Associations of psychological wellbeing with COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality in adults aged 50 years or older from 25 European countries and Israel.

Background: Lower psychological wellbeing is associated with poor outcomes in a variety of diseases and healthy populations. However, no study has investigated whether psychological wellbeing is associated with the outcomes of COVID-19. This study aimed to determine whether individuals with lower psychological wellbeing are more at risk for poor outcomes of COVID-19. Methods: Data were from the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) in 2017 and SHARE's two COVID-19 surveys in June-September 2020 and June-August 2021. Psychological wellbeing was measured using the CASP-12 scale in 2017. The associations of the CASP-12 score with COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality were assessed using logistic models adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, physical activity, household income, education level, and chronic conditions. Sensitivity analyses were performed by imputing missing data or excluding cases whose diagnosis of COVID-19 was solely based on symptoms. A confirmatory analysis was conducted using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA). Data analysis took place in October 2022. Results: In total, 3,886 individuals of 50 years of age or older with COVID-19 were included from 25 European countries and Israel, with 580 hospitalized (14.9%) and 100 deaths (2.6%). Compared with individuals in tertile 3 (highest) of the CASP-12 score, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of COVID-19 hospitalization were 1.81 (95% CI, 1.41-2.31) for those in tertile 1 (lowest) and 1.37 (95% CI, 1.07-1.75) for those in tertile 2. As for COVID-19 mortality, the adjusted ORs were 2.05 (95% CI, 1.12-3.77) for tertile 1 and 1.78 (95% CI, 0.98-3.23) for tertile 2, compared with tertile 3. The results were relatively robust to missing data or the exclusion of cases solely based on symptoms. This inverse association of the CASP-12 score with COVID-19 hospitalization risk was also observed in ELSA. Conclusion: This study shows that lower psychological wellbeing is independently associated with increased risks of COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality in European adults aged 50 years or older. Further study is needed to validate these associations in recent and future waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and other populations.

Evaluation of both expression and serum protein levels of caspase-8 and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 genes in patients with different severities of COVID-19 infection.

AIM: The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of caspase-8 (CASP8) and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) gene expression levels and their products on preventing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. METHODS: A total of 40 patients (men, 15 [37.5%]; women, 25 [62.5%]) with COVID-19 infection were included in the current study. The patients were divided into four main groups based on disease severity: mild (n = 7), moderate (n = 10), severe (n = 14), and critical (n = 9). Individuals aged < 18 years and pregnant women were excluded. Patients were classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system (WHO/2019-nCoV/clinical/2021.1). RESULTS: Considering all groups, statistically significant differences were detected among all groups for both CASP82-ΔΔCt (p = 0.006) and MAPK1 2-ΔΔCt values (p = 0.015). Moreover, statistically significant differences were detected between mild and moderate (p = 0.013), moderate and critical (p = 0.018), and severe and critical (p = 0.023) groups for lymphocytes. CONCLUSION: The CASP8/MAPK1 expression levels and/or its products are essential in preventing injury caused by COVID-19 infection. They play crucial roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis and viability. Furthermore, CASP8/MAPK1 levels can provide information about disease severity.

Antidepressant-Like Effect of Traditional Medicinal Plant Carthamus Tinctorius in Mice Model through Neuro-Behavioral Tests and Transcriptomic Approach

Major depression disorder (MDD) has become a common life-threatening disorder. Despite the number of studies and the introduced antidepressants, MDD remains a major global health issue. Carthamus tinctorius (safflower) is traditionally used for food and medical purposes. This study investigated the chemical profile and the antidepressant-like effect of the Carthamus tincto-rius hot water extract in male mice and its mechanism using a transcriptomic analysis. The antidepressant effect of hot water extract (50 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg) was investigated in mice versus the untreated group (saline) and positive control group (fluoxetine 10 mg/kg). Hippocampus transcriptome changes were investigated to understand the Carthamus tinctorius mechanism of action. The GC-MS analysis of Carthamus tinctorius showed that hot water extract yielded the highest amount of oleamide as the most active ingredient. Neuro-behavioral tests demonstrated that the safflower treatment significantly reduced immobility time in TST and FST and improved performance in the YMSAT compared to the control group. RNA-seq analysis revealed a significant differential gene expression pattern in several genes such as Ube2j2, Ncor1, Tuba1c, Grik1, Msmo1, and Casp9 related to MDD regulation in 50 mg/kg safflower treatment as compared to untreated and fluoxetine-treated groups. Our findings demonstrated the antidepressant-like effect of safflower hot water extract and its bioactive ingredient oleamide on mice, validated by a significantly shortened immobility time in TST and FST and an increase in the percentage of spontaneous alternation.

The evaluation of both the expression and serum protein levels of Caspase-3 gene in patients with different degrees of SARS-CoV2 infection.

