Food Bank Operations during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany

The COVID-19 pandemic has a substantial impact on food bank operations. This article aims to provide an overview of the challenges and responses of food banks in Germany. Publicly available data was used and surveys were conducted among 948 food banks, at three time points in 2020. More than half of participating food banks were closed in spring, whereas nearly all were open again in summer. Food banks implemented alternative modes of food distribution and response measures to stay open. However, they seem to be less resilient to challenges like COVID-19, in particular due to their reliance on volunteers.Copyright © 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Roots and resiliency for native American young people

Aim: The presentation shares traditional Native American knowledge about wellbeing and caring for a person's body, heart, connection to the Creator, ancestors, and the land Methods: Drawing upon community narratives and traditional ancestral knowledge themes pertinent to the topic will be presented. Narrative Review Results: Ancestral knowledge is essential to access and practice in? community care and healing. This knowledge is sacred to the lives wellbeing, and continuation of traditional ways for Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (CTWS) people. CTWS young people play an important role in these practices for their community and elders. The practice of taking CTWS children from families was a pivotal moment that pushed forward the concept of mental health for the CTWS. The threat of climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic's activation of memories of imposed isolation between our people and from traditional ways continues to impact our young people. The process of healing from historical and present-day traumas includes grieving those losses and healing from addictions, as well as physical and sexual abuse Conclusion(s): Rebuilding and strengthening connections to the land Chuush (water in Sahaptin language), food gathering, and being with each other, is central to our young people's, and community's, healing The path of returning to our traditional understanding of the knowledge of what the Creator has provided for the CTWS people will be shared. This knowledge is useful for the care of young people Native and non-Native alike.

Public Health Impact of UK COVID-19 Booster Vaccination during Omicron Predominance

Objectives: To estimate the public health impact of COVID-19 booster vaccination in the UK during Omicron predominance, and to explore the impact in counterfactual scenarios with different booster eligibility or uptake. Method(s): A dynamic transmission model was developed to compare public health outcomes for actual and hypothetical UK Spring and Autumn 2022 booster programs. Outcomes were projected over an extended time horizon from April 2022-April 2023, assuming continued Omicron predominance as in Jan-Mar 2022. Health outcomes included averted cases, hospitalizations, long COVID cases, and deaths. NHS resource use outcomes were averted general ward and intensive care unit bed days and general practitioner visits. Patient productivity loss outcomes considered productive days lost for those in and outside the paid work force. Analyses used publicly available data. Result(s): Model output suggested that actual Spring and Autumn 2022 programs, which offered boosters to older adults and vulnerable populations, would avert approximately 716,000 hospitalizations, 1.9M long COVID cases and 125,000 deaths compared to not offering boosters in Spring and Autumn 2022. In a scenario that broadened eligibility to individuals aged >=5 years, an estimated 1.6M hospitalizations, 8.3M long COVID cases, and 222,000 deaths were averted. A scenario assuming broadened eligibility and increased uptake produced the greatest benefit among scenarios analyzed: 1.6M hospitalizations, 9.2M long COVID cases, and 228,000 deaths averted;and 953M productive days saved. Scenarios offering boosters only to high-risk individuals (aged >=5 years) were also estimated to improve benefit relative to actual programs. High-risk-only programs assuming increased uptake provided about half to two-thirds of the benefit estimated for programs assuming broadened eligibility and increased uptake. Conclusion(s): UK booster vaccination programs were estimated to provide substantial benefit to public health during Omicron predominance. Public health benefits could be maximized by broadening booster eligibility to younger age groups and increasing uptake.Copyright © 2023

Intentions of companies for health-promoting telework after the COVID-19 lockdown 2020

Background: Companies had to find quick solutions for continuing to work due to the pandemic in spring 2020. However, working conditions at home (teleworking) do not always comply with the basic principles and quality criteria of workplace health promotion (WHP). Objectives: How strongly is the approach of health-promoting telework (working at home) established in companies and what influences the strategic anchoring and the use of supporting materials? Materials and methods: Theoretically derived hypotheses were operationalised and 1858 Austrian companies were invited to participate in an online survey. The sample (n = 192) represents a broad mix of company sizes, sectors and regions. Results: Workplaces vary widely in their intention to implement health-promoting telework in the future. A part can be explained by multivariate path models, with behavioural control and social norms playing a central role. The former is determined by the degree of preparation for telework and its implementation in the company. In particular, teleworking culture, in addition to teleworking readiness, is shown to be responsible for the strength of social norms towards its implementation. Conclusions: Teleworking has so far received too little attention in the sense of holistic WHP. Such an implementation strongly depends on the health-promoting corporate structures and processes, the culture, and the decision-makers' scope for action. Companies are recommended to follow the concept of capacity building in order to build up competencies and knowledge and to enable appropriate measures.

