Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 931 in total

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  1. Mawaddah A, Gendeh HS, Lum SG, Marina MB
    Malays J Pathol, 2020 Apr;42(1):23-35.
    PMID: 32342928
    INTRODUCTION: To review the present literature on upper respiratory tract sampling in COVID-19 and provide recommendations to improve healthcare practices and directions in future studies.

    METHODS: Twelve relevant manuscripts were sourced from a total of 7288 search results obtained using PubMed, Medline and Google Scholar. The search keywords used were COVID-19, nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, swabs, SARS and CoV2. Original manuscripts were obtained and analysed by all authors. The review included manuscripts which have not undergone rigorous peer-review process in view of the magnitude of the topic discussed.

    RESULTS: The viral load of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the upper respiratory tract was significantly higher during the first week and peaked at 4-6 days after onset of symptoms, during which it can be potentially sampled. Nasopharyngeal swab has demonstrated higher viral load than oropharyngeal swab, where the difference in paired samples is best seen at 0-9 days after the onset of illness. Sensitivity of nasopharyngeal swab was higher than oropharyngeal swabs in COVID-19 patients. Patient self-collected throat washing has been shown to contain higher viral load than nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swab, with significantly higher sensitivity when compared with paired nasopharyngeal swab.

    RECOMMENDATIONS: Routine nasopharyngeal swab of suspected COVID-19 infection should take anatomy of the nasal cavity into consideration to increase patient comfort and diagnostic yield. Routine oropharyngeal swab should be replaced by throat washing which has demonstrated better diagnostic accuracy, and it is safe towards others.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pandemics
  2. Kofi Ayittey F, Dzuvor C, Kormla Ayittey M, Bennita Chiwero N, Habib A
    J Med Virol, 2020 Apr;92(4):403-407.
    PMID: 32017153 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25695
    Matched MeSH terms: Pandemics
  3. Tam LS, Tanaka Y, Handa R, Li Z, Lorenzo JP, Louthrenoo W, et al.
    Int J Rheum Dis, 2021 Jun;24(6):733-745.
    PMID: 33945214 DOI: 10.1111/1756-185X.14124
    AIM: To update previous guidance of the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR) on the management of patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

    METHODS: Research questions were formulated focusing on diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with RMD within the context of the pandemic, including the management of RMD in patients who developed COVID-19. MEDLINE was searched for eligible studies to address the questions, and the APLAR COVID-19 task force convened 2 meetings through video conferencing to discuss its findings and integrate best available evidence with expert opinion. Consensus statements were finalized using the modified Delphi process.

    RESULTS: Agreement was obtained around key aspects of screening for or diagnosis of COVID-19; management of patients with RMD without confirmed COVID-19; and management of patients with RMD with confirmed COVID-19. The task force achieved consensus on 25 statements covering the potential risk of acquiring COVID-19 in RMD patients, advice on RMD medication adjustment and continuation, the roles of telemedicine and vaccination, and the impact of the pandemic on quality of life and on treatment adherence.

