Spinal muscular atrophy care in the COVID-19 pandemic era

peer reviewedThe Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in reorganization of healthcare settings affecting the delivery of clinical care to patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). There is a concern that patients with SMA may be at increased risk of manifesting severe symptoms of COVID-19. Currently approved therapies for SMA improve survival and motor function, however, their delivery requires an increased exposure to the health system and a dedicated healthcare team. In this paper, we discuss consensus recommendations pertaining to care of SMA patients during the pandemic. We highlight that SMA treatments should not be perceived as elective. Decisions regarding the delay of treatments should be made with consideration of the potential risks of COVID-19 exposure and the risk of that delay. We emphasize the importance of collaborative treatment decisions between the patient, family, and health care provider, considering any geographic or institution-specific policies and precautions for COVID-19. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Tailoring the ferroelectric and magnetic properties of Bi5Ti3FeO15 ceramics by doping with Co and Y

The ferroelectric and magnetic properties of four-layered Aurivillius Bi5Ti3FeO15 (BFT) compounds via partial substitution of Bi3+ with Y3+ and Fe3+ with Co2+ (according to formula: Bi5-xYxTi3FeO15, x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3; Bi5Ti3Fe1-yCoyO15, y = 0.1, 0.3, 0.5) were investigated. Polycrystalline ceramics of Co and Y substituted BFT were prepared by conventional solid-state reaction. Crystal structure and phase purity were confirmed via X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement. Raman spectral signatures indicate that Y replaces Bi ions in the pseudo-perovskite layers and Co replaces Fe ions in the octahedral sites. SEM micrographs show a decrease in grain size for both chemically modified samples when compared to plate-like morphology for unmodified BFT with dimensions ranging from 3 to 5 μm in length and a thickness of ∼0.5 μm. The decrease in grain size is more pronounced in Co substituted samples with plate-like grain dimensions of 1 μm in length and 0.2 μm in thickness. Ferroelectric measurements show unsaturated leaky hysteresis loops in both chemically modified samples until the maximal applied electric field. Magnetic measurements confirm the paramagnetic nature of unmodified and Y substituted BFT ceramics while Co substituted BFT ceramics exhibit a typical ferromagnetic M-H loop. The largest remanent magnetization value of 0.084 emu/g at room temperature is recorded for the Co2+ substituted sample with x = 0.3