Four serially mediating mechanisms in the relationship between COVID-19 fear and employee performance.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, most workers were forced to work remotely, although having no prior experience, and as a result, they were exposed to new job-related stressors. OBJECTIVES: To examine the mediating role of job stress, work-family conflict and job satisfaction between fear of COVID-19 and job performance. METHODS: An online questionnaire was conducted a survey of remote workers in Turkey. Responses were obtained from 351 subjects. Related scales were used to measure work-life balance, job stress, job satisfaction, and employee performance as well as fear of COVID-19. Because all hypothesis constructs can be analyzed simultaneously, structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that fear of COVID-19 affects job stress (p = .001; ß= .264). There was a significant relationship between job stress and job satisfaction (p = .001; ß= .619). Also, work-family conflict was affected employee job stress (p = .001; ß= .516). Job stress had a mediator role fear of COVID-19 on job satisfaction and work-family conflict on job satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study provide a useful measurement model that can be used to evaluate and improve job performance and job satisfaction through work stress and work-family conflict in times of crisis such as COVID-19.

Effects of mirabegron on depression, anxiety, learning and memory in mice.

Mirabegron is the first b3-adrenoceptor agonist to enter clinical practice and has been approved for the treatment of symptoms of OAB. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the mirabegron has an effect on depression, anxiety, learning, and memory. We investigated the effects of mirabegron on depression, anxiety, learning and memory by using forced swimming test, elevated plus maze test, passive avoidance and Morris water maze in mice. Imipramine and mirabegron (3, 6 and 9 mg/kg) significantly reduced immobility time in forced swimming test. Diazepam and mirabegron (3, 6 and 9 mg/kg) significantly increased the time spent in open arms and the number of entries to the open arms in elevated plus maze test. Furthermore, cognitive performance impaired with scopolamine has been significantly improved with 9 mg/kg mirabegron. Mirabegron (6 and 9 mg/kg) significantly increased the time spent in the target quadrant in naive mice. While scopolamine significantly increased the swimming speed, mirabegron (9 mg/kg) significantly decreased the swimming speed in scopolamine-treated mice. Mirabegron might be clinically useful for the treatment of OAB in elderly patients that should use drugs against depression and anxiety, without disrupt learning and memory.

A Retrospective Study of Deep Vein Insufficiency Treatment Device: ICT.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a newly developed, leak closure Internal Compression Therapy (ICT) (Invamed, Ankara, Turkey) device during a single-session procedure in a group of patients with primary deep valve incompetence. Methods: There were 286 patients who were diagnosed with deep venous reflux by duplex scanning. They underwent valvular leak operations to treat primary deep venous insufficiency. Follow-up visits were on the third day, first month, sixth month and twelfth month. At each visit, duplex scanning and a clinical examination were performed. Successful treatment was defined as deep vein valves without reflux. Any patency or reflux over 1 sec was considered a failure. Results: The study enrolled 286 patients with deep venous insufficiency. Procedural technical success was 100%. At the one-year follow-up, the overall success, among all patients, was 92%. No significant morbidity or mortality related to the procedure were observed. All patients had major improvements in venous clinical severity score (VCSS) scores postoperatively. VCSS scores at pre-intervention, and at the twelfth month, were 20.7±5.9 and 3.9±0.9, respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion: After the twelve-month follow-up, the postprocedural outcomes indicate the ICT device is safe and effective.