Incubation Period of COVID-19 From 11545 Patients in Observation Study

Abstract Background The incubation period is a key index of epidemiology in understanding of the spread of infectious diseases and the decision-making of the disease control. However, the incubation period of the emerging COVID-19 is still unclear. Methods Between January 19, 2020 and September 21, 2020, we collected information on 11545 patients in Mainland China outside Hubei. The 218 patients with precise data was validation population. The incubation period was fitted with lognormal model by the coarseDataTools package in R. Results In 11545 patients, the mean incubation period of COVID-19 was 7.1 days (95% Confidence interval [CI], 7.0–7.2). About 5.4% of patients had precise incubation period less than 3 days, 10.2% longer than 14 days, and 2.1% longer than 21 days. There was no statistically significant difference in incubation period between male and female (P = 0.603). It was similar in the 218 patients. The mean accurate incubation period was 6.8 days (6.2–7.4). Of which, 14.7% (32/218) of patients had incubation period less than 3 days, 12.4% (27/218) longer than 14 days, and 0.9% (2/218) longer than 21 days. Conclusions For COVID-19, the mean incubation period is 7.1 days and 10.2% of patients developed disease 14 days after infection, which challenges the current 14-day quarantine strategy.

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Evaluating Endoscopic Ipsilateral Endonasal Corridor Approaches to the Anterolateral Wall of the Maxillary Sinus: A Computerized Tomography Study

International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology ◽

10.1055/s-0041-1724092 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Navarat Vatcharayothin ◽

Pornthep Kasemsiri ◽

Sanguansak Thanaviratananich ◽

Cattleya Thongrong

Keyword(s):

Confidence Interval ◽

Maxillary Sinus ◽

Inferior Turbinate ◽

Radial Access ◽

Sinus Wall ◽

Nasal Floor ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Anterolateral Wall ◽

The Mean ◽

Maxillary Sinuses

Abstract Introduction The endoscopic access to lesions in the anterolateral wall of the maxillary sinus is a challenging issue; therefore, the evaluation of access should be performed. Objective To assess the accessibility of three endoscopic ipsilateral endonasal corridors. Methods Three corridors were created in each of the 30 maxillary sinuses from 19 head cadavers. Accessing the anterolateral wall of the maxillary sinus was documented with a straight stereotactic navigator probe at the level of the nasal floor and of the axilla of the inferior turbinate. Results At level of the nasal floor, the prelacrimal approach, the modified endoscopic Denker approach, and the endoscopic Denker approach allowed mean radial access to the anterolateral maxillary sinus wall of 42.6 ± 7.3 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 39.9–45.3), 56.0 ± 6.1 (95%CI: 53.7–58.3), and 60.1 ± 6.2 (95%CI: 57.8–62.4), respectively. Furthermore, these approaches provided more lateral access to the maxillary sinus at the level of the axilla of the inferior turbinate, with mean radial access of 45.8 ± 6.9 (95%CI: 43.3–48.4) for the prelacrimal approach, 59.8 ± 4.7 (95% CI:58.1–61.6) for the modified endoscopic Denker approach, and 63.6 ± 5.5 (95%CI: 61.6–65.7) for the endoscopic Denker approach. The mean radial access in each corridor, either at the level of the nasal floor or the axilla of the inferior turbinate, showed a statistically significant difference in all comparison approaches (p < 0.05). Conclusions The prelacrimal approach provided a narrow radial access, which allows access to anteromedial lesions of the maxillary sinus, whereas the modified endoscopic Denker and the endoscopic Denker approaches provided more lateral radial access and improved operational feasibility on far anterolateral maxillary sinus lesions.

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Effect of COVID-19 outbreak on emergency department attendances in an Italian academic hospital

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.207 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

