Growing up in the Iran-Iraq war and preferences for strong defense

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between individuals’ experiences of the Iran–Iraq war (1980–1988) during early adulthood (18–25 years) and their preference for strong national defense forces and their willingness to fight for Iran (in the event of another war). Using the World Values Survey data, we provide evidence that Iranians who experienced the war during their early adulthood give top priority to strong defense forces. However, we find that there is no significant association between individuals’ experiences of the war during early adulthood and their willingness to fight for Iran. The results are robust to controlling for a set of individuals’ socioeconomic and political characteristics as well as different age cohorts. Finally, we show that our results are not influenced by age cohort effect

Globalization and the outbreak of COVID-19 : an empirical analysis

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the extension of globalization and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case fatality rate (CFR) calculated on 28 July 2020 in more than 150 countries. Our regression analyses show that countries with higher levels of socio-economic globalization are exposed to higher levels of CFR. The positive association between the level of globalization of countries and their COVID-19 fatality rate remains robust, controlling for cross-country differences in economic development and demographics, health care costs, health care capacity, quality of governance and continental dummies

Comparison of non-invasive to invasive oxygenation ratios for diagnosing acute respiratory distress syndrome following coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a prospective derivation-validation cohort study

Objective: To determine if non-invasive oxygenation indices, namely peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2)/ fraction of inspired oxygen (Fi O2) and partial pressure of alveolar oxygen (PAO2)/Fi O2 may be used as effective surrogates for the partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2)/Fi O2. Also, to determine the SpO2/Fi O2 and PAO2/Fi O2 values that correspond to PaO2/Fi O2 thresholds for identifying acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in patients following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Methods: A prospective derivation-validation cohort study in the Open-Heart ICU of an academic teaching hospital. Recorded variables included patient demographics, ventilator settings, chest radiograph results, and SPO2, PaO2, PAO2, SaO2, and Fi O2. Linear regression modeling was used to quantify the relationship between indices. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the threshold values. Results: One-hundred seventy-five patients were enrolled in the derivation cohort, and 358 in the validation cohort. The SPO2/Fi O2 and PAO2/Fi O2 ratios could be predicted well from PaO2/Fi O2, described by the linear regression models SPO2/Fi O2 = 71.149 + 0.8PF and PAO2/Fi O2 = 38.098 + 2.312PF, respectively. According to the linear regression equation, a PaO2/Fi O2 ratio of 300 equaled an SPO2/Fi O2 ratio of 311 (R2 0.857, F 1035.742, < 0.0001) and a PAO2/Fi O2 ratio of 732 (R2 0.576, F 234.887, < 0.0001). The SPO2/Fi O2 threshold of 311 had 90% sensitivity, 80% specificity, LR+ 4.50, LR- 0.13, PPV 98, and NPV 42.1 for the diagnosis of mild ARDS. The PAO2/Fi O2 threshold of 732 had 86% sensitivity, 90% specificity, LR+ 8.45, LR- 0.16, PPV 98.9, and NPV 36 for the diagnosis of mild ARDS. SPO2/ Fi O2 had excellent discrimination ability for mild ARDS (AUC ± SE = 0.92 ± 0.017; 95% CI 0.889 to 0.947) as did PAO2/ Fi O2 (AUC ± SE = 0.915 ± 0.018; 95% CI 0.881 to0.942). Conclusions: PaO2 and SaO2 correlated in the diagnosis of ARDS, with a PaO2/Fi O2 of 300 correlating to an SPO2/ Fi O2 of 311 (Sensitivity 90%, Specificity 80%). The SPO2/ Fi O2 ratio may allow for early real-time rapid identification of ARDS, while decreasing the cost, phlebotomy, blood loss, pain, skin breaks, and vascular punctures associated with serial arterial blood gas measurements

International Consensus Statement on Rhinology and Allergy: Rhinosinusitis

Background: The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR‐RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR‐RS‐2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence‐based findings of the document. Methods: ICAR‐RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence‐based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence‐based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. Results: ICAR‐RS‐2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence‐based management algorithm is provided. Conclusion: This ICAR‐RS‐2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence‐based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS