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

Evaluación del efecto de la fertilización química y orgánica en la composición bromatológica de semillas de quinua (chenopodium quinoa willd) en boyacá – colombia.

El consumo de semillas de quinua en el mundo, tiene importancia por su composición nutricional, que se encuentra influenciada por las condiciones edafoclimáticas. Se realizó un experimento con el objetivo de estudiar el efecto de la fertilización en el contenido de nitrógeno orgánico, carbohidratos, extracto etéreo y lignina detergente ácida en semillas de quinua variedad Soracá, desarrollando prácticas agronómicas propias del departamento de Boyacá. El experimento se desarrolló en el municipio de Oicatá durante el transcurso del año 2017, utilizando un diseño completamente al azar con cuatro tratamientos y cuatro repeticiones. Los resultados mostraron diferencias estadísticas significativas en el contenido de extracto etéreo y lignina detergente ácida, mientras que el contenido de nitrógeno orgánico, no se presentó diferencias, al igual que en el contenido de carbohidratos. Concluyendo que el tratamiento con mejores resultados de calidad de grano se presentó en el tratamiento T2, mientras que el tratamiento T1 y T3 desempeñaron el mejor rendimiento por hectárea

Competitividad sectorial internacional: Caso: sector del cuero y del calzado

This paper comes from a research whose pretension was to inquiry about the international competitive level of both leather Colombian sector and manufacturing shoes sector through the application of some indicators, using statistical information about international commerce, to establish certain relations to explain the relevance of those products in the markets of Andeans Nations Community (ANC), that were selected to be compared.El presente escrito se origina en un trabajo de investigación cuya pretensión fue indagar sobre el nivel de competitividad internacional (C.I), del sector del cuero y del calzado colombiano, mediante la aplicación de indicadores que, a partir de la información estadística de las variables de comercio exterior permiten establecer ciertas relaciones que dan cuenta de la importancia del producto en los mercados de los países de la Comunidad Andina de Naciones (CAN), seleccionados para la comparación

Descripción de las saponinas en quinua ("Chenopodium quinoa" willd) en relación con el suelo y el clima: una revisión.

Increasingly, the production of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) in different regions of the world becomes more important, due to the fact that it has been sought to position the crop as an alternative to food security. However, this plant has metabolites such as tannins and saponins, which are chemical substances that serve as protective barriers to biotic and abiotic factors. In the case of saponins, 31 chemical structures are recognized, present in leaves, stems, panicles, husk and seeds of different species and genotypes. In this regard, this review seeks to describe general characteristics of the saponins present in quinoa and its relations with soil and climate. Finding that the edaphoclimatics characteristic of each place aswell as the genetic characteristics of each variety are determinants in the content of saponin compounds stimulated mainly by water and saline stress.Cada vez, toma mayor importancia la producción de la quinua (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) en diferentes regiones del mundo, debido a que se ha buscado posicionar el cultivo como una alternativa de seguridad alimentaria. Sin embargo, esta planta presenta metabolitos como taninos y saponinas que son sustancias químicas que sirven de barreras de protección a factores bióticos y abióticos. En el caso de las saponinas, se reconocen 31 estructuras químicas, presentes en hojas, tallos, panojas, cascarilla y semillas de diferentes especies y genotipos. Al respecto, esta revisión busca describir características generales de las saponinas presentes en la quinua y su relación con el suelo y el clima. Encontrando que las edafoclimáticas propias de cada lugar, así como las características genéticas de cada variedad son determinantes en el contenido de compuestos saponínicos, estimulados principalmente por estrés de tipo hídrico y salino

