Impact of the first, second and third peak of the COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety, depression and stress symptoms of healthcare workers.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Numerous studies have been conducted on the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, how the mental health of health workers will be affected among the number of peaks during the pandemic has not been evaluated yet. The study aims to investigate the effects of the first, second, and third peaks of COVID-19 on anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms in healthcare workers. METHODS: The current study included 4031 healthcare workers, 1051 during the first peak period, 1409 during the second peak period, and 1571 during the third peak period. The Depression-anxiety-stress scale-21(DASS-21) was used to assess the participants' levels of anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 33.74 ± 7.95, and 2634 (66.3 %) were female. 36.9 %(n = 1486) of the participants were physicians, 41.1 % (n = 1655) were nurses and 22.1 % (n = 890) were other healthcare workers. A statistically significant difference was documented in the DASS-21 anxiety (F(2:4028) = 502.893, p 2. Peak > 1. Peak), DASS-21 depression (F(2:4028) = 46.034, p 2. Peak > 1. Peak), DASS-21 stress (F(2:4028) = 65.548, p 1. Peak), and DASS-21 total scores (F(2:4028) = 156.860, p 2. Peak > 1. Peak) of healthcare workers during all three peak periods. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that as the peak number rises, so do the levels of anxiety and depression among healthcare workers. As a result, it is possible to assert that prolongation of the COVID-19 pandemic worsens mental problems (Tab. 2, Fig. 3, Ref. 35).

Serum Endocan Levels Predict Drug-Eluting Stent Restenosis in Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM-1 or endocan) is an immunoinflammatory marker strongly associated with inflammation, vascular endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. We explored the relationship between serum endocan concentrations and coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR). METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients with ISR and 50 control subjects were included in this study. Clinical data and angiographic characteristics were collected. Serum endocan concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: All included patients were divided into four quartiles based on their concentrations of endocan: quartile 1 (0.62-1.31 ng/mL), quartile 2 (1.33-1.74 ng/mL), quartile 3 (1.75-2.77 ng/mL) and quartile 4 (2.78-4.24 ng/mL). The rates of ISR were 16%, 24%, 68%, and 92%, respectively. The patients in quartile 4 had significantly higher rates of ISR than the other groups (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis indicated that endocan concentration [odds ratio = 8.65, 95% confidence interval 3.56-20.94; p < 0.001] was an independent predictor of ISR. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to explore the relationship between endocan and ISR. Using a cutoff value of 1.625 ng/mL, endocan predicted ISR with a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 78%. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that plasma endocan levels may be a novel biomarker of endothelial dysfunction in patients with ISR.