WSES/GAIS/WSIS/SIS-E/AAST global clinical pathways for patients with skin and soft tissue infections

Skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs) encompass a variety of pathological conditions that involve the skin and underlying subcutaneous tissue, fascia, or muscle, ranging from simple superficial infections to severe necrotizing infections.Together, the World Society of Emergency Surgery, the Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery, the Surgical Infection Society-Europe, The World Surgical Infection Society, and the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma have jointly completed an international multi-society document to promote global standards of care in SSTIs guiding clinicians by describing reasonable approaches to the management of SSTIs.An extensive non-systematic review was conducted using the PubMed and MEDLINE databases, limited to the English language. The resulting evidence was shared by an international task force with different clinical backgrounds.

Diplomasi Vaksin Covid-19 dan Budaya Anarki dalam Sistem Internasional [Covid-19 Vaccine Diplomacy and Cultures of Anarchy in The International System]

To fight the Covid-19 pandemic, several countries, through their pharmaceutical companies, conduct research and production of vaccines. Efforts to invent a vaccine are racing with the rapid mutation of Covid-19. The World Health Organization with GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization) and CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) initiated a collaborative forum called Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX). The goal there is justice and equity in the distribution of vaccines throughout the world. Although strategic efforts to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic are carried out multilaterally through COVAX, many countries have also taken bilateral steps to get their vaccine needs. On the other hand, the Covid-19 vaccine diplomacy that took place in an anarchic international system showed three different cultural patterns, namely Hobbesian (conflictual), Lockean (competitive), and Kantian (cooperative). By using a qualitative approach, this study analyzes three cultural patterns of anarchy in vaccine diplomacy. Data collection techniques in this research are based on library research. The theory used in this research is diplomacy and cultures of Anarchy in Constructivism approach. From this research, it was found that the COVAX is a representation of the cooperative pattern carried out by countries in overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic. But apart from that, there is also Hobbesian or conflictual diplomacy between the United States and China. Meanwhile, competitive diplomacy can be seen in the competition among vaccine-producing countries.AbstrakUntuk mengatasi pandemi Covid-19, sejumlah negara melalui perusahaan farmasinya melakukan penelitian dan produksi vaksin. Upaya pencarian vaksin berlomba dengan mutasi Covid-19 yang cepat. Organisasi Kesehatan Dunia (World Health Organization) bersama GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization) dan CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) menginisiasi wadah kolaboratif bernama Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX). Tujuannya, agar terjadi keadilan dan pemerataan dalam distribusi vaksin ke seluruh dunia. Meski upaya strategis menghadapi pandemik Covid-19 dilakukan secara multilateral melalui COVAX, tapi langkah-langkah bilateral juga banyak dilakukan negaranegara dalam memenuhi kebutuhan vaksinnya. Pada sisi lain, diplomasi vaksin Covid-19 yang terjadi dalam sistem internasional yang anarki menunjukkan tiga pola budaya yang berbeda, yaitu Hobbesian (konfliktual), Lockian (kompetitif), dan Kantian (kooperatif). Dengan menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif, penelitian ini menganalisis tiga pola budaya anarki dalam diplomasi vaksin yang terjadi saat ini. Tekni pengumpulan data pada penelitian berdasarkan riset kepustakaan (library research). Teori yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah Diplomasi dan Budaya Anarki dalam Konstruktivisme yang dikembangkan Alexander Wendt. Dari penelitian ini, ditemukan wadah COVAX merupakan representasi pola kooperatif yang dilakukan negara-negara dalam mengatasi pandemik Covid-19. Namun selain itu, terjadi juga diplomasi ala Hobbesian atau konfliktual seperti yang terjadi antara Amerika Serikat dan China. Sedangkan diplomasi yang bersifat kompetitif terlihat pada persaingan di antara negara-negara produsen vaksin.

The GA4GH Phenopacket schema: A computable representation of clinical data for precision medicine

Despite great strides in the development and wide acceptance of standards for exchanging structured information about genomic variants, there is no corresponding standard for exchanging phenotypic data, and this has impeded the sharing of phenotypic information for computational analysis. Here, we introduce the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) Phenopacket schema, which supports exchange of computable longitudinal case-level phenotypic information for diagnosis and research of all types of disease including Mendelian and complex genetic diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases. To support translational research, diagnostics, and personalized healthcare, phenopackets are designed to be used across a comprehensive landscape of applications including biobanks, databases and registries, clinical information systems such as Electronic Health Records, genomic matchmaking, diagnostic laboratories, and computational tools. The Phenopacket schema is a freely available, community-driven standard that streamlines exchange and systematic use of phenotypic data and will facilitate sophisticated computational analysis of both clinical and genomic information to help improve our understanding of diseases and our ability to manage them.

