Objective: To investigate whether prior COVID-19 infection and time interval after infection affect the in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. Design: A prospective observational cohort. Setting: Reproductive center in China. Population: Participants recovered from COVID-19 and healthy controls. Methods: : All participants received normal IVF treatment. The oocyte and embryo quality as well as pregnancy outcome data were collected and analyzed. Main outcome measure: Oocytes and embryo quality, clinical pregnancy outcomes. Results: : The oocyte and embryo quality were comparable between the two groups, including the number of oocytes, 2PN zygotes, fertilization rate, cleavage embryos, day 3 good-quality embryos, blastocyst formation rate, and good-quality blastocysts. Nevertheless, the study group exhibited more degenerated oocytes (0.15±0.40 vs. 0.10±0.33, P=0.035). Further regression analysis indicated that prior COVID-19 infection is positively related to the number of degenerated oocytes (Adjusted β: 0.06, 95% confidential interval (CI): 0 -0.10, P=0.032). No significant differences were observed in clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, early miscarriage rate, ectopic pregnancy rate, and ongoing pregnancy rate. Similarly, we observed no difference in oocyte and embryo quality as well as pregnancy outcomes across various post-infection time intervals. Conclusions: : Preceding COVID-19 could increase the number of degenerated oocytes. However, it does not affect subsequent pregnancy outcomes. Additionally, post-infection time interval plays no significant role in IVF outcomes.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19 and the 13th leading cause of death worldwide. Latent tuberculosis (LTBI) has become a major pool of potential active tuberculosis cases and is propelling the TB global health burden further. Objective: The creation and application of a diagnostic to effectively identify LTBI is vital. This systematic review aims to examine and analyze the present and proposed future diagnostics in the identification of latent tuberculosis. Design: Systematic Review Methods: PubMed and Scopus were scanned as primary databases during May 2022. Exclusion criteria for the papers scanned included patients with immunosuppression (due to HIV or treatment), pediatric TB, cancer and dialysis patients, pregnancy, IV drug users, animal models, papers published before 2005, co-infected patients, IBD and transplant patients, and finally secondary literature. Such criteria were incorporated due to the differences in TB immunology in these circumstances. 18 papers were included in this review and their risk of bias assessed using the QUADAS-2 guidelines. For analysis the papers sensitivities and specificities were examined. There was also a deeper look into the surrounding variables such as population differentiation, diagnostic technologies, clinical translation, and bias. Findings: With thorough analysis of the data, it was determined that there are promising diagnostics for the precise identification of LTBI. Specifically, 2 studies one which used ELISA measuring the IgG response of LTBI and ATB patients when exposed to a combination of antigens and this resulted in a sensitivity and specificity of 93.33% and 93.10% respectively. The second study utilizes ESAT-6 SFC MSS (mean spot size) and the modified TBAg/PHA ratio diagnostic model to establish LTBI or ATB and using ROC curve analysis found a sensitivity of 90.12% and specificity of 91.02%. Interpretation: To conclude, specific diagnostics still being examined in the preliminary phase could in the future be used as adjuncts to already present diagnostics for the diagnosis of LTBI based on their strong sensitivities and specificities. No funding.