Fear of making a mistake-Largest cause of stress for staff in COVID-19 ICU's

Background: Work stress among healthcare staff has been identified as an extensive problem already before the pandemic. To be able to treat the surge of COVID-19 patients in need of intensive care COVID-19 ICUs were swiftly set up and staffed. The aim of this study was to investigate what staff perceived as most stressful. Material(s) and Method(s): During spring 2020 up to 270 COVID-19 patients were simultaneously treated in ICU's in the greater Stockholm and Sormland regions, upholding 100 ICU beds pre-pandemic.1 Staff reactions to work in a COVID-19 ICU was collected in a survey. Nine causes for stress were scored on a five graded likert like scale from does not agree to fully agrees. 612 nurses and physicians, both regular ICU staff and newcomers, working in ICU's in 2 larger and 3 smaller hospitals responded, (response rate approx. 35%). Data was analyzed using structural equation modeling to calculate loading of each factor. Result(s): The highest scoring cause of stress was "making a mistake". "Getting infected" got the lowest score among the 9 predefined causes. Conclusion(s): Clinicians working in COVID-19 ICUs were generally confident not to get infected at work. Commitment to maintain patient safety and frustration not to live up to standards of care in this strained situation was reflected in "making a mistake" and "relatives cannot visit" scoring as the number one and three out of the nine causes of stress. Increased knowledge about work-related stressors is crucial, in order to prevent detrimental impacts of such stressors.

Economic resilience of families in a suburban residential area in the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

Background and Objectives: Faster than expected, the COVID-19 disease changed people's lives on an unprecedented scale. The present research aimed to shed light on the economic challenges of the pandemic and the efforts made concerning economic resilience. Thus, this study delved into the experience of families residing in a suburban town. Methods: The present study was qualitative in type. It used a qualitative content analysis with a guided approach conducted through 17 in-depth semi-structured individual interviews with subjects over 15 years of age living in Tawheed Gonabad town. These subjects had lived in the area for at least three years. The interviews were held and audio-recorded in a purposive sampling method after gaining informed consent from the participants in the spring of 2021. In order to estimate the validity of the data, Lincoln and Goba's criteria were used. Results: The economic resilience of families during the pandemic was marked by three main categories and nine sub-categories. The categories were: (1) changes to the economic dimension of the family (the sub-categories: employment, income, consumption and socioeconomic status), (2) solutions to the economic changes of the family (sub-categories: reliance on internal resources, family and receiving support from outside of the family), and (3) the effectiveness of economic resilience of families at higher levels (sub-categories: macroeconomics, family social capital and regional resilience). As more detailed results showed, the pandemic has caused a decrease in the income and consumption of essential items in quantity and quality and imposed excessive costs on the target community. The dominant solution to economic problems has been changing consumer's behavior and income diversification. The lack of supportive plans, poor social networks and the identity of the neighborhood are the significant barriers to the increase of economic resilience. Conclusion: The families investigated in the present study were vulnerable in many ways and had low economic resilience. In order to improve the families' level of economic resilience, it is necessary to know the context and carry out interventions and support plans based on the families' internal and external capacities, including the neighborhood's empowering conditions.

[Impacts of COVID-19 Lockdown on Air Quality in Shenzhen in Spring 2022].

