scholarly journals Inflammatory profiles and clinical features of COVID-19 survivors three months after discharge in Wuhan, China

Author(s):  
Mei Zhou ◽  
Zhengrong Yin ◽  
Juanjuan Xu ◽  
Sufei Wang ◽  
Tingting Liao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Post-discharge immunity and its correlation with clinical features among patients recovered from COVID-19 are poorly described. This prospective cross-sectional study explored the inflammatory profiles and clinical recovery of COVID-19 patients at 3 months post-discharge. Methods COVID-19 patients discharged from four hospitals in Wuhan, recovered asymptomatic patients (APs) from an isolation hotel, and uninfected healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Viral nucleic acid and antibody detection, laboratory examination, computed tomography, pulmonary function assessment, multiplex cytokine assay, and flow cytometry were performed. Results The 72 age-, sex- and body mass index-matched participants included 19 severe/critical patients (SPs), 20 mild/moderate patients (MPs), 16 APs, and 17 HCs. At 3 months after discharge, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and factors related to vascular injury/repair in recovered COVID-19 patients had not returned to those of the HCs, especially among recovered SPs compared to recovered MPs and APs. These cytokines were significantly correlated with impaired pulmonary function and chest CT abnormalities. However, levels of immune cells had returned to nearly normal levels and were not significantly correlated with abnormal clinical features. Conclusion Vascular injury, inflammation, and chemotaxis persisted in COVID-19 patients and were correlated with abnormal clinical features 3 months after discharge, especially in recovered SPs.

Author(s):  
Glori Abdiningsih Rachmani

Exposure to dust in the work environment is a potential factor that can cause impaired pulmonary function. Concentration of dust in the air is one factor that affects the severity caused. Higher exposure to dust in the air, increase the risk of impaired pulmonary function. The objective of the research was to analyze the exposure to respirable cement dust and pulmonary function impairment of Finish Mill operators in PT. Semen Indonesia, Tuban Regency. This study used a cross-sectional study design, with the number of sample using purposive sampling method as many as 10 people. The level of inhaled semen dust is measured using a Personal Dust Sampler (PDS). The characteristics of workers are also seen include age, length of employment, smoking habits, use of personal protective equipment and respiratory complaints felt. The results of this study were 90% of operators with respirable dust levels > 3 mg/m3. The highest respirable dust content was 26,7151 mg/m3. The lowest respirable dust content was 1.4665 mg/m3. In addition, 22.2% of operators who have inhaled dust levels > 3 mg/m3 have impaired pulmonary function. Conclusions can be drawn pulmonary function impairment more experienced by operators aged 36 - 45 years, with a working period of more than 15 years. Smoking habits and respiratory history may be seen from operator respiratory complaints.Keywords: finish mill operators, pulmonary function test, respirable cement dust. 


2018 ◽  
pp. 97-103
Author(s):  
Huu Hoi Vo ◽  
Binh Bao Son Bui

Objective: To determine the relationship between coagulation abnormalities and main clinical features, and hematologic tests. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 65 children with sepsis at the PICU, Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children from April 2012 to June 2013. Results: The frequency of internal hemorrhage in septic shock children was significantly higher than in children with sepsis (p < 0.001). The rate of thrombocytopenia was 30.8%, in which 10.8% of the children had severe thrombocytopenia (<50 x 109/l). Hypofibrinogenemia was observed in 30.8% of the patients, in which severe hypofibrinogenemia (≤ 1 g/l) was observed in 16.9% of the children. The frequency of reduced prothrombin ratio was 40%, in which 23.1% of the patients had prothrombin ratio < 50%. 35.4% of the patients had rAPTT > 1.15. Positive D-dimer and DIC were observed in 53.8% and 20% of the patients, respectively. Hemostatic changes showed the significant relationship with hemorrhage and the mortality of sepsis. Conclusion: Children with sepsis, especially septic shock were at high risk of coagulation dysfunction and coagulation abnormalities showed the correlation with hemorrhage and the mortality of sepsis. Key words: coagulation abnormalities, sepsis, children


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hlma Ismail ◽  
Mosa Shibani ◽  
Hanaa Wael Zahrawi ◽  
Ali Fouad Slitin ◽  
Mhd Amin Alzabibi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and the second leading cause of cancer death globally. Since early diagnosis is crucial to reducing mortality, high levels of knowledge regarding general information, risk factors, and symptoms are required among healthcare professionals to deliver breast cancer care. This study aimed to determine Syrian medical students’ knowledge about breast cancer in the fields of general knowledge, common clinical features, and risk factors. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Syrian Private University in October 2019 (Breast Cancer Awareness Month), Damascus, during the Syrian war crisis. Data were collected through self-administered surveys and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.0 (SPSS Inc., United States). The chi-square test was applied to assess the relationship between the level of knowledge and gender. One way analysis of variance was performed to assess the overall differences in mean knowledge score by study year, GPA, mother’s education, and source of information. Unpaired Student’s T-test was used to analyze the differences in mean knowledge scores (continuous variable) based on smoking status and alcohol consumption. Results Of 320 students, 301 completed the questionnaire (response rate = 94.0%), of which 179(59.5%) were males. The study revealed above-average knowledge scores (total mean = 68.4%) regarding breast cancer, general information (71.9%), common clinical features (71.6%), and risk factors (71.6%). Clinical students (4th, 5th, and 6th years) scored higher compared with pre-clinical students (1st, 2nd, and 3rd years). Conclusion This study showed above-average knowledge scores regarding breast cancer. More efforts to correct misinformation, through reassessing the university curriculum and promoting awareness about breast cancer are required.


2017 ◽  
Vol 135 (4) ◽  
pp. 332-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Letícia Baltieri ◽  
Luiz Claudio Martins ◽  
Everton Cazzo ◽  
Débora Aparecida Oliveira Modena ◽  
Renata Cristina Gobato ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: The combined effect of obesity and asthma may lead to significant impairment of quality of life (QOL). The aim here was to evaluate the prevalence of asthma among obese individuals, characterize the severity of impairment of quality of life and measure its relationship with pulmonary function. DESIGN AND SETTING: Observational cross-sectional study in public university hospital. METHODS: Morbidly obese individuals (body mass index &gt; 40 kg/m2) seen in a bariatric surgery outpatient clinic and diagnosed with asthma, were included. Anthropometric data were collected, the Standardized Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ(S)) was applied and spirometry was performed. The subjects were divided into two groups based on the median of the score in the questionnaire (worse &lt; 4 and better &gt; 4) and were compared regarding anthropometric data and pulmonary function. RESULTS: Among the 4791 individuals evaluated, 219 were asthmatic; the prevalence of asthma was 4.57%. Of these, 91 individuals were called to start multidisciplinary follow-up during the study period, of whom 82 answered the questionnaire. The median score in the AQLQ(S) was 3.96 points and, thus, the individuals were classified as having moderate impairment of their overall QOL. When divided according to better or worse QOL, there was a statistically difference in forced expiratory flow (FEF) 25-75%, with higher values in the better QOL group. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of asthma was 4.57% and QOL was impaired among the asthmatic obese individuals. The worst QOL domain related to environmental stimuli and the best QOL domain to limitations of the activities. Worse QOL was correlated with poorer values for FEF 25-75%.


2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 2081-2086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tze Pin Ng ◽  
Mathew Niti ◽  
Keng Bee Yap ◽  
Wan Cheng Tan

AbstractObjectiveA limited but growing body of evidence supports a significant role of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory micronutrients in pulmonary health. We investigated the associations of dietary and supplemental intakes of vitamins A, C, E and D, Se and n-3 PUFA with pulmonary function in a population-based study.DesignPopulation-based, cross-sectional study and data analysis of fruits and vegetables, dairy products and fish, vitamins A, C, E and D, Se and n-3 PUFA supplemental intakes, pulmonary risk factors and spirometry.SubjectsChinese older adults (n 2478) aged 55 years and above in the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Studies.ResultsIn multiple regression models that controlled simultaneously for gender, age, height, smoking, occupational exposure and history of asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, BMI, physical activity, and in the presence of other nutrient variables, daily supplementary vitamins A/C/E (b = 0·044, se = 0·022, P = 0·04), dietary fish intake at least thrice weekly (b = 0·058, se = 0·016, P < 0·0001) and daily supplementary n-3 PUFA (b = 0·068, se = 0·032, P = 0·034) were individually associated with forced expiratory volume in the first second. Supplemental n-3 PUFA was also positively associated with forced vital capacity (b = 0·091, se = 0·045, P = 0·045). No significant association with daily dairy product intake, vitamin D or Se supplements was observed.ConclusionsThe findings support the roles of antioxidant vitamins and n-3 PUFA in the pulmonary health of older persons.


2002 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flávio Soares de Araújo ◽  
Kátia Petribú ◽  
Othon Bastos

