Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Outbreak Research Articles

Risk factors for poor progression of addictive internet use across different COVID-19 periods in China.

Addictive behaviors are serious factors for mental health and usually increase during public crises. We identified the vulnerable characteristics for bad prognosis of addictive internet use across different periods of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Self-reported questionnaires were delivered in three waves through jdh.com during the outbreak (n = 17,960), remission (n = 15,666), and dynamic zero (n = 12,158) periods of COVID-19 pandemic in China. Internet addiction degree was assessed using the Internet Addiction Test. The different progression groups were divided using a latent class growth modelamong 1679 longitudinal participants. Risk factors for bad progression were identified by two-step logistic regression. A total of 40.16% of participants reported an increase in the addictive degree of internet use compared with prepandemic. Across different COVID-19 periods, the overall trend of addictive internet use was downward among general Chinese study participants (Mslope = -1.56). Childhood traumatic experiences, deterioration of physical health, depression, and anxiety during remission and dynamic periods were the main risk factors for the bad progression of pandemic-induced addictive internet use. Addictive internet use was remitted following relaxed control policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Negative childhood experiences and bad mental status during the recovery period were harmful to coping with pandemic-related addictive internet use. Our findings profiled the general trend of addictive internet use and the vulnerable characteristics of its bad progression across different periods of the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in China. Our findings provide valuable insights for preventing the long-term adverse effects of negative public events on Internet addiction.

Estimation and prediction of the multiply exponentially decaying daily case fatality rate of COVID-19.

The spread of the COVID-19 disease has had significant social and economic impacts all over the world. Numerous measures such as school closures, social distancing, and travel restrictions were implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Currently, as we move into the post-COVID-19 world, we must be prepared for another pandemic outbreak in the future. Having experienced the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative to ascertain the conclusion of the pandemic to return to normalcy and plan for the future. One of the beneficial features for deciding the termination of the pandemic disease is the small value of the case fatality rate (CFR) of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). There is a tendency of gradually decreasing CFR after several increases in CFR during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. However, it is difficult to capture the time-dependent CFR of a pandemic outbreak using a single exponential coefficient because it contains multiple exponential decays, i.e., fast and slow decays. Therefore, in this study, we develop a mathematical model for estimating and predicting the multiply exponentially decaying CFRs of the COVID-19 pandemic in different nations: the Republic of Korea, the USA, Japan, and the UK. We perform numerical experiments to validate the proposed method with COVID-19 data from the above-mentioned four nations.

An Observational Study on the Early Stages of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Pakistan

Bachground: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which started on February 26, 2020 in city of karachi, spread quickly throughout Pakistan. Material and Method: The design of this study was a observational study design and this study was conducted at king Edward medical University Lahore. More than 6,200 persons were afflicted by the illness in the first seven weeks, and there were more than 111 documented fatalities. Many problems arise if we contrast the COVID-19 tragedies in Pakistan with those in nations like China, Iran, and the European Union. The geography of the nation, poverty, poor literacy rates, environmental circumstances, sanitary conditions, and dietary habits are only a few of the difficulties we face in containing this epidemic. Although there are terrible circumstances in each of these areas, Pakistan's COVID-19 epidemic was slower than that of other developing nations. Results: The impact of COVID-19 appears to be lessened by Pakistan's humid hot temperature, early reaction to COVID-19, population immune system, BCG vaccination, and the proportion of young individuals. In this essay, we explore the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in China, Iran, and Pakistan and present its day-to-day changes. We outline the COVID-19 structure and how it compares to SARS-COV and SARS-COV2. The use of Remdesivir (an adenosine analogue used against RNA viruses), Chloroquine (a widely used anti-malarial drug), convalescent plasma, neutralising antibodies targeting the ACE-2 receptor, and an ACE-2-like molecule that might bind to the S protein of the coronavirus are also covered in terms of treatment options and their drawbacks. Also covered are the effects of COVID-19 on Pakistan's economy and government relief measures. Conclusion: In conclusion, it may be said that the support systems in place may not be sufficient to stop the spread of the virus. Even with the meagre assistance offered, it is weaker for rural places where the virus's effects may be severe than in the nation's cities. Further research is required as the epidemic develops to better understand governmental efforts to contain the virus and its effects across the nation. Keywords: Coronavirus COVID-19 Pakistan Pandemic Outbreak

Professional shariah audit training via the e-learning approach during COVID-19: challenges and prospects

PurposeThis study aims to explore and identify potential challenges and prospects for conducting the professional shariah audit training programme via an e-learning approach during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Design/methodology/approachQuestionnaires were administered to 296 participants who were enrolled in the professional shariah audit training programme via e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in 2020. These participants were final-year students from selected Malaysian public universities.FindingsFindings show that several main challenges are faced in adopting an e-learning approach for conducting the professional shariah audit training programme such as the inability to do more hands-on, group and physical activities, different understandings based on academic backgrounds, difficulty in learning practical and technical topics, technical issues and problems during e-learning sessions. These lead to the unsuitability of conducting professional training via the e-learning approach. In terms of prospects of knowledge learnt via the e-learning approach, participants showed that they are able to master all six modules covered in the professional shariah audit training programme via the e-learning approach. These include (1) shariah principles; (2) shariah governance; (3) Islamic financial transactions; (4) shariah risk management; (5) shariah audit planning and programme; and (6) shariah audit fieldwork and communication.Practical implicationsBased on the findings, it is suggested to have more time spent and earlier preparation on the learning contents and sessions, more discussion on actual contents and practical exercises and competency of the trainers in delivering e-learning sessions.Originality/valueThis study is believed to be one among the pioneering studies on the potential challenges and prospects in adopting e-learning for conducting the professional shariah audit training programme due to COVID-19.

