Conditions Of Social Isolation Research Articles

Telerehabilitation in Elderly Care

Tıp bilimi ve teknolojisindeki gelişmelerle birlikte küresel olarak beklenen yaşam süresinin uzaması, sağlık hizmetlerinin yaşlanan topluma sunulma şeklinin değiştirilmesini gerektirmiştir. Telerehabilitasyon, değerlendirme, teşhis ve tedaviyi içeren klinik rehabilitasyon hizmetlerini ifade eden özel bir telesağlık alanıdır. Kronik hastalığı olan ve sağlık hizmetlerine erişim zorluğu yaşayan yaşlı popülasyon için cazip bir seçenek haline gelmiştir. Egzersiz ve tedavi programlarının disipline edilmesi ve doğru yönlendirilmesi için yüz yüze yapılması gerekmektedir. Ancak rehabilitasyon almak isteyen yaşlıların rehabilitasyon merkezlerine veya hastanelere gitmesi gerekmekte olup, zaman ve maliyet gerektirmektedir. Sağlık hizmetleri açısından yaşlılara verilebilecek en etkili hizmetin, kişinin kendini rahat hissettiği kendi ortamlarında gerçekleştirilen hizmet olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ev tabanlı programların, özellikle uzun vadede egzersiz ve rehabilitasyon programlarına uyum açısından, yaşlı bireyler için merkez tabanlı programlardan daha üstün olduğu bildirilmiştir. 2019 koronavirüs hastalığı (Covid-19) pandemisi, yaşlılarda ciddi hastalık geliştirme riskini artırması nedeniyle, yaşlılara sunulan rehabilitasyon hizmetlerinin, özellikle de verilme şeklinin değiştirilmesini gerektirmiştir. Covid-19 pandemisi fiziksel aktivite ve psikolojik durumu olumsuz etkilemiştir. Pandemi sırasında, kontaminasyon riskini önlemek için zorunlu karantina ve sosyal izolasyon koşulları, yüz yüze hizmetlere sınırlı erişim ve ciddi akut solunum yolu sendromu koronavirüs-2'ye (SARS-CoV-2) potansiyel maruz kalma endişesi telerehabilitasyon gerekliliğini artırmıştır. Ek olarak, kurallarda, düzenlemelerde ve sigorta geri ödemesinde yapılan son değişikliklerle, telerehabilitasyonun kullanılması teşvik edilmiştir. Tıp bilimindeki değişme ve gelişmeler, kaçınılmaz olarak yaşlıların bakımı için yeni disiplinler arası araştırma modellerinin ve ürünlerinin geliştirilmesine yol açacaktır. Bu makalenin amacı, yaşlanan nüfusta telesağlık ve telerehabilitasyonun hizmetlerini ve uygulamalarını incelemektir.

Analysis of the incidence of children in social isolation during the period of COVID-19

Introduction. Children's health is an important integral indicator and criterion for the socio- conomic wellbeing of society and the state, and is also included in the system of global indicators for achieving the goals in the field of sustainable development of countries. In terms of statistical research and forecasting in health care, children's health indicators can be assessed as the most stable and reliably reflecting the actual situation. The article contains information that allows one to form an idea of the health status of children of various age groups in Moscow in conditions of social isolation and distance learning during the COVID-19 period.
 Purpose of the study. To identify the main trends in the level of general morbidity among children aged 0-17 in Moscow during the COVID-19 pandemic, both in general and by age groups. Assess how the lockdown associated with the coronavirus outbreak has affected the health of children.
 Materials and methods. The review used population data, as well as data from federal statistical observation form No. 12 “Information on the number of diseases registered in patients living in the service area of a medical organization” for 2016–2020. Morbidity was analyzed for age groups 0-4 years, 5-9 years, 10-14 years, 15-17 years per 100,000 of the corresponding population.
 Results and discussion. In 2020, the overall level of child morbidity in the capital amounted to 189.1 thousand cases per 100,000 children, a decrease of 15.6% compared to 2019, in general, for the period from 2016 to 2020 – by 18.6 %. An analysis of the incidence of children showed that in 2020, the conditions of temporary isolation and a decrease in contacts during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a decrease in the registration of a number of diseases: SARS, acute bronchitis, acute conjunctivitis and diseases of the digestive system, as well as a decrease in childhood injuries in all age groups. A characteristic feature for children of all ages was the decrease in the overall incidence in 2020, however, it is worth noting the different rates of decline in indicators for individual classes of diseases depending on age.

