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COVID-19 is now spreading worldwide, and poses some public mental health problems which requires close attention. This study aims to develop a scale of COVID-19 related psychological distress in healthy public (CORPD) to assess the severity of psychological distress in uninfected healthy populations. We compiled a 14-item scale which contains two dimensions Anxiety & fear and Suspicion using the classical measurement theory. 652 Chinese citizens consented and completed a survey through an online questionnaire APP. The reliability test showed that the scale had good internal consistency reliability and Split-Half reliability, and the validity test showed that it had good structure validity, content validity and criterion correlation validity. This scale can be used to assess the psychological distress of people in China and in other COVID-19-hit regions and countries. It also provides a reference for future studies on COVID-19 or other respiratory infectious diseases related public mental health.
Psychological distress in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic: preliminary development of an assessment scale
SIMPLE SUMMARY: The role of wildlife animals, such as macaques and bats, in the spreading and maintenance of deadly zoonotic pathogens in nature are documented in several studies. The present study substantially highlights the first evidence of West Nile Virus (WNV) infection, a mosquito borne virus in the Malaysian macaques and bats. Of the 81 macaques sampled, 24 of the long-tailed macaques were seropositive to WNV, indicating that they were exposed to the virus in the past. The long-tailed macaques were found in the mangrove forests located in the Central, Southern, and West Peninsular Malaysia. Meanwhile, five out of 41 bats (Lesser Short-nosed Fruit Bats, Lesser Sheath-tailed Bats, and Thai Horseshoe Bats) that were found in the caves from Northern Peninsular Malaysia showed susceptibility to WNV. Therefore, a constant bio surveillance of WNV in the wildlife in Malaysia is a proactive attempt. This study was aligned with the Malaysian governments mission under the Malaysia Strategy for Emerging Diseases and Public Health Emergencies (MYSED) II (2017C2021) and the Ministry of Health priorities in order to enhance the regional capability to rapidly and accurately survey, detect, diagnose, and report outbreaks of pathogens and diseases of security concern. ABSTRACT: The role of wildlife such as wild birds, macaques, and bats in the spreading and maintenance of deadly zoonotic pathogens in nature have been well documented in many parts of the world. One such pathogen is the mosquitoes borne virus, namely the West Nile Virus (WNV). Previous research has shown that 1:7 and 1:6 Malaysian wild birds are WNV antibody and RNA positive, respectively, and bats in North America may not be susceptible to the WNV infection. This study was conducted to determine the status of WNV in Malaysian macaques and bats found in mangrove forests and caves, respectively. Archive sera and oropharyngeal swabs from long-tailed macaques were subjected to the antibody detection using WNV competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) and WNV RNA using RT-PCR, respectively, while the archive oropharyngeal and rectal swabs from bats were subjected to RT-PCR without serological analysis due to the unavailability of serum samples. The analysis revealed a WNV seropositivity of 29.63% (24/81) and none of the macaques were positive for WNV RNA. Meanwhile, 12.2% (5/41) of the bats from Pteropodidae, Emballonuridae, and Rhinolophidae families tested positive for WNV RNA. Here, we show a high WNV antibody prevalence in macaques and a moderate WNV RNA in various Malaysian bat species, suggesting that WNV circulates through Malaysian wild animals and Malaysian bat species may be susceptible to the WNV infection.
Exposure to Zoonotic West Nile Virus in Long-Tailed Macaques and Bats in Peninsular Malaysia
BACKGROUND We evaluated different pain profiles as prospective predictors of multisite pain in 13-year-old adolescents (1300 girls and 1457 boys) enrolled in Generation XXI, a birth cohort study in Portugal. METHODS Pain history was queried using the Luebeck Pain Questionnaire through parent proxy- (ages 7 and 10) and adolescent (age 13) self-reports. We estimated the risk of multisite pain (2 or more pain sites) at age 13, according to previous pain experiences, including accumulation and timing. We defined five profiles that combined adverse features at ages 7 and 10 (recurrence, multisite, frequency, duration, intensity, triggers, activity restrictions, passive coping, and family history) and estimated their relative risks (RR) and likelihood ratios (LR) for adolescent multisite pain. RESULTS At age 13, 39.2% of girls and 27.2% of boys reported multisite pain in the previous three months. The risk was higher among girls with multisite and recurrent pain at ages 7 and 10 than in girls without those adverse features, especially if psychosocial triggers were also present (RR 1.87; 95% confidence interval 1.36, 2.36 and LR 3.49; 1.53, 7.96). Boys with recurrent pain of higher frequency and causing activity restrictions at ages 7 and 10 had higher risk of multisite pain at 13 (RR 2.05; 1.03, 3.05 and LR 3.06; 1.12, 8.39). Earlier adverse experiences were more predictive of future pain in girls than in boys. CONCLUSIONS Different profiles were useful to rule in future multisite pain in boys and girls. This provides clues for early stratification of chronic pain risk.
