COVID-19 and Gastrointestinal Disease


Book Description

COVID-19 is the most prominent and rapidly evolving public health concern in the world currently. The gastrointestinal manifestations of COVID-19 are increasingly being recognized. SARS-CoV-2 infection has been associated with the occurrence of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. SARS-CoV-2 has also been causing pancreatic and hepatic injury. Emerging data have shown that COVID-19 patients continue to shed the virus into their stools, even when patients test negative for COVID-19 in pulmonary secretions. However, the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of SARS-CoV-2-related gastrointestinal manifestations are poorly understood. The pandemic has also had a significant impact on gastroenterologists, endoscopists, and other ancillary staff. Moreover, in the past, systematic respiratory virus syndrome (SARS) was shown to be transmitted by endoscopes, which is a big concern with COVID-19, as it shares many pathological features with SARS. The deferral of elective endoscopic procedures has negatively affected gastroenterologists. This Special Issue focuses on the current situation of this pandemic. It aims to provide insight into the gastrointestinal manifestations of COVID-19 and its effects on endoscopic procedures. I believe that this issue will be beneficial not only for gastroenterologists but also other healthcare workers around the world to recognize the often-ignored clinical gastrointestinal manifestations of COVID-19.




Handbook of Research on Pathophysiology and Strategies for the Management of COVID-19


Book Description

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus (SARS-Cov2), which may cause mild to moderate respiratory complications in most infected people. Older people and those with chronic and/or acute illnesses may present serious complications. Underlying mechanisms of the cellular responses to the virus are not fully revealed; therefore, understanding the pathophysiology of COVID-19 is crucial to provide efficient data to define the appropriate and effective therapeutic strategies to cure and prevent COVID-19-associated complications. The Handbook of Research on Pathophysiology and Strategies for the Management of COVID-19 summarizes and assembles the published data on COVID-19 and provides an answer to the reader for the mystery of SARS-Cov2’s impact on human health through a deep analysis of the current data available in the literature. This book addresses the epidemiology and infectious patterns of the disease and the recent pathophysiological mechanisms of the disease and relationships to the medical history of the patient. Covering topics from the tie between COVID-19 and respiratory disease to vaccination information, this comprehensive reference source is ideal for clinicians, health professionals, pathologists, virologists, researchers, academicians, and medical and PhD students.




Fangcang Shelter Hospitals For Covid-19: Construction And Operation Manual


Book Description

A novel public health concept, the Fangcang Shelter Hospital was first proposed by Professor Wang Chen, an academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, in Wuhan, China, in February 2020. While responding to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, medical staff faced the pressing situation of limited medical supplies, which led Professor Wang Chen to the suggestion of converting large-scale public venues such as exhibition centers and indoor stadiums into shelter hospitals to receive large number of patients, as this involved minimum time and monetary costs. The five essential functions of Fangcang Shelter Hospitals (isolation, triage, provision of basic medical care, frequent monitoring and rapid referral, and essential living and social engagement) enable shelter hospitals to receive patients with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19, and have the greatest impact on isolating the source of infection and expanding the area's health-care capacity.Two of the first three Fangcang Shelter Hospitals set up in Wuhan were redeveloped by Zall Group Property from existing buildings, while Zall Foundation was responsible for the provision of essential medical supplies and logistical support to facilitate the running of these shelter hospitals. In total, the two shelter hospitals have been instrumental in diagnosing, treating and curing 3663 patients. Under the medical expertise and guidance of Professor Wang Chen, as well as inputs from Zall Foundation's crews who contributed to the design, renovation and operation of these shelter hospitals, this manual encompasses knowledge and experience distilled from the running of these Fangcang Shelter Hospitals. Covering five important aspects, namely the proposal, design, renovation, operation, and logistical support for shelter hospitals, this booklet aims to be a useful reference for other epidemic prevention and control efforts in regions around the world. The manual has been translated into more than 20 languages.




Environmental and Health Management of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)


Book Description

Environmental and Health Management of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) examines mitigation measures that can be adopted at the time of a novel coronavirus outbreak to lessen environmental contamination and impacts on human health. The book discusses origin, structure and pathogenesis, epidemiology, environmental transmission and the potential spread routes of COVID-19 via surfaces, air, water, wastewater, medical waste and food products. It also covers guidelines and protocols for setting safety conditions to provide adequate health care and reduce the risk of infection in health and non-healthcare settings, along with preventative measures and disinfection technologies. In addition, the book discusses challenges, opportunities and future perspectives, the global crisis, and global consequences on the environment and health. With contributions from experts, this book presents a multidisciplinary reference resource for virologists, microbiologists, public health professionals, environmental health managers and others engaged in the study and mitigation of the environmental and health impacts of the virus. Covers the environmental transmission and spread of COVID-19 Includes environmental disinfection technologies for prevention of COVID-19 Provides guidelines, standards and protocols related to COVID-19




