Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Desarrollar y poner en funcionamiento modelos de demanda y de oferta de transporte, que permitan proponer opciones en materia de infraestructura, para aumentar la competitividad de los productos colombianos.

Propuesta y desarrollo de un método que permite modelar las características asociadas a la movilidad que ocasiona un producto específico (demanda de transporte); en cuanto a la oferta se estandarizo la codificación utilizando como plataforma la base de georreferencia oficial sobre el sistema vial determinada por el IGAC. El modelo de transporte desarrollado, aunque parte de la base del sistema actual, plantea algunos escenarios futuros donde se suponen las características de la demanda por transporte y se ensayan proyectos de infraestructura previstos por las entidades gubernamentales pertinentes, además, permite ser ajustado por los interesados. Es una herramienta tecnológica que permite probar diferentes situaciones en diferentes contextos.IP 1109-327-19588Contrato No. 386-2006;Grupos de investigación: Grupo de investigación y desarrollo e operación y planeación del transporte. GIDPOT. -- Grupo de investigación en vías y transportes. VITRA. -- Grupo de investigacion en transportes y vías. TRANVÍA;Información tomada del informe final preliminar.Informe final preliminar: Modulo 1. Aspectos generales sobre la innovación y el desarrollo tecnológico desarrollados Modulo 2. Impacto del proyecto ;[Anexos]: v.1 Documento A: Resumen ejecutivo (Informe técnico preliminar). -- v.2 Documento C: Definición metodológica del modelo de demanda de carga. / Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.3 Documento D: Definición metodológica del modelo de oferta. / Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE , Grupo de Investigación TRANVIA. -- v.4 Documento H: Variables socioeconómicas: Datos base y proyecciones. / Víctor Gabriel Valencia Alaix , Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.5 Documento I: Matrices origen - Destino. / Luis Gabriel Márquez Díaz , Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.6 Documento J: Flujos de comercio interno y externo. Metodologías e información. / Luis Alfredo Vega Báez , Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.7 Documento K: Parque vehicular tipo y embalaje. / Víctor Manuel Cantillo Maza , Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.8 Documento L: Carga interna y de comercio exterior - proyecciones. / Luis Gabriel Márquez Díaz , Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.9 Documento M: Modelo de oferta de transporte para Colombia: documento conceptual. / Víctor Manuel Cantillo Maza , Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.10 Documento N: Modelo de oferta de transporte para Colombia: selección de información / Luis Gabriel Márquez Díaz , Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.11 Documento O: Modelo de oferta de transporte para Colombia: calibración y asignación / Luis Gabriel Márquez Díaz , Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.12 Documento P: Diagnóstico de la información secundaria. / Luis Alfredo Vega Báez , Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.13 Documento Q: Sitios críticos / Luis Gabriel Márquez Díaz , Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.14 Documento R: Corredores de comercio exterior / Luis Gabriel Márquez Díaz , Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.15 Documento S: Centros de transferencia / Luis Gabriel Márquez Díaz, Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.16 Documento T: Necesidades de infraestructura / Luis Gabriel Márquez Díaz , Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.17 Documento U: Modelo de demanda de transporte: aplicativo. / Lucy Esther García Ramos , Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.18 Anexo A: Mapas temáticos por departamento. / Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.19 Documento B: Informe ejecutivo / Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.20 Documento C: Modelo de demanda de transporte para Colombia: Documento conceptual / Víctor Manuel Cantillo Maza , Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.21 Documento D: Zonificación / Luis Gabriel Márquez Díaz , Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.22 Documento D: Zonificación Anexo A / Luis Gabriel Márquez Díaz , Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.23 Documento D: Zonificación Anexo B / Luis Gabriel Márquez Díaz , v.24 Documento D: Zonificación Anexo C / Luis Gabriel Márquez Díaz , Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.25 Documento D: Zonificación Anexo D / Luis Gabriel Márquez Díaz , Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.26 Documento E: Año base: Metodología para su determinación / Víctor Gabriel Valencia Alaix , Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.27 Documento F: Estudio de productos relevantes: Metodología, bases de datos y descripción / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.28 Documento G: monografías de productos G01 Abonos y fertilizantes / Víctor Manuel Cantillo Maza. … [et al.]. -- v.29 Documento G: monografías de productos G02 Aceites y grasas / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.30 Documento G: monografías de productos G03 Alimentos / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.31 Documento G: monografías de productos G04 Alimentos balanceados para animales / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.32 Documento G: monografías de productos G05 El arroz / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.33 Documento G: monografías de productos G06 El azúcar / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.34 Documento G: monografías de productos G07 Banano / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.35 Documento G: monografías de productos G08 Bebidas Carbón / Víctor Manuel Cantillo Maza. … [et al.]. -- v.36 Documento G: monografías de productos G09 Biocombustibles / Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.37 Documento G: monografías de productos G10 El café / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.38 Documento G: monografías de productos G11 Carbón / Víctor Manuel Cantillo Maza. … [et al.]. -- v.39 Documento G: monografías de productos G12 Cemento, cal y yeso / Víctor Manuel Cantillo Maza. … [et al.]. -- v.40 Documento G: monografías de productos G13 Los productos cerámicos / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.41 Documento G: monografías de productos G14 Derivados del petróleo / Víctor Manuel Cantillo Maza. … [et al.]. -- v.42 Documento G: monografías de productos G16 Las flores / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.43 Documento G: monografías de productos G17 Las frutas, excepto el banano / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.44 Documento G: monografías de productos G18 Ganado bovino – porcino / Víctor Manuel Cantillo Maza. … [et al.]. -- v.45 Documento G: monografías de productos G20 La leche / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.46 Documento G: monografías de productos G21 Legumbres y hortalizas / Víctor Manuel Cantillo Maza. … [et al.]. -- v.47 Documento G: monografías de productos G22 La madera / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.48 Documento G: monografías de productos G23 monografia de investigación de la demanda de maíz / Unión Temporal Modelación De Transporte UPTC-UNALMED-UNINORTE. -- v.49 Documento G: monografías de productos G24 Manufacturados / Víctor Manuel Cantillo Maza. … [et al.]. -- v.50 Documento G: monografías de productos G25 Otros / Víctor Manuel Cantillo Maza. … [et al.]. -- v.51 Documento G: monografías de productos G26 Otras harinas / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.52 Documento G: monografías de productos G27 La papa / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.53 Documento G: monografías de productos G28 El papel y el cartón / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.54 Documento G: monografías de productos G29 Paquetes postales / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.55 Documento G: monografías de productos G30 Petróleo crudo / Víctor Manuel Cantillo Maza. … [et al.]. -- v.56 Documento G: monografías de productos G31 La sal / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.57 Documento G: monografías de productos G32 La soya / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.58 Documento G: monografías de productos G33 El trigo / Iván Reinaldo Sarmiento Ordosgoitia. … [et al.] -- v.59 Documento G: monografías de productos G34 Vehículos / Víctor Manuel Cantillo Maza. … [et al.]

