Associations between sedentary behavior and negative emotions in adolescents during home confinement: Mediating role of social support and sleep quality

Background: Prolonged periods of sedentary behaviour, for instance, engendered by home confinement in Shenzhen city, has led to negative mental health consequences, especially in adolescents. Previous research suggests, in general, that sedentary behavior can increase negative emotions. However, the specific mechanism driving the relationship between sedentary behavior and negative emotions is still relatively unclear. Social support and sleep quality might partly explain the effect of sedentary behavior on negative emotions. Thus, the current study aimed to examine the associations between sedentary behavior and negative emotions, and to investigate if social support and sleep quality mediate such a relationship. Method: During home confinement due to the COVID-19 Omicron variant outbreak, 1179 middle and high school students in Shenzhen were invited to voluntarily complete an e-questionnaire, including the 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF), the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data from 1065 participants were included in the analysis. Results: We observed significant sex-related and demografic-related differences in emotional (e.g., anxiety, stress and social support) and other outcome variables (e.g., sitting duration and PSQI score). Furthermore, sedentary behavior, social support, and sleep quality were associated with negative emotions (p < .01), even after controlling for sex, age, only-child case, body mass index, and metabolic equivalent level. In addition, social support and sleep quality partially mediated the association between sedentary behavior and negative emotions. Conclusion: The findings of the current study suggest that social support and sleep quality partially mediate the relationship between sedentary behavior and negative emotions in middle and high school students during home confinement in Shenzhen city. © 2022 The Author(s)

The role of routine SARS-CoV-2 screening of healthcare-workers in acute care hospitals in 2020: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers (HCW) are at increased risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2. Vulnerable patient populations in particular must be protected, and clinics should not become transmission hotspots to avoid delaying medical treatments independent of COVID. Because asymptomatic transmission has been described, routine screening of asymptomatic HCW would potentially be able to interrupt chains of infection through early detection. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in the Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register, Web of Science and WHO COVID-19 Global literature on coronavirus with regard to non-incident related testing of healthcare workers using polymerase chain reaction on May 4th 2021. Studies since January 2020 were included. An assessment of risk of bias and representativeness was performed. RESULTS: The search identified 39 studies with heterogeneous designs. Data collection of the included studies took place from January to August 2020. The studies were conducted worldwide and the sample size of the included HCW ranged from 70 to 9449 participants. In total, 1000 of 51,700 (1.9%) asymptomatic HCW were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 using PCR testing. The proportion of positive test results ranged between 0 and 14.3%. No study reported on HCW-screening related reductions in infected person-days. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The heterogeneous proportions might be explained by different regional incidences, lock-downs, and pre-analytical pitfalls that reduce the sensitivity of the nasopharyngeal swab. The very high prevalence in some studies indicates that screening HCW for SARS-CoV-2 may be important particularly in geographical regions and pandemic periods with a high-incidence. With low numbers and an increasing rate of vaccinated HCW, a strict cost-benefit consideration must be made, especially in times of low incidences. Since we found no studies that reported on HCW-screening related reductions in infected person-days, re-evaluation should be done when these are available.

Empowering Engineering Students as Allies Through Dedicated Classroom Instruction

Women* and other minoritized groups experience an unwelcoming environment in higher education [1-5]. This is particularly acute in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields, where students have reported experiencing both explicit and subtle biased behaviors by faculty, administrators and fellow students [6-12]. The behaviors include stereotypical comments about women and other minoritized students' abilities, microaggressions, sexist humor, etc. Studies have shown that such behavior can lead to negative cognitive effects which in turn can affect student retention and graduation rates [13-15]. The aim of this paper is to document the progression and results of efforts undertaken at The Ohio State University to make the climate more welcoming for minoritized students in the College of Engineering (COE) by offering a course that encourages ally development. Ally development involves training people in the dominant social group and helping them understand the inequities placed on those in the minority [16-17]. This is especially crucial to have in engineering, where on average, the percentage of women receiving a bachelor's degree in the United States is 20.9%. Similarly, the percentage of Hispanic students receiving a bachelor's degree in the United States is 11.4%, Black/African American students is 4.2%, Native American students is.3%, and Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students is.2% [18]. Ally development, based on the framework created by Broido [19] hypothesizes that engaging students from the dominant group as allies to promote equity in engineering is an innovative strategy for creating a positive climate for minoritized students - and, in turn, ALL students - a factor that influences their retention and graduation rates [20-21]. This initiative started as an informal cohort in 2015-2016 -training students, who identify as men, to be allies for other students. The primary focus of the cohort was on gender. This cohort met weekly to learn about power, privilege, bias, and microaggressions. The participants then developed and implemented outreach activities in the university community. Taking the positive aspects of the cohort, a semester-long course was developed and offered every semester for undergraduate men students around the cohort concepts. Shortly thereafter a complementary class, for students who identify as women, was developed with similar topics as well as additions including confidence and empowerment. In Autumn 2018 the men and women's courses were rebranded as “Inclusive Leadership” courses with topics including personal brand, strengths, values, identity, power, privilege, bias, and microaggressions. The focus extended beyond gender to include race, sexual orientation, physical ability, and other categories of social identity. Gender non-binary students had the opportunity to choose between either of the two courses. In Autumn 2019, the courses' enrolled students were limited to new first year engineering students who self-selected to take part in a pilot “Inclusive Leadership Cohort”. Students in this cohort took the Inclusive Leadership Course concurrently with the first two required engineering courses in their first two semesters at The Ohio State University. Due to COVID, in Autumn 2020, the courses went back to being open to all undergraduate engineering students. Finally, for the Spring of 2021, a single non-gender specific course was offered for the first time. This paper documents the perceived impact on the students who took the courses, lessons learned in each stage of the initiative, and the initial progress on the first non-gender specific Inclusive Leadership Course offered in Spring 2021. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2021

Prevention of respiratory viral infections by virucidal mucosal antisepsis among medical staff and in the community

Aim: To prevent COVID-19 all preventive hygiene measures possible must be taken for the protection of, in particular, medical personnel but also the general population, because even if a vaccine is available its protective effect will not be known. A literature search was conducted to analyse whether virucidal mucosal antisepsis is an adequate measure for the prevention of COVID-19. In addition, the role of mouthwash/gargling was analysed as an unspecific measure for the prevention of respiratory infections. The methodology was designed to present in vitro results and study findings as a synopsis. Results: As from a concentration of 0.45%, povidone (PVP) iodine inactivates in vitro enveloped viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. One Japanese PVP iodine gargle/mouthwash formulation was effective even in a concentration of 0.23% against SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV and influenza virus H1N1. Above 42.6%, ethanol is effective against SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV, influenza A and B viruses. In combination with etheric oils, 21.6% ethanol sufficed to inactivate influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2. 0.2% sodium hypochlorite is effective against coronaviruses. Chlorhexidine digluconate (0.12%) is in vitro > 2 lg less effective against SARS-CoV-2 as 1% PVP iodine. 0.1% octenidine dihydrochloride is in vitro as effective against SARS-CoV-2 as chlorhexidine. Replication of coronaviruses is completely suppressed through the induction of interferons when the active substance is brought into contact with cell cultures before infection. 1.5% hydrogen peroxide does not reach the effectiveness of chlorhexidine. Hypertonic saline solution (3%, 2.5% and 2%) inhibits virus replication in rhino- as well as coronaviruses. Sage extract is effective against vesicular stomatitis virus, avian infectious bronchitis and herpes simplex virus. Combined rhubarb and sage cream was as effective against labial herpes (cold sores) as acyclovir. Hence, efficacy against coronaviruses is assumed. PVP iodine is considered to be the active ingredient of choice when used for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis based on the state of knowledge on virucidal efficacy and mucosal tolerance based on the scientific insights gained over decades. If contraindicated by the patient’s history, (hyperthyroidism, autonomic adenoma, allergy), alternative, albeit less-well studied, substances should be considered. In aerosol-generating medical procedures, e.g. before bronchoscopy, intubation and dental treatment, irrigation of the patient’s oral cavity with 1% or 1.25% aqueous PVP iodine solution, if possible in combination with gargling, is recommended as pre-exposure prophylaxis, while prior to ear, nose and throat (ENT) diagnostic interventions/procedures its application as a spray into the nasal vestibule is recommended. After accidental exposure of the eyes and nasal cavity, 1.25 aqueous PVP iodine solution can be used as postexposure prophylaxis. It must be ensured that ophthalmic agents are sterile. So long as there are regional/local clusters of SARS-CoV-2 infections, gargling in the morning and evening with 0.23% aqueous PVP iodine solution and its application as a nasal spray are likely to provide additional protection to healthcare workers. In Japan gargling with 0.23% aqueous PVP iodine solution is recommended for the entire population. In April 2020, the WHO has included a PVP-I gargle solution in its list of experimental treatments for COVID-19. As seen at the beginning of the epidemic spread of influenza in the population, daily gargling with e.g. 0.23% aqueous PVP iodine solution, in combination with ethanol/etheric oils or hypertonic saline solution, is recommended. Just as with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic the wearing of face masks/face coverings has assumed a new role in the general population, so too will the Japanese tradition of antiseptic gargling perhaps experience a resurgence in Europe. Conclusion: Clinical and epidemiological studies are indispensable to corroborate the in vitro findings and inferred recommendations. © 2020 mhp-Verlag GmbH. All rights reserved.

