The COVID-19 pandemic and maternal mental health in a fragile and conflict-affected setting in Tumaco, Colombia: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health have been understudied among vulnerable populations, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings. We aimed to analyse how the pandemic is related to early changes in mental health and parenting stress among caregivers, many of whom are internally displaced persons (IDP), in a conflict-affected setting in Colombia. METHODS: For this cohort study, we used longitudinal data from a psychosocial support programme in which 1376 caregivers were randomly assigned across four sequential cohorts. Recruitment of participants took place in March, 2018, for cohort 1; July, 2018, for cohort 2; March, 2019, for cohort 3; and July, 2019, for cohort 4. Participants completed assessments at baseline, 1-month, and 8-month follow-ups. The 8-month assessment occurred before the COVID-19 pandemic for participants in cohorts 1 and 2 (n=573), whereas those in cohorts 3 and 4 (n=803) were assessed during the early stages of the pandemic, 2-5 weeks after the national lockdown began on March 25, 2020. Primary caregiver anxiety and depression were measured with a scale adapted from the Symptoms Checklist-90-Revised and parenting stress was measured with the short form of the Parenting Stress Index. We estimated how mental health changed by comparing prepandemic and postpandemic 8-month outcomes using lagged-dependent variable models. FINDINGS: Results showed that the likelihood of reporting symptoms above the risk threshold increased by 14 percentage points for anxiety (95% CI 10-17), 5 percentage points for depression (0·5-9), and 10 percentage points for parental stress (5-15). The deterioration in mental health was stronger for IDP, participants with lower education or pre-existing mental health conditions, and for those reporting a higher number of stressors, including food insecurity and job loss. INTERPRETATION: Maternal mental health significantly worsened during the early stages of the pandemic. Considering the vulnerability and pre-existing mental health conditions of this population, the estimated effects are substantial. Policies in fragile and conflict-affected settings targeting IDP and other vulnerable people will be important to mitigate further mental health and socioeconomic problems. FUNDING: Saving Brains-Grand Challenges Canada, Fundación Éxito, Fundación FEMSA, United Way Colombia, Universidad de los Andes. TRANSLATION: For the Spanish translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Actividad antiinflamatoria del extracto etanólico de las hojas de Manihot esculenta Crantz (yuca) en un modelo experimental de inflamación aguda / Anti-Inflammatory Activity Of The Ethnolic Extract Of The Leaves Of Manihot Esculenta Crantz (Yuca) In An Experimental Model Of Acute Inflammation

Introducción: Las hojas de Manihot esculenta Crantz (yuca) han sido usadas alrededor del mundo y a lo largo del tiempo con el fin de disminuir la respuesta antiinflamatoria. Objetivo: Evaluar la actividad antiinflamatoria del extracto etanólico de la hoja de Manihot esculenta crantz en ratas. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio tipo experimental. La población de estudio fueron 60 ratas albinas sp. Rattus novergicus, distribuidas en 4 grupos de 15 ratas cada uno. Se usó una solución homogénea de extracto etanólico de hojas de Manihot esculenta crantz para su administración vía intraperitoneal. Se utilizó carragenina como inductor inflamatorio, que fue administrado por vía intradérmica; para la medición del edema plantar, se hizo uso del Digital Water Plethysmometer (LE7500). Se administró al grupo control negativo solución de tween 80/agua (1:10) a dosis de 1ml/10g., al grupo control positivo betametasona 4mg/Kg y a los grupos de tratamiento 1 y 2 Manihot esculenta crantz, 2 mg/kg y 4 mg/kg, respectivamente. Se utilizó la prueba de ANOVA de 1 cola y la prueba post-hoc de Tukey, para las comparaciones entre los grupos. Resultados: En el 37,67% del grupo de tratamiento 2 se observó una reducción del edema a las 3 horas de administrar Manihot esculenta crantz (p <0,05). En otras mediciones se encontró una tendencia no significativa en ambos grupos de administración de Manihot esculenta crantz a la reducción del edema plantar. Conclusión: El extracto etanólico de Manihot sculenta a partir de la dosis de 4 mg/kg parece tener actividad antiinflamatoria en la reducción del edema plantar en el modelo animal utilizado.

