Comparative assessment of mortality risk factors between admission and follow-up models among patients hospitalized with COVID-19

Objectives: This study aimed to compare differences in mortality risk factors between admission andfollow-up incorporated models.Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 524 patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection admitted to atertiary medical center in São Paulo, Brazil from 13 March to 30 April 2020. Data were collected onadmission, and the third, eighth and fourteenth days of hospitalization. The hazard ratio (HR) wascalculated and 28-day in-hospital mortality risk factors were compared between admission and follow-up models using a time-dependent Cox regression model.Results: Of 524 patients, 50.4% needed mechanical ventilation. The 28-day mortality rate was 32.8%.Compared with follow-up, admission models under-estimated the mortality HR for peripheral oxygensaturation 100 bpm (1.19 versus 2.04), respiratory rate >24/min (1.01versus 1.82) and mechanical ventilation (1.92 versus 12.93). Low oxygen saturation, higher oxygensupport and more biomarkers–including lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and urea remained associated with mortality after adjustment for clinical factorsat follow-up compared with only urea and oxygen support at admission.Conclusions: The inclusion of follow-up measurements changed mortality hazards of clinical signs andbiomarkers. Low oxygen saturation, higher oxygen support, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein,neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and urea could help with prognosis of patients during follow-up

Electronic textiles: A platform for pervasive computing

The invention of the Jacquard weaving machine led to the concept of a stored "program" and "mechanized" binary information processing. This development served as the inspiration for C. Babbage's analytical engine - the precursor to the modern-day computer. Today, more than 200 years later, the link between textiles and computing is more realistic than ever. In this paper, we look at the synergistic relationship between textiles and computing and identify the need for their "integration" using tools provided by an emerging new field of research that combines the strengths and capabilities of electronics and textiles into one: electronic textiles, or e-textiles. E-textiles, also called smart fabrics, have not only "wearable" capabilities like any other garment, but also have local monitoring and computation, as well as wireless communication capabilities. Sensors and simple computational elements are embedded in e-textiles, as well as built into yarns, with the goal of gathering sensitive information, monitoring vital statistics, and sending them remotely (possibly over a wireless channel) for further processing. The paper provides an overview of existing efforts and associated challenges in this area, while describing possible venues and opportunities for future research. © 2003 IEEE

Blood leukocyte transcriptional modules and differentially expressed genes associated with disease severity and age in COVID-19 patients

Abstract Since the molecular mechanisms determining COVID-19 severity are not yet well understood, there is a demand for biomarkers derived from comparative transcriptome analyses of mild and severe cases, combined with patients’ clinico-demographic and laboratory data. Here the transcriptomic response of human leukocytes to SARS-CoV-2 infection was investigated by focusing on the differences between mild and severe cases and between age subgroups (younger and older adults). Three transcriptional modules correlated with these traits were functionally characterized, as well as 23 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated to disease severity. One module, correlated with severe cases and older patients, had an overrepresentation of genes involved in innate immune response and in neutrophil activation, whereas two other modules, correlated with disease severity and younger patients, harbored genes involved in the innate immune response to viral infections, and in the regulation of this response. This transcriptomic mechanism could be related to the better outcome observed in younger COVID-19 patients. The DEGs, all hyper-expressed in the group of severe cases, were mostly involved in neutrophil activation and in the p53 pathway, therefore related to inflammation and lymphopenia. These biomarkers may be useful for getting a better stratification of risk factors in COVID-19

Self sacrifice or natural donation? A life course perspective on grandmothering in New Zagreb (Croatia) and East Berlin (Germany)

In this article we explore grandmaternal care and its interpretations in two European capitals of former socialist countries, Zagreb and Berlin. We describe the scope and variety of grandmaternal care practices both field sites and then contrast two grandmotherly interpretations of their intensive caring for grandchildren The different appraisal of their similar practice as self-sacrifice and natural donation respectively is embedded in different life course experiences of these two women. Both grandmothers lived in socialist states and made the experience of profound change with political and economic restructuring. But while socialist eastern Germany and Croatia had many similar traits they also differed in important aspects. While our interlocutors attributed their practice generally to post-socialist developments, they based their judgements on different aspects of state responsibility. While demographic developments might create similar opportunities for child care, national and local contexts vary and local actors attribute different meanings to their actio

Common surgical procedures in pilonidal sinus disease: A meta-analysis, merged data analysis, and comprehensive study on recurrence

Abstract We systematically searched available databases. We reviewed 6,143 studies published from 1833 to 2017. Reports in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish were considered, as were publications in other languages if definitive treatment and recurrence at specific follow-up times were described in an English abstract. We assessed data in the manner of a meta-analysis of RCTs; further we assessed non-RCTs in the manner of a merged data analysis. In the RCT analysis including 11,730 patients, Limberg & Dufourmentel operations were associated with low recurrence of 0.6% (95%CI 0.3–0.9%) 12 months and 1.8% (95%CI 1.1–2.4%) respectively 24 months postoperatively. Analysing 89,583 patients from RCTs and non-RCTs, the Karydakis & Bascom approaches were associated with recurrence of only 0.2% (95%CI 0.1–0.3%) 12 months and 0.6% (95%CI 0.5–0.8%) 24 months postoperatively. Primary midline closure exhibited long-term recurrence up to 67.9% (95%CI 53.3–82.4%) 240 months post-surgery. For most procedures, only a few RCTs without long term follow up data exist, but substitute data from numerous non-RCTs are available. Recurrence in PSD is highly dependent on surgical procedure and by follow-up time; both must be considered when drawing conclusions regarding the efficacy of a procedure