bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress among remote learning students during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from a meta-analysis
Authors: Xu Tianyuan , Wang Huang
Published: January 2023

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has influenced all aspects significantly, and an estimated 1.5 billion students across the globe have been forced to keep up with online courses at home. Many recent empirical studies reported the prevalence of mental health problems among students caused by remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, but a few studies aggregated these results. Therefore, to strengthen statistical power, the article aimed to examine the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress among remote learning students during the COVID-19 pandemic via a meta-analysis. A total of 36 original articles have been selected from five academic databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, and Google Scholar, covering 78,674 participants in 19 nations, and yielding 60 effect sizes (22 for anxiety, 17 for depression, and 21 for stress) based on the random effects model via Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software. The results showed that the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress among remote learning students during the COVID-19 pandemic was as high as 58, 50, and 71%, respectively. Besides, the moderator analysis found that (1) the prevalence of anxiety and depression among students in higher education was significantly higher than that of students in elementary education. (2) an increasing number of medical students and students in emergency remote learning context suffered from mental stress than their non-medical and traditional distance learning counterparts. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic triggers concerns related to physical health and mental disorders, especially for remote online learning students. The current situation should be brought to the forefront by educators to develop psychological interventions for relieving students’ anxiety, depression, and stress during the pandemic period.
COVID-19 online teaching intervention and learning performance of college foreign language students
Authors: Xu Yufeng , Zou Yanfen
Published: January 2023

This quasi-natural experimental study examined an online teaching intervention implemented in response to COVID-19 in China in 2020. It applied the difference-in-difference model to examine the impact and path of the intervention on students’ learning performance of a college foreign language (LPCFL). Based on data from records of withdrawing and changing courses, classroom learning, and teaching evaluations; a questionnaire survey of teachers and students; and relevant school documents during the last seven terms, the results indicated that the online teaching intervention could significantly improve students’ LPCFL. This finding remained robust after adopting a placebo test approach to mitigate possible endogeneity issues. Additionally, this study also conducted a group test through sub-sample regression based on students’ discipline characteristics and intervention organization methods. The results showed that the students who participated in the intervention significantly improved in the three disciplines: humanities was most significantly affected, science and engineering were least significantly affected, and economics and management were in the middle. A range effect was observed for organizational methods. The two downward transmission methods by college teaching management terms had significant positive effects, whereas the other two methods of downward transmission by college student management had significant negative effects. An analysis of the action mechanism indicated that the online teaching intervention mostly improved LPCFL through two channels: students’ learning input and learning support. Overall, these findings not only help expand the research framework on macro environmental intervention policy and micro-learning behavior but also have implications for the in-depth understanding of the real learning effect of online learning interventions for college students and their design in the post-COVID-19 era.
Cannabis use during the early COVID-19 pandemic: Use patterns, predictors, and subjective experiences
Authors: Mielau Juliane , Reiche Simon , Moon Daa Un , Groß Elisa , Gutwinski Stefan , Betzler Felix , Romanello Amy , Masah Dario Jalilzadeh , Scicchitano Matteo , Marek Roman , Brandt Lasse , Evens Ricarda , Mick Inge Maria , Majić Tomislav , Montag Christiane
Published: January 2023

Background

Even in the early stages, global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic lead to serious dislocations of social life, secondary adjustment reactions to external restrictions and individual concerns. Coping mechanisms may also include dysfunctional strategies like an increase of drug use. Considering the wide-spread use of cannabis, the aim of this study was to elucidate the interplay of social restrictions, psychopathology, concerns related to the pandemic in addition to the users’ experiences, motivations and consumption quantities during the early COVID-19 pandemic. It was presumed that cannabis intake would increase during the early phase of the crisis and that consumption quantities would be related to corona-related restrictions, concerns as well as subjective substance effects and psychopathology.

Materials and methods

As part of an international, cross-sectional, internet-based survey (N = 5,049) available in five languages, consumption quantities and patterns of cannabis use in the early phase of the pandemic from April to August 2020 were examined. Participants retrospectively rated restrictions and concerns related to the pandemic, motives of cannabis use prior to and during 1 month the pandemic, and subjective consumption effects.

Results

Cannabis use behavior showed no significant differences when consumption quantities prior and during 1 month after the COVID-19 outbreak were compared. Higher quantities of cannabis intake prior and during 1 month of the pandemic as well as more corona-related concern were associated with an increased perception of positive effects of cannabis during the pandemic. Predictors of its use during 1 month of pandemic were higher pre-pandemic consumption quantity, older age, quarantinization, a lesser degree of being affected by negative effects of the pandemic and a stronger subjective experience of corona-related positive effects of cannabis. Comparisons of the motives for cannabis intake in the pre-pandemic versus the pandemic period showed that all rationales for consumption were reported less frequently, except boredom.

