The "vaccine" hubbub: Viral load comparisons of SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants against different vaccine-booster vaccine combinations.

There is a significant body of evidence showing that efficient vaccination schemes against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is helping control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, this goal cannot be achieved without real world data highlighting the impact of vaccines against viral spread. In this study, we have aimed at differentially investigating the impact of COVID-19 vaccines (CoronaVac, Pfizer/BioNTech, Astra/Zeneca Oxford, Janssen) used in North Cyprus in limiting the viral load of Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-COV-2. We have utilized real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction cycle threshold values (Ct values) as a proxy of viral load of the two SARS-CoV-2 variants. Our results indicate that the administration of at least two doses of the messenger RNA-based Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine leads to the lowest viral load (highest Ct values) obtained for both Omicron and Delta variants. Interestingly, regardless of the vaccine type used, our study revealed that Delta variant produced significantly higher viral loads (lower Ct values) compared with the Omicron variant, where the latter was more commonly associated with younger patients. Viral spread is a crucial factor that can help determine the future of the pandemic. Thus, prioritizing vaccines that will play a role in not only preventing severe disease but also in limiting viral load and spread may contribute to infection control strategies.

Undivided trauma in a divided Cyprus: Modified emotional Stroop study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to examine the subliminal existence of war-related trauma in the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities in Cyprus. Previous research has demonstrated that Cypriots, regardless of their ethnicity have been affected by many psychological burdens, including anxiety and trauma related symptoms due to the wars in Cyprus (1963, 1974). The emotional Stroop task has been widely used to determine the presence of PTSD and its impact on executive functions. Hence, it was hypothesized that traumatic stress specific to the wars in Cyprus would be evident through interference of information processing of war-related words in a modified version of the Emotional Stroop Task specific to the conflicts in Cyprus. METHOD: Two versions of the modified emotional Stroop task for Cyprus (MEST-CY) were developed in the two languages (Greek and Turkish) spoken by the 2 communities, with neutral and war-related words relevant for each community. A sample of 111 Cypriots from both ethnic backgrounds (56 Turkish Cypriots, 55 Greek Cypriots) took part. RESULTS: Participants from both ethnicities showed significantly greater latency scores (interference) for war-related words compared to neutral words. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to show emotional trauma and changes in cognitive functioning related specifically to the wars in Cyprus, in both communities. Due to its specificity in detecting attentional bias to war-related words which are specific to Cyprus, MEST-CY can serve as a useful assessment tool for the presence of war-related PTSD and as a pre- and posttask for PTSD intervention studies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Under the COVID-19 lockdown: Rapid review about the unique case of North Cyprus.

COVID-19 has been causing tragic outcomes all over the world. On one island nation, North Cyprus, that has been politically isolated from the rest of the world due to a very complicated history and political stance, the rapid enforcement of lockdown measures, despite having negative psychological effects, helped interfere with the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve. We propose that the traumas of the past may have caused resilient factors when faced with the psychological impact of COVID-19, and lack of trust toward the capacities of governing bodies may have caused people take strict precautions to help contain the spread of the virus. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).