Образовательно-развивающая активность старшеклассников в условиях ограничений в связи с пандемией COVID-19

Most studies analyse educational process specifics during the spread of Covid-19 using higher education as an example. There is insufficient amount of research devoted to the study of students’ activity at different levels of school education. The purpose of the study is to identify the differences in terms of manifestation and determination of high school students’ educational and developmental activity in normal life and under social isolation. Hypothesis: educational and developmental activity of high school students increases under the conditions of forced isolation. This activity is expressed in an intensified interest in self-development. It is compensatory in nature due to a reduced number of social contacts and opportunities for the implementation of other forms of social activity. The study was carried out on a sample of high school students (N = 169) aged from 16 to 18 years. Techniques: the author's questionnaire aimed at identifying the degree of manifestation of educational and developmental activity; “Assessment of mental activation, interest, emotional tone, tension and comfort” (L. A. Kurganskiy, T. A. Nemchin); “Quality of Life Index” (R. S. Eliot, in the adaptation of N. E. Vodopyanova). The study found that educational and developmental activity of high school students under conditions of self-isolation is higher than in normal life. In general, their education and self-development activity is conditioned by their personal psycho-emotional states. If students are less active during distance learning, their activity is more determined by their mental states. If educational and developmental activity of high school students is high, they are focused on personal achievements, satisfied with their health, communication and support from others, and less prone to negative emotions. The results of the study can be used in psychological and pedagogical work with high school students, who are forced to be under conditions of social isolation in order to increase their educational and developmental activity.

Loneliness in elderly in the covid-19 pandemic

IntroductionLoneliness and social isolation condition the health of those over 65 years of age, increasing morbidity and mortality. The pandemic caused by Covid-19 has been a health emergency in which the negative effects have been increased by loneliness. We can define several types of loneliness: physical loneliness, moral loneliness and social isolation.ObjectivesThe objective was to analyze the impact of Covid-19 on the feeling of loneliness in those over 65 years of age during the last year of the pandemic.MethodsA bibliographic search was carried out in Pubmed with the terms “loneliness in elderly in the covid-19 pandemic” with the filters “abstract” and “in the last 1 year”, selecting the studies whose title included the terms “loneliness”, “elderly” or “older people” and “Covid-19 ” or “SARS-Cov-2”. The search gave rise to 13 results, of which the content of the abstracts was qualitatively analyzed.ResultsAll studies found an increase in loneliness in the elderly, and more than 50% reported a decrease in this feeling in the elderly trained in new technologies. Other aspects that stood out to influence were comorbidity, resilience, economic situation, social support and subjective feeling of vulnerability.ConclusionsOlder adults avoid direct social contact to protect themselves. This may result in loneliness, that can have serious consequences in terms of morbidity and mortality. To mitigate loneliness they can use online social media, but older adults need to be trained. Institutions and public powers have the obligation to ensure individual and collective security, and protect the integrity of people from dangers.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

"Lived the Pandemic Twice": A Scoping Review of the Unequal Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Asylum Seekers and Undocumented Migrants.