Conclusion

Frequencies of cannabis intake remained relatively stable in the early pandemic phase. Risk factors for increased use seem related to habitual consumption patterns that become more prominent under quarantinization. The use of cannabis as a dysfunctional coping strategy might not be amenable via self-report and should therefore receive special attention in clinical contexts.
Low and mismatched socioeconomic status between newlyweds increased their risk of depressive symptoms: A multi-center study
Authors: Gan Hong , Li Mengdie , Wang Xiaorui , Yang Qianhui , Tang Ying , Wang Baolin , Liu Kaiyong , Zhu Peng , Shao Shanshan , Tao Fangbiao
Published: January 2023

Background

While there is evidence that low socioeconomic status (SES) increases susceptibility to depression, few studies have focused on the effect of marital SES matching on depression. This study aimed to explore the impact of SES indicator matching on depressive symptoms in newlyweds and clarify the interaction of depressive symptoms between couples.

Methods

We assessed the depressive symptoms of newlyweds (N = 28, 179 couples) using a 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Logistic regression models and restricted cubic splines were used to explore the association between SES indicator matching and depressive symptoms and the interaction of depressive symptoms in newlyweds, respectively.

Results

Compared with newlyweds with both high-level SES, the newlyweds with both low-level SES, male higher SES, or female higher SES had an increased risk of depressive symptoms in husbands (OR = 1.31; 1.22; 1.30), wives (OR = 1.30; 1.36; 1.32), and couples (OR = 1.48; 1.56; 1.57) (all P < 0.05). In addition, as the level of depression in one partner increases, the risk of depression in the other partner also increases.

Conclusion

Mismatched SES and low-level SES between couples have adverse effects on depressive symptoms in newlyweds, with depressive symptoms having a positive association between newlyweds.
Methylone, a rapid acting entactogen with robust anxiolytic and antidepressant-like activity
Authors: Warner-Schmidt Jennifer , Pittenger Christopher , Stogniew Martin , Mandell Blake , Olmstead Sarah J. , Kelmendi Benjamin
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants represent first-line pharmacological treatment for a variety of neuropsychiatric illnesses, including major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which show high rates of comorbidity. SSRIs have a delayed onset of action. Most patients do not show significant effects until 4–8 weeks of continuous treatment, have impairing side effects and as many as 40% of patients do not respond. Methylone (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylcathinone; MDMC, βk-MDMA, M1) is a rapid-acting entactogen that showed significant benefit in a clinical case series of PTSD patients and was well-tolerated in two Phase 1 studies of healthy volunteers. Based on these early observations in humans, in the current study we tested the hypothesis that methylone has antidepressant-like and anxiolytic effects in preclinical tests.

Methods

For all studies, 6–8-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats (N = 6–16) were used. We employed the Forced Swim Test (FST), a classic and widely used screen for antidepressants, to explore the effects of methylone and to probe dose-response relationships, durability of effect, and potential interactions with combined SSRI treatment. We compared the effect of methylone with the prototypical SSRI fluoxetine.

Results

Three doses of fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) given within 24 h before FST testing caused a 50% reduction in immobility compared with controls that lasted less than 24 h. In contrast, a single dose of methylone (5–30 mg/kg) administered 30 min prior to testing produced a rapid, robust, and durable antidepressant-like response in the FST, greater in magnitude than fluoxetine. Immobility was reduced by nearly 95% vs. controls and effects persisted for at least 72 h after a single dose (15 mg/kg). Effects on swimming and climbing behavior in the FST, which reflect serotonergic and noradrenergic activity, respectively, were consistent with studies showing that methylone is less serotoninergic than MDMA. Fluoxetine pretreatment did not change methylone’s antidepressant-like effect in the FST, suggesting the possibility that the two may be co-administered. In addition, methylone (5–30 mg/kg) exhibited anxiolytic effects measured as increased time spent in the center of an open field.

Discussion

Taken together, and consistent with initial clinical findings, our study suggests that methylone may have potential for treating depression and anxiety.
The association between naturalistic use of psychedelics and co-occurring substance use disorders
Authors: Rabinowitz Jonina , Lev-Ran Shaul , Gross Raz
Published: January 2023

Objective

Classic psychedelics (LSD, psilocybin, and peyote/mescaline) have been used to support addiction treatment in a variety of contexts ranging from ceremonial use to clinical trials. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that past naturalistic use of classic psychedelics would be associated with decreased prevalence of substance use disorder, when controlling for known confounders.

Methods

This cross-sectional study used 2017 NSDUH survey data to evaluate the association between past use of the classic psychedelics LSD, psilocybin and peyote/mescaline and past year substance dependence or abuse. We calculated adjusted odds ratios by multivariate logistic regression, controlling for a range of sociodemographic variables, use of non-psychedelic illicit drugs and mental health related variables.

