The Battle Against COVID-19 in Jordan: An Early Overview of the Jordanian Experience
Jordan, Pandemic, decision makers, Crises management, COVID-19
Since the initial spark of the COVID-19 outbreak in December 2019, which was later declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be a global pandemic, all affected countries are implementing various preventive and control measures to mitigate the spread of the disease. The newly emerging virus brings with it uncertainty—not only regarding its behavior and transmission dynamics but also regarding the current lack of approved antiviral therapy or vaccines—and this represents a major challenge for decision makers at various levels and sectors. This article aims to provide an early overview of the COVID-19 battle within the Jordanian context, including general reflections and conclusions on the value of collaborative efforts in crises management.
Jordan, covid-19, Pandemic, Decision-makers, crises management
Prevalence of diabetes in the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Diabetes mellitus, 2009 influenza A (H1N1), the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), systematic review
Over the past two decades a number of severe acute respiratory infection outbreaks such as the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have emerged and presented a considerable global public health threat. Epidemiologic evidence suggests that diabetic subjects are more susceptible to these conditions. However, the prevalence of diabetes in H1N1 and MERS-CoV has not been systematically described. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of published reports documenting the prevalence of diabetes in H1N1 and MERS-CoV and compare its frequency in the two viral conditions. Meta-analysis for the proportions of subjects with diabetes was carried out in 29 studies for H1N1 (n=92,948) and 9 for MERS-CoV (n=308). Average age of H1N1 patients (36.2±6.0 years) was significantly younger than that of subjects with MERS-CoV (54.3±7.4 years, P<0.05). Compared to MERS-CoV patients, subjects with H1N1 exhibited 3-fold lower frequency of cardiovascular diseases and 2- and 4-fold higher prevalence of obesity and immunosuppression, respectively. The overall prevalence of diabetes in H1N1 was 14.6% (95% CI: 12.3- 17.0%; P<0.001), a 3.6-fold lower than in MERS-CoV (54.4%; 95% CI: 29.4-79.5; P<0.001). The prevalence of diabetes among H1N1 cases from Asia and North America was ~two-fold higher than those from South America and Europe. The prevalence of diabetes in MERS-CoV cases is higher than in H1N1. Regional comparisons suggest that an etiologic role of diabetes in MERS-CoV may exist distinctive from that in H1N1.
Short term survival of critically ill COVID-19 Egyptian patients on assisted ventilation treated by either Dexamethasone or Tocilizumab
Abstract Tocilizumab (TCZ) and Dexamethasone are used for the treatment of critically ill COVID-19 patients. We compared the short-term survival of critically ill COVID-19 patients treated with either TCZ or Dexamethasone. 109 critically ill COVID-19 patients randomly assigned to either TCZ therapy (46 patients) or pulse Dexamethasone therapy (63 patients). Age, sex, neutrophil/ lymphocyte ratio, D-dimer, ferritin level, and CT chest pattern were comparable between groups. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed better survival in Dexamethasone group compared with TCZ (P = 0.002), patients didn’t need vasopressor at admission (P
Alaa Rashad, Sherif Mousa, Hanaa Nafady-Hego, Asmaa Nafady, Hamed Elgendy
Residents’ Perceived Impact of COVID-19 on Saudi Ophthalmology Training Programs-A Survey
Outbreak, mental health, Medical education, training, CURRICULUM, ophthalmology training
Adel Salah Alahmadi,1,2 Hatlan M Alhatlan,3 Halah Bin Helayel,4 Rajiv Khandekar,4 Ahmed Al Habash,5 Sami Al-Shahwan6,7 1Vitreoretinal Division, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Ophthalmology, MOH, Madinah, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Ophthalmology, King Fahad Hospital, MOH, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia; 4Research Department, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 6Glaucoma Division, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 7Residency and Fellowship Office, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Ahmed Al HabashDepartment of Ophthalmology, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, King