Risk of exposure toCoxiella burnetiifrom ruminant livestock exhibited at Iowa agricultural fairs

During ENT practice, we have to examine the nose and perform several nasal procedures in our clinics. Otolaryngologists are at a high risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus. Nasal endoscopy is a major procedure for the diagnosis of the nasal and paranasal sinus diseases and introducing proper health services for our patients. In addition, the world is living the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, for which we have to protect ourselves, educate our medical staff, and work together against the spread of this severely contagious disease within our communities. The main purpose of this study is to review the protocol of nasal endoscopy in the ENT clinic and enhance the safest way to deal with patients during this pandemic.(1)

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The Effect of Route Choice in Children’s Exposure to Ultrafine Particles Whilst Walking to School

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18157808 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (15) ◽

pp. 7808

Author(s):

Mehrdad Rafiepourgatabi ◽

Alistair Woodward ◽

Jennifer A. Salmond ◽

Kim Natasha Dirks

Keyword(s):

Ultrafine Particles ◽

Route Choice ◽

The Other ◽

Close Proximity ◽

Public Health Officials ◽

Risk Of Exposure ◽

The Mean ◽

Walking To School ◽

Elevated Exposure ◽

Children’S Exposure

Children walking to school are at a high risk of exposure to air pollution compared with other modes because of the time they spend in close proximity to traffic during their commute. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a walker’s route choice on their exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP) on the walk to school. During morning commutes over a period of three weeks, exposure to UFP was measured along three routes: two routes were alongside both sides of a busy arterial road with significantly higher levels of traffic on one side compared to the other, and the third route passed through quiet streets (the background route). The results indicate that the mean exposure for the pedestrian walking along the background route was half the exposure experienced on the other two routes. Walkers on the trafficked side were exposed to elevated concentrations (>100,000 pt/cc) 2.5 times longer than the low-trafficked side. However, the duration of the elevated exposure for the background route was close to zero. Public health officials and urban planners may use the results of this study to promote healthier walking routes to schools, especially those planned as part of organized commutes.

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Importation of Ticks on Companion Animals and the Risk of Spread of Tick-Borne Diseases to Non-Endemic Regions in Europe

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11010006 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 6

Author(s):

Alicja Buczek ◽

Weronika Buczek

Keyword(s):

Tick Species ◽

Potential Role ◽

Human Mobility ◽

Companion Animals ◽

Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽

European Countries ◽

Rapid Spread ◽

Risk Of Exposure ◽

Geographic Regions

Increased human mobility elevates the risk of exposure of companion animals travelling with their owners or imported from other regions to tick attacks. In this study, we highlight the potential role of dogs and cats taken for tourist trips or imported animals in the spread of ticks and tick-borne pathogens. The Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick, which is a vector of numerous pathogens causing diseases in animals and humans, is imported most frequently from endemic areas to many European countries. Additionally, alien tick species with high epizootic and epidemiological importance can be imported on dogs from other continents. Companion animals play an even greater role in the spread of autochthonous tick species and transmission of tick pathogens to other animals and humans. Although the veterinary and medical effects of the parasitism of ticks carried by companion animals travelling with owners or imported animals are poorly assessed, these animals seem to play a role in the rapid spread of tick-borne diseases. Development of strategies for protection of the health of companion animals in different geographic regions should take into account the potential emergence of unknown animal tick-borne diseases that can be transmitted by imported ticks.

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Considerations in the provision of teleconsultations for outpatient obstetric anaesthesia care during the Covid-19 pandemic

Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare ◽

10.1177/2010105821991170 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 201010582199117

Author(s):

Leonard Wei Wen Loh ◽

Yingke He ◽

Hairil Rizal Abdullah ◽

Kai Lee Ng ◽

Un Sam Mok

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Severe Illness ◽

Continuing Care ◽

Short Report ◽

Obstetric Anaesthesia ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Process And Outcome ◽

Risk Of Exposure ◽

Anaesthesia Care

Evidence has emerged that pregnant women who contract coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) are at increased risk of certain forms of severe illness as well as complications requiring intensive care unit admission and resultant mortality. Teleconsultations can facilitate continuing care for obstetric patients during the Covid-19 pandemic while reducing their risk of exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this short report, we share our experience in the provision of teleconsultations for ambulatory obstetric anaesthesia patients in our high-risk obstetric anaesthesia clinic during the Covid-19 pandemic. Appropriate labour analgesia or anaesthesia plans were able to be formulated and communicated to the patients by teleconsultation, resulting in no delay or compromise in their peripartum care. Both patients and clinicians reported satisfaction with the teleconsultation process and outcome. The considerations and challenges in setting up a teleconsultation service as well as the factors in favour of teleconsultation are also explored.

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Cardiac MRI and Myocardial Injury in COVID-19: Diagnosis, Risk Stratification and Prognosis

Diagnostics ◽

10.3390/diagnostics11010130 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 130

Author(s):

Saagar K. Sanghvi ◽

Logan S. Schwarzman ◽

Noreen T. Nazir

Keyword(s):

Risk Stratification ◽

Myocardial Injury ◽

Cardiac Tissue ◽

Contractile Function ◽

Imaging Modality ◽

Acute Myocarditis ◽

Myocardial Inflammation ◽

Critical Data ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Risk Of Exposure

Myocardial injury is a common complication of the COVID-19 illness and is associated with a worsened prognosis. Systemic hyperinflammation seen in the advanced stage of COVID-19 likely contributes to myocardial injury. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is the preferred imaging modality for non-invasive evaluation in acute myocarditis, enabling risk stratification and prognostication. Modified scanning protocols in the pandemic setting reduce risk of exposure while providing critical data regarding cardiac tissue inflammation and fibrosis, chamber remodeling, and contractile function. The growing use of CMR in clinical practice to assess myocardial injury will improve understanding of the acute and chronic sequelae of myocardial inflammation from various pathological etiologies.

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Management of colorectal cancer in the era of COVID-19: Challenges and suggestions

Science Progress ◽

10.1177/00368504211010626 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 104 (2) ◽

pp. 003685042110106

Author(s):

Walid Alam ◽

Youssef Bouferraa ◽

Yolla Haibe ◽

Deborah Mukherji ◽

Ali Shamseddine

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Treatment Protocols ◽

Cancer Management ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Huge Impact ◽

Treatment Plans ◽

Virus Exposure ◽

Risk Of Exposure ◽

Colorectal Cancer Patients ◽

The Impact

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had a huge impact on all sectors around the world. In particular, the healthcare system has been subject to an enormous pressure that has surpassed its ability in many instances. Additionally, the pandemic has called for a review of our daily medical practices, including our approach to colorectal cancer management where treatment puts patients at high risk of virus exposure. Given their higher median age, patients are at an increased risk for severe symptoms and complications in cases of infection, especially in the setting of immunosuppression. Therefore, a review of the routine colorectal cancer practices is needed to minimize risk of exposure. Oncologists should weigh risk of exposure versus the patient’s oncologic benefits when approaching management. In addition, treatment protocols should be modified to minimize hospital visits and admissions while maintaining the same treatment efficacy. In this review, we will focus on challenges that colorectal cancer patients face during the pandemic, while highlighting the priority in each case. We will also discuss the evidence for potential modifications to existing treatment plans that could reduce infectious exposure without compromising care. Finally, we will discuss the impact of the socio-economic difficulties faced by Lebanese patients due to a poor economy toppled by an unexpected pandemic.

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