Psychological impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the university students in Egypt.

University students are at elevated risk for mental health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent public health measures taken to combat it burdened the students' life with additional dramatic psychological impacts. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychological impacts that affected the university students in Egypt during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online survey was sent to the Egyptian university students via all means of online communication during the first week of May 2020 by using a non-probability snowball sampling. A survey included a short version Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and socio-demographic data. Overall, 70.5, 53.6 and 47.8% of Egyptian students had depression, anxiety and stress, respectively. Being a female, having a relative or acquaintance infected with COVID-19, having a preexisting chronic disease and lacking of psychological support from families, community and universities increase the risk of depression, anxiety and stress among Egyptian students. Being a medical student is associated with depression while, spending more time to follow news of COVID-19 pandemic is associated with increased anxiety. Egyptian students experience varying levels of psychological disturbance during COVID-19 pandemic. This study suggests that mental health of the university students should be carefully, monitored during the crisis and the universities should provide psychological-oriented services, adapted to these circumstances to mitigate its emotional impact on the students.

Health-related quality of life in pediatric and adolescent patients with transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemia in upper Egypt (single center study).

BACKGROUND: Thalassemia is a major health problem that disturbs the lifestyle of the affected patient. The aim of this work is to detect the impact of thalassemia on the quality of life regarding physical, social, emotional, psychological scored assessment. METHODS: A case-control survey was conducted in Minia University children's hospital on 64 patients recruiting pediatric hematology outpatient clinic from July 2014 to February 2017. PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scale (Arabic version) was used to assess HRQOL in 64 thalassemia patients between 8 and 18 years of ages. Other related clinical data of the involved patients were collected from the pediatric hematology records. RESULTS: Mean physical, emotional, social, school performance, psychological and total scores (- 36.9 ± 20.9, 49.4 ± 17, 47.2 ± 21.3, 38.5 ± 15.5, 45.3 ± 13.8, 47.9 ± 38.8 respectively) were significantly decreased compared with control (p = 0.001 for all). The younger age group had better scores regarding social, emotional, psychological and total scores compared to older ones (p = 0.01, 0.03, 0.01 and 0.009 respectively). Older age of starting transfusion was statistically significant protecting factor from poor physical QOL in thalassemia patients (OR = 0.96, p = 0.03). The presence of hepatomegaly was a statistically significant predictor for poor physical QOL (OR = 8.5, p = 0.02). Household income was the statistically significant predictor for poor emotional QOL (OR = 5.03, p = 0.04). High serum ferritin was the statistically significant predictor for poor social QOL (OR = 1.1, CI 95%=, p = 0.04). Regarding poor psychological QOL (OR = 0.94, p = 0.01) and total QOL (OR = 0.94, p = 0.01) scores, older age of starting transfusion was the statistically significant protecting factor. CONCLUSION: Scheduled programs giving psychosocial help and a network connecting between the patients, school officials, thalassemia caregivers and the physician is required especially in developing countries where the health services are not integrated with social organizations. Special school services for thalassemia patients are required to deal with the repeated absence and anemia induced low mental performance of thalassemia children.

Association between oxidative stress and cord serum lipids in relation to delayed cord clamping in term neonates.

BACKGROUND: Although delayed cord clamping (DCC) is a recent WHO recommendation, early cord clamping (ECC) is still a routine practice in many countries. Limited researches studied the effect of delayed cord clamping on oxidative stress in term neonates; In this study we aim to assess the influence of cord clamping either early or late on oxidative stress in term neonates and to evaluate the association of oxidative stress and cord blood lipids. METHODS: One-hundred mothers and their term neonates were included in the present study. Umbilical cord blood samples were collected from the umbilical vein and umbilical artery immediately following labor. RESULTS: Total cholesterol, total triglycerides and phospholipids levels were significantly higher in the ECC group than the DCC group (p < 0.001 in all). Plasma total antioxidant status was higher in the DCC group than the ECC group (p < 0.001). While, plasma hydroperoxides were lower in the DCC group than the ECC group (p < 0.001). Levels of erythrocytes catalase cytosol, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly higher in the DCC group than the ECC group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: DCC was associated with a decrease in cord blood lipids and an augmented antioxidant activity. This suggests the protective effect of DCC on the future health of the term neonates and supports the application of DCC in active management of 3rd stage of labor in term neonates.

Cord blood erythropoietin and cord blood nucleated red blood cells for prediction of adverse neonatal outcome associated with maternal obesity in term pregnancy: prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with maternal pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity and we measure cord blood erythropoietin and NRBC count as indices of hypoxia and predictors of neonatal outcome. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective cohort study was done in Minia University Hospital, carried out from May 2015 to April 2016. Two hundred and seventy full-term neonates born to mothers of various body mass indices were included. Excluded were neonates with major factors known to be associated with a potential increase in fetal erythropoiesis. Pre-pregnancy maternal BMI was calculated from maternally reported weight and height. Cord blood erythropoietin and nucleated red blood cells were measured. RESULTS: There is a significant increase of various adverse pregnancy outcomes as cesarean section. Postpartum hemorrhage and macrosomia with the increase of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI. Significant positive correlations between cord blood erythropoietin and nucleated red blood cells with maternal BMI. CONCLUSION: The increase in the maternal pre-pregnancy BMI is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes. Cord blood erythropoietin and nucleated red blood cells can predict the poor neonatal outcome.

Seropositivity of Toxoplasmosis in Pregnant Women by ELISA at Minia University Hospital, Egypt.

Toxoplasmosis is considered as an important risk factor for bad obstetric history (BOH) and one of the major causes of congenitally acquired infections. The present study aimed to estimate the seropositivity of T. gondii infection and associated risk factors among the attendees of high risk pregnancy and low risk antenatal care clinic of Minia Maternity and Pediatric University Hospital, Minia, Egypt. The study was carried out from April 2013 to April 2014 through 2 phases, the first phase was case-control study, and the second phase was follow-up with intervention. A total of 120 high risk pregnant and 120 normal pregnant females were submitted to clinical examinations, serological screening for anti-Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies by ELISA, and an interview questionnaire. Seropositive cases were subjected to spiramycin course treatment. The results showed that the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in high-risk pregnancy group was 50.8%, which was significantly different from that of normal pregnancy group (P<0.05). Analysis of seropositive women in relation to BOH showed that abortion was the commonest form of the pregnancy wastage (56.5%). The high prevalence of T. gondii seropositive cases was observed in the age group of 21-30 years. Post-delivery adverse outcome was observed in 80.3% of high-risk pregnancy group compared to 20% of normal pregnancy group. There was a statistically significant relationship between seropositivity and living in rural area, low socioeconomic level, and undercooked meat consumption (P<0.05). Serological screening for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies should be routine tests especially among high-risk pregnant women.