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora

Reduction of cardiac imaging tests during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Italy. Findings from the IAEA Non-invasive Cardiology Protocol Survey on COVID-19 (INCAPS COVID)

Background: In early 2020, COVID-19 massively hit Italy, earlier and harder than any other European country. This caused a series of strict containment measures, aimed at blocking the spread of the pandemic. Healthcare delivery was also affected when resources were diverted towards care of COVID-19 patients, including intensive care wards. Aim of the study: The aim is assessing the impact of COVID-19 on cardiac imaging in Italy, compare to the Rest of Europe (RoE) and the World (RoW). Methods: A global survey was conducted in May–June 2020 worldwide, through a questionnaire distributed online. The survey covered three periods: March and April 2020, and March 2019. Data from 52 Italian centres, a subset of the 909 participating centres from 108 countries, were analyzed. Results: In Italy, volumes decreased by 67% in March 2020, compared to March 2019, as opposed to a significantly lower decrease (p &lt; 0.001) in RoE and RoW (41% and 40%, respectively). A further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 summed up to 76% for the North, 77% for the Centre and 86% for the South. When compared to the RoE and RoW, this further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 in Italy was significantly less (p = 0.005), most likely reflecting the earlier effects of the containment measures in Italy, taken earlier than anywhere else in the West. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic massively hit Italy and caused a disruption of healthcare services, including cardiac imaging studies. This raises concern about the medium- and long-term consequences for the high number of patients who were denied timely diagnoses and the subsequent lifesaving therapies and procedures