Results

A total of 56,276 participants were included in this study. Past use of LSD and psilocybin were associated with increased odds of substance dependence or abuse compared to those who had never used psychedelics before, and this was more likely for those who had used LSD more recently. However, prior use of peyote or mescaline was associated with lower odds of past year substance dependence or abuse compared to people who had never used psychedelics before (aOR = 0.68, p < 0.001). Past use of classic psychedelics was not associated with nicotine dependence.

Conclusion

Past use of peyote/mescaline was associated with decreased odds of substance use disorder compared to people who had never used psychedelics before, while past use of LSD or psilocybin was not. It remains unclear whether this difference is due to pharmacological differences between these compounds or simply due to the context in which peyote/mescaline are traditionally taken. Future research should investigate why naturalistic use of different psychedelics is associated with different substance use disorder effects.
A real opportunity to modify cardiovascular risk through primary care and prevention: A pilot study
Authors: Lontano Alberto , Marziali Eleonora , Galletti Caterina , Mazza Eduardo , Gambioli Stefano , Galasso Valerio , Mingarelli Alessandro , D'Ambrosio Floriana , Tamburrano Andrea , Paolini Massimo , Bande Antonio , Damiani Gianfranco , de Waure Chiara , Laurenti Patrizia
Published: January 2023

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent a major threat to health and primary prevention outstands as the most effective instrument to face this issue, addressing multiple risk factors at a time and influencing behavioral patterns. Community nurses have been involved in many interdisciplinary prevention activities, resulting in effective control of CV risk factors. We conducted a pilot study aiming at describing the impact on the CV risk profile of an 18-month interdisciplinary intervention on lifestyle habits. From September 2018 to May 2020, four general practitioners (GPs) working in the Roman neighborhood of Torresina recruited patients having a cardiovascular risk score (CRS) equal to or higher than 3% and lower than 20%; those patients were included in a nutritional, physical, and psychological counseling program. Assessments of patients' health status were led at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months by a nutritionist, a physiotherapist, a psychologist, their GPs, and a community nurse. The CRS was estimated at every examination, based on the Italian Progetto Cuore algorithm. A total of 76 patients were included (mean age of 54.6 years; 33 men and 43 women). Mean CRS showed a significant reduction between baseline and 12 months (from 4.9 to 3.8); both total cholesterol and systolic blood pressure (SBP) significantly decreased at 6 months of follow-up (respectively, from 211.1 to 192 and from 133.1 to 123.1). Nonetheless, the reduction was later maintained only for SBP. However, during the last 6 months of the intervention, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, thus, it is not possible to know how much the results achieved at 18 months were influenced by the restrictive measures introduced by the Italian government. When stratifying according to the presence of hypertension/diabetes and physical activity, no differences in the CRS could be highlighted between the two groups. Our pilot study proved that an interdisciplinary counseling intervention program can improve CV risk profile and could be further spread to people that, according to their CRS, would benefit more from changes in lifestyles.
Association between sleep duration and myopia among Chinese children during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Huang Luoming , Chen Xuelan , Lin Jiajia , Fan Xianming , Chen Ting , Yu Yang , Chen Jiaxin , Hu Jianmin
Published: January 2023

Background

The studies on the association between sleep duration and myopia are limited, and the evidence is inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between sleep duration and myopia, cycloplegic spherical equivalent (SE) and axial length (AL) among Chinese children during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods

The study was a cross-sectional study on Chinese children aged 6–18 years. The comprehensive ophthalmic examinations for children included cycloplegic SE, AL, and standardized questionnaires. The questionnaire included sleep duration, parental myopia, outdoor time, and continuous near work duration without breaks. Myopia was defined as SE ≤-0.50 diopters (D).

Results

A total of 1,140 children were included in the analyses, with 84.7% of myopic children and 74.4% of children's daily sleep duration being more than 8 h/d. In univariate regression analysis, compared with sleep duration < 8 h/d, children with sleep duration of 8–9 and >9 h/d were less myopia (p < 0.01 for all), and had less myopic SE (p < 0.01 for all), and shorter AL (p < 0.01 for all). After adjusting for age, gender, parental myopia, outdoor time, and continuous near work duration without breaks, sleep duration was not associated with myopia, cycloplegic SE, and AL (p > 0.05 for all).

Conclusions

This study showed sleep duration was related to myopia, cycloplegic SE, and AL among Chinese children during the COVID-19 pandemic-related lifestyles, but no independent association.
Burnout, depression, anxiety and insomnia among medical staff during the COVID-19 epidemic in Shanghai
Authors: Tang Lin , Yu Xin-tong , Wu Yu-wei , Zhao Na , Liang Rui-long , Gao Xiao-lin , Jiang Wen-yan , Chen Yun-fei , Yang Wen-jia
Published: January 2023

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has progressively impacted our daily lives, resulting in unexpected physical and mental stress on medical staff. This study is designed to investigate the levels of and risk factors for burnout, depression, anxiety, and insomnia among medical staff during the COVID-19 epidemic breakout in Shanghai, China.