The short-term reduction of air pollutant emissions is an important emergency control measure for avoiding air pollution exceedances in Chinese cities. However, the impacts of short-term emission reductions on the air qualities in southern Chinese cities in spring has not been fully explored. We analyzed the changes in air quality in Shenzhen, Guangdong before, during, and after a city-wide lockdown associated with COVID-19 control during March 14 to 20, 2022. Stable weather conditions prevailed before and during the lockdown, such that local air pollution was strongly affected by local emissions. In-situ measurements and WRF-GC simulations over the Pearl River Delta (PRD) both showed that, due to reductions in traffic emissions during the lockdown, the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), respirable particulate matter (PM10), and fine particulate matters (PM2.5) in Shenzhen decreased by (-26±9.5)%, (-28±6.4)%, and (-20±8.2)%, respectively. However, surface ozone (O3) concentration did not change significantly[(-1.0±6.5)%]. TROPOMI satellite observations of formaldehyde and nitrogen dioxide column concentrations indicated that the ozone photochemistry in the PRD in spring 2022 was mainly controlled by the volatile organic compound (VOCs) concentrations and was not sensitive to the reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx) concentrations. Reduction in NOx may even have increased O3, because the titration of O3 by NOx was weakened. Due to the small spatial-temporal extent of emission reductions, the air quality effects caused by this short-term urban-scale lockdown were weaker than the air quality effects across China during the widespread COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Future air quality management in South China cities should consider the impacts of NOx emission reduction on ozone and focus on the co-reduction scenarios of NOx and VOCs.

Impact of anti-epidemic measures on the dynamics of the incidence of COVID-19 in medical organizations with a psychoneurological profile

Aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of anti-epidemic measures (CAM) complex on the dynamics of the epidemic process of COVID-19 in a controlled cohort of patients. Material and methods. Patients from 30 social long-term care institutions of the city were included in the study, including neuropsychiatric boarding schools, boarding houses for labor veterans, gerontological centers, and houses for stage veterans. A total of 8303 patients participated in the study, of which 4237 were men (mean age 53.6 years) and 4066 were women (mean age 62.0 years). Vaccination was carried out with Gam-Covid-Vac. Results and discussion. For the entire observation period from March 2020 to August 2021, 1619, cases of COVID-19 or 19.5% of the total number of patients were registered among patients. At the initial epidemic stage (spring-summer 2020), the incidence of COVID-19 among patients was explosive. At the same time, in the autumn-winter period of 2020, an increase in the incidence of COVID-19 was also observed. However, much less pronounced than in April 2020. Despite the progress, it was decided to strengthen the sanitary and anti-epidemic regime in institutions with the introduction of additional preventive measures. One of the most effective long-term algorithms for reducing the infectious disease incidence was vaccination. In this regard, the Moscow Department of Healthcare suggested the need for voluntary vaccination of 100% of patients in all institutions at the beginning of 2021. In the spring of 2021, the number of cases began to increase in the city. The increase in the incidence of COVID-19 was insignificant among the patients of institutions: the maximum number of cases detected in one month during this period was 13 people (in April), or 60.5 times less than in April 2020, and 2.5 times less than in October 2020. The incidence of COVID-19 has become sporadic rather than epidemic. Conclusion. The introduction of CAM in long-term care social institutions in the early stages of the epidemic contributed to a decrease in the incidence of COVID 19. 100% vaccination of patients in combination with other prevention measures reduced the incidence of COVID-19 by more than 28 times. At the same time, it was found that there is a trend of increasing incidence depending on the increase in the level of independent activity of patients.Copyright © 2023 The authors.

BHIVA Spring Conference 2023

The proceedings contain 159 papers. The topics discussed include: microelimination of hepatitis C among people living with diagnosed HIV in England;laboratory implementation of emergency department blood-borne virus (EDBBV) opt-out screening in a London tertiary center;a review of sexual health and blood-borne virus care provided to inmates at admission into UK prisons and secure facilities;implementation of routine opt-out blood-borne virus (BBV) screening in 34 emergency departments (EDs) in areas of extremely high HIV prevalence in England;impact and experiences of offering HIV testing across the whole city population through primary care clusters and GP surgeries in the texting 4 Testing (T4T) project;'Not PrEPared': barriers to accessing PrEP in England;HIV care during the SARS-COV-2 pandemic for Black people with HIV in the UK;clinical presentation of mpox in people with and without HIV;and 'if you don't know, how can you know?': a qualitative investigation of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis knowledge and perceptions among women in England.

Analysis of Antibody Response to Sars-Cov-2 Vaccination and Natural Infection in a Tertiary Centre Cohort of Lupus Nephritis Patients

Background/Aims The immune response to SARS-CoV-2 is known to be reduced in the immunocompromised. However, extent to which immunity is affected by immunosuppression in specific disease cohorts remains poorly characterised. Furthermore, implications of the ongoing vaccination booster programme require further study. Individuals with lupus nephritis (LN) require prolonged high-dose immunosuppression in order to maintain disease control, rendering them important to study in this context. We evaluated SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid and spike antibody response in this cohort during the Spring/Summer 2022 booster vaccine campaign. Nucleocapsid antibody indicates previous infection whilst spike antibody indicates previous infection and/or vaccination response. Titre of spike antibody to prevent infection is not known, but presence of antibodies is likely to protect against severe disease. Methods SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid antibody were measured in adult patients with LN attending a tertiary centre rheumatology clinic. Data was collected retrospectively on disease, immunosuppression, vaccine status and history of natural exposure. Results 35 cases of LN were investigated, of which LN III, IV and V were predominant biopsy diagnoses. Regarding immunosuppressants, the Eurolupus Cyclophosphamide protocol had been used in the majority of patients to achieve initial control, with 3/35 patients still receiving pulsed courses at data collection. 18/35 were on Mycophenolate Mofetil;a further 13/35 had previously received this. 31/35 took at least 5mg Prednisolone daily;25/35 took Hydroxychloroquine;7/35 took Azathioprine;7/35 had previously been on Methotrexate, 3/35 took Tacrolimus;1/35 took Ciclosporin. Regarding B-cell depleting monoclonal antibody therapy, 13/35 had received Rituximab and 8/35 were receiving Belimumab. Antibody levels were measured between 4 weeks and 13 months after last dose of vaccination;mean duration was 6 months. 11/35 had confirmed COVID-19 infection;a further 8/35 reported a possible history. Of the 35, 32 (91%) had mounted detectable SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody above the bottom 10% of assay detection, indicating some immunity to vaccination or natural exposure. 20 (57%) had detectable nucleocapsid antibody, suggesting natural infection with antibody response. Only 2 (6%) had not mounted any antibody response. Of note, neither were fully vaccinated: one had 1 vaccination with blood test 8 months subsequent;one had 2 vaccinations with blood test 7 months subsequent. The latter was also notably on haemodialysis. All who received 3+ vaccinations had detectable spike antibody responses, as well as 75% of those who had received 2 vaccinations. Conclusion Our study is the first analysis, to our knowledge, of SARS-CoV-2 antibody response in a LN cohort. Whilst neutralising capacity and level of antibody providing protection remains under research, these findings provide at least some reassurance that individuals with LN on immunosuppression are capable of mounting an immune response against SARS-CoV-2. Further work is required to establish extent and duration of protection with serial vaccinations in this cohort.

Chronic Chilblain Like Lesions Associated with the Covid-19 Pandemic

Background/Aims We report the features of chronic chilblain-like digital lesions newly presenting since the start of the covid-19 pandemic. Comparison with primary perniosis and acrocyanosis, reveals a unique phenotype which appears to be a long-covid phenomenon. Methods The case records of 26 patients with new onset persistent chilblain-like lesions presenting to the Rheumatology service of St George's University Hospital, London between Autumn 2020 and Spring 2022 were reviewed. Demographic and clinical features, serology, imaging, treatment response and outcome up to Summer 2022 were collated retrospectively. Results Chilblain-like lesions first occurred between September and March;2019/ 2020 6 cases, 2020/2021 18 cases and 2021/2022 2 cases. Mean age 35.4 (17-60) years, 88% female, 85% white, all non-smokers. Median body mass index (BMI) 20.2, range 17.0 - 33.2. BMI underweight (<18.5) in 27%. All cases reported new red-purple-blue colour changes of the fingers, some with pain, swelling and pruritis, affecting both hands in 12, one hand in 6, and both hands and feet in 8 cases. There was a past history of cold sensitivity or primary Raynaud's in 54%. Covid was confirmed in 3 cases, 2 - 8 months prior to onset of chilblain-like symptoms. Possible covid, unconfirmed, was suspected in 5 cases, 1 - 11 months earlier. Affected digits appeared diffusely erythro-cyanotic in 81%, with blotchy discrete maculo-papular erythematous lesions in 42%, some with both features. Involvement was asymmetric in 54%, thumbs spared in 69%. Complement was low in 50% (8/16), ANA positive in 26% (6/23). MRI of hands showed phalangeal bone marrow oedema in keeping with osteitis in 4 of 7 cases. More severe signs and symptoms were associated with low BMI, low C3/4 and a past history of cold sensitivity or Raynauds. Cold avoidance strategies were sufficient for 58%. Pain prompted a trial of NSAIDs, aspirin, nitrates, calcium channel blockers, hydroxychloroquine, oral or topical corticosteroid or topical tacrolimus in 42%. In general, these were minimally effective or not tolerated. 4 severe cases received sildenafil or tadalafil, effective in 2. In 27% complete remission occurred during the first summer season after symptoms commenced, median duration 6 (range 2 - 10) months. In the remaining 19 cases, chilblain-like symptoms returned or worsened in the subsequent second winter period, with 6 of 19 entering remission the following summer. For the remaining 13 persistent cases the total duration of symptoms spans more than a year, and in four cases more than 2 years. Conclusion This series illustrates a distinct chronic chilblain-like condition. Features similar to primary perniosis include female predominance, middle age, pruritic painful blotchy lesions, asymmetry and low BMI. Features in keeping with acrocyanosis include chronicity, extensive diffuse erythro-cyanotic discoloration, relative improvement in warm weather and lack of association with smoking.

Human-Centered Design in Response to a Pandemic: A Health System and Innovation Center Collaboration

Purpose of Study In the spring of 2020, the coronavirus pandemic brought new challenges to healthcare systems as the rising demand for protective equipment led to product and resource inequalities around the globe. The inability to safeguard workers led to increased infection rates and deaths of healthcare professionals worldwide. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the response of an in-house innovation committee to meet the unforeseen needs faced by healthcare systems during an acute medical crisis. Methods Used Housed directly within the University of Utah's health system (U Health), The Center for Medical Innovation (CMI) teamed up with the hospital's administration, BME, COVID task force, and occupational health to create an innovative think-tank to tackle the challenges brought in by the coronavirus pandemic, with the purpose of stratifying clinical needs based upon acuity, frequency, and urgency. While prioritizing equipment needs, CMI used human-centered design to analyze common industry practices, engineer comparable solutions from commercially available materials, test reimagined products against known gold-standards, and create open-source assembly guides that allowed others facing similar shortages to do the same. Summary of Results The close-working relationship between CMI and U Health allowed for the rapid identification, innovation, and engineering of products that met the needs of healthcare workers during the months following the COVID pandemic. Many of these were directly adopted in clinical settings, including aerosol containment tents, powered air-purifying respirators, and self-testing stations. Additionally, CMI identified and engineered 20 additional readily producible, rapid-response products in anticipation of future needs, such as a bubble CPAP, containment boxes, and re-usable PPE. From these, dozens of open source, 'Improvised Personal Protective Equipment' manuals were shared with global partners to address the inequality of medical equipment in lowresource settings. Conclusions The rapid development of easily-producible, lowcost solutions for acute clinical needs-especially those faced by the equipment shortages seen during a pandemic-is improved via the partnership between health systems and a center for medical innovation.

The features and prospects of recreational use of thermal mineral springs by resort hotels

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic have actualized the need to rethink the recreational use of thermal mineral springs by resort hotels in order to treat the consequences of post-war injuries, psychological rehabilitation and health restoration. Solving these problems requires strengthening the role of recreational enterprises and resort hotels in restoring the health of the population by expanding the directions of their economic activity and forming the investment attractiveness of the national resort and recreational product in world markets. The publication pays special attention to determining the physical and chemical properties of thermal mineral springs, which is an important component in the development of healing methods and the creation of specific health recovery programs. The spatial structure of the distribution of thermal mineral springs by regions of the world is clarified. The main types of establishments with thermal mineral springs, which provide recreational, healing and therapeutic services, are determined. In addition, the amount of financial losses suffered by institutions with thermal mineral springs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic is determined, as well as the dynamics of volume and forecast of growth of the world market of thermal mineral springs, due to the need to recover health, is identified. According to the results of the study, it is found that thermal mineral springs are a unique natural resource. Their recreational use is the main activity of many resort hotels. As a result of the Russian aggression and the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a shift in emphasis in the functioning of resort hotels from relaxation and rest towards treatment and rehabilitation, which will help restore the demand for resort and recreational services in the post-war period. Thus, the increase in demand for the health-recovering, medical and recreational services will make it possible to expand the recreational use of thermal mineral springs, update the menu of services and become more appealing for attracting investment capital.

Community Engaged Learning as part of Senior Research Seminar and Chemistry and Biochemistry Club Activities

The Outreach Program involves Community -engaged Learning that seeks to involve both the classroom and the Christian Brothers University (CBU) biochemistry and chemistry clubs in our K-12 education focused activities. These activities include a regional science fair for middle and high school students, the Chemistry Olympiad local and national competitions, and a summer outreach program for K-5 children who were recent immigrants from war-torn areas of Africa. Students in a seniorlevel research seminar class had an opportunity to put their skills to use by assisting in the judging of research projects conducted by grades 6, 7, and 8 students in our middle school fair which was affiliated with the Broadcom Masters national competition. Students in both the biochemistry and chemistry clubs and the research class have assisted with both the middle school and high school fairs by setting up tables for the presenting students and serving as information guides for the middle and high school students and their parents and teachers who came to our CBU campus to participate in the fairs prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. The assistance of our students from the research course and the clubs has enabled us to allow area students from public, private, and home-school to compete in the fairs at no charge to them or their parents or schools. Students from the biochemistry and chemistry clubs also helped by serving as information guides at the Chemistry Olympiad competitions and preparing the lab for the practical experimental section of the National Chemistry Olympiad Exam. These programs are resuming this spring with In-person only fairs and Chemistry Olympiad competitions with active participation by our students. Also prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, students from the biochemistry and chemistry clubs participated in the summer enrichment programs outside CBU for children of recent immigrants from Africa. These programs focused on a variety of STEM related activities related to chemistry, weather, geology, and fractals.Copyright © 2023 The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Seasonal and Covid Pandemic-Related Variations in Patients0 Self-Reported Adherence to Nutrition Recommendations for Stone Prevention Suggest Temporal Increases in Stone Recurrence Risk

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Nutrition therapy for stone prevention is indicated if risks are diet-related. Dietary recommendations (DRs) include higher fluid intake, lower salt intake, lower dietary acid load, and normal calcium (neither excessive nor insufficient). Adherence is challenging to assess and optimally includes multiple measures including patient-reported outcomes. We assessed adherence to individualized targeted DRs issued in our multidisciplinary stone prevention clinic. METHOD(S): From 1/2020-1/2021 we invited patients to complete a questionnaire 1 month after their appointment. They were to estimate the number of days within the last week they followed specific DRs prescribed them and number of days they followed all DRs. Questionnaires were sent by mail with postage-paid return envelopes. This was a quality improvement project;patients were offered to respond anonymously. RESULT(S): Respondents (n=132) represented 29% of patients who were sent questionnaires and were 50% female (61+/-13 y). Of those providing clinical details, 77% were recurrent stone formers;46% were on stone medication(s). There were no adherence differences for men vs. women, recurrent vs. one-time stone formers, nor for those on stone-related medications vs. not. Overall, adherence to eating more F/ V was lower (4.7 vs. 5.5 d/week for all other DRs, p<0.004). We separated responses by receipt: summer/fall (April to mid-November) and winter/spring (mid-November to April), and by pre- vs. post- COVID (before/after March 2020). F/V intake was significantly lower during winter/spring than summer/fall (4.4 vs. 5.5 d/week, p=0.009). Related to the COVID pandemic, patients reported lower adherence to all DRs after the pandemic start (5.0 vs. 5.9 d/week, P=0.009 for difference from before). CONCLUSION(S): Overall, adherence to eating more F/V was significantly lower than for other DRs and was lower yet during winter/ spring. The COVID pandemic did not affect F/V intake specifically but did reduce adherence to all DRs. F/V are important in stone prevention because they provide HCO3 precursors that increase urine citrate and pH. F/V also provide other stone inhibitors, including phytate (which in urine inhibits calcium stone formation) and prebiotics, some of which enhance oxalate-degrading gut bacteria. Moreover, F/V intake can account for up to 30% of urine output and thus may help meet fluid recommendations. Barriers to F/V intake, which may include seasonal variations in cost and availability, should be addressed .

Comparing the Effects of Aerobic Exercise and Yoga on Stress Levels in College Students

Purpose of Study: College for many is a time of transition. This transition from adolescence to young adulthood can be very stressful. During the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of suicide, depression and anxiety increased in adolescents and young adults. Recently, Wang and colleagues (2020) found that among 2,031 students in a large US university, 48% reported having moderate-to-severe depression, 38% had moderate-to-severe anxiety, and 18% had thoughts of suicide. Effective strategies to help emerging adults cope with stress is critically needed to decrease these alarming data. The primary aim of this study was to compare the effects of aerobic exercise and yoga on college students' perceived levels of stress. A secondary aim of the study was to examine whether athlete status would moderate the effectiveness of either intervention. Methods Used: A sample of 55 college students were recruited via email during the spring of 2022. Students were randomly assigned to complete a single, 20-minute session of either yoga or aerobic exercise. Participant's current and chronic stress levels were recorded both before and after exercise. Chronic stress was measured using Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale and current stress was measured using a modified version of the same scale. To support the second research aim, participants were asked to report if they were a member of a college-affiliated athletic team during the 2021-2022 academic year. Demographic characteristics including age, gender, and ethnicity were also collected. Summary of Results: A 2 (Time) X 2 (Condition) x 2 (Athlete Status) mixed factorial ANOVA was conducted. Results indicated that both aerobic exercise and yoga led to a significant decrease in chronic stress (p=.03), although there were no meaningful differences between the two conditions (p=.075). This pattern of results held for current stress as well, with both groups experiencing an equivalent decrease in current stress (p<.001). Athlete-status did not significantly predict changes in current or chronic stress, nor did it moderate the efficacy of either intervention. Conclusion(s): Taken together, these findings indicate that a small bout of exercise, regardless of type, can help decrease reported stress for college students. They also provide preliminary evidence about the efficacy of exercise as stress reduction for college athletes. Our findings provide further support for using exercise as a practical strategy for coping with stress. (Table Presented).

A Research of Emergency Service Admission Due To Home Accidents Before and During The Covid-19 (Sars-Cov-2) Pandemic In Ankara (Turkey)

Home accidents can cause serious injuries, disabilities, and deaths. Approximately 40 million people were treated in hospitals annually because of injuries occurring in homes, and these injuries were responsible for approximately 76% of preventable deaths. The aims of this study are to compare the home accidents in the one-year period during the pandemic and the home accidents in the one-year period before the pandemic, and to reveal how the home accidents are affected in which part of the home and in which types of injuries. A retrospective study was made of the records of patients injured in home accidents between pre-pandemic and pandemic one-year periods. The patients were classified according to age groups, gender, season, day and time of the home accident, accident type, part of the home, trauma localization and type, and severity of injuries. While 46.5% of the 581 injured patients were before the pandemic, 53.5% were in the pandemic period. The injuries increased as the number of households staying at home increased compared to the pre-pandemic period. Likewise, there was a significant increase in the number of falls from balconies and windows during the pandemic period. It is still not possible to make a definite prediction about the course of the pandemic. In this context, it is of great importance to provide information on prevention from home accidents, especially in television programs and distance education activities.Copyright © 2023, Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Tip Fakultesi. All rights reserved.

Impact of anti-epidemic measures on the dynamics of the incidence of COVID-19 in medical organizations with a psychoneurological profile.

Aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of anti-epidemic measures (CAM) complex on the dynamics of the epidemic process of COVID-19 in a controlled cohort of patients. Material and methods. Patients from 30 social long-term care institutions of the city were included in the study, including neuropsychiatric boarding schools, boarding houses for labor veterans, gerontological centers, and houses for stage veterans. A total of 8303 patients participated in the study, of which 4237 were men (mean age 53.6 years) and 4066 were women (mean age 62.0 years). Vaccination was carried out with Gam-Covid-Vac. Results and discussion. For the entire observation period from March 2020 to August 2021, 1619, cases of COVID-19 or 19.5% of the total number of patients were registered among patients. At the initial epidemic stage (spring-summer 2020), the incidence of COVID-19 among patients was explosive. At the same time, in the autumn-winter period of 2020, an increase in the incidence of COVID-19 was also observed. However, much less pronounced than in April 2020. Despite the progress, it was decided to strengthen the sanitary and anti-epidemic regime in institutions with the introduction of additional preventive measures. One of the most effective long-term algorithms for reducing the infectious disease incidence was vaccination. In this regard, the Moscow Department of Healthcare suggested the need for voluntary vaccination of 100% of patients in all institutions at the beginning of 2021. In the spring of 2021, the number of cases began to increase in the city. The increase in the incidence of COVID-19 was insignificant among the patients of institutions: the maximum number of cases detected in one month during this period was 13 people (in April), or 60.5 times less than in April 2020, and 2.5 times less than in October 2020. The incidence of COVID-19 has become sporadic rather than epidemic. Conclusion. The introduction of CAM in long-term care social institutions in the early stages of the epidemic contributed to a decrease in the incidence of COVID 19. 100% vaccination of patients in combination with other prevention measures reduced the incidence of COVID-19 by more than 28 times. At the same time, it was found that there is a trend of increasing incidence depending on the increase in the level of independent activity of patients.Copyright © 2023 The authors.

