine-15"


title: Equitably Sharing the Benefits and Burdens of Research: Covid-19 Raises the Stakes

text: One of the central principles of research ethics is that the benefits and burdens of research with human participants should be equitably distributed. This principle has important implications for where research will be conducted, how participants will be recruited, what questions will be investigated, and who will control the distribution of any innovations that result. In the context of Covid-19, key issues include providing support to clinical trials in low- and middle-income countries, without taking needed resources away from other critical clinical and public health needs; designing recruitment strategies likely to generate sufficient enrollment from groups that have been disproportionately burdened by the virus, such as African Americans; supporting studies designed to improve outcomes in high-risk environments, such as nursing homes and group homes for the developmentally disabled; and ensuring that the medical products resulting from research are made available throughout the world at an affordable price. If clinical trials are not designed with equity considerations consciously in mind, the response to the pandemic may further exacerbate disparities in health status between population groups.


In the eye of the COVID-19 cytokine storm


title: The short-term impact of COVID-19 pandemic on spine surgeons: a cross-sectional global study

text: PURPOSE: The outbreak of COVID-19 erupted in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. In a few weeks, it progressed rapidly into a global pandemic which resulted in an overwhelming burden on health care systems, medical resources and staff. Spine surgeons as health care providers are no exception. In this study, we try to highlight the impact of the crisis on spine surgeons in terms of knowledge, attitude, practice and socioeconomic burden. METHODS: This was global, multicentric cross-sectional study on 781 spine surgeons that utilized an Internet-based validated questionnaire to evaluate knowledge about COVID-19, availability of personal protective equipment, future perceptions, effect of this crisis on practice and psychological distress. Univariate and multivariate ordinal logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the predictors for the degree of COVID-19 effect on practice. RESULTS: Overall, 20.2%, 52% and 27.8% of the participants were affected minimally, intermediately and hugely by COVID-19, respectively. Older ages (ß = 0.33, 95% CI 0.11-0.56), orthopedic spine surgeons (ß = 0.30, 95% CI 0.01-0.61) and those who work in the private sector (ß = 0.05, 95% CI 0.19-0.61) were the most affected by COVID-19. Those who work in university hospitals (ß = - 0.36, 95% CI 0.00 to - 0.71) were affected the least. The availability of N95 masks (47%) and disposable eye protectors or face shields (39.4%) was significantly associated with lower psychological stress (p = 0.01). Only 6.9%, 3.7% and 5% had mild, moderate and severe mental distress, respectively. CONCLUSION: While it is important to recognize the short-term impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the practice of spine surgery, predicting where we will be standing in 6-12 months remains difficult and unknown. The COVID-19 crisis will probably have an unexpected long-term impact on lives and economies.