Background: COVID-19 is an ongoing health concern that hospitals have struggled to keep up with, given its increasing burden with the passage of time. Considerations for the management of COVID-19 should be made especially for pregnant patients and their neonates. Objectives: To determine COVID-19 prevalence and the clinical profile of mothers admitted for childbirth at Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center from May 2020 to July 2020. The profile and outcomes of neonates born to these mothers were likewise studied. Materials and Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done that included mothers admitted for childbirth who had SARS-CoV-2 RT PCR swab test and their neonates. A total of 408 medical records of mother and neonate dyads were reviewed. Relevant variables such as the patients’ demographic profile, clinical characteristics, co-morbidities and the maternal and neonatal outcomes were obtained. Frequency distributions were made to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 among the patients, as well as maternal and neonatal outcomes. Results: Twenty-two (5.39%) mothers tested positive for COVID-19, while all neonates (n = 22) that underwent RT-PCR swab at the 24th hour of life had negative results. Of the 22 COVID-19 positive mothers, 2 (9.09%) were symptomatic upon admission while 20 (90.09%) were asymptomatic. The following were the key trends among those mothers who tested positive for COVID-19: (1) 81.82% were from ages 20-39 years old, (2) 72.73% were multigravida mothers, (3) 54.55% had normal spontaneous delivery, (4) diabetes mellitus was the only noted comorbidity. Key findings on the neonatal outcomes observed in the study population of both COVID-19 positive and negative cases, include: (1) majority of neonates had an APGAR score of greater than 7 at 1st and 5th minute of life; (2) higher frequency of neonates with Ballard’s score of more than 37 weeks AOG; (3) more male neonates as compared to female neonates; (4) a normal birth weight for majority of cases; (5) 45.45% of neonates born to COVID positive mothers had a length of stay of <48 hours as compared to 72.8% of neonates born to COVID negative mothers; and (6) neonatal pneumonia as the most common comorbid condition in both cases. Conclusion This study noted a prevalence of 5.39% COVID-19 positive mothers. SARS-CoV-2 virus was not detected in all of the neonates born to COVID-19 affected mothers. Neonates delivered to COVID-19 positive mothers had similar trends in the neonatal outcomes when compared to neonates delivered to mother who were COVID-19 negative.
COVID-19

Summary Cutaneous manifestations of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are variable. We present a case of non-drug related symmetrical flexural and intertriginous exanthema in a patient with COVID-19 infection. A 58-year-old Chinese male who was diagnosed to have COVID-19 infection, developed maculopapular erythematous rashes at bilateral axillary and inguinal folds on the fourth day of illness. He was treated symptomatically with anti-histamine and topical corticosteroid. The skin condition improved and he was discharged well on tenth day of illness. Although symmetrical flexural intertriginous exanthema isclassically caused by drug reaction, this case demonstrated the possibility of the rash being directly associated with COVID-19 infection. More cohorts should be evaluated to fully describe the full spectrum of dermatological manifestation in COVID-19.
Exanthema ; COVID-19 ; Skin Manifestations

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 disease has strained our healthcare system. Convalescent plasma is an adjunct treatment used in emerging infectious diseases in past epidemics. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the outcome and clinical course of COVID-19 patients who received convalescent plasma (CP) transfusion at Cardinal Santos Medical Center. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort analytical study of 75 patients who received convalescent plasma. RESULTS: Median time from admission to CP transfusion was 3 days. Majority of patients received additional therapies including dexamethasone (100%), antibiotics (100%), remdesivir (95%), hemoperfusion (88%), tocilizumab (65%), or combinations of these. Among the survivors, the median length of stay (LOS) was 15 days while non-survivors had a median LOS of 6 days. One patient (1.33%) had a mild transfusion reaction. Four patients (5.33%) developed deep vein thrombosis despite anticoagulation. There was improvement in the inflammatory markers (LDH p value 0.04, CRP p value 0.00, Ferritin p value 0.0001). There was improvement in the pulmonary parameters - increase in mean PaO2, mean SaO2, and mean PFR; and decrease in mean FiO2 and mean RR post-treatment. Median LOS is 14 days for the CP group vs 11 days for the non- CP group. Mortality rate among the CP group was 25.33% while the non-CP group was 26.67%. LOS and mortality rate did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in mortality and length of hospital stay in patients given CP vs controls. CP when combined with other treatment modalities might have a role in the improvement of inflammatory markers and pulmonary status.
COVID-19 ; Plasma

ABSTRACT The study aimed to quantify the impact of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic on new case referrals to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) service. The researchers retrospectively reviewed all new referrals received during a government-imposed 47-day lockdown period and a similar period pre-lockdown as a control group. The main outcome was the differences in the number of new case referrals between the two periods. The contributing clinical and demographic factors were also explored. Appropriate bivariate statistics were computed and the level of significance was set at 0.05 for all tests. A total of 309 referrals were received during the study period. There was a reduction of new referrals due to the lockdown from five to two cases per day. There was a statistically significant reduction of cases referred from outpatient and emergency departments. There was also a statistically significant difference with regard to home address distance to the centre. Medically compromised and orofacial infection referrals were not affected by lockdown. The lockdown imposed due to the pandemic has significantly impacted the pattern of new OMS referrals. Referrals for orofacial infections, the medically compromised and inpatients were minimally affected by lockdown.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons ; Quarantine ; COVID-19