M Poletto ◽

G Perri ◽

F Malacarne ◽

B Bianchet ◽

A Doimo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Initial Phase ◽

Mainland China ◽

Hospital Setting ◽

Academic Hospital ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After ◽

Life Threatening ◽

The Mean ◽

Critical Patients

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease was discovered during the 2019 outbreak in Mainland China and the first cases were reported in Italy on February 21, 2020. This study evaluates the emergency department (ED) attendances of an academic hospital in northern Italy before and after media reported the news of the first infected patients in Italy. Methods Adult attendances in ED in February 2020 were analysed dividing the period into 4 weeks (days 1-7, 8-14, 15-21, 22-28) compared with the same periods in 2019. The visits were analysed separately according to the Italian colour code of triage: white (non-critical), green (low-critical), yellow (medium critical), red (life-threatening). The mean weekly number of attendances was compared with t-test. Results February 2020 total ED attendances compared with February 2019 were 4865 vs 5029 (-3.3%), of which white codes were 834 vs 762 (+9.4%), green 2450 vs 2580 (-5.0%), yellow 1427 vs 1536 (-7.1%), red 154 vs 151 (+2.0%). February 2020 weekly mean ED attendances compared with February 2019 had statistically significant difference only in the fourth week (days 22-28) for green codes (75 vs 92, p = 0.007) and yellow codes (41 vs 52, p = 0.047), not for white (27 vs 26, p = 0.760) and red codes (5 vs 5, p = 0.817). The first three weeks of February 2020 compared with 2019 showed no statistically significant difference in weekly mean ED attendances. Conclusions There was a significant reduction of green and yellow codes attendances at ED in the fourth week of February 2020, corresponding to the initial phase of Italian COVID-19 outbreak. The fear of contracting SARS-CoV-2 by attending the ED probably acted as a significant deterrent in visits, especially for low and medium critical patients. Additional data are required to better understand the phenomenon, including the behaviour of non-critical attendances. Key messages A reduction of green and yellow codes attendances was reported during initial phase of COVID-19 outbreak in an Italian academic hospital. Fear of contracting COVID-19 infection in a hospital setting could impact on emergency department attendances.

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Normal levels of vitamin A in tissues of the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) determined colorimetrically

Laboratory Animals ◽

10.1258/002367788780864448 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 117-121 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M. E. Robinson ◽

A. M. Verrinder Gibbins ◽

M. H. Hardy

Keyword(s):

Vitamin A ◽

Syrian Hamster ◽

Cheek Pouch ◽

Standard Diet ◽

Male And Female ◽

Mean Values ◽

A Value ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Wet Weight ◽

The Mean

Vitamin A levels in tissues of 20 normal adult hamsters on a standard diet were measured colorimetrically. No significant difference between male and female animals was found for any of the tissues sampled. The mean vitamin A value for blood plasma in 20 animals was 53·4 μg/dl. Mean values for liver, kidneys, flank skin and cheek pouch were 813, 1·29, 1·84 and 1·31 mg/g wet weight, respectively. The vitamin assay was less suitable for small organs such as trachea.

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Confidence interval approach for evaluating bias in laboratory methods

Journal of Automatic Chemistry ◽

10.1155/s1463924688000276 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 144-146 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

K. F. Yee

Keyword(s):

Confidence Interval ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Laboratory Methods ◽

Mean Values ◽

Practical Concern ◽

Alternative Approach ◽

Interval Approach ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean

A statistically significant difference in mean values between two laboratory quantitation methods is interpreted as a bias. Sometimes such a difference is so minute that it does not constitute any practical concern. An alternative approach is to test statistically whether the two methods are close enough, not for equality. This is to look at the confidence interval of the mean method difference and does not entail any additional statistical tests.

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Assessment of decrease in renal function associated with hypothyroidism

World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews ◽

10.30574/wjarr.2021.12.1.0477 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 275-286

Author(s):

Ayesha Ammar ◽

Kahkashan Bashir Mir ◽

Sadaf Batool ◽

Noreen Marwat ◽

Maryam Saeed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Renal Function ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Creatinine Clearance ◽

Confidence Intervals ◽

Standard Error ◽

Radioactive Iodine ◽

T Test ◽

Euthyroid State ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean

Objective: Study was aimed to see the effects of hypothyroidism on GFR as a renal function. Material and methods: Total of Fifty-eight patients were included in the study. Out of those forty-eight patients were female and the rest were male. Out of fifty eight patients, fifty three patients were of thyroid cancer in which hypothyroidism was due to discontinuation of thyroxine before the administration of radioactive iodine for Differentiated thyroid cancer.Moreover, remaining five patients were post radioactive iodine treatment (for hyperthyroidism) hypothyroid. All of the patients were above eighteen years of age with TSH value > 30µIU/ml. Pregnant and lactating females were excluded.Renal function tests (urea/creatinine, creatinine clearance) and serum electrolytes followed by Tc-99m-DTPA renal scan for GFR assessment (GATES’ method) were carried out in all subjects twice during the study, One study during hypothyroid state (TSH > 30 µIU/ml) and other during euthyroid state (TSH between 0.4 to 4µ IU/ml). The results of Student’s t-test showed significant difference in renal functions (Urea, creatinine, creatinine clearance, GFR values) in euthyroid state and hypothyroid state (p-value <0.05). RESULTS: In case of creatinine the paired t test reveal the mean 1.014±0.428, with standard error of 0.669 within 95% confidence interval, for creatinine clearance 80.11±14.12 with standard error of 1.94 within 95% confidence intervals, for urea the mean 28±12.13 with standard error of 1.607 within 95% confidence intervals and for GFR for individual kidney is 38.056±8.56 with standard error of 1.3717 within 95% confidence interval. There was no difference in the outcome of the 2 groups. Conclusion: Hypothyroidism impairs renal function to a significant level and hence needs to be prevented and corrected as early as possible.