Influenza surveillance in Ezhou city, Hubei Province, 2016-2021

ObjectiveTo analyze the influenza surveillance data in Ezhou City, Hubei Province from 2016 to 2021, determine the epidemiological characteristics and etiological trend of influenza like illness (ILI), and to provide scientific evidence for influenza prevention and control. MethodsThe ILI surveillance data were reported by Ezhou influenza sentinel hospitals and etiological examination results were collected by network laboratory. Influenza surveillance data from 2016 to 2021 were analyzed. ResultsFrom 2016 to 2021, the percentage of ILI visits (ILI%) in Ezhou city was 2.81% and increased over years. Majority (55.55%) of ILI cases were 0-4 years. A total of 7 716 ILI samples were examined from 2016 to 2021, of which 1 467 tested positive with a positive rate of 19.01%. Influenza A H1N1 was mainly concentrated in January-April, A H3N2 mainly in August-December, B Victoria mainly in April-July and December-March, and B Yamagata mainly in December-February. Influenza network laboratory isolated influenza virus from the 1 467 positive samples by using MDCK cells and SPF chicken embryos. The overall isolation rate was 32.78%, which was 26.93% by MDCK cells and 5.86% by SPF chicken embryos. From 2016 to 2021, a total of 13 ILI outbreaks were reported in Ezhou City. Temporally, the outbreaks mainly occurred in winter and spring. Spatially, they were mainly in primary schools, middle schools and kindergartens. ConclusionThe winter and spring are the key time period of influenza prevention and control in Ezhou City, as they are susceptible to influenza outbreaks. Children aged 0-14 are the key population of prevention and control. Diverse subtypes of influenza virus alternate by years, which warrants continually strengthening monitoring. Additionally, certain countermeasures against COVID-19 may be recommended in the prevention and control of influenza.

Custom parenteral nutrition for critically ill patients with aminoacidopathies

Background: Nutrition therapy is crucial in the management of aminoacidopathies. The goal during critical illness is to reverse catabolism by providing sufficient energy and non-offending amino acids (AAs). If the patient's condition is unstable, tolerance of adequate enteral nutrition (EN) to promote anabolism may not be feasible. Parental nutrition (PN) may be necessary to meet nutrition goals, however standard preparations of PN are contraindicated. Integrity Compounding Pharmacy [Sandy Springs, GA] offers specialty compounding options tailored to provide PN to critically ill patients with aminoacidopathies void of offending AAs. Method(s): Retrospective chart review was performed. Patient Awas a 4-day old twin female born at 31-weeks gestation with phenylketonuria (PKU) hospitalized for prematurity and respiratory failure. Patient B was a 4-day old female, sibling of patient A, also with PKU hospitalized due to prematurity, respiratory failure and ductal dependent pulmonic stenosis. Patient C was a 26 year old male with maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) admitted for metabolic decompensation and respiratory failure in the setting of novel Covid-19 virus. Patient Dwas an 8 year old female with MSUD presenting with nausea and vomiting in the setting of novel Covid-19 virus. All four patients experienced elevated blood levels of offending AAs and inadequate EN intake. Custom PN from Integrity Compounding Pharmacy was utilized in all four patients ranging from 6 to 11 days. Patient A, B and D received custom PN as sole source nutrition for a period of time while transitioning to EN. Patient C tolerated a small amount of EN as well as custom PN to meet nutrition goals. Result(s): The Integrity custom PN provided appropriate AAs to optimize nutrition until full EN could be tolerated. This essential nutrition therapy helped reverse catabolism, achieve metabolic control and prevent further sequelae. Conclusion(s): Custom PN should be considered in critically ill patients with aminoacidopathies that have significant EN intolerance.Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.