    CONCLUSIONS: Available evidence primarily from descriptive research supported new recommendations for aspects of RMD care not covered in the previous document, particularly with regard to risk factors for complicated COVID-19 in RMD patients, modifications to RMD treatment regimens in the context of the pandemic, and COVID-19 vaccination in patients with RMD.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pandemics*
  4. Mohd MH, Sulayman F
    Chaos Solitons Fractals, 2020 Sep;138:109943.
    PMID: 32834577 DOI: 10.1016/j.chaos.2020.109943
    COVID-19 is an emerging and rapidly evolving pandemic around the world, which causes severe acute respiratory syndrome and results in substantial morbidity and mortality. To examine the transmission dynamics of COVID-19, we investigate the spread of this pandemic using Malaysia as a case study and scrutinise its interactions with some exogenous factors such as limited medical resources and false detection problems. To do this, we employ a simple epidemiological model and analyse this system using modelling and dynamical systems techniques. We discover some contrasting findings with respect to the observations of basic reproduction number: while it is observed that R0 seems to provide a good description of transmission dynamics in simple outbreak scenarios, this quantity might mislead the assessment on the severity of pandemic when certain complexities such as limited medical resources and false detection problems are incorporated into the model. In particular, we observe the possibility of a COVID-19 outbreak through bistable behaviour, even when the basic reproduction number is less than unity. Based on these findings, we caution policy makers not to make their decisions solely based on the guidance of the basic reproduction number only, which clearly could cause trouble.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pandemics
  5. Segaran Ramodran, Yeap Boon Tat, Norkiah Saat, Constance Liew Sat Lin, Nur Atikah Md Taib, Symeon Mandrinos
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Recent Coronavirus outbreak has raised concern among student nurses who are doing their clinical posting tenure regarding the risk ofpatient acquired infection. This study examined perceived readiness to pro- vide coronavirus patient careduring clinical posting among student nurses in UMS. Method: This study deployed a cross-section survey design using a self-rated questionnaire to evaluate respondents’ level of readiness towards Coronavirus patient care. A total of 177 (N) respondents comprising of nursing students from UMS (year 1 n=55, year 2 n=56, year 3 n=66) participated in the study. The study questionnaire captured demographics and comprised of 15Likert -scale items that assessed the level of perceived readiness to provide Coronavirus patient care. The ques- tionnaire was adapted from a previous SARs pandemic studyand revalidated within the local context (α = 0.78). Data analysis used descriptive statistics by frequency counts and Fisher exact test for demographic correlates with the level of readiness. Results: Among 177 student nurses in this study68% (n= 121) were willing and ready to provide Coronavirus patient care and 32% (n = 56) were hesitant or not willing. Regarding confidence of safety using PPE to provide patient care, 34 % (n = 61) of respondents rated not confident and deemed it hazardous even with full PPE use. On the issue of if legally mandated to care for Coronavirus patients, 22% were hesitant to provide care and will considerleaving nursing training if compelled to do so. There was a significantly lower perceived level of readiness towards Coronavirus patient care among 1st-year student nurses and those who had not attended any Coronavirus educational session (p= 0.06). Conclusion: The findings indicate although the majority of student nurses are willing to provide care for Coronavirus infected patients during their clinical posting tenure, a small proportion of student’s nurses were hesitant.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pandemics
  6. Lee,Sze Chet, Ng,Chun Keat, Mohd Amiruddin Mohd Kassim, Pang,Nicholas Tze Ping
    Borneo Epidemiology Journal, 2020;1(1):79-87.
    MyJurnal
    COVID-19 has impacted the world in many ways due to fears of contracting the pandemic, social distancing, and large-scale movement control rules. These have especially grave consequences for inpatient psychiatry. This article reviews measures taken to adapt to the new norm in inpatient care, both for standalone psychiatry units and consultation-liaison units. For inpatient units, changes have been made for personal protective equipment usage, screening and triaging policies, and training and educational policies. Consultation liaison units together with inpatient units have been required to expand the scope of coverage and difficulties by providing certain teleconsultation services. As the new norm takes precedence, Sabah has to embrace and empower community-based psychiatry services for better outreach and coverage. This article discusses the issues underlying the new norm in the management of inpatient psychiatry patients in both units and presents some points and practical solutions on the ground to instil hope
    Matched MeSH terms: Pandemics
  7. Kim YE
    Child Abuse Negl, 2022 Aug;130(Pt 1):105474.
    PMID: 34996620 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105474
    BACKGROUND: Risk factors for child maltreatment have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially due to economic downfalls leading to parental job losses and poor mental health.

    OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the association between child maltreatment and unemployment rate in the Republic of Korea.

    PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Nationally representative data at the province level were used.

    METHODS: The monthly excess number of hotline calls related to child maltreatment during the COVID-19 pandemic was estimated for each province. Fixed effects regressions was used to examine the relationship between the excess number of hotline calls and unemployment rate.

    RESULTS: The average excess number of hotline calls was significantly negative in the early stage of the pandemic, but became significantly positive afterwards except for some months with averages not statistically different from zero. The regression results showed that an increase of male unemployment rate by 1% was significantly associated with an increase in the excess number of hotline calls by 0.15-0.17 per 10,000 children for most dependent variables for the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The statistical significance of female unemployment rate was mixed with the opposite sign of the coefficient to that of male unemployment. Overall unemployment rate was not significant.

    CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that disruptions in child welfare services should be avoided to prevent underreporting of or delayed responses to suspected cases. Also, policies need to be designed considering potential pathways from economic downfalls, especially male unemployment, to child maltreatment.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pandemics
  8. Salvamani S, Tan HZ, Thang WJ, Ter HC, Wan MS, Gunasekaran B, et al.
    Br J Biomed Sci, 2020 Oct;77(4):168-184.
    PMID: 32942955 DOI: 10.1080/09674845.2020.1826136
    The COVID-19 disease is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is highly infective within the human population. The virus is widely disseminated to almost every continent with over twenty-seven million infections and over ninety-thousand reported deaths attributed to COVID-19 disease. SARS-CoV-2 is a single stranded RNA virus, comprising three main viral proteins; membrane, spike and envelope. The clinical features of COVID-19 disease can be classified according to different degrees of severity, with some patients progressing to acute respiratory distress syndrome, which can be fatal. In addition, many infections are asymptomatic or only cause mild symptoms. As there is no specific treatment for COVID-19 there is considerable endeavour to raise a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, in addition to engineering neutralizing antibody interventions. In the absence of an effective vaccine, movement controls of varying stringencies have been imposed. Whilst enforced lockdown measures have been effective, they may be less effective against the current strain of SARS-CoV-2, the G614 clade. Conversely, other mutations of the virus, such as the Δ382 variant could reduce the clinical relevance of infection. The front runners in the race to develop an effective vaccine focus on the SARS-Co-V-2 Spike protein. However, vaccines that produce a T-cell response to a wider range of SARS-Co-V-2 viral proteins, may be more effective. Population based studies that determine the level of innate immunity to SARS-CoV-2, from prior exposure to the virus or to other coronaviruses, will have important implications for government imposed movement control and the strategic delivery of vaccination programmes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pandemics*
  9. Ng KH, Kemp R
    J Zhejiang Univ Sci B, 2020 9 8;21(9):752-754.
    PMID: 32893533 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.B2000228
    The world is now plagued by a pandemic of unprecedented nature caused by a novel, emerging, and still poorly understood infectious disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (Wu and McGoogan, 2020). In addition to the rapidly growing body of scientific and medical literature that is being published, extensive public reports and stories in both the traditional media and social media have served to generate fear, panic, stigmatization, and instances of xenophobia (Zarocostas, 2020).
    Matched MeSH terms: Pandemics
  10. Feizollah A, Anuar NB, Mehdi R, Firdaus A, Sulaiman A
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2022 May 21;19(10).
    PMID: 35627806 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19106269
    The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented challenges for people and governments. Vaccines are an available solution to this pandemic. Recipients of the vaccines are of different ages, gender, and religion. Muslims follow specific Islamic guidelines that prohibit them from taking a vaccine with certain ingredients. This study aims at analyzing Facebook and Twitter data to understand the discourse related to halal vaccines using aspect-based sentiment analysis and text emotion analysis. We searched for the term "halal vaccine" and limited the timeline to the period between 1 January 2020, and 30 April 2021, and collected 6037 tweets and 3918 Facebook posts. We performed data preprocessing on tweets and Facebook posts and built the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model to identify topics. Calculating the sentiment analysis for each topic was the next step. Finally, this study further investigates emotions in the data using the National Research Council of Canada Emotion Lexicon. Our analysis identified four topics in each of the Twitter dataset and Facebook dataset. Two topics of "COVID-19 vaccine" and "halal vaccine" are shared between the two datasets. The other two topics in tweets are "halal certificate" and "must halal", while "sinovac vaccine" and "ulema council" are two other topics in the Facebook dataset. The sentiment analysis shows that the sentiment toward halal vaccine is mostly neutral in Twitter data, whereas it is positive in Facebook data. The emotion analysis indicates that trust is the most present emotion among the top three emotions in both datasets, followed by anticipation and fear.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pandemics/prevention & control
  11. Ping NPT, Shoesmith WD, James S, Nor Hadi NM, Yau EKB, Lin LJ
    Malays J Med Sci, 2020 Mar;27(2):51-56.
    PMID: 32788841 MyJurnal DOI: 10.21315/mjms2020.27.2.6
    The ultra-brief psychological interventions (UBPI) was created in 2018 to empower healthcare providers with psychological skills that can be delivered within a short period. Techniques used within UBPI were adopted from a variety of well established psychotherapies and distilled into its core essentials. This enabled practitioners of UBPI to deliver specific psychological skills in the appropriate context to the client within a period of 15-20 min. UBPI was also manualised to standardised training of practitioners. During the novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, UBPI was modified to suit the unique psychological demands of the pandemic. This article presents how UBPI was adapted and used with healthcare providers dealing with COVID-19 and also with the public who required psychological first aid (PFA).
    Matched MeSH terms: Pandemics
  12. Chen B, Zhao Y, Jin Z, He D, Li H
    BMC Infect Dis, 2023 Jan 13;23(1):25.
    PMID: 36639649 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-07984-9
    BACKGROUND: The ongoing coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has emerged and caused multiple pandemic waves in the following six countries: India, Indonesia, Nepal, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Some of the countries have been much less studied in this devastating pandemic. This study aims to assess the impact of the Omicron variant in these six countries and estimate the infection fatality rate (IFR) and the reproduction number [Formula: see text] in these six South Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania countries.