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic is widening pre-pandemic health, social, and economic inequalities between refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers and the general population. This global scoping review examined the impact of the pandemic on community-based asylum seekers and undocumented migrants in high- and upper-middle-income countries. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of peer-reviewed articles in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest Central. We applied Katikireddi’s framework of understanding and addressing inequalities to examine the differential impact of the pandemic across exposure, vulnerability to infection, disease consequences, social consequences, effectiveness of control measures, and adverse consequences of control measures. Results: We included 32 articles in the review. The analysis showed that asylum seekers and undocumented migrants experienced greater exposure to the COVID-19 virus and higher infection rates. They also experienced differential social consequences in the form of job loss and lost and/or reduced work hours. The effectiveness of pandemic response measures on asylum seekers and undocumented migrants was also affected by pre-pandemic social and economic marginalisation, exclusion from pandemic-induced policy measures, lack of appropriate pandemic communication, and variable trust in governments and authority. Pandemic control measures had greater adverse consequences on asylum seekers and undocumented migrants than the general population, with the majority of studies included in this review reporting worsened mental health and social isolation conditions and reduced access to health care. Conclusions: Asylum seekers and undocumented migrants experienced a disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the six thematic areas of comparison. Policies that reduce exposure and vulnerability to the infection, grant equitable access to health and social care, and build capacities and resilience, are critical to enable asylum seekers and undocumented migrants to cope with and recover from pre-pandemic and pandemic-induced inequalities.

Influences of Housing Environment on Functional State of the Body after Action of Ulcerogenic Stressor

Here we studied influences of housing environment on functional state of the body after action of ulcerogenic stressor. The effects of ulcerogenic stressor on the gastric mucosa, the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenocortical (HPA) axis reactivity and glucocorticoid receptors in hippocampus, behavior and somatic pain sensitivity were compared in rats kept in enriched environment, social isolation, and standard laboratory conditions (control group). The rats aged 30 days were divided into groups and placed in standard cages 6 rats per cage (control) or 1 rats per cage (isolation) or in enriched cages 6 rats per cage (enriched environment). One month later, all rats (after 24 h fasting) were stressed by cold restraint (10˚C) for 3 h. In 3 h one half of rats in each group were decapitated to examine the gastric mucosa. Another half of rats were subjected to behavior tests (open field and elevated plus maze) and somatic pain sensitivity test (hot plate) as well as the HPA axis reactivity testing by plasma corticosterone levels induced by mild procedural stressor. Glucocorticoid receptor expression was estimated in hippocampus by immunohistochemistry. Body weight gradually increased in all groups during 1 month before exposure of stressor, however, in the isolated rats, the weight gain was greater than that in enriched and control groups. In all groups cold restraint caused the gastric erosion, the mean areas of which were not significantly differed. In behavior tests, the animals of isolated group were approximately equally divided into vulnerable (showing depressive‐like reactions in the open field) and resistant (not differed from the non‐stressed control) to ulcerogenic stress (active subgroup). All isolated rats showed a reduced level of exploratory activity in the elevated plus maze. Rats from enriched environment showed greater motor and exploratory activity, as well as lower anxiety level compared to those in isolated group. Isolated rats were most sensitive to action of pain, whereas rats kept in enriched environment were less sensitive to pain exposure. In the isolated group, the weakest corticosterone release among all groups was observed in response to mild procedural stress. Low HPA stress‐reactivity of isolated rats was combined with enhanced expression of glucocorticoid receptors in the hippocampus indicating a sensitization of the mechanisms of negative glucocorticoid feedback following prolonged social isolation. Thus, social isolation is a stressor leading to weight gain, a decrease in stress reactivity accompanied by an increase of glucocorticoid receptor expression in the hippocampus, a decrease of exploratory activity and increased of somatic pain sensitivity whereas enriched environment exerts beneficial action on functional state of the body: increases motor and exploratory activity, decreases anxiety and somatic pain sensitivity.

Severe maternal morbidity among undocumented migrant women in the PreCARE prospective cohort study.

