Factors affecting anxiety, depression, and stress among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma during COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with chronic disease whose treatments are limited may experience depression, anxiety, and stress-related symptoms, as well as an increase in the levels of these conditions. This study aims to determine the factors affecting the depression, stress, and anxiety levels of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients due to the fear of COVID-19 exposure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 118 patients with advanced HCC treated with non-transplant treatment options or on the waiting list due to the lack of a donor were enrolled. To evaluate the stress, depression, and anxiety levels during the COVID-19 process, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) were administered to 118 patients through a face-to-face interview. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were recorded, and the primary endpoint measure was the total score of DASS. In addition, the multilayer perceptron (MLP) model was constructed to predict the scores of the DASS-21 total. RESULTS: There were significant differences between DASS depression (p=0.010; p=0.030) DASS anxiety (p=0.010; p=0.010) and DASS total (p=0.046; p=0.023) scores in terms of gender and protective effect of the vaccine. Also, a significant difference between gender for the CAS scale was determined (p=0.044). The median score of the DASS total in the COVID-19 group was higher than in the non-COVID-19 group; however, the increase was not significant. MLP model revealed that chronic disease, gender, age, place of residence, smoking, type of vaccine, and COVID-19 exposure were the most important predictors for the DASS total. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic disease, gender, and age were prominent factors in predicting the DASS-21 total score in HCC patients. Therefore, the crucial factors were clinically considered for managing depression, stress, and anxiety in HCC patients.

Marketing Activities and Covid-19: A Mediating Role of Performance of Micro Enterprises in Southeast of Nigeria

Introduction: The study examines the relationship between marketing activities and COVID-19 as a mediating role of performance of micro enterprises in Southeast of Nigeria. Materials and Method: The applied survey research design with close ended questionnaire which was administered to the respondents who were the owners of micro enterprises in South East of Nigeria. The variables used were wearing of mask, hand washing with water and sanitizer, staying at home and keeping social distance which were used as measures of COVID-19 and marketing activities were measured with price, product, promotion and place while performance were measured using expansion, survival, number of employees, and capital employed. The population of the study is the entire micro enterprises in Southeast of Nigeria and the sample size of 389 was derived using Taro Yamane formula. The variables were tested for reliability and result showed that all the variables were reliable. The study used Partial Least Square Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) to test the hypotheses and to determine if there is an effect of independent variables on dependent variable. Results: COVID-19 is significant in enhancing performance of micro enterprises in Southeast of Nigeria and marketing activities is significant in solving COVID-19 problem by Micro enterprises in Southeast of Nigeria while marketing activities is insignificant in achieving performance by Micro enterprises in Southeast of Nigeria. Conclusion: The study recommended that Micro enterprises in Southeast of Nigeria should continue to apply price concept, product concept, promotion, and place strategy in conducting their activities since it helps in solving the problem of COVID-19 and minimize the rate of spread of the virus since marketing activities are conducted by observing the government policies of COVID-19.

COVID-19 and Survival Strategies of Small Businesses in Nigeria

Introduction: The study examined the effect of COVID-19 on the survival strategies of small businesses in Nigeria. Materials and method: The applied survey research design with a close ended questionnaire which was administered to the respondents who were the owners of small businesses in Benue State of Nigeria. The variables used were number of deaths, number of confirmed cases and number of recovery cases which were used as measures of COVID-19 while survival strategies were measured with retrenchment strategies, investment strategies and ambidextrous strategies. The population of the study is the entire small businesses in Benue State of Nigeria and the sample size of 297 was derived using Taro Yamane formula. The variables were tested for reliability and result showed that all the variables were reliable. The study used regression with the aid of SPSS version 20. Results: There was a negative and significant effect of COVID-19 on survival strategies of small businesses in Benue State of Nigeria. Conclusion: The study recommended that small businesses in Benue State should continue to apply survival strategies during COVID-19 such as retrenchment strategies in terms reduction in the number of employments, reduction in expenditure (additional cost or overhead cost) and closure of additional branches of business establishment. They should also continue to adopt investment strategies such as investment in innovation, increase in resources and estimating growth measures of the firms.