COVID-19 will be with us well into the future, and four years into the pandemic, it continues to cause serious individual and public health consequences and economic impact worldwide. Mindful of the staggering continuing costs of the COVID-19 pandemic, calls are urgently being made to “prepare now for the next pandemic.” Containing future pandemics will require at the very core widespread, voluntary, and sustained behavior change to prevent spread of pandemic disease. Such efforts must be based upon well-validated behavioral science models of health behavior change articulated to foreseeable future pandemic contexts. We present an Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) Model of Pandemic Risk and Prevention as a conceptual foundation for understanding the determinants and dynamics of pandemic risk and preventive behavior and as a systematic framework for the design, implementation, and evaluation of interventions to promote and maintain pandemic preventive behavior. Our model is highly generalizable across pandemic scenarios. It is currently testable in the context of COVID-19, and can be tested in future localized epidemics and in pandemic simulation studies. The IMB model of Health Behavior Change, upon which our new model is based, is an empirically well validated and supported multivariate model utilized successfully for decades to understand and promote behavior change in multiple health domains. Our introduction of the IMB Model of Pandemic Risk and Prevention aims to contribute to theoretically- and empirically-based efforts to reduce risk and promote prevention in future pandemics and in the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Randomised trials conducted before 2021 indicated that vitamin D supplementation (VDS) was able to prevent severe COVID-19 and acute respiratory infections (ARI). However, these health benefits were not confirmed by larger randomised trials published after 2021. Objective: To examine the characteristics of randomised trials on VDS to COVID-19 patients and admission to intensive care unit (ICU), and on VDS for the prevention of ARI. Method: A systematic search retrieved randomised trials on VDS to COVID-19 patients and admission to ICU. Data on VDS and ARI were extracted from the meta-analysis of Jolliffe et al., 2021. The associations between VDS vs no VDS, and admission to ICU were evaluated using random effect models. Meta-analyses were done for all trials and by groups trial size. Publication bias was assessed using the LFK index (no bias if index between -1 and +1) and the Trim and Fill method. Results: Nine trials on VDS for preventing admission to ICU were identified. The summary odds ratio (SOR) was 0.61 (95%CI: 0.39-0.95) for all trials, 0.34 (0.13-0.93) for trials including 50 to <106 patients and 0.88 (0.62-1.24) for trials including 106 to 548 patients (effect modification: p=0.04). The LFK index was -3.79, and after Trim and Fill, the SOR was 0.80 (0.40-1.61). The SOR for the 37 trials on VDS for ARI prevention was 0.92 (0.86-0.99) for all trials, 0.69 (0.57-0.83) for trials including 25 to <248 patients and 0.98 (0.94-1.03) for trials including 248 to 16,000 patients (effect modification p=0.0001). The LFK index was -3.11, and after Trim and Fill, the SOR was 0.96 (0.88-1.05). Conclusion: Strong publication bias affected randomised trials on VDS for the prevention of severe COVID-19 and of ARI. Systematic reviews should beware of small-size randomised trials that generally exaggerate health benefits.

An open question in epidemiology is why transmission is often overdispersed, meaning that most new infections are driven by few infected individuals. For example, around 10\% of COVID-19 cases cause 80\% of new COVID-19 cases. This overdispersion in pathogen transmission is likely driven by intrinsic biological heterogeneity among hosts, i.e. variability in SARS-CoV-2 viral loads. However, host heterogeneity could also indirectly increase transmission dispersion by driving pathogen adaptation. Specifically, transmission variation among hosts could drive pathogen specialization to highly-infectious hosts. Adaptation to rare, highly-infectious hosts could amplify transmission dispersion by simultaneously decreasing transmission from common, less-infectious hosts. This study considers whether increased transmission dispersion can be, in part, an emergent property of parasite adaptation to heterogeneous host populations. We develop a mathematical model using a Price equation framework to address this question that follows the epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics of a general host-parasite system. The results predict that parasite adaptation to heterogeneous host populations drives high transmission dispersion early in epidemics. Further, parasite adaptation can maintain increased transmission dispersion at endemic equilibria as long as virulence differs between hosts in a heterogeneous population. More broadly, this study provides a framework for predicting how parasite adaptation determines transmission dispersion for emerging and re-emerging infectious disease.

Abstract Social media platforms and online news channels have become even more essential during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they play a crucial role in distributing news widely in our digital era. News coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic has seen a substantial increase in speed, with information being quickly spread through both traditional media channels and social media platforms. Consequently, a surge in multiple conspiracy theories has caused individuals from different countries to raise unease about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines that were developed within a relatively short timeframe. Some key subjects discussed include the effectiveness of vaccines, different cultural perspectives on individual rights and public health in relation to vaccination, religious concerns about vaccines, and the prevalent skepticism and lack of trust in vaccines among both citizens and global communities. Our use of Python scripts allowed us to create a versatile solution for extracting, organizing, and interpreting data from the digital realm. This enabled us to track breaking news stories, analyze trends, and monitor mandatory regulations. This study utilized Python and web scraping techniques to conduct sentiment analysis. It aimed to examine the correlation between news flow and vaccine hesitancy and refusal across 29 countries. The analysis involved analyzing vaccine-related news and key terms. Our findings shed light on how news influences individuals' decisions to refuse vaccinations. Nevertheless, the sheer volume of information also concerns its precision and trustworthiness. Python scripting in web scraping has become increasingly crucial in navigating the vast online news coverage. By automating the process, these scripts enable users to stay well-informed, transparent, and proactive in an era where the dependability and significance of information are crucial.

