How is COVID-19 affecting patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder? A longitudinal study on the initial phase of the pandemic in a Spanish cohort.

BACKGROUND: Although the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on emotional health are evident, little is known about its impact on patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). METHODS: One hundred and twenty-seven patients with OCD who attended a specialist OCD Clinic in Barcelona, Spain, were assessed by phone from April 27 to May 25, 2020, during the early phase of the pandemic, using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and a structured interview that collected clinical and sociodemographic information. Results were compared with those for 237 healthy controls from the same geographic area who completed an online survey. RESULTS: Although 65.3% of the patients with OCD described a worsening of their symptoms, only 31.4% had Y-BOCS scores that increased >25%. The risk of getting infected by SARS-CoV2 was reported as a new obsession by 44.8%, but this only became the main obsessive concern in approximately 10% of the patients. Suicide-related thoughts were more frequent among the OCD cohort than among healthy controls. The presence of prepandemic depression, higher Y-BOCS scores, contamination/washing symptoms, and lower perceived social support all predicted a significantly increased risk of OCD worsening. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with OCD appear to be capable of coping with the emotional stress of the COVID-19 outbreak and its consequences during the initial phase of the pandemic. Nevertheless, the current crisis constitutes a risk factor for a significant worsening of symptoms and suicidal ideation. Action is needed to ensure effective and individualized follow-up care for patients with OCD in the COVID-19 era.

The effect of Sb-surfactant on GaInP CuPtB type ordering: assessment through dark field TEM and aberration corrected HAADF imaging.

We report on the effect of Sb on the microstructure of GaInP layers grown by metal organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). These layers exhibit a CuPtB single variant ordering due to the intentional misorientation of the substrate (Ge(001) substrates with 6° misorientation towards the nearest [111] axis). The use of Sb as a surfactant during the GaInP growth does not modify the type of ordering, but it is found that the order parameter (η) decreases with increasing Sb flux. Dark field microscopy reveals a variation of the angle of the antiphase boundaries (APBs) with Sb amount. The microstructure is assessed through high angle annular dark field (HAADF) experiments and image simulation revealing Z-contrast loss in APBs due to the superposition of ordered domains.

Epidemiología y factores pronósticos de la sepsis grave/shock séptico. Seis años de evolución / Epidemiology and prognostic factors in severe sepsis/septic shock. Evolution over six years

OBJETIVO: Examinar las características clínicas y los factores pronósticos de los pacientes ingresados por sepsis grave/shock séptico en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos del Hospital Universitario Donostia. DISEÑO: Estudio observacional prospectivo durante un período consecutivo de 6 años (1-2-2008 a 31-12-2013). ÁMBITO: Servicio de Medicina Intensiva del Hospital Universitario Donostia, único hospital terciario de Guipúzcoa. RESULTADOS: El número de pacientes con sepsis grave/shock séptico ha aumentado progresivamente hasta un total de 1.136, sin observarse cambios significativos en la edad, el sexo, la puntuación del Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, los valores de procalcitonina ni en los de lactato sérico. En los últimos años ha habido un aumento significativo de los ingresos desde Urgencias respecto a los procedentes de planta, con una mayor incidencia de la sepsis urológica. La afectación hemodinámica y renal han sido las disfunciones más prevalentes, descendiendo la afectación respiratoria y la trombocitopenia y aumentando la coagulopatía. La mortalidad ha descendido significativamente. Mediante un análisis multivariante analizamos factores pronósticos precoces: el tipo de paciente, su procedencia, la etiología de la sepsis, la cifra de lactato y la presencia de disfunciones orgánicas, exceptuando la hiperbilirrubinemia y la hipotensión, fueron las variables más influyentes en la mortalidad. CONCLUSIONES: La sepsis grave/shock séptico genera un creciente número de ingresos. A pesar de que las características clínicas han variado poco en los últimos años, hemos observado un descenso de la mortalidad. Consideramos importante el conocimiento de los factores pronósticos precoces para mejorar el abordaje de estos pacientes

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of patients with severe sepsis/septic shock admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Donostia University Hospital (Guipuzcoa, Spain). DESIGN: A prospective, observational study was carried out during a consecutive 6-year period (1st February 2008-31st December 2013). SETTING: The Intensive Care Unit of Donostia University Hospital, the only third level hospital in the province of Guipuzcoa, with a recruitment population of 700,000 inhabitants. RESULTS: Number of patients with severe sepsis/septic shock has progressively increased over the last years to reach 1,136 patients, yet significant changes in age, sex, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, procalcitonin and lactate values could not be observed. In the last years, admission rate from Emergency Department has increased in comparison to admissions from hospitalization ward, with a higher incidence of urological sepsis. Hemodynamic and renal dysfunctions have been the most prevalent disorders, respiratory involvement and thrombocytopenia have gone down while coagulopathy has increased significantly. Mortality has decreased significantly. We have performed a multivariate analysis of the early prognostic factors. Type, origin, sepsis etiology, lactate and the presence of organ dysfunction -except for hyperbilirubinemia and hypotension- were the most important mortality factors. CONCLUSIONS: Severe sepsis and septic shock result in growing ICU admissions. Although clinical features have barely changed over the last years, we have observed a decrease in mortality. We find important knowing these early prognostic factors to improve the management of these patients

Epidemiology and prognostic factors in severe sepsis/septic shock. Evolution over six years.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of patients with severe sepsis/septic shock admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Donostia University Hospital (Guipuzcoa, Spain). DESIGN: A prospective, observational study was carried out during a consecutive 6-year period (1st February 2008-31st December 2013). SETTING: The Intensive Care Unit of Donostia University Hospital, the only third level hospital in the province of Guipuzcoa, with a recruitment population of 700,000 inhabitants. RESULTS: Number of patients with severe sepsis/septic shock has progressively increased over the last years to reach 1,136 patients, yet significant changes in age, sex, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, procalcitonin and lactate values could not be observed. In the last years, admission rate from Emergency Department has increased in comparison to admissions from hospitalization ward, with a higher incidence of urological sepsis. Hemodynamic and renal dysfunctions have been the most prevalent disorders, respiratory involvement and thrombocytopenia have gone down while coagulopathy has increased significantly. Mortality has decreased significantly. We have performed a multivariate analysis of the early prognostic factors. Type, origin, sepsis etiology, lactate and the presence of organ dysfunction -except for hyperbilirubinemia and hypotension- were the most important mortality factors. CONCLUSIONS: Severe sepsis and septic shock result in growing ICU admissions. Although clinical features have barely changed over the last years, we have observed a decrease in mortality. We find important knowing these early prognostic factors to improve the management of these patients.