Novel social distancing detector using local binary pattern in comparison with principal component analysis to improve accuracy

The objective is to detect Novel Social Distancing using Local Binary Pattern (LBP) in comparison with Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Social Distance deduction is performed using Local Binary Pattern(N=20) and Principal Component Analysis(N=20) algorithms. Google AI open Images dataset is used for image detection. Dataset contains more than 10,000 images. Accuracy of Principal Component Analysis is 89.8% and Local Binary Pattern is 93.9%. There exists a statistical significant difference between LBP and PCA with (p<0.05). Local Binary Pattern appears to perform significantly better than Principal Component Analysis for Social Distancing Detection. © 2023 Author(s).

Analysis of social and psychological factors influencing the treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease under the regular epidemic prevention and control of coronavirus disease 2019.

Objective To explore the sociodemographic and psychological factors influencing the continuity of treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease under the regular epidemic prevention and control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods A total of 277 patients with chronic kidney disease who were admitted to Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University) from Apr. 2020 to Mar. 2021 were enrolled and divided into 3 groups: non-dialysis group (n=102), hemodialysis (HD) group (n=108), and peritoneal dialysis (PD) group (n=67). All patients were investigated by online and offline questionnaires, including self-designed basic situation questionnaire, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and self-rating depression scale (SDS). The general sociodemographic data, anxiety and depression of the 3 groups were compared, and the influence of sociodemographic and psychological factors on the interruption or delay of treatment was analyzed by binary logistic regression model. Results There were significant differences in age distribution, marital status, occupation, medical insurance type, caregiver type, whether there was an urgent need for hospitalization and whether treatment was delayed or interrupted among the 3 groups (all P0.05). The average SAS score of 65 PD patients was 38.15+/-15.83, including 53 (81.5%) patients without anxiety, 7 (10.8%) patients with mild anxiety, and 5 (7.7%) patients with moderate to severe anxiety. The average SAS score of 104 patients in the HD group was 36.86+/-14.03, including 81 (77.9%) patients without anxiety, 18 (17.3%) patients with mild anxiety, and 5 (4.8%) patients with moderate to severe anxiety. There were no significant differences in the mean score of SAS or anxiety severity grading between the 2 groups (both P0.05). The mean SDS scores of 65 PD patients were 53.42+/-13.30, including 22 (33.8%) patients without depression, 21 (32.3%) patients with mild depression, and 22 (33.8%) patients with moderate to severe depression. The mean SDS scores of 104 patients in the HD group were 50.79+/-10.76, including 36 (34.6%) patients without depression, 56 (53.8%) patients with mild depression, and 12 (11.6%) patients with moderate to severe depression. There were no significant differences in mean SDS scores or depression severity grading between the 2 groups (both P0.05). The results of intra-group comparison showed that the incidence and severity of depression were higher than those of anxiety in both groups. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that high school education level (odds ratio OR=5.618, 95% confidence interval CI) 2.136-14.776, P0.01), and unmarried (OR=6.916, 95% CI 1.441-33.185, P=0.016), divorced (OR= 5.588, 95% CI 1.442-21.664, P=0.013), urgent need for hospitalization (OR=8.655, 95% CI 3.847-19.476, P0.01) could positively promote the continuity of treatment in maintenance dialysis patients under the regular epidemic prevention and control of COVID-19. In the non-dialysis group, no sociodemographic and psychological factors were found to be associated with the interruption or delay of treatment (P0.05). Conclusion Education, marital status, and urgent need for hospitalization are correlated with the continuity of treatment in patients with chronic kidney disease on maintenance dialysis.Copyright © 2022, Second Military Medical University Press. All rights reserved.

Large-Scale Analysis of New Employee Network Dynamics

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digital transformations across industries, but also introduced new challenges into workplaces, including the difficulties of effectively socializing with colleagues when working remotely. This challenge is exacerbated for new employees who need to develop workplace networks from the outset. In this paper, by analyzing a large-scale telemetry dataset of more than 10,000 Microsoft employees who joined the company in the first three months of 2022, we describe how new employees interact and telecommute with their colleagues during their "onboarding"period. Our results reveal that although new hires are gradually expanding networks over time, there still exists significant gaps between their network statistics and those of tenured employees even after the six-month onboarding phase. We also observe that heterogeneity exists among new employees in how their networks change over time, where employees whose job tasks do not necessarily require extensive and diverse connections could be at a disadvantaged position in this onboarding process. By investigating how web-based people recommendations in organizational knowledge base facilitate new employees naturally expand their networks, we also demonstrate the potential of web-based applications for addressing the aforementioned socialization challenges. Altogether, our findings provide insights on new employee network dynamics in remote and hybrid work environments, which may help guide organizational leaders and web application developers on quantifying and improving the socialization experiences of new employees in digital workplaces. © 2023 ACM.

Enabling mRNA medicine for brain tumors

mRNA is a new class of drugs that has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of brain tumors. Thanks to the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and numerous therapy-based clinical trials, it is now clear that lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are a clinically viable means to deliver RNA therapeutics. However, LNP-mediated mRNA delivery to brain tumors remains elusive. Over the past decade, numerous studies have shown that tumor cells communicate with each other via small extracellular vesicles, which are around 100 nm in diameter and consist of lipid bilayer membrane similar to synthetic lipidbased nanocarriers. We hypothesized that rationally designed LNPs based on extracellular vesicle mimicry would enable efficient delivery of RNA therapeutics to brain tumors without undue toxicity. We synthesized LNPs using four components similar to the formulation used in the mRNA COVID19 vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer): ionizable lipid, cholesterol, helper lipid and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-lipid. For the in vitro screen, we tested ten classes of helper lipids based on their abundance in extracellular vesicle membranes, commercial availability, and large-scale production feasibility while keeping rest of the LNP components unchanged. The transfection kinetics of GFP mRNA encapsulated in LNPs and doped with 16 mol% of helper lipids was tested using GL261, U87 and SIM-A9 cell lines. Several LNP formations resulted in stable transfection (upto 5 days) of GFP mRNA in all the cell lines tested in vitro. The successful LNP candidates (enabling >80% transfection efficacy) were then tested in vivo to deliver luciferase mRNA to brain tumors via intrathecal administration in a syngeneic glioblastoma (GBM) mouse model, which confirmed luciferase expression in brain tumors in the cortex. LNPs were then tested to deliver Cre recombinase mRNA in syngeneic GBM mouse model genetically modified to express tdTomato under LoxP marker cassette that enabled identification of LNP targeted cells. mRNA was successfully delivered to tumor cells (70-80% transfected) and a range of different cells in the tumor microenvironment, including tumor-associated macrophages (80-90% transfected), neurons (31- 40% transfected), neural stem cells (39-62% transfected), oligodendrocytes (70-80% transfected) and astrocytes (44-76% transfected). Then, LNP formulations were assessed for delivering Cas9 mRNA and CD81 sgRNA (model protein) in murine syngeneic GBM model to enable gene editing in brain tumor cells. Sanger sequencing showed that CRISPR-Cas9 editing was successful in ~94% of brain tumor cells in vivo. In conclusion, we have developed a library of safe LNPs that can transfect GBM cells in vivo with high efficacy. This technology can potentially be used to develop novel mRNA therapies for GBM by delivering single or multiple mRNAs and holds great potential as a tool to study brain tumor biology.

Building back better: Granular energy technologies in green recovery funding programs

Summary Granular energy technologies with smaller unit sizes and costs deploy faster, create more jobs, and distribute benefits more widely than lumpy large-scale alternatives. These characteristics of granularity align with the aims of fiscal stimulus in response to COVID-19. We analyze the technological granularity of 93 green recovery funding programs in France, Germany, South Korea, and the UK that target £72.9 billion for low-carbon energy technologies and infrastructures across five emissions-intensive sectors. We find that South Korea's "New Deal” program is the most technologically granular with strong weighting toward distributed renewables, smart technologies, electric vehicle charge points, and other relatively low unit cost technologies that are quick to deploy. The UK has the least granular portfolio, concentrating large amounts of public money on small numbers of mega-scale energy projects with high implementation risks. We demonstrate how technological granularity has multiple desirable characteristics of green recovery: jobs, speed, and distributed benefits.