Endoscopy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease


Book Description

This book conjoins the latest advances on the use of endoscopy to diagnose, monitor, and treat patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Chapters include the historical use of rigid sigmoidoscopy, non-interventional imaging procedures, and the correlation of pathology and endoscopic visualization. This is the first book to include individual chapters in gastroenterology, colorectal surgery, and IBD texts, the preeminent role of endoscopic imaging in the management of chronic ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease. It also includes chapters on capsule endoscopy and balloon and overtube-assisted enteroscopy to define the presence and activity of Crohn's enteritis and additional chapters defining the use of random biopsies versus chromoendoscopy, and computer enhanced imaging to define possible dysplasia development. The book also includes access to online videos, making it the ultimate verbal and visual tool for all medical professionals interested in the advances in the field over the last several decades. Endoscopy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a concise text that is of great value to practicing endoscopists, gastroenterologists, general or colorectal surgeons, physicians in training, and all medical professionals caring for patients with inflammatory bowel disease.




Abdominal Imaging


Book Description

In this book a team of leading experts come together to provide a comprehensive overview of modern imaging of the abdomen and pelvis, with detailed sections on both gastrointestinal and genitourinary imaging. Each chapter has an identical structure and focuses on a particular organ or organ system, allowing the reader to approach the field one topic at a time. Indications for a variety of imaging techniques and examination protocols are clearly described, and the imaging features of normal anatomy and pathologic entities are depicted in an abundance of high-quality images. Care is taken to consider all recent technical developments and new indications, and the diagnostic performance of different imaging modalities is carefully compared. It is anticipated that this book will come to be regarded as the standard work of reference on abdominal and pelvic radiology.




Communities in Action


Book Description

In the United States, some populations suffer from far greater disparities in health than others. Those disparities are caused not only by fundamental differences in health status across segments of the population, but also because of inequities in factors that impact health status, so-called determinants of health. Only part of an individual's health status depends on his or her behavior and choice; community-wide problems like poverty, unemployment, poor education, inadequate housing, poor public transportation, interpersonal violence, and decaying neighborhoods also contribute to health inequities, as well as the historic and ongoing interplay of structures, policies, and norms that shape lives. When these factors are not optimal in a community, it does not mean they are intractable: such inequities can be mitigated by social policies that can shape health in powerful ways. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity seeks to delineate the causes of and the solutions to health inequities in the United States. This report focuses on what communities can do to promote health equity, what actions are needed by the many and varied stakeholders that are part of communities or support them, as well as the root causes and structural barriers that need to be overcome.




Interventional Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Endoscopic Management and Treatment of Complications


Book Description

Interventional Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Endoscopic Management and Treatment of Complications covers the preparation, principle, techniques, and damage control of complications in endoscopic therapy, providing the ultimate guidance in endoscopic management of IBD. With contributions from a panel of international leading experts in the field, perspectives are included from GI pathologists, GI radiologists, gastroenterologists, advanced endoscopists, IBD specialists and colorectal surgeons. Recommendations from experts are also included within each chapter. By bridging medical and surgical treatment modalities for IBD, this is the perfect reference for GI researchers, medical students, therapeutic GI endoscopists, IBD specialists, surgeons and advanced health care providers. Incorporates state-of-the-art of research in the area of therapeutic endoscopy in Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Makes the connection between the understanding of the complex nature and disease course of IBD with corresponding advanced endoscopic procedures Explores endoscopic treatment as the missing link between medical and surgical treatment for complex Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Contains access to videos demonstrating important procedural concepts




Immunobiotics: Interactions of Beneficial Microbes with the Immune System


Book Description

The term “immunobiotics” has been proposed to define microbial strains able to beneficially regulate the mucosal immune system. Research in immunobiotics has significantly evolved as researchers employed cutting-edge technologies to investigate the complex interactions of these beneficial microorganisms with the immune system. During the last decade, our understanding of immunobiotics-host interaction was profoundly transformed by the discovery of microbial molecules and host receptors involved in the modulation of gut associated immune system, as well as the systemic and distant mucosal immune systems. In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in the number of reports describing the beneficial effects of immunobiotics in diseases such as intestinal and respiratory infections, allergy, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, immunosuppression, and several other immune-mediated conditions. Evidence is also emerging of immunobiotics related molecules with immunomodulatory functions leading to the production of pharmabiotics, which may positively influence human or animal health. Therefore, research in immunobiotics continue to contribute not only to food but also medical and pharmaceutical fields. The compilation of research articles included in this ebook should help reader to have an overview of the recent advances in immunobiotics.




Intra-Abdominal Hypertension


Book Description

Practical clinical handbook reviewing all aspects of the diagnosis and management of intra-abdominal hypertension; essential reading for all critical care staff.