Evolving Science on Cardiovascular Disease Among Hispanic/Latino Adults: JACC International.

The landmark, multicenter HCHS/SOL (Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos) is the largest, most comprehensive, longitudinal community-based cohort study to date of diverse Hispanic/Latino persons in the United States. The HCHS/SOL aimed to address the dearth of comprehensive data on risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other chronic diseases in this population and has expanded considerably in scope since its inception. This paper describes the aims/objectives and data collection of the HCHS/SOL and its ancillary studies to date and highlights the critical and sizable contributions made by the study to understanding the prevalence of and changes in CVD risk/protective factors and the burden of CVD and related chronic conditions among adults of diverse Hispanic/Latino backgrounds. The continued follow-up of this cohort will allow in-depth investigations on cardiovascular and pulmonary outcomes in this population, and data from the ongoing ancillary studies will facilitate generation of new hypotheses and study questions.

COVID-19 in the Community: Changes to Women's Mental Health, Financial Security, and Physical Activity

Introduction This study describes changes in the mental health, financial security, and physical activity levels of women in North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Data were collected from women aged 20-40 receiving primary care at two health centers in North Carolina during 2020-2022. Surveys (n=127) evaluated changes in mental health, financial security, and physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. These outcomes were analyzed both descriptively and for association with sociodemographic factors using logistic regression. A subset of participants (n=46) participated in semi-structured interviews. Interview transcripts were reviewed and evaluated for recurring themes by primary and secondary coders using a rapid-coding technique. Analysis was conducted in 2022. Results Women surveyed were 28.4% non-Hispanic White, 38.6% non-Hispanic Black, and 33.1% Hispanic/Latina. Compared to pre-pandemic, participants reported increased frustration or boredom (69.1%), loneliness (51.6%), anxiety (64.3%), depression (52.4%), and changed sleep patterns (68.3%). Increased alcohol and other recreational substance use was associated with race and ethnicity (p<0.05) after adjustment for other sociodemographic factors. Participants reported difficulty paying for basic expenses (44.0%). Financial difficulties during COVID were associated with non-Hispanic Black race and ethnicity, less education, and lower pre-pandemic household income. Data showed pandemic-associated reductions in mild (32.8%), moderate (39.5%), and strenuous (43.3%) exercise, with correlation between increased depression and reduced mild exercise. Interviews identified themes including reduced activity while working remotely, lack of gym access, and reduced motivation for exercise. Conclusions This mixed-methods study is one of the first to evaluate the mental health, financial security, and physical activity challenges women between 20 and 40 years old in the southern United States faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis of COVID-19 in Latin America

Background: Latin America has become the epicenter of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We aim to perform a systematic comparative review of the clinical characteristics that are associated with this disease in Latin American countries. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of published articles, journal and/or epidemiological reports of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Latin America. Data were obtained either through publicly available information from Ministries of Health, published journal reports and/or unpublished datasets. We analyzed data from SARS-CoV-2 positive patients evaluated at healthcare centers and hospitals of 8 countries including Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Bolivia, between March 1st and July 30th, 2020. These countries consist of a total population that exceeds 519 million. Demographics, comorbidities, and clinical symptoms were collected. Statistical descriptive analysis and correlation analyses of symptoms, comorbidities and mortality were performed. Results: A total of 728,282 COVID-19 patients were included in this study. Of these, 52.6% were female. The average age was 48.4 years. Peru had the oldest cohort with 56.8 years and highest rate of females (56.8%) while Chile had the youngest cohort (39 years old). Venezuela had the highest male prevalence (56.7%). Most common symptoms were cough with 60.1% (Bolivia had the highest rate 78%), fatigue/tiredness with 52.0%, sore throat with 50.3%, and fever with 44.2%. Bolivian patients had fever as the top symptom (83.3%). GI symptoms included diarrhea which was highest in Mexico with 22.9%. Hypertension was among the top (12.1%) comorbidities, followed by diabetes with 8.3% and obesity at 4.5%. In multivariate analyses, the leading and significant comorbidities were hypertension (r = 0.83, p = 0.02), diabetes (r = 0.91, p = 0.01), and obesity (r = 0.86, p = 0.03). Mortality was highest in Mexico (16.6%) and lowest in Venezuela (0.9%) among the analyzed cohorts. Conclusion: Overall, COVID-19 patients in Latin America display cough, fatigue, and fever as main symptoms. Up to 53% of patients with COVID-19 have GI manifestations. Different clinical symptoms were associated with COVID-19 in Latin American countries. Metabolic syndrome components were the main comorbidities associated with poor outcome. Country-specific management and prevention plans are needed and can be established from this meta-analysis.

TELEHEALTH FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TELEATENDIMENTO A CRIANÇAS E ADOLESCENTES COM DEFICIÊNCIAS FÍSICAS DURANTE A PANDEMIA COVID-19

Children and adolescents with physical disabilities have motor and social-emotional challenges that interfere with their health-related quality of life and put them at greater risk of developing secondary conditions. Moreover, services that provide them therapies are more likely to be restricted, especially for the low-income population. There must be broader actions towards health promotion, offering not only means for physical habilitation and rehabilitation but for social and emotional improvements as well. This goal is attainable by adaptive sports and recreational activities where physical conditioning is accompanied by an improvement in self-esteem and social benefits. With the COVID-19 pandemic and social isolation, children and adolescents with physical disabilities were even further deprived of assistance. Our aim was to report the efforts of a non-governmental sports organization in maintaining physical and psychological care through virtual consultations and to analyze the perceptions of those affected by the process. Level of evidence IV;case series .

TELEHEALTH FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

Children and adolescents with physical disabilities have motor and social-emotional challenges that interfere with their health-related quality of life and put them at greater risk of developing secondary conditions. Moreover, services that provide them therapies are more likely to be restricted, especially for the low-income population. There must be broader actions towards health promotion, offering not only means for physical habilitation and rehabilitation but for social and emotional improvements as well. This goal is attainable by adaptive sports and recreational activities where physical conditioning is accompanied by an improvement in self-esteem and social benefits. With the COVID-19 pandemic and social isolation, children and adolescents with physical disabilities were even further deprived of assistance. Our aim was to report the efforts of a non-governmental sports organization in maintaining physical and psychological care through virtual consultations and to analyze the perceptions of those affected by the process. Level of evidence IV; case series .

Crianças e adolescentes com deficiência física apresentam desafios motores e socioemocionais que interferem na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde e os colocam em maior risco de desenvolver doenças secundárias. Além disso, estão mais sujeitos a restrições de serviços adequados que ofereçam terapias, principalmente para a população de baixa renda social. Torna-se necessário oferecer ações voltadas para a promoção da saúde em um sentido mais amplo, oferecendo não só meios de habilitação e reabilitação física, mas também de ganhos sociais e emocionais. Este objetivo pode ser atingido com esportes adaptados e atividades recreativas nos quais o condicionamento físico é acompanhado por ganhos em autoestima e benefícios sociais. Com a pandemia de COVID-19 e o isolamento social, crianças e adolescentes com deficiência física ficaram ainda mais privados de assistência. Relatamos aqui o esforço de uma organização não-governamental esportiva em manter o atendimento físico e psicológico por meio de consultas virtuais, e avaliamos as percepções das partes interessadas no processo. Nível de evidência IV; série de casos .

UnCovid: A versatile, low-cost, and open-source protocol for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection.

Here, we describe a detailed step-by-step protocol to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA using RT-PCR-mediated amplification and CRISPR/Cas-based visualization. The optimized assay uses basic molecular biology equipment such as conventional thermocyclers and transilluminators for qualitative detection. Alternatively, a fluorescence plate reader can be used for quantitative measurements. The protocol detects two regions of the SARS-CoV-2 genome in addition to the human RNaseP sample control. Aiming to reach remote regions, this work was developed to use the portable molecular workstation from BentoLab. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Alcántara et al., 2021.