Abstract Background QT interval, a vital marker of ventricular electrical activity during depolarization and repolarization, garnered significant attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it remains unclear whether COVID-19 directly affects QT interval prolongation. This study leverages Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the genetic causation between COVID-19 and QT interval alterations. Methods In over 1000,000 individuals of European ancestry, genetic proxies representing three COVID-19 phenotypes (COVID-19, hospitalized COVID-19, and severe COVID-19), were identified under the primary MR assumption, and serve as instrumental variables (IVs). Genetic causal effects of COVID-19 on QT intervals from 84,630 UK Biobank participants were inferred using univariate two-sample MR (TSMR) and multi-exposure-adjusted multivariate MR (MVMR). MR-RAPS method and radial MR frame were used to provide robustness and outlier variant detection for effect assessment, and sensitivity analysis was further applied to detect the presence of horizontal pleiotropy. Results Independent 15, 33, and 29 IVs were used in COVID-19, hospitalized COVID-19, and severe COVID-19, respectively. Univariate TSMR analyses showed non-significant causal effect estimates between COVID-19 and the QT interval across all COVID-19 phenotypes. MR-RAPS and outlier-corrected radial MR analyses further supported this null causal estimation. In confounder-adjusted MVMR analysis, this nonsignificant causality was independent of BMI, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Sensitivity analyses failed to reveal any evidence of bias arising from horizontal pleiotropy, abnormal data distribution, or weak instruments. Conclusions Genetically, COVID-19 is not causally associated with QT interval prolongation. Inconsistent findings in observational research may be attributed to residual confounding.

Abstract Background: This study explores the associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), health problems, and increased daytime inactivity, emphasizing nonrestorative sleep (NRS), a subjective perception of unrefreshing sleep, as a significant contributing factor. Methods: A longitudinal online survey utilizing data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey was employed. The Kessler distress scale (K6) served as the primary outcome measure, with a score of K6 ≥ 13 indicating psychological distress. Health-Related Quality of Life-4 was utilized to assess mentally unhealthy days, physically unhealthy days, and days with activity limitation, indicating mental health problems, physical health problems, and daytime inactivity if exceeding 14 days monthly, respectively. NRS frequency within the past 30 days was evaluated on a 5-point scale, with "usually" (16 days or more) indicating NRS presence. ACEs were identified when four or more items from a validated ACEs list were selected. A causal mediation analysis was performed. Results: Among the 17,042 participants, 52.8% were male, averaging 50.35 years of age (SD = 17.73). Approximately 11.1% reported four or more ACEs. Notably, 16.7% met NRS criteria, while 9.6% met psychological distress criteria. The proportions of individuals with physical health problems, mental health problems, and activity limitations were 6.4%, 6.2%, and 4.2%, respectively. Significant mediational pathways via NRS were observed from ACEs to psychological distress (RR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.08–1.19, p < 0.001), physical health problems (RR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.21–1.40, p < 0.001), mental health problems (RR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.13–1.28, p < 0.001), and daytime inactivity (RR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.17–1.37, p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study suggests that NRS mediates the impact of ACEs on mental or physical health issues and daytime inactivity. Further research is needed to determine whether targeting NRS can alleviate ACE-associated health problems.

Abstract Estimates of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) incidence, also known as Long COVID, have varied across studies and changed over time. We estimated PASC incidence among adult and pediatric populations in three nationwide research networks of electronic health records (EHR) participating in the RECOVER Initiative using different classification algorithms (computable phenotypes). Overall, 7% of children and 8.5%-26.4% of adults developed PASC, depending on computable phenotype used. Excess incidence among SARS-CoV-2 patients was 4% in children and ranged from 4-7% among adults, representing a lower-bound incidence estimation based on two control groups - contemporary COVID-19 negative and historical patients (2019). Temporal patterns were consistent across networks, with peaks associated with introduction of new viral variants. Our findings indicate that preventing and mitigating Long COVID remains a public health priority. Examining temporal patterns and risk factors of PASC incidence informs our understanding of etiology and can improve prevention and management.

Abstract Introduction : One Health is a health intervention framework that seeks to reinforce the health impacts of cross-cutting interactions between humans, animals, and the environment. Recently, with the increased number of emerging zoonotic diseases catalyzed by factors such as climate change, a renewed One Health approach emerged in global health dialog and strategies. The aim of this report was to assess the integration of new understanding of One Health in global health policy discussions and dialogs, reflecting initiatives and strategies for One Health from various countries around the world. Methods: We conducted a comparative study to track the frequency of member states, World Health Organization (WHO) staff, and nonstate actors addressing the One Health approach while addressing agenda items throughout the 72nd and 75th World Health Assemblies (WHA) (the last pre-COVID and first post-COVID World Health Assemblies, respectively), followed by a quantitative analysis of information, taking into account entity mentioning, specification, agenda item, details, and type of intervention. Additionally, we conducted a mini-literature review to offer a brief yet insightful summary of key references relevant to our work. Results: In 2019, the majority of the statements were made by Member States (90%), with just three statements from Non-State Actors and one from WHO staff on One Health in 2022; member states still dominated with 78.4%, but we saw a 9% increase in statements by WHO staff. Notably, from 2019 to 2022, the number of WHA statements mentioning one health status increased 1.6-fold, from 31 to 51. In 2022, statements for One Health appeared in diverse agenda points, such as governance and human resources for health and infectious and vector-borne diseases. Conclusion: The emergence of COVID-19, a zoonotic disease, stressed the importance of One Health for human health and might be a reason for the increase in interest in calls for One Health education and research as a way to prevent new zoonotic pandemics and environmental sustainability. One Health education and research initiatives are vital in preparing the healthcare workforce to respond to infectious diseases, as evidenced by the increased interest following COVID-19.

Abstract Objective To explore whether mental illness is an independent risk factor affecting nucleic acid conversion in COVID-19 patients. Methods To retrospectively analyze the clinical data of 149 patients with COVID-19 in Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, and classify them into the non-psychological disease group (n=134) and the psychological disease group (n=15) according to whether they had a psychological disease at the time of admission and during the hospitalization, and to compare the differences in the indicators of the demographic characteristics of the patients in the two groups, the laboratory parameters on admission, and the clinical outcomes; To evaluate the independent risk factors for nucleic acid conversion events in COVID-19 patients through the Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate COX regression modeling to assess prognostic factors independently associated with nucleic acid conversion events in COVID-19 patients. Results Of the 149 newly crowned patients, 15 patients (10.1%) had new-onset psychiatric disorders, and 134 patients (89.9%) had no psychiatric disorders;patients in the mental illness group were older, with more elderly >65 years old (P=0.034), longer time to two nucleic acid conversions (P=0.024), and lower rate of nucleic acid conversion within 14 days (P<0.001).CT1 ORF1ab and E genes were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients with comorbid psychological disorders than in patients in the non-psychological disorders group (P 0.001).Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the in-hospital 14-day nucleic acid positivity rate was 60% and 24.6% in the mental illness and non-mental illness groups, respectively (P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that mental illness and diabetes were independent risk factors for 14-day nucleic acid non-conversion in COVID-19 patients after adjusting for confounders such as age, gender, and co-morbidities. (P<0.001). Conclusion The prevalence of comorbid psychological disorders in COVID-19 patients is high, and psychological disorders are independent risk factors affecting nucleic acid conversion in COVID-19 patients. Therefore, clinicians should raise awareness of new-onset psychological disorders in COVID-19 patients.

Abstract This research delves into the complex dynamics of liquefied natural gas (LNG) spot freight rates, exploring the interplay between multifractal characteristics and seasonal fluctuations within the market. By examining the time series data of LNG spot freight rates for vessels with a capacity of 160,000 cubic meters over a period from December 17, 2010, to December 17, 2023, the study employs multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MF-DFA) and multifractal detrending moving average (MF-DMA) techniques to quantify the multifractal dimensions and assess the impact of seasonality on market behavior. The findings reveal a nuanced relationship between the market's inherent complexities and its response to external factors such as geopolitical events and the COVID-19 pandemic, providing valuable insights for stakeholders in the LNG industry and beyond.

Abstract Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional face-to-face teaching has been disrupted. Social restrictions and isolation during this period may have contributed to various physical and emotional disorders. We aimed to assess the perceptions of medical students regarding their emotions, anxiety and depression symptoms, and daily experiences during the pandemic. Methods: We conducted a prospective mixed methods study involving students in their 1st to 4th years of medicine at a university in São Paulo, Brazil,in 2020 and 2021. Participants completed online questionnaires, including the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ), and Medical Student Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (VERAS-Q) and participated in an online focus group. Results: 313 students finished the questionnaires, and 200 were involved in the focus group. Women exhibited higher scores for anxiety (p=0.002) and depression (p=0.007); men demonstrated better quality of life (p=0.042). The students aged 18 to 24 years (p=0.048) presented better quality of life and lower trait anxiety (p=0.001). Both trait and state anxiety were strongly associated with depression (p<0.01) and inversely related to quality of life, showing a moderate association with happiness (p<0.01). Depression was strongly linked to both trait and state anxiety (p<0.01) and moderately negatively correlated with happiness and quality of life (p<0.01). The focus groups revealed recurring negative feelings, such as anxiety, depression, tiredness, loneliness, difficulty managing time and others, resulting in reduced mental and physical health during the pandemic. Coping strategies were discussed, including the adoption of new healthy habits, religious practices, and reconnection with family. Conclusion: Depression and anxiety symptoms were more prevalent among females, while quality of life improved for younger and male students. The qualitative analysis enhanced our understanding of the determinants and consequences of students' recurring negative feelings and revealed positive aspects such as greater proximity to family and religiosity.

Abstract Background: Insufficient and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) are rising epidemiological health concerns, affecting the majority of pregnant women in high-income countries and contributing to a multitude of adverse maternal and infant health outcomes. Objective : The aim of this scoping review was to identify key structural vulnerability factors related to GWG in order to examine the extent, scope and nature of this body of research and to inform future methodological approaches. Data sources: Electronic searches were performed in October 2018 (updated in August 2019) in MEDLINE(R) ALL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Sociological Abstracts databases. Study selection : Studies had to be conducted before COVID-19, in a high-income country, have pregnant participants, have an observational design, and perform inferential statistics between a structural vulnerability factor and GWG. Results: Of the 11,382 citations identified through database searches, 157 articles were included in the review. The structural vulnerability factors most commonly studied in association with GWG were race/ethnicity (n=91 articles), age (n=87), parity (n=48), education (n=44), income (n=39), marital status (n=28), immigration (n=19), and abuse (n=12). Moststudies were conducted in the USA (77%) and reported significant associations between structural vulnerability factors and GWG; 34% of studies were specific to a population where all individuals were affected by one of more structural vulnerability factors. Race/ethnicity was the most extensively studied factor, covering the longest time period (since 1976), being assessed in the highest number of articles (n=91) with the largest sample size (n=7,966,573), and having a high proportion (79%) of studies reporting a significant relationship with GWG. Conclusions: Adopting an intersectional approach may enhance our understanding of the complex interplay between social context, structural vulnerability factors, and GWG. Recognizing their long-term health consequences during pregnancy, increased social, structural, and policy efforts should support pregnant women in achieving optimal GWG.

New SARS-CoV-2 variants are continually emerging and have the potential to present challenges to public health responses worldwide. This report discusses the early detection of the lineage JN.2.5 (alias of B.1.1.529.2.86.1.2.5) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The variant was identified in early 2024 through viral whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, revealing that circulating strains present genetic similarities to sequences reported in Canada, Poland, Belgium, and England. While the circulation of diverse Omicron sub lineages has significantly impacted COVID-19 epidemiology in Brazil, the consequences of the circulation of the novel variant are uncertain. Considering its immunological escape capabilities and epidemiological behavior observed elsewhere, close monitoring of this variant epidemiology is recommended.

