关键词： Schizophrenia   Quality of treatment   COVID-19   SARS-CoV-2   Epidemiology  

摘要： AbstractBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated the state of ill-health among patients with schizophrenia. We examined the number of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, the number of hospital admissions and outpatient contacts and the quality of treatment during the pandemic in comparison with the previous years. MethodsWe identified patients ≥18 years old registered in the Danish Schizophrenia Registry from 2016 to 2022. Using a generalized linear model, we estimated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for each variable of interest. ResultsA minor reduction in the number of new cases, admissions and outpatient contacts was seen during the first lockdown; however, there was no overall change across the pandemic period compared with the pre-pandemic period. We found no change in the proportion of patients who were interviewed using a diagnostic tool (37.0 % during pandemic vs 37.9 % pre-pandemic; PR = 0.87; 95 % CI 0.68–1.12) or received family intervention (57.7 % vs 57.1 %; PR = 0.97; 95 % CI 0.81–1.15), and no decrease was observed in the proportion of patients assessed for social support. Furthermore, no change in the proportion of patients re-admitted within 30 days (35.9 % vs 35.0 %; PR = 0.96; 95 % CI 0.88–1.07) or screened for suicide risk in relation to discharge (55.2 % vs 56.8 %; PR = 0.96; 95 % CI 0.97–1.09) was observed. ConclusionsRecognition and treatment of schizophrenia was minimally affected during the first lockdown, but across the pandemic period no overall change was observed. The quality of treatment of schizophrenia was unchanged.

关键词： COVID-19   Immunosuppression   Long COVID   Anti-CD20 mAb   Viral pneumonia   SARS-CoV-2  

摘要： Incidence and clinical relevance In immunocompromised patients, infection with SARS-CoV-2 may cause prolonged viral pneumonia. Due to limited clinical evidence, this phenotype is poorly addressed in guidelines and may therefore remain undiagnosed or inadequately treated. Etiologies/ differential diagnosis For clinical diagnosis of prolonged COVID-19 pneumonia, we propose the following diagnostic criteria: prolonged respiratory symptoms and/or fever beyond 30 days after symptom onset of COVID-19, in the presence of persistent radiologic features and persistently positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR and the absence of another apparent explanation. A negative PCR from the upper respiratory tract may not suffice to rule out prolonged viral pneumonia, as viral replication may be restricted to the lower respiratory tract. Alternative diagnoses should be considered in case of no response to empiric treatment. The differential diagnosis includes (co-)infection with a respiratory viral, bacterial or fungal pathogen, organizing pneumonia and other lung diseases. Recommended treatment options and durations In case of prolonged mild symptoms in combination with radiologic evidence and persistently positive SARS-CoV-2, we propose a 5- or 10-day course of antiviral treatment followed by antibody treatment as the primary treatment option. However, the availability of these drugs may be limited and effectiveness strongly dependent on the variant of SARS-CoV-2. Successful repeated or combination courses with antivirals have also been described. Conclusion Even though the phenotype of prolonged viral pneumonia in COVID-19 is described in literature, its epidemiology and mechanisms are still poorly understood. Therefore, our approach to this clinical problem is largely based on anecdotal evidence and expert opinion.

关键词： COVID-19   Vaccination   Non-pharmaceutical interventions   Age   Mathematical modeling   EFFICACY  

摘要： With the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, various non-pharmaceutical interventions were adopted to control virus transmission, including school closures. Subsequently, the introduction of vaccines mitigated not only disease severity but also the spread of SARS-CoV-2. This study leveraged an adapted SIR model and non-linear mixed-effects modeling to quantify the impact of remote learning, school holidays, the emergence of Variants of Concern (VOCs), and the role of vaccinations in controlling SARS-CoV-2 spread across 16 German federal states with an age-stratified approach. Findings highlight a significant inverse correlation (Spearman's rho = -0.92, p < 0.001) between vaccination rates and peak incidence rates across all age groups. Model-parameter estimation using the observed number of cases stratified by federal state and age allowed to assess the effects of school closure and holidays, considering adjustments for vaccinations and spread of VOCs over time. Here, modeling revealed significant (p < 0.001) differences in the virus's spread among pre-school children (0-4), children (5-11), adolescents (12-17), adults (18-59), and the elderly (60+). The transition to remote learning emerged as a critical measure in significantly reducing infection rates among children and adolescents (p < 0.001), whereas an increased infection risk was noted among the elderly during these periods, suggesting a shift in infection networks due to altered caregiving roles. Conversely, during school holiday periods, infection rates among adolescents mirrored those observed when schools were open. Simulation exercises based on the model provided evidence that COVID-19 vaccinations might serve a dual purpose: they protect the vaccinated individuals and contribute to the broader community's safety. (c) 2024 The Authors. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co. Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://***/licenses/by-nc