Theoretical and Conceptual Issues on Covid-19 Pandemic

The study set out to evaluate the theoretical, empirical and conceptual issues on COVID-19 Pandemic. It stated that the American system is described as a liberal capitalist system, which theoretically operates upon private ownership of the means of production, pursues profit in business trading as the motivation and production are for the markets. In this system, price mechanism determines demand and supply. China on the hand, had started reforms where they transited from Communism to Socialist market economy with strong State –Owned- Enterprises driving the economy. They have acquired the capitalist ethics of profit and competition hence aiming at profit in the global market place. In the course of this, they obtained favorable balance of trade with the U.S. The former U.S. president was desirous to change the situation, and started a trade-war with China which negotiations failed. In the midst of this came COVID-19,which this study termed the third World War given the fact that the number of nations and casualties caused by COVID-19, is greater than both the first and second World Wars. The study applied the descriptive research technique and deployed the Elite theory and the political economy perspective of analysis. It alluded to the logic of competition in capitalism which operates in both systems as accounting for the COVID-19 as ammunition to outwit one another. It outlined the manifest and latent manifest outcomes of the COVID-19, showing the various military ships in which their occupants were infected by COVID-19 after participating in the 7th CISM world Military games in Wuhan,-China. It also listed a number of Cruise-Liners which were docked because the occupants were infected by the virus. It concluded that just as global alliance helped to resolve the World wars and previous pandemic, global solidarity in finding out where and how the virus started and conduct research to find potent vaccine to end the pandemic is the solution to covid-19, else mankind would live with it.

Herbert Marcuse Today: On Ecological Destruction, Neofascism, White Supremacy, Hate Speech, Racist Police Killings, and the Radical Goals of Socialism

Herbert Marcuse’s political-philosophical vision, cultural critique, and social activism continue to offer an intelligent strategic perspective on current concerns – especially issues of ecological destruction, neofascist white supremacy, hate speech, hate crimes, and racist police violence. These can be countered through a recognition of the intersectionality of radical needs of diverse constituencies and radical collaboration, giving rise to system negation as a new general interest, and an ecosocialist strategy of revolutionary activism within a global alliance of transformational forces.

Use cases for COVID-19 screening and surveillance with rapid antigen-detecting tests: a systematic review

Introduction: Testing is critical to controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) that can be used at the point of care have the potential to increase access to COVID 19 testing, particularly in settings with limited laboratory capacity. This systematic review synthesized literature on specific use cases and performance of Ag RDTs for detecting SARS-CoV-2, for the first comprehensive assessment of Ag RDT use in real-world settings. Methods: We searched three databases (PubMed, EMBASE and medRxiv) up to 12 April 2021 for publications on Ag-RDT use for large-scale screening, irrespective of symptoms, and surveillance of COVID-19, excluding studies of only presumptive COVID-19 patients. We tabulated data on the study setting, populations, type of test, diagnostic performance and operational findings. We assessed risk of bias using QUADAS-2 and an adapted tool for prevalence studies. Results: From 4313 citations, 39 studies conducted in asymptomatic and symptomatic adults were included. Study sample sizes varied from 40 to >5 million. Of 39 studies, 37 (94.9%) investigated lateral flow Ag-RDTs and two (5.1%) investigated multiplex sandwich chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay Ag-RDTs. Six categories of testing (screening/surveillance) initiatives were identified: mass screening (n=13), targeted screening (n=11), healthcare entry testing (n=6), at-home testing (n=4), surveillance (n=4) and prevalence survey (n=1). Across studies, Ag-RDT sensitivity varied from 40% to 100%. Ag-RDTs were noted as convenient, easy-to-use and low cost, with a rapid turnaround time and high user acceptability. Risk of bias was generally low or unclear across the studies. Conclusion: This systematic review demonstrates the use of Ag-RDTs across a wide range of real-world settings for screening and surveillance of COVID-19 in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. Ag-RDTs were overall found to be easy-to-use, low cost and rapid tools, when consideration is given to their implementation and interpretation. The review was funded by FIND, the global alliance for diagnostics.

Approaching Trust: Case Studies for Developing Global Research Infrastructures

Trust is a core component of collaboration. Trust is a local phenomenon, and scientific research is a global collaborative, its impact multiplied through open exchange, communication and mobility of people and information. Given the diversity of participants, local policies and cultures, how can trust be established in and between research communities? You need transparent governance processes, thoughtful engagement of stakeholder groups, and open and durable information sharing to build the “stickiness” needed. In this paper we illustrate these concepts through three trust building use cases: ORCID, Global Alliance for Genomics and Health, and SeamlessAccess, platforms sharing an identity and access technical service core, painstaking community building, and transparent governance frameworks.