Rebozo Technique Effectively Reduces Maternal Pain during Childbirth Stage 1 Active Phase

Background: Pain is the main complaint felt by mothers during childbirth. Pain management can be done with non-pharma-cological techniques, one of which is using the Rebozo technique. Objective(s): This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the rebozo technique for active phase 1 labour pain in primipa-rous women. Method(s): The study used a quasi-experimental design with a pretest and posttest control group. An accidental sampling technique divided a sample of 30 people into control and intervention groups. The intervention group received Rebozo therapy, a therapy using a traditional cloth wrapped around the pelvis and buttocks with the mother kneeling, then shaking it slowly. The pain was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), ranging from 0-10. Bivariate test using Wilcoxon. Result(s): The majority of respondents were aged 21-29 years (56.7%), had high school education (83.3%) and were house-wives (50%). The majority of the control group showed moderate pain (53.3%), while the intervention group showed severe (60%). The reduction in pain in the intervention group was more significant than in the control group (2.27 > 0.73). Both the control group and the intervention group showed p < 0.001. Conclusion(s): The Rebozo technique effectively reduces labour pain in the active phase of the first stage in primiparous women. This technique is easy and inexpensive, so it can be an option for non-pharmacological therapy to treat labour pain.Copyright © 2023 Japan University of Health Sciences.

Impact of the new corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic on climateric women's health: websurvey

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted society: causing the collapse of health systems around the world, and also had a significant impact on the economy, personal care, mental health and the quality of life of the population. Few studies have been done about pandemic and the climacteric population, and the impact on quality of life and health. Our objective was to Investigate changes in the health and health care of climacteric women residing in Brazil during the pandemic period. Cross-sectional study with climacteric women aged between 40 and 70 years, residing in Brazil. The evaluation was carried out using a Google Docs electronic form with questions related to sociodemographic, clinical, gynecological data, treatments, access to health services and consultations, as well as changes in behavior. The Menopause Rating Scale - MRS was applied to assess climacteric symptoms, validated for Portuguese. Result(s): 419 women answered the questionnaire. More than 45% were between 51 and 60 years of age, 56.6% being married and residing in Brazilian capitals. 60% of participants reported weight gain during the pandemic. 50.8% of participants reported a decrease in the weekly practice of physical activity More than 80% reported worsening mental health during this period, and 66.1% had a change in their sleep pattern. More than half reported having difficulty accessing gynecological consultations. Women living in capital cities reported a greater increase in alcohol consumption (p=0.002). Food intake increased for 54.9%;the category of civil servant was associated with a significant increase in consumption in relation to other professions (p=0.038). Women whose family incomes changed during the pandemic had a higher prevalence of weight gain (p=0.033) and also had a higher occurrence of changes in sleep quality (72.6% vs. 61.5%;p=0.018). Women with a high school education had a higher occurrence of alterations in personal and health care outcomes (p<0.001). Conclusion(s): We observed an important reduction in the health care of climacteric women during the pandemic period. Changes in life habits, such as increased food consumption and reduced physical activity, were quite prevalent. There was a deterioration in mental health, with a high prevalence of anxiety symptoms and changes in sleep quality. Despite the attenuation of the pandemic, attention should be given to the health care of this population, as the changes may have repercussions for many years.Copyright © 2023

Virtual learning before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study of Pharmacy students

