Camera-Based Visual Feedback Learning Aid for Recovering Sense of Smell and Taste in COVID-19 Survivors: A Proof-of-Concept Study

Introduction: A significant proportion of people report persistent COVID 19-related anosmia, hyposmia or parosmia, often accompanied with ageusia, hypogeusia or dysgeusia. Here, we present a proof-of-concept study that assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a new Camera-Based Visual Feedback Learning Aid (CVFLA) and explored its potential to restore or improve persistent COVID-19-related smell and/or taste impairment. Methods: Fifteen adult participants with persistent smell and/or taste impairment were randomly allocated to 7-, 14-, or 21-days baseline of symptom monitoring before receiving the intervention in up to 10 sessions (length and frequency determined by participant’s preference and progress) using a specialised CVFLA apparatus (patent no. 10186160). Smell and taste were assessed pre- and post intervention subjectively, and also objectively using the ODOFIN Taste Strips and Sniffin Sticks. Participant feedback about their experience of receiving CVFLA was obtained via a semi-structured interview conducted by someone not involved in delivering the intervention. Results: The intervention was extremely well received, with no dropouts related to the intervention. There was also a significant improvement in smell and taste from pre- to post-CVFLA intervention (mean number of sessions = 7.46, SD = 2.55; total duration = 389.96 min, SD = 150.93) both in subjective and objective measures. All participants, except one, reported experiencing some improvement from the 2nd or 3rd session. Discussion: This new CVFLA intervention shows promise in improving COVID-19 related impairment in smell and taste with a very high level of acceptability. Further studies with larger samples are required to confirm its potential in restoring, improving or correcting smell and/or taste impairment in relevant clinical and non-clinical groups.Brunel University London, and the European Research Development Fund (EDRF) and Learning JBE Ltd. via Anglia Ruskin University. Learning JBE Ltd. owns the patent on the camera-based feedback learning technique used in the study. Learning JBE Ltd. was not involved in the study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article or the decision to submit it for publication

Dermatoscopic Pattern in Children Suffering from Dermatomycosis capitis or from Alopecia areata

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of dermatoscopy for differential diagnostics between alopecia areata and mycoses, results from own investigations and from the literature are discussed. These diseases are common in children and occasionally not or quite late recognized.Ziel: Bewertung der diagnostischen Effektivität der Dermatoskopie mit zehnfacher Vergrößerung für die Differenzialdiagnose von Mykosen des behaarten Kopfes oder Alopecia areata bei Kindern. Derartige Erkrankungen kommen bei Kindern häufig vor und werden gelegentlich nicht oder erst spät erkannt. Hier werden Ergebnisse eigener Untersuchungen und Literaturangaben zum Thema besprochen

Dermatoscopic Pattern in Children Suffering from Dermatomycosis capitis or from Alopecia areata

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of dermatoscopy for differential diagnostics between alopecia areata and mycoses, results from own investigations and from the literature are discussed. These diseases are common in children and occasionally not or quite late recognized.Ziel: Bewertung der diagnostischen Effektivität der Dermatoskopie mit zehnfacher Vergrößerung für die Differenzialdiagnose von Mykosen des behaarten Kopfes oder Alopecia areata bei Kindern. Derartige Erkrankungen kommen bei Kindern häufig vor und werden gelegentlich nicht oder erst spät erkannt. Hier werden Ergebnisse eigener Untersuchungen und Literaturangaben zum Thema besprochen

Reframing Bodies: New Coordinates of the Body Image

Received 25 January 2023. Accepted 1 June 2023. Published online 3 July 2023.The article analyzes the results of a sociological survey of urban residents’ perceptions of the beauty standards and their most desired body models. The survey was conducted in three cities of a large industrial Russian region (n = 1,077). The body as a bio-social construct is now undergoing significant transformations in public consciousness. As our survey shows, however, beauty standards in Russia are fairly stereotypical: the ideal female body is expected to be sexual, well-groomed, and slender (we refer to this body type as an aesthetic body model or body as an object) and the male body to be physically strong, resilient, and fit (the functional body model or body as a process). Describing their desired body model, male and female respondents of different age groups often choose the functional body model, that is, they prioritize what the body can do over what it looks like. The survey shows mixed results regarding the effects of the pandemic on people’s attitudes to their bodies and body care practices. Only a third of the respondents directly associate their individual bodily experience of disease with the change in their body care practices. Two-thirds of the respondents reported that during the lockdown they started taking better care of their bodies, paying more attention to personal hygiene, physical exercise, and sleep.The research was funded by the Russian Science Foundation and the Government of the Sverdlovsk Region, No. 22-28-20365, https://rscf.ru/project/22-28-20365

Право на город: повседневные практики молодежи и партисипация в производстве городского пространства

The study highlights realization of the right to the city based on the youth's assessments of a large industrial city through the prism of daily activities and participation in the production and reproduction of urban space. City as a "habitat" is a place for behavioral practices and interactions of young people; participation in the production of urban space makes young people themselves change: they start to take responsibility for their community and implementation of life plans. This is an empirical study (Yekaterinburg, 2019) using a multimethod strategy. A total of 750 young respondents aged 18-30 were surveyed (questionnaire survey, quota-based selection). To process the data SPSS software was used. To investigate the in-depth needs of young people 22 semi-structured interviews involving 15 female and 7 male participants were carried out. Ten experts (youth project specialists/ managers, scientific community) were surveyed. The results show that in a situation of stable existence with no pronounced intervention from public or regional bodies in the domains perceived by young people as strictly their personal or socially relevant, only 5% of respondents consider their participation in the urban management as an integral part of their life. Based on the qualitative analysis the authors draw three models of youth behavior whenever any discrepancies arise between the city administration and urban dwellers eager to use their right to the city: a non-intervention model, a model of sincere participation, and an escapism model. Emotive aspect of city's appropriation leads to a feeling of belonging to the city and inextricability of a person's fate and a city's fate. This manifests itself through language patterns; the city becomes more personalized; it is spoken of as a person. The findings of the study point to a transition from the consumption of space to its production through innovative and creative practices instead of habitual and stereotyped patterns. One of modern practices is DIY initiatives which appear to be interesting to more than half of respondents. © 2020 Russian Public Opinion Research Center, VCIOM. All rights reserved.The study is funded by RFBR and Sverdlovsk oblast as part of the project no. 20-411-660012 р_а “The Right to the City: Social Activity, Mobilization and Participation of Youth”; RFBR and the Expert Institute for Social Research (No. 19-011-31151)

A barrier-free urban space as an indicator of exercising the right to the city by individuals with disabilities

This article looks at urban space through the lens of reimagining the status of individuals with disabilities as people with health issues. Today,they are viewed as a social group who claims their right to the city and to barrier-free urban space,and who is characterized by social interaction. The paper argues for an urgent need of creating universal inclusive spaces and specific areas on the city map which would address special needs of individuals with different forms of disability. The results of a survey of individuals with disabilities,residing in the City of Yekaterinburg and Sverdlovsk Region,as well as expert interviews with representatives of local and regional authorities,indicate that the public bodies are aware of the needs of individuals with disabilities and making attempts to address the requests of this group. The respondents identified the following key problem areas: difficulties of moving around the city,a lack of barrier-free access into buildings,and a lack of sanitary facilities in the visited organizations. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.The reported study was funded by RFBR and Sverdlovsk Region, project number 20-411-660012

The article presents a clinical case of atopic dermatitis complicated by a secondary infection in an Indonesian boy of 8 years old. A review of literary sources.