Methods

This cross-sectional survey was conducted from May 1 to May 31, 2022, among medical staff who were on the frontline during the epidemic breakout in Shanghai from different institutions. The MBI-HSS was used to assess burnout, PHQ-9, GAD-7 and ISI were used to evaluate mental status and insomnia.

Results

A total of 543 valid questionnaires were collected. The depersonalization, depression, anxiety, and insomnia scores of medical staff were significantly higher during the pandemic in Shanghai compared with norms, while lack of personal achievement scores were decreased. Working time, work unit, work environment and age are important influencers of burnout, depression and anxiety of medical staff. Long working hours are the most likely causes of burnout and emotional disorders. Medical staff in primary hospitals were most likely to suffer from burnout and emotional disorders, while medical staff in tertiary hospitals had a reduced sense of personal achievement. Young medical staff are prone to negative emotions such as depression and anxiety, while older medical staff have a lower sense of personal accomplishment. Medical staff who were not in the shelter hospitals or designated hospitals were more likely to have problems of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and anxiety than those who were in the shelter hospitals or designated hospitals. Contracting COVID-19 had no effect on medical staff. Emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were positively correlated with anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders while personal achievement was negatively correlated with these factors.

Conclusion

Medical staff in Shanghai had high burnout, depression, anxiety and insomnia levels during the epidemic outbreak in Shanghai. During the COVID-19, medical staff may suffer different psychological problems which should be concerned. Care and supports about burnout, mental health and insomnia need to be taken to promote the mental health of medical staff according to different characteristics of medical staff.
An occupational health survey on health utility and occupational diseases in Chinese university staff to inform cost-utility analysis
Authors: Liu Xiaoyan , Zhou Huijun , Wei Jie , Li Minghui , Luo Guofen , Naidoo Nasheen , Zhang Guang , Bi Ye , Gao Mengmeng
Published: January 2023

Background

The occupational health of university staff bears great social and economic value for which health utility is an indivisible aspect. Utility is also the primary data for the cost-utility analysis of occupational health programs. Health utility and occupational diseases have not been reported for the university staff in China. In the light of “Healthy China,” we conducted this study aiming to (1) estimate the health utility of university staff to inform cost-utility analysis and (2) screen and identify potential occupational diseases for this occupation and examine their impacts on health.

Methods

An occupational health survey was conducted in a sample of working-age university staff. Participants were interviewed face-to-face using the WHO Health and Work Performance Questionnaire and the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) instrument to measure health conditions and health utility, respectively. The univariate analysis included the t-test, chi-square test, and correlation techniques. Multivariate generalized linear models were applied to evaluate the significance of each health condition when controlling for other factors.

Results

The sample (n = 154) had a mean age of 40.65 years and consisted of slightly more women (51.30%). Participants attained a mean (standard deviation) health utility of 0.945 (0.073). The most affected domain was anxiety/depression with 62 (40.26%) participants reporting problems, followed by pain/discomfort which captured 60 (37.66%) staff with problems. Thus, pain and psychologically related conditions were prevalent. Multivariate models identified two conditions that can significantly reduce the health utility. The psychological/emotional conditions were associated with a utility loss of −0.067 (95%CI: −0.089, −0.045). The pain in body parts other than the head, neck, and back reduced the utility by −0.034 (95%CI: −0.055, −0.014).

Conclusion

Working-age staff in Chinese universities may have a lower health utility than the general population. Psychological conditions and musculoskeletal pain appear like occupational diseases. With the health utility data available, economic evaluation of cost-utility should follow up to facilitate the implementation of cost-effective programs.
Discernment on assistive technology for the care and support requirements of older adults and differently-abled individuals
Authors: Muthu P. , Tan Yongqi , Latha S. , Dhanalakshmi Samiappan , Lai Khin Wee , Wu Xiang
Published: January 2023

Assistive technology for the differently abled and older adults has made remarkable achievements in providing rehabilitative, adaptive, and assistive devices. It provides huge assistance for people with physical impairments to lead a better self-reliant daily life, in terms of mobility, education, rehabilitation, etc. This technology ranges from simple hand-held devices to complex robotic accessories which promote the individual's independence. This study aimed at identifying the assistance required by differently-abled individuals, and the solutions proposed by different researchers, and reviewed their merits and demerits. It provides a detailed discussion on the state of art assistive technologies, their applications, challenges, types, and their usage for rehabilitation. The study also identifies different unexplored research areas related to assistive technology that can improve the daily life of individuals and advance the field. Despite their high usage, assistive technologies have some limitations which have been briefly described in the study. This review, therefore, can help understand the utilization, and pros and cons of assistive devices in rehabilitation engineering and assistive technologies.
The effect of equalization of public health services on the health China's migrant population: Evidence from 2018 China Migrants Dynamic Survey
Authors: Su BinBin , Wu Yu , Yihao Zhao , Chen Chen , Panliang Zhong , Zheng Xiaoying
Published: January 2023

Objectives

China has implemented an equalization of public health Services policy for migrants in 40 pilot cities since 2013. The main objective of this study is to explore the effect of this migrant-based reform policy on the health status of the migrant population in China.