Surgical site infections: guidance for elective surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic - international recommendations and clinical experience.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic not only had an impact on public life and healthcare facilities in general, but also affected established surgical workflows for elective procedures. The strategy to protect patients and healthcare workers from infection by SARS-CoV-2 in surgical departments has needed step-by-step development. Based on the evaluation of international recommendations and guidelines, as well as personal experiences in a clinical 'hot spot' and in a 450-bed surgical clinic, an adapted surgical site infection (SSI) prevention checklist was needed to develop concise instructions, which described roles and responsibilities of healthcare professionals that could be used for wider guidance in pandemic conditions. METHOD: Publications of COVID-19-related recommendations and guidelines, produced by health authorities and organizations, such as WHO, US-CDC, ECDC, the American College of Surgery and the Robert Koch Institute, were retrieved, assessed and referenced up to 31st January 2020. Additionally, clinical personal experiences in Germany were evaluated and considered. RESULTS: Part 1 of this guidance summarizes the experience of a tertiary care, surgical centre which utilized redundant hospital buildings for immediate spatial separation in a 'hot spot' COVID-19 area. Part 2 outlines the successful screening and isolation strategy in a surgical clinic in a region of Germany with outbreaks in surrounding medical centres. Part 3 provides the synopsis of personal experiences and international recommendations suggested for implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: Understanding of COVID-19, and SARS-CoV-2-related epidemiology, is constantly and rapidly changing, requiring continuous adaptation and re-evaluation of recommendations. Established national and local guidelines for continuation of surgical services and prevention of SSI require ongoing scrutiny and focused implementation. This manuscript presents a core facility checklist to support medical institutions to continue their clinical and surgical work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The IGNITE trial: Participant recruitment lessons prior to SARS-CoV-2

Full and diverse participant enrollment is critical to the success and generalizability of all large-scale Phase III trials. Recruitment of sufficient participants is among the most significant challenges for many studies. The novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic has further changed and challenged the landscape for clinical trial execution, including screening and randomization. The Investigating Gains in Neurocognition in an Intervention Trial of Exercise (IGNITE) study has been designed as the most comprehensive test of aerobic exercise effects on cognition and brain health. Here we assess recruitment into IGNITE prior to the increased infection rates in the United States, and examine new challenges and opportunities for recruitment with a goal of informing the remaining required recruitment as infection containment procedures are lifted. The results may assist the design and implementation of recruitment for future exercise studies, and outline opportunities for study design that are flexible in the face of emerging threats. FAU - Vidoni, Eric D.