The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the need for pandemic preparedness strategies to mitigate its impacts, particularly in the United States, which experienced multiple waves with varying policies, population response, and vaccination effects. This study explores the relationships between county-level factors and COVID-19 mortality outcomes in the U.S. from 2020 to 2023, focusing on disparities in healthcare access, vaccination coverage, and socioeconomic characteristics. We conduct multi-variable rolling regression analyses to reveal associations between various factors and COVID-19 mortality outcomes, defined as Case Fatality Rate (CFR) and Overall Mortality to Hospitalization Rate (OMHR), at the U.S. county level. Each analysis examines the association between mortality outcomes and one of the three hierarchical levels of the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), along with other factors such as access to hospital beds, vaccination coverage, and demographic characteristics. Our results reveal persistent and dynamic correlations between various factors and COVID-19 mortality measures. Access to hospital beds and higher vaccination coverage showed persistent protective effects, while higher Social Vulnerability Index was associated with worse outcomes persistently. Socioeconomic status and vulnerable household characteristics within the SVI consistently associated with elevated mortality. Poverty, lower education, unemployment, housing cost burden, single-parent households, and disability population showed significant associations with Case Fatality Rates during different stages of the pandemic. Vulnerable age groups demonstrated varying associations with mortality measures, with worse outcomes predominantly during the Original strain. Rural-Urban Continuum Code exhibited predominantly positive associations with CFR and OMHR, while it starts with a positive OMHR association during the Original strain. This study reveals longitudinal persistent and dynamic factors associated with two mortality rate measures throughout the pandemic, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. The findings emphasize the urgency of implementing targeted policies and interventions to address disparities in the fight against future pandemics and the pursuit of improved public health outcomes.

Purpose: COVID-19 disease continues to affect millions of individuals worldwide, both in the short and long term. The post-acute complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection, referred to as long COVID, result in diverse symptoms affecting multiple organ systems. Little is known regarding how the symptoms associated with long COVID progress and resolve over time. The Johns Hopkins COVID Long Study aims to prospectively examine the short- and long-term consequences of COVID-19 disease in individuals both with and without a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection using self-reported data collected in an online survey. Participants Sixteen thousand, seven hundred sixty-four adults with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and 799 adults without a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection who completed an online baseline survey. Findings: to date This cohort profile describes the baseline characteristics of the Johns Hopkins COVID Long Study. Among 16,764 participants with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and defined long COVID status, 75% reported a good or excellent health status prior to infection, 99% reported experiencing at least one COVID-19 symptom during the acute phase of infection, 9.9% reported a hospitalization, and 63% were defined as having long COVID using the WHO definition. Future plans Analysis of longitudinal data will be used to investigate the progression and resolution of long COVID symptoms over time.

Passada a pandemia da COVID-19, cuja uma das marcas deixadas na educação foi o uso emergencial das Tecnologias Digitais de Informação e Comunicação (TDIC), nos deparamos com a necessidade de estabelecer um referencial teórico a partir de um olhar dos clássicos das ciências sociais. Desta forma, este estudo se propõe a localizar um arcabouço epistemológico e metodológico que oriente a análise das implicações do uso das TDIC pelo docente nesse período, com base nos escritos de Max Weber, especificamente no texto “Ciência como Vocação”. Esta escolha deveu-se ao individualismo metodológico que o diferencia de visões mais estruturais dos fundadores da sociologia. Promoveu-se, portanto, um estudo dedicado da obra, incluindo a leitura de várias traduções da mesma, para dirimir dúvidas de interpretação, dada a complexidade do texto. Em posse desses conhecimentos, partiu-se para o refinamento e recorte do escopo da pesquisa, cuja área de observação se encontra nas séries iniciais do ensino fundamental da rede municipal de ensino de Campo Grande-MS. Resultou que localizamos em Weber questões relacionadas à especialização, intuição, sentido e paixão e, a partir desses conceitos, chegou-se a um modelo, que iniciando-se quantitativo, evolui para uma análise qualitativa de sentido e significado, ou seja, o que iniciou com uma visão mais técnica e focada na tecnologia, migrou gradativamente para o agente da ação: o professor e suas especificidades como profissional, considerando sua vocação para resolver os problemas com maior ou menor grau de dificuldade, conforme o domínio das TDIC que possuía na ocasião da pandemia.

