COVID Pub Date : 2024-07-15 DOI: 10.3390/covid4070075

Dapeng Wang, S. D. Wiktor, Chew W. Cheng, K. J. Simmons, Ashley Money, L. Pedicini, Asya Carlton, Alexander L. Breeze, Lynn McKeown

{"title":"EFCAB4B (CRACR2A/Rab46) Genetic Variants Associated with COVID-19 Fatality","authors":"Dapeng Wang, S. D. Wiktor, Chew W. Cheng, K. J. Simmons, Ashley Money, L. Pedicini, Asya Carlton, Alexander L. Breeze, Lynn McKeown","doi":"10.3390/covid4070075","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4070075","url":null,"abstract":"The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has resulted in more than 692 million cases worldwide and nearly 7 million deaths (August 2023). Severe COVID-19 is characterised in part by vascular thrombosis and a cytokine storm due to increased plasma concentrations of pro-thrombotic proteins such as von Willebrand factor and cytokines secreted from endothelial and T-cells. EFCAB4B is a gene that encodes for two proteins (CRACR2A and Rab46) that play important roles in endothelial and T-cell secretion. In this study, using patient data recorded in the UK Biobank, we demonstrate the importance of variants in the EFCAB4B genetic sequence with COVID-19 fatality. Using logistic regression analysis, we determined that three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene cause missense variations in CRACR2A and Rab46, which are associated with COVID-19 fatality (rs9788233: p = 0.004, odds ratio = 1.511; rs17836273: p = 0.012, odds ratio = 1.433; rs36030417: p = 0.013, odds ratio = 1.393). All three SNPs cause changes in amino acid residues that are highly conserved across species, indicating their importance in protein structure and function. Two SNPs, rs17836273 (A98T) and rs36030417 (H212Q), cause amino acid substitutions in important functional domains: the EF-hand and coiled-coil domain, respectively. Molecular modelling shows minimal impact by the substitution of threonine at position 98 on the structure of the EF-hand. Since Rab46 is a GTPase that regulates both endothelial cell secretion and T-cell signalling, these missense variants may play a role in the molecular mechanisms underlying the thrombotic and inflammatory characteristics observed in patients with severe COVID-19 outcomes.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":"117 22","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141646895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Comparison of the Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Workers between 2022 and 2023 in a Romanian COVID-19 Hub Hospital 罗马尼亚 COVID-19 中心医院 2022 年和 2023 年 COVID-19 对医护人员心理影响的比较

COVID Pub Date : 2024-07-14 DOI: 10.3390/covid4070074

Monica Muntean, D. Colcear, V. Briciu, M. Lupșe, C. Crisan, Maria Sidea, Amanda Rădulescu

{"title":"Comparison of the Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Workers between 2022 and 2023 in a Romanian COVID-19 Hub Hospital","authors":"Monica Muntean, D. Colcear, V. Briciu, M. Lupșe, C. Crisan, Maria Sidea, Amanda Rădulescu","doi":"10.3390/covid4070074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4070074","url":null,"abstract":"We assessed depression, anxiety, and stress in healthcare workers (HCWs) in 2023 and the evolution of depression in 2023 compared with 2022. In September–November 2023, 181 HCWs from the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, completed the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress 21 Scale (DASS-21 R), the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). The prevalence of moderate-to-severe levels was 13.8% for DASS-Depression, 18.8% for DASS-Anxiety, 16.1% for DASS-Stress, 19.9% for PHQ-9, and 18.2% for HAM-A. Moderate-to-severe PHQ-9 depression was significantly lower in the 2023 study group (19.9%, N = 181) compared with 2022 (30.6%, N = 114) (p = 0.04), also within the 2022–2023 follow-up participants (N = 88) (p = 0.03). We did not find significant statistical differences between those infected vs. non-infected, vaccinated vs. non-vaccinated, or working with vs. not working with SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. Males were significantly more stressed (p = 0.02) and anxious (p = 0.03), and physicians in training had the highest prevalence of moderate-to-severe depression (31.6%), followed by physicians (25.6%). In 2023, depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms decreased but remained within a concerning range. By addressing these psychological issues, we may reduce the possibility of medical errors and prevent professional crises in the healthcare system.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":"56 25","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141649689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

COVID-2019—A Personal Account of an Academic Institute’s Response to the Pandemic COVID-2019-一个学术机构应对大流行病的亲身经历

