Determination of the Course of COVID-19 Pandemic Using Modified Logistic Modeling

Introduction: COVID-19 appeared in China at the end of 2019. It then spread all over the world very quickly. The new type of corona virus COVID-19, which causes respiratory tract infection, is destructive with its high rate of transmission and mortality rate. Materials and Methods: In this study, determining the course of the COVID-19 pandemic for next 4 months in Afghanistan with the help of a specially modified mathematical modeling is intended to reveal. Results: results of our study show that the COVID-19 pandemic can affect a large population in Afghanistan in a short time. However, it is possible to reduce the number of cases and deaths very effectively with easy measures. Keywords: COVID-19, precautions, pandemic, logistic mathematical model, Afghanistan.

The Low and Slow COVID-19 Pandemic of Timor-Leste

COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease that has penetrated many countries including Timor-Leste. Being relatively new with frail healthcare system, lack of access to water and sanitation facilities, and high poverty level in addition to its proximity to Indonesia—a country with increasing number of infections and fatalities, it was expected that this country would be conquered by this public health threat. Conversely, it has managed to prevent community transmission, maintain low infection rate, and record zero deaths since the first case was confirmed on 21 March 2020. The country’s feat against this public health threat appears to be attributable to the immediate action of the government, support from international organizations, effective communication strategies, involvement of the church, and importance given to water, sanitation, and hygiene programs. The pandemic further emphasized the need of the country for more investments on the healthcare system. Nevertheless, despite the limitations on resources, the current tally of COVID-19 cases in Timor-Leste manifests how a neophyte and small country with limited resources could respond to a global health dilemma. As the country slowly lifts restrictions, vigilance must be kept to sustain its initial success especially that new and more infective strains of the disease are being discovered.

COVID-19 situation in Indonesia: Efforts and challenges

More than a year has passed since the emergence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, Indonesia still tussles to flatten the curve. To curb the infection rate, the Government of Indonesia passed public health policies to increase its healthcare system capacity and Indonesians’ awareness about COVID-19. However, existing health disparities between its regions, funding and political concern, and misinformation continue to hinder the effectiveness of these policies. This paper aims to provide a critical commentary on the current efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges facing it’s in responses in Indonesia.

Somaliland: a self-declared country’s fight against COVID-19

Somaliland despite having a weak health system, managed COVID-19 better than some well-resourced countries in the continent by establishing a National Task Force to direct efforts in early detection, surveillance, risk communication and infection control of the virus. The Ministry of Health has been able to garner personnel with medical skills to increase the response workforce and also supervise the activities of medical facilities across the country. However, these measures have shown unfavorable effect on the economy. Somaliland is in active trade with other African countries and neglecting the impact of the virus can greatly affect the trade partner countries. Appropriate relief funds should be offered by capable countries to lessen the economic impact of the pandemic in the country. In the meantime, it is time to reframe the health system of Somaliland and improve sectors that have been underfunded like emergency, intensive care units and the surgical departments.

Comparison of IQ between 4-16 year-old children after cochlear implantation in the left or right ear

Purpose: Hemispheric dominance is associated with more activity in one half of the body, which is very important in the presence of a relationship between the intelligence and brain lateralization. Delayed language development in the children undergoing cochlear implantation can have deleterious effects on their growth, academic performance, adaptation, and social interactions. Regarding this, the present study aimed to determine the relationship between the dominant hand and intelligence in the 4-16 year-old children undergoing cochlear implantation in the left or right ear. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on the records of the patients aged within 4-16 years who had undergone cochlear implantation during 2008-2011. The subjects’ IQ was measured using Wechsler test by a neuroscience specialist. Then, the IQ of the children with the right cochlear implant was compared to that of those with left implant. The data were analyzed using the t-test, Fisher’s exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Chi-square test in SPSS version 18. Results: According to the results, there was no significant difference between the children with right and left cochlear implants in terms of the mean IQ score (P=0.54). Furthermore, no significant association was observed between IQ score and right-handedness or left-handedness in the children undergoing cochlear implantation (P=0.17, P=0.8, respectively). Conclusion: As the findings indicated, there was no relationship between the dominant hand and IQ score in the children undergoing cochlear implantation.

The Role of Mothers’ Intentions for Physical Activity Education in Children: A Test of Theory of Planned Behavior

Background: One of the important agents in the development of children physical activity is mothers. Objective: The present study aimed to assessing the role of socio-cognitive determinants in mothers’ intention to physical activity education for children based on the theory of planned behavior. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of mothers who have 3 to 6 old child in the west of Iran, 2018. Participants were randomly selected to participate voluntarily in the study. A structured questionnaire was applied for collecting data and data were analyzed by SPSS version 20 using correlations, and linear regression statistical tests. Results: Mean age of the mothers was 31.68 [95% CI: 31.17, 32.19]. Attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavior control variables predictors accounted for 42% of the variation in the intention of physical activity education for children by mothers. Perceived behavior control (Beta=-0.654 and P≤ 0.001) was the more influential predictor on physical activity education intention. Conclusion: It seems that designing and implementation of educational programs to increase perceived behavior control of mothers regarding the physical activity education for children may be the usefulness of the results in order to the promotion of physical activity among their children.

Dopaminergic pathway and athletic mind

Purpose: we reviewed that the mental fatigue is influenced by dopamine depletion, and we assume that increasing DA level can increase athletic stamina and promote athletic performance after prolong exercise. Methods: The search strategy was according to key words contain, Mental fatigue , Decision making , Dopamine, Stroboscope training through the Google scholar, PubMed, and Elsevier. Among the literatures, 100 papers include review and original articles were studied. Finally, we decided to select 49 papers based on similarity and recent studies so more than 50 percent of papers were excluded, because of they were out of date or irrelevant to key words. Results: Based on many studies, it was found dopamine has an essential role on athletic performance and his stamina. Conclusion: The stroboscope vision training in sports could enhance the dopaminergic neurons and associated visuo-motor skills

Real Time PCR; A new, fast and accurate technique in diagnosing the severe type of hemophilia A patients

Introduction: Hemophilia A (HA) is one of the most deleterious X-linked bleeding disorders in male patients. Early and rapid detection could provide management strategies for this disease. This study aims to improve the classic method for detection of important intron 22 inversion mutations (INV22). Materials and Methods: Whole blood samples were taken from 21 male children with a history of severe HA, referred to the Iranian comprehensive hemophilia care center. Two groups were involved for detection of INV22 and two methods were examined in a double-blind manner. The first method used a classical method, inverse PCR, and the second method was Real-time inverse PCR. Results: Results showed that both methods could separately detect the INV22 in 11 out of 21 patients with severe HA (52%) in the same accuracy, but with this difference that only one day was needed for detecting of INV22 by Real-time inverse PCR and on other hand 3 days were needed for the classical methods. Concusion: Because of the medical importance of early detection or prenatal/postnatal diagnosis of this disease, this study recommends the Real-time inverse PCR technique for the rapid detection of this mutation in well-equipped genetic laboratories everywhere.