ABSTRACT
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the mental health of healthcare workers, who have taken on the major problems triggered by the emergency. The mental consequences concern high levels of insomnia, anxiety, depression and burnout, which inevitably affect their professional quality of life too. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between psychopathological symptoms (tested with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, DASS-21) and professional quality of life (measured with the Professional Quality of Life Scale, ProQol) in a hospital of southern Italy. Methods: 204 healthcare workers were recruited by non-probabilistic sampling and divided by age, gender, work roles (physicians, nurses and intermediate care technicians) and clinical departments (Cardio-medicine, Infectious Diseases, Emergency Medicine, First Aid, Obstetrics and Pneumology). Results: The results showed higher levels of Secondary Traumatic Stress, Depression, Anxiety and Stress in women than in men. Physicians and nurses experienced lower levels of Compassion Satisfaction but higher Burnout than intermediate care technicians; likewise, nurses were more anxious than physicians. The Emergency Medicine had higher scores in Compassion Satisfaction than Infectious Disease, Pneumology, Obstetrics and Cardio-Medicine. Conclusion: In light of what has been said so far, it appears essential to intervene on the first mild signs of Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress, because they precede the onset of Depression, Stress and Anxiety in healthcare workers.
ABSTRACT
The nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, a multiprotein complex belonging to the innate immune system, plays a key role in the chronic inflammatory response, through the production of proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1ß and IL-18, which can elicit their effects through receptor activation, both locally and systemically. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated the interaction of NLRP3 inflammasome components with redox signaling, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and mitochondrial function. A growing literature reported the involvement of NLRP3 platform dysregulation in the pathophysiology of different chronic diseases so it has been proposed that the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome could represent a new potential therapeutic target in the management of autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases, including cancer. In addition, it has been demonstrated that Sars-CoV2 preferentially activates NLRP3 inflammasome, strongly contributing to the hyperinflammatory state responsible for COVID-19. Recently, in vitro and animal models of both infectious and non-infectious male genital tract diseases affecting fertility, demonstrated the activation of the innate immune system, leading to increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as apoptosis and pyroptosis and that it was likely mediated by activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. The objective of this review was to analyze the evidence on the role and the mechanisms by which NLRP3-inflammasome pathway activation may exert detrimental effects on the male reproductive system. Furthermore, although the literature data are still discordant, this review also highlighted the possible connection between SARS-CoV-2 infection/NLRP3 activation/oxidative stress and male infertility.
ABSTRACT
Endocrine diseases have a considerable impact on public health from an epidemiological point of view and because they may cause long-term disability, alteration of the quality-of-life of the affected patients, and are the fifth leading cause of death. In this extensive review of the literature, we have evaluated the prevalence of the different disorders of endocrine interest in the world and Italy, highlighting their epidemiological, clinical, and economic impact.