COVID Pub Date : 2024-07-13 DOI: 10.3390/covid4070073

Stephen Higgs

引用次数: 0

Effects of Depressive and Anxiety-Related Behaviors in Patients Aged 30–75+ Who Have Experienced COVID-19 经历过 COVID-19 的 30-75 岁以上患者抑郁和焦虑相关行为的影响

COVID Pub Date : 2024-07-10 DOI: 10.3390/covid4070072

Nderim Rizanaj, Fahri Gavazaj

{"title":"Effects of Depressive and Anxiety-Related Behaviors in Patients Aged 30–75+ Who Have Experienced COVID-19","authors":"Nderim Rizanaj, Fahri Gavazaj","doi":"10.3390/covid4070072","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4070072","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigated the prevalence, severity, and implications of depressive and anxiety behaviors among individuals aged 30–75+ who have recovered from COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health challenges, prompting a critical examination of its psychological aftermath. Employing a quantitative research design, the study utilized a cross-sectional approach to gather data from 422 participants recruited through convenience sampling from healthcare facilities, community organizations, and online platforms. Participants, who had tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered, completed standardized assessments including the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depressive symptoms and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder seven-item scale (GAD-7) for anxiety symptoms. Demographic variables were also collected to explore the correlations and potential risk factors using SPSS software. Key findings highlight significant levels of depressive and anxiety-related symptoms among the study population, emphasizing the necessity for tailored interventions and support services. The study’s limitations include the inability to establish causal relationships due to its cross-sectional nature and potential biases associated with convenience sampling. Nevertheless, the research underscores the urgent need for healthcare and mental health professionals to prioritize the psychological well-being of COVID-19 survivors through targeted strategies and resource allocation. By addressing these challenges, policymakers and practitioners can enhance the resilience and recovery of individuals affected by the pandemic’s psychological toll.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":"76 21","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141662928","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Exploring the Impact of Personal and Social Media-Based Factors on Judgments of Perceived Skepticism of COVID-19 探讨基于个人和社交媒体的因素对 COVID-19 的认知怀疑判断的影响

COVID Pub Date : 2024-07-09 DOI: 10.3390/covid4070071

N. Vu, Brian Manata, Andrew High

{"title":"Exploring the Impact of Personal and Social Media-Based Factors on Judgments of Perceived Skepticism of COVID-19","authors":"N. Vu, Brian Manata, Andrew High","doi":"10.3390/covid4070071","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4070071","url":null,"abstract":"Skepticism of COVID-19 has consequences for public health. We examined several variables that we reasoned were related to skepticism, including demographic factors, people’s perceptions and experiences related to COVID-19, and social media usage. The sample consisted of 294 participants recruited in April of 2020. Participants filled out a survey that included questions related to demographics, social media use, COVID-19 anxiety, COVID-19 interference, and COVID-19 skepticism. In the main, biological sex, ethnicity, and social media use were not significantly associated with skepticism regarding COVID-19. Alternatively, older participants and those who experienced greater anxiety related to the pandemic were less skeptical of COVID-19. Interestingly, people who experienced more interference in their lives because of COVID-19 were more skeptical of the pandemic. Finally, social media use moderated the influence of anxiety and interference on skepticism. The negative effect of anxiety on skepticism became weaker as people’s use of social media increased. The positive effect of interference related to COVID-19 on skepticism became stronger as people used more social media. Our findings underscore the importance of personal beliefs, attitudes, and experiences when explaining skepticism of the pandemic.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":"86 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141664344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

“The Right to Our Own Body Is Over”: Justifications of COVID-19 Vaccine Opponents on Israeli Social Media "我们对自己身体的权利已经结束"：COVID-19疫苗反对者在以色列社交媒体上的辩解