Abstract 1122‐000243: Capacity and Characteristics of Thrombectomy Centers World‐wide Using the MT2020+ Global Thrombectomy Tracking Smartphone App

Introduction : Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has been established as a first line therapy for large vessel occlusion stroke; however, MT remains underutilized globally with massive disparity in access based on country income level. Mission Thrombectomy 2020+ (MT2020+) is a global alliance and campaign that aims to reduce this disparity and democratize MT access for patients. A novel smartphone application, Global Thrombectomy Tracking App, was designed to characterize thrombectomy centers on a global‐level and numerically track MT cases in near real‐time. Methods : The MT2020 App was launched in November 2019. To gain insight into local systems of care, neurointerventionalists were prompted to participate in an optional 11‐question survey over a 19‐month period. Questions pertained to population density, organizational structure, academic affiliation, available imaging modalities, tPA usage, and case volumes. Results : Of 338 active users from 9 countries, 49‐neurointerventionalists participated in the survey. The majority (71.5%) practiced in large metropolis with population >1‐million, of which 16.3% were in mega‐cities (>10‐million). The centers were government funded (46.9%), private (40.8%) or charitable (12.2%). Most were academic hospitals (81.6%) with neurointerventional trainees (55.1%). At most centers (87.7%), IV‐tPA was available with annual treatment rate >5% for 55.1%. Most centers (57.1%) utilize additional CT perfusion scans prior to MT. For 69.3% respondents, the annual MT case volume was between 10–100 cases. Conclusions : Our survey analysis shows that the global MT tracking APP can generate important thrombectomy capacity and characteristics at regional levels on a global scale, which can be used for targeted funding and resource allocation to accelerate access to MT.

Epilogue: What The Future Holds

This concluding chapter explores what the future holds for emerging viruses. Clearly, emerging viruses are on the rise, so we urgently need to find out why they are emerging so frequently and how to stop them. We know that they are generally zoonotic, having jumped to us from an animal source. Broadly speaking, the reason for the rise in these spillover events and subsequent spread is twofold: human population growth and increased international travel. The World Health Organization (WHO) regularly publishes a list of potential emerging diseases investigation into which requires urgent research and development. Presently this includes COVID-19, Ebola and related Marburg virus diseases, Lassa fever, MERS, SARS, Nipah and related henipaviral diseases, Rift Valley fever, Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever, Zika, and Disease X (the latter meaning a hitherto unknown disease). But while most would agree that it is sensible to encourage research into these potential epidemic viruses, the most likely candidate to cause the next epidemic or pandemic is Virus X—a ‘new’ virus causing Disease X. The chapter then briefly mentions the founding of the Global Alliance Vaccine Initiative (GAVI) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), both of which aim to prepare vaccines against emerging infections and to enable equitable access to them.

Dynamics of the termination of global alliances: probing the past, analyzing the present and defining the frontiers for future research

PurposeWhile the number of global alliance terminations in the business world has grown steadily during the past few decades, the scholarly literature on strategic alliance (SA) termination remains limited. This research paper aims to perform a bibliometric analysis of the literature on alliance termination and propose a model for future research agenda that links the termination phase to the pre-alliance termination phase and post alliance termination phase.Design/methodology/approachA search query on global alliance termination identified a total of 69 research papers from the Scopus database, and a bibliometric analysis was performed using the bibliometrix R-package and VOSviewer. The analysis further used the TCCM framework to review the set of papers.FindingsThis research analysis reveals that, compared to the pre-formation, formation, and process stages of alliances, limited research has been undertaken on global alliance termination. The bibliometric analysis and TCCM framework provide a complete view of the extant literature on global alliance termination from different dimensions and act as the which as the foundation for a developing the research agenda that links pre-alliance termination phase and post-alliance termination phase to that of alliance termination phase.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed research agenda is unique as it integrates multiple phases in the alliance lifecycle with global alliance termination phase and develops a distinct view for future research that emphasizes on the post-alliance termination phase.Practical implicationsThe bibliometric analysis provides a precise snapshot of the state of the literature on global alliance termination. The research agenda developed provides a direction for further academic research that links alliance termination not only to pre-alliance termination phase but also to the post-alliance termination phase that is nascently explored in the literature.Originality/valueThis study is among the few to review and synthesize the literature on global alliance termination. It, therefore, functions as a catalyst to draw global scholars' attention. Further, it provides global researchers with direction by proposing a global research agenda.