Background It is a challenge for pharmacy courses worldwide to combine theoretical knowledge with practical skills to equip students for their future practice. Computer-based simulation offers a way of building a bridge between theory and practice. In recent years, digital simulation has expanded rapidly as a new technique of virtual learning. The digital platform ''Pharmacy Simulator'' proposes computer-based encounters with virtual patients to train clinical and communication skills in a community pharmacy setting. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, while students were digitally resilient and endured the endless challenges of online lectures, many were dealing with Zoom and screen fatigue. Purpose To investigate pharmacy students' acceptance of Pharmacy Simulator before and during a pandemic situation. This focuses on students' self-assessment and confidence in counselling after playing the scenarios on Pharmacy Simulator. Method Two cohorts of Master of Pharmacy students at The University of Western Australia played two scenarios on Pharmacy Simulator in 2019 (anaphylaxis and salbutamol) and 2021 (anaphylaxis and vaccination). A mixed-method analysis was performed with data from (i) qualitative semi-structured interviews carried out in 2019 pertaining to participants' acceptance of Pharmacy Simulator and in 2021 (ii) a questionnaire with 25 items derived from the interviews. The interviews were transcribed verbatim into electronic format with the data management assistance MAXQDA and analyzed inductively using the Framework Method. Questionnaire responses were analyzed in Microsoft Excel using descriptive statistics. Openended questions were evaluated inductively. Findings Data were collected from 20 interviews and 31 answered questionnaires. In 2019, participants reported that Pharmacy Simulator was a fun, engaging, and straightforward learning tool and, therefore, user-friendly. They reported the feedback at the end of the session to be most valuable. The platform was perceived to fill the gap between the theory from lectures and community pharmacy practice. In 2021, participants ''agreed'' (median: 4, on a 5-point Likert scale) with seven statements about Pharmacy Simulator's usability, such as it being a helpful tool for acquiring new knowledge. Participants' confidence in counselling regarding the scenario topics improved. One participant stated, ''It taught me more through trial and error''. Conclusion Pharmacy students reported similar acceptance levels of Pharmacy Simulator before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of simulation during virtual patient encounters seems to facilitate the transfer from theory to practice, independently of learning conditions that were predominantly screen-based.

Child, adolescent, and parent mental health in general population during a year of COVID-19 pandemic in belgium: a cross-sectional study

Background: This study aims to evaluate the mental health status of children, adolescents and their parents during the first year of COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium. Method(s): Analysis compared results before and during the second national lockdown, which started on November 2nd 2020. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between May 2020 and April 2021. Result(s): Two hundred and eighteen adults and 273 children fully completed the survey. Almost one in five children (17.9%) presented moderate-to-severe scores of depression. Adolescents presented a higher level of depression than children (p = 0.007). The rate of moderate-to-severe depression scores (10.8% to 21%, p = 0.007) and internalized symptoms increased during the second lockdown (p < 0.001). Parents' depression (p < 0.001) and anxiety (p = 0.027) levels also increased during the second lockdown. Logistic regression showed that the use of psychotropic medication in parents and parents' depression scores were risk factors for children to have worse depression scores. Conclusion(s): The second lockdown appears to worsen the effects of the pandemic on children's and parents' mental health. There is a need to implement specific interventions targeting both children/adolescents and their parents to support them during lockdown periods and improve mental health outcomes.Copyright © 2022, The Author(s).

Trauma-focused therapy in early intervention for psychosis settings: Results of a feasibility RCT of 'EMDR for psychosis'

Aims: Trauma is particularly prevalent amongst Early Intervention (EI) patients and is associated with adverse clinical and prognostic outcomes. To determine the feasibility of a large-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an 'EMDR for psychosis' intervention for trauma survivors with active psychotic symptoms supported by EI services, we conducted a single-blind RCT comparing 16 sessions of EMDRp + TAU versus TAU only. Method(s): EMDRp therapy and trial assessments were completed both in-person and remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, and key feasibility outcomes (recruitment & retention, therapy attendance/ engagement, adherence to EMPRp treatment protocol, and the 'promise of efficacy' of EMDRp on relevant clinical outcomes) were examined at 6- and 12-month post-randomization assessments. Results and Conclusion(s): 60 participants (100% of the recruitment target) received TAU or EMDR + TAU. The feasibility criteria examined in this trial were fully met, and EMDRp was associated with promising signals of efficacy on a range of valuable post-treatment outcomes, including improved psychotic symptoms (PANSS), subjective recovery (QPR), post-traumatic symptoms (PCL-5;ITQ), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7) and general health status (EQ-5D-VAS) at the 6-month assessment. Signals of efficacy at 12-month were less pronounced, but remained robust for trauma symptoms and general health status. The findings will be discussed with relevance to future clinical trials of trauma-focused therapy in clients with early psychosis, and the provision of more tailored trauma therapies for EI service users.