关键词： COVID-19   SARS-CoV-2   MBOAT7   Inflammation   Phospholipids   FATTY LIVER-DISEASE   VARIANT   ACYLTRANSFERASES   DYSREGULATION   RISK  

摘要： Background and aimThe emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in late 2019 caused a pandemic of acute respiratory disease, named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 became one of the most challenging health emergencies, hence the necessity to find different prognostic factors for disease progression, and severity. Membrane bound O-acyltransferase domain containing 7 (MBOAT7) demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects through acting as a fine-tune regulator of the amount of cellular free arachidonic acid. We aimed in this study to evaluate MBOAT7 expression in COVID-19 patients and to correlate it with disease severity and *** case-control study included 56 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and 28 control subjects. Patients were further classified into moderate (n = 28) and severe (n = 28) cases. MBOAT7, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-1ss (IL-1ss) mRNA levels were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) samples isolated from patients and control subjects by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). In addition, circulating MBOAT7 protein levels were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsSignificant lower levels of circulating MBOAT7 mRNA and protein were observed in COVID-19 patients compared to control subjects with severe COVID-19 cases showing significant lower levels compared to moderate cases. Moreover, severe cases showed a significant upregulation of TNF-alpha and IL-1ss mRNA. MBOAT7 mRNA and protein levels were significantly correlated with inflammatory markers (TNF-alpha, IL-1ss, C-reactive protein (CRP), and ferritin), liver enzymes, severity, and oxygen saturation ***-19 is associated with downregulation of MBAOT7, which correlates with disease severity.

关键词： ACE2   Genotyping   RT-PCR   SARS COV-2   SNP  

摘要： Background Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an essential receptor on the host cell's cell membrane. It's interesting to note that the entry point receptor ACE2 protein and the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus are correlated. This study aimed to determine the influence of the ACE gene genotype and explore the effects of genetic variation in the promotor region of the ACE-2 gene receptor in SARS COV-2 patients. Methods and results The 225 participants were categorized into two groups (75 infected and 150 control) according to the results of Real Time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), IgM, and IgG, also included two types of samples were collected for diagnosis hematological and molecular study. The hematological and biochemical parameters showed significant differences between the two studied groups according to D. dimer, ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cells (WBC), lymphocyte, packed cell volume (PCV) (P<0.0001), also red blood cell (RBC) (P = 0.0034). While the results of hemoglobin (HB) and platelet displayed non-significant differences between the two groups (p value 0.6811 and 0.9201 respectively). In addition, the sequencing result in the promotor of the ACE-2 gene detected novel eight polymorphisms and recorded them in NCBI under no. (ON959139). Conclusions The ACE D/D polymorphism associated with increased levels of ACE could represent a genetic risk factor in addition the discovery stems from the prospect that genetic differences could lead to differing responses to COVID-19 therapies.

关键词： Human-animal transmission   Nucleocapsid   RT-qPCR   SARS-CoV-2  

摘要： BackgroundLittle is known about the companion animals which tested positive in Mexico for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Due to this, it is that we have documented the infection of companion animals, via an exploratory approach in two localities of the Valley of Mexico, in which the companion animal owners tested positive for *** and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 21 companion animals. Also, a Reverse-Transcription Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction was used to test five probes in three SARS-CoV-2 genes. More than one-third (5/14) of these samples were positive for SARS CoV-2 corresponding to *** research translates into the first available report on companion animals with SARS-CoV-2 infection in the most populated area of Mexico. Samples were added chronologically to previous reports prepared in other areas of the country, from February through November *** SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs is not as common as in other animals, our results suggest that it can be transmitted to dogs by their owners to a greater extent than previously reported.

关键词： Optimal control   contact restriction   epidemic size   economic loss   COVID-19   CO-DYNAMICS  

摘要： The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had great influence on global health, societies and, economies. In this paper, we propose an optimal control model with contact restrictions, aiming to adopt minimization of infections and economic losses simultaneously. Taking a social contact restriction as the control variable, we establish a control system of COVID19 with nucleic acid testing and contacts tracking. A bi-objective optimal control problem is proposed, in which the accumulated number of infected individuals and economic losses are involved. Numerical simulations for different weight combinations of objectives are carried out using official epidemic data in Shanghai. From the numerical results, we conclude that effects of the control constriction policies decrease with weight of economic losses increasing; there is a trade-off between the epidemic size and the economic loss, and thus decision-makers may choose the appropriate schemes to implement. Therefore, this work may contribute to analyzing contact restriction strategies to balance epidemic size and economic losses.