Impact of COVID-19 on Diagnostic Cardiac Procedural Volume in Oceania: The IAEA Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocol Survey on COVID-19 (INCAPS COVID)

Objectives: The INCAPS COVID Oceania study aimed to assess the impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac procedure volume provided in the Oceania region. Methods: A retrospective survey was performed comparing procedure volumes within March 2019 (pre-COVID-19) with April 2020 (during first wave of COVID-19 pandemic). Sixty-three (63) health care facilities within Oceania that perform cardiac diagnostic procedures were surveyed, including a mixture of metropolitan and regional, hospital and outpatient, public and private sites, and 846 facilities outside of Oceania. The percentage change in procedure volume was measured between March 2019 and April 2020, compared by test type and by facility. Results: In Oceania, the total cardiac diagnostic procedure volume was reduced by 52.2% from March 2019 to April 2020, compared to a reduction of 75.9% seen in the rest of the world (p&lt;0.001). Within Oceania sites, this reduction varied significantly between procedure types, but not between types of health care facility. All procedure types (other than stress cardiac magnetic resonance [CMR] and positron emission tomography [PET]) saw significant reductions in volume over this time period (p&lt;0.001). In Oceania, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) decreased by 51.6%, transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) by 74.0%, and stress tests by 65% overall, which was more pronounced for stress electrocardiograph (ECG) (81.8%) and stress echocardiography (76.7%) compared to stress single-photon emission computerised tomography (SPECT) (44.3%). Invasive coronary angiography decreased by 36.7% in Oceania. Conclusion: A significant reduction in cardiac diagnostic procedure volume was seen across all facility types in Oceania and was likely a function of recommendations from cardiac societies and directives from government to minimise spread of COVID-19 amongst patients and staff. Longer term evaluation is important to assess for negative patient outcomes which may relate to deferral of usual models of care within cardiology

International Impact of COVID-19 on the Diagnosis of Heart Disease

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has adversely affected diagnosis and treatment of noncommunicable diseases. Its effects on delivery of diagnostic care for cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of death worldwide, have not been quantified. Objectives: The study sought to assess COVID-19's impact on global cardiovascular diagnostic procedural volumes and safety practices. Methods: The International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a worldwide survey assessing alterations in cardiovascular procedure volumes and safety practices resulting from COVID-19. Noninvasive and invasive cardiac testing volumes were obtained from participating sites for March and April 2020 and compared with those from March 2019. Availability of personal protective equipment and pandemic-related testing practice changes were ascertained. Results: Surveys were submitted from 909 inpatient and outpatient centers performing cardiac diagnostic procedures, in 108 countries. Procedure volumes decreased 42% from March 2019 to March 2020, and 64% from March 2019 to April 2020. Transthoracic echocardiography decreased by 59%, transesophageal echocardiography 76%, and stress tests 78%, which varied between stress modalities. Coronary angiography (invasive or computed tomography) decreased 55% (p &lt; 0.001 for each procedure). In multivariable regression, significantly greater reduction in procedures occurred for centers in countries with lower gross domestic product. Location in a low-income and lower–middle-income country was associated with an additional 22% reduction in cardiac procedures and less availability of personal protective equipment and telehealth. Conclusions: COVID-19 was associated with a significant and abrupt reduction in cardiovascular diagnostic testing across the globe, especially affecting the world's economically challenged. Further study of cardiovascular outcomes and COVID-19–related changes in care delivery is warranted