Interpretation of Hepatotoxic Side Effects by Rcv (Reference Change Value) in Covid-19 Patients Treated with Favipiravir

Objectives: Favipiravir was first used against SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan at the very epicenter of the pandemic. Its side effects include hyperuricemia, decreased neutrophil counts, diarrhea, and increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkalen phospatase ALP, bilirubin. Reference change value (RCV) represents the clinical significance of the variation between the RESULTS of two consecutive tests and laboratory test results exceeding this value are associated with the individual's disease status. In this study, we evaluated the side effects of favipiravir treatment on AST and ALT using RCV. Materials-Methods: We examined retrospectively 40 patients were administered 1600 mg of favipiravir twice daily on day 1, followed by 600 mg twice daily from day 2 to day 5 (or more if needed). The analytic coefficient of variation (CVA:0,47 for AST 0,42 for ALT) was calculated from internal quality control RESULTS. Intra-individual coefficient of variation (CVI) and inter-individual coefficient of variation (CVG) were obtained from Westgard's website, which was updated in 2014.The RCV% is calculated with the following formula Zx21/2x[CVA2+CVI2]1/2 (Using an unidirectional probability of 95%, Z=1.65). Result(s): The RCV% results were calculated as %28 for AST and % 45 for ALT.The individuality index (II) was calculated as 0.532 for AST and 0.466 for ALT. ALT and AST values were evaluated as higher than the calculated RCV value in 70%,62,5% of the patients. Conclusion(s): The use of RCV is recommended as a valuable tool in the follow-up of patient results and side effects of treatment.

'My memories of the time we had together are more important': Direct cremation and the privatisation of UK funerals

Funerals have long been of interest to social scientists. Previous sociological work has examined the relationship between individuality, belief and tradition within funeral services, founded on the assumption that public rituals have psycho-social benefit for organisers and attendees. With the introduction of direct cremation to the UK, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on funeral service attendance in 2020 and 2021, critique of this assumption is now needed. Drawing on interviews with recently bereaved people who organised a direct cremation in late 2017, this article illustrates how compromise, control and consistency are key drivers for not having a funeral service. The article argues that a declining importance in the fate of the body and a move towards 'invite-only' commemorative events represents a waning need for social support offered by a public, communal funeral service. In turn, this indicates a sequestration, or privatisation, of the contemporary funeral. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Color-coded activity charts and beachbody: "Momming" in COVID-19

This piece is an invitation. Our work consists of poetry by three moms, writing in the middle of a global pandemic about the realities of "momming" in these times. Why poems? We want the article to be short and digestible while also expressing the complexity and individuality of our lived experiences. Also, through poetry, we can invite you to bring your own story as you make meaning. In the poems, we struggle with ideas including discipline, "being enough," and the fact that things are fucked up. We are also left with the nagging question, "What leisure can we have on a regular day, much less in the midst of a pandemic?" (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

THE RESTORATIVE POWER OF CIRCLES

The article discusses how indigenous talking circles can help health and social care professionals recover from moral injury due to the pandemic. Topics include reason for moral injury in the health and social care context, a therapeutic intervention that has been developed for moral injury in the U.S. military, and the evidence-based theory of post-traumatic growth.

Variable feelings of cohesion, trust, individualism and exclusion and their consequences on Swiss public mental health during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: The first cases of COVID-19 in Switzerland were related to the Milan cluster in February 2020. Border crossing restrictions were imposed and economic support measures worth 40 billion Swiss francs were announced. By 24th September 2021 Switzerland achieved a fully vaccination rate of 54%, confirmed 836'000 cases and 11'060 deaths. Objective(s): The objective was to describe and analyse the mental health of the general Swiss population under the ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic and it's social changes: including a case description, transgenerational influence and psychosocial treatment opportunities Methods: To answer the research question, I used deepened internet research, population interviews among different age gropus and colloquies with healthcare providers and federal authorities. Result(s): Different psychosocial phenomena lead to the transgenerational influence. Unfortunately, vaccination rate is slowed down by this pandemic's impacts on public mental health. While during the first wave the positive feelings of cohesion and trust dominated, the mood changed afterwards to anxiousness and reactive individualism. Among all generations the fear of infection was shown to be a general booster of anxiety and distress. In fact, Swiss experts perceive the corona crisis as a catalysator for depression and anxiety disorders. Conclusion(s): Specific psychosocial treatment has to address general and individual vulnerability factors. However, staying in touch with family members, pursuing meaningful activities and being physically active can all help to overcome COVID-19 related mental health issues.

Return to work among workers recovering from severe COVID-19 in Slovenia: a focus group study.

Purpose: For working age adults, return to work (RTW) after severe COVID-19 can be an essential component of rehabilitation. We explored the expectations and experiences related to RTW in a group of workers recovering from severe COVID-19 in Slovenia.Materials and methods: Four focus groups were conducted between May 2021 and August 2021. Fifteen men and three women, aged between 39 and 65 years, participated. We analysed data using reflexive thematic analysis.Results: Four main themes were developed in the analysis, pertaining to (1) work identity, (2) challenges to work re-entry, (3) personal strengths and support systems, and (4) possible adaptations at work. The disruption of work triggered sentiments about its role in identity. Workers' personal agency and self-advocacy helped participants cope with various barriers that were beyond their control, such as physical limitations and lack of systematic routines to address RTW. Workers recovering from severe COVID-19 were at risk of developing negative expectations regarding their work re-entry.Conclusions: RTW after severe COVID-19 involves different personal, organizational and systemic dimensions that need to be considered and carefully aligned. Due to the individuality of the process, the worker should be involved as a key partner in the RTW process.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONLack of clinical pathways can negatively impact return to work (RTW) after severe COVID-19.RTW processes should start early but timely and include individual follow up.Patients expect the interdisciplinary team of experts to work together and involve them in all phases of decision-making regarding their rehabilitation and RTW process.Positive expectations regarding work re-entry are essential for the RTW process.