To assess the risk of severe maternal outcomes among migrant women, considering both their legal status and birthplace; in Europe, migrant women, especially from sub-Saharan Africa, have higher risks of adverse maternal outcomes compared with non-migrants and legal status, a component of migrant condition, may be an important, and potentially actionable, risk factor. Prospective cohort study. Four maternity units around Paris in 2010-12. A total of 9599 women with singleton pregnancies. Legal status was categorised in four groups: reference group of non-migrant native Frenchwomen, legal migrants with French or European citizenship, other legal migrants with non-European citizenship, and undocumented migrants. The risk of severe maternal morbidity was assessed with multivariable logistic regression models according to women's legal status and birthplace. Binary composite criterion of severe maternal morbidity. Undocumented migrants had resided for less time in France, experienced social isolation, linguistic barriers and poor housing conditions more frequently and had a pre-pregnancy medical history at lower risk than other migrants. The multivariable analysis showed that they had a higher risk of severe maternal morbidity than non-migrants (33/715 [4.6%] versus 129/4523 [2.9%]; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.68, 95% CI 1.12-2.53). This increased risk was significant for undocumented women from sub-Saharan Africa (18/308 [5.8%] versus 129/4523 [2.9%]; aOR 2.26, 95% CI 1.30-3.91), and not for those born elsewhere (15/407 [3.7%] versus 129/4523 [2.9%]; aOR 1.44, 95% CI 0.82-2.53). Undocumented migrants are the migrant subgroup at highest risk of severe maternal morbidity, whereas the prevalence of risk factors does not appear to be higher in this subgroup. This finding suggests that their interaction with maternity care services may be sub-optimal. Undocumented migrants, especially those born in sub-Saharan Africa, have the highest risk of Severe Maternal Morbidity.

To the Issue of Studying the Coping Behavior under Conditions of Social Isolation in a Distance Learning Format

To the Issue of Studying the Coping Behavior under Conditions of Social Isolation in a Distance Learning Format

Особенности социальной активности российской молодежи в условиях вынужденных социальных ограничений

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objective.</strong> The study of the characteristics of the social activity of young people in conditions of restrictions associated with forced isolation, aimed at identifying the features of the manifestation of its compensatory forms due to social frustration. <strong>Background.</strong> The psychological aspects of the problem of social activity of an individual limited by new social norms and rules due to the spread of coronavirus infection require a more complete study. In this regard the question of the characteristics that determine the characteristics of youth activity in different spheres of life. <strong>Study design.</strong> The paper analyzes the specificity in the manifestation of social activity among Russian youth in connection with forced social restrictions. The dependence of various forms of social activity by its psychological characteristics. The hypothesis about the socially oriented orientation of youth activity in conditions of social isolation is tested. <strong>Participants.</strong> Representatives of Russian youth: 409 people (74% women, 26% men) from 17 to 30 years old (M=21.35; SD=3.78). <strong>Measurements. </strong>Questionnaire for the study of socio-demographic characteristics and the severity of various forms of social activity (R.M. Shamionov et al.); the methods <em>“</em>Personality activity in conditions of forced social restrictions” (N.V. Usova et al.). <strong>Results.</strong> In the conditions of forced social restrictions youth have increased family-household, civil, educational-developmental, Internet-network and Internet-search forms of activity, the severity of leisure and socio-economic activity decreases, and there are no changes in its other forms of manifestation. Leisure, civic, socio-economic and educational-developmental activity of young people is characterized by frustration at the consequences of forced social restrictions, the severity of compensatory forms and the activation of additional personal resources. Internet-network and Internet-search activity is aimed at social contacts and itself acts as a form of compensation for other types of activity during the period of self-isolation. <strong>Conclusions.</strong> Changes in the manifestation of the social activity of young people during the period of social isolation are diachronic in nature. The main characteristics reflecting the specificity of social activity in its various forms are established. The compensatory forms of social activity and the factors of its determination in conditions of forced social restrictions are revealed.</p>

Love in the Time of Corona: Predicting Willingness to Engage in Sexting During the First COVID-19-Related Lockdown

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, in early 2020, lockdowns limited the options for physical intimacy and many resorted to technology-mediated forms of intimacy such as sexting. However, it is unclear what predicted willingness to engage in sexting during the lockdown. The present study filled this gap by investigating COVID-19-related social isolation, privacy concerns, age, and gender as predictors of willingness to engage in sexting. We further examined an interaction of COVID-19-related social isolation and privacy concerns on willingness to engage in sexting. We conducted online surveys with 494 young adults (Study 1) and with a quota-based sample of 437 adults (Study 2) in Austria. In both studies, negative binomial regressions revealed a positive effect of COVID-19-related social isolation on willingness to engage in sexting. Privacy concerns hindered young adults in Study 1 from engaging in sexting but not relatively older adults in Study 2. However, in neither study did privacy concerns moderate the effect of COVID-19-related social isolation on willingness to engage in sexting: Even individuals with high privacy concerns were more willing to sext under conditions of social isolation, suggesting that the need for intimacy outweighed the need for privacy protection. Gender had no effect in either study, indicating that men and women used sexting to cope with the unprecedented COVID-19-related situation.

COVID-19 related social media use and attitudes towards pandemic control measures in Europe

In this paper, we explore how the public sphere in Europe changed in the COVID-19 pandemic, i.e., under conditions of extensive social isolation and limited physical contact opportunities. Using data from the Eurobarometer from 2020 and 2021, we show what role digital and social media in particular played in the pandemic. In doing so, we pursue the question of what significance these media had for attitudes towards issues of pandemic control and thus also for emerging social conflicts in the context of the pandemic.

Adesão ao isolamento social na pandemia de Covid-19 entre professores da educação básica de Minas Gerais, Brasil

ABSTRACT This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of adherence to social isolation and to inves- tigate associated factors during the Covid-19 pandemic among teachers in Minas Gerais, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study carried out with a sample of 15,641 teachers. A digital form was applied for data collection. Descriptive analyses of the variables were conducted, which included adherence to social isolation, sociodemographic characteristics, occupational factors, and self-reported health conditions. The Poisson regression model with robust variance was used and Prevalence Ratios (PR) were estimated, with 95% confidence intervals. The prevalence of adherence to social isolation was estimated at 79.8%, and the associated factors were: female gender; 60 years old or older; living with a spouse; longer working hours; sleeping difficulty; feeling sad; and pathologies such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and respiratory diseases. There was a significant prevalence of adherence to social isolation measures among teachers, and that adherence is associated with sociodemographic characteristics, occupational factors, and health conditions of education professionals.

Racism and the Life Course: Social and Health Equity for Older Black Americans

Racism and the Life Course: Social and Health Equity for Older Black Americans examines the impacts of systemic racism on adult development and the aging trajectories of Black Americans. Using the life course perspective (e.g., socio-historical events, linked lives), we discuss systemic racism as a structural driver of practices and policies (e.g., racial residential segregation) that have shaped the social and health circumstances of older Black Americans. These life circumstances include high rates of poverty, poor housing and neighborhood conditions, worse health profiles, and relationship loss and social isolation—conditions that, for too many older Black adults, represent the ‘normal’ state of affairs. Creating a ‘new normal’ of social and health equity for older Black Americans requires recognizing and disrupting the operation of systemic racism in our policies and practices. Selected recommendations and actions for achieving health and social equity for older Black Americans are discussed.

Effects of Hearing Impairment, Quality of Life and Pain on Depressive Symptoms in Elderly People: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Reduction of the incidence of depression and improvement of quality of life (QOL) of elderly people have become important subjects. Various factors are related to depressive symptoms in elderly people, and sensory impairment is a key to health, QOL, and depressive symptoms. In this cross-sectional study, a visual acuity test and audiometry were used to examine the relationships of visual and hearing impairment and other factors with depressive symptoms in elderly people. A group of 490 community-dwelling people aged over 65 years old underwent vision and hearing tests, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and questionnaires on social isolation, QOL, and physical condition. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors affecting CES-D. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that hearing impairment, pain score, and satisfaction with human relationships and activities of daily living (ADL) were independent predictors of CES-D scores. Satisfaction with human relationships and ADL can reduce depressive symptoms in elderly people. Hearing impairment, pain, and social contact are also important. Therefore, improvement of social networks, interpersonal relationships, ADL, and hearing impairment may be effective in improving these symptoms in elderly people.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: A Strategy to Address Pandemic-Induced Anxiety

Mental health morbidity has increased amid the COVID-19 pandemic due to social isolation, impairment of basic needs, financial instability, and fears of the virus. New cases of anxiety and depression have been on the rise, while preexisting mental and chronic illnesses have been exacerbated. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a highly flexible technique used to manage an array of mental illnesses. CBT may be of particular benefit under conditions of social isolation and virtual health care delivery. This report addresses the critical role of nurse practitioners in navigating effective CBT for mental wellness.