COVID Pub Date : 2024-07-07 DOI: 10.20944/preprints202403.1576.v1

L. Inchi, Amit Rottman, Chen Zarecki

{"title":"“The Right to Our Own Body Is Over”: Justifications of COVID-19 Vaccine Opponents on Israeli Social Media","authors":"L. Inchi, Amit Rottman, Chen Zarecki","doi":"10.20944/preprints202403.1576.v1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202403.1576.v1","url":null,"abstract":"Vaccines decrease morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, their benefits depend on public response. During COVID-19, vaccine hesitancy and refusal were rampant, threatening public health. A thorough understanding of opponents’ arguments is required to address the diffusion of unreliable information on social media and prevent vaccine hesitancy from developing into vaccine refusal. The focus on the opponents’ viewpoints and their justifications makes the study unique. Accordingly, textual content analysis of reader comments on three health-related Israeli Facebook pages was conducted. Data collection encompassed the Israeli COVID-19 vaccination period from October 2020 to May 2022. The comments were analyzed according to the health beliefs model (HBM). We found that vaccine opponents were characterized by low perceptions of the severity of the disease combined with high perceptions of the damages of the vaccine; low perceived benefits of vaccine compliance; vaccine hesitancy and fear along with public distrust as barriers to change; and call for action to resist the vaccine and spread related anti-establishment views on the web. Hesitancy was found to develop into public distrust in the state systems and escalate into conspiracy beliefs and anti-vaccination activism. These results are important and instructive that early detection is necessary to prevent future vaccine resistance.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":" 13","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141670289","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Insights into Positive Mental Health Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from a Study in Croatia 洞察 COVID-19 大流行中的积极心理健康：来自克罗地亚研究的证据

COVID Pub Date : 2024-07-07 DOI: 10.3390/covid4070069

Ž. Jovanović, Marija Spevan, Sandra Bošković, Deana Švaljug, Bojan Miletić

{"title":"Insights into Positive Mental Health Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from a Study in Croatia","authors":"Ž. Jovanović, Marija Spevan, Sandra Bošković, Deana Švaljug, Bojan Miletić","doi":"10.3390/covid4070069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4070069","url":null,"abstract":"Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has raised significant concerns about public health, particularly in terms of mental well-being due to heightened fear and uncertainty. The findings of this study are based on a survey conducted to evaluate the mental health status of the general population in Croatia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A survey conducted randomly and cross-sectionally included 588 respondents from all 21 counties in Croatia. The survey gathered demographic data and assessed various factors related to pandemic response measures and mental health using the Mental Health Continuum—Short Form (MHC-SF) scale. Results: Despite feeling adequately informed about COVID-19 (76.0%), most respondents (60.8%) expressed concerns about their loved ones during the pandemic. There were significant numbers who felt there was no risk of infection (50.9%) or believed they would not get infected (40.2%), while 72.4% were content with government measures. A statistical analysis indicated that mental health was not significantly different between genders, but age-related differences were evident, with those under 21 experiencing the most distress. The lowest level of psychological and social well-being was observed in respondents who were unemployed. Conclusions: The study identifies vulnerable groups in the Croatian population during the pandemic, including younger individuals, those on parental leave, students, and the unemployed, who exhibited worse mental health. The importance of implementing targeted mental health interventions to support these vulnerable groups is highlighted by these findings.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":" 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141671379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

“Being There for Each Other”: Hospital Nurses’ Struggle during the COVID-19 Pandemic "守望相助"：医院护士在 COVID-19 大流行期间的斗争

COVID Pub Date : 2024-07-06 DOI: 10.3390/covid4070068

H. Admi, L. Inchi, S. Bord, S. Shahrabani

{"title":"“Being There for Each Other”: Hospital Nurses’ Struggle during the COVID-19 Pandemic","authors":"H. Admi, L. Inchi, S. Bord, S. Shahrabani","doi":"10.3390/covid4070068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4070068","url":null,"abstract":"This study aims to explore the experiences of frontline hospital nurses over 18 months of struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic. The qualitative thematic analysis method was applied. Twenty-three nurses from nine tertiary hospitals in Israel were interviewed using semi-structured interviews via the ZOOM platform between August and September 2021. Interviews were video recorded and transcribed verbatim. Trustworthiness was assured by using qualitative criteria and the COREQ checklist. Results: Both negative and positive experiences were reported: threat and uncertainty along with awareness of their important mission; anxiety and helplessness alongside courage and heroism. Personal management strategies emerged: regulating overwhelming emotions and managing work–life balance. Team support emerged as the most meaningful source of nurses’ struggle with the pandemic. A sense of intimacy and solidarity enabled the processing of the shared traumatic experiences. Conclusions: A deeper understanding of nurses’ experiences through the pandemic was gained. Informal peer support has proven effective in struggling with the events. Formal interventions, such as affective–cognitive processing of traumatic events, need to be integrated into practice. Healthcare policymakers should promote better support for caregivers, which will contribute to their well-being and impact the quality of care they provide.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":" 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141672040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Prevalence and Predictors of Long COVID-19 and the Average Time to Diagnosis in the General Population: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression 普通人群中长 COVID-19 的流行率和预测因素以及平均诊断时间：系统回顾、元分析和元回归