Introduction: Manihot esculenta Crantz (yucca) leaves have been used around the world and over time in order to decrease the anti-inflammatory response. Objective: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanolic extract of the Manihot esculenta Crantz leaf in rats. Methods: An experimental study was conducted. The study population included 60 albino rats sp. Rattus novergicus, distributed in 4 groups of 15 rats each. A homogeneous solution of ethanolic extract of Manihot esculenta Crantz leaves was used for intraperitoneal administration. Carrageenan was used as an inflammatory inducer that was administered intradermally; for the measurement of plantar edema, the Digital Water Plethysmometer (LE7500) was used. Tween 80 / water solution (1:10) was administered to the negative control group at a dose of 1mL./100g., To the betamethasone positive control group 4mg / Kg and to treatment groups 1 and 2 Manihot esculenta Crantz, 2 mg / kg and 4 mg / kg, respectively. The 1-tail ANOVA test and the Tukey post hoc test were used for comparisons between the groups. Results: In 37.67% of treatment group 2 a reduction in edema was observed 3 hours after administering Manihot esculenta Crantz (p <0.05). In both administration groups of Manihot esculenta Crantz there was a nonsignificant trend to reduce plantar edema with values close to significance. Conclusion: The Manihot esculenta Crantz ethanolic extract at a 4 mg / kg dose probably have anti-inflammatory activity in this animal model of acute inflamation.

Efecto gastroprotector de un nutraceutico compuesto por Ocimum micranthum Willd (albahaca silvestre) frente a ulceras gástricas inducidas por etanol en ratas / Gastroprotective effect of an Ocimum micranthum Willd nutraceutical product in ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats

Objetivo: Investigar el efecto de los extractos acuosos en infusión y cocimiento de un nutraceutico compuesto de Ocimum micranthum Willd (ISHCATUL®), en un modelo de ulcera gástrica inducida con etanol en ratas. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio experimental. Se distribuyeron 25 ratas machos en cuatro grupos de estudio: 1) Control Negativo (Suero fisiológico 0.9% 1mL/100 g); 2) Control Positivo (Sucralfato 500 mg/Kg); 3) Experimental 1 (Cocimiento a dosis 1mL/100 g); y 4) Experimental 2 (Infusión a dosis 2mL. /100 g). Adicionalmente se utilizó una rata como blanco, para poder realizar comparaciones mediante la visualización directa del tejido gástrico. Se indujo ulcera gástrica mediante la administración intragastrica de Etanol absoluto al 75% 1 mL/100g. Se realizó una observación directa de características macroscópicas con las que se calculó el índice ulceroso y porcentajes de inhibición de ulcera gástrica. Resultados: El grupo de tratamiento 1 y 2 obtuvieron un porcentaje de inhibición de 35.2% y 21.2 %, lo que no fue superior comparado con el 75% obtenido por el grupo que recibió sucralfato. Conclusión: Se encontraron efectos gastroprotectores en los grupos de estudio que recibieron decocto (a 1 mL/mg) e infusión (a 2mL/mg) de un nutraceutico compuesto de Ocimum micranthum Willd (Albahaca salvaje), en modelos experimentales de inducción de ulcera gástrica por etanol al 75%, que no fueron superiores a los controles positivos.

Objective: To investigate the effect of aqueous extracts on infusion and decoction of an Ocimum micranthum Willd nutraceutic (ISHCATUL®), in a model of gastric ulcer induced by ethanol in rats. Materials and Methods: An experimental study. Twenty-five male rats were distributed in four study groups: 1) Negative Control (Saline solution 0.9% 1mL / 100 g); 2) Positive Control (Sucralfate 500 mg / Kg); 3) Experimental 1 (Decoction at a dose of 1mL / 100 g); and 4) Experimental 2 (Infusion at a dose of 2mL / 100 g). Additionally, a rat was not intervened, in order to make comparisons through direct visualization of gastric tissue. Gastric ulcer was induced by intragastric administration of 75% absolute ethanol (1 mL / 100g). A direct observation was made of macroscopic characteristics through ulcer indexes and percentages of inhibition (PoI) were calculated. Results: Experimental 1 and Experimental 2 groups obtained PoIs of 35.2% and 21.2%, respectively. However, these results were not superior than PoI obtained by group which received sucralfate (75%). Conclusion: Gastroprotective effects were found in experimental groups which received Ocimum micranthum Willd nutraceutics decoction (at 1 mL / mg) and infusion (at 2mL / mg), in experimental models of ethanol-induced ulcer gastric ulcer, which were not superior to positive controls.