Methods

Using the China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS), we included 152,000 migrants aged 15 years or over in 2018. Standardized questionnaires were used to collect socio-economic information and self-reported health status. The Associations between the equalization of public health services and health status were estimated using Multiple regression estimation models and Propensity Score Matching (PSM) methods.

Results

Public health equalization reform in China has a significant and positive effect on the health status of the migrant population (β = 0.033, p < 0.001). Compared to males, higher income, under 60 years of age, inter-provincial mobility, and migrants those already living in urban areas, the equalization of public health Services had shown more significant positive effects on the groups who were inter-provincial migration (β = 0.055, p < 0.001), females (β = 0.055, p < 0.001), having low-income (β = 0.077, p < 0.001), aged over 60 years old (β = 0.191, p < 0.001), and living in rural areas (β = 0.038, p < 0.001). And multiple robustness tests prove that the above results are reliable.

Conclusions and implications

Our findings confirmed the positive health effect of the equalization of public health services reform on china's migrant population, especially among vulnerable groups such as those in low income groups, in rural areas and females. And we recommend that it is necessary to further promote the practices and experiences of the pilot cities. First, strengthen health education for the mobile population and improve their health literacy. Second, further increase the financial investment to improve the coverage of public health services and the equity in resource allocation among regions. Last, strengthen the information-based management of the migrant population and prevent and control infectious diseases.
The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on anxiety, depression, stress, and mindfulness in menopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Hongyang , Cai Kexin , Wang Jinyang , Zhang Hailian
Published: January 2023

Background

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are psychological interventions widely used in menopausal women. Currently, there is no evidence summary on the effectiveness of MBIs on anxiety, depression, stress, and mindfulness in menopausal women. This meta-analysis examines the effectiveness of MBIs in improving anxiety, depression, stress, and mindfulness scores in menopausal women.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), and Wanfang, using relevant terms such as MBIs as keywords and covering all studies published before March 13, 2022. The outcomes were anxiety, depression, stress, and mindfulness. The screening and extraction of data were conducted by two independent reviewers.

Results

A total of 1,138 menopausal women participated in 13 studies. Meta-analysis results showed that MBIs significantly reduced stress in menopausal women (SMD = −0.84, 95% CI: −1.64 to −0.05, p = 0.04), but no statistical differences were found in reducing anxiety (SMD = −0.40, 95% CI: −0.81 to 0.01, p = 0.06) and depression (SMD = −0.19, 95% CI: −0.45 to 0.07, p = 0.16) and in raising the scores of mindfulness (SMD = 0.37, 95% CI: −0.06 to 0.81, p = 0.09) in menopausal women.

Conclusion

MBIs may reduce stress in menopausal women, but their effect on improving anxiety, depression, and mindfulness needs further validation.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#recordDetails.
Detection of hospital environmental contamination during SARS-CoV-2 Omicron predominance using a highly sensitive air sampling device
Authors: Tan Kai Sen , Ang Alicia Xin Yu , Tay Douglas Jie Wen , Somani Jyoti , Ng Alexander Jet Yue , Peng Li Lee , Chu Justin Jang Hann , Tambyah Paul Anantharajah , Allen David Michael
Published: January 2023

Background and objectives

The high transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 has exposed weaknesses in our infection control and detection measures, particularly in healthcare settings. Aerial sampling has evolved from passive impact filters to active sampling using negative pressure to expose culture substrate for virus detection. We evaluated the effectiveness of an active air sampling device as a potential surveillance system in detecting hospital pathogens, for augmenting containment measures to prevent nosocomial transmission, using SARS-CoV-2 as a surrogate.

Methods

We conducted air sampling in a hospital environment using the AerosolSenseTM air sampling device and compared it with surface swabs for their capacity to detect SARS-CoV-2.

Results

When combined with RT-qPCR detection, we found the device provided consistent SARS-CoV-2 detection, compared to surface sampling, in as little as 2 h of sampling time. The device also showed that it can identify minute quantities of SARS-CoV-2 in designated “clean areas” and through a N95 mask, indicating good surveillance capacity and sensitivity of the device in hospital settings.

Conclusion

Active air sampling was shown to be a sensitive surveillance system in healthcare settings. Findings from this study can also be applied in an organism agnostic manner for surveillance in the hospital, improving our ability to contain and prevent nosocomial outbreaks.
A global bibliometric analysis on Kawasaki disease research over the last 5 years (2017–2021)
Authors: Tan Weifu , Jing Liao , Wang Yunxiao , Li Wei
Published: January 2023

Background

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology that mainly affects children. We aim to conduct a bibliometric analysis to explore the latest research hotspots and trends of KD.

Method

By using the keywords “Kawasaki disease,” “Kawasaki syndrome”, and “Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome,” the Web of Science (WOS) and Scopus databases were searched for publications related to KD from 2017 to 2021. Author, country and journal submissions were classified and evaluated using Biblioshiny software (using R language). VOSviewer (version 1.6.18) was used to visualize the relevant network relationships.

Result

According to the search strategy, 5,848 and 6,804 KD studies were published in WOS and Scopus, respectively. The results showed an overall increasing trend in the number of publications and citations during the study period. The three most influential institutions in the WOS were St. Marianna University, Kawasaki Medical School and The University of Tokyo in Japan, while in Scopus, Harvard Medical School, University of California and Tehran University of Medical Sciences were the most influential institutions. The most influential authors of the two databases are Goodman SG, Kazunori Kataoka, and Takeshi Kimura of the WOS and Marx Nikolau and Wang Y, Burns JC, and Newburger JW of the Scopus, respectively. And Scientific Reports and Frontiers in Pediatrics were the most critical journals. The most cited documents were the WOS document by McCrindle et al. and the Scopus document by Benjamin et al. published in 2017, while the keywords in the last few years were focused on “COVID-19,” “multisystem inflammatory syndrome,” and “pandemic.”

Conclusion

This bibliometric analysis summarizes for the first time the research progress in KD (2017–2021), providing a qualitative and quantitative assessment of KD research bibliometric information. In the field, researchers mainly from Japan and USA are dominant, followed by China. It is recommended to pay close attention to the latest hot spots, such as “COVID-19” and “multisystem inflammatory syndrome.” These results provide a more intuitive and convenient way for researchers to obtain the latest information on KD.
Diseases spectrum in the field of spatiotemporal patterns mining of infectious diseases epidemics: A bibliometric and content analysis
Authors: Lu Weili , Ren Hongyan
Published: January 2023

Numerous investigations of the spatiotemporal patterns of infectious disease epidemics, their potential influences, and their driving mechanisms have greatly contributed to effective interventions in the recent years of increasing pandemic situations. However, systematic reviews of the spatiotemporal patterns of communicable diseases are rare. Using bibliometric analysis, combined with content analysis, this study aimed to summarize the number of publications and trends, the spectrum of infectious diseases, major research directions and data-methodological-theoretical characteristics, and academic communities in this field. Based on 851 relevant publications from the Web of Science core database, from January 1991 to September 2021, the study found that the increasing number of publications and the changes in the disease spectrum have been accompanied by serious outbreaks and pandemics over the past 30 years. Owing to the current pandemic of new, infectious diseases (e.g., COVID-19) and the ravages of old infectious diseases (e.g., dengue and influenza), illustrated by the disease spectrum, the number of publications in this field would continue to rise. Three logically rigorous research directions—the detection of spatiotemporal patterns, identification of potential influencing factors, and risk prediction and simulation—support the research paradigm framework in this field. The role of human mobility in the transmission of insect-borne infectious diseases (e.g., dengue) and scale effects must be extensively studied in the future. Developed countries, such as the USA and England, have stronger leadership in the field. Therefore, much more effort must be made by developing countries, such as China, to improve their contribution and role in international academic collaborations.
Determinants of health-seeking behaviors among middle-aged women in Vietnam's rural-urban transition setting
Authors: Nguyen Thao Thi Phuong , Nguyen Cuong Tat , Do Hieu Trung , Tran Ha Thai , Vu Thuc Minh Thi , Nghiem Son , Vu Giang Thu , Latkin Carl A. , Ho Cyrus S. H. , Ho Roger C. M.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to identify the health status and healthcare utilization factors associated with middle-aged women in the rapid urbanization context of Vietnam.

Methods

A cross-sectional study with a systematic random sampling technique was conducted in Hung Yen city. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 362 middle-aged women. The collected data included socioeconomic characteristics, health issues, health service utilization, and social support for women in both urban and rural areas. Multivariate regression models were used to determine factors associated with health service utilization and the number of inpatient/outpatient visits.

Results

Among 362 participants, the main chronic diseases were diabetes (12.8%), cardiovascular diseases (11.3%), and migraines (9.5%). The proportion of using inpatient and outpatient services among middle-aged women was relatively high (35.8 and 61%, respectively). Women having more support from family and friends were less likely to seek healthcare. Living in rural areas significantly increased the number of inpatient treatments. Regarding health service utilization, the percentage of people using outpatient treatment services accounted for 61.0%, while using inpatient treatment services was reported as 35.8%. The average number of outpatient and inpatient visits per participant were 1.3 and 0.9, respectively.