Development of Students' Individuality during COVID-19 Pandemic: the Impact of Distant and Online Education

This article focuses on the problem of students' individuality developing as an important part of human individuality in the process of distance and online education during Covid-19 Pandemic. The theoretical basis is O. Grebenyuk's individuality concept. In it, the individuality is defined as the unity of seven spheres, including intellectual, motivational, emotional, volitional, practical and subject-oriented, self-regulative and existential ones which are characterized the originality and uniqueness of a person. Positive students' individuality developing affects success of higher education and professional activity in medicine. This study adresses three key issues. First, it looks at the problem of students' individuality developing in the process of distance and online education during Covid-19 Pandemic. Second, it turns to examine dynamics of students' individuality spheres and components during one semester of professional training at the university. Finally, the paper considers gender differences in dynamics of students' individuality. The data for this study were collected using the questionnaire "The Technique of Student's Individuality" by T. Grebenyuk. Eighty-five students were recruited for this research. The participants study at Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, they are future health professionals. The results suggest that in the process of distance and on-line education during Covid-19 Pandemic, positive dynamics in the development of all individuality spheres of medical students is revealed, especially in the motivational and intellectual spheres. The dynamics of all individuality spheres have differences in the male group of medical students except the existential sphere. But this problem needs deeper research.

What Is to Be Done?

Disease infections rise to epidemic threshold in local communities from which they spread spatially. Spatial diffusion within metropolitan regions enables hierarchical diffusion among metropolitan regions. Thus, preventing pandemics requires containing infection rates within local communities. Culturally isolated communities and those targeted with discriminatory policies and practices remain most vulnerable to high rates of infection. Because of long-term abuse and neglect by governmental agencies and the economic powers behind government, these communities often disobey edicts from health departments. Local health departments must engage with all communities and community components to effect pandemic prevention and response. Chapter 7 lists tactics of engagement and of organizing an efficacious pandemic response planning board. Health departments must have emergency pandemic powers. Elected executives (mayors, county executives, governors) have proven the Achilles’ heel of pandemic response. Elected executives depend on big donors and befriend ascendant capitalists, favoring them with policies and governmental funds, aka corrupt cronyism.

Writing on Death: Plague Narratives. A Review Essay

This essay discusses several books, ancient and recent, on plagues to ask the question: Can we face death without turning away from it through historical narration? Can we write about death, which only afflicts individuals, without stripping death of its individuality? After briefly addressing these questions, I discuss five books, one from the ancient period (Thucydides’s Peloponnesian War), one from the late medieval period (Giovanni Boccaccio’s The Decameron), one from the early modern period (Daniel Defoe’s A Journal of the Plague Year), and two from the modern period (Mary Shelley’s The Last Man, and Frank Snowden’s Epidemics and Society). These books not only come from different eras but also reflect different written responses to death—ancient history, story/fable, reportage, futuristic novel, and contemporary history. The essay concludes by considering a counterargument to its focus on death, an argument developed by Baruch Spinoza which claims that humans should think nothing less than of death.

Anxiety and Leisure-Domain Physical Activity Frequency, Duration, and Intensity During Covid-19 Pandemic.

This study investigated relationships between state anxiety and leisure-domain physical activity levels during Covid-19 pandemic. We used frequency, duration, and intensity as key variables of physical activity. Trait anxiety, state anxiety before pandemic, age, gender, and education level were also included in the analysis. Our general hypothesis was that participants who declared doing more physical activity levels would exhibit lower levels of anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic. A convenient sample of 571 volunteer adults (mean age 39 ± 14 years) was drawn mainly from São Paulo State (89.2% of the sample), the epicenter of Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil. To obtain the participants' levels of anxiety (trait, state before pandemic, and state during pandemic) we used a validated short-version of the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory. Levels of physical activity were measured via questions from VIGITEL, a validated questionnaire about the individual's habits on risk factors. Answers were given regarding the first week of March 2020 (before pandemic) and at the very moment the participant was filling in the electronic form (June 2020). Data analyses were conducted through descriptive and inferential techniques, with the use of non-parametric tests and linear regression models. Overall, participants' responses indicate that anxiety levels were higher during the pandemic compared to the period that preceded the pandemic, and that frequent and long physical activity in the leisure-domain reduced anxiety, regardless its intensity. The regression models revealed an inverse relationship between physical activity and anxiety (the more physical activity, the less anxiety) and independent of gender, age, education level, trait anxiety, and physical activity before pandemic.

Preserving Bodily Integrity of Deceased Patients From the Novel SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in West Africa.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic, otherwise known as COVID-19 brought about the use of new terminologies-new lexical items such as social distancing, self-isolation, and lockdown. In developed countries, basic social amenities to support these are taken for granted; this is not the case in West African countries. Instead, those suggested safeguards against contracting COVID-19 have exposed the infrastructural deficit in West African countries. In addition, and more profoundly, these safeguards against the disease have distorted the traditional community-individuality balance. The enforcement of social distancing, self-isolation, and lockdown has made it impossible for West Africans to drift to their ancestral homes and villages, as is usually the case in times of crisis, with attendant consequences for communal life and traditional burial rites. This could be one of the reasons why some COVID-19 patients are escaping from isolation centres, since to die in such centres violates their bodily integrity at an ontological level.