Care and domestic work through crises. Juggling with space and time in athens

The paper discusses changing conditions of care and domestic work in Greece in the context of the ongoing health crisis, which follows a long period of successive and simultaneous crises (financial, social, pandemic, refugee, war) and extreme neoliberal policies implemented to control them. The focus is on the burden that women (have to) assume in conjunctures which reinstate care (and domestic work) as "women's work”, with particular emphasis in the periods of "lockdown” adopted by the government in order to control the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. The general overview is supported by research in Athens and material from interviews with women who juggle with space and time as they struggle to care for the self and for others while adhering to personal goals and aspirations, as well as to the "social benefits” of previous decades of relative prosperity. © 2023, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. All rights reserved.

Assessment of palliative approach in the pain management in endodontic emergencies during Covid-19 outbreak: Retrospective cohort study

Aim: During the coronavirus disease, a palliative approach was recommended for the management of endodontic emergencies. This retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of dexamethasone or ibuprofen-acetaminophen combination for pain management in endodontic emergencies. Material(s) and Method(s): One hundred and eight records of patients who presented to the emergency department with dental pain were evaluated retrospectively. Since interventional procedures were not performed during the pandemic period, Specific analgesics/antibiotics for the management of pain were preferred. A follow-up protocol with a questionnaire was developed to observe the effectiveness of palliative treatment and make changes if necessary. All participants received a questionnaire to rate the pain levels 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, and 72 hours after taking the drug. All data were collected from the patient file and assessed. After inclusion and exclusion criteria, 32 patients were included (n = 19, ibuprofen + acetaminophen;n = 13, dexamethasone). Data were analyzed using the chi-square test (P = 0.05). Result(s): In both groups, a significant decrease in pain was experienced immediately after medication and at 6, 12, and 18 hours, with no significant difference (P >.05). However, dexamethasone (Group II) resulted in lower pain levels than ibuprofen\acetaminophen (Group I) at 24 and 48 hours (P <.05) Discussion: Both dexamethasone and ibuprofen-acetaminophen can be good palliative choices in endodontic emergencies in pandemic conditions. However, at 24 and 48 hours, dexamethasone resulted in lower pain levels.Copyright © 2022, Derman Medical Publishing. All rights reserved.

Assessment of the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of individuals presenting to family medicine polyclinics for COVID-19 and influenza vaccines: a study in a Turkish population

BACKGROUND: Vaccines are one of the most important weapons in protection against diseases, especially pandemics lacking available treatment. The objective of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of individuals presenting to family medicine polyclinics for COVID-19 and influenza vaccines. METHOD(S): The cross-sectional descriptive study comprised healthy individuals who presented to family medicine polyclinics in Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkiye between 10 December 2020 and 31 January 2021. Data on participants' knowledge and attitudes for COVID-19 and influenza vaccines were collected through questionnaire surveys. In total, 521 individuals aged older than 18 years were included in the study. RESULT(S): If a COVID-19 vaccine were available, 34.4% (N.=179) of respondents would be vaccinated, and 35.3% (N.=184) of respondents would not consider vaccination. Of those considering COVID-19 vaccination, 55.3% (N.=99) of respondents deemed the vaccine an effective way of providing protection against the virus. Increased willingness to have the COVID-19 vaccine was associated with the following factors: considering the influenza vaccine an effective protection method (P<0.001), a history of influenza vaccination (P=0.003), and concern about COVID-19 related death rates (P=0.008). CONCLUSION(S): The most common reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and refusal were fear of vaccine-related side effects and a lack of perceived research evidence on the vaccine. Having a positive view of the influenza vaccine had a positive impact on attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine.Copyright © 2022 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA.

The Study of the Correlation Betweenthe on the Diet, Sleep Quality and Perceived Stress among College Students in Taichung during the COVID-19 Pandemic Distance Learning.