As the COVID-19 pandemic worsens, early case detection is vital to limiting community spread. We describe our experiences with four COVID-19 cases at the polyclinics in January and February 2020. This retrospective case series highlights the challenges primary care clinicians face in the early identification of suspect cases based on clinical criteria only. To improve case detection, clinicians can sharpen their clinical acumen by keeping abreast with the latest COVID-19 developments and by maintaining a high state of vigilance.
Adult ; Aged ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pandemics ; Primary Health Care ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Singapore/epidemiology*

The occurrence and persistent pandemic of 2019 coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19), caused by the infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has taken a big toll on global public health. The development of virus detection techniques and its application played an important role in health management, including screening, identification and treatment of patients, and slowing down the spread of virus. This review briefly summarizes the biological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2, and introduces in detail the SARS-CoV-2 detection techniques developed and used worldwide. Perspectives on the follow-up development of virus detection techniques were presented, with the aim to facilitate medical diagnosis, public health protection, disease prevention and control.
COVID-19/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Pandemics/prevention & control* ; SARS-CoV-2

BACKGROUND: By March 2020, The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) as a global pandemic. Further investigations found that COVID-19 may lead to acute kidney injury (AKI). Some studies have been done, but the incidence and outcome of AKI in COVID-19 are variable between studies. Moreover, given the high number of COVID-19 cases in our country, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis regarding the detailed outcome of AKI in COVID-19 patients as reported in the available literature. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive literature search from several databases, such as Europe PMC, PubMed, ProQuest, Directory of Open Access Journal (DOAJ), and related references between December 1, 2019, and December 5, 2020. The primary outcome was mortality, and the secondary outcomes were the need for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) care, severe and critical COVID-19 infection, and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). RESULTS: There were a total of 25,990 patients from 21 studies. Acute kidney injury was associated with increased odds of mortality (OR 13.43 [8.35, 21.60], p < 0.00001; I2 : 82%, p < 0.00001), need for ICU care (OR 14.57 [8.51, 24.94], p < 0.00001; I2: 84%; p < 0.0001), critical COVID-19 (OR 10.41 [3.88, 27.90], p < 0.00001; I2: 67%; p = 0.02), and ARDS (OR 2.84 [1.30, 6.22], p = 0.009; I2: 91%; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Acute kidney injury is associated with mortality, need for ICU care, critical COVID-19 patients, and ARDS.
Coronavirus ; COVID-19 ; Coronavirus Infections ; Acute Kidney Injury

ABSTRACT Education worldwide has been conducted in the traditional face-to-face classroom teaching style for ages, and this includes the education in dentistry. Since the introduction of online education and distance learning, teaching institutions have gradually made e-learning an integral part of teaching and learning activities. With the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic and closure of teaching institutions worldwide, the faculty of dentistry is amongst the many that were forced to leap onto the online education field abruptly. There is a sudden need for educators to resort to online teaching and e-learning becomes an essential tool to be developed as an alternative to traditional education methods. This article serves as a review to explore and discuss the common concerns and institutional readiness in delivering e-learning and review the methods currently utilised during this time of crisis.
Education, Dental ; Education, Distance ; COVID-19

OBJECTIVES: To summarize the measures and rules of Chinese medicine (CM) and provide reference for clinical application in the prevention and treatment of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). METHODS: The data source was from CM COVID-19 prevention and treatment programs on government websites and official media websites of the different provinces and cities. The search lasted from December 8, 2019 to March 10, 2020. Main variables were medication frequency and combinations of medicines. Cluster analysis and complex network analysis were used by prevention and treatment stage and by area. RESULTS: Among 27 CM diagnosis and treatment plans, 203 therapeutic prescriptions were enrolled, of which the top 4 herbs were: Radix glycyrrhizae, Semen armeniacae amarum, Herba ephedrae, and Herba agastachis, respectively. The core combinations were Herba ephedrae and Semen armeniacae amarum. Forty-eight preventive formulae were identified. Ten herbs, including Radix Astragali seu hedysari, Radix glycyrrhizae, Radix saposhnikoviae, Flos lonicerae, etc. were most frequently used. The core prescription of CM compatibility was Radix astragali seu hedysari, Radix glycyrrhizae, and Radix saposhnikoviae, which is the main component of Yu Ping Feng San. There were 45 prevention and treatment prescriptions in East China; the most used CM was Radix glycyrrhizae, Herba agastachis, Pericarpium citri reticulatae, and Gypsum fibrosum. Fifty prescriptions were identified in North China. According to CM analyses, Herba agastachis, Semen armeniacae amarum, Herba ephedrae, and Poria were most frequently used. CONCLUSIONS CM for COVID-19 prevention mainly focuses on improving human immunity; for treatment, prescription focuses on clearing the lungs and removing dampness. Prescriptions vary with regions, perhaps due to climatic and environmental differences, which help clinicians to quickly make CM plans and treat patients according to clinical status, further minimizing resource wastage.
COVID-19/diagnosis* ; COVID-19 Testing ; China/epidemiology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment

Vaccination is the most effective and feasible way to contain the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The rapid development of effective COVID-19 vaccines is an extraordinary achievement. This study reviewed the efficacy/effectiveness, immunogenicity, and safety profile of the 12 most progressed COVID-19 vaccines and discussed the challenges and prospects of the vaccine-based approaches in a global crisis. Overall, most of the current vaccines have shown safety and efficacy/effectiveness during actual clinical trials or in the real-world studies, indicating a development of pandemic control. However, many challenges are faced by pandemic control in terms of maximizing the effect of vaccines, such as rapid vaccine coverage, strategies to address variants with immune escape capability, and surveillance of vaccine safety in the medium- and long-terms.
COVID-19/prevention & control* ; COVID-19 Vaccines/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Pandemics/prevention & control* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Vaccination