Decreased Functioning and Contents of Worries Associated with Anxiety or Depression Symptom Levels Within Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 Infection.

BACKGROUND: High levels of anxiety and depression symptoms have been reported in patients with COVID-19 compared to the general population. These symptoms were related to variables such as gender, age, and education level with anxiety/depression levels. We aimed to determine the relationship between anxiety and depression symptoms and epidemic-related decreased functioning, worry, and quality of life (QoL). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 238 hospitalized participants due to COVID-19 and 168 participants who were hospitalized for reasons other than COVID-19. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Short Form 36 (SF-36) QoL Scale, and questionnaires prepared by the researchers were applied. The effects of current worries, impairment in QoL, and decreased functioning during quarantine on levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms were investigated by implementing multiple linear regression analyzes. RESULTS: Our study results suggested the anxiety and depression levels of patients with COVID-19 were not higher than those in the internal medicine inpatient unit at the same time. Worries about transmission to others, uncertainty, social media news, and health anxiety increased the psychiatric symptoms of participants with COVID-19. Disruptions in social relationships and health also have an effect on anxiety/depression symptom levels. Conversely, results indicated losses and worries in occupation and finance did not significantly affect mental symptoms. CONCLUSION: Worries about transmission to others, uncertainty and health anxiety are closely related to anxiety and depression among patients with COVID-19. There is a need for research in the mental health field for the later stages of the pandemic in different cultures.

The circadian clock gene Bmal1: Role in COVID-19 and periodontitis.

The physiological processes of most living organisms follow a rhythmic pattern, which is controlled by the interaction between environmental cues and the internal circadian timing system. Different regulatory circadian genes are expressed in most cells and tissues, and disruptions in the sleep-wake cycle affect these genes, which may result in metabolic disorders and cause alterations of the immune system. The manifestations of these disrupted genes are evident in inflammatory conditions such as periodontitis and some viral diseases, including COVID-19. The brain and muscle ARNT-like protein-1 (Bmal1), an important circadian regulatory gene, decreases when the sleep-wake cycle is disrupted. Circadian genes have been linked to different events, including cytokine storm in inflammatory conditions and virus invasion. The evaluation of the effects of these regulatory circadian genes, especially Bmal1, in periodontitis and viral infection suggests that both diseases may have a common pathogenesis via the NF-κB pathway. This brief review highlights the role and importance of the circadian clock gene Bmal1 in the disease process of periodontitis and suggests its role and importance in viral infections, including COVID-19.

Role of NLRP3 inflammasome in COVID-19 and periodontitis: Possible protective effect of melatonin.

Daily new information emerges regarding the COVID-19, infection of SARS-CoV-2, which is considered a global pandemic. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) are required to complete the viral invasion pathway and are present in the oral mucosa, gingiva and periodontal pocket. Thus, increasing the likelihood of periodontitis and gingivitis caused by COVID-19. The cytokine storm during COVID-19 similarly arises during periodontal inflammation. Studies have reported that NOD-Like Receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is significant in the cytokine storm. Recently, the course of the COVID-19 has been related to the melatonin levels in both COVID-19 and periodontal diseases. It is known that melatonin prevents the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. In light of these findings, we think that melatonin treatment during COVID-19 or periodontal diseases may prevent the damage seen in periodontal tissues by preventing the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome.