Fatigue presentation, severity, and related outcomes in a prospective cohort following post-COVID-19 hospitalization in British Columbia, Canada.

Introduction: Increasing evidence on long-term health outcomes following SARS CoV-2 infection shows post-viral symptoms can persist for months. These symptoms are often consistent with those of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence and outcome predictors of post-viral fatigue and related symptoms 3- and 6-months following symptom onset. Methods: A prospective cohort of patients hospitalized with Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) (n = 88) were recruited from a Post-COVID-19 Respiratory Clinic (PCRC) in Vancouver, Canada to examine predictors of long-term fatigue and substantial fatigue. Multivariable mixed effects analyses examined the relationship between patient predictors, including pre-existing comorbidities, patient reported outcome measures, and fatigue and substantial fatigue at follow-up. Results: The number of patients experiencing fatigue or substantial fatigue at 3 months post-infection were 58 (67%) and 14 (16%) respectively. At 6 months these numbers declined to 47 (60%) patients experiencing fatigue and 6 (6%) experiencing substantial fatigue. Adjusted analysis, for sex, age, and time, revealed the number of pre-existing comorbidities to be associated with fatigue (OR 2.21; 95% CI 1.09-4.49; 0.028) and substantial fatigue (OR 1.73; 95% CI 1.06-2.95; 0.033) at 3 months follow-up. Except for shortness of breath, self-care, and follow-up time, all follow-up variables were found to be associated with fatigue and substantial fatigue at 3 months. Conclusion: Fatigue and substantial fatigue are common after COVID-19 infection but often diminish over time. A significant number of patients continue to exhibit long-term fatigue at 6 months follow-up. Further research is needed to clarify the causality of viral infections in the development and severity of fatigue as a symptom and in meeting post-viral fatigue syndrome or ME/CFS diagnostic criteria.

Photoacclimation to high-light stress in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii during conditional senescence relies on generating pH-dependent, high-quenching centres.

Microalgae can respond to long-term increases in light intensity by altering the concentration of photosynthetic complexes. Under active growth, the ability of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to acclimate to excess light is dependent on cell division to reduce the concentration of photosynthetic complexes. But, in batch culture, cells eventually reach stationary phase where their ability to divide is limited; this should impact their capacity to undergo photoacclimation. Our goal is to dissect excess-light responses as cells approach stationary phase and to determine how the strategies of photoacclimation differ compared to cells in the exponential-growth phase. In this study, cultures exited exponential growth and transitioned into a declining growth phase (DGP), where cells continued a slow rate of growth for the next seven days in both low (LL) and high-light (HL). During this period, both cultures experience a conditional senescence-related decline in chlorophyll levels. Under HL, however, the senescing cultures have a rapid decline in PSII reaction centres, maintain a stable concentration of LHCII antenna, rapidly increase LHCSR levels, and have a sustained increase in Fo/Fm. Collectively this implies that the remaining antenna act as pH-dependent, quenching centres, presumably to protect the senescing chloroplast against HL. We discovered that acclimating to HL post-exponential phase involves active degradation that is intertwined with the normal senescence process that allowed for a limited rate of cell division.

The impact of stuttering on adults who stutter and their partners.

UNLABELLED: This study explored the impact of the stuttering disorder on perceived quality of life, with emphasis on the individual's relationship with their partner or spouse. Specifically, the purposes were: (a) to investigate what personal experiences and themes exist for both members of a couple dyad when one member of the couple stutters and (b) to examine whether the partners have different experiences with respect to the impact of stuttering on their lives. A mixed method research design was used. Participant dyads (adults who stutter and their fluent life partner) each completed one semi-structured qualitative interview and two questionnaires: the Overall Assessment of Speakers' Experience of Stuttering (OASES), and the Medical Short Form 36 (SF-36). Interviews were analysed qualitatively and significant themes evaluated. Quantitative results of the OASES and SF-36 were analysed, and scores correlated to determine the strength of any clinically significant relationships. Results indicated that people who stutter and their fluent partners reported similar experiences in reactions to stuttering and perceived difficulties in communication. However, no relationship was seen between the two groups in perceived impact on quality of life. Qualitative results indicated that the participants shared life experiences including reactions to stuttering, treatment undertaken and support. Such findings lend support to a broad-based clinical programme for adults who stutter that includes the fluent partner as an agent of change in their treatment. Findings also support the utilisation of qualitative and quantitative research techniques to elucidate relevant psychosocial life themes and experiences for those who live with a stutter. EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES: The reader will be able to: (a) identify the life themes associated with having a partner who stutters; (b) identify the perceived impact of stuttering for adults who stutter compared to their partners; and (c) discuss the clinical implications of the results with regards to working with adults who stutter.