Parity of esteem: A global COVID-19 vaccination approach for people with mental illnesses, based on facts from 34 countries; recommendations and solutions.

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has detrimental effects on physical and mental health. Patients with severe mental illness are at higher risk of contracting the virus due to social determinants of health. Vulnerable populations include the elderly, people with pre-existing conditions, and those exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Unfortunately, only a few countries have updated vaccination strategies to prioritize patients with mental illnesses. Therefore, we aimed to explore whether individuals with mental disorders are prioritized in vaccine allocation strategies in different world regions. They are often neglected in policymaking but are highly vulnerable to the threatening complications of COVID-19. Methods: A questionnaire was developed to record details regarding COVID-19 vaccination and prioritizations for groups of persons with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mental disorders, and substance use disorders (SUDs). NCDs were defined according to the WHO as chronic diseases that are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases, and diabetes. Results: Most countries surveyed (80%) reported healthcare delivery via a nationalized health service. It was found that 82% of the countries had set up advisory groups, but only 26% included a mental health professional. Most frequently, malignancy (68%) was prioritized followed by diabetes type 2 (62%) and type 1 (59%). Only nine countries (26%) prioritized mental health conditions. Conclusion: The spread of the coronavirus has exposed both the strengths and flaws of our healthcare systems. The most vulnerable groups suffered the most and were hit first and faced most challenges. These findings raise awareness that patients with mental illnesses have been overlooked in immunization campaigns. The range of their mortality, morbidity, and quality of life could have widened due to this delay.

Syrians' awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors and warning indicators: a descriptive cross-sectional study.

The awareness of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) contributes to the complications and fatality rates from these diseases among individuals; however, no previous study in Syria was conducted on this topic; thus, this study aims to assess Syrians' awareness of CVDs warning symptoms and risk factors. This online cross-sectional study was performed in Syria between the 1st and 25th of August 2022. The inclusion criteria for the sample were citizens of Syria over 18 who currently reside in Syria. The questionnaire included open- and closed-ended questions to assess the awareness of CVDs. A total of 1201 participants enrolled in the study with a response rate of 97.2%; more than half of the participants (61.4%) were aged 18-24. The most recognizable risk factors and warning signs when asking close-ended and open-ended questions were smoking (95.2%, 37.1%) and chest pain (87.8%, 24.8%), respectively. Overall knowledge scores for risk factors and warning signs were (61.5%). Regarding knowledge score of CVDs risk factors and warning signs, participants aged 45-54 scored higher than other age groups, and respondents with a university education level had a higher score than other educational levels (15.7 ± 0.3), (14.5 ± 0.1), respectively. Participants aged 45-54 have a higher probability of good knowledge of CVDs risk factors and warning signs than participants aged 18-24 (OR = 4.8, P value < 0.001), while participants living in the countryside were less likely to have good knowledge of CVDs risk factors and warning signs than city residents (OR = 0.6, P value < 0.05). According to our results, there is inadequate knowledge of the risk factors and warning signs of CVDs. Consequently, there is a greater need to raise CVD awareness and learning initiatives on the disease's risk factors and symptoms.

Pembrolizumab versus paclitaxel for previously treated, advanced gastro-esophageal junction cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: This paper aims to compare the effectiveness and safety of pembrolizumab and paclitaxel as a second line for patients with locally advanced gastroesophageal cancer. METHODS: By searching PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Ovid, any randomized clinical study comparing the effectiveness of paclitaxel and pembrolizumab as second-line therapy for advanced gastroesophageal cancer met the inclusion criteria. Only 3 of the 23 eligible studies that were fully reviewed were eligible for meta-analysis. RESULTS: The total number of patients included in the meta-analysis was 635 in the pembrolizumab group and 596 in the paclitaxel group. In terms of objective response rate, there was no statistically significant difference between pembrolizumab and paclitaxel (relative risk = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.80-1.50, P = .57). Furthermore, Pembrolizumab and paclitaxel did not differ in terms of the rate of partial response statistically significantly from one another, according to the overall analysis (relative risk = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.57-1.52, P-value = .78). CONCLUSION: There is no difference between pembrolizumab and paclitaxel in objective response rate. The objective response rate shows that doctors may consider either treatment for patients with advanced gastroesophageal cancer, given the time to response is comparable across therapies.

Dengue outbreak in the times of COVID-19 pandemic: Common myths associated with the dengue.

With the sharp rise in dengue cases across the state and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to pay attention to the common misbelieves among the population about dengue. It should be considered to actively spread awareness about the disease to bust the common myths associated with it. A few common myths include that it is a contagious disease, or it is a milder infection than COVID-19, so it's not taken more seriously, or that one cannot be coinfected with both dengue and COVID-19 at one time. We propose that accurate information about dengue can be spread through community education through televisions and social media to cater to the targeted audience. In addition to that, awareness campaigns in rural areas should be planned to help the masses understand the pathogenesis of the diseases and play a role in limiting the transmission.

Is there a need to be worried about the new monkeypox virus outbreak? A brief review on the monkeypox outbreak.

The Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is a double-stranded DNA virus related to the orthopoxvirus genus in the family of poxviridae. MPXV is endemic in central and Western African countries. There have been several outbreaks of MPXV in non-endemic countries since it was discovered in 1958 in lab monkeys. The current spread of MPXV is different from previous outbreaks, raising concerns about its potential to cause pandemics around the world. In order to reduce the spread of the disease, several countries imposed different preventive measures. The MPXV virus is believed to be transmitted either through wild animals, such as rodents or through infected individuals. Every year, Africa experiences a few thousand cases, mostly in the west and central regions. The number of cases outside Africa has previously been limited to a handful associated with travel to Africa or with the importation of infected animals. In this narrative review, we will discuss the clinical diagnosis, transmission, distribution, treatment, and prevention of the recent monkeypox outbreak around the world.

Suicide in the context of infodemic during COVID-19 pandemic: A global perspective.

Surges of technology use along with limited interpersonal interactions have led to the amplification and dissemination of false information during the COVID-19 pandemic. Infodemic refers to an overabundance of information that may have increased burden of covid-19 pandemic and mental disorder. Given the rise of suicide behavior during the pandemic, infodemic has been considered as a risk of suicidal behavior. The aim of this article is to address suicide in the context of infodemic and provide some strategy to adjust the impact of infodemic on mental health.

Prevalence of mental illness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea - A cross-sectional study from Kashmir, India.

Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of mental illness in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to examine whether patients with obstructive sleep apnea require screening for mental illness. Methods: We performed polysomnography studies of patients that were referred from various subspecialty clinics in Kashmir from Jan 2020-December 2020. using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI plus) scale to make a psychiatric diagnosis. We administered the General Health Questionnaire - 28 (GHQ - 28), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) to patients. Descriptive statistics and correlations were used for data analysis. Results: 182 patients underwent polysomnography, 85 (46.7%) of which were suffering from mental illness Based on the Apnea-Hypopnea Index score, 8 (4.39%) patients had mild, 35 (41.1%) had moderate and 42 (49.4%) had severe OSA. The mean GHQ -28 score was significantly higher in patients with Obstructive sleep apnea (p < 0.001) (11.34 ± 8.2) as compared to non-Obstructive sleep apnea patients (1.98 ± 4.38). Conclusions: This study demonstrates the increased prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with OSA. Therefore, we recommend timely screening for any mental health issues in patients with OSA and necessary interventions to address the issues, thus preventing mental health morbidities in patients with OSA this would help subsequently in an improved lifestyle.