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

Caracterización técnica y económica de la producción de carne ovina en Córdoba, Colombia

Introduction. The knowledge of the biophysical, technological, and economic variables of lamb production systems represents valuable elements to delve into the productive characterization and analysis of the species. Objective. The aim of this study was to characterize technically and economically, the lamb meat production system in the department of Córdoba, Colombia, to generate a baseline that allows comparing technological options with local technology. Materials and methods. The information was obtained from a fieldwork carried out in four productive units with 108 male lambs under semi-extensive management. The data were obteined between January to September 2018. Structured surveys, as well as statistical techniques were applied, including central tendency and dispersion measures. For the economic analysis a cost pattern was used for each productive unit and the calculation of return indicators such as the internal rate of return and the net present value. The technical coefficients were analyzed economically. Results. The daily weight gains were 80-132 g day-1, with an average weight per animal of 31.7±3.2 kg. Meat production was 18.450 kg. The best gains of daily weight (p<0.0001) and final weight were observed in the Campanario farm with 33.47±4.1 kg as a response to the technical management that generated greater productive units and higher incomes. The average unit cost was USD$1.05 kg-1, the profitability of 28$1,059 kg-1 la rentabilidad de 28 %, y la tasa interna de retorno de 4,5 %. Conclusión. Los sistemas de producción evaluados fueron rentables con capacidad de recuperar la inversión. El análisis de los márgenes de comercialización mostró la inequidad en la participación del productor en el valor que paga el consumidor por el producto, ya que recibe solo 18 centavos por cada unidad monetaria pagada, el resto se capta en la intermediación

Biomasa radical de pastos bajo labranza y fertilización en un inceptisol del Valle del Sinu

Angleton grass (Dicanthium aristatum) is the dominant Gramineae specie in the Sinu River Valley. Its root growth is limited by soil compaction, a mixed effect of high density and penetration resistance. With the aim to determine the effect of vertical tillage and fertilization over root biomass, soil density and penetration resistance, four different kinds of grasses (Mulato II, Toledo, Angleton and Estrella) were established on an inceptisol soil located at Turipaná Research Center, in Cereté, Córdoba, Colombia. Four vertical tillage treatments with three repeats were evaluated: two with rigid chisel, 30 cm - 60 cm and two with grassland renovator, horizontal distance 30 and 60 cm, and 30 cm depth. Two levels of fertilization were evaluated: F1: 300 kg ha-1 of DAP (18% N - 46% P2O5), 200 kg ha-1 of KCl (60% K2O) and 150 kg ha-1 of urea (46% N) and F2: 50% of the previous described treatment. In a split plot design experiment, the effect of vertical tillage and fertilization during 18 months over soil density, penetration resistance and root biomass growth were tested by ANOVA and average Duncan comparison. No independent effect of tillage or fertilization on grasses was observed, but there are significant interaction between tillage and grasses, fertilization and grasses and tillagefertilization and grasses. It is concluded that differences in the variables soil density, penetration resistance and root biomass were due to grazing effect and tillage-fertilization-grass interaction.La biomasa radical de los pastos predominantes en el Valle del río Sinú está limitada por la compactación del suelo, caracterizada por la alta densidad y resistencia a la penetración. Con el propósito de determinar el efecto de la labranza vertical y fertilización sobre la biomasa radical, densidad del suelo y resistencia a la penetración, se establecieron los pastos Mulato II, Toledo, Ángleton y Estrella en un inceptisol del Centro de Investigación Turipaná, ubicado en Cereté, Córdoba, Colombia; bajo un diseño de parcelas subdivididas con tres repeticiones. Los tratamientos fueron cuatro sistemas de labranza vertical (dos con cincel rígido a 30 y 60 cm y dos con renovador de praderas a 30 y 60 cm de distancia horizontal, ambas a 30 cm de profundidad) y dos niveles de fertilización (F1= 300 kg ha-1 de DAP (18% N - 46% P2O5), 200 kg ha-1 de KCl (60% K2O) y 150 kg ha-1 de úrea (46% N) y F2 = 50% de las dosis anteriores. Los resultados a los 18 meses después de aplicado los tratamientos no mostraron efecto de la labranza ni de la fertilización en los pastos; mas sí hubo interacciones significativas entre labranza y pastos, fertilización y pastos, labranza - fertilización y pastos. Se concluye que las diferencias en las variables densidad del suelo, resistencia a la penetración y biomasa radical se encontraron por efecto de los pastos y por la interacción labranza - fertilización - pasto

Root biomass in four grasslands stablished by vertical tillage and fertility at Sinu Valley river