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Flipping the “Learning Skills” Course during COVID-19: A Mixed-Modality Study

Education in Medicine Journal ◽

10.21315/eimj2021.13.3.4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 31-41

Author(s):

Ashfaq Akram ◽

Kamran Sattar ◽

Tauseef Ahmad ◽

Hamza M. Abdulghani ◽

Jennesse John ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Flipped Classroom ◽

Teaching Method ◽

Female Students ◽

Learning Material ◽

Learning Skills ◽

Male And Female ◽

Class Time ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean

The purpose of this study was to compare the male and female medical students’ perceptions of the flipped classroom (FC) using the Zoom online platform during the COVID-19 pandemic. A mixedmodality study proceeded for first-year undergraduate medical students (n = 149). Three topics (learning how to learn, stress management and doctor-patient communication) were flipped using the Zoom platform. Following the flipping, relevant videos and PowerPoint slides were sent to the students. Home assignments were done through the online classroom. The students were then made to answer a questionnaire on their perceptions of FC consisting of 5-point Likert items. In addition, a focus group discussion (FGD) was carried out with voluntary participation (n = 13) for an in-depth discussion of flipped teaching. The quantitative data were analysed using the independent t-test, and Atlas.ti was used to analyse the qualitative data. For most of the Likert statements, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the mean results obtained by the male and female students. For example, for the item “The learning material was available before class time”, both the male (mean [SD] = 1.857 [0.443]) and female (mean [SD] = 1.966 [0.365]) respondents confirmed the learning material’s availability before class time (p = 0.121). However, the mean result obtained by the male respondents for the variable “I understood the topics in lesser time compared to the traditional lecture method” was higher than the mean result obtained by the female participants by 0.236, which was statistically significant (95% CI [0.373, –0.100], p = 0.001). Modified FC teaching for the “learning skills” course is thus an effective teaching method. The male students took significantly lesser time understanding the three included topics compared to the female students.

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Genetic homozygosity as a marker of smoking dependency

Genetika ◽

10.2298/gensr203009b ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. 1009-1019

Author(s):

Slavko Brankovic ◽

Dejan Nikolic ◽

Dragoslav Marinkovic ◽

Suzana Cvjeticanin

Keyword(s):

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Male Gender ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Male And Female ◽

Mean Values ◽

Individual Variations ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean ◽

The Individual

The aim of our study was to evaluate the morphogenetic variability as a marker of smoking dependency in adult smokers versus controls and to investigate the presence and the degree of morphogenetic variability difference between male and female smokers versus same gender controls. The cross-sectional study evaluated 241 smokers and 185 nonsmoker individuals as controls. We analyzed 17 homozygous recessive characteristics (HRC). There was a significant difference in the individual variations of 17 HRCs between the controls and smokers (??2=61.400, p<0.001; for females ??2=79.440, p<0.001; for males ??2=84.972, p<0.001). The mean values of HRCs significantly differed between smokers and controls (MV?SEM(Controls) -4.79?0.13, MV?SEM(Smokers) -5.70?0.12; p<0.001). For males, presence of 6/17 (35.29% genetic homozygosity) HRCs (OR=6.12) was to the certain degree predictor for smoking dependency. Higher degree of genetic homozygosity, changed variability and male gender, might be some among potential numerous factors that could have impact on smoking development and dependence.

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Open quotient (EGG) measurements of young and elderly voices: results of a production and perception study

ZAS Papers in Linguistics ◽

10.21248/zaspil.40.2005.267 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 40 ◽

pp. 213-225

Author(s):

Ralf Winkler ◽

Walter Sendlmeier

Keyword(s):

The Elderly ◽

Positive Relation ◽

Male And Female ◽

Elderly Males ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Vocal Effort ◽