关键词： Systematic review   Death anxiety   COVID-19,Older people   Ageing   ANXIETY   DEFENSE   HEALTH  

摘要： Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored older adults' vulnerability to severe illness or death. Increased public awareness of mortality, with daily reminders of preventive measures, spurred interest in understanding the impact on death-related thoughts. This systematic review analyses existing literature on death attitudes among individuals aged 50 and older during the COVID-19 pandemic and focuses on associated factors. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using the WHO COVID database without any language limit, up until April 2023. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO and PRISMA guidelines were followed. Included studies were systematically analysed and summarized using a predefined data extraction sheet. Results: Of the 2297 studies identified, 9 met inclusion criteria. The review showed moderate to high levels of death anxiety during the pandemic, linked to direct health risks from COVID-19 rather than mitigation measures. The impact of health and personal factors on older people's death anxiety was complex, with a range of health and personal factors such as chronic conditions, loss of capacity, loneliness, occupation, and resilience associated with it, suggesting potential intervention avenues. Conclusion: The systematic review shows a significant link between COVID-19 and heightened death anxiety among individuals aged 50 and above. Negative attitudes to death can harm physical and mental health, diminish life satisfaction, increase avoidance behaviour, impair coping mechanism and undermine end-of-life decision making. Findings underscore the need for further research into risk and protective factors (personal, health, and environmental) and the importance of standardized data collection to guide interventions and public health strategies aimed at mitigating death anxiety.

关键词： COVID-19   Fatigue   Occupational stress   Nursing   Personnel management   Shift work schedule   Sleep   Work-Life balance   EMPLOYEE WORKTIME CONTROL   HEALTH   FATIGUE  

摘要： Background: The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to increased pressure on healthcare systems. During periods when the demands exceed the capacity of healthcare organizations, adaptive strategies are used to meet these demands. During the COVID-19 pandemic, working hours for nursing staff were reorganized and extended. This has posed challenges for recovery, which may be a key factor for maintaining health and safety under such conditions. Objectives: The aim of the study was to bring insights into how nursing staff perceived their working hours and recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic, and if they experienced any changes in their sleep and well-being. Design: A qualitative descriptive design was chosen, as it is suitable for gaining insight into perceptions and experiences. Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted using an interview guide. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Sixteen registered nurses and six certified nursing assistants from four Swedish hospitals participated in the study. Results: The organization of working hours during the COVID-19 pandemic was considered suboptimal and resulted in more demanding working hours and poor recovery. Nursing staff experienced loss of control as they lost influence over working hours, working hours became more unpredictable and the boundaries between work and leisure became blurred. Nursing staff also experienced a decline in their health and well-being, including extreme fatigue, impaired sleep and physical/mental changes. Conclusion: The strategies used by healthcare organizations to meet increasing demands during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to impaired recovery and well-being of nursing staff, which could generate negative feedback loops contributing to depletion of resources at the organizational level.

关键词： COVID-OUT   SARS-CoV-2   COVID-19   Outbreak   Scientific conference   NEW-YORK-CITY   CONVENTION  

摘要： Background: COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) outbreaks in workplace settings have been investigated to understand how transmission occurred. However, there is limited data looking at COVID-19 transmission in conference settings in England, particularly where an outbreak did not occur. The aim of this work was to investigate COVID-19 infection risk factors and control measures at a large conference, with a known case but no reported onward transmission to inform prevention of future outbreaks of respiratory infections in conferences and similar settings. Methods: This cross-sectional study was part of a wider COVID-19 Outbreak Investigation to Understand Transmission (COVID-OUT) study. A two-day in-person conference on SARS-CoV-2 transmission and environment was held at a university conference centre on 17-November 18, 2021, in England, with about 100 delegates. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 50 conference attendees to identify any confirmed cases and understand transmission, history of COVID-19 symptoms, testing and vaccination. Results: One person met the definition of a confirmed case at the conference. This case was most likely infectious when attending the conference, however there were no known secondary cases. All respondents reported receiving at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine before the conference and an increased frequency of handwashing/sanitising hands during the study period in comparison to before the pandemic. Prior to the conference, a COVID-19 risk assessment including a review of the ventilation at the site was completed. All attendees were advised to take an LFD test before travelling to the conference, wear face coverings, and maintain 1-m distance during the conference. Conclusion: A multipronged approach, encouraging attendee behaviours (regular hand washing, mask wearing, being vaccinated against COVID-19) and introducing control measures at the conference site (ventilation, sufficient spacing capacity, combined with prior