Association of perceived isolation and resilience with self-rated mental health among undergraduate medical students in Nepal during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has devastatingly affected the entire world and destroyed the equilibrium of every sphere of life. Like other groups of people, medical students of Nepal have been facing the conditions of lockdown and social isolation that have arisen because of the pandemic.Objective: We aimed to see the relationship of perceived isolation and resilience with self-rated mental health among undergraduate medical students in Nepal.Materials and methods: A web-based online survey was carried out in July 2020 using a semi-structured questionnaire in Google form. Data analysis was performed in SPSS vs 20. Ordered logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the effects of perceived isolation, resilience and background characteristics on self-rated mental health.Results: Out of 515 participants, 44.9% were male.31.4% reported having fair/poor mental health status and 21.9% reported feeling stressed often due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An increment of 1SD in perceived isolation is associated with about a 5% reduction in the odds of having better mental health (exp (−0.048) = 0.95; p=0.026). Similarly, an increment of 1SD in resilience is associated with about 13% lower odds of having better mental health (exp (−0.149) = 0.862 ; p<0.001). Conclusion: This study is an early step towards the assessment of perceived isolation and mental health among undergraduate medical students amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal. There is a need to conduct regular counselling sessions and strengthen the coping skills of medical students duringthe pandemic.

Evaluation of Geriatric Fractures Admitted to the Emergency Department According to Years and Seasons

Abstract&#x0D; Objective: With the rapidly increasing and diversifying elderly population of industrialized countries, the incidence of geriatric fractures is gradually increasing. The aim of this study is to evaluate the distribution of geriatric fractures according to the prevalence, age, sex, season and years. &#x0D; Material and Method: Analyzes of geriatric fractures in patients aged 65 and over who were admitted to our emergency department between 2015 and 2020 were performed according to the most common fracture locations (hip, distal forearm, proximal humerus and ankle). The distribution of these fractures by age, gender, seasonal characteristics and years was evaluated&#x0D; Results: A total of 370 cases (168 male, and 202 female patients) with an average age of 79.5years were included in the study. The most common fracturestypes in order of decreasing frequency were fractures of the hip (51.6%), distal forearm (25.1%), proximal humerus (12.4%) and ankle (10.8%). The incidence of distal forearm fractures was significantly higher in females than males (p = 0.001), but any statistically significant difference was not found between genders regarding other fractures (p&gt; 0.05). It was observed that the incidence of hip fractures was significantly higher in the people aged 86 years and over, while the other fractures were more frequently seen in the 65-75 age group. A seasonal feature was not observed in all fractures. The highest rate of hip fractures was seen in the year 2020. There was no difference in the distribution of other types of fractures over the years&#x0D; Conclusion: It has been concluded that the incidence of geriatric fractures increases relatively in conditions of social isolation and does not show seasonal characteristics in our region. We are of the opinion that a good management strategy should be determined characterized with both the isolation of these patients and their early treatment and discharge in disasters as pandemics, and the incidence of geriatric fractures that can be mortal with advancing age and higher life expectancy should be very well known.

Social isolation in adolescence and long-term changes in the gut microbiota composition and in the hippocampal inflammation: Implications for psychiatric disorders – Dirk Hellhammer Award Paper 2021