Conclusion

This study revealed a relatively high rate of using healthcare services among women at midlife in a rapidly industrializing city in Vietnam. Screening programs should be implemented for early detection and treatment of chronic diseases in middle-aged women, especially for diabetes. Communication strategies should be adapted to raise awareness of rural women about regular health checkups, and counseling services of healthcare providers should be strongly reinforced. Lifestyle interventions and health promotion programs involving social support should be implemented to improve wellbeing and healthcare-seeking behaviors among middle-aged women.
Degenerate Beta autoregressive model for proportion time-series with zeros or ones: An application to antimicrobial resistance rate using R shiny app
Authors: Lobo Jevitha , Kamath Asha , Kalwaje Eshwara Vandana
Published: January 2023

Background

Antimicrobial resistance has emerged as one of the foremost public health troubles of the 21st century. This has ended in a public health disaster of the global situation, which threatens the exercise of present-day remedy. There is an urgent requirement for a cost-effective strategy to reduce antimicrobial resistance. Infectious disease control researchers most often analyze and predict antimicrobial resistance rate data that includes zeros or ones. Commonly used time-series analysis such as autoregressive moving average model is inappropriate for such data and may arrive at biased results.

Objective

This study aims to propose a time-series model for continuous rates or proportions when the interval of series includes zeros or ones and compares the model with existing models.

Data

The Escherichia coli, isolated from blood cultures showing variable susceptibility results to different antimicrobial agents, has been obtained from a clinical microbiology laboratory of a tertiary care hospital, Udupi district, Karnataka, during the years between 2011 and 2019.

Methodology

We proposed a Degenerate Beta Autoregressive model which is a mixture of continuous and discrete distributions with probability mass at zero or one. The proposed model includes autoregressive terms along with explanatory variables. The estimation is done using maximum likelihood with a non-linear optimization algorithm. An R shiny app has been provided for the same.

Results

The proposed Degenerate Beta Autoregressive model performed well compared to the existing autoregressive moving average models. The forecasted antimicrobial resistance rate has been obtained for the next 6 months.

Conclusion

The findings of this article could be beneficial to the infectious disease researchers to use an appropriate time-series model to forecast the resistance rate for the future and to have better or advance public health policies to control the rise in resistance rate.
Gender differences in tuberculosis incidence rates—A pooled analysis of data from seven high-income countries by age group and time period
Authors: Peer Victoria , Schwartz Naama , Green Manfred S.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Gender differences in the incidence rates for tuberculosis are occasionally reported. However, the magnitude and consistency of the differences by age group, among different populations, and over extended periods of time are not clear.

Materials and methods

We obtained national data from seven countries from open-access internet sites or personal communications with official representatives. We computed the male-to-female incidence rate ratios (IRRs) by country and year for every age group and pooled these ratios using meta-analytic methods. Meta-regression analysis was performed to estimate the contribution of age, country, and calendar years to the variation in the IRRs.

Results

In the age groups of < 1, 1–4, 5–9, and 10–14, the pooled male-to-female IRRs (with 95% CI) were as follows: 1.21 (1.05, 1.40), 0.99 (0.95, 1.04), 1.01 (0.96, 1.06), and 0.83 (0.77, 0.89), respectively. In the age groups 15–44, 45–64, and 65+ years, incidence rates were significantly higher in men, with IRRs of 1.25 (1.16, 1.35), 1.79 (1.56, 2.06), and 1.81 (1.66, 1.96), respectively. Meta-regression analysis revealed that age significantly contributed to the variation in the IRRs.

Conclusions

There were gender differences in the incidence rates for tuberculosis, with higher rates in boys aged less than one, no significant differences in boys of ages 1–9, and higher rates in boys/men older than 15. The only excess in female gender was in the age group 10–14 years. The age-related gender differences in tuberculosis incidence rates observed over several countries indicate the importance of including sex as a biological variable when assessing the risk factors for tuberculosis.
Effects of intranasal oxytocin on neural reward processing in children and adolescents with reactive attachment disorder: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Takiguchi Shinichiro , Makita Kai , Fujisawa Takashi X. , Nishitani Shota , Tomoda Akemi
Published: January 2023