Background: COVID-19 has imposed significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide. The need for simple, rapid, and affordable diagnostic tests to support the existing costly and demanding polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay is very necessary. Methods: : This study evaluated the performance characteristics of three (3) COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits: DG Rapid, SD Rapid and SS Rapid. They were compared with the gold standard real-time reverse transcriptase- PCR (rRT-PCR) for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antigen in 75 archived samples. Results: : Of the 75 samples tested, 38 (50.7%) were positive and 37 (49.3%) were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by rRT-PCR assay. No false positive was recorded. The DG Rapid kit detected 30 (78.9%) true positives and 8 (21.1%) false negatives. SD Rapid kit detected 28 (73.7%) true positives and 10 (26.3%) false negatives, while the SS Rapid kit detected 19 (50.0%) true positives and 19 (50.0%) false negatives. Specificity of each test kit was 100% (CI 95%), but the sensitivity of the DG Rapid, SD Rapid, and SS Rapid kits was 79%, 74%, and 50% (CI 95%), respectively. Higher sensitivities among samples with Ct values <29.99 were recorded for each kit. Also, the DG Rapid kit demonstrated 79% excellent agreement with rRT-PCR, while the SD Rapid and SS Rapid kits demonstrated good agreement with rRT-PCR with 73% and 50% Cohen’s kappa values, respectively. Conclusion: The study suggests that DG Rapid and SD Rapid kits are reliable alternatives to rRT-PCR for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially in resource-limited settings like Ghana.

Abstract A model is presented that brings together two apparently conflicting observations: There were transitions from peaks of activity to prolonged periods of fluctuation in relatively narrow bands, indicating strong constraints for possible transmission paths; yet, mutant strains could replace wild-types rapidly, indicating that there were enough transmission paths from the mutant index cases to the nodes in the contact chains from active wild-type cases to block the transmission. It is shown that this is explainable if the spread was driven and modulated by spread in open reservoirs, such as hospitals, where prevalence could persist because there was continuous admission of susceptible individuals while the duration of stay was sufficient to support transmission chains, and where strains competed for the resource of susceptible admissions. Furthermore, strong segmentation of the general community allowed multiplication of the nosocomial cases without supporting long transmission chains outside hospitals which would have kept the wild type in the population.

Abstract Post COVID-19 Condition (PCC) is a clinical syndrome following COVID-19 disease. PCC symptoms in adults entail significant productivity loss and reduced quality of life. This study aimed at estimating the epidemiological and economic burden of PCC among the working-age population of Italy and the US. This ecological analysis was conducted on data from January 2020 to April 2023, regarding population aged 18-64. PCC incidence was retrieved for the US, while for Italy it was estimated from COVID-19 cases. Prevalence of factors associated with PCC and parameters to calculate temporary productivity losses (TPL) were retrieved. An estimated Incidence Rate Ratio (eIRR) of PCC incidence in Italy and the US was calculated. TPL for reduced earnings and total Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) lost were also estimated. The ecological eIRR Italy/US was 0.842 [95%CI: 0.672–1.015], suggesting that, holding COVID-19 cases constant, 15.8% fewer PCC cases have occurred in Italy compared to the US. Overall PCC cases were found to be roughly 12.0 [95%CI: 9.9–14.1] million in the US, with 1.9 [95%CI: 1.6–2.3] million QALYs lost, and around 2.4 [95%CI: 1.8–3.0] million in Italy, with 0.4 [95%CI: 0.3–0.5] million QALYs lost. Up to April 2023, the TPL was estimated to be €4.5 [95%CI: 3.5–6.1] billion in Italy and $41.5 [95%CI: 34.3–48.7] billion in the US. PCC has had a significant epidemiological and economic impact on the working-age population. The findings from this study may be of use for health planning and policy regarding PCC in working-age adults.

Abstract Background: Menopause as an important health issue needs special attention and planning to provide extensive services and interventional programs to manage the complications and adverse health consequences. Benefiting from a national and sub-national representative sample, the present study aimed to estimate the distribution of age of menopause and its associated factors in Iranian women. Methods: Present investigation was a part of the national survey of non-communicable disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS 2021) in Iran. Through a systematic random sampling, under safety considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic, of the 28,520 adults who were found to be in included in the survey, 27,874 participants completed the questionnaires (step 1), 27,745 individuals were anthropometrically measured (step 2), and 18,119 individuals completed laboratory evaluation (step 3). Present study included 13291 females who had non-missing menopause values. Menopause before the age of 45 years is considered "early menopause". Theovarian failure/surgical removal of the ovaries before the age of 40 years as; "premature ovarian insufficiency". The others group were; normal (40-50), and late (55 ≤) menopause. Results: In 2021, 28.58% (95% CI: 27.67, 29.48) of 25≤ year-old Iranian women were menopause. In adult menopause, the prevalence of early menopause was 4.55% (3.88,5.22) and 11.63% (10.64,12.63) had late menopause. Based on the sub-national distribution of age of menopause; early menopause was the dominant pattern in the most of eastern provinces. The low physical activity, significantly decreased the age-adjusted Odds ratio of menopause (p< 0.05). The current smoking and hookah consumption, as well as the history of continuous smoking, were significantly associated to the decreasing in age-adjusted OR of the age of menopause (p< 0.05). These significant association also detected in widow marriage status participants; women with public sector employment and who had more than 12 years of schooling (p< 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of present study could be used for promotion of health planning and interventions at national and sub-national levels. Special attentions need for early monitoring of women with a family history of early menopause, especially, who have life style risk factors. Consequently, special attention should be considered to probable factors confounding menopause age among Iranian women.

