Bridging Language Barriers in COVID-19 Research: Descriptive Study of AccesoCovid.com's Reach and User Engagement.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the challenge of swiftly disseminating research findings to a global audience. Language barriers further exacerbated disparities in access to timely scientific information, particularly for non-English speaking communities. The majority of COVID-19 research was published in English, limiting accessibility for Spanish-speaking populations. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to assess the reach and effectiveness of AccesoCovid.com, a platform designed to disseminate up-to-date COVID-19 research in both English and Spanish, addressing the language gap in scientific communication. METHODS: AccesoCovid.com was developed through a partnership between the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). The website's performance and user engagement were evaluated using Google Analytics over a span of 2 years. Key metrics included user language preference, geographical distribution, and site traffic. The website summarized and translated 1032 articles on various COVID-19 topics, such as "Pharmaceutical Interventions and Vaccines." RESULTS: From February 2021 to February 2023, the platform attracted 57,000 users. Of the 43,000 unique new visitors, 84.2% (n=36,219) hailed from Spanish-speaking regions. The majority accessed the site organically through search engines, with 88.4% (n=38,000) of users arriving this way, while 5000 (11.6%) users accessed the site directly. Most users (n=30,894, 72.1%) preferred the Spanish version of the site. The website's most accessed category was "Pharmaceutical Interventions and Vaccines," followed by "Clinical Presentation and Management" and "Mental Health." Regarding language distribution, 72.1% (n=30,894) of users primarily used Spanish; 21.4% (n=9215) used English; and 6.7% (n=2891) spoke other languages, including Portuguese, Chinese, and German. Geographically, the website attracted visitors from 179 countries, with the highest visitor counts from Mexico (n=12,342, 28.7%), Spain (n=6405, 14.9%), the United States (n=4416, 10.3%), and Peru (n=3821, 8.9%). CONCLUSIONS: AccesoCovid.com successfully bridged a critical language gap in the dissemination of COVID-19 research. Its success underscores the pressing need for multilingual scientific resources. The platform demonstrated significant user engagement and reach, particularly in Spanish-speaking countries. This highlights the potential for similar platforms to ensure equitable access to scientific knowledge across diverse linguistic communities. Future efforts should focus on expanding to other languages and conducting formal evaluations to enhance user satisfaction and impact.

Selenium serum levels in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The nutritional status is a determinant of the immune response that promotes a cellular homeostasis. In particular, adequate selenium levels lead to a better antioxidant and immune response. The aim of this work is to assess whether blood selenium levels, at time of SARS-CoV-2 infection, have an impact on the development and severity of COVID-19. A systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative and descriptive studies using MeSH terms, selenium and COVID-19 was performed. We searched bibliographic databases up to 17 July 2022 in PubMed and ScienceDirect. Studies that reported data on blood selenium levels were considered. A total of 629 articles were examined by abstract and title, of which 595 abstracts were read, of which 38 were included in the systematic review and 11 in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis was conducted to mean difference (MD) with a 95 % confidence interval (CI), and heterogeneity was tested by I2 with random factors with a MD between selenium levels, mortality, morbidity and healthy subjects with a P-value of 0⋅05. Selenium levels were higher in healthy people compared to those in patients with COVID-19 disease (six studies, random effects MD: test for overall effect Z = 3⋅28 (P = 0⋅001), 97 % CI 28⋅36 (11⋅41-45⋅31), P < 0⋅00001), but without difference when compared with the degree of severity in mild, moderate or severe cases. In conclusion, the patients with active SARS-CoV-2 infection had lower selenium levels than the healthy population. More studies are needed to evaluate its impact on clinical severity through randomised clinical trials.

Validation of the 10-item resilience scale with Mexican college students. / Validación de la escala de resiliencia de 10 ítems en universitarios mexicanos.

BACKGROUND: Resilience is the ability to emerge strengthened in an adverse scenario. One population that suffer constant stress are doctors and medical students, which is why it is necessary to have validated instruments to assess resilience. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity and reliability parameters of the 10-item resilience scale, Connor-Davidson (CD-RISC-10), in a Mexican university sample. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A sample of 1333 first-year medical students who agreed to participate in the study was evaluated; sample selection was for convenience, with an average age of 18 years (standard deviation: 1.4 years; 17-39 years). CD-RISC-10 scale was applied to the sample. In a sub-sample, Mexican resilience scale (RESI-M) was applied to assess convergent validity; the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory were used to divergent validity. RESULTS: A factorial analysis was performed with a factor that explains 96.245 of the total variances. The internal consistency of the scale presented a Cronbach's alpha of 0.935. The test-retest was r = 0.521, p = 0.01; the correlation with the RESI-M was moderate (r = 0.61, p = 0.0001). The correlation with the Beck Anxiety Inventory was r = −0.214 (p < 0.05) and with the Beck Depression Inventory, r = −199, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The 10-item Spanish version of the Connor and Davidson CD-RISC had adequate psychometric properties to estimate resilience in medical university students.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La resiliencia es la capacidad de salir fortalecido en un escenario adverso. Una población que sufre estrés constante es la de los médicos y los estudiantes de medicina, por lo que es necesario contar con instrumentos validados para evaluar la resiliencia. OBJETIVO: Evaluar los parámetros de validez y confiabilidad de la escala de resiliencia de 10 ítems Connor-Davidson (CD-RISC-10) en una muestra universitaria mexicana. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se evaluó una muestra de 1333 estudiantes de primer año de Medicina. La selección fue por conveniencia, con una media de edad de 18 años (desviación estándar: 1.4 años; rango: 17-39 años). A la muestra se le aplicó la escala CD-RISC-10. En una submuestra se aplicó escala de resiliencia mexicana (RESI-M) para evaluar la validez convergente; para la validez divergente se utilizaron el Inventario de Ansiedad de Beck y el Inventario de Depresión de Beck. RESULTADOS: Se hizo un análisis factorial con un factor que explica el 96.245 de la varianza total. La consistencia interna de la escala presentó un alfa de Cronbach de 0.935. La prueba test-retest fue de r = 0.521 (p = 0.01) y la correlación con la RESI-M fue moderada, con r = 0.61 (p = 0.0001). La correlación con el Inventario de Ansiedad de Beck fue r = -0.214 (p < 0.05) y con el Inventario de Depresión de Beck fue r = -199 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIÓN: La versión en español de la CD-RISC-10 presenta adecuadas propiedades psicométricas para estimar la resiliencia en estudiantes universitarios de medicina.