COVID Pub Date : 2024-07-05 DOI: 10.3390/covid4070067

J. Muthuka, J. M. Nzioki, Jack Oluoch Kelly, Everlyn Nyamai Musangi, Lucy Chepkemei Chebungei, Rosemary Nabaweesi, Michael Kibet Kiptoo

{"title":"Prevalence and Predictors of Long COVID-19 and the Average Time to Diagnosis in the General Population: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression","authors":"J. Muthuka, J. M. Nzioki, Jack Oluoch Kelly, Everlyn Nyamai Musangi, Lucy Chepkemei Chebungei, Rosemary Nabaweesi, Michael Kibet Kiptoo","doi":"10.3390/covid4070067","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4070067","url":null,"abstract":"Objectives: We aimed to assess the prevalence of long COVID-19 and estimate the average time to its diagnosis and meta-regression for covariates. Methods: We conducted a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression from 43 studies (367,236 patients) (June 2020–August 2022). With the random-effects model, the pooled prevalence of long COVID-19 was measured. Publication bias was ascertained, and meta-regression analysis was performed on predetermined covariates. The trial was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022328509). Results: The pooled prevalence of long COVID-19 was 42.5% (95% CI 36% to 49.3%), with 25% and 66% at four and two months, respectively. Mostly, long COVID-19 signs and symptoms occurred at three (54.3%) to six (57%) months (p < 0.0001), further increasing at 12 months (57.9%, p = 0.0148). Hypertension was significantly associated with long COVID-19 at 32% (0.322 (95% CI 0.166, 0.532) (p < 0.001) and hospital re-admission contributed to 17% (Q = 8.70, df = 1, p = 0.0032) (R2 = 0.17). All the covariates explained at least some of the variance in effect size on long COVID-19 at 53% (Q = 38.81, df = 19, p = 0.0047) (R2 analog = 0.53). Conclusion: The prevalence of long COVID-19 was 42.5% when linked with a cardiovascular disorder. Hospital re-admission majorly predicted the incidence of long COVID-19. Clinical and methodological characteristics in a specific study contributed to over 50% of long COVID-19 events, with most signs and symptoms occurring between 3 and 6 months and increasing at 12 months.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":" 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141676284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Images of Chest Computer Tomography (CT) and Radiation (X-ray) Demonstrating Clinical Manifestations of COVID-19: Review Article 显示 COVID-19 临床表现的胸部计算机断层扫描（CT）和放射线（X 光）图像：评论文章

COVID Pub Date : 2024-07-02 DOI: 10.3390/covid4070066

A. Oglat

{"title":"Images of Chest Computer Tomography (CT) and Radiation (X-ray) Demonstrating Clinical Manifestations of COVID-19: Review Article","authors":"A. Oglat","doi":"10.3390/covid4070066","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/covid4070066","url":null,"abstract":"Apart from reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing, chest radiographs (CXR) and computed tomography (CT) scans were employed as crucial diagnostic methods for detecting the 2019 new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Our objective is to examine three notable COVID-19 instances from patients across the globe, along with their CXR and CT data. The evaluation of the imaging characteristics of the reported instances was the primary objective of a methodical examination of the literature. We located more than several articles that had been published between 2020 and 2023. After the papers were examined, three major cases were chosen, including a COVID-19 assessment of imaging features (chest X-ray and CT scan). Corona viral diseases (COVID-19) pose a significant risk to healthcare facilities, especially when the patient has additional medical issues. It is challenging to understand the various chest radiography results because of the use of specialized and ambiguous terminology such as “airspace disease”, “pneumonia”, “infiltrates”, “patchy opacities”, and “hazy opacities”. The current investigation considered peer-reviewed case reports with Images features. Study designs, including reporting cases, were considered for imaging feature analysis.","PeriodicalId":72714,"journal":{"name":"COVID","volume":"33 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141685437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

COVID最新文献