Fact-Checking the Crisis: COVID-19, Infodemics, and the Platformization of Truth

During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, various officials flagged the critical threat of false information. In this study, we explore how three major social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube) responded to this “infodemic” during early stages of the pandemic via emergent fact-checking policies and practices, and consider what this means for ensuring a well-informed public. We accomplish this through a thematic analysis of documents published by the three platforms that address fact-checking, particularly those that focus on COVID-19. In addition to examining what the platforms said they did, we also examined what the platforms actually did in practice via a retrospective case study drawing on secondary data about the viral conspiracy video, Plandemic. We demonstrate that the platforms focused their energies primarily on the visibility of COVID-19 mis/disinformation on their sites via (often vaguely described) policies and practices rife with subjectivity. Moreover, the platforms communicated the expectation that users should ultimately be the ones to hash out what they believe is true. We argue that this approach does not necessarily serve the goal of ensuring a well-informed public, as has been the goal of fact-checking historically, and does little to address the underlying conditions and structures that permit the circulation and amplification of false information online.

Overview and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease Inpatients at Royal Prima General Hospital Medan in 2020

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition in which there is a gradual decline in kidney function. This disease is progressive and usually irreversible. Indications for hospitalized CKD patients with severe complications and do not allow inpatient therapy. This study was aimed to describe the overview and management of chronic kidney disease inpatient in Royal Prima General Hospital Medan. The type of research used is research with a descriptive and retrospective case study design. This study is based on medical record data related to inpatient CKD patients' diagnostic and management features at the Royal Prima General Hospital Medan in 2020. The research subjects were all inpatients diagnosed with CKD, whereas 100 research subjects with complete medical records were included in this study. It was found that the highest age group was 57-65 years, as much as 37.0%, and men as much as 27%. The chief complaint was shortness of breath at 43% and additional complaints, the most of which were fever + low back pain + edema at 38%. On physical examination, most of the inspections were weak, 55%. Most palpation was sociable 57%. There was auscultation of four abdominal regions and normal positive bowel sounds (93%). Complete blood count + blood sugar level + electrolytes + urea + creatinine 70%, the most combination medication is NaCl 0.9% + Furosemide injection 31%. Based on the length of stay, the longest was 13-14 days (20%).

The Upper Paralimbal Zone is Especially Susceptible to Ruptures Due to Blunt Trauma

Background Globe ruptures are ophthalmological emergencies where the primary diagnosis using a slit lamp is often a challenge. Objectives The retrospective case study aimed to characterise the predilection sites, the demographic profile and the causes of bursts due to blunt globe trauma. Materials and Methods The surgical plan of the Eye Centre of the Medical Centre (University of Freiburg) was electronically searched using the keyword “globe rupture” over a period of 18 years (2000 – 2018). This led to 350 hits, which were scrutinised by hand. 134 globe ruptures due to blunt globe trauma were then identified. Results The most common predilection sites were the upper nasal and the upper temporal paralimbal zones with 37 and 32% of the examined globe ruptures, respectively. The average age at the time of rupture was 60 (from 2 to 97) years. The median age was 62.5 years. 37% (49/134) of patients were female. The most frequent causes of accidents were falls (43%), “flying” wooden and metal objects (18%) and acts of violence (10%). Conclusions Special attention should be paid to the upper paralimbal zone in the exploratory primary care of globe ruptures. If the rupture occurred due to “flying” wooden and metal objects, the posterior sclera burst most frequently. The epidemiological data suggest that targeted prevention against falls for individuals over 60 years and consistent wearing of protective eyewear when working with wood or metal could reduce the incidence of bulbar bursting. It was also noticeable that acts of violence were the third most frequent cause of rupture, although woman did not report that they were affected by this. Given the high occurrence of violence against women, shame and stigma may lead to an incorrect inquiry about the cause of the accident. This could be mitigated by training employees specifically to take a sensitive history.

Utilization of Acupuncture and Herbal Ointment Instead of Skin Graft Surgery for the Treatment of Burn Injuries: A Case Series and Literature review

Skin graft surgery is a standard treatment that increases the survival rate of patients with burn injuries; however, it leaves many sequelae. Conventional external preparations for the treatment of burns also have various side effects. In this retrospective case study, we assessed the cases of four patients with topical third-degree burns who did not wish to undergo the skin graft surgeries recommended by medical doctors and were thus treated using traditional medicine alone. A Korean medicine doctor administered integrative traditional medicine treatment to the patients using acupuncture and herbal ointments. Analysis of the patients’ treatment photographs, quantitative evaluation indices, and vivid narratives suggested that their skin recovered well without adverse effects. Traditional Korean medicine treatment, including acupuncture and herbal ointment treatment, can be a new alternative therapeutic strategy for the treatment of patients with topical burns who do not want to undergo skin graft surgery or who have higher risks for poor surgical outcomes.

INCIDENCE OF CERVICAL ADENOCARCINOMA: A RETROSPECTIVE CASE STUDY AT RIMS RANCHI

BACKGROUND:Cervical cancer remains one of the most common causes of death for women globally and ranks 4th of all cancers.Currently,every 2 minutes a life is lost to this disease.Endocervical adenocarcinomas are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms. Screening strategies designed for and effective in detecting squamous cell carcinoma precursors are less effective in detecting endocervical glandular precursor lesions.Because of this and possible other reasons,the real and relative incidence of endocervical adenocarcinoma has increased in recent years from 5% to up to 20-25%, particularly in patients 30yr of age or older.MATERIAL AND METHOD: It was a retrospective record based study, performed in the Department of pathology, RIMS Ranchi. Study population included all cases who were clinically suspected of any cervical pathology, with common clinical presentation of abnormal vaginal bleeding, intermenstrual heavy bleeding,postmenopausal bleeding,postcoital bleeding,whitish discharge per vagina,pain in lower abdomen, from January 2020- july 2021.RESULT:In our study incidence of SCC of cervix is 91.97% and second most common type is adenocarcinoma of cervix with incidence of 8.02%.Striking feature of adenocarcinoma of cervix is its preponderance in younger female as compared to SCC

Evaluation of Periodontal Risk Factors with Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence Based Fluorescent Plaque Index, in Comparison to Radiographic and Oral Health Habit Scoring: A Retrospective Case Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate periodontal risk factors with oral health habits and fluorescent plaque index (FPI) using quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) images, and to evaluate their effect on the degree of radiographic bone loss (RBL). Selected were 276 patients over 19 years of age to complete the questionnaire for oral health habit and take QLF images, periapical and panoramic radiographs. Oral health habit score, age, and sex showed a statistically significant correlation with FPI. FPI showed a lower value as the oral health habit score increased and the age decreased. Moreover, females showed lower FPI values than did males. RBL showed a statistically significant positive correlation with age but did not show any correlation with oral health habit scores and sex. There was no correlation between FPI and RBL. The results of this study suggest that the clinical use of QLF allows plaque detection by non-invasive procedures and can aid in a more objective estimation for oral hygiene status.