Focus on Infectious Disease
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A simple surgical mask modification to pass N95 respirator-equivalent fit testing standards during the COVID-19 pandemic

A simple surgical mask modification to pass N95 respirator-equivalent fit testing standards during the COVID-19 pandemic

Source : https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272834

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has infected hundreds of millions of people resulting in millions of deaths worldwide. While N95 respirators remain the gold standard as personal protective equipment, they are...


Conclusions: Rubber bands, a low-cost and easily-accessible modification, can improve the seal and protective ability of a standard surgical mask to the level of an N95 respirator. This could mitigate N95 respirator shortages worldwide and provide individuals in under-resourced regions a practical means for increased personal respiratory...

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The majority of the inflammatory polyneuropathy (44.4%) was diagnosed four to 12 weeks after the COVID-19 infection, with GBS being the most common type (72.2% of cases). Moreover, the nerve conduction velocity, the distal latency, and the amplitude of the most studied nerves were slower, more prolonged, and lower, respectively, among the...

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COVID-19 Vaccine Cardiac Complications: A Case Series on Implications of Marijuana in Adolescents With Myopericarditis

COVID-19 Vaccine Cardiac Complications: A Case Series on Implications of Marijuana in Adolescents With Myopericarditis

Source : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9156396/

Monitoring Editor: Alexander Muacevic and John R Adler We report on two critically ill pediatric patients, aged 16 and 18 years, presenting with acute myopericarditis at a tertiary-care center in...


Our paper highlights the importance of a detailed social and drug history in adolescents presenting with chest pain. The clinical characterization is necessary to promote better case definitions and the design of targeted interventions for this vulnerable group.

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Hyperglycemia in Severe and Critical COVID-19 Patients: Risk Factors and Outcomes

Hyperglycemia in Severe and Critical COVID-19 Patients: Risk Factors and Outcomes

Source : https://www.cureus.com/articles/107266-hyperglycemia-in-severe-and-critical-covid-19-patients-risk-factors-and-outcomes/metrics

Published: August 02, 2022 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.27611 Cite this article as: Le V, Ha Q, Tran M, et al. (August 02, 2022) Hyperglycemia in Severe and Critical COVID-19 Patients: Risk Factors...


Conclusion: Hyperglycemia was common in COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit. Hyperglycemia reflected the disease severity but was also secondary to therapeutic intervention. New-onset hyperglycemia was associated with poorer outcomes than that in diabetic patients.

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A Novel Non-invasive Index of Cardiopulmonary Reserve for the Prediction of Failure of Weaning From Mechanical Ventilation

A Novel Non-invasive Index of Cardiopulmonary Reserve for the Prediction of Failure of Weaning From Mechanical Ventilation

Source : https://www.cureus.com/articles/104818-a-novel-non-invasive-index-of-cardiopulmonary-reserve-for-the-prediction-of-failure-of-weaning-from-mechanical-ventilation/metrics

Published: July 22, 2022 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.27150 Cite this article as: Nikitas G T, Kykalos S, Ntikoudi E, et al. (July 22, 2022) A Novel Non-invasive Index of Cardiopulmonary Reserve for...


Conclusions: We conclude that Mod-RER index is an accurate, easy-to-use prediction tool of weaning failure, useful in decision making of timely extubation of ICU patients, especially in the demanding era of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.