Publications in psychology related to the COVID-19: A bibliometric analysis

The new strain of a virus in the coronavirus family, COVID-19, generated a pandemic that changed the dynamics of the entire world. Since its inception, there have been discussions about the effects on mental health that isolation and social distancing can generate. To investigate the publications that have been made in psychology related to COVID-19, a bibliometric analysis was performed in the SCOPUS database in the psychology collection. We obtained 223 articles published in the first half of 2020. The results show that the studies are focused on the effects of the pandemic on mental health. Specifically, most of the studies are related to anxiety and depression and most of these studies were conducted in China. Furthermore, we discuss some limitations of the study regarding the social and intellectual structure of the articles retrieved. Finally, we suggest that future studies should explore how to promote or persuade individuals to comply with social distancing measures and to develop research focused on the effects of the pandemic on academic performance, job stress, job performance, marital satisfaction, sexual behaviour, among other phenomena. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Abstract (Spanish) La nueva cepa de un virus de la familia de coronavirus, COVID-19, genero una pandemia que cambio las dinamicas en mundo entero. Desde su inicio se ha discutido sobre los efectos en la salud mental que pueden generar las medidas de aislamiento y distanciamiento social. Con el fin de indagar sobre las publicaciones que se han realizado en psicologia relacionadas con el COVID-19, se realizo un analisis bibliometrico en la base de datos de SCUPUS en la coleccion de psicologia. Se obtuvieron 223 articulos publicados en el primer semestre del 2020. Los resultados muestran que los estudios se han enfocado en los efectos de la pandemia en la salud mental. Especificamente, la mayoria de los estudios estan enfocados en la ansiedad y la depresion y la mayoria de esos estudios fueron realizados en China. Por otro lado, discutimos algunas limitaciones del estudio respecto a la estructura social e intelectual de los articulos recuperados. Finalmente, sugerimos que se realicen investigaciones enfocadas en como promover o persuadir a los individuos para que obedezcan las medidas de distanciamiento social y que se desarrollen investigaciones enfocadas en los efectos de la pandemia en el desempeno academico, el estres laboral, el desempeno laboral, la satisfaccion marital, el comportamiento sexual, entro otros fenomenos. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

Publications in Psychology Related to the COVID-19: A Bibliometric Analysis

The new strain of a virus in the coronavirus family, COVID-19, generated a pandemic that changed the dynamics of the entire world. Since its inception, there have been discussions about the effects on mental health that isolation and social distancing can generate. To investigate the publications that have been made in psychology related to COVID-19, a bibliometric analysis was performed in the SCOPUS database in the psychology collection. We obtained 223 articles published in the first half of 2020. The results show that the studies are focused on the effects of the pandemic on mental health. Specifically, most of the studies are related to anxiety and depression and most of these studies were conducted in China. Furthermore, we discuss some limitations of the study regarding the social and intellectual structure of the articles retrieved. Finally, we suggest that future studies should explore how to promote or persuade individuals to comply with social distancing measures and to develop research focused on the effects of the pandemic on academic performance, job stress, job performance, marital satisfaction, sexual behaviour, among other phenomena. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] La nueva cepa de un virus de la familia de coronavirus, COVID-19, generó una pandemia que cambió las dinámicas en mundo entero. Desde su inicio se ha discutido sobre los efectos en la salud mental que pueden generar las medidas de aislamiento y distanciamiento social. Con el fin de indagar sobre las publicaciones que se han realizado en psicología relacionadas con el COVID-19, se realizó un análisis bibliométrico en la base de datos de SCUPUS en la colección de psicología. Se obtuvieron 223 artículos publicados en el primer semestre del 2020. Los resultados muestran que los estudios se han enfocado en los efectos de la pandemia en la salud mental. Específicamente, la mayoría de los estudios están enfocados en la ansiedad y la depresión y la mayoría de esos estudios fueron realizados en China. Por otro lado, discutimos algunas limitaciones del estudio respecto a la estructura social e intelectual de los artículos recuperados. Finalmente, sugerimos que se realicen investigaciones enfocadas en cómo promover o persuadir a los individuos para que obedezcan las medidas de distanciamiento social y que se desarrollen investigaciones enfocadas en los efectos de la pandemia en el desempeño académico, el estrés laboral, el desempeño laboral, la satisfacción marital, el comportamiento sexual, entro otros fenómenos. (Spanish) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Psicología desde el Caribe is the property of Fundacion Universidad del Norte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)