A comparative study of anxiety and depression among healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers in Johor, Malaysia during the Covid-19 era.

The outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has a significant impact on the mental health of the global population. Updates are needed regarding the mental health status among the local population since limited studies were done so far. This research compared the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms among HCWs and non-HCWs. We also evaluated the factors associated with anxiety and depression symptoms among these 2 groups. This was a cross-sectional study conducted between September to December 2022. Online questionnaire was distributed to HCWs from 2 tertiary government hospitals. Non-HCWs from various occupational fields were recruited randomly. Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) were used to screen for anxiety and depression symptoms respectively. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 28.0. 200 questionnaires were distributed to HCWs and non-HCWs respectively. The response rate was 74.5% from HCWs and 82.5% from non-HCWs (P = .07). A total of 236 individuals (105 HCWs and 131 non-HCWs) were included in the study. Majority were female, married, highly educated and worked more than 8 hours per day. There was no significant difference for the prevalence of anxiety (37.2% vs 44.3%, P = .34) and depression symptoms (37.3% vs 35.1%, P = .75) between HCWs and non-HCWs. Among HCWs, poor workplace support (P = .009) and low income (P = .04) were associated with anxiety symptoms. Younger age (P = .02), single status (P = .01) and poor workplace support (P = .006) were associated with depression symptoms. More non-HCWs with a higher educational level were having anxiety and depression symptoms. Single status (P = .03), working away from home (P = .02), poor family support (P = .03) and quarantine as Covid-19 close contact (P = .04) were also associated with depression symptoms among non-HCWs. There is no significant difference between HCWs and non-HCWs experiencing possible anxiety or depressive symptoms in this study. However, attention should be paid to address associated factors identified among each group to promote good mental health.

Soil Bacterial Community May Offer Solutions for Ginger Cultivation.

The Taitung region is one of Taiwan's main sites for ginger agriculture. Due to issues with disease and nutrients, farmers cannot use continuous cropping techniques on ginger, meaning that the ginger industry is constantly searching for new land. Continuous cropping increases the risk of infection by Pythium myriotylum and Ralstonia solanacearum, which cause soft rot disease and bacterial wilt, respectively. In addition, fertilizer additives, which are commonly used to increase trace elements in the soil, cannot restore the soil when it is undergoing continuous cropping on ginger, even when there has been no observable decrease in trace elements in the soil. Recent studies about soil microbiome manipulation and the application of microorganisms have shown that plant-associated microbes have the ability to improve plant growth and facilitate sustainable agriculture, but studies of this kind still need to be carried out on ginger cultivation. Therefore, in this study, we used the bacterial 16S V3-V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA region to investigate microbe compositions in ginger soil to identify the difference between ginger soil with and without disease. Later, to investigate the influence of the well-known biocontrol agent B. velezensis and the fungicide Etridiazole on soil microbes and ginger productivity, we designed an experiment that collected the soil samples according to the different periods of ginger cultivation to examine the microbial community dynamics in the rhizome and bulk soil. We demonstrated that B. velezensis is beneficial to ginger reproduction. In accordance with our results, we suggest that B. velezensis may influence the plant's growth by adjusting its soil microbial composition. Etridiazole, on the other hand, may have some side effects on the ginger or beneficial bacteria in the soils that inhibit ginger reproduction. IMPORTANCE Pythium myriotylum and Ralstonia solanacearum cause soft rot disease and bacterial wilt, respectively. In this study, we used the bacterial 16S V3-V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA region to investigate microbe compositions in healthy and diseased ginger soil and find out the influence of the well-known biocontrol agent B. velezensis and the fungicide Etridiazole on soil microbes and ginger productivity. These results demonstrated that B. velezensis benefits ginger reproduction and may influence the soil bacterial composition, while Etridiazole may have some side effects on the ginger or beneficial bacteria in the soils. The interactions among ginger, biocontrol agents, and fungicides need to be further investigated.

Effectiveness of simulated patients in geriatric education: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Global healthcare systems are adapting to meet the demands of an aging population. It is essential to prepare our healthcare workers on complex and unique issues in the treatment of older adults. Past studies have shown that simulated patients are a valuable teaching tool in training current and prospective healthcare professionals. Few studies have examined its use in the geriatric context. OBJECTIVES: This scoping review presents the effectiveness of simulated patients in healthcare education for geriatric care and eldercare purposes among current and prospective healthcare professionals. DATA SOURCES: Search on CINAHL, Cochrane, ScienceDirect and Medline were completed on studies published between January 2009 to January 2020. A manual hand searching of reference lists for relevant articles was also conducted. REVIEW METHODS: This scoping review follows the methods of Arksey and O-Malley to synthesize the literature on simulated patients in the teaching of geriatric care to current and prospective healthcare professionals. Inclusion criteria were, primary studies, with full-text articles, and in English. RESULTS: Fifteen articles were included in this review. These articles were of wide variation by study design, settings, populations. Four broad themes were identified from existing literature: (i) improvement in geriatric knowledge, (ii) improvement in technical and non-technical skills, (iii) greater confidence in clinical and non-clinical skills, and (iv) learners' perception towards simulation as a learning pedagogy. CONCLUSION: Simulated patients may have potential in improving geriatric education. Students generally enjoyed the learning methodology, finding it engaging and easy to learn by practising. Future studies could consider engaging simulated patients in the teaching pedagogy of geriatric teaching for current or prospective healthcare professionals.

Application of dissolution/permeation system for evaluation of formulation effect on oral absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs in drug development.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the formulation effect on the oral absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs using a dissolution/permeation system (D/P system). METHODS: This D/P system, consisting of apical and basal chambers and a Caco-2 cell monolayer mounted between chambers, can be used to perform simultaneous analysis of drug dissolution and permeation process of drugs applied as various dosage forms. Oral administration study with rats was also performed for both drugs as the same dosage forms. RESULTS: When danazol, a low-soluble and high-permeable drug, was applied to the D/P system as various formulations, dissolved and permeated amounts were significantly high compared with those from a suspension form. On the other hand, whereas the dissolved amount of pranlukast, a low-soluble and low-permeable drug, was significantly increased by formulations, there were no significant changes observed in the permeated amount between suspension and formulation. The oral availability of danazol was significantly increased by formulations but not pranlukast, which corresponded well to in vitro evaluations. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that the D/P system might be applicable for selection of formulation on the basis of physicochemical drug properties.