To evaluate the effects of Caspase-3 (CASP3) gene expression and serum levels on preventing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. A total of 41 individuals (male: 21; female: 20) with SARS-CoV-2 infection were included in the current study. Hemograms were examined from patient blood samples, and CASP3 gene expression levels were detected. Also, human CASP3 levels were determined from the serum samples of patients. The mean age of patients was 56.220 ± 18.937 years. Significant differences were detected among all groups for CASP3  2-ΔΔCt (p = 0.014) and CASP3 concentration (p = 0.024). The relationship between CASP3 2-ΔΔCt levels and hemoglobin (p = 0.023), between CASP3 2-ΔΔCt levels and C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.001), between CASP3 2-ΔΔCt levels and ferritin (p = 0.003), between CASP3 2-ΔΔCt levels and lactate dehydrogenase (p = 0.001), and between CASP3 2-ΔΔCt levels and SpO2 (p = 0.006) were statistically significant. Also, the relationship between CASP3 concentration levels and SpO2 was statistically significant (p < 0.046). The CASP3 gene and/or its products have an important function to prevent injury caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. They play crucial roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis and viability. Perhaps CASP3 levels may provide information about the severity of the disease.

Modeling SARS-CoV-2 proteins in the CASP-commons experiment.

Critical Assessment of Structure Prediction (CASP) is an organization aimed at advancing the state of the art in computing protein structure from sequence. In the spring of 2020, CASP launched a community project to compute the structures of the most structurally challenging proteins coded for in the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Forty-seven research groups submitted over 3000 three-dimensional models and 700 sets of accuracy estimates on 10 proteins. The resulting models were released to the public. CASP community members also worked together to provide estimates of local and global accuracy and identify structure-based domain boundaries for some proteins. Subsequently, two of these structures (ORF3a and ORF8) have been solved experimentally, allowing assessment of both model quality and the accuracy estimates. Models from the AlphaFold2 group were found to have good agreement with the experimental structures, with main chain GDT_TS accuracy scores ranging from 63 (a correct topology) to 87 (competitive with experiment).

Methodological Analysis: Randomized Controlled Trials for Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines.

Critical appraisal of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) determines rigor, quality, and whether the findings are applicable to the populations served in clinical practices. The authors conducted a rigorous analysis using the RCT Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) Checklist for the two RCTs Pfizer (New York, NY) and Moderna (Cambridge, MA) conducted and the reporting of these RCTs using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials checklist. The goals for this analysis were twofold: (1) enable health care providers to understand the methods and outcomes of these RCTs, and (2) enable health care providers and community leaders to become champions for the vaccines to reduce vaccine hesitancy among all populations. The analysis is presented using each of the 11 questions on the CASP tool while comparing the methodology and results for each vaccine. Most CASP tool items were positive or yes for both the Pfizer and Moderna RCTs. Items that were not scored as yes are discussed. The analysis outcomes revealed that both RCTs were rigorously conducted and provide an assurance to all health care providers and the public of the safety and efficacy of both vaccines to impact the astounding morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 disease. The authors believed that the analysis was an essential component of the distribution process to develop plans and communication strategies to reduce potential vaccine hesitancy and resistance.

Network pharmacology-based analysis of Zukamu granules for the treatment of COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Zukamu granules may play a potential role in the fight against the Coronavirus, COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanisms of Zukamu granules using network pharmacology combined with molecular docking. METHODS: The Traditional Chinese Medicine systems pharmacology (TCMSP) database was used to filter the active compounds and the targets of each drug in the prescription. The Genecards and OMIM databases were used for identifying the targets related to COVID-19. The STRING database was used to analyze the intersection targets. Compound - target interaction and protein-protein interaction networks were constructed using Cytoscape to decipher the anti-COVID-19 mechanisms of action of the prescription. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was performed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of action. Finally, the interaction between the targets and the active compounds was verified by molecular docking technology. RESULTS: A total of 66 targets were identified. Further analysis identified 10 most important targets and 12 key compounds. Besides, 1340 biological processes, 43 cell compositions, and 87 molecular function items were obtained (P < 0.05). One hundred and thirty pathways were obtained (P < 0.05). The results of molecular docking showed that there was a stable binding between the active compounds and the targets. CONCLUSION: Analysis of the constructed pharmacological network results allowed for the prediction and interpretation of the multi-constituent, multi-targeted, and multi-pathway mechanisms of Zukamu granules as a potential source for supportive treatment of COVID-19.

The Quality of Life, Psychological Health, and Occupational Calling of Korean Workers: Differences by the New Classes of Occupation Emerging Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study aimed to create new classifications for occupations that have emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea, based on Reich's classifications for the United States. We examined Korean workers' occupational calling, psychological health, and quality of life. An online questionnaire was administered and data from 1029 Korean workers were analyzed. The questionnaire comprised the Korean version of the Multidimensional Calling Measure to assess occupational calling, the Psychosocial Well-being Index-short form for psychological health, and the Control, Autonomy, Self-realization, and Pleasure (CASP-19) scale for quality of life. We created a Korean-adapted version of the classes of occupation based on those created by the COVID-19 situation in the USA. Our results showed that Korean workers had a high perceived calling to work, and different classes showed different levels of quality of life and psychological health. We need a health concentration management system for essential groups or personal safety protection equipment should be provided. Education on infection control should be offered and effective medical system processes should be in place. We need to develop technology to respond to medical needs online, remotely, or telephonically. The government should implement policies to ensure job security and to improve wages and welfare.