Quantitative Results ◽

The Mean ◽

Perceived Age ◽

Age Independent

This paper presents the results of Open Quotient measurements in EGG signals of young (18 to 30 year old) and elderly (59 to 82 year old) male and female speakers. The paper further presents quantitative results on the relation between the OQ and the perception of a speaker's age. Higgins & Saxman (1991) found a decreased OQEGG with increasing age for females, whereas the OQEGG in sustained vowel material increased for males as the speakers age increased. In Linville (2002), however, the spectral amplitudes in the region of F0 (obtained by LTAS-measurements of read speech material) increased with increasing age independent of gender; this could be interpreted indirectly as an increasing OQ. We measured the OQEGG not only for sustained vowels, but also in vowels taken from isolated words. In order to analyse the relation between breathiness in terms of an increased OQ and the mean perceived age per stimulus a perception test was carried out in which listeners were asked to estimate speaker's age based on sustained /a/-vowel stimuli varying in vocal effort (soft - normal - loud) during production. The results indicated the following: (i) The decreased OQ for elderly females originally found by Higgins & Saxman is not apparent in our data for sustained /a/-vowels. For our female speakers no significant difference between the OQ of young and old speakers was found; for elderly males, however, we also found an increasing OQ with increasing age.(ii) In addition, a statistically significant increased OQEGG occurs for the group of the elderly males for the vowels from the word material. (iii) Our results show a strong positive relation between perceived age and OQ in male voices. Regarding (i) and (ii), at least the male speaker's voice becomes more breathy as age increases. Considering (iii), increased breathiness may contribute to the listener’s perception of increased age.

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Syncope in Commercial Pilots and New Regulatory Guidance

Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance ◽

10.3357/amhp.5742.2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 92 (8) ◽

pp. 642-649

Author(s):

Ryan A. Anderton ◽

Stuart J. Mitchell ◽

Sean S. ONunain

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Medical Literature ◽

Civil Aviation ◽

Positive Finding ◽

Regulatory Guidance ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Regulatory Perspective ◽

The Mean ◽

Regulatory Practice ◽

Underlying Pathology

INTRODUCTION: Syncope is both incapacitating and unpredictable, presenting a significant challenge in aircrew assessment. Previous UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guidance lacked transparency and relied heavily on specialist in-house cardiology and neurology opinion. A new algorithm was developed which elaborated and formalized the decision-making process. An analysis of its impact on historic cases was undertaken to ensure it aligned with previous certificatory outcomes.METHODS: The medical literature on syncope and the approaches of other national aviation authorities were reviewed to help inform the development of a new algorithm. Using syncope cases in the CAA database, regulatory outcomes generated using the new algorithm were compared with previous decisions in terms of time off from flying (TOF) and Operational Multi-Crew Limitation (OML) duration.RESULTS: There were 40 historic syncope cases (25 existing certificate holders,15 initial applicants) which were reassessed using the new algorithm. The mean TOF for existing pilots using the new algorithm was 7.1 9.8 (mean SD) vs. 4.2 3.5 mo under the old guidance with an OML duration of 21.4 34.9 vs. 24.5 25.2 mo. One less initial applicant experienced a delay to certification. Four cases with underlying pathology were detected using old and new guidance.DISCUSSION: The reassessment of cases showed no statistically significant difference in TOF and OML duration; this is a positive finding from a regulatory perspective, enabling algorithm-led decision-making with less reliance on in-house expertise. A similar approach may be useful in future updates to other areas of regulatory practice.Anderton RA, Mitchell SJ, ONunain SS. Syncope in commercial pilots and new regulatory guidance. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2021; 92(8):642649.

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Risk-Taking Patterns of Male and Female Entrepreneurs in Roodepoort

African and Asian Studies ◽

10.1163/15692108-12341317 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 452-478 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ajay K. Garg ◽

A. Duvenhage

Keyword(s):

Risk Taking ◽

Business Performance ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Primary Data ◽

Female Entrepreneurs ◽

Male And Female ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Males And Females ◽

The Mean ◽

Performance Perceptions

This study analyses the risk-taking propensity of male and female entrepreneurs. Primary data were collected from a sample of 400 randomly selected from among the small and medium scale entrepreneurs in Roodepoort and two structured questionnaires were used. The results showed the existence of differences among male and female entrepreneurs’ risk-taking perceptions. However, no significant differences in the mean scores between males and females in the financial and social domains of risk taking perception were found. The results further indicate that there is a significant difference in the means of the entrepreneurs with regard to their overall risk-taking perception in the ethical domain of risk-taking perception, health and safety risk-taking perception, recreational risk-taking perception as well as their business performance perceptions. The study also suggests that there is no correlation between business performance and risk-taking in entrepreneurs. The study highlights that there is no evidence to suggest that risk-taking in different genders plays a role as an indicator in business performance.

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