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The horticulture can positively affect the well-being of older people, counteracting physical and cognitive decline and improving the overall quality of life. Modern technologies provide valuable support to encourage such activities and promote an active lifestyle. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of community horticultural activities, supported by a digital platform, in a mixed sample of participants aged over 60 years in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants took part in a six-month study, divided into two periods. During the first three months, participants just completed a set of questionnaires investigating the following psychological variables: self-esteem, loneliness, depression, quality of life, affects, social support and cognitive functioning. In the following three months, participants were involved in a digital-supported horticulture program, which was followed by the detection of the same psychological variables. The effects of horticulture were evaluated by comparing surveys responses at the two timepoints. The results show an improvement in the quality of life, in cognitive functions and, to a lesser extent, in subjective well-being of participants. Participants who are married or cohabiting generally show a better quality of life, and after intervention are less likely to express negative emotional states. There was no evidence of depression. Digitally assisted horticulture can improve the quality of life of the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Copyright © FrancoAngeli.
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Background: Acute myocarditis (AM) is thought to be a rare cardiovascular complication of COVID-19, although minimal data are available beyond case reports. We aim to report the prevalence, baseline characteristics, in-hospital management, and outcomes for patients with COVID-19-associated AM on the basis of a retrospective cohort from 23 hospitals in the United States and Europe. Method(s): A total of 112 patients with suspected AM from 56963 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were evaluated between February 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021. Inclusion criteria were hospitalization for COVID-19 and a diagnosis of AM on the basis of endomyocardial biopsy or increased troponin level plus typical signs of AM on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. We identified 97 patients with possible AM, and among them, 54 patients with definite/probable AM supported by endomyocardial biopsy in 17 (31.5%) patients or magnetic resonance imaging in 50 (92.6%). We analyzed patient characteristics, treatments, and outcomes among all COVID-19-associated AM. Result(s): AM prevalence among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 was 2.4 per 1000 hospitalizations considering definite/probable and 4.1 per 1000 considering also possible AM. The median age of definite/probable cases was 38 years, and 38.9% were female. On admission, chest pain and dyspnea were the most frequent symptoms (55.5% and 53.7%, respectively). Thirty-one cases (57.4%) occurred in the absence of COVID-19-associated pneumonia. Twenty- one (38.9%) had a fulminant presentation requiring inotropic support or temporary mechanical circulatory support. The composite of in-hospital mortality or temporary mechanical circulatory support occurred in 20.4%. At 120 days, estimated mortality was 6.6%, 15.1% in patients with associated pneumonia versus 0% in patients without pneumonia (P=0.044). During hospitalization, left ventricular ejection fraction, assessed by echocardiography, improved from a median of 40% on admission to 55% at discharge (n=47;P<0.0001) similarly in patients with or without pneumonia. Corticosteroids were frequently administered (55.5%). Conclusion(s): AM occurrence is estimated between 2.4 and 4.1 out of 1000 patients hospitalized for COVID-19. The majority of AM occurs in the absence of pneumonia and is often complicated by hemodynamic instability. AM is a rare complication in patients hospitalized for COVID-19, with an outcome that differs on the basis of the presence of concomitant pneumonia.
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Background and aim: In the beginning of 2020 COVID-19 pandemic rapidly affected every country and overwhelmed many healthcare systems. In 2020 in northern Italy, the first western country to be affected, the prevalence was high and it brought a burden beyond the capacity of hospitals to manage, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs) [1]. This experience has shown that intensive care and ventilator support may be needed for extended durations. Patients experience consequences of severe respiratory illness and post-intensive care illness. Endoscopic procedures, such as endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder transmural drainage (EUSGBD), can reduce surgical interventions, intensive care admissions, and longterm complications. In accordance with Tokyo guidelines, laparoscopic surgical cholecystectomy is the best treatment for acute cholecystitis (AC). Alternatives for high-risk patients must be considered, since morbidity and mortality are not negligible, and the traditional alternative is percutaneous trans-hepatic gallbladder drainage. EUS-GBD is efficient and safe, with a low rate of adverse events. A 2016 systematic review by Anderloni and others that evaluated stent outcomes showed pooled technical and clinical success rates in 98.6% and 94.4% of cases, respectively. Materials and methods: A 54-year-old man who had been admitted to a rehabilitation unit after prolonged ICU hospitalization for severe COVID-19 pneumonia, was referred to the surgical unit for AC and sepsis. Medical therapy could not improve his condition, and he rapidly worsened. Results: Due to his recent ICU admission, further intubation was strongly discouraged. Following multidisciplinary evaluation, he was moved to the endoscopy suite for drainage. EUS-GBD was achieved using a 10x15-mm electrocautery-enhanced lumen-apposing metal stent (Video 1). Up to now his follow-up is regular and after prolonged rehabilitation he can be considered for elective surgery. Conclusions: The patient didn't experience any symptom related to recurrent cholecystitis nor long term complications. EUS-GBD is a valuable option in order to reduce surgical interventions and intensive-care admissions. The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted further use of interventional endoscopic ultrasound as an alternative to surgery.
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During the first phase of Italy’s lockdown, imposed after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte’s press conferences and live streams have been pervasive and constant. They have been, specifically, the main mean through which the Prime Minister informed Italians about the ever-changing decree-laws and guidelines concerning Italy’s lockdown. Drawing upon literature regarding communication through media, the study was aimed to understand how interpersonal attraction towards the Prime Minister could influence propinquity perceived during his press conferences/live streams, and how this dimension could, in turn, influence Italians’ opinions about the Prime Minister himself, the government in office, and the effectiveness of containment measures. Results showed that perceived propinquity was fostered by both task attraction and social attraction towards the Prime Minister. Higher perceived propinquity resulted in a positive change of opinion about the Prime Minister himself which, in turn, fostered both a positive change of opinion about the Government in office and the perceived effectiveness of imposed rules and guidelines. Implications of the present work are discussed. © 2020 Sapienza Universita Editrice. All rights reserved.