Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant economic downturn has brought to the forefront the need for expeditious action to create answers for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this newest human malady. This crisis has crystalized the prioritization of expenditures of resources for medical research, clinical practice and public health measures in combating this deadly virus. The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health Coronavirus Resource Center has counted a total of 46,168,459 cases and 1,196,891 deaths worldwide (November 1, 2020). The data for Ukraine is 407,573 cases and 7,515 deaths. It is now 10 months since the recognition of the worldwide involvement of the SARS-COV-2 virus as the etiologic agent of this pandemic. Although progress has been made, there is still a large gap in our efforts to find a cure and create an effective vaccine for the world population. A corollary lesson is the need for life-long learning and the acceptance of change in everyday practice. Harvard and Ukrainian Catholic University Professor of business management Adrian Slywotzky develops a succinct idea in his book «David Conquers: The Discipline of Asymmetric Victory». He states that David’s sling is a modest investment that results in a giant return. Such is our modest investment in this scholarly medical journal: Proceedings of the Shevchenko Scientific Society. Medical Sciences. We rely heavily on the social media mechanism of «word-of mouth» to promote our journal and its offerings of current medical breakthroughs and findings. Our wide range of interest is underscored by the more than 101 countries from whence our readers query our online journal. This is our modest investment on behalf of our readers to gain current information, an example of our asymmetric battle with the giant coronavirus. In this issue (Vol. 59, No.2 [62]) we inaugurate a video supplement of the proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium “SMARTLION2020’ which took place as a virtual meeting on 29 September 2020. O Danyliak and I Stryjska have collated the sessions related to the coronavirus pandemic. [4] The speakers include: 1. Boris Lushniak, Professor and Dean, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, USA: «A short history of pandemics». 2. Serhuy Souchelnytskyi, Professor at the College of Medicine, Quatar University, Doha, Quatar: «Why is COVID-19 so aggressive? Molecular insights with clinical application». 3. Andriy Cherkas, PhD candidate, Scientist, Sanofi, Frankfurt am Main, Germany: «COVID-19 and diabetes - a dangerous combination». 4. Armen Gasparyan, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Birmingham, UK and Expert Reviewer of SCOPUS journals: «Infodemic and Misinformation in the COVID-19 era». 5. Oksana Souter, PhD, CEO of Swiss Organic Solutions, Zurich, Switzerland: “The systemic evaluations of proximity tracing app SwissCovid.” Next, S Souchelnytsky discusses the effectiveness of coronavirus testing that relies on the identification of the infrastructure of nucleic acids. This deepens our understanding of the importance of the procedure of detecting, amplifying and sequencing the coronavirus genome. [5] Our knowledge of the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical course and treatment regimens of the coronavirus is evolving and ever changing. Yesterday’s knowledge is superseded by today’s investigations and discoveries. In this light we present the latest case studies of the cardiovascular complications of COVID-19 by N Oryshchyn and Y Ivaniv [6]. M Cherkas et al discuss the critical care management of COVID-19 with emphasis on the MATH+algorithm [7]. PS Gaur et al inform us how to obtain valid information and recognize disinformation in medical research publications as a result of the adaptation of a changing paradigm in research [8]. The advice based on the thinking of Joseph Aoun, taken from his book «Robot-Proof: Higher Education in the Age of Artificia Intelligence» Here he proposes a strategy of how to prepare future scientists in the era of artificial intelligence [9]. In today’s medicine, smart machines and deep learning compete with the thinking of highly educated professionals. It is rare to see a modern era physician without instant access to the latest scientific research and sophisticated electronic devices that rely on algorithms of artificial intelligence to produce that information. Without such machine learning, we would not have the great advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular, hematologic, oncologic diseases, infertility and many other medical dilemmas. It is critically important to have timely publications that introduce these innovations in medicine to the practitioner. We therefore also present to you the latest information about cardiovascular treatments in Lviv by D Beshley et al [10], and introduce you to the use of robotics in gynecologic surgery by A. Brignoni and O. Mudra [11]. In this era of artificial intelligence and the knowledge that comes to us with lightening speed, we must expect that all research be conducted in an ethical manner. The window to this work is through publications. We summarize a series of webinars held this year by the editorial board of this journal that focused on academic integrity and its reflection through scholarly writing [12]. Their full video is presented too [13]. «The ethical code of researchers» is published as a guide for our scientists on conducting and reporting research in a transparent and ethical fashion [14]. The title page of this publication reflects its contents. The collage “Life, idea, innovation" embodies the interplay of past and present, of history and innovation. At the center, the image of the human heart symbolizes life and self-sacrifice - in all of its aspects. More than a century ago, man devoted himself to science, bequeathing his heart to teach the next generation . The heart pictured is a reflection of the mummified specimen of the human heart found in the Anatomical Museum of the Department of Normal Anatomy, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University. The history of the creation and development of this museum can be found in a recently published monograph reviewed in this issue by A. Pitukh-Novorolska[15]. The heart on the cover of this journal is the personification of a physician, who lives by the motto "Consumor aliis inserviendo" (Latin: "I am consumed by being nice to others”). How relevant especially now - during the COVID-19 pandemic - when loss of human life is so high. In this crisis, ideas are generated. Many of them are veiled in histograms. They arise not from nothing, but from a scientific basis. It is the sacrifice of scientists that is their source. The latest book by S. Komisarenko reagarding important scientific achievements in biochemistry and immunology leading to the awarding of the Nobel Prize is herewith reviewed by S. Sushelnytsky [16]. Returning to the cover, the number of icons from the heart decreases the further ir goes : some are lost, others scatter and a few create innovation. The final elements of the collage represent the contemporary world. Building on previous sacrifices, ideas and life, innovation is the future. The aortic valve prosthesis for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and the image of the coronary arteries as visualized by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) are among the most recent innovations in cardiology and cardiac surgery. Therefore, they are located next to the heart. Depicting the triad “life, idea, innovation", we invite our readers to enjoy the articles presented in this issue: new ideas for significant innovations. The Editorial Board extents their deep gratitude and thanks to the many colleagues responsible for the the support and advancement of our Journal [17]. We look forward to new ideas and innovations in 2021!