The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Social, Health, and Economy

The managers' perspectives on service providing in women's harm reduction centers during the COVID-19 pandemic: mixed method study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges for managers overseeing women's harm reduction centers. This study seeks to capture managers' perspectives on the service providing in women's harm reduction centers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

This convergent mixed-method study conducted in three provinces of Iran: Tehran, Khuzestan, and Kermanshah. The study was carried out between January and May 2023. In the quantitative part, the researchers utilized reports from 10 center managers. A researcher-designed questionnaire was employed to collect data on a wide range of services and referrals provided by the centers. The qualitative part of the research involved conventional content analysis and included 12 individual interviews. Two directors from the Ministry of Health and ten managers of women's harm reduction centers participated in the interviews. During the interpretation phase, the researchers compared the quantitative and qualitative findings to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

RESULTS

During the quantitative stage of the study, it was observed that all the managers were women, with an average age of 40.7 ± 7 years. More than half of the managers had obtained a postgraduate education (n = 6, 60%), and a majority of them were married (n = 7, 70%). Additionally, 40% of the managers (n = 4) were working as contractors. During the non-COVID-19 period, there were higher coverage by centers and residents, more referrals of non-injecting drug users and sex workers, and a higher number of group counseling sessions in all three provinces compared to the COVID-19 period. The qualitative analysis revealed two primary themes: "challenges" and "capabilities."

CONCLUSIONS

During the COVID-19 pandemic, providing some services and client referrals decreased in the centers, and center managers faced increased challenges. Many of these challenges were in the communication, executive, management, structure, education, financial, civilization, facilities, and socio-cultural sectors. Managers used their skills to manage and control these challenges. It is important to focus on these challenges and managerial capabilities to effectively handle future crises.

The negative impact of misinformation and vaccine conspiracy on COVID-19 vaccine uptake and attitudes among the general public in Iraq

Background

Vaccine hesitancy is a major barrier to infectious disease control. Previous studies showed high rates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the Middle East. The current study aimed to investigate the attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination and COVID-19 vaccine uptake among adult population in Iraq.

Methods

This self-administered survey-based study was conducted in August-September 2022. The survey instrument assessed participants' demographics, attitudes to COVID-19 vaccination, beliefs in COVID-19 misinformation, vaccine conspiracy beliefs, and sources of information regarding the vaccine.

Results

The study sample comprised a total of 2544 individuals, with the majority reporting the uptake of at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination (n = 2226, 87.5 %). Positive attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination were expressed by the majority of participants (n = 1966, 77.3 %), while neutral and negative attitudes were expressed by 345 (13.6 %) and 233 (9.2 %) participants, respectively. Factors associated with positive attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination in multivariate analysis included disbelief in COVID-19 misinformation and disagreement with vaccine conspiracies. Higher COVID-19 vaccine uptake was significantly associated with previous history of COVID-19 infection, higher income, residence outside the Capital, disbelief in COVID-19 misinformation, disagreement with vaccine conspiracies, and reliance on reputable information sources.

Conclusion

COVID-19 vaccine coverage was high among the participants, with a majority having positive attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination. Disbelief in COVID-19 misinformation and disagreement with vaccine conspiracies were correlated with positive vaccine attitudes and higher vaccine uptake. These insights can inform targeted interventions to enhance vaccination campaigns.

WILDbase: towards a common database to improve wildlife disease surveillance in Europe

BackgroundTo be better prepared for emerging wildlife-borne zoonoses, we need to strengthen wildlife disease surveillance.AimThe aim of this study was to create a topical overview of zoonotic pathogens in wildlife species to identify knowledge gaps and opportunities for improvement of wildlife disease surveillance.MethodsWe created a database, which is based on a systematic literature review in Embase focused on zoonotic pathogens in 10 common urban wildlife mammals in Europe, namely brown rats, house mice, wood mice, common voles, red squirrels, European rabbits, European hedgehogs, European moles, stone martens and red foxes. In total, we retrieved 6,305 unique articles of which 882 were included.ResultsIn total, 186 zoonotic pathogen species were described, including 90 bacteria, 42 helminths, 19 protozoa, 22 viruses and 15 fungi. Most of these pathogens were only studied in one single animal species. Even considering that some pathogens are relatively species-specific, many European countries have no (accessible) data on zoonotic pathogens in these relevant animal species. We used the Netherlands as an example to show how this database can be used by other countries to identify wildlife disease surveillance gaps on a national level. Only 4% of all potential host-pathogen combinations have been studied in the Netherlands.ConclusionsThis database comprises a comprehensive overview that can guide future research on wildlife-borne zoonotic diseases both on a European and national scale. Sharing and expanding this database provides a solid starting point for future European-wide collaborations to improve wildlife disease surveillance.

The Inverted U-Shaped Relationship Between Socio-Economic Status and Infections During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Although the World Health Organization has declared that the COVID-19 pandemic no longer qualifies as a global public health emergency, it still needs to explore the response of society to the COVID-19 pandemic. Socio-economic status (SES) was proven to be linearly associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, although this relationship may be more complex due to regional differences. In the study, we analyzed and revealed the effects and mechanisms of SES on infections among low, lower-middle, upper-middle and high SES group (LSG, LMSG, UMSG, and HSG, respectively). The results showed that the relationship between SES and infections was inverted U-shaped, especially in the first three phases. In Phase I, UMSG had the highest number of infections, with an average of 238.31/1M people (95%CI: 135.47-341.15/1M people). In Phases II and III, infections decreased insignificantly with increasing SES (r = -0.01, p = 0.92; r = -0.11, p = 0.22) and the highest number of infections were found in the LMSG. In Phase IV, SES was positively related to the number of infections (r = 0.54, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the nonlinear impact of multiple factors related to SES on the infections explains the complex relationships between SES and infections. SES affected infections mainly through medical resources, demographics and vaccination, and differed across the SES groups. Particularly, demographics could exert an impact on population mobility, subsequently influencing infections in LMSG, with an indirect effect of 0.01 (p < 0.05) in Phase II. This study argues for greater attention to countries with middle SES and the need for future targeted measures to cope with infectious diseases.

Picture analysis of billboards and infographic graphics advertising COVID-19 on promoting preventive behaviors and taking vaccination against the Coronavirus disease pandemic

Today, advertising science is a tool that helps advertisers to design their advertising to meet the needs of the audience. In this regard, knowing and understanding the audience is one of the most important points that advertisers should pay attention to before advertising in order to better attract the audience. This study has been done with the aim of billboards and infographics analysis related to promoting preventive behaviors and vaccination against the Coronavirus disease pandemic and investigating the opinion of the general adult population of Iran. The method used in this research is the qualitative method. In this research, according to the type of data and research goals, Kress and Van Leeuwen's discourse theory method has been used. The sample size includes 36 advertising billboards and infographics. Data collection has been done through searching the sites and websites of health networks and medical education centers in Iran, taking pictures of infographics and billboards in public places, and also receiving archive files of pictures from the public relations of health networks and medical services. The data was collected from February 19, 2020 to December 30, 2022 (the time frame of the pandemic and public vaccination program in Iran). Then, an online survey about promoting preventive behaviors and taking vaccination against the Coronavirus disease pandemic was designed in SurveyMonkey and its link was provided to the audience through virtual networks and other platforms. The assessment of validity involved experts in infection control and linguistics. The reliability of the measurement, determined through the Cronbach's alpha internal consistency coefficient, yielded a coefficient of 0.968. In this study, data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics software, version 15.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Finally, users' opinions about of billboards and infographics were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results of component analysis and surveys show that visual components such as «The staring look at the spectator (Demand)», «Head-on Shot (inclusion)», «Down Shot (Creating a sense of participation for the represented person)», «Close-up (intimate/individual relationship)», «Level Shot (equality)» and «High-Angle Shot (Presenting power)» in medical advertising has had a great impact in arousing public opinion to create a positive attitude towards preventive measures and vaccination during the Coronavirus disease epidemic. The results of this research show that in visual communication, visual components play a significant role in creating and maintaining target ideologies. Also, advertising in the field of preventive measures in medical sciences requires certain rules that determine people's culture and the main foundation of their attitude and thinking. Therefore, it is necessary to know such knowledge and learn it by the medical staff to deal with critical situations.

Case Study of Autopsy Findings in a Population of Post-COVID-19 Vaccination in Thailand

ABSTRACT

Thailand began offering the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine nationwide in February 2021, with 1,885 deaths reported by the end of the year. Therefore, it is essential to assess the correlation between vaccination and cause of death from autopsy. This study included 34 autopsies of a deceased within 30 days after COVID-19 vaccination performed in Bangkok under the postmortem inquest service area of Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital. The autopsies were performed by forensic pathologists. Moreover, detailed information about the deceased was collected, including age, sex, medical records, vaccination history, scene investigation reports, autopsy reports, cause of death, and a probable causal relationship between vaccination and cause of death. There were 24 males (70.59%), and the average age of the deceased was 52.76 years. Of all individuals, 28 (82.36%), 4 (11.76%), and 2 (5.88%) were vaccinated with AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, and SinoVac, respectively. The most common cause of death was ischemic heart disease (n = 17). None of the deceased patients had a causal relationship to the vaccine. Deaths were due to natural causes, as no definitive link between vaccination and cause of death was established in the study.

Societal influence and psychological distress among Indonesian adults in Java on the early Omicron wave of COVID-19

Aim

Changes during the COVID-19 pandemic might create pressure on different people, thus this study aimed to measure respondents' psychological distress during the early phase of the Omicron wave in Java Island.

Methods

A web-based survey on societal influence and COVID-19-related psychological distress was distributed through social media in November-December 2021, and received 396 responses.

Results

This study showed that almost 50% of respondents faced psychological distress during the early phase of the Omicron variant, especially concerning hypervigilance and avoidance. Several sociodemographic factors might contribute to the incidence of psychological distress including comorbidity, age and education.

Conclusion

Taken together, the incidence of COVID-19-related psychological distress was still found in the early phase of the Omicron variant, especially among young adults.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of COVID-19

Since the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many lives have been tragically lost to severe infections. The COVID-19 impact extends beyond the respiratory system, affecting various organs and functions. In severe cases, it can progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multi-organ failure, often fueled by an excessive immune response known as a cytokine storm. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have considerable potential because they can mitigate inflammation, modulate immune responses, and promote tissue regeneration. Accumulating evidence underscores the efficacy and safety of MSCs in treating severe COVID-19 and ARDS. Nonetheless, critical aspects, such as optimal routes of MSC administration, appropriate dosage, treatment intervals, management of extrapulmonary complications, and potential pediatric applications, warrant further exploration. These research avenues hold promise for enriching our understanding and refining the application of MSCs in confronting the multifaceted challenges posed by COVID-19.

A study to assess the severity and risk of COVID-19 breakthrough infection in admitted SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated individual

Background

No vaccine is 100% effective in prevention of infection. The possibility of breakthrough infection of SARS-CoV-2 also cannot be ruled out. So, our study aimed to find out severity and risk of breakthrough infection and find association between epidemiological factors associated with it.

Methodology

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 148 admitted SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated individual from May 2021 to January 2022 by universal sampling method. A data was collected in the form of socio-demographic, Covid vaccine, clinical details, and outcome of admitted patients. An appropriate statistical test was applied.

Results

Out of the total 148 vaccinated individuals, 66 (44.59%) belongs to 30-59 years of age group and maximum, i.e. 95 (64.19%) were males. 64.86% patients were vaccinated with both doses and 98 (66.26%) individuals were mild cases. Only 8 (5.40%) cases were re-infected with Covid-19 infection. 70.27% individual were comorbid. Out of 148 vaccinated individuals, only 11 (7.43%) individuals were died and among those 7 (63.636%) were comorbid.

Conclusion

Despite being vaccinated, small percentage of people are still getting infected, requires hospitalization, and die because of COVID-19. As far as pandemic continues, continuous genome sequencing and tracking of SARS-CoV-2 is essential and strategies regarding vaccination should be adjusted accordingly.

New Insights and Potential Therapeutic Interventions in Metabolic Diseases

Endocrine homeostasis and metabolic diseases have been the subject of extensive research in recent years. The development of new techniques and insights has led to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying these conditions and opened up new avenues for diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we discussed the rise of metabolic diseases, especially in Western countries, the genetical, psychological, and behavioral basis of metabolic diseases, the role of nutrition and physical activity in the development of metabolic diseases, the role of single-cell transcriptomics, gut microbiota, epigenetics, advanced imaging techniques, and cell-based therapies in metabolic diseases. Finally, practical applications derived from this information are made.

Sociodemographic and clinical predictors for COVID-19 preventive measures compliance among pregnant women in Saudi Arabia: a multicenter study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the levels of adherence among pregnant women to the basic COVID-19 preventive measures, and to analyze the effect of risk perception and sociodemographic and clinical factors on adherence.

METHOD

A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted at the obstetrics clinics of 50 primary care centers selected using a multistage sampling method. An online-administered, structured questionnaire was used to collect self-reported levels of adherence to four basic preventive measures against COVID-19, along with perceived COVID-19 severity, infectiousness, and harmfulness to the baby, besides sociodemographic and clinical data including obstetrical and other medical history.

RESULTS

A total of 2460 pregnant women were included with a mean (SD) age of 30.21 (6.11) years. Levels of self-reported compliance were highest for hand hygiene (95.7%), followed by social distancing (92.3%), masking (90.0%), and avoidance of contact with a COVID-19 infected person (70.3%). Perceived COVID-19 severity and infectiousness, and harmfulness to the baby were observed in 89.2%, 70.7%, and 85.0% of the participants, respectively, and were variably associated with compliance to preventive measures. Analysis of sociodemographic factors highlighted the significance of education and economic status in determining adherence to preventive measures, which represents a potential inequity in the risk of COVID-19 infection.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the importance of patients' education to enable functional perception of COVID-19 that promotes self-efficacy, besides investigating the specific social determinants of health to tackle inequalities in terms of prevention efficiency and the subsequent health outcomes.

Water-soluble polythiophene-based colorimetry for the quick and accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA

The SARS-CoV-2-related Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic has had a significant negative impact on society and endangered global health. To quickly stop and constrain the pandemic, a SARS-CoV-2 detection technology that is sensitive, quick and reasonably priced is urgently required. The widely used reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) requires complex equipment and a fair amount of time. Reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) exhibits significant advantage for early detection of COVID-19 without the requirement for expensive equipment by amplifying a little amount of RNA to a detectable level at isothermal condition. Here, a water-soluble polythiophene-based colorimetric method by combining with RT-LAMP is established for fast and sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The proposed assay has benefits for the quick detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA at concentrations as low as 10 aM, or 6 copies/μL.

COVID-19 Vaccination and Clinical Outcomes at a Secondary Referral Hospital During the Delta Variant-dominant Period in West Sumatra, Indonesia

OBJECTIVES

The second wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Indonesia, during which the Delta variant predominated, took place after a vaccination program had been initiated in the country. This study was conducted to assess the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on unfavorable clinical outcomes including hospitalization, severe COVID-19, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and death using a real-world model.

METHODS

This single-center retrospective cohort study involved patients with COVID-19 aged ≥18 years who presented to the COVID-19 emergency room at a secondary referral teaching hospital between June 1, 2021 and August 31, 2021. We used a binary logistic regression model to assess the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on unfavorable clinical outcomes, with age, sex, and comorbidities as confounding variables.

RESULTS

A total of 716 patients were included, 32.1% of whom were vaccinated. The elderly participants (≥65 years) had the lowest vaccine coverage among age groups. Vaccination had an effectiveness of 50% (95% confidence interval [CI], 25 to 66) for preventing hospitalization, 97% (95% CI, 77 to 99) for preventing severe COVID-19, 95% (95% CI, 56 to 99) for preventing ICU admission, and 90% (95% CI, 22 to 99) for preventing death. Interestingly, patients with type 2 diabetes had a 2-fold to 4-fold elevated risk of unfavorable outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Among adults, COVID-19 vaccination has a moderate preventive impact on hospitalization but a high preventive impact on severe COVID-19, ICU admission, and death. The authors suggest that relevant parties increase COVID-19 vaccination coverage, especially in the elderly population.

Social Media, Anxiety and COVID-19 Lockdown Measurement Compliance

The aim of the present research was to analyze the effect of anxiety levels during the COVID-19 pandemic in the use of social media and compliance with lockdown measures during the confinement. A total of 1723 participants (32.1% males and 77.9% females; 32.6 ± 9.2 years) were interviewed by a Spanish version of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. From the results obtained, the sample was divided into two 50th percentile groups, a high anxiety group (HAG) and a low anxiety group (LAG). We found how the LAG had lower use of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter during confinement. Also, this group presented a higher rate of leaving home during the confinement and higher values in people with whom they had lived with during confinement than high anxiety group. Regardless of the lack of results in the remaining variables, the present study nuances the high levels of anxiety experienced during COVID-19 confinement. The multifactorial analysis of factors related to the perception of anxiety during COVID-19 confinement may be a useful tool to measure multiple social behaviors when examining mental health factors. Thus, explaining and preventing the psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The present knowledge could be used to determine key intervention factors for reducing the perception of fear and anxiety.

Pandemic Preparedness among Big Energy Companies: Call to Research and Action

The COVID-19 pandemic, as a global phenomenon, has affected all the working realities, worldwide, with the same issues. The aim of the present work is to assess the experiences of management and their preparedness during the pandemic among big companies, in particular, in the energy sector. Based on an overview of scientific evidence and grey literature, we found that big companies followed evidence-based decision-making practices and offered preparedness and information plans. Specifically, these plans contained recommendations and best practices to be followed to avoid the risk of infection in the workplaces, as well as in the field of epidemiological surveillance and vaccination. Nevertheless, many research efforts are required, and it is important that a large number of big companies and corporations address these challenges worldwide, adopting a new sustainable approach that includes both the productivity and health of the workers. A Call to Action was then issued in order to achieve evidence-based leadership to address current and future public health emergency scenarios.

Effects of High-Intensity Exercise on Physiological Indicators of Recovery Period by Wearing Face Masks of Elite Athletes

Athletes need to maintain the necessary physical conditioning for sports performance while wearing face masks to reduce the risk of virus transmission during training and competition during the COVID-19 situation. The quantitative and physiological effects of face masks on exercise capacity needs to be reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate elite athletes to quantify, in detail, the effect of a KF94 face mask on changes in lactic acid during recovery after high-intensity aerobic exercise. Thirteen elite soft tennis athletes were recruited. A crossover design was used to examine the effects of using a disposable KF94 face mask compared with not masking during exercise. The participants completed a shuttle run test experiment two times during a 3-day period, including 5−10 min of warmup according to their personal preferences. The lactic acid concentration at 20 min of recovery after maximum exercise was 5.98 ± 1.53 mM/L without a mask and 7.61 ± 1.85 mM/L with a KF94 mask (p < 0.001). The maximum laps of shuttle run tests were 101.5 ± 22.5 laps without a mask and 94.2 ± 20.2 laps with a KF94 mask (p < 0.001). Intense exercise after wearing quarantine masks reduces the maximum aerobic exercise ability and decreases the ability to recover lactic acid.

Optimizing COVID-19 vaccine allocation considering the target population

Vaccine allocation strategy for COVID-19 is an emerging and important issue that affects the efficiency and control of virus spread. In order to improve the fairness and efficiency of vaccine distribution, this paper studies the optimization of vaccine distribution under the condition of limited number of vaccines. We pay attention to the target population before distributing vaccines, including attitude toward the vaccination, priority groups for vaccination, and vaccination priority policy. Furthermore, we consider inventory and budget indexes to maximize the precise scheduling of vaccine resources. A mixed-integer programming model is developed for vaccine distribution considering the target population from the viewpoint of fairness and efficiency. Finally, a case study is provided to verify the model and provide insights for vaccine distribution.

The effect of health gate sterilizer use on work motivation during post-COVID-19 pandemic: an analysis of educational staff

This study investigates the use of a health gate sterilizer on its impact on the work motivation of education personnel during the post-COVID-19 pandemic. The research method used is an experiment with a pre-test/post-test group design. This research was carried out for 8 weeks on 120 education staff at an educational institution. Education personnel was chosen because of their importance to the education sector in Indonesia after the COVID-19 pandemic was very disrupted. The treatment given is the use of a health gate sterilizer for educational staff to feel safe and comfortable so that they are expected to be motivated in their work. The results showed that there was a significant and positive effect of the use of a health gate sterilizer on the work motivation of educational staff in educational institutions. From this research, it can be concluded that the use of a health gate sterilizer must continue to be used in order to have a positive impact on motivating one’s work because it does provide a sense of security and comfort from the COVID- 19 virus.

Gender Differences of University Students in the Online Teaching Quality and Psychological Profile during the COVID-19 Pandemic

With the arrival of COVID-19, educational systems have had to adapt to the social and health situation immediately. This led to the appearance of the asynchronous teaching model. Throughout the pandemic, at the educational level, we can distinguish three phases, eminently online, hybrid, and finally, face-to-face. However, the perception of educational quality in these three educational moments, taking into account the psychometric profile and gender, has not been studied. Thus, 1093 university students from Ibero-American countries were analyzed. Through a questionnaire, demographic, academic, and psychological variables were analyzed at three moments during the evolution of the pandemic. Data suggest that, during the lockdown phase, while teaching was eminently online, students presented higher levels of stress and higher difficulty of learning; class attendance, convenience, preferred method of learning, grading score, and motivation were lower, compared to other phases of teaching (hybrid and face-to-face). During this period, females presented higher stress levels than males, as well as higher levels of anxiety and loneliness, without gender differences among the other studied variables. During the hybrid and face-to-face phases, male students presented higher values in the results of difficulty learning and demanding activities. No differences were seen regarding motivation, synchronous class attendance, learning level, grades, convenience, or preferred learning method. The results from the present study suggest that, despite the effect of the pandemic on mental health, asynchronous education is postulated as an effective teaching-learning alternative. Yet, a special focus should be given to female students.

COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infection among fully vaccinated healthcare workers in Duhok governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan: A retrospective cohort study

The aims of this study were: to determine the incidence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs), assess risk factors associated with the vaccine breakthrough (BT), and compare the effectiveness of vaccine manufacturers against SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern among HCWs in Duhok governorate. It is a multicenter retrospective cohort study, which enrolled 944 HCWs through March 2022. COVID-19 vaccinated HCWs aging 18 and above were included. A random sampling process was performed by asking the participants to fill out a standardized questionnaire by means of interviews or participant-completed surveys. Fully vaccinated HCWs with positive polymerase chain reaction tests were considered to have vaccine BT infection. Two hundred and eighty-four (30.1%) out of 944 vaccinated HCWs had SARS-CoV-2 infection postvaccination, of whom 241 (84.9%) were fully vaccinated, concluding that the incidence of BT infection is 25.5%. There were 422 (44.7%) males and 522 (55.3%) females. Most vaccine BT infections had developed in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (53.5%). The majority of BT infections were mild to moderate (95.5%). Occupation, namely dentist was a significant risk factor, with a p value of 0.001. HCWs with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection prevaccination were more prone to a vaccine BT infection (p value =0.002). Pfizer vaccine manufacturers revealed the highest effectiveness against BT infection (p value =0.0001). Paramedics showed a significant association with the disease severity (p value =0.02). The three available vaccine manufacturers in the Duhok governorate are effective against COVID-19 BT infections. Dentists and paramedics were significantly associated with poor COVID-19 outcomes.

Prevalence of Positive Rapid Antigen Tests After 7-Day Isolation Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection in College Athletes During Omicron Variant Predominance

IMPORTANCE

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shortened the recommended isolation period for SARS-CoV-2 infection from 10 days to 5 days in December 2021. It is unknown whether an individual with the infection may still have a positive result to a rapid antigen test and potentially be contagious at the end of this shortened isolation period.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the proportion of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection whose rapid antigen test is still positive starting 7 days postdiagnosis.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This case series analyzed student athletes at a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I university campus who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 between January 3 and May 6, 2022. Individuals underwent rapid antigen testing starting 7 days postdiagnosis to determine whether they could end their isolation period.

EXPOSURES

Rapid antigen testing 7 days after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Rapid antigen test results, symptom status, and SARS-CoV-2 variant identification via campus wastewater analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 264 student athletes (140 [53%] female; mean [SD] age, 20.1 [1.2] years; range, 18-25 years) representing 268 infections (177 [66%] symptomatic, 91 [34%] asymptomatic) were included in the study. Of the 248 infections in individuals who did a day 7 test, 67 (27%; 95% CI, 21%-33%) tests were still positive. Patients with symptomatic infections were significantly more likely to test positive on day 7 vs those who were asymptomatic (35%; 95% CI, 28%-43% vs 11%; 95% CI, 5%-18%; P < .001). Patients with the BA.2 variant were also significantly more likely to test positive on day 7 compared with those with the BA.1 variant (40%; 95% CI, 29%-51% vs 21%; 95% CI, 15%-27%; P = .007).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this case series, rapid antigen tests remained positive in 27% of the individuals after 7 days of isolation, suggesting that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recommended 5-day isolation period may be insufficient in preventing ongoing spread of disease. Further studies are needed to determine whether these findings are present in a more heterogeneous population and in subsequent variants.

Overweight and executive functions, psychological and behavioral profile of Spanish adolescents

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents has risen dramatically increasing a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases and cognitive dysfunctions. This study aimed to analyze differences in the executive function´s development between overweight and normal-weight adolescents. As a secondary objective, we aimed to assess differences in adolescents' psychological and behavioral profiles between groups. In order to achieve the study's aim, 105 adolescent students (17.61 ± 7.43 years) completed an online questionnaire that analyzed variables regarding their executive functions' processes, their psychological and physical health as well as lifestyle habits. Results showed that executive functions development is associated with adolescent weight. A higher range of weight presents a lower ability to assess abstract reasoning and to shift cognitive strategies. Nevertheless, no differences were found between groups in the capacity to hold information in mind nor the ability to control impulsive responses. Furthermore, groups showed differences in the number of meals and gastritis, but no significant differences have been found in lifestyle variables such as mobile usage, smoking, physical activity, and hours of sleep per day. The results from the present study could be used to implement multidisciplinary programs to develop healthier habits.

Serum Proteome Signatures of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinated Healthcare Workers in Greece Associated with Their Prior Infection Status

Over the course of the pandemic, proteomics, being in the frontline of anti-COVID-19 research, has massively contributed to the investigation of molecular pathogenic properties of the virus. However, data on the proteome on anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated individuals remain scarce. This study aimed to identify the serum proteome characteristics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated individuals who had previously contracted the virus and comparatively assess them against those of virus-naïve vaccine recipients. Blood samples of n = 252 individuals, out of whom n = 35 had been previously infected, were collected in the "G. Gennimatas" General Hospital of Thessaloniki, from 4 January 2021 to 31 August 2021. All participants received the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer/BioNTech). A label-free quantitative proteomics LC-MS/MS approach was undertaken, and the identified proteins were analyzed using the GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes) databases as well as processed by bioinformatics tools. Titers of total RBD-specific IgGs against SARS-CoV-2 were also determined using the SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant assay. A total of 47 proteins were significantly differentially expressed, the majority of which were down-regulated in sera of previously infected patients compared to virus-naïve controls. Several pathways were affected supporting the crucial role of the humoral immune response in the protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection provided by COVID-19 vaccination. Overall, our comprehensive proteome profiling analysis contributes novel knowledge of the mechanisms of immune response induced by anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and identified protein signatures reflecting the immune status of vaccine recipients.

COVID-19 related psychological burden and potential benefits of vaccination - Data from a repeated cross-sectional survey in healthcare workers

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the psychological well-being, especially of health care workers, for more than two years now. Here, we followed-up on a survey we conducted at the very beginning of the pandemic, to determine potential changes in psychological strain experienced by health care workers one year later. Since our first survey in 2020, COVID-19 vaccines have been established, thus we assessed whether vaccination-status might modulate psychological burden of health care workers. We also collected data on resilience and sleep, as those might be related to successful coping. Between March and April 2021, nurses and physicians (N ​= ​286) working at the University Hospital Augsburg - with high or low exposure to COVID-19 patients - took part in an online survey. We found that fully vaccinated personnel reported lower levels of anxiety, depression, stress and exhaustion suggesting the potential positive consequences of vaccination beyond the obvious protection against a COVID-19 infection. Nurses reported more depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress and exhaustion and lower levels of job fulfilment than physicians. Individuals with high exposure to COVID-19 patients reported higher exhaustion and depersonalization. Resilience and sleep quality were significantly correlated with psychological and work-related burden, suggesting their potential role as protective resources. In general, the comparison of the present data to the survey conducted in 2020 suggests an overall increase of psychological burden in health care workers. Despite these surely alarming findings, it should be noted that being vaccinated might come along with reduced psychological strain.

Assessment of mutations on RBD in the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Delta and Omicron variants

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus 2 (CoV-2) variant Omicron spread more rapid than the other variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Mutations on the Spike (S) protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) are critical for the antibody resistance and infectivity of the SARS-CoV-2 variants. In this study, we have used accelerated molecular dynamics (aMD) simulations and free energy calculations to present a systematic analysis of the affinity and conformational dynamics along with the interactions that drive the binding between Spike protein RBD and human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. We evaluate the impacts of the key mutation that occur in the RBDs Omicron and other variants in the binding with the human ACE2 receptor. The results show that S protein Omicron has stronger binding to the ACE2 than other variants. The evaluation of the decomposition energy per residue shows the mutations N440K, T478K, Q493R and Q498R observed in Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 provided a stabilization effect for the interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 RBD and ACE2. Overall, the results demonstrate that faster spreading of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron may be correlated with binding affinity of S protein RBD to ACE2 and mutations of uncharged residues to positively charged residues such as Lys and Arg in key positions in the RBD.

Mis-Dis Information in COVID-19 Health Crisis: A Narrative Review

Background: In this narrative review, we address the COVID-19 pandemic mis–dis information crisis in which healthcare systems have been pushed to their limits, with collapses occurring worldwide. The context of uncertainty has resulted in skepticism, confusion, and general malaise among the population. Informing the public has been one of the major challenges during this pandemic. Misinformation is defined as false information shared by people who have no intention of misleading others. Disinformation is defined as false information deliberately created and disseminated with malicious intentions. Objective: To reach a consensus and critical review about mis–dis information in COVID-19 crisis. Methods: A database search was conducted in PsychINFO, MedLine (Pubmed), Cochrane (Wiley), Embase and CinAhl. Databases used the MeSH-compliant keywords of COVID-19, 2019-nCoV, Coronavirus 2019, SARS-CoV-2, misinformation, disinformation, information, vaccines, vaccination, origin, target, spread, communication. Results: Both misinformation and disinformation can affect the population’s confidence in vaccines (development, safety, and efficacy of vaccines, as well as denial of the severity of SARS-CoV infection). Institutions should take into account that a great part of the success of the intervention to combat a pandemic has a relationship with the power to stop the misinformation and disinformation processes. The response should be well-structured and addressed from different key points: central level and community level, with official and centralized communication channels. The approach should be multifactorial and enhanced by the collaboration of social media companies to stop misleading information, and trustworthy people both working or not working in the health care systems to boost the power of the message. Conclusions: The response should be well-structured and addressed from different key points: central level and community level, with official and clearly centralized communication channels. The approach should be multifactorial and enhanced from the collaboration of social media companies to stop misleading information, and trustworthy people both working and not working in the health care systems to boost the power of a message based on scientific evidence.

Physical activity and COVID-19. The basis for an efficient intervention in times of COVID-19 pandemic

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has shocked world health authorities generating a global health crisis. The present study aimed to analyze the different factors associated with physical activity that could have an impact in the COVID-19, providing a practical recommendation based on actual scientific knowledge. We conducted a consensus critical review using primary sources, scientific articles, and secondary bibliographic indexes, databases, and web pages. The method was a narrative literature review of the available literature regarding physical activity and physical activity related factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The main online database used in the present research were PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar. COVID-19 has negatively influenced motor behavior, levels of regular exercise practice, eating and nutritional patterns, and the psychological status of citizens. These factors feed into each other, worsening COVID-19 symptoms, the risk of death from SARS-CoV-2, and the symptoms and effectiveness of the vaccine. The characteristics and symptoms related with the actual COVID-19 pandemic made the physical activity interventions a valuable prevention and treatment factor. Physical activity improves body composition, the cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and mental health of patients and enhancing antibody responses in vaccination.

Food Consumption and COVID-19 Risk Perception of University Students

The aim of this study is to examine the differences in COVID-19 risk perception of university students, depending on their food consumption (proinflammatory diet and non-proinflammatory diet). A total of 513 university students aged between 16 and 42 years (PDG: mean 20.26, standard deviation 3.07; NPDG: mean 21.78, standard deviation 4.12) were interviewed via an online questionnaire. The study subjects were divided into two groups: a proinflammatory diet group (PDG) who obtained higher values on pasta, rice, bread, pastries, juices, and fruit consumption; and non-proinflammatory diet group (NPGD) who presented low consumption on these products. Significant results were obtained (p < 0.05) on how a proinflammatory diet presented a higher COVID-19 risk perception in university students (PDG 7.92 ± 2.46; NPGD 7.12 ± 2.28). In addition, students with a proinflammatory diet presented lower values in depression (PDG 48.32 ± 5.33; NPGD 49.83 ± 5.23) and loneliness (PDG 4.91 ± 1.67; NPGD 5.14 ± 1.68) and higher values in openness to experience (PDG 7.5 ± 1.53; NPGD 7.20 ± 1.54) than students with a non-proinflammatory diet. Furthermore, students with a proinflammatory diet were most affected in work (loss of work, reduced work, or unaffected work) due to the COVID-19 crisis (PDG 2.54 ± 0.65; NPGD 3.99 ± 0.26). The proinflammatory diet group presented higher values in complying with the confinement rules than students with a non-proinflammatory diet (PDG 8.26 ± 1.83; NPGD 7.74 ± 2.10). The results of this study may be a useful tool to explain and prevent both the psychological and general health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in students.

The Effect of Loneliness in Psychological and Behavioral Profile among High School Students in Spain

Loneliness is a distressing feeling that can be a barrier to a student’s development and affect their mental health. This research aimed to analyse the effects of loneliness on psychological and behavioral factors among students aged 12–19 years in Spain. Loneliness, experiential avoidance, psychological inflexibility, physical activity, mobile phone use, and smoke habits were analysed in a sample of 110 men and 122 women assigned into two groups depending on their loneliness levels: higher loneliness group (HLG) and lower loneliness group (LLG). Results showed that experimental avoidance and psychological inflexibility were related with loneliness (r = 0.471; p = 0.000). Experiential avoidance and psychological inflexibility were higher in HLG than LLG. Regarding the use of mobile phones and smoking habits, LLG presented significantly higher values than HLG. Higher age correlated with lower loneliness values (r = −0.155; p = 0.017). The present research found how students with higher loneliness presented higher experiential avoidance and psychological inflexibility and lower age, use of mobile phone, and smoking habits. These findings reveal the importance of considering multiple social behaviours when examining adolescent mental health factors.

Adaptation of Innovations in the IT Industry in Poland: The Impact of Selected Internal Communication Factors

Adaptation of innovations by employees, especially in hi-tech industries, is very important from the perspectives of both implementing new technologies and maintaining competitiveness in today’s dynamic market. The paper analyzes selected internal communication factors in terms of their potential impacts on the adaptation of innovations in information technology (IT) companies in Poland. These factors were determined on the basis of a literature analysis, opinions of panel participants (experts), and pilot studies that have been conducted. The undoubtedly innovative element is the study of the impact of the above-mentioned factors on the individual stages of innovation. The aim of the study was to identify and assess the perception of the influence of selected factors related to internal communication in a company on the adaptation of innovation by employees of the IT industry in Poland, taking into account the different stages of the implementation. The hypothesis of the study was that selected internal communication factors have different effects on innovation adoption at different stages of the innovation process. The study combined expert opinions and a literature analysis with a diagnostic survey (questionnaire) and a statistical analysis. The questionnaire survey allowed the examination of the opinions of the respondents about the impacts of 12 factors related to internal communication in the company on the adaptation of innovation. The results of the study confirmed the hypothesis and allowed the formulation of theoretical and practical conclusions that can be applied when introducing innovations.

Modifications of academic competences and intelligence in a university grade

The aim of the study was to analyze differences in intelligence, academic competences, and academic achievement by gender and academic course in sports science university students. To reach the study aim we analyzed in 267 (226 males and 41 females) first and last year students' degree the variables of intelligence (Reasoning scale of the Primary Mental Abilities Test), academic achievement and self-perception of 40 academic competences (30 general competences and 10 specific competences). We found how last year degree students presented higher general and specific competences than first year students, not presenting differences in intelligence and academic achievement. Female students presented higher academic achievement and higher values in some general and specific competences but not in intelligence.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Disorders. A Critical Review

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lives of the worldwide population. Citizens suffer the social, economic, physiological, and psychological effects of this pandemic. Primary sources, scientific articles, and secondary bibliographic indexes, databases, and web pages were used for a consensus critical review. The method was a narrative review of the available literature to summarize the existing literature addressing mental health concerns and stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The main search engines used in the present research were PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar. We found the pandemic has had a direct impact on psychopathologies such as anxiety, increasing its ratios, and depression. Other syndromes such as burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder have increased with the pandemic, showing a larger incidence among medical personnel. Moreover, eating disorders and violence have also increased. Public authorities must prepare healthcare systems for increasing incidences of mental pathologies. Mental health apps are one of the tools that can be used to reach the general population.

The Role of the Local Host Community’s Involvement in the Development of Tourism: A Case Study of the Residents’ Perceptions toward Tourism on the Route of Santiago de Compostela (Spain)

As an economic, social, and cultural activity, tourism shapes the relationship between visitors and local communities in tourist destinations. While tourism generates economic growth and employment opportunities for residents, its benefits come with a social cost. This article highlights the results of an online survey that was carried out at the beginning of 2021 in the seven major Galician cities along the Route of Santiago de Compostela (the Way of St. James) in Spain, which is a historical, natural, and cultural tourist attraction that is inscribed in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List in the category of cultural assets. The goal of the research work was to get to know first-hand the opinion of local communities about the positive and negative effects of tourism in their cities, on the Route of Santiago, and in the region of Galicia as a whole. Research work shows that residents’ perception of tourism leans toward the positive side, although it also reveals the need for tourism planners to involve host communities in tourism development. This research study about a World Heritage site should prove useful for political decision makers, tourism planners, and experts, both in Galicia and elsewhere.

The Effect of Surgical Mask Use in Anaerobic Running Performance

COVID-19 restrictions stipulate the mandatory use of surgical masks during outdoor and indoor physical activities. The impact of this on athletic performance and especially on anaerobic physical activities is poorly known. The aim of the present research was to analyze the effect of surgical mask use on the anaerobic running performance of athletes. Modifications in running time, blood lactate, blood glucose, blood oxygen saturation, subjective perceived stress, rating of perceived exertion, and heart rate variability were measured in 50 m and 400 m maximal running tests with and without the use of surgical masks in 72 athletes. The use of a surgical mask increased blood lactate concentration, sympathetic autonomic modulation, perceived exertion, perceived stress, and decreased blood oxygen saturation in 50 and 400 m running tests. Thus, the higher levels of blood lactate and lower blood oxygen saturation require adaptation of the athlete’s rest and recovery periods to the acute workload. The higher level of sympathetic activation makes the acute and chronic control of autonomic modulation essential for an efficient training periodization. Finally, the use of acid buffers such as bicarbonate or sodium citrate would be a recommended ergogenic strategy.

Women Facing Psychological Abuse: How Do They Respond to Maternal Identity Humiliation and Body Shaming?

This research analyzes the decisions made by women facing simulated situations of psychological abuse. Seventy-three women (36.9 ± 13.6 years) who had been victims of domestic violence participated. The analysis was based on their coping strategies, early maladaptive schemes, and their decisions in response to vignettes describing the following domestic violence situations: humiliation to women's maternal identity with children as witnesses and body shaming. We used Student's t and Mann-Whitney tests to compare the results between groups. The participants presented some coping strategies (social support seeking, wishful thinking, and professional support seeking) and several early maladaptive schemes (emotional deprivation, defectiveness/shame, social isolation/alienation, failure to achieve, attachment, and subjugation) associated with their reactions facing a situation of humiliation with children as witnesses. When the humiliation was against the body image, their reactions were associated with some coping strategies (wishful thinking, professional support seeking, autonomy, negative auto-focus coping, and positive reappraisal) and one maladaptive scheme (defectiveness/shame). Women who reacted avoidantly showed higher social and professional support seeking but experienced higher indicators of discomfort and deterioration of self-esteem than those who opted for assertive decisions. The presence of children as witnesses seems to be a factor of stress in the configuration of coping strategies and maladaptive schemes in female victims of domestic violence. The evolution of early maladaptive schemes and coping strategies requires observation to avoid the risk of isolation and permanence in victimizing relationships.