Exposure to early adverse experiences induces persistent changes in physiological, emotional and behavioural functions predisposing the individual to an enhanced vulnerability to develop different disorders during lifespan. The adverse outcomes depend upon the timing of the stressful experiences, and in this contest, adolescence represents a key sensitive period for brain development. Among the biological systems involved, gut microbiota has recently been proposed to act on the interplay between the stress response, brain functions and immune system, through the gut-brain axis communication.In the current study we aimed to evaluate, in a preclinical model, changes over time in the microbiota community structure in physiological condition and in response to stress during adolescence. We also aimed to correlate the microbiota composition to the inflammatory status in brain.We used the preclinical model of social deprivation in rats during adolescence, based on the lack of all social contacts, for four weeks after weaning, followed by re-socialization until adulthood. We collected fecal samples at different post-natal days to investigate the short- and long-lasting effects of social isolation on gut microbiota composition and we collected brain areas (dorsal and ventral hippocampus) samples at killing to measure a panel of inflammatory and microglia activation markers.16 S metataxonomic sequencing analysis revealed that microbial changes were influenced by age in both isolated and controls rats, regardless of sex, whereas social isolation impacted the microbial composition in a sex-dependent manner. A multivariate analysis showed that social isolation induced short-term gut microbiota alterations in females but not in males. We also identified several stress-related genera associated with social isolation condition. In brain areas we found a specific inflammatory pattern, in dorsal and ventral hippocampus, that significantly correlated with gut microbiota composition.Overall, in this study we reported a novel sex-specific association between gut microbiota composition and inflammatory response related to social isolation paradigm during adolescence, suggesting that stressful experiences during this sensitive period could have a long-lasting impact on the development of different biological systems that could in turn influence the vulnerability to develop mental disorders later in life.

A Survey-Based Assessment of "Matter of Balance" Participant Fall-Related Experience.

Falls are a substantial cause of injury in older adults, which can be attributed to progressive lack of physical activity, associated comorbidities, social isolation, and chronic health conditions. Fall prevention courses are designed to educate participants on fall safety and increase activity levels and social engagement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perceived effectiveness of a nationally recognized fall prevention course on self-reported fall frequency and lifestyle habits. This was a single-group pretest-posttest study of a convenience sample of older adults enrolled in a group fall prevention program, A Matter of Balance, in a community setting between March 2019 and March 2020. Questionnaires were distributed at the first and final sessions of the course to evaluate participant perceptions of the program and its impact on their fall history, exercise habits, and social engagement. Comparisons were made using Wilcoxon rank sum tests. A total of 40 class members agreed to participate, with 29 (73%) completing both the presurvey and the postsurvey. Responses indicated no change in the number of falls or participants following an established exercise routine. However, of those who fell prior to the course, 75% reported a reduction in falls. In addition, the participants reported an overall increase in weekly exercise frequency. In those who reported fear of falling, 71% reported a reduction in fear following the course. The participants in this study self-reported a decrease in fall rate, a decrease in fear of falling, and an increase in exercise frequency. The course is not fall protective but can be considered an adjunct to fall prevention measures that include medical, medication, visual, and environmental management.

ГОТОВНІСТЬ ЦИФРОВОЇ ІНФРАСТРУКТУРИ ЗВО УКРАЇНИ ДО МАСОВОГО ДИСТАНЦІЙНОГО НАВЧАННЯ

Purpose. Digitalization of higher education is a long-term trend that has gained a new impetus for further devel- opment due to the forced transition to distance learning during the pandemic COVID-19. The article analyzes the im- pact of digital transformation on the educational process in higher education institutions via teachers’ and students’ per- ception; explores the experience of mass distance learning provision in Ukraine’s higher education system due to COVID-19. Methodology. The research study is based on the survey results conducted by the authors in November- December 2020 among teachers and students of sixty-five Ukrainian institutions of higher education. The authors have also explored the current state of the educational process provision in the sector of higher education in Ukraine, the EU and the world under the conditions of the pandemic; have identified problem areas in the work of higher education inst i- tutions during quarantine and social isolation conditions, as well as challenges in each structural integral. Results. The authors have specified the transformational changes experienced by the global higher education system under the im- pact of the pandemic, which bring to higher education institutions a huge number of serious challenges and will signifi- cantly change the global higher education system in the future. Originality. The paper investigates students' attitudes towards distance learning as a three-level unity with emotional, cognitive and behavioral aspects and draws a general conclusion that, in general, distance learning is both a field of opportunity and a possible source of individual and inst i- tutional risks. Practical value. The article determines the directions of e-learning in the entire system of distance learn- ing in the national system of higher education in the pandemic and after it. This article was prepared within the framework of the research project “Potential of higher education in conditions of the pandemic: global, European, national dimensions” of the National Research Fund of Ukraine.