OBJECTIVE: The authors carried out a cross-sectional study with the aim of characterizing and describing depressive pictures in schizophrenic patients seen at the Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic of the Federal University of Pernambuco (HC-UFPE). The patients had the diagnosis of schizophrenia confirmed on the basis of the operating criteria of the DSM-IV. METHODS: Those who where in the period of stabilization of the clinical picture were selected for the study defined according the following criteria:the last psychotic episode must be happened two months before at least, and during this period the alterations of the antipsychotics doses had been lower than 5 mg of haloperidol or equivalent doses of others neuroleptics. A total of one hundred and four patients took part. Following the identification of the depressive symptoms using the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), thirty-one patients (29.8%) fulfilled the diagnostic criteria described in the DSM-IV. Of these, 22.1% had the diagnosis of major depression and 7.7% of minor depression according the DSM-IV. Two groups were constituted: Group A, schizophrenics with a depressive syndrome, and Group B, schizophrenics without such a syndrome. An assessment was made of the distribution of the symptoms of the CDSS scores in both groups, the sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic variables in relation to the frequency of the depressive syndrome, and the patients clinical course. For the investigation of certain clinical features, the following tools were used: problem list (psychosocial stressors) contained in axis IV of the DSM-IV intended to detect the presence of factors triggering the initial episode of schizophrenia and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF -- Axis V -- DSM-IV) to characterize the current functioning of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained allowed the authors to draw the following conclusions: all the items that comprise the Brazilian version of the CDSS were statistically significant in characterizing the depressive syndrome; a comparison of the sociodemographic and therapeutic variables revealed no statistically significant differences between the two groups, and this was also the case with the majority of the clinical features. Statistically significant differences, however, were found in relation to the greater frequency of life events (psychosocial stressors) in triggering the first episode of schizophrenia and the higher incidence of affective disorders antecedents in family members (first and second degree) among the depressed patients. The mean duration of the depressive syndrome during follow-up of the patients was 5.30 months. The patients in whom there was a recurrence of the psychotic episode presented a delusional-hallucinatory clinical picture. This study seeks to contribute to the inclusion of the Postpsychotic Depressive Disorder (PSD) of Schizophrenia (DSM-IV), in the group of Schizophrenic Disorders.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar Arrogante ◽  
Gracia María González-Romero ◽  
Eva María López-Torre ◽  
Laura Carrión-García ◽  
Alberto Polo

Abstract BackgroundFormative and summative evaluation are widely employed in simulated-based assessment. The aims of our study were to evaluate the acquisition of nursing competencies through clinical simulation in undergraduate nursing students and to compare their satisfaction with this methodology using these two evaluation strategies.Methods218 undergraduate nursing students participated in a cross-sectional study, using a mixed-method. MAES© (self-learning methodology in simulated environments) sessions were developed to assess students by formative evaluation. Objective Structured Clinical Examination sessions were conducted to assess students by summative evaluation. Simulated scenarios recreated clinical cases of critical patients. Students´ performance in all simulated scenarios were assessed using checklists. A validated questionnaire was used to evaluate satisfaction with clinical simulation. Quantitative data were analysed using the IBM SPSS Statistics version 24.0 software, whereas qualitative data were analysed using the ATLAS-ti version 8.0 software.ResultsMost nursing students showed adequate clinical competence. Satisfaction with clinical simulation was higher when students were assessed using formative evaluation. The main students’ complaints with summative evaluation were related to reduced time for performing simulated scenarios and increased anxiety during their clinical performance.ConclusionThe best solution to reduce students’ complaints with summative evaluation is to orient them to the simulated environment. It should be recommended to combine both evaluation strategies in simulated-based assessment, providing students feedback in summative evaluation, as well as evaluating their achievement of learning outcomes in formative evaluation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 163-172
Author(s):  
Mohammed Abdulrazzaq Jabbar Jabbar ◽  
Retneswari Masilamani ◽  
Lim Zhi Yik ◽  
Chen Pei Fei ◽  
Loh Xin Ni ◽  
...  

The cooking process may emit toxic compounds and airway irritants from both the fuel combustion and cooking fumes which is harmful to the respiratory health among the restaurant workers. A cross-sectional study of 243 restaurant workers from the selected restaurants in Sungai Long, Malaysia was conducted. The standardized British Medical Research Council questionnaire on Respiratory Symptoms (1986) was used during the interview to access the symptoms and the spirometry test was performed to evaluate the pulmonary functions of the participants. The data of socio-demography and occupational characteristics were also collected. The most complaint respiratory symptoms by the restaurant workers were breathlessness, which accounted for 33.7%, followed by wheezing (14%). The mean values of all pulmonary function tests (PFT) of the restaurant workers were within the normal range (>80%), except for the Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) (79.09%). The results of the bivariate statistical analysis, Chi-square, ANOVA and t-test, showed the determining factors of the respiratory health among the workers were workers’ age and gender in addition to the working duration and the ethnicity. The restaurant workers in Sungai Long were at risk of developing respiratory symptoms and lower pulmonary function values due to prolonged exposure to cooking fumes. Emphasis should be given to the safety and health of restaurant workers and health education should be provided to the restaurant workers and owners. Strategies to increase notification of such occurrences among these workers should be looked into by related agencies in the country.


2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 373-381
Author(s):  
Hanife Kocakaya ◽  
Emrah Songur ◽  
Sedat Batmaz ◽  
Zekiye Çelikbaş ◽  
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