Artificial Intelligence in COVID-19 Management: A Systematic Review<p>With the development of modern technologies in the field of healthcare, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in disease management is increasing. AI methods may assist healthcare providers in the COVID-19 era. The current study aimed to observe the efficacy and importance of AI for managing the COVID-19 pandemic. An organized search was conducted, utilizing PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane up to September 2022. Studies were considered qualified for inclusion if they met the inclusion criterion. We conducted review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. There were 52 documents that met the eligibility criteria to be included in the review. The most common item using AI during the COVID-19 era was predictive models to foretell pneumonia and mortality risks in people with COVID-19 based on medical and experimental parameters. COVID-19 mortality was related to being male and elderly based on the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) logistic regression analysis of demographics, clinical data, and laboratory tests of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. AI can predict, diagnose and model COVID-19 by using techniques such as support vector machines, decision trees, and neural networks. It is suggested that future research should deal with the design and development of AI-based tools for the management of chronic diseases such as COVID-19.</p>
<i>Retracted</i>: The relationship between C‐reactive protein and levels of various cytokines in patients with COVID‐19: A systematic review and correlation analysisAbstract Introduction C‐reactive protein (CRP) and cytokines levels could alter in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) due to the inflammatory response caused by the virus. This analysis aimed to assess the relationship between the CRP levels and the levels of various cytokines in COVID‐19 patients. Materials and Methods We searched the databases of PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science for relevant articles on May 29th, 2021. Applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria, the retrieved records underwent two‐phase screenings; first, a title/abstract screening process, and then, a full‐text screening to find the eligible studies. Data for study variables were extracted, including the CRP levels and the levels of all reported cytokines. A strong and significant relationship between Interleukins and CRP was defined as: p ≤ 0.05, 0.7 ≤ r ≤ 1. Results In this study, 103 studies were included for systematic review and correlation analysis. The aggregate mean and SD of study variables were calculated and reported. The correlation between Interleukins and CRP was measured using correlation coefficient ( r ). It appeared that interleukin (IL)‐10 has a moderate and significant relationship with CRP ( p ≤ 0.05, r = 0.472). IL‐10 predicted almost 10% of CRP changes. Conclusion This correlation analysis suggests IL‐10 is moderately correlated with CRP levels in patients with COVID‐19 infection. A better understanding of the pro‐inflammatory markers could contribute to the implementation of therapeutic and preventive approaches. More prospective studies are suggested to explore the relationship between CRP and cytokines as potential markers for the early identification of COVID‐19 progression and severity.
Complications of COVID-19 Vaccines during Pregnancy; a Systematic Review.Introduction: Rare serious complications have been documented after COVID-19 vaccination as clinical research proceeded and new target populations, such as children and pregnant women, were included. In this study, we attempted to review the literature relevant to pregnancy complications and maternal outcomes of COVID-19 immunization in pregnant women. . Methods: We searched the databases of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science on 31 August 2022. The records were downloaded and underwent a two-step screening; 1) title/abstract and then 2) full-text screening to identify the eligible studies. We included English original studies that evaluated the adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy. Information such as the type of study, geographical location, type of vaccine injected, gestational age, maternal underlying diseases, and complications following the vaccination were extracted into pre-designed tables. Results: According to the findings of included studies, in most of them vaccination had a positive impact and no negative effects were observed. Also, no medical history was reported in 11 articles, and pregnant women had no underlying diseases. Some serious adverse events were reported after vaccination, including miscarriage, paresthesia, uterine contraction, vaginal bleeding, preterm birth, major congenital anomalies, intrauterine growth restriction, and seizure. . Conclusion: Because of limited data availability and the cross-sectional design of most studies, we could neither infer causation between vaccines and incidence of adverse effects nor comment with certainty about any possible adverse outcome of COVID-19 vaccines in vaccinated pregnant women. Consequently, more longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to define the exact adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant women.
The relationship of hip fracture and thyroid disorders: a systematic reviewIntroduction: Bone density regulation is considered one of the systems affected by thyroid hormones, leading to low bone density that can result in pathologic fractures, including hip fractures. This review aimed to update clinicians and researchers about the current data regarding the relationship between hip fractures and thyroid disorders. Methods: English papers were thoroughly searched in four main online databases of Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase. Data extraction was done following two steps of screening/selection using distinct inclusion/exclusion criteria. This study used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) checklist and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) as bias assessment. Results: In total, 19 articles were included in the research. The risk of hip fractures in women with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is higher than hip fractures caused by osteoporosis. Men with hyperthyroidism and subclinical hyperthyroidism are at higher risk for hip fracture. Also, a decrease in serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) may be associated with an increased risk of hip fracture. Conclusion: Reaching a consensus conclusion regarding the association between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and hip fracture is not feasible due to the heterogenicity of evidence; however, there may be a higher risk of fracture in individuals with subclinical hyperthyroidism.
Changes in sexual activities and risky sexual behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic reviewSeveral studies reported changes in sexual activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is a lack of comprehensive systematic reviews in this field. We aimed to systematically review the changes in sexual activities and risky sexual behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist to improve transparency of our study. The results indicated a considerable decline in the frequency of sexual intercourse, particularly in singles and people with casual dating. Factors associated with sexual activity during the COVID-19 restrictions were depression, stress, lack of intimacy, inability to leave home, work schedule shifting, poor privacy, fear of COVID-19, lack of nightlife, and university educational level. Considering different groups of the population concerning their sexual behaviors is a necessary step in approaching healthy sexual behavior strategies, through which the adverse effects of a pandemic are minimized.