Reactive attachment disorder (RAD) is associated with socially and emotionally withdrawn/inhibited behaviors and reduced neural responses to rewards. Children and adolescents with RAD show aberrant attachment behaviors, and existing psychotherapies are difficult to maintain; therefore, pharmacological interventions to aid and boost treatment responses are needed. Oxytocin (OT) administration is known to promote reward functioning. We investigated whether single-use intranasal OT administration improved neural responses during reward processing in patients with RAD compared with healthy controls. Twenty-four male children and adolescents with RAD (10–18 years old) and 27 age- and sex-matched typically developing individuals (10–17 years old) were included in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over, functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Following a single intranasal OT (24 IU) or placebo administration, neural responses were investigated using a monetary reward task. In the RAD group, OT significantly increased subjective motivation scores, significantly enhanced activation in the right middle frontal gyrus, and reduced activation in the right precentral gyrus during the monetary reward task. Additional analyses revealed increased activation in the bilateral caudate at a more lenient threshold. Under placebo conditions, the severity of internalizing problems in patients with RAD was negatively correlated with ventral striatal activity. Moreover, the effect of OT on ventral striatum activity was positively associated with the severity of internalizing problems in patients with RAD. Intranasal OT administration enhanced activity in the reward pathway in male children and adolescents with RAD, suggesting that exogenous OT promotes reward processing and reward-related motivational behavior in these individuals. Further investigation is needed to fully understand the neural mechanisms of intranasal OT and identify novel targets for pediatric cases with RAD.

Clinical trial registration: UMIN-CTR; UMIN000013215. URL: https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000015419
Planning for decentralized, simplified prEP: Learnings from potential end users in Ga-Rankuwa, gauteng, South Africa
Authors: Mataboge Paballo , Nzenze Susan , Mthimkhulu Nqaba , Mazibuko Mbali , Kutywayo Alison , Butler Vusile , Naidoo Nicolette , Mullick Saiqa
Published: January 2023

Background

In South Africa, youth experience challenges with oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) access and uptake. Taking services out of healthcare settings has the potential to increase reach and overcome these challenges. This paper presents young and older people's preferences for decentralized, simplified PrEP service delivery and new long-acting HIV prevention methods, in Ga-Rankuwa, South Africa.

Methods

Between May and August 2021, both PrEP user and non-user adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), pregnant AGYW, female sex workers, adolescent boys and young men (ABYM), and men who have sex with men (MSM) were recruited to participate in focus group discussions (FDGs) in Ga-Rankuwa, Gauteng. Twenty-two FGDs were conducted. Participants were asked about PrEP uptake, potential acceptability of long-acting HIV prevention products, provision of integrated, simplified, and decentralized services, and digital tools to facilitate access to PrEP and other SRH services. A qualitative approach using inductive thematic analysis was carried out to explore emerging themes on decentralized, simplified delivery and the acceptability of long-acting methods.

Results

Of the 109 participants included in the study approximately 45% (n = 50) were female, the median age was 23 years ± 5.3. A third (n = 37) were current or previous PrEP users, of which, 59.5% (n = 22) collected PrEP refills from the clinic. Decentralized, simplified service delivery was appealing; health facilities, pharmacies and institutions of learning were preferred as service points for PrEP and SRH services, and recreational spaces preferred for dissemination of health information and engagement. ABYM were more open to having recreational spaces as service points. Long-acting Cabotegravir was preferred over the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring due to concerns around perceived side-effects, efficacy, and comfort.

Conclusion

Providing long-acting PrEP methods through decentralized, simplified service delivery was appealing to this population. They provided practical locations for decentralized service provision to potentially increase their engagement with and uptake of HIV prevention and SRH services.
Introduction and integration of PrEP and sexual and reproductive health services for young people: Health provider perspectives from South Africa
Authors: Pleaner Melanie , Scorgie Fiona , Martin Catherine , Butler Vusile , Muhwava Lorrein , Mojapele Maserame , Mullick Saiqa
Published: January 2023

South Africa has one of the largest HIV epidemics in the world, with particularly high prevalence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Oral PrEP was introduced in the public sector in 2016 in a phased manner. Given the important role played by health providers, research was undertaken to understand their experiences of and attitudes towards introduction of PrEP as a new HIV prevention method, and its integration within broader sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for youth. A survey was undertaken with 48 purposively sampled health providers working in primary health care facilities and mobile clinics in three provinces in South Africa. Qualitative analysis was performed on free-text responses to open-ended questions in the survey, using an inductive approach to code the data in NVivo v.12 software. Health providers expressed concerns about adding a new service to an already overburdened health system, and worried that young people seeking PrEP would divert staff from other critical services. While most recognised the benefits and opportunities afforded by HIV and SRH service integration, providers highlighted the extra time and resources such integration would require. Many were anxious that PrEP would encourage disinhibition and increase unprotected sex among AGYW, and held judgemental attitudes about young people, seen as largely incapable of taking responsibility for their health. Findings underscore the importance of consulting health providers about implementation design and providing channels for them to express their misgivings and concerns, and training needs to be designed to address provider attitudes and values. Opportunities need to be sought to strengthen the provision of adolescent and youth friendly services—including adolescent-health provider dialogues. Insights from this study can assist in guiding the introduction of new HIV prevention methods into the future.