Research indicates the COVID-19 epidemic changes people's health and diet, However, this has not yet been well discussed in Taiwan, especially in college students. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of distance learning on college students' dietary patterns, sleep quality and perception of stress during the COVID-19 epidemic in Taiwan. 265 college students from a university in Taichung were recruited in this study. The self-administered online questionnaire was used to investigate the changes in eating behavior, sleep quality, and perception of stress before and one month after distance learning, and further analyzed the relationship among them. The questionnaire contains demographic information, dietary questionnaires (including six categories of food intake behaviors, convenience food intake frequency), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Perceived Stress Scale (Chinese 14-item PSS). The results showed that the proportion of college students to meet the recommended Taiwan Dietary Guidelines amount in vegetables (21.9%), fruits (27.5%), meats and dairy products (15.8%), and nuts and seeds (11.3%) were lower during distance learning. The frequency of convenient food intake was lower during distance learning (13.31 +/- 6.10 points;never to occasionally). During the distance learning period, there was a significant negative correlation between dietary patterns and sleep quality (r = -0.160, p = 0.009), It shows that college students with higher dietary pattern scores have better sleep quality. During the distance learning period, there was a significant positive correlation between sleep quality and perceived stress (r = 0.320, p < 0.001), It shows that college students with higher levels of stress had poorer sleep quality. This study found that the lower the perceived stress of college students, the better their diet and sleep quality;conversely, the higher the perceived stress, the worse their diet and sleep quality. Studies have shown that a healthy, balanced diet can reduce the risk of getting various diseases. Therefore, in the post-epidemic era, it is recommended that schools increase the accessibility and availability of vegetables, fruits, dairy products, nuts and seeds on campus to make it easier for teachers and students to obtain such healthy food in order to achieve the goal of promoting balanced diet.Copyright © 2022 Nutrition Society in Taipei. All rights reserved.

Cardiometabolic and psychocognitive features of the post-COVID period in patients with atrial fibrillation.

The number of people with long-term consequences of COVID-19 is increasing worldwide. The long-term prognosis for patients remains poorly understood. Objective. To study cardiometabolic and psychocognitive features in comorbid elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), de-pending on the presence of post-COVID syndrome (PCS). Material and methods. The observational analytical cohort study included 223 patients with AF and comorbidity (coronary artery disease, hypertension, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus) aged 60-74, who were divided into two groups: group 1 included 123 patients without COVID-19 and group 2 included 110 patients with a history of COVID-19 and the presence of PCS. The study evaluated laboratory and instrumental tests, and a general clinical study assessing psychocognitive disorders using the SPMSQ and HADS questionnaires was conducted. Results and discussion. In COVID-19 survivors, compared with patients of group 1, there were more pronounced atherogenic changes in total cholesterol (TC) (p=0.003), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p<0.001), and triglycerides (p=0.011). Lower dia-stolic blood pressure was found in COVID-19 survivors (p<0.001). In addition, patients in group 2 had higher median pulse pressure (p<0.001) and heart rate (p<0.001). In group 2 patients, a larger ascending aorta diameter was observed (p<0.001). The anx-iety-depressive syndrome was more common in COVID-19 survivors with comorbidities, and a statistically significant difference was found in clinical anxiety (24%, p=0.041) and subclinical depression (21%, p=0.015). When assessing cognitive function, mod-erate cognitive impairment was detected in 22% (p=0.005) of patients with PCS and severe cognitive impairment in 2% (p=0.007). Conclusion. In comorbid elderly patients with the post-COVID syndrome, a high prevalence of psychocognitive disorders and adverse cardiometabolic changes were observed, supporting the need for long-term monitoring of the general clinical condition and psychocognitive status of COVID-19 survivors.Copyright © 2023, Media Sphera Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Productive Aging During COVID-19 - Lessons from WH SeniorLink