Validation of the Comic Strip Test to evaluate empathy in a Mexican population sample.

INTRODUCTION: Empathy is the ability of an individual to understand it from another cognitive and emotional point of view. Empathy is a complex that represents a retouch in its evaluation, so, it is necessary to have instruments validated in the Mexican population. OBJECTIVE: Validation of the Comic Strip Test to evaluate empathy. METHOD: Sampling for convenience, based on internal consistency, convergent validity with the Empathy coefficient, construct validity in the factorial analysis, and the ability to discriminate between subjects with lack of empathy (psychopathology) and the control subjects through a curve ROC. RESULTS: The comic strips test was evaluated in 86 controls, 19 patients with schizophrenia (Cronbach's alpha = 0.894). The correlation with the empathy coefficient was 0.88, with sensitivity of 81.3% and specificity of 38%. CONCLUSIONS: The Comic Strip Test was validated with parametric psychometric parameters.

[Validación de la prueba de Tiras cómicas para evaluar la empatía en una muestra de población mexicana].

INTRODUCTION: Empathy is the ability of an individual to understand it from another cognitive and emotional point of view. Empathy is a complex that represents a retouch in its evaluation, so, it is necessary to have instruments validated in the Mexican population. OBJECTIVE: Validation of the Comic Strip Test to evaluate empathy. METHOD: Sampling for convenience, based on internal consistency, convergent validity with the Empathy coefficient, construct validity in the factorial analysis, and the ability to discriminate between subjects with lack of empathy (psychopathology) and the control subjects through a curve ROC. RESULTS: The comic strips test was evaluated in 86 controls, 19 patients with schizophrenia (Cronbach's alpha = 0.894). The correlation with the empathy coefficient was 0.88, with sensitivity of 81.3% and specificity of 38%. CONCLUSIONS: The Comic Strip Test was validated with parametric psychometric parameters.

ANTECEDENTES: La empatía es la capacidad de un individuo para entender al otro desde el punto de vista cognitivo y emocional. La empatía es un constructo complejo que representa un reto en su evaluación, por lo cual es necesario contar con instrumentos validados en población mexicana. OBJETIVO: Validación de la prueba de Tiras cómicas para evaluar empatía. MÉTODO: Muestreo por conveniencia, se midió la consistencia interna, la validez convergente con el coeficiente de empatía, la validez de constructo con análisis factorial y la capacidad de discriminar entre sujetos con déficit de empatía por psicopatología con controles por medio de una curva Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) por sus siglas en inglés. RESULTADOS: La escala de Tiras cómicas se evaluó en 86 controles, 19 pacientes con esquizofrenia, a de Cronbach = 0.894. La correlación con el coeficiente de empatía fue de 0.88, con una sensibilidad del 81.3% y la especificidad del 38%. CONCLUSIONES: Se validó la prueba de Tiras cómicas con adecuados parámetros psicométricos.

Validación de la prueba de Tiras cómicas para evaluar la empatía en una muestra de población mexicana / Validation of the Comic strip test to assess empathy in a Mexican population sample

Resumen Antecedentes: La empatía es la capacidad de un individuo para entender al otro desde el punto de vista cognitivo y emocional. La empatía es un constructo complejo que representa un reto en su evaluación, por lo cual es necesario contar con instrumentos validados en población mexicana. Objetivo: Validación de la prueba de Tiras cómicas para evaluar empatía. Método: Muestreo por conveniencia, se midió la consistencia interna, la validez convergente con el coeficiente de empatía, la validez de constructo con análisis factorial y la capacidad de discriminar entre sujetos con déficit de empatía por psicopatología con controles por medio de una curva Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) por sus siglas en inglés. Resultados: La escala de Tiras cómicas se evaluó en 86 controles, 19 pacientes con esquizofrenia, a de Cronbach = 0.894. La correlación con el coeficiente de empatía fue de 0.88, con una sensibilidad del 81.3% y la especificidad del 38%. Conclusiones: Se validó la prueba de Tiras cómicas con adecuados parámetros psicométricos.

Abstract Introduction: Empathy is the ability of an individual to understand it from another cognitive and emotional point of view. Empathy is a complex that represents a retouch in its evaluation, so, it is necessary to have instruments validated in the Mexican population. Objective: Validation of the Comic Strip Test to evaluate empathy. Method: Sampling for convenience, based on internal consistency, convergent validity with the Empathy coefficient, construct validity in the factorial analysis, and the ability to discriminate between subjects with lack of empathy (psychopathology) and the control subjects through a curve ROC. Results: The comic strips test was evaluated in 86 controls, 19 patients with schizophrenia (Cronbach's alpha = 0.894). The correlation with the empathy coefficient was 0.88, with sensitivity of 81.3% and specificity of 38%. Conclusions: The Comic Strip Test was validated with parametric psychometric parameters.