ABSTRACT
This study aimed to investigate whether life skills could be negative predictors of stress responses in high school student-athletes and moderators of a relationship between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related stressors and stress responses during the pandemic. A survey was conducted from July to August 2020, and 1528 (717 females and 811 males) high school students, who belonged to sport clubs in Japanese public high schools, participated. The Stressors for Athletes During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Stress Response Scale for Athletes, and the Daily Life Skills Scale were used to assess COVID-19-related stressors, stress responses, and life skills, respectively. The results showed that three factors of personal life skills—planning, self-esteem, and positive thinking—and one factor of interpersonal life skills—intimacy—were significant negative predictors of stress responses. In contrast, COVID-19-related stressors and one factor of interpersonal life skills—leadership—were significant positive predictors. Furthermore, positive thinking moderated the relationship between stressors and stress responses. The findings suggest the need for educators and practitioners to consider effective life skills in challenging situations, to provide fruitful life skills programs for student-athletes. © 2022 The Authors
ABSTRACT
Background: Information regarding effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant strains on clinical manifestations and outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pregnant women is limited. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted using the data from the nationwide COVID-19 registry in Japan. We identified pregnant patients with symptomatic COVID-19 hospitalized during the study period. The Delta and Omicron variants of concern (VOC) predominant periods were defined as August 1 to December 31, 2021 and January 1 to May 31, 2022, respectively. Clinical characteristics were compared between the patients in the Delta and Omicron VOC periods. In addition, logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for developing moderate-to-severe COVID-19. Results: During the study period, 310 symptomatic COVID-19 cases of pregnant women were identified;111 and 199 patients were hospitalized during the Delta and Omicron VOC periods, respectively. Runny nose and sore throat were more common, and fatigue, dysgeusia, and olfactory dysfunction were less common manifestations observed in the Omicron VOC period. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, onset during the later stage of pregnancy (OR: 2.08 [1.24–3.71]) and onset during the Delta VOC period (OR: 2.25 [1.08–4.90]) were independently associated with moderate-to-severe COVID-19, whereas two doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine were protective against developing moderate-to-severe COVID-19 (OR: 0.34 [0.13–0.84]). Conclusions: Clinical manifestations of COVID-19 in pregnant women differed between the Delta and Omicron VOC periods. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was still effective in preventing severe COVID-19 throughout the Delta and Omicron VOC periods. © 2022 Japanese Society of Chemotherapy and The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases
ABSTRACT
Background: Information regarding effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant strains on clinical manifestations and outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pregnant women is limited. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted using the data from the nationwide COVID-19 registry in Japan. We identified pregnant patients with symptomatic COVID-19 hospitalized during the study period. The Delta and Omicron variants of concern (VOC) predominant periods were defined as August 1 to December 31, 2021 and January 1 to May 31, 2022, respectively. Clinical characteristics were compared between the patients in the Delta and Omicron VOC periods. In addition, logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for developing moderate-to-severe COVID-19. Results: During the study period, 310 symptomatic COVID-19 cases of pregnant women were identified;111 and 199 patients were hospitalized during the Delta and Omicron VOC periods, respectively. Runny nose and sore throat were more common, and fatigue, dysgeusia, and olfactory dysfunction were less common manifestations observed in the Omicron VOC period. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, onset during the later stage of pregnancy (OR: 2.08 [1.24-3.71]) and onset during the Delta VOC period (OR: 2.25 [1.08-4.90]) were independently associated with moderate-to-severe COVID-19, whereas two doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine were protective against developing moderate-to-severe COVID-19 (OR: 0.34 [0.13-0.84]). Conclusions: Clinical manifestations of COVID-19 in pregnant women differed between the Delta and Omicron VOC periods. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was still effective in preventing severe COVID-19 throughout the Delta and Omicron VOC periods.
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to investigate high school student-athletes' mental health, stressors, stress responses, and life skills (LS) during the COVID-19 pandemic and to examine the effect of stressors and LS on stress responses. An online survey was conducted from July to November 2020, and 1,348 student-athletes and 662 non-athletes who were in high schools in the western part of Japan participated. Findings illustrated that student-athletes' mental health seemed to be worse compared to pre-COVID-19 data. The levels of athletes' perceived stressors, stress responses, and LS were significantly different depending on gender, grade, and competitive level. Multiple regression analysis showed that perceived COVID-19-related stressors significantly related to stress responses while LS were a significant moderator of the relationship. © 2022 Japanese Psychological Association. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
In this paper, a slider type mechanical ventilator system using Ambu bag for emergency breathing assistance device was proposed and evaluated. A new type coronavirus infection occurred in early December 2019, and the infection has spread worldwide. When it became severe, respiratory failure often occurs, and there is concern about a shortage of ventilators. Meanwhile, MIT has released a blueprint for a mechanical type ventilator using an Ambu bag. In this study, we started the development based on the MIT ventilator. In our method, we proposed to reduce the load on the motor compared to the MIT type by using a horizontally moving slider to push in the pads. Using a test lung connected to Ambu bag device, we confirmed the mechanical stability between the MIT type and our proposed device. Next, we confirmed the three pads device manufacturing methods for device failure characteristics when driven for a long time (max two weeks). At last, we introduced the simple proportional type controller, and confirmed the pressure stability. The proposed a slider type mechanical Ambu bag ventilator system could realize that the Ambu bag did not move for at least one week and showed stable driving characteristics. Comparing the three types of pads manufacturing methods, the highest-performance pads used duralumin for the columns, and surface of the pad used ABS resin. Simple P controller real time pressure control experiment shows that it was necessary to device a pressure control method after carefully considering the characteristics of the check valve that responds to non-linear pressure inside the Ambu bag. © 2022 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Information regarding effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant strains on clinical manifestations and outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pregnant women is limited. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted using the data from the nationwide COVID-19 registry in Japan. We identified pregnant patients with symptomatic COVID-19 hospitalized during the study period. The Delta and Omicron variants of concern (VOC) predominant periods were defined as August 1 to December 31, 2021 and January 1 to May 31, 2022, respectively. Clinical characteristics were compared between the patients in the Delta and Omicron VOC periods. In addition, logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for developing moderate-to-severe COVID-19. RESULTS: During the study period, 310 symptomatic COVID-19 cases of pregnant women were identified;111 and 199 patients were hospitalized during the Delta and Omicron VOC periods, respectively. Runny nose and sore throat were more common, and fever, fatigue, dysgeusia, and olfactory dysfunction were less common manifestations observed in the Omicron VOC period. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, onset during the later stage of pregnancy (OR: 2.08 [1.24-3.71]) and onset during the Delta VOC period (OR: 2.25 [1.08-4.90]) were independently associated with moderate-to-severe COVID-19, whereas two doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine were protective against developing moderate-to-severe COVID-19 (OR: 0.34 [0.13-0.84]). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical manifestations of COVID-19 in pregnant women differed between the Delta and Omicron VOC periods. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was still effective in preventing severe COVID-19 throughout the Delta and Omicron VOC periods.
ABSTRACT
Not only in developed countries, but as the population ages globally, staff resources are becoming increasingly scarce at medical and nursing care sites. Under such circumstances, COVID-19, which occurred in 2020, faced the crisis of collapsing medical practice on a global scale. What has made the world feel through the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic is the importance about the prevention of infection for medical and care staff. From this view point, it is considered to be extremely effective to recognize the condition of patients and care recipients without contact as much as possible. In this research, we will collect living behavior and vital data such as respiration and heartbeat in a facility without contact by combining sensing technology using 24GHz radar and multiple Wireless Sensor Network systems. We propose a hybrid wireless sensor network platform for medical and nursing care sites that can grasp the conditions related to patients and care recipients in each zone from the inside of the facility to the surrounding area and the suburbs. In the facility, a high-speed Wi-Fi mesh network will be used to build a network that can share the 24GHz radar signal data of each room in real time. One of our challenge is the detection of the behavior, respiration and heartbeat of the occupants by analyzing these radar signals without using a camera which is difficult to install in the field due to privacy protection issues, and without the subject wearing a wearable sensor directly. If it is detected that the patient or resident has gone out, the situation of the resident's walking area around the facility can be detected by using the Wi-SUN FAN mesh network in the area around the facility with a radius of about 500 m. In addition, in the suburbs area, GPS information using a LoRaWAN small terminal will enable centralized management of location information of residents without smartphones. As described above, in this study, we propose the Hybrid Wireless Sensor Network platform for medical and nursing care sites by utilizing 24 GHz radar sensing technology and hybrid wireless sensor network technology. We will report the results of a demonstration experiment of this system in an actual nursing facility.
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a serious public health problem worldwide. In general, healthcare workers are considered to be at higher risk of COVID-19 infection. However, the prevalence of COVID-19 among healthcare workers in Japan is not well characterized. In this study, we aimed to examine the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies among 2160 healthcare workers in hospitals and clinics that are not designated to treat COVID-19 patients in Japan. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G was 1.2% in August and October 2020 (during and after the second wave of the pandemic in Japan), which is relatively higher than that in the general population in Japan (0.03-0.91%). Because of the higher risk of COVID-19 infection, healthcare workers should be the top priority for further social support and vaccination against SARS-CoV-2.