The article presents a clinical case of atopic dermatitis complicated by a secondary infection in an Indonesian boy of 8 years old. Areviewofliterarysources

Microsporia: epidemiological aspects, modern course characteristics

The article presents epidemiological data on the incidence of dermatophytes in the world, describes modern characteristics of microsporia course, presents clinical cases with atypical and rare microsporia forms in children.В статье представлены эпидемиологические данные по заболеваемости дерматофитиями в странах мира, описаны современные особенности течения микроспории, приведены клинические случаи с атипичными и редко встречающимися формами микроспории у детей

Rational feeding of infants with atopic dermatitis

The article presents the issues of rational feeding of infants with atopic dermatitis, as close as possible to normal nutrition by age, as a guarantee of their adequate growth and development, as well as a high quality of life.В статье представлены вопросы рационального вскармливания детей грудного возраста, больных атопическим дерматитом, максимально приближенного к обычному питанию по возрасту, как залог их адекватного роста и развития, а также высокого качества жизни

Dermatoscopic Pattern in Children with Microsporia and Pityriasis rosea

The present work includes a literature review and own investigations of dermatoscopic patterns of microsporia on the skin and pityriasis rosea in children. The method to investigate differential diagnosis between microsporia of the skin and the pityriasis rosea in children was the goal of the manuscript. Dermatoscopic examination of skin lesions is performed in 120 children using the manual contact dermatoscope (Heine Delta 20). In microsporia of the skin following dermatoscopic patterns were found: erythema without vessels in 56 patients (98.2%), white round spots (micro pustules compatible) at 30 examinees (52.6%), brown spots surrounded by a white-yellow halo with loss of vellus hairs were found in 50 children (87.7%), rough scales with chaotic distribution were detectable in 55 of 57 patients with microsporia (96.5%). In the following pityriasis rosea dermatoscopic signs were observed: a yellowish background at 60 children (95,2%), linear irregular vessels in 55 patients (87.3%), thin scales, located on the periphery “lace collar” in 59 of 63 surveyed (93.6%). Typical diagnostic patterns of the skin microsporia and pityriasis rosea in children were found. In the case of the microsporia of the skin, the diagnostic procedure supported the assessment of the involvement of vellus hairs and a timely prescription of systemic antifungal therapy, which shortens the duration of therapy.Die vorliegende Arbeit umfasst eine Literaturrecherche und eigene Untersuchungen der dermatoskopischen Muster der Mikrosporie an der Haut und der Pityriasis rosea bei Kindern. Es war Ziel des Manuskripts, die Verfahren zur Differenzialdiagnostik zwischen Mikrosporie der Haut und der Pityriasis rosea bei Kindern zu untersuchen. Eine dermatoskopische Untersuchung der Läsionen der Haut erfolgt bei 120 Kindern unter Anwendung des manuellen Kontaktdermatoskops (Heine Delta 20). Bei Mikrosporie der Haut wurden folgende dermatoskopische Muster gefunden: ein Erythem ohne Gefäße bei 56 Patienten (98,2%), weiße rundliche Flecken (mit Mikropusteln vereinbar) bei 30 Untersuchten (52,6%), braune Flecken umgeben von einem weiß-gelben Halo mit Verlust von Vellushärchen fanden sich bei 50 Kindern (87,7%), grobe Schuppen mit chaotischer Verteilung waren bei 55 von 57 der Patienten mit einer Mikrosporie (96,5%) nachweisbar. Bei der Pityriasis rosea wurden folgende dermatoskopische Zeichen festgestellt: ein gelblicher Hintergrund bei 60 Kindern (95,2%), lineare irreguläre Gefäße bei 55 Patienten (87,3%), dünne Schuppen, an der Peripherie gelegen als Spitzenkragen bei 59 von 63 Untersuchungspersonen (93,6%). Es wurden typische diagnostische Muster der Mikrosporie der Haut und der Pityriasis rosea bei Kindern festgestellt. Bei der Mikrosporie der Haut unterstützte das diagnostische Verfahren die Einschätzung der Beteiligung von Vellushärchen und eine rechtzeitige Verordnung der systemischen antimykotischen Therapie, was die Therapiedauer Verkürzt