Aging and Emotion Regulation Tactics Across the Historical Events of 2020.

Background and ObjectivesDespite well-documented cognitive and physical declines with age, older adults tend to report higher emotional wellbeing than younger adults, even during the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. To understand this paradox, as well as investigate the effects of specific historical contexts, the current study examined age differences in emotion regulation related to the events of 2020 in the United States. We predicted that, due to older adults’ theorized greater prioritization of hedonic goals and avoidance of arousal, older adults would report more positivity-upregulation and acceptance tactics than younger adults.Research Design and Methods81 younger adults (ages 18-25) and 85 older adults (age 55+) completed a retrospective survey on their emotion regulation tactic usage for three specific events: the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, the killing of George Floyd, and the presidential election.ResultsOlder adults tended to rely most on acceptance-focused tactics, while younger adults tended to rely on a more even variety of tactics. However, age differences in tactic preferences varied by event, possibly due to younger adults’ greater emotion regulation flexibility.Discussion and ImplicationsOlder adults’ higher emotional well-being may not be primarily a result of age differences in positivity-related emotion regulation tactics, but more about differences in acceptance use.

Challenges in Burn Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Scoping Review.

Objective: The aim of this review is to map and summarize the experiences of various burn centers worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to enable future strategies with regard to the most effective measures in burn care during pandemics and to detect possible gaps in knowledge. Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a major impact on economies, social interactions, and health systems worldwide. Burn units all over the world face a new challenge in maintaining the care of acute burn wounds and follow-up treatments while dealing with constantly changing regulations. Infrastructural changes, the establishment of efficient triage systems, protective measures, personnel resources, in addition to the maintenance of efficient patient care and the guarantee of supply chains, are challenging tasks to be addressed. This review provides an overview of recent developments regarding different strategies and methods used by burn units worldwide to safely overcome the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Methods: A scoping review of the literature was conducted using the electronic databases PubMed and Google Scholar. Publications were screened for the following key terms: burns, burn injuries, thermal injuries, burn center, burn unit, burn ward, in combination with COVID-19, COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, Corona, and Coronavirus. Articles dealing with the management of burn units during the pandemic were further analyzed and included. Results: Of the 136 publications, 10 were considered relevant to the key question and were included in the present review. Results were divided into six major topics, such as infrastructural and personnel management, triaging, severe burns and emergencies, elective surgeries, patient and visitor management, and outpatient management. Conclusion: Only a few studies about managing burn units during the COVID-19 pandemic have been published. Personnel resources and equipment needed to be redistributed to cope with country-specific challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and to maintain adequate burn care. Since all of these articles refer to the period of the initial outbreak, a lack of clinical studies exists regarding the prevention measures taken by burn units during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, we identified gaps in knowledge about the impact of implemented measures on burn patient outcomes in the published literature. Further studies are mandatory in order to provide generally applicable guidelines regarding COVID-19 prevention measures at a burn unit.

Prevalence and Related Factors of Anxiety Among University Teachers 1 Year After the COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak in China: A Multicenter Study.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety among university teachers 1 year after the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and provide empirical evidence of psychological intervention.MethodsA multicenter study was conducted to examine the prevalence of anxiety among 10,302 teachers in 21 Chinese universities from February 12 to April 23, 2021. The generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7) was used to assess symptoms of anxiety. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship between potential influence and anxiety symptoms.ResultsThe overall prevalence of anxiety was 40.0% 1 year after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was found to be higher in women than in men (41.32% vs. 38.22%; p < 0.0001). The multivariate logistic regression showed that being the female (OR = 1.207; 95%CI: 1.103–1.318), age ≥60 years (OR = 2.004; 95%CI: 1.128–3.560), being married (OR = 1.319; 95%CI: 1.150–1.513), and poor family economic status (OR = 1.580; 95%CI: 1.321–1.891) were significantly associated with anxiety. Participants with moderate, slight, or no impact of COVID-19 on life (OR for moderate, 0.557; 95%CI, 0.508–0.611; OR for slight/no, 0.377; 95%CI, 0.323–0.439) showed a reduced risk of anxiety compared to those who reported a significant effect.ConclusionsSymptoms of anxiety were found in about two-fifths of Chinese university teachers 1 year after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings suggest that the government should improve the dynamic tracking of mental health and adopt long-term intervention strategies.