    METHODS: We propose a Susceptible-Vaccinated-Exposed-Infectious-Hospitalized-Death-Recovered model with a time-varying transmission rate [Formula: see text] to fit the multiple waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and to estimate the IFR and [Formula: see text] in the aforementioned six countries. The level of immune evasion and the intrinsic transmissibility advantage of the Omicron variant are also considered in this model.

    RESULTS: We fit our model to the reported deaths well. We estimate the IFR (in the range of 0.016 to 0.136%) and the reproduction number [Formula: see text] (in the range of 0 to 9) in the six countries. Multiple pandemic waves in each country were observed in our simulation results.

    CONCLUSIONS: The invasion of the Omicron variant caused the new pandemic waves in the six countries. The higher [Formula: see text] suggests the intrinsic transmissibility advantage of the Omicron variant. Our model simulation forecast implies that the Omicron pandemic wave may be mitigated due to the increasing immunized population and vaccine coverage.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pandemics
  13. Malik AS, Malik RH
    Med Teach, 2021 Apr 09.
    PMID: 33836640 DOI: 10.1080/0142159X.2021.1910642
    INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the educators to creatively develop teaching and assessment methods that can work effectively and efficiently while maintaining the social distancing and avoiding the gatherings of the classrooms and examination halls. Online approach has emerged as an effective alternate for classroom teaching.

    AIM: To equip faculty with tools to conduct TBL session online, synchronously, effectively and efficiently.

    METHODS: We examined the published literature in the area of online teaching and combined it with our own experience of conducting TBL sessions online.

    RESULTS: We created 12 tips to assist faculty to facilitate an effective and engaging TBL session online.