Fahd Hospital of the University, King Faisal Road, Dammam 31952, Saudi ArabiaTel +966 138966666 Ext 1323Fax +966 138966770Email ahmedalhabash@gmail.comPurpose: To evaluate the impact of the current pandemic on ophthalmology residency training in Saudi Arabia, focusing on its effects on clinical education, training, and the mental well-being of the trainees.Methods: An online self-administered questionnaire was distributed among residents in the Saudi ophthalmology training programs between July 7 and 14, 2020. In this study, we explored residents’ opinions regarding training disruption and virtual education. The patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on their mental health. We used descriptive statistics for data analysis.Results: Out of 183 registered ophthalmology residents, 142 participated in this study. Ninety-six participants (35.4%) were rotated at a specialized eye hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, while 52 (19.2%) had rotations in the ophthalmology department at general hospitals. Those who rotated in both types of hospitals were 123 (45.4%). According to the participants, there was a significant decline in exposure to surgical and office-based procedures compared to emergency eye consultations (Friedman P < 0.001). The COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on mental health was reported by 100 (70.5%) participants. Eighty-five (55.4%) respondents were satisfied with the virtual method of education.Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted residents’ clinical and surgical training in the Saudi ophthalmology training programs. Additionally, we believe that COVID-19 may have a negative impact on trainees’ mental health. Fortunately, the current pandemic provided an innovative education method that will likely be used even after the pandemic.Keywords: ophthalmology training, curriculum, outbreak, mental health, Saudi Arabia, Residency training program, COVID-19, medical education
Alahmadi AS, Alhatlan HM, Bin Helayel H, Khandekar R, Al Habash A, Al-Shahwan S
Tobacco and e-cigarette shops awarded ‘essential business’ labels in France during COVID-19
Public health, covid-19, tobacco, E-cigarettes
Diseases of the respiratory system, Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Sylvie Largeaud-Ortega, Ainsi soit-île. Littérature et anthropologie dans les Contes des mers du sud de Robert Louis Stevenson
Presses Universitaires de la Méditerranée
Cleavage of a Neuroinvasive Human Respiratory Virus Spike Glycoprotein by Proprotein Convertases Modulates Neurovirulence and Virus Spread within the Central Nervous System.
Human coronaviruses (HCoV) are respiratory pathogens that may be associated with the development of neurological diseases, in view of their neuroinvasive and neurotropic properties. The viral spike (S) glycoprotein is a major virulence factor for several coronavirus species, including the OC43 strain of HCoV (HCoV-OC43). In an attempt to study the role of this protein in virus spread within the central nervous system (CNS) and neurovirulence, as well as to identify amino acid residues important for such functions, we compared the sequence of the S gene found in the laboratory reference strain HCoV-OC43 ATCC VR-759 to S sequences of viruses detected in clinical isolates from the human respiratory tract. We identified one predominant mutation at amino acid 758 (from RRSR↓ G758 to RRSR↓R758), which introduces a putative furin-like cleavage (↓) site. Using a molecular cDNA infectious clone to generate a corresponding recombinant virus, we show for the first time that such point mutation in the HCoV-OC43 S glycoprotein creates a functional cleavage site between the S1 and S2 portions of the S protein. While the corresponding recombinant virus retained its neuroinvasive properties, this mutation led to decreased neurovirulence while potentially modifying the mode of virus spread, likely leading to a limited dissemination within the CNS. Taken together, these results are consistent with the adaptation of HCoV-OC43 to the CNS environment, resulting from the selection of quasi-species harboring mutations that lead to amino acid changes in viral genes, like the S gene in HCoV-OC43, which may contribute to a more efficient establishment of a less pathogenic but persistent CNS infection. This adaptative mechanism could potentially be associated with human encephalitis or other neurological degenerative pathologies.
