Are SAARC countries prepared to combat COVID-19 to save young, working-age population?
subject: covid-19, climate, SAARC, young population
description: The COVID-19 outbreak has expanded across the globe. Most of the countries are launching different measures to stop the transmission of this virus. However, the death toll is steadily rising. Strikingly the rate of coronavirus infection among the young-age population is the highest in SAARC countries as more than 80% population of the SAARC countries are young who constitute the working-age group. The disease transmission also occurs at a slower rate presumably due to diverse lifestyles of different ethnicities, immunity and genetic traits; but not because of the hot and humid weather despite previous assumptions. Since SAARC countries comprise 23.75% of the world population and the largest portion of these people is the young working-class, some immediate measures need to be implemented to save these valuable lives from COVID-19. Till now, there is no specific treatment or vaccine available; hence timely-taken preventive measures are the only hope that can save the people of this region. Here we have demonstrated an altered disease transmission pattern in people of SAARC countries, measures initiated by the governments, causes of failure and further actions to be taken to control disease transmission.
creator: Farhana Sultana, Hasan Mahmud Reza
source: Biotemas
publisher: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
date: 2020
coverage: Public aspects of medicine

E-Learning Critical Success Factors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comprehensive Analysis of E-Learning Managerial Perspectives
subject: e-learning, distance learning, COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, Critical Success Factors, AHP-TOPSIS
description: During the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions were shut down all over the world, which impacted over 60% of students and caused a massive disruption of the education system. The goal of this paper was to identify the critical success factors for E-learning during COVID-19 using the multi-criteria Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) techniques to enhance the educational process. Data were generated by interviewing 69 E-learning managers in educational institutions during COVID-19 based on defined evaluation criteria and E-learning approaches through several channels. We found that technology management, support from management, increased student awareness to use E-learning systems, and demanding a high level of information technology from instructors, students, and universities were the most influential factors for E-learning during COVID-19. Among the five learning systems, blended learning was the most suitable learning system to practice. These results demonstrated that, regardless of how extraordinary the technology is in an educational institution, the readiness of E-learning execution played a large role in boosting the educational process during the COVID-19 pandemic.
creator: Ammar Y. Alqahtani, Albraa A. Rajkhan
source: Epidemiology and Health
publisher: Korean Society of Epidemiology
date: 2020
coverage: Education

Evaluation of the Usefulness of CO-RADS for Chest CT in Patients Suspected of Having COVID-19
subject: covid-19, pneumonia, computed tomography, radiology, Chest imaging, CO-RADS
description: The purpose of this study was to use the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS) to evaluate the chest computed tomography (CT) images of patients suspected of having COVID-19, and to investigate its diagnostic performance and interobserver agreement. The Dutch Radiological Society developed CO-RADS as a diagnostic indicator for assessing suspicion of lung involvement of COVID-19 on a scale of 1 (very low) to 5 (very high). We investigated retrospectively 154 adult patients with clinically suspected COVID-19, between April and June 2020, who underwent chest CT and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The patients’ average age was 61.3 years (range, 21–93), 101 were male, and 76 were RT-PCR positive. Using CO-RADS, four radiologists evaluated the chest CT images. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated. Interobserver agreement was calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) by comparing the individual reader’s score to the median of the remaining three radiologists. The average sensitivity was 87.8% (range, 80.2–93.4%), specificity was 66.4% (range, 51.3–84.5%), and AUC was 0.859 (range, 0.847–0.881); there was no significant difference between the readers (p > 0.200). In 325 (52.8%) of 616 observations, there was absolute agreement among observers. The average ICC of readers was 0.840 (range, 0.800–0.874; p < 0.001). CO-RADS is a categorical taxonomic evaluation scheme for COVID-19 pneumonia, using chest CT images, that provides outstanding performance and from substantial to almost perfect interobserver agreement for predicting COVID-19.
creator: Tomoyuki Fujioka, Mio Mori, Koichiro Kimura, Ukihide Tateishi, Marie Takahashi, Junichi Tsuchiya, Emi Yamaga, Toshihiro Horii, Hirofumi Yamada, Mizuki Kimura, Yoshio Kitazume, Mitsuhiro Kishino
source: Epidemiology and Health
publisher: Korean Society of Epidemiology
date: 2020
coverage: Medicine (General)