    CONCLUSIONS: Applying these 12 tips while facilitating a TBL-online session will ensure the full engagement of students in the process of active learning.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pandemics
  14. Nadarajah VD, Er HM, Lilley P
    Med Educ, 2020 08;54(8):760-761.
    PMID: 32337741 DOI: 10.1111/medu.14197
    Matched MeSH terms: Pandemics
  15. Ong LK, Sivaneswaran L, Mohd Najib A, Devindran M, Say BL, Rohan MJ
    Med J Malaysia, 2020 07;75(4):400-402.
    PMID: 32724002
    In Malaysia, COVID-19 pandemic recorded considerable number of cases. Many hospitals have been converted into COVID-19 centres to manage these cases. The Penang General Hospital was designated as a hybrid hospital to manage both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 cases. Consequently, services across specialties, including urology have been affected. Triage of referrals was necessary to ensure optimum patient care, thus we designed a triage system to address this situation. A record screening system of patients was also implemented to limit outpatient appointments. We share this early experience in managing urology patients during this pandemic.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pandemics
  16. Asawapaithulsert P, Flaherty GT, Piyaphanee W
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2022 Aug 17;107(2):492-494.
    PMID: 35895400 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0177
    Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a rapid increase in international travel. Travel medicine is a branch of preventive medicine focusing on risk assessment pre-travel, during travel and post-travel with the aim of promoting health and preventing adverse health outcomes. Travel medicine specialists inform travelers about potential health risks and mitigate infectious disease risks such as travelers' diarrhea, yellow fever, and malaria. Travel medicine topics were popular in the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene conferences between 2016 and 2020, and now comprise approximately 2% of all presentations. Most topics related to the post-travel assessment (50%), followed by diseases contracted during travel (26%), and pre-travel assessment and consultation (24%). Our analysis of the 10 sub-domains of travel medicine issues found that malaria (26%) and immunization (12%) were represented to the greatest extent. We anticipate that both travel and tropical medicine fields will regain their popularity after recovery from the pandemic.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pandemics/prevention & control
  17. Adham M, Anam K, Reksodiputro L
    Med J Malaysia, 2022 01;77(1):53-59.
    PMID: 35086995
    INTRODUCTION: Treatment of head and neck cancer patients amidst the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging, whereas prolonged treatment initiation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma may increase mortality and likelihood of recurrence. Special attention is needed to ensure safe and appropriate care of these patients. This article aims to review and discuss existing research on treatment prioritization and risk stratification of head and neck cancer patients during the pandemic.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors conducted literature search in three databases (PubMed, Cochrane, and Clinical Key) on July 15th, 2020. The keywords were ("Head and Neck Mucosal Malignancy" OR "Head and Neck Cancer") AND ("Management" OR "Head and Neck Surgery") AND ("COVID-19" OR "Pandemic"). The inclusion criteria were cancer in adult patients, published from 2020 in English, and with available access to full text. The exclusion criteria were comments, letters, and case reports. The articles were critically appraised using the Centre of Evidence-based Medicine (CEBM), University of Oxford and Duke University. The literature search strategy is illustrated using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) flow diagram.

    RESULTS: A total of 150 articles were identified; 21 articles were gathered from Clinical Key, 33 from Cochrane, and 96 from Pubmed. After screening abstracts and reviewing the full text, the authors determined five articles met the inclusion criteria. There are several key points of head and neck cancer management in the COVID-19 pandemic. Head and neck cancer management is considered a high-risk procedure; the clinician should use proper personal protective equipment. Before operative treatment, all patients should undergo a PCR test 14 days before surgery. In diagnosing head and neck cancer, laryngoscopy should be considered carefully; and cytology should be preferred instead. Medically Necessary, Time-sensitive (MeNTS) score is recommended for risk stratification and surgery prioritization; it has three domains: procedure, disease, and patient. However, it is not specified to head and neck cancer; therefore, it should be combined with other references. Stanford University Head and Neck Surgery Division Department of Otolaryngology made surgery prioritization into three groups, urgent (should be operated immediately), can be postponed for 30 days, and can be postponed for 30- 90 days. Some urgent cases and should be operated on immediately include cancers involving the airways, decreased renal function, and metastases. For chemoradiation decision to delay or continue should refer to the goal of treatment, current oncologic status, and tolerance to radiation. In terms of patient's follow up, telephone consultation should be maximized.

    CONCLUSION: MeNTS scoring combined with Guideline from Department of Otolaryngology at Stanford University prioritizing criteria can be helpful in decision making of stratifying Risk and prioritizing surgery in head and neck cancer management.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pandemics
  18. Chatziralli I, Ventura CV, Touhami S, Reynolds R, Nassisi M, Weinberg T, et al.
    Eye (Lond), 2021 May;35(5):1459-1466.
    PMID: 32651545 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-020-1080-0
    OBJECTIVE: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has imposed measures of social distancing and barriers in delivery of "in person" education. Institutions, involved in training the next generation of ophthalmologists, are using alternative teaching methods to maintain the standard of education.

    METHODS: We conducted a worldwide survey among physicians, who are actively involved in Ophthalmology-related education, between 3 and 14 April 2020. The expert survey, developed on the basis of literature search and focus group discussions, comprised 23 questions addressing the use of e-learning in Ophthalmology during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    RESULTS: A total of 321 participants from both academic and non-academic institutions worldwide, with variable practice experience and expertise, completed the survey. Before the pandemic, the majority of participants used traditional training modalities, including lectures, grand rounds and journal clubs, and 48% did not use any e-learning. There was a statistically significant increase in the use of all e-learning alternatives during the pandemic (p 

    Matched MeSH terms: Pandemics
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