Refining the prediction of multisite pain in 13-year-old boys and girls by using parent-reported pain experiences in the first decade of life.
INTRODUCTION: Since the COVID-19 pandemic there is concern for subclinical cardiac pathology in the absence of clinical symptoms in collegiate athletes, we present 4 cases of abnormal left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), a red-flag for potential COVID-19 myocardial disease, following diagnosis with diverse abnormalities reported via multimodality imaging weeks into recovery. METHODS: Cardiac imaging studies consisting of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) were performed 10 days post-COVID-19 diagnosis and several weeks into recovery. RESULTS: Initial TTE revealed abnormal left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), an identified red-flag for potential COVID-19 myocardial disease. Further CMR imaging revealed potential recent/prior myocarditis in 1 athlete. Follow-up TTE several weeks later revealed a return to normal LVGLS. Conversely, 2 cases with normal CMR imaging had a LVGLS that remained abnormal >30 days into recovery. CONCLUSIONS: These individual cases highlight the substantial differences in echocardiographic and CMR abnormalities between athletes with confirmed COVID-19.
A Case Series of Diverse Cardiac Abnormalities in Collegiate Athlete with COVID-19: Role for Multimodality Imaging
This review deals with the relationship among nutrition, the immune system, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) The influence of nutrients and bioactive molecules present in foodstuffs on immune system activity, the influence of COVID-19 on the nutritional status of the patients, and the dietary recommendations for hospitalized patients are addressed Deficient nutritional status is probably due to anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hypoalbuminemia, hypermetabolism, and excessive nitrogen loss There is limited knowledge regarding the nutritional support during hospital stay of COVID-19 patients However, nutritional therapy appears as first-line treatment and should be implemented into standard practice Optimal intake of all nutrients, mainly those playing crucial roles in immune system, should be assured through a diverse and well-balanced diet Nevertheless, in order to reduce the risk and consequences of infections, the intakes for some micronutrients may exceed the recommended dietary allowances since infections and other stressors can reduce micronutrient status In the case of critically ill patients, recently published guidelines are available for their nutritional management Further, several natural bioactive compounds interact with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, the gateway for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Natural bioactive compounds can also reduce the inflammatory response induced by SARS-CoV-2 These compounds are potential beneficial tools in the nutritional management of COVID-19 patients
Key Aspects in Nutritional Management of COVID-19 Patients
We introduce a weighted graph model to investigate the self-similarity characteristics of eubacteria genomes. The regular treating in similarity comparison about genome is to discover the evolution distance among different genomes. Few people focus their attention on the overall statistical characteristics of each gene compared with other genes in the same genome. In our model, each genome is attributed to a weighted graph, whose topology describes the similarity relationship among genes in the same genome. Based on the related weighted graph theory, we extract some quantified statistical variables from the topology, and give the distribution of some variables derived from the largest social structure in the topology. The 23 eubacteria recently studied by Sorimachi and Okayasu are markedly classified into two different groups by their double logarithmic point-plots describing the similarity relationship among genes of the largest social structure in genome. The results show that the proposed model may provide us with some new sights to understand the structures and evolution patterns determined from the complete genomes.
Self-similarity analysis of eubacteria genome based on weighted graph
Immune system dysfunction is paramount in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity and fatality rate. Mucosal-Associated Invariant T (MAIT) cells are innate-like T cells involved in mucosal immunity and protection against viral infections. Here, we studied the immune cell landscape, with emphasis on MAIT cells, in a cohort of 182 patients including patients at various stages of disease activity. A profound decrease of MAIT cell counts in blood of critically ill patients was observed. These cells showed a strongly activated and cytotoxic phenotype that positively correlated with circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines, notably IL-18. MAIT cell alterations markedly correlated with disease severity and patient mortality. SARS-CoV-2-infected macrophages activated MAIT cells in a cytokine-dependent manner involving an IFN-dependent early phase and an IL-18-induced later phase. Therefore, altered MAIT cell phenotypes represent valuable biomarkers of disease severity and their therapeutic manipulation might prevent the inflammatory phase involved in COVID-19 aggravation.
Outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection linked to MAIT cell activation and cytotoxicity: evidence for an IL-18 dependent mechanism
BACKGROUND: Public health measures (PHM) designed to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic have influenced the epidemiological characteristics of other viral infections. Its impact on acute RSV bronchiolitis in infants of 24 months old has not been systematically studied in our setting. OBJECTIVES: To describe the monthly pattern of visits to the Paediatric Emergency Department (PED) of patients 0 to 14 years of age, the rate of patients diagnosed with RSV acute bronchiolitis per thousand inhabitants of 0 to 24 months, and the rate of them requiring hospital admission during the winter 2020-2021, in the context of local and national COVID-19 restrictions and compare them to the four previous seasons. METHODS: Interrupted time series analysis of patients assisted in the PED and diagnosed with or admitted for RSV acute bronchiolitis in a tertiary University Hospital from January 2016 to February 2020 (pre-intervention period) and from March 2020 to June 2021 (post-intervention period). INTERVENTION: Preventive PHM implemented by the Spanish government weighted by the Containment and Health Index of the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker. RESULTS: The intervention was followed by an immediate reduction of the rate of visits to the PED of -19.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] -24.0, -14.9) per thousand, and the rate of diagnoses and admissions for RSV acute bronchiolitis of -44.3 (95% CI -73.8, -14.8) and -1.4 (95% CI -2.7, -0.1) per thousand, respectively, with a delayed rebound. CONCLUSIONS: After the implementation of PHM to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection, an immediate and important decline in the visits to the PED was observed, with an upward change thereafter. There was also an initial reduction in the diagnoses of and admissions by RSV acute bronchiolitis. An upward trend was observed six to nine months after the usual time of the winter RSV epidemic, coinciding with the relaxation of the preventive PHM.
Effects of public health measures during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the winter respiratory syncytial virus epidemic: An interrupted time series analysis
BackgroundThe UK began an ambitious COVID-19 vaccination programme on 8th December 2020. This study describes variation in vaccination coverage by sociodemographic characteristics between December 2020 and August 2021. MethodsUsing population-level administrative records linked to the 2011 Census, we estimated monthly first dose vaccination rates by age group and sociodemographic characteristics amongst adults aged 18 years or over in England. We also present a tool to display the results interactively. FindingsOur study population included 35,223,466 adults. A lower percentage of males than females were vaccinated in the young and middle age groups (18-59 years) but not in the older age groups. Vaccination rates were highest among individuals of White British and Indian ethnic backgrounds and lowest among Black Africans (aged []80 years) and Black Caribbeans (18-79 years). Differences by ethnic group emerged as soon as vaccination roll-out commenced and widened over time. Vaccination rates were also lower among individuals who identified as Muslim, lived in more deprived areas, reported having a disability, did not speak English as their main language, lived in rented housing, belonged to a lower socio-economic group, and had fewer qualifications. InterpretationWe found inequalities in COVID-19 vaccination rates by sex, ethnicity, religion, area deprivation, disability status, English language proficiency, socio-economic position, and educational attainment, but some of these differences varied by age group. Research is urgently needed to understand why these inequalities exist and how they can be addressed. Research in contextO_ST_ABSEvidence before this studyC_ST_ABSWe searched PubMed for publications on sociodemographic inequalities in COVID-19 vaccination coverage. Several studies have reported differences in coverage by characteristics such as ethnicity and religion, however these have focused on older adults and the clinically vulnerable who were initially prioritized for vaccination. There is little evidence on sociodemographic inequalities in vaccination coverage among younger adults and evidence is also lacking on coverage by a wider range of characteristics such as sex, disability status, English language proficiency, socio-economic position, and educational attainment. Added value of this studyThis study provides the first evidence for sociodemographic inequalities in COVID-19 vaccination coverage among the entire adult population in England, using population-level administrative records linked to the 2011 Census. By disaggregating the data by age group, we were able to show that disparities in coverage by some sociodemographic characteristics differed by age group. For example, a lower proportion of males than females were vaccinated in the young and middle age groups (18-59 years) but not in the older age groups, and vaccination rates were lowest among Black Africans in those aged []80 years but lowest among Black Caribbeans for all other age groups. Vaccination rates were also lower among individuals who identified as Muslim, lived in more deprived areas, reported having a disability, did not speak English as their main language, lived in rented housing, belonged to a lower socio-economic group, and had fewer qualifications. Implications of all the available evidenceMany of the groups with the lowest rates of COVID-19 vaccination are also the groups that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, including severe illness and mortality. Research is urgently needed to understand why these disparities exist and how they can be addressed, for example through public health or community engagement programmes. Since the relationships between sociodemographic characteristics and vaccination coverage may differ by age group, it is important for future research to disaggregate by age group when examining these inequalities.
Monitoring sociodemographic inequality in COVID-19 vaccination coverage in England: a national linked data study
Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is an indolent B-cell malignancy, usually driven by the BRAF V600E mutation. For 30 years, untreated and relapsed HCL was successfully treated with purine analogs, but minimal residual disease (MRD) remained in most patients, eventually causing relapse. Repeated purine analogs achieve decreasing efficacy and increasing toxicity, particularly to normal T-cells. MRD-free complete remissions (CRs) are more common using rituximab with purine analogs in both 1(st)-line and relapsed settings. BRAF inhibitors and Ibrutinib can achieve remission, but due to persistence of MRD, must be used chronically to prevent relapse. BRAF inhibition combined with Rituximab can achieve high MRD-free CR rates. Anti-CD22 recombinant immunotoxin moxetumomab pasudotox is FDA-approved in the relapsed setting and is unique in achieving high MRD-free CR rates as a single-agent. Avoiding chemotherapy and rituximab may be important in ensuring both recovery from COVID-19 and successful COVID-19 vaccination, an area of continued investigation.
Diagnosis and treatment of hairy cell leukemia as the COVID-19 pandemic continues
Background: There is very limited data on the follow-up of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). We aim to describe the early and up-to 16 months follow-up of MIS-C, with special reference to cardiac involvement. Methods: This cohort non-interventional descriptive study included patients < 18years admitted between May 2020 and April 2021. Based on underlying similarities children were classified as post-COVID MIS-C with overlapping Kawasaki Disease, MISC with no overlapping Kawasaki Disease and MIS-C with shock. Post-discharge, patients were followed at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 16 months. Findings: Forty-one patients predominantly males (73%), at a median age of 7(0.2-16) years fulfilled the World Health Organisation criteria for MIS-C. Cardiac involvement was seen in 15 (36.5%) patients;impaired left ventricle (LV) function in 5 (12.2%), coronary artery involvement in 10 (24.4%), and pericardial effusion in 6 (14.6%) patients. No arrhythmia was noted in any case. There were 2 hospital deaths (4.9%), both in MIS-C shock subgroup (20%). At one-month there was persistent LV dysfunction in 2/5, coronary artery abnormalities in 7/10 and pericardial effusion resolved completely in all patients. By 6-months LV function returned to normal in all but coronary abnormalities persisted in 2 patients. At last follow-up [median 9.8 (interquartile range, 2-16) months], in 36/38 (94.7%) patients, coronary artery dilatation was persistent in 2 (20%) patients. Interpretations: Children with MIS-C have a good early outcome although MIS-C with shock, if diagnosed late, has a high mortality. On midterm follow-up, there is normalisation of LV function in all and recovery of coronary abnormalities in 80% of patients. Longer-term follow-up will define the extended natural history of coronary artery involvement in MIS-C.
Midterm Follow-Up of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children From Pakistan (preprint)
COVID-19 has irreversibly upended the course of human life and compelled countries to invoke national emergencies and strict public guidelines As the scientific community is in the early stages of rigorous clinical testing to come up with effective vaccination measures, the world is still heavily reliant on social distancing to curb the rapid spread and mortality rates In this work, we present three optimization strategies to guide human mobility and restrict contact of susceptible and infective individuals The proposed strategies rely on well-studied concepts of network science, such as clustering and homophily, as well as two different scenarios of the SEIRD epidemic model We also propose a new metric, called contagion potential, to gauge the infectivity of individuals in a social setting Our extensive simulation experiments show that the recommended mobility approaches slow down spread considerably when compared against several standard human mobility models Finally, as a case study of the mobility strategies, we introduce a mobile application, MyCovid, that provides periodic location recommendations to the registered app users ? 2013 IEEE
Leveraging Network Science for Social Distancing to Curb Pandemic Spread
Leiomyosarcoma is an aggressive, uncommon sarcoma effecting smooth muscle tissue. Prompt tissue diagnosis and staging workup are keys to preventing distant metastasis. Identification of this rare sarcoma has become increasingly difficult with decreased ability to seek out non-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) medical care. The pandemic has caused a widespread healthcare demand with providers reaching their full capacity causing care and resources to be shifted to the pandemic. We have experienced an 83-year-old male who significantly delayed to seek any medical attention for his scalp lesion for several months due to a combination of fear and decreased available appointments. Since the patient presented with a delayed scalp leiomyosarcoma, he required an extensive excision and flap reconstruction for the lesion. This case sheds light on the importance of weighing the risks and benefits associated with cancer management during the pandemic for both patients and healthcare providers. The healthcare systems response to the pandemic also played a role in this case as well, with shorter appointment times and decreased frequency of follow-up. As a result, the pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on the diagnostic pathway for cancer. This case report discusses the difficulties in diagnosing and treating a rare cancer such as scalp leiomyosarcoma amidst the global pandemic and the importance of telemedicine in improving future outcomes.
Scalp Leiomyosarcoma: Diagnosis and Treatment During a Global Pandemic With COVID-19
Theories disagree as to whether it is the early or the late neural correlate of awareness that plays a critical role in phenomenal awareness. According to recurrent processing theory, early activity in primary sensory areas corresponds closely to phenomenal awareness. In support, research with electroencephalography found that in the visual and somatosensory modality, an early neural correlate of awareness is contralateral to the perceived side of stimulation. Thus, early activity is sensitive to the perceived side of visual and somatosensory stimulation. Critically, it is unresolved whether this is true also for hearing. In the present study (N = 26 students), Bayesian analyses showed that the early neural correlate of awareness (auditory awareness negativity, AAN) was stronger for contralateral than ipsilateral electrodes whereas the late correlate of auditory awareness (late positivity, LP) was not lateralized. These findings demonstrate that the early but not the late neural correlate of auditory awareness reflects lateralized experiences. Thus, these findings imply that AAN is a more suitable NCC than LP because it correlates more closely with lateralized experiences.
The early but not the late neural correlate of auditory awareness reflects lateralized experiences.
Pregnant women represent a uniquely vulnerable population during an infectious disease outbreak, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Although we are at the early stages of understanding the specific impact of SARS-CoV-2 exposure during pregnancy, mounting epidemiological evidence strongly supports a link between exposure to a variety of maternal infections and an increased risk for offspring neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Inflammatory biomarkers identified from archived or prospectively collected maternal biospecimens suggest that the maternal immune response is the critical link between infection during pregnancy and altered offspring neurodevelopment. This maternal immune activation (MIA) hypothesis has been tested in animal models by artificially activating the immune system during pregnancy and evaluating the neurodevelopmental consequences in MIA-exposed offspring. Although the vast majority of MIA model research is carried out in rodents, the nonhuman primate (NHP) model has emerged in recent years as an important translational tool. In this review, we briefly summarize human epidemiological studies that have prompted the development of translationally relevant MIA models. We then highlight notable similarities between humans and NHPs including placental structure, pregnancy physiology, gestational timelines, and offspring neurodevelopmental stages that provide an opportunity to explore the MIA hypothesis in species more closely related to humans. Finally, we provide a comprehensive review of neurodevelopmental alterations reported in current NHP models of maternal infection and discuss future directions for this promising area of research.
Primate models as a translational tool for understanding prenatal origins of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with maternal infection
In Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC), one of the causes of maternal and child mortality is a lack of medical knowledge and consequently the inability to seek timely healthcare. Mobile health (mHealth) technology is gradually becoming a universal intervention platform across the globe due to ubiquity of mobile phones and network coverage. MANTRA is a novel mHealth intervention developed to tackle maternal and child health issues through a serious mobile game app in rural Nepal, which demonstrated a statistically significant knowledge improvement in rural women. This paper explores the perceptions and usability of the MANTRA app amongst rural women and Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) in Nepal. Despite the challenges of a target user group with limited educational levels and low smartphone experience, all participants viewed the MANTRA app with approval and enthusiasm. They were willing to engage further with the mHealth intervention and to share their experience and knowledge with fellow community members. Participants also showed an increase in awareness of danger signs enabling them to make better informed health decisions in the future. FCHVs viewed the app as a validation tool providing and support for greater impact of their efforts in rural Nepal. Growing mobile ownership, network coverage and availability of smartphones along with acceptance of the prototype MANTRA app in rural communities suggest encouraging prospects for mHealth interventions to be incorporated in the national health infrastructure in Nepal and other LMICs.
Do Women in Nepal Like Playing a Mobile Game? MANTRA: A Mobile Gamified App for Improving Healthcare Seeking Behavior in Rural Nepal
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic hit Brazil in a scenario of substantial socioeconomic and health inequalities. It is unknown the immediate impact of social restriction recommendations (i.e., lockdown, stay-at-home) on the life-space mobility of older people. Objective: To investigate the immediate impact of COVID-19 pandemic on life-space mobility of community-dwelling Brazilian older adults and examine the social determinants of health associated with change in life-space mobility. Design: Baseline data from a prospective cohort study (REMOBILIZE Study). Setting: Community. Subject: A convenience snowball sample of participants aged 60 and older (n = 1,482) living in 22 states in Brazil. Methods: We conducted an online and phone survey using an adapted version of the Life-Space Assessment (LSA). Linear regression models were used to investigate social determinants of health on the change in LSA score. Results: Regardless of their gender and social determinants of health, participants showed a significant reduction in life-space mobility since COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Life-space mobility reduction was higher among black individuals, those living alone and aged between 70 and 79. Other variables associated with change in life-space mobility, to a lesser extent, were sex, education and income. Conclusion: Social restriction measures due to pandemic caused substantial reduction in older adults' life-space mobility in Brazil. Social inequalities strongly affected vulnerable groups. Concerted actions should be put in place to overcome the deterioration in life-pace mobility amongst these groups. Failure in minimizing health inequalities amplified by the pandemic may jeopardize the desired achievements of the Decade of Healthy Aging.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Life-Space Mobility of Older Adults Living in Brazil: REMOBILIZE Study
The Job Demands-Resources model hypothesises that some variables (especially personal and social resources/threats) moderate the relationship between job demands and work outcomes. Based on this model, in this study we examine the role of stigma towards customers as a moderator of the relationship between job demands and a series of work outcomes: that is, fatigue, burnout, and satisfaction. We advance that the relationships between work demands and outcomes should be influenced by the employees perceptions regarding resources and constraint. In particular, we hypothesised that social stigma towards customers can represent a reliable moderating variable. Hypotheses were tested among 308 Italian supermarket workers in five supermarkets in the same chain, just after the end of the Italian lockdown caused by COVID-19. Results showed that stigma towards customers moderates the relationship between job demands and the consequences on the professional quality of life. The implications of these findings for the JD-R model are discussed.
Job Demands and Negative Outcomes after the Lockdown: The Moderating Role of Stigma towards Italian Supermarket Workers
There is an increased global outbreak of diseases caused by coronaviruses affecting respiratory tracts of birds and mammals. Recent dangerous coronaviruses are MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2, causing respiratory illness and even failure of several organs. However, profound impact of coronavirus on host cells remains elusive. In this study, we analyzed transcriptome of MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 infected human lung-derived cells, and observed that infection of these coronaviruses all induced increase of retrotransposon expression with upregulation of TET genes. Upregulation of retrotransposon was also observed in SARS-CoV-2 infected human intestinal organoids. Retrotransposon upregulation may lead to increased genome instability and enhanced expression of genes with readthrough from retrotransposons. Therefore, people with higher basal level of retrotransposon such as cancer patients and aged people may have increased risk of symptomatic infection. Additionally, we show evidence supporting long-term epigenetic inheritance of retrotransposon upregulation. We also observed chimeric transcripts of retrotransposon and SARS-CoV-2 RNA for potential human genome invasion of viral fragments, with the front and the rear part of SARS-CoV-2 genome being easier to form chimeric RNA. Thus, we suggest that primers and probes for nucleic acid detection should be designed in the middle of virus genome to identify live virus with higher probability. In summary, we propose our hypothesis that coronavirus invades human cells and interacts with retrotransposon, eliciting more severe symptoms in patients with underlying diseases. In the treatment of patients with coronavirus infection, it may be necessary to pay more attention to the potential harm contributed by retrotransposon dysregulation.
Exogenous Coronavirus Interacts With Endogenous Retrotransposon in Human Cells
The term "maskne" has been coined during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, designating acne associated with prolonged protective mask-wearing. Maskne is a variant of acne mechanica caused by mask-induced mechanical injury (pressure, friction, and rubbing) and occlusion. The additional factors influencing the onset of maskne include genetics, environmental factors, duration of mask-wearing, the type of mask, and previous facial skin disease. The prevalence of maskne is increasing since masks are the most commonly used personal protective equipment in the general population. Furthermore, wearing masks in public tends to become the "new normal" even in the post-pandemic period. Hence, the problem of maskne could become even more significant. This review aims to provide a comprehensive view of current knowledge on prevalence, pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of maskne.
Maskne: A New Entity in the COVID-19 Pandemic.