Health-related quality of life before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic forced people to give up their daily routines and adjust to new circumstances. This might have affected health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We aimed to compare HRQOL during the first COVID-19 wave in 2020 to HRQOL before the pandemic and to identify determinants of HRQOL during the pandemic in Switzerland. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey during the pandemic (between May and July 2020; CoWELL sample; convenience sample). Before the pandemic (2015-2016), we had conducted a cross-sectional paper-based survey among a representative random sample of the Swiss general population (SGP sample). In both samples, we assessed physical and mental HRQOL (Short Form-36) and socio-demographic characteristics. In the CoWELL sample, we additionally assessed health- and COVID-19-related characteristics. Data were analysed using linear regressions. RESULTS: The CoWELL sample included 1581 participants (76% women; mean age = 43 years, SD = 14 years) and the SGP sample 1209 participants (58% women, mean age = 49 years, SD = 15 years). Adjusted for sex, age, and education, the CoWELL sample reported higher physical HRQOL (PCS, +5.8 (95% CI: 5.1, 6.6), p < 0.001) and lower mental HRQOL (MCS, -6.9 (-7.8, -6.0), p < 0.001) than the SGP sample. In the CoWELL sample, especially persons with lower health literacy, who had no support network or who have had COVID-19, reported lower HRQOL. DISCUSSION: Aspects unique to the COVID-19 pandemic affected HRQOL. Vulnerable persons such as those having had COVID-19, less support opportunities, and with lower health literacy are especially prone to impaired HRQOL during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Analysis of the Context of Digital Access to Healthcare in Russia

Digital accessibility is one of the key principles of modern healthcare. The Internet has become a main tool to both communicate and engage patients. This study aims to analyze adults' preferences on health information resources and the utilization of digital healthcare tools in Russia. The data were collected from the online survey conducted in August-September 2020. The association of factors with individual preferences was analyzed using Pearson's χ2 with Holm–Bonferroni correction. The sample included 1319 respondents' submissions. The most prioritized activity on the Internet among all the respondents was social media 64.1% (95% CI 61.4–66.6%). Females, those who are more educated, and more active Internet users were more likely to use all available sources to gather health information. Almost one-half of the respondents (48.0%;95% CI 45.3–50.7%) reported that they did not use any digital tools to manage their medical appointments. Smartphones were more likely to be used by younger and more active Internet users, while personal computers were prioritized as the preferable device to access the Internet by males and older adults. The study revealed that both public health authorities and health providers must provide a wider range of information and digital interaction experiences appropriate to the needs and preferences of patients.

La toma de decisiones, liderazgo y comportamientos en las organizaciones en tiempos de incertidumbre

The orientation that this paper follows, is to expose the challenges that are presented to managers to make decisions and exercise their leadership role, in contexts of high uncertainty, such as the one that has taken place with the abrupt appearance of the pandemic generated by the Covid19 virus. In the same way, a balance is made of the organizational behaviors that can eventually harm good management performance, as can happen with the presence of cognitive biases, that is, with the wrong interpretations of the information with which the manager operates. © 2021 Universidad Central de Venezuela. All rights reserved.

Potential mechanisms underlying lithium treatment for Alzheimer's disease and COVID-19.

Disruption of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis plays an important role as an upstream pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and correction of Ca2+ dysregulation has been increasingly proposed as a target of future effective disease-modified drugs for treating AD. Calcium dysregulation is also an upstream pathology for the COVID-19 virus SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication, leading to host cell damage. Clinically available drugs that can inhibit the disturbed intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis have been repurposed to treat COVID-19 patients. This narrative review aims at exploring the underlying mechanism by which lithium, a first line drug for the treatment of bipolar disorder, inhibits Ca2+ dysregulation and associated downstream pathology in both AD and COVID-19. It is suggested that lithium can be repurposed to treat AD patients, especially those afflicted with COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein S1/S2 Antibodies after Vaccination with Sinopharm in Peruvian Physicians

Background. Peru started its national vaccination campaign in February 2021 using Sinopharm vaccine, targeting healthcare personnel on its initial phase. Although the immunogenicity of this vaccine was tested in clinical trials, there are no studies that evaluated the humoral response post vaccination in Peru. Methods. We conducted a cross sectional study, which objective was to evaluate the humoral immunogenicity triggered by the Sinopharm vaccine in Peruvian physicians. We collected demographic and epidemiologic data via an electronic. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1/S2 antibodies were measured by chemiluminescense (Liaison®). A positive test was defined as >15 U/ml, which has correlation of 95% with neutralizing antibodies measured by plaque reduction neutralizing test. Results. 92 participants were enrolled in the study. The epidemiologic characteristics are described in table 1. The mean level of antibodies measured at least 2 weeks from the second vaccine dose was 67.5 ± 70.5 U/ml. 85.7% of the study cohort had positive S1/S2 antibodies. In the univariate analysis, an imperfect negative correlation was found between the level of antibodies and participants' age (r= -0.24;regression F test 5.25;p = 0.0242). A weak negative correlation was observed between the antibody titer and the time elapsed from the second vaccine dose and the day of antibody measurement (r= -0.17). A higher antibody level post vaccine was found in individuals who worked in COVID units (105.5 U / mL vs 58.2 U / mL;p = 0.0125), and in participants with history of COVID (216.5 U / mL vs 81.2 U / mL;p = < 0.0000). Hypertension was associated with lower antibody titers (36.9 U / mL vs. 74.6;p = 0.0464). In the multivariate analysis, working in COVID units, having previous COVID infection and shorter time from second vaccine dose and day of antibody measurement were associated with higher antibody levels post vaccine (table 2). Conclusion. Our study showed that the time elapsed from the second vaccine dose and the day of antibody measurement, having previous COVID-19 infection and working in COVID -19 units may help to predict higher antibody titers post vaccine. Larger studies to evaluate the humoral response post Sinopharm vaccine and its clinical implications are still needed in Peru.

Identifying and preventing burnout in young oncologists, an overwhelming challenge in the COVID-19 era: a study of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM).

BACKGROUND: Young oncologists are at particular risk of professional burnout, and this could have a significant impact on their health and care of their patients. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has forced rapid changes in professionals' jobs and training, with the consequent physical and psychological effects. We aimed to characterize burnout levels and determinants in young oncologists, and the effects of the pandemic on their training and health. METHODS: Two online surveys were conducted among oncology residents and young oncology specialists in Spain. The first addressed professional burnout and its determinants before the COVID-19 pandemic, while the second analyzed the impact of the pandemic on health care organization, training, and physical and psychological health in the same population. RESULTS: In total, 243 respondents completed the first survey, and 263 the second; 25.1% reported significant levels of professional burnout. Burnout was more common among medical oncology residents (28.2%), mainly in their second year of training. It was significantly associated with a poor work-life balance, inadequate vacation time, and the burnout score. Nearly three-quarters of respondents (72%) were reassigned to COVID-19 care and 84.3% of residents missed part of their training rotations. Overall, 17.2% of this population reported that they had contracted COVID-19, 37.3% had scores indicating anxiety, and 30.4% moderate to severe depression. Almost a quarter of young oncologists (23.3%) had doubts about their medical vocation. CONCLUSIONS: Burnout affects a considerable number of young oncologists. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on causes of burnout, making it even more necessary to periodically monitor it to define appropriate detection and prevention strategies.

Dantrolene repurposed to treat sepsis or septic shock and COVID-19 patients.

OBJECTIVE: Disruption of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis via excessive and pathological Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and/or sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) through ryanodine receptor (RyRs) Ca2+ channels play a critical role in the pathology of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and associated multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in sepsis or septic shock. Dantrolene, a potent inhibitor of RyRs, is expected to ameliorate SIRS and MODS and decrease mortality in sepsis or septic shock patients. This review summarized the potential mechanisms of therapeutic effects of dantrolene in sepsis or septic shock at molecular, cell, and organ levels and provided suggestions and strategies for future clinical studies.