Introduction: According to the National Academies of Science, Medicine, and Engineering, even before the pandemic, 24% of Americans 65+ were considered socially isolated, and 43% of adults 60+ were lonely. Both experiences are associated with serious physical and mental health problems, including increased risks of dementia, stroke, depression, and suicidal ideation. As older adults engage in stricter social distancing to protect themselves from COVID-19, their risk of social isolation and loneliness is heightened. According to research by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 46% of adults 65+ reported that the worry and stress caused by pandemic has had a negative impact on their mental health. In order to combat this unique challenge, we must employ innovative, flexible solutions that adapt to the shifting circumstances and an uncertain future. Method(s): WH SeniorLink has developed an innovative program for integrating friendly visiting, mutual aid, needs assessment and case management, all delivered remotely by trained volunteers. The program was conceived, developed and executed since the beginning of COVID-19 restrictions and has grown to become a fully fledged 501(c)(3) organization, and is a model of flexible service delivery during this unusual time. The program operates through a volunteerism-mutual aid model. Volunteers are trained using online modules and quizzes and supervised by a licensed social worker, including training on needs and risk assessment. Volunteers are then matched with an older adult with similar interests and language preferences to provide friendly weekly phone calls, care packages and letters. Older adults with higher needs are referred to WH SeniorLink's service navigation program which operates using the online platform, Apricot, and is staffed by masters level social work interns and supervised by licensed social workers. Service navigation involves conducting comprehensive assessments and identifying resources and referrals. Older adults who express interest are also paired with each other to provide social support. Barriers to program development have included identifying consistent funding sources and volunteer attrition. Result(s): Data shows 169% growth in contacts made with older adults between May and October, with 2.5 times more older adults served in November than in May. Initial responses to the Dejong Gierveld Loneliness Scale and qualitative data collection reflect that older adults continue to feel lonely and isolated in the midst of the pandemic, but that WH SeniorLink is helping. By placing emphasis on empowering older adults to form sustained relationships with volunteers and their peers, WH SeniorLink encourages reciprocal relationships through which older adult participants are valued for their experiences and contributions. Conclusion(s): The mission of WH SeniorLink is to strengthen community ties and improve health outcomes among older New Yorkers by providing social-emotional support and connection to essential services. WH SeniorLink was founded during the COVID-19 pandemic, in response to the myriad of new challenges faced by older adults including greater risk of social isolation and increased disconnection from essential services. However, we recognize that the pandemic has only exacerbated a problem that began long before, and older adults are at risk of being left behind in the coming months and beyond. Funding(s): WH SeniorLink is funded by a starter grant from Columbia School of Social Work and subsequent crowdfunded donations.Copyright © 2021

Persistent chemosensory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients: a deep dive into the psychophysical and genetic characterisation of an Italian cohort

Background/Objectives: Chemosensory dysfunction is a hallmark of SARS-CoV-2 infection;nevertheless, the genetic factors predisposing to long-term smell and taste loss are still unknown. This study aims to identify candidate genes possibly involved in persistent smell/taste loss through Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis of a large cohort of 130 fully characterised Italian individuals, previously diagnosed with COVID-19. Method(s): DNA of all analysed patients was used to perform WGS analysis, and a detailed personal anamnesis was collected. Moreover, orthonasal function was assessed through the extended Sniffin' Sticks test, retronasal function was tested with 20 powdered tasteless aromas, and taste was determined with validated Taste Strips. Self-reported smell and taste alterations were assessed via Visual Analog Scales plus questionnaires. Result(s): The clinical evaluation allowed to classify the patients in two groups: 88 cases affected by persistent smell dysfunction (median age, 49) and 42 controls (median age, 51). Among cases, 26.1% (n = 23) were functionally anosmic and 73.9% (n = 65) were hyposmic. Within cases, 77 underwent the taste strip test: 53.2% (n = 41) presented hypogeusia and 46.8% (n = 36) were normogeusic. Preliminary WGS results on a first subset of 76 samples confirmed the important role of UGT2A1 gene, previously described as involved in smell loss. Interestingly, we identified a nonsense variant (rs111696697, MAF 0.046) significantly associated with anosmia in males (p-value: 0.0183). Conclusion(s): Here, for the first time a large cohort of patients, fully characterised through a comprehensive psychophysical evaluation of smell and taste, have been analysed to better define the genetic bases of COVID-19-related persistent chemosensory dysfunction.

COVID-19 pandemic and comfort food consumption based on gender in a Brazilian sample: which variables are related to this behavior?

PurposeThis study aims to identify comfort food (CF) consumption and its associated factors during the pandemic period. The study also involves an online survey conducted five months after the quarantine started in Brazil. Design/methodology/approachData on lifestyle, eating habits and anthropometric data were collected before and during the pandemic, and the differences in these habits were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were performed to identify predictors of CF consumption by gender. FindingsA total of 1,363 individuals were included in the sample, with a median age of 31 years old, of whom 80.3% were women. Since individuals were free to respond about the food consumed without predetermined categories, it was possible to carry out a faithful assessment of the occurrence of this behavior. At the same time, allowing the subjectivity and symbolism inherent to the concept of CF to be embraced. CF consumption was present for 54%, with "sweets" being the most mentioned group by both genders. The factors associated with CF consumption in women during the pandemic were increased snacking, increased bread, candies and alcoholic beverage intake, increased time spent at work, worsened sleep quality, reduced meals, perceived stress (PS), emotional eating (EE), age and increased frequency of meat intake. In men, the predictors for CF consumption were remote full-time work/study, PS, EE and early waking time. For both genders, CF consumption during the pandemic period was associated with PS and EE. Originality/valueThis study provides an important overview of the possible contributions of the pandemic on behaviors and food choices related to the consumption of CF in Brazilians. This information is valuable to support further studies to investigate and treat the impacts of the pandemic on lifestyle, eating habits and behavior, mental health and other factors in the postpandemic period.

Factors Influencing Work Satisfaction and Compliance of Using Ppe among Shop Assistants during Covid-19

Objectives: The objectives of the study was to assess the level of work satisfaction, assess compliance of using PPE among shop assistants during COVID-19 and to find the factors influencing work satisfaction. Method(s): A quantitative approach with descriptive design was used for the study. Eighty samples were selected by using convenient sampling technique. The study was conducted in 4 districts of Kerala through online platform as well as through offline mediums. Result(s): From the study, it is evident that majority of the subjects (55%) were satisfied with their work at the time of COVID-19 and more than half (55%) of the samples have enough compliance with the use of PPE and only 7.5% have less compliance with the use of PPE. Demographic variables such age, relationship status, and work experience were found to be statically significant (p<0.05) with work satisfaction, and other variables did not have a significant association. Conclusion(s): This study provides a baseline for assessing the level of work satisfaction and compliance of PPE among shop assistants in selected areas. Periodic reinforcements, proper education, availability and trainings on the use of PPE can reduce the spread of Corona Virus and improve PPE compliance to an extend. Good working environment support from family and good rapport with colleagues can help to improve work satisfaction .Copyright © 2023 The Authors.

Glucosaminylmuramyl dipeptide efficacy in post-COVID-19 patient rehabilitation treatment.

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered people's lifestyles around the world. Prevention of recurrent episodes of the disease and mitigation of its consequences are especially associated with effective post-COVID-19 rehabilitation in patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of the drug Likopid (glucosaminylmuramyl dipeptide, GMDP) for post-COVID-19 rehabilitation in patients. Material and methods. Patients who recovered from mild to moderate COVID-19 (n=60, mean age 54+/- 11.7 years) were randomized into the observation group (n=30, 15 men and 15 women) who received 2 courses of Licopid (1 mg twice a day) and the comparison group (n=30, 15 men and 15 women). Analysis of the phenotypic and functional characteristics of the innate immune cellular factors was carried out before the start of immunomodulatory therapy, immediately after the end of the course, and also after 6 months observations. In order to assess the quality of life of all patients, we used the SF-36 Health Status Survey and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaires. Results. During assessing the effect of immunomodulatory therapy on the parameters of innate immunity of patients at the stage of rehabilitation after COVID-19, an increase in the protective cytolytic activity of CD16+ and CD8+Gr+ cells, as well as a persistent increase in TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 expression was found, which indicates the antigen recognition recovery and presentation at the level of the monocytic link of the immune system. The use of GMDP as an immunomodulatory agent resulted in an 8-fold reduction in the frequency and severity of respiratory infections due to an increase in the total monocyte count. As a result of assessing patients' quality of life against the background of the therapy, a positive dynamic in role functioning was revealed in patients. In the general assessment of their health status, an increase in physical and mental well-being was noted during 6 months of observation. The comparison group showed no improvement in the psychoemotional state. Discussion. The study demonstrated the effectiveness of GMDP immunomodulatory therapy in correcting immunological parameters for post-COVID-19 rehabilitation in patients. The data obtained are consistent with the previously discovered ability of GMDP to restore impaired functions of phagocytic cells and induce the expression of their surface activation markers, which in turn contributes to an adequate response to pathogens. Conclusion. The study revealed that the correction of immunological parameters with the use of GMDP in COVID-19 convalescents contributed not only to a decrease in the frequency and severity of respiratory infections, but also to an improvement in the psycho-emotional state of patients, and a decrease in anxiety and depression.Copyright © Eco-Vector, 2023. All rights reserved.