Alain Le Coupanec, Marc Desforges, Mathieu Meessen-Pinard, Mathieu Dubé, Robert Day, Nabil G. Seidah, Pierre J. Talbot
Biology (General), Immunologic diseases. Allergy
Crisis ecológicas, Económicas internacionales, Postfordismo, Regímenes salariales
La crisis de la relación salarial fordista ha conducido a diferentes regímenes salariales aún en bloques continentales integrados. Característica que se suma a la transformación jerárquica de las economías mundiales ocasionadas por el avance competitivo de los nuevos países industrializados y por la concentración de las relaciones económicas internacionales por bloques continentales. Tales son las características básicas del mundo económico internacional posterior a la guerra fría. Este artículo analiza los distintos medios para solucionar la crisis del fordismo en las economias dominantes, una extensión del análisis hacia el resto del mundo; esboza una hipótesis sobre una nueva división internacional del trabajo; contrasta las características de los bloques continentales de Europa, Asia y América y la consecuencia de la nueva jerarquización económica con un enfoque hacia la actitud frente a las crisis ecológicas gíobales.
https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/ede/article/view/23729
Economics as a science, Economic theory. Demography, Economic history and conditions
Enrichment Planting in Secondary Forests: a Promising Clean Development Mechanism to Increase Terrestrial Carbon Sinks
Clean Development Mechanism, Payments for Environmental Services, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, enrichment planting, indigenous communities, secondary forests
With the increasing need to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations, afforestation and reforestation (A/R) projects are being implemented under the Kyoto Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and under the voluntary carbon (C) market. The specific objective of A/R C projects is to enhance terrestrial sinks. They could also provide low-income communities in developing countries with a source of revenue, as well as a number of ecological and social services. However, feasibility issues have hindered implementation of A/R CDMs. We propose enrichment planting (EP) in old fallow using high-value native timber species as a land-use alternative and a small-scale C projects opportunity. We present EP in the context of ongoing work in a poor indigenous community in eastern Panama. We consider economic risks and advantages and concordance with existing modalities under the compliance market. The potential storage capacity for EP at the site of our study was ~113 Mg C ha-1, which is comparable to other land uses with high C storage, such as industrial teak plantations and primary forest. Because secondary forests show high aboveground biomass production, C projects using EP could harness large amounts of atmospheric C while improving diversity. Carbon projects using EP can also provide high levels of social, cultural, and ecological services by planting native tree species of traditional importance to local communities and preserving most of the secondary forest's ecological attributes. Therefore, EP planting could be considered as a way to promote synergies between two UN Conventions: climate change and biodiversity. SÍNTESIS Con la necesidad apremiante de reducción de los gases de efecto invernadero, proyectos de aforestación y reforestación (A/R) pueden implementarse bajo el Mecanismo de Desarrollo Limpio del Protocolo de Kyoto (MDL) o en el contexto del mercado voluntario. El objetivo especifico de los mercados de carbono, voluntario o de compromiso, es de estimular el almacenamiento de carbono terrestre. Además, los proyectos de carbono podrían presentar una oportunidad para cambiar prácticas de uso de la tierra y proteger la biodiversidad mientras se provee un ingreso a las comunidades de países en desarrollo para mantener servicios ambientales. Proponemos un enriquecimiento de plantación cubierta (EP) en rastrojos o bosques secundarios utilizando especies de maderas nativas preciosas como alternativa forestal y proyecto de carbono a pequeña escala. Los diferentes aspectos de implementación del A/R-MDL actual están tomados en cuenta. Discutimos la EP en el contexto de investigaciones continuas en la comunidad indígena Ipetí-Emberá en Panamá-Este. En nuestro sitio, el potencia de almacenamiento de carbono para la EP podría ser de 113 Mg C ha-1, lo cual es comparable a otros usos del suelo como plantaciones de teca y bosque primario. Como los rastrojos presentan una alta producción de biomasa, proyectos de carbono con EP podría acumular cantidades grandes de carbono atmosférico mientras se proveen beneficios socio-económicos. Al mismo tiempo EP podría mantener la estructura ecológica del bosque secundario y la biodiversidad promoviendo sinergias entre dos convenios: el de Biodiversidad y el de cambios climáticos.
Alain Paquette, Jessica Hawryshyn, Alexandra Vyta. Senikas, Catherine Potvin
http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol14/iss1/art31/