Perfiles de mercados de los 50 estados de USA

Dadas las condiciones del intercambio bilateral entre Colombia y los Estados Unidos (TLC), se pone en bandeja una serie de oportunidades positivas para todo el empresariado colombiano y sobre todo para el desarrollo y futuro de Colombia. Para que esto sea posible, es de suma importancia conocer un poco más a fondo no solo el territorio estadounidense, sino sus condiciones de mercado y maneras de ingresar los productos colombianos a ese país.\ud Dado esto, el presente trabajo es un estudio exploratorio y detallado a propósito de revelar los Perfiles de mercado de los cincuenta Estados de los Estados Unidos, con la finalidad de generar un estado del arte acerca de los principales productos que se importan desde ese país, así también, para revelar las principales rutas de acceso utilizadas por los exportadores hacia sus respectivos destinos. Así pues, se pretende guiar a todo empresario sobre su movilidad terrestre y aérea en cada Estado, igualmente de ofrecer algunos consejos de movilidad y demás aspectos.\ud Este documento es creado para apoyar y fomentar el crecimiento de las exportaciones a los Estados Unidos por medio y uso del Tratado de Libre Comercio entre las dos naciones. Esta herramienta es el resultado de una investigación seria, responsable con base a los resultados arrojados por diferentes bases de datos como WiserTrade, y el uso de fuentes de información gubernamentales.Centro de Estudios Empresariales para la PerdurabilidadGiven the conditions of bilateral trade between Colombia and the United States (CAFTA), is put on a plate a number of positive opportunities for the entire Colombian business and especially for the development and future of Colombia. For this to be possible, it is very important to know a little more depth not only U.S. territory, but their market conditions and ways of Colombian products enter that country.\ud Given this, the present work is an exploratory study and detailed disclosure about the market profiles of the fifty states of the United States, in order to generate a state of the art on the main products imported from that country, and also, to reveal the main paths used by exporters to their respective destinations. Thus, it is intended to guide every employer on ground and air mobility in each State, also offer some tips mobility and other aspects.\ud This document is designed to support and encourage the growth of exports to the United States through and use the Free Trade Agreement between the two nations. This tool is the result of a serious, responsible on the basis of the results obtained from different databases as WiserTrade, and use of government information sources

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

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

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

Evaluation of a quality improvement intervention to reduce anastomotic leak following right colectomy (EAGLE): pragmatic, batched stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial in 64 countries

Background Anastomotic leak affects 8 per cent of patients after right colectomy with a 10-fold increased risk of postoperative death. The EAGLE study aimed to develop and test whether an international, standardized quality improvement intervention could reduce anastomotic leaks. Methods The internationally intended protocol, iteratively co-developed by a multistage Delphi process, comprised an online educational module introducing risk stratification, an intraoperative checklist, and harmonized surgical techniques. Clusters (hospital teams) were randomized to one of three arms with varied sequences of intervention/data collection by a derived stepped-wedge batch design (at least 18 hospital teams per batch). Patients were blinded to the study allocation. Low- and middle-income country enrolment was encouraged. The primary outcome (assessed by intention to treat) was anastomotic leak rate, and subgroup analyses by module completion (at least 80 per cent of surgeons, high engagement; less than 50 per cent, low engagement) were preplanned. Results A total 355 hospital teams registered, with 332 from 64 countries (39.2 per cent low and middle income) included in the final analysis. The online modules were completed by half of the surgeons (2143 of 4411). The primary analysis included 3039 of the 3268 patients recruited (206 patients had no anastomosis and 23 were lost to follow-up), with anastomotic leaks arising before and after the intervention in 10.1 and 9.6 per cent respectively (adjusted OR 0.87, 95 per cent c.i. 0.59 to 1.30; P = 0.498). The proportion of surgeons completing the educational modules was an influence: the leak rate decreased from 12.2 per cent (61 of 500) before intervention to 5.1 per cent (24 of 473) after intervention in high-engagement centres (adjusted OR 0.36, 0.20 to 0.64; P &lt; 0.001), but this was not observed in low-engagement hospitals (8.3 per cent (59 of 714) and 13.8 per cent (61 of 443) respectively; adjusted OR 2.09, 1.31 to 3.31). Conclusion Completion of globally available digital training by engaged teams can alter anastomotic leak rates. Registration number: NCT04270721 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov)