Articles: coronavirus.
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The National Guard (NG) served as a critical component of the USA's response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, while concurrently managing their personal responses to the pandemic. Determining whether the activation of NG service members in response to the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a greater psychological strain can identify NG's needs for mental health support. ⋯ COVID-19 activation did not increase the risk of mental health difficulties among NGU service members. However, low levels of unit cohesion were associated with the risk of PTSD, anxiety and depression, and anger, and low levels of leadership were associated with the risk of PTSD and anger. The results suggest a resilient psychological response to COVID-19 activation and the potential for strengthening all NG service members through enhancing unit cohesion and leadership support. Future research on specific activation exposures, including the type of work tasks in which service members are engaged, particularly those associated with high-stress work conditions, is needed to help better understand their activation experience and how it may influence post-activation responses.
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This study aimed to explore the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and lockdown period measures on patients' visits to the psychiatric emergency department (PED) of a University Hospital in İstanbul. We compared the number and characteristics of patients during the initial lockdown with visits in the pre- and post-lockdown months. We also investigated the number of monthly PED visits and hospitalizations between March 11, 2020 and 2021 and compared it to the same period in 2019 and between March 2021 and 2022. ⋯ In the second year, there was a trend toward prepandemic year ratios. These findings show that the pandemic affects PED admissions in different ways at different periods. These data may also help shaping the public policies necessary to meet the evolving needs in the field of mental health of society at different public crises in the future.
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To explore the mechanism of action of Polygonum cuspidatum in intervening in coronavirus disease 2019 using a network pharmacology approach and to preliminarily elucidate its mechanism. The active ingredients and action targets of P cuspidatum were classified and summarized using computer virtual technology and molecular informatics methods. The active ingredients and relevant target information of P cuspidatum were identified using the TCM Systematic Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform, the TCM Integrated Pharmacology Research Platform v2.0, and the SwissTarget database. ⋯ In vitro assays showed no effect of 0.1 to 10 μM polydatin on cell viability, but an inhibitory effect on the transcriptional activity of NF-κB-RE. Molecular docking showed stable covalent bonding of polydatin molecules with Il-1β protein at residue leu-26, TNF protein ser-60, residue gly-121, and residue ile-258 of ICAM-1 protein, indicating a stable docking result. The treatment of COVID-19 with P cuspidatum is characterized by multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway, which can exert a complex network of regulatory effects through the interaction between different targets, providing a new idea and basis for further exploration of the mechanism of action of P cuspidatum in the treatment of COVID-19.
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Background and Objectives: This study aims to investigate the potential association between the COVID-19 pandemic and a new presentation of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted, comparing the incidence of new-onset CSCR cases among ophthalmology patients in a regional medical facility in southern Israel between two distinct periods: the COVID-19 pandemic era in Israel, which occurred from 27 February 2020 to 20 December 2020, and the non-pandemic period from calendar years 2018 to 2021, excluding the specific epidemic phase mentioned. Disease severity was evaluated based on recovery time, visual acuity loss, and central macular thickness via OCT. ⋯ Additionally, 22.2% of the COVID-19 pandemic group had confirmed COVID-19 cases, which was statistically significantly higher than the general population's reported cases (6%). Conclusion: The study revealed a statistically significant increase of over 2.5 times in acute CSCR incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with non-pandemic periods. The findings suggest that the pandemic's stressful changes may have unintended consequences on the occurrence of CSCR, highlighting the importance of mental health support and psychoeducation for affected patients.
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Public health students have been seen as a potential force to meet the demand for health workers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, few studies have provided empirical data. This study was conducted to summarize the experiences of public health students who engaged in voluntary service in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Guangzhou, China. ⋯ Most students improved their knowledge and skills about COVID-19 after the training, but some knowledge and skills still needed improvement after their voluntary service. Public health students could help support the health system during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing adequate training and protection. More efforts should be made to provide psychological support for student volunteers and to optimize the curriculum to bridge the gap in public health education between theoretical knowledge and practical skills in responding to public health emergencies.