Association of Comorbidities with Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Review
subject: covid-19, ACE2, diabetes, aging, Hypovitaminosis
description: The novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic started with few cases of pneumonia of unknown origin in Wuhan, China. It has now become one of the significant public health emergencies of all time. Within 5 months of its existence, it has led to a significant impact on national and international policies. Apart from being a medical emergency, it is also affecting the global economy, and without proper measures, it may have severely impact the socioeconomic statuses of individuals. It has profoundly challenged the healthcare infrastructure, particularly in low- and middle-income nations. Every nation is trying to safeguard its population and the health workers as adequately as possible. While we still wait for the development of an absolute cure in the form of a vaccine, preventive measures have taken the lead in reducing the disease spread and breaking the chain of transmission. The knowledge gained from the clinical characteristics of patients has suggested markers or comorbid conditions that may aid in the risk assessment. This narrative review aims to provide an update on SARS-CoV-2, the causative virus of COVID-19, its pathogenesis, the clinical and laboratory features, and its association with several comorbid conditions that may influence the prognosis of this disease.
creator: Prasenjit Mitra, Smriti Suri, Taru Goyal, Radhieka Misra, Kuldeep Singh, M. K. Garg, Sanjeev Misra, Praveen Sharma
source: Annals of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (India)
publisher: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
date: 2020
coverage: Science, General works

Analysis of Discussions within the Chinese Society on China’s Position in World in the Context of Sino-American Relations Deterioration during the Pandemic Period
subject: coronavirus pandemic, Chinese Foreign Policy, Sino-American relations, foreign policy discussions within chinese society, may 4th movement, values and historical memory in chinese society
description: During the pandemic, Sino-US relations have remarkably deteriorated. The institutionalization of such destructive practices as toughening rhetoric in the media and sanctions is becoming obvious. As the model of bilateral relations is now aimed at decoupling the degradation will continue. These trends inevitably affect the mood of the Chinese society. The article analyzes opinions on foreign policy in Chinese society in the context of Sino American relations within the pandemic period. The work is divided into two parts: the first assesses general trends in US-China relations. The second part traces the current trends in the modern ideological and political atmosphere in Chinese society. The episode with congratulations to the Chinese public from the American administration on the occasion of the 101st anniversary of the famous «May 4, 1919 movement» is analyzed as a case study. The research shows that this event received ambiguous and even opposite assessments: part of the society saw in it as an attempt to accuse China of the spread of coronavirus and the imposition of Western values. Another part emphasized M. Pottinger’s rather high level of spoken Chinese and noted that the very fact of congratulation can be viewed as a positive moment for bilateral relations. There were also positions combining both approaches. The case under consideration reveals the danger of decoupling initiated by the parties. The tension between the PRC and the United States leads to the fact that the partners are starting to interpret each other’s intentions as presumably hostile, even taking into account such a formally favorable occasion as congratulations on a significant historical date. Meanwhile, it seems that the presence of positive interpretations against the background of a general deterioration in bilateral relations also cannot be ignored. Although public opinion cannot be unambiguous and does not always directly influence specific political steps, it is important to take into…
creator: A. N. Karneev, A. S. Pyatachkova
source: Sravnitelʹnaâ Politika
publisher: Jurist, Publishing Group
date: 2020
coverage: Political science (General)

Christian Ethical Analysis of the L.A. Riots in 1992: The Media and Institutional Racism
subject: racism, sin, the media, Reinhold Niebuhr, the L.A. riots
description: This essay utilizes Reinhold Niebuhr’s theology of the universality of sin to analyze institutional racism, using the 1992 Los Angeles riots as a case study. Contrary to the conventional interpretation of the riots as a conflict between African Americans and Korean Americans, the pervasive institutional racism of the mainstream media of that era spread the riots into multiracial conflicts, which explains Niebuhr’s thinking regarding the universality of sin. Furthermore, the sensationalism of the media that fueled the massive violence deprived African Americans of the moral dynamic for social transformation and victimized Korean Americans as scapegoats. As a result, the institutional processes promoted the status quo that benefited the white privileged class at the expense of the racial minorities. Implications found in this essay may be applicable to current issues, such as anti-Asian racism that has surfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
creator: Yong Sup Song
source: Epidemiology and Health
publisher: Korean Society of Epidemiology
date: 2020
coverage: Religions. Mythology. Rationalism

Recent Advancements in the Diagnosis, Prevention, and Prospective Drug Therapy of COVID-19
subject: coronavirus, vaccines, 2019ncov, covid-19, Diagnosis, SARS-CoV-2
description: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (CoV)-2 (SARS-CoV-2), previously called 2019 novel CoV, emerged from China in late December 2019. This virus causes CoV disease-19 (COVID-19), which has been proven a global pandemic leading to a major outbreak. As of June 19, 2020, the data from the World Health Organization (WHO) showed more than 8.7 million confirmed cases in over 200 countries/regions. The WHO has declared COVID-19 as the sixth public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020. CoVs cause illnesses that range in severity from the common cold to severe respiratory illnesses and death. Nevertheless, with technological advances and imperative lessons gained from prior outbreaks, humankind is better outfitted to deal with the latest emerging group of CoVs. Studies on the development of in vitro diagnostic tests, vaccines, and drug re-purposing are being carried out in this field. Currently, no approved treatment is available for SARS-CoV-2 given the lack of evidence. The results from preliminary clinical trials have been mixed as far as improvement in the clinical condition and reduction in the duration of treatment are concerned. A number of new clinical trials are currently in progress to test the efficacy and safety of various approved drugs. This review focuses on recent advancements in the field of development of diagnostic tests, vaccines, and treatment approaches for COVID-19.
creator: Waquar Ahsan, Mohammed Al-Bratty, Hassan A. Alhazmi, Hassan A. Alhazmi, Kuldeep Singh Patel, Bharti Mangla, Shamama Javed, Asim Najmi, Muhammad Hadi Sultan, Hafiz A. Makeen, Asaad Khalid, Syam Mohan, Manal M. E. Taha, Shahnaz Sultana
source: Epidemiology and Health
publisher: Korean Society of Epidemiology
date: 2020
coverage: Public aspects of medicine

Estimating the overdispersion in COVID-19 transmission using outbreak sizes outside China [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
description: Background: A novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has now spread to a number of countries worldwide. While sustained transmission chains of human-to-human transmission suggest high basic reproduction number R0, variation in the number of secondary transmissions (often characterised by so-called superspreading events) may be large as some countries have observed fewer local transmissions than others. Methods: We quantified individual-level variation in COVID-19 transmission by applying a mathematical model to observed outbreak sizes in affected countries. We extracted the number of imported and local cases in the affected countries from the World Health Organization situation report and applied a branching process model where the number of secondary transmissions was assumed to follow a negative-binomial distribution. Results: Our model suggested a high degree of individual-level variation in the transmission of COVID-19. Within the current consensus range of R0 (2-3), the overdispersion parameter k of a negative-binomial distribution was estimated to be around 0.1 (median estimate 0.1; 95% CrI: 0.05-0.2 for R0 = 2.5), suggesting that 80% of secondary transmissions may have been caused by a small fraction of infectious individuals (~10%). A joint estimation yielded likely ranges for R0 and k (95% CrIs: R0 1.4-12; k 0.04-0.2); however, the upper bound of R0 was not well informed by the model and data, which did not notably differ from that of the prior distribution. Conclusions: Our finding of a highly-overdispersed offspring distribution highlights a potential benefit to focusing intervention efforts on superspreading. As most infected individuals do not contribute to the expansion of an epidemic, the effective reproduction number could be drastically reduced by preventing relatively rare superspreading events.
creator: Akira Endo, Sam Abbott, Adam J. Kucharski, Sebastian Funk, Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases COVID-19 Working Group
source: Biotemas
publisher: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
date: 2020
coverage: Science, Medicine

Research Progress of Genetic Structure, Pathogenic Mechanism, Clinical Characteristics, and Potential Treatments of Coronavirus Disease 2019
subject: Coronavirus disease 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, cytokine storm, pathogenic mechanism, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2
description: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), and currently affects more than 8 million people worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 mainly invades the cells by binding to the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, leading to the injury of respiratory system, cardiovascular system, digestive system, and urinary system, and even secondary to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and systemic inflammatory response, resulting in multiple organ failure. In this review, mainly focusing on biogenesis and pathogenic mechanisms, we describe the recent progress in our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 and then summarize and discuss its crucial clinical characteristics and potential mechanism in different systems. Additionally, we discuss the potential treatments for COVID-19, aiming at a better understanding of the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and providing new ideas for the personalized treatment of COVID-19.
creator: Bing Zhang, Xiaochuan Zhang, Chunsheng Zhu, Bao Sun
source: Epidemiology and Health
publisher: Korean Society of Epidemiology
date: 2020
coverage: Therapeutics. Pharmacology

The 2020 Pandemic: Current SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Development
subject: Pandemic, Clinical trial, coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (sars-cov-2), antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE), receptor binding domain (RBD)
description: Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses with a positive-sense single-stranded RNA genome infecting animals and humans. Coronaviruses have been described more than 70 years ago and contain many species. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) are lethal species caused by human coronaviruses (HCoVs). Currently, a novel strain of HCoVs, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). SARS-CoV-2 was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, the capital city of the Hubei province of China, and has since spread worldwide causing an outbreak in more than 200 countries. The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak was declared a pandemic on March 11th, 2020 and a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) in late January 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO). SARS-CoV-2 infects the respiratory tract causing flu-like symptoms and, in some, may cause severe illness like pneumonia and multi-organ failure leading to death. Today, Covid-19 cases almost reaching 9 million, with more than 450 thousand deaths. There is an urgent demand for developing a vaccine since no effective therapies or vaccines have been approved to this day to prevent or minimize the spread of the infection. In this review, we summarized the furthest vaccines in the clinical pipeline.
creator: Abdullah M. Izmirly, Abdullah M. Izmirly, Abdullah M. Izmirly, Sana O. Alturki, Sana O. Alturki, Sawsan O. Alturki, Sawsan O. Alturki, Jennifer Connors, Jennifer Connors, Elias K. Haddad, Elias K. Haddad, Gina Cusimano, Michele A. Kutzler, Michele A. Kutzler
source: Epidemiology and Health
publisher: Korean Society of Epidemiology
date: 2020
coverage: Immunologic diseases. Allergy