ABSTRACT
Objective. Mental disorders cause significant amount of health disabilities that often lead to premature deaths. Depression, anxiety and schizophrenia are the disorders causing the highest amount of health disability. Data on numbers of people treated in outpatient psychiatric care provide information of mental health services utilization. General practitioners‘ knowledge on sex and age-specific prevalence of mental disorders in a population is important for early diagnostics and effective treatment. Material and Methods. We studied five diagnostic groups of mental disorders that have the highest prevalence in the population of clients of psychiatric outpatient services. Results. The mental disorders that are the most frequently treated in psychiatric otupatient clinics in the Slovak Republic are anxiety, depressive and organic disorders, schizophrenia and disorders caused by psychoactive substances. We observed a dicrease in prevalence in 2020, caused by overall dicrease of health care delivery apart from Covid-19 treatment. In 2021 we observed an increase in three most frequent disorders. Conclusions. Prevalence of mental disorders treated in outpatient psychiatric care is an indicator that describes only a portion of population's mental health. It is important to conduct a comprehensive epidemiologic study on the true prevalence of mental disorders in the population of the Slovak Republic and on the use of mental health care services. Such a study will identify the population groups in the highest risk of mental disorder onset or progression as well as barriers for care use. The study outcomes will serve as a basis for the launched psychiatric care reform (Tab. 2, Fig. 3, Ref. 21). Text in PDF www.lekarsky.herba.sk. © 2023, Lekarsky Obzor. All Rights Reserved.
ABSTRACT
As COVID-19 is spreading, national agencies need to monitor and track several metrics. Since we do not have perfect testing programs on the hand, one needs to develop an advanced sampling strategies for prevalence study, control and management. Here we introduce REDACS: Regional emergency-driven adaptive cluster sampling for effective COVID-19 management and control and justify its usage for COVID-19. We show its advantages over classical massive individual testing sampling plans. We also point out how regional and spatial heterogeneity underlines proper sampling. Fundamental importance of adaptive control parameters from emergency health stations and medical frontline is outlined. Since the Northern hemisphere entered Autumn and Winter season (this paper was originally submitted in November 2020), practical illustration from spatial heterogeneity of Chile (Southern hemisphere, which already experienced COVID-19 winter outbreak peak) is underlying the importance of proper regional heterogeneity of sampling plan. We explain the regional heterogeneity by microbiological backgrounds and link it to behavior of Lyapunov exponents. We also discuss screening by antigen tests from the perspective of "on the fly" biomarker validation, i.e., during the screening. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Stochastic Analysis & Applications is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)
ABSTRACT
Cellulose materials and related bioresources have been the first-line tools of defense of human health against COVID-19. The alfa cellulose, wood cellulose, and multilayer composite face masks have been used by billions, simultaneously with millions of tons of cellulosic bioresourcesbased medical specialty, hygiene, and packaging products used to deal with the global disaster. This editorial considers recently available facts and disputes some statements that have appeared in the media during the year 2020 concerning properties and the risks of the masks. According to recent findings, the carbon dioxide concentration increases by 2.3 to 4.3 times inside of the mask, compared to ambient air, and therefore we suppose that there will be also a concentration increase of larger chemical compounds, toxins, volatile organic compounds (VOC), and particles. These quantities should be measured, and the data used in further research aimed at quality improvement.