Effects of Health Anxiety, Social Support, and Coping on Dissociation with Mediating Role of Perceived Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Our study aimed to examine whether health anxiety, social support, and ways of coping relate to dissociation directly or only through the mediation of perceived stress, moderated by the time of measurement (lockdown). We investigated the effect of perceived stress on different forms (sub-scales) of dissociation. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted by an online form at two points in time: the beginning and the later stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: We received a total of 1711 responses. Perceived stress moderately correlated with dissociation in both international and Hungarian samples. Health anxiety showed a strong direct and indirect correlation with dissociation. Regarding social support, the support of family significantly decreased the dissociative experiences in the Hungarian sample mediated by perceived and direct stress. In the international sample, goal-oriented coping strategies strongly decreased all dissociation scales in the first measurement, through the mediation of perceived stress. As for the Hungarian sample, positive thinking was found to decrease dissociation by decreasing perceived stress. CONCLUSION: health anxiety, coping, and social support appeared to influence dissociation directly and through the mediation of perceived stress. Social support, mainly support of the family and problem-focused coping strategies may decrease the level of stress, this way decreasing dissociative behavior.

The Effects and Differences of Social Support, Depression, and Vital Exhaustion during the COVID-19 Pandemic among International and Domestic University Students.

BACKGROUND: Our study aimed to assess the differences between domestic and international students in terms of social support, vital exhaustion, and depression during the period of COVID-19 and to examine the relationships and potential effects of these factors on each other. METHODS: The online cross-sectional survey was conducted via Google Forms® at three time intervals during the pandemic. RESULTS: Here, 1320, 246, and 139 students completed our questionnaires in the different time intervals. The international students reported significantly lower values in terms of perceived social support. Concerning depression, the international female students reported higher values than the domestic female students. Significant correlations were found in both samples between vital exhaustion and depression, as well as between perceived social support and depression. CONCLUSION: In this study, the international students reported lower levels of perceived social support and higher levels of depression, particularly among females. The correlations between depression, social support, and vital exhaustion might highlight protective and risk factors. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing social support and mental health among university students, especially among international students who have a difficult time finding social support during times of stress, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ultrastructural Changes in Rat's Atrial Cardiomyocytes After Short Term Administration of Amiodarone and Possible Protective Role of Vitamin E.

BACKGROUND: Amiodarone chlorhydrate is a diiodated benzofuran derivative used to treat a variety of cardiac rhythm abnormalities. The use of amiodarone is associated with ultrastructural changes affecting body tissues, but its effect on the ultrastructure of the heart has not yet been fully elucidated. METHODS: The aim of this study is to test the adverse effects of amiodarone administration on cardiomyocytes and to study the possible protective role of vitamin E co-administration. A total of 18 adult male albino rats were used in this study. The rats were divided randomly into three groups of 6 rats each as follows: group I was considered the control group and was given vegetable oil; group II received 54 mg/kg of oral amiodarone; and group III received a single dose of combined vitamin E (50 mg/kg) and amiodarone (54 mg/kg). After 2 weeks, the rats were sacrificed, and the atrial tissues were harvested and processed for electron microscopic study. RESULTS: ADMINISTRATION OF AMIODARONE ALONE MODIFIED THE ATRIAL ARCHITECTURE, WHICH WAS DEMONSTRATED BY THE FOLLOWING: mitochondrial enlargement and cristae lysis; marked heterogeneity of myofibril patterns with partial necrosis and disintegration of myofilaments; and irregularities of the sarcomere and less concentration of atrionatriuretic factor (ANF) granules, which localised in closed proximity to the nucleus with disrupted chromatin contents. Concomitant administration of vitamin E with amiodarone showed a considerable preservation of the atrial architecture. CONCLUSIONS: Oral administration of amiodarone in rats resulted in ultrastructural changes in atria, which can be attenuated by vitamin E co-administration.