Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide attempts in a rural region in Germany, a 5-year observational study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic and public life restrictions may have a negative impact on people's mental health. Therefore, we analyzed whether this condition affected the occurrence of suicide attempts (SA) over 20 months during the pandemic period. METHODS: We included patient records according to DSM-5 criteria for suicidal behavior disorders (n = 825) between Jan 1, 2017, and Dec 31, 2021. We applied interrupted time-series Poisson regression models to investigate the effect of the pandemic on SA occurrence, time trends, and seasonal patterns in the whole group of patients as well as stratified by age and gender. RESULTS: There was no significant effect of the pandemic on the occurrence of SA in the overall group. However, we observed a significant impact of the pandemic on the seasonal pattern of SA, also the variance differed significantly (pre-pandemic mean ± variance: 13.33 ± 15.75, pandemic: mean ± variance: 13.86 ± 7.26), indicating less periodic variation in SA during the pandemic. Male patients and young adults mainly contributed to this overall effect. Subgroup analysis revealed a significant difference in SA trends during the pandemic in older adults (>55 years) compared with younger adults (18-35 years); SA numbers increased in older adults and decreased in younger adults as the pandemic progressed. LIMITATIONS: A few patients may have received initial care in an emergency department after SA without being referred to psychiatry. CONCLUSIONS: In general, the COVID-19 pandemic and related measures did not significantly affect the occurrence of SA but did significantly affect the dynamics. In addition, the pandemic appeared to affect suicidal behavior differently across age groups as it progressed. Particularly for the older adult group, negative long-term effects of the pandemic on suicidal behavior can be derived from the present results, indicating the need to strengthen suicide prevention for the elderly.

Characterisation of selected active agents regarding pKa values, solubility concentrations and pH profiles by SiriusT3.

The aim of this work was to determine pKa values and solubility properties of 34active agents using the SiriusT3 apparatus. The selected drug substances belong to the groups of ACE-inhibitors, ß-blockers, antidiabetics and lipid lowering substances. Experimentally obtained pKa and intrinsic solubility values were compared to calculated values (program ACD/ChemSketch) and pKa values to published data as well. Solubility-pH profiles were generated to visualise the substance solubility over the gastrointestinal pH range. The relationship between the solubility characteristic of a substance, its bioavailability and categorisation according to the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) was examined as well. The results showed a good agreement between experimentally obtained, calculated and published pKa values. The measured and calculated intrinsic solubility values indicated several major deviations. All solubility-pH profiles showed the expected shape and appearance for acids, bases or zwitterionic substances. The obtained results for the pKa and solubility measurements of the examined active agents may help to predict their physicochemical behaviour in vivo, and to understand the bioavailability of the substances according to their BCS categorisation. The easy and reproducible determination of pKa and solubility values makes the SiriusT3 apparatus a useful tool in early stages of drug and formulation development.

[Grass tetany in cattle]. / Untersuchungen über die Weidetetaniebehandlung des Rindes

An optimal magnesium supply of dairy cows during pasture period is still a pressing problem in our farms and husbandry. Experiences are described concerning the application of different magnesium concentrated preparations in cases of grass tetany in 1970 to 1975 in the district of Potsdam. In 224 cows with magnesium concentrations values in the serum below 1.8 mg/100 ml a 25% MgSO4-solution, Parevert and Vers. A, a test solution of VEB Tierarzneimittelwerk Leipzig are used as a metaphylactic treatment. Losses by grass tetany could be reduced after application of the named preparations. Also in cases of low dosage a further, at least temporary drop of magnesium values in the serum could be prevented. Metaphylactic measures are recommended for andangered herds.