La biomasa radical de los pastos predominantes en el Valle del río Sinú está limitada por la compactación del suelo, caracterizada por la alta densidad y resistencia a la penetración. Con el propósito de determinar el efecto de la labranza vertical y fertilización sobre la biomasa radical, densidad del suelo y resistencia a la penetración, se establecieron los pastos Mulato II, Toledo, Ángleton y Estrella en un inceptisol del Centro de Investigación Turipaná, ubicado en Cereté, Córdoba, Colombia; bajo un diseño de parcelas subdivididas con tres repeticiones. Los tratamientos fueron cuatro sistemas de labranza vertical (dos con cincel rígido a 30 y 60 cm y dos con renovador de praderas a 30 y 60 cm de distancia horizontal, ambas a 30 cm de profundidad) y dos niveles de fertilización (F1= 300 kg ha-1 de DAP (18% N - 46% P2O5), 200 kg ha-1 de KCl (60% K2O) y 150 kg ha-1 de úrea (46% N) y F2 = 50% de las dosis anteriores. Los resultados a los 18 meses después de aplicado los tratamientos no mostraron efecto de la labranza ni de la fertilización en los pastos; mas sí hubo interacciones significativas entre labranza y pastos, fertilización y pastos, labranza - fertilización y pastos. Se concluye que las diferencias en las variables densidad del suelo, resistencia a la penetración y biomasa radical se encontraron por efecto de los pastos y por la interacción labranza - fertilización - pasto

Formación, desarrollo y caracterización fenotípica de los caracteres productivos y reproductivos del hato Romosinuano del banco de germoplasma de Colombia

La formación y documentación del hato para la conservación del banco de germoplasma de la raza bovina criolla Romosinuano se inició en 1936; actualmente se cuenta con ocho familias y 502 ejemplares que permanecen en custodia en el Centro de Investigación Turipaná de Corpoica, Cereté, Colombia. Los datos registrados han sido digitados, ordenados, clasificados y analizados; lo cual permitió determinar el origen de los 270 animales que conformaron el hato inicial, procedentes de 11 hatos de las fincas: El Torno (43%), La Granja (16%), El Recreo (14%), Los Pinos (10%) y el 17% restante de La Vorágine, Colombia, Marta Magdalena y El Chorrillo. Aplicando el método de los cuadrados mínimos y el procedimiento de modelos lineales generalizados (generalized linear model GLM) (SAS,1995), se obtuvo la caracterización fenotípica de los pesos de animales en diferentes edades y etapas de producción: edad de la vaca al primer parto e intervalo entre partos; peso del ternero al nacer, al destete, a los 16 meses ajustados; peso de la vaca al primer parto, al parto y al destete del ternero; obtenido de 12673, 6543, 4363, 620, 7178 y 2847 registros, con valores de: 29,5±3,5, 163±35, 230±45, 393±51, 444±64 y 447±60 kg, respectivamente; la edad ajustada al destete y al primer parto, obtenidas a partir de 6572 y 2064 registros fueron 256±23 y 1133±200 días, respectivamente; el intervalo entre partos a partir de 9435 registros fue de 422±131 días. La eficiencia reproductiva de 86,3% confirma la adaptación de la raza en el valle del Sinú, Colombia.   La formación y documentación del hato para la conservación del banco de germoplasma de la raza bovina criolla Romosinuano se inició en 1936; actualmente se cuenta con ocho familias y 502 ejemplares que permanecen en custodia en el Centro de Investigación Turipaná de Corpoica, Cereté, Colombia. Los datos registrados han sido digitados, ordenados, clasificados y analizados; lo cual permitió determinar el origen de los 270 animales que conformaron el hato inicial, procedentes de 11 hatos de las fincas: El Torno (43%), La Granja (16%), El Recreo (14%), Los Pinos (10%) y el 17% restante de La Vorágine, Colombia, Marta Magdalena y El Chorrillo. Aplicando el método de los cuadrados mínimos y el procedimiento de modelos lineales generalizados (generalized linear model GLM) (SAS,1995), se obtuvo la caracterización fenotípica de los pesos de animales en diferentes edades y etapas de producción: edad de la vaca al primer parto e intervalo entre partos; peso del ternero al nacer, al destete, a los 16 meses ajustados; peso de la vaca al primer parto, al parto y al destete del ternero; obtenido de 12673, 6543, 4363, 620, 7178 y 2847 registros, con valores de: 29,5±3,5, 163±35, 230±45, 393±51, 444±64 y 447±60 kg, respectivamente; la edad ajustada al destete y al primer parto, obtenidas a partir de 6572 y 2064 registros fueron 256±23 y 1133±200 días, respectivamente; el intervalo entre partos a partir de 9435 registros fue de 422±131 días. La eficiencia reproductiva de 86,3% confirma la adaptación de la raza en el valle del Sinú, Colombia. 

Memorias del primer Simposio Nacional de Ciencias Agronómicas

Primer simposio nacional de Ciencias Agronómicas: El renacer del espacio de discusión científica para el Agro colombiano

Memorias del primer Simposio Nacional de Ciencias Agronómicas

Primer simposio nacional de Ciencias Agronómicas: El renacer del espacio de discusión científica para el Agro colombiano

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