Abstract Courts` disputes in contemporary jurisdictions are heard either with parties` participation – physical or remote - or in-camera, without any forms of orality. The article is aimed at examining the consequences of the case forum for a judgment before the Polish First Instance Administrative Courts (FIACs). We will explore if there are any connections between the parties` presence or absence during proceedings for the probability of the complainant’s winning, the time required to adjudicate the case in the first instance, and the probability of appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC). A basis for the research is a full-text database of the universe of first and second-instance judgments of Polish Administrative Courts (CBOSA) with all judgments issued by FIACs over 2016–2022, embracing a sample of nearly 250 thousand judgments. The research design is based on the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, which caused a shift from physical hearings to in-camera adjudication. The pandemic changed the preferences of parties towards in-camera deliberation and provoked legislative changes promoting in-camera adjudication. The results indicate that compared to hearings, in-camera adjudication shortened the time to adjudicate the case. This shift was beneficial for shortening the time to adjudicate the case. Although we found a statistically significant effect of in-camera adjudication on the probability of compliant winning in the first instance (negative) and appealing to SAC (negative) the size of the effects remains small.

Abstract Malaria and COVID-19 share some symptoms. Therefore, diagnosing these diseases clinically might be misleading, especially during an epidemic response. We determined the prevalence of malaria among COVID-19 suspected cases in Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. This study was conducted in five selected health facilities in Abuja, with participation of 254 febrile patients attending COVID-19 screening centres in those facilities. Each subject was interviewed using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Samples were collected for malaria and COVID-19 testing. Descriptive statistical analysis was done and included means, standard deviations, and proportions. Results were presented in form of tables and figures. There were 254 participants with median age of 34 years (range: 18–80). The age group, 30–49 years had the highest representation among the participants (55.1%). Majority were females (53.1%), with tertiary education (66.9%), were businessmen/women (37.4%) and civil servants (24.8%). More than half of participants were married (54%). Only 2% tested positive for malaria, and 1.2% for COVID-19. No participant presented with co-infection. The prevalence of COVID-19 among patients presenting themselves for COVID-19 testing was low while the prevalence of malaria was also low. There is still a need to test all suspected cases of COVID-19 that present in a testing centre for malaria.

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a decrease in emergency department (ED) visits, particularly among older adults. The objective of this study is to explore the experiences of older adults attending the ED during COVID-19. Methods: The study utilised a qualitative descriptive approach as part of a larger mixed-methods study. Data were collected at five different ED’s in Ireland, which represented both urban and rural populations. The participants were all aged over 65. Semi-structured phone interviews were conducted 10 days after attending the ED and the interviews were audio-recorded. The interviews were transcribed and imported to NVivo software, and the data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: 16 interviews were conducted with older adults over 65. Three themes emerged following thematic analysis (1) Complexity of decision making regarding the ED attendance (2) Quality and timeliness of care in the ED (3) Communication with and empathy towards healthcare staff in the ED. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the decision-making process and pathway for older adults seeking emergency medical care. Despite the challenges, older adults reported a positive experience in the ED. This was attributed to improved conditions, including shorter triage waiting times and the implementation of COVID-19 protocols. Participants demonstrated resilience and expressed gratitude for the care they received. However, for some participants it was noted there was a reluctance to express any dissatisfaction or complain about the care they received while in the ED. The study also highlighted concerns regarding discharge information and follow-up care for the older adult. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that ED healthcare providers provided quality and timely care to older adults in the ED during COVID-19. However, the need for clear communication and information sharing from healthcare providers on ED discharge and across transitions of care was highlighted as an area needing improvement.