The Prevalence of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Among Children in Beijing Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is an important pathogen of community acquired pneumonia. With the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the prevalence of some infectious respiratory diseases has varied. Epidemiological features of M. pneumoniae in children from Beijing (China) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were investigated.MethodsBetween June 2016 and May 2021, a total of 569,887 children with respiratory infections from Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics (Beijing, China) were included in this study. M. pneumoniae specific-IgM antibody in serum specimens of these patients was tested by a rapid immunochromatographic assay kit. The relevant clinical data of M. pneumoniae-positive cases were also collected, and analyzed by RStudio software.ResultsThe results showed that 13.08% of collected samples were positive for M. pneumoniae specific-IgM antibody. The highest annual positive rate was 17.59% in 2019, followed by 12.48% in 2018, 12.31% in 2017, and 11.73% in 2016, while the rate dropped to 8.9% in 2020 and 4.95% in 2021, with significant difference. Among the six years, the positive rates in summer and winter seasons were significantly higher than those in spring and autumn seasons (p < 0.001). The positive rate was the highest in school-age children (22.20%), and lowest in the infant group (8.76%, p < 0.001). The positive rate in boys (11.69%) was lower than that in girls (14.80%, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in different seasons, age groups, or genders before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (p > 0.05).ConclusionsOur study demonstrated that an M. pneumoniae outbreak started from the summer of 2019 in Beijing. After the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in the end of 2019, the M. pneumoniae positive rates dropped dramatically. This may be due to the restrictive measures of the COVID-19 pandemic, which effectively controlled the transmission of M. pneumoniae. The relationships between M. pneumoniae positive rates and season, age, and gender were not statistically significant before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sociological Impact of COVID-19 on People with Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) and Long COVID-19 in Young Children

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed enormous healthrisks worldwide. In the 21st century, a novel virus which is called SARS-CoV-2; wasthe main cause for the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. This virus is transmitted fromperson to person through direct and indirect transmission. Some infected people develop serious symptoms, but others do not show any symptoms. Infected people withno visible symptoms could also transmit the viruses. Literature studies about theCOVID-19 pandemic (starts from Dec 2020 until June 2021) were conductedthrough PubMed, Embase, Medline and Google Scholar. In this study, we exploredthe COVID-19's impact on non-communicable diseases and young children. Scientists are currently testing several drugs to eradicate the COVID-19 outbreak. Pfizer,AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Moderna, vaccine doses administrated successfullythroughout the world. Government agencies also implemented certain rules and regulations to protect their citizens from coronavirus. Moreover, World Health Organization (WHO) also helps by providing many valuable information and precautionsto countries. Hence, this study might provide some information on how to deal withthe virus to curb the rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2.Keywords: COVID-19, Non-communicable diseases, SARS-CoV-2, Young children

Challenges and difficulties students face during COVID-19 pandemic. Insights from the survey among students of Medical Faculty of Jagiellonian University in Cracow – qualitative data presentation

Aim of the studyPandemic outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) had significant impact on medical education across Europe. Due to the lockdown-type control measures Universities were forced to adapt to new conditions by unexpectedly switching to on-line teaching. The aim of the study was to explore medical students’ needs, problems, expectations, views on positive aspects of current situation, and attitudes toward on-line teaching, and academic administration during early stages of lock-down.Subject or material and methodsInvestigators created an online survey which received 289 students responses. Survey contained quantitative and qualitative questions. Qualitative data was analyzed using Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) methodology.Results20.76% participants responded they needed assistance or help, 49.83% of students reported that situation worsened their studying conditions, 57.79% requested more interest from University administration in current situation, 5% of the students reported being deprived of social support. Following categories has been extracted from qualitative data: struggles students face during pandemic, worries and concerns students report, positive aspects of current situation, students’ hopes and expectancies, on-line classes opinions. Frequencies of most common answers within abovementioned categories were calculated.Discussion-ConclusionsTo our best knowledge this is the first study presenting complex quantitative and qualitative evaluation of medical students’ situation during COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. According to the acquired data, students faced an anxiety and stress provoking situation that required undertaking special measures. This data is useful in gaining insight into students’ experiences of pandemic and may help as a guidance for planning intervention.

Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health of Chinese Residents in Its Initial Stage.

This study aims to investigate the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the Chinese public’s mental health during its early stage. We collected the data through an online questionnaire survey. Specifically, we adopted the impact of event scale-revised (IES-R) and state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) to assess symptomatic responses to exposure to traumatic life events and public anxiety, respectively, in the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Then, we evaluated the differences in the scores among various socio-demographic groups using Kruskal-Wakkis H tests and t-tests and analyzed the IES-R, state anxiety (SA) score, and trait anxiety (TA) score using the Pearson correlation analysis. Finally, we conducted a path analysis to determine the mediating role of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (measured by the IES-R) in the relationship between TA and SA. The results show that the average of the SA and TA scores were 48.0 ± 10.4 and 38.0 ± 8.2, respectively; the respondents who suffered from mild, moderate, and severe psychological impacts because of the