Experiencing Malaria Earlier Aggravates the COVID-19 Symptoms

Introduction: in the present study, the effects of the frequency of experienced malaria and flu/cold on the symptom severity in patients with COVID-19 were investigated. Materials and Method: Subjects were those who experienced COVID-19 and recovered. Eighty-one subjects were included in the study. All of them were voluntarily to participate in this study (51 men and 30 women). Out of 81 cases, 48 were expat and 33 were Nigerian. Data was collected by using an online survey. The survey was shared by using social media. Results: The number of symptoms and overall symptom severity were higher in people with 2 or more malaria than in people with 1 or zero malaria in the last year. However, there is no difference between people with 2 or more flu and people with 1 or zero flu. Conclusion: These results show that to have malaria disease before aggravates COVID-19 symptoms. Therefore, it can he stated that malaria is additional risk factor for COVID-19. Precautions to decrease malaria infections in Nigeria can be beneficial to decrease COVID-19 cases and deaths of COVID-19.

The First Case of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Successfully Treated with Combined Therapies Including Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation and Plasmapheresis

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a severe disease that can lead to death. There is no definitive treatment for MIS-C yet. It has been reported that intravenous immunoglobulin, intravenous methylprednisolone, fluid supplements, antibiotics, inotropics, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), plasmapheresis, biological therapy, and anticoagulation therapy can be used for treatment. In this article, we presented an 8-year-old girl child patient who survived due to timely administered ECMO and combined therapies including plasmapheresis without any sequela despite her life-threatening condition due to MIS-C.

Effect of COVID-19 on the Performance of Small Businesses in Nigeria

Introduction: The study examined the effect of COVID-19 on the growth of small businesses in Nigeria. Materials and Method: In this study, survey research design was used with the aid of a close ended questionnaire which was administered to the respondents who were the owners of small businesses in FCT, Nigeria. The variables used were social distancing, lockdown, face mask and washing of hands which were used as measures of COVID-19 while number of customers, increases in sales or patronage and number of employees were used as measures of growth. The population of the study is the entire small businesses in FCT, and the sample size of 253 was derived using Taro Yamane formula. The variables were tested for reliability. The study used regression with the aid of SPSS version 20. Results: There was a negative and significant effect of COVID-19 on the performance (growth) of small businesses in Nigeria. Conclusion: The study recommended that Government of Nigeria especially Federal Capital Authority Administration in Nigeria should ensure provide financial assistance to small businesses to recover from the negative effect of COVID-19. They should encourage small businesses by removing them from multiple taxations so they can survive their businesses.

Symptom Spectrum and the Evaluation of Severity and Duration of Symptoms in Patients with COVID-19

Introduction: In the present study, three aims were targeted, (1) Determination of symptom spectrum and the evaluation of severity and duration of symptoms in patients with COVID-19, (2) Determination of the effects of some demographic characteristics on symptom severity and duration and (3) Determination of the effects of race (Nigerians and expats) and (4) age group. Materials and Method: Subjects were those who experienced COVID-19 and recovered. Eighty-one subjects were included in the study. All of them accepted to participate in this study (51 men and 30 women). Out of 81 cases, 48 were expat and 33 were Nigerian. Data was collected by using an online survey. The survey was shared by using social media. Results: The severities of generalized body pain, loss of smell, fatigue, headache were moderate or severe. The duration of generalized body pain, loss of smell and fatigue were higher than 1-3 days. Some symptoms were higher in women than in men. There was no race related in symptom severity or duration. Only breath difficulty was higher in 35-45 age group. Conclusion: These results show that COVID-19 cases in Nigeria are quite low compared to other world countries. In general, the severities and durations of COVID-19 symptoms were so weak.