Media exposure related to COVID-19 is associated with worse mental health consequences in the United States compared to Italy

BACKGROUND

Prolonged media exposure after collective crises is widely shown to have adverse effects on people's mental health. Do these effects show variation across different countries? In the present study, we compared the link between media exposure related to COVID-19 and mental health-related outcomes in the United States and Italy, two countries with high levels of early COVID-19 prevalence.

METHOD

Participants matched on age and gender in the United States (n = 415) and Italy (n = 442) completed assessments of media exposure, stress, anxiety, COVID-19 worry, and other variables shortly after the first wave of infections in 2020.

RESULTS

COVID-19 related media exposure predicted higher levels of stress, anxiety, and COVID-19 worry, net of the effects of neuroticism, political identification, and demographics. Moreover, COVID-19 related media exposure interacted with country to predict more stress and COVID-19 worry in the United States than in Italy.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings are among the first to document cross-national differences in the association of media exposure with mental health outcomes.

Intercalation compounds of hydrotalcite-like anionic clays with antiinflammatory agents — I. Intercalation and in vitro release of ibuprofen

Hydrotalcite-like compounds are layered solids having positively charged layers and interlayer charge-compensating anions. The synthetic Mg0.67Al0.33(OH)2 Cl0.33.0.6H2O, which is biocompatible, has been used to intercalate a model drug, ibuprofen, in order to prepare a modified release formulation. The intercalation compound was prepared via ion-exchange starting from the chloride form of hydrotalcite and its composition, determined both by elemental microanalysis and thermogravimetric analysis, was Mg0.67Al0.33(OH)2IBU0.33.0.47H2O, drug content 50% (w/w). As a consequence of the intercalation, the interlayer distance of the host increased from 0.78 nm (interlayer distance of chloride form) to 2.17 nm. The result of dissolution tests at pH 7.5 showed that the in vitro drug release was modified if compared with that obtained with comparative formulations. The mechanism of modified drug release has been interpreted on the basis of the ion exchange process of the ibuprofen anion intercalated in the lamellar host and phosphates contained in the intestinal fluid buffer.

How to improve the readability of the patient package leaflet: a survey on the use of colour, print size and layout

This paper displays the results of the second part of a survey about patient information and the use of the patient package leaflet. The aim of this research is to investigate the consumers' attitude towards written information. As the formal aspects of the written message are very important in communication, we prepared a questionnaire in order to evaluate the attitude of patients towards some typographical modifications. Patients were invited to give indications about which colours could be used in the different paragraphs of the package leaflet and which print size could be easily read. All people interviewed were asked to choose a colour, from six proposed by us, to be used for 'therapeutic indications', 'side effects', 'how to use', 'paediatric use', 'contraindications', 'use in pregnancy' and 'warnings'. Clear suggestions for the choice of colours for therapeutic indications, side effects and contraindications arose from the survey. In the other cases there was no uniformity of answers. All people complained that the print size used in the package leaflet is too small and suggested 10 and 11 points Didot. Finally, from the survey it emerged that people would appreciate a more detailed package leaflet but information should be given in a schematic and concise way.

Microporous material from kanemite for drug inclusion and release

A microporous material obtained from kanemite, a layered polysilicate, was studied in order to investigate its feasibility of including drugs and then releasing them. Diphenydramine hydrochloride was chosen as a model drug. The preparation of the microporous material and its loading with the drug are described. As kanemite is able to intercalate anions between its layers, the intercalation compound of diphenydramine and kanemite was also prepared. Both the drug-loaded microporous material and the intercalation compound were submitted to dissolution tests at pH 7.5. The drug release profiles from these two different materials and from a physical mixture were compared.

Comprehensibility of the package leaflets of all medicinal products for human use: a questionnaire survey about the use of symbols and pictograms

Directive 92/27EEC establishes that the package leaflet is a document, which must be included in the package of medicinal products for human use in EU countries. This informative leaflet is directed at the users and it must give full and comprehensible information. The Law suggests the use of symbols but it does not give advice about the subjects to be represented. In order to evaluate the attitude of patients towards package leaflets provided with symbols, we planned a survey interviewing 1004 patients in pharmacies. The data suggest that Italian patients usually read the package leaflet but they neither understand it easily nor find the needed information readily. Most respondents (74.3%) considered the use of symbols helpful in finding the needed information. We proposed five symbols for each heading (therapeutic indications, side effects, paediatric use, contraindications, use in pregnancy) and asked to select which symbol could be used. In the case of 'side effects', 'paediatric use', 'use in pregnancy' and 'dose', most of the respondents chose the same symbol. In the case of 'therapeutic indications' and 'contraindications' there was no uniformity in the answers. The choice depends greatly on education, age and employment of respondents.

[Planning a statistical inquiry for evaluation of patient information]

This article deals with the patient package insert and the information to the patient-consumer. The law in force states that the patient package insert is an informative instrument for the consumer so it should be exhaustive, comprehensible and immediate. A statistical investigation has been performed in order to evaluate the clearness of patient package insert and the quality of the drug information. The protocol consists of the methodology of the investigation, the study pilot, the sampling and, finally, the questionnaire.

New Canthin-6-one Alkaloids from Quassia amara

From the wood of QUASSIA AMARA L. (Simarubaceae) two new canthin-6-one alkaloids have been isolated and their structures determined as 3-methyl-4-methoxy-5-hydroxycanthin-2,6-dione ( 1) and 4-methoxy-5-hydroxycanthin-6-one 3-, N-oxide ( 2) by spectroscopic and chemical methods. 3-Methylcanthin-5,6-dione ( 3) has been also isolated and identified for the first time from this source.

Indole Alkaloids from Quassia amara

Three beta-carboline alkaloids have been isolated for the first time from the wood of QUASSIA AMARA L. (Simarubaceae) and their structures were determined to be 1-vinyl-4,8-dimethoxy-beta-carboline ( 1), 1-methoxycarbonyl-beta-carboline ( 2), and 3-methylcantin-2,6-dione ( 3) by spectral and chemical means.

In vitro cytostatic activity of chromatographic fractions of extracts from some species of compositae

Three species of the family of Compositae were extracted, partitioned and fractioned on silica gel column. The chromatographic fractions were investigated for cytostatic activity in vitro against human KB (human carcinoma of nasopharynx) cell line. The most interesting results were obtained with the first eight fractions of Senecio inaequidens DC, chloroformic extract, which showed marked cytostatic activity and appeared worthy of further investigations.

New cytotoxic guaianolides and derivatives from Grosheimia macrocephala

Grosheimia macrocephala (Compositae) proved to be a very interesting natural source, not only of grosheimin (I), but also of cynaropicrin (III). Some derivatives from these two natural sesquiterpene gamma-lactones were prepared (Schemes 2 and 3) and two new natural guaianolides: 4'-deoxy-cynaropicrin (V) and 4'-nor-2'-metoxy-cynaropicrin (VI) were isolated and structurally identified. A series of these compounds were submitted to in vitro preliminary testing of cytostatic activity against KB cell lines and relationships between bioactivity and chemical features were investigated.

Flavonoids from Dittrichia viscosa

The isolation and structural elucidation of two flavonoids I and II found in Dittrichia viscosa, L., syn. Inula viscosa L., is reported.

[Antiamebic properties of some derivatives of ailantone and quassin]

Owing to its high toxicity, ailanthone, one of the most potent in vivo amoebicidal drugs of natural origin, cannot be safely employed in clinical trials. With the aim of obtaining a compound with a better therapeutic index and of studying possible relationships between biological activity and chemical structure, many derivatives of ailanthone and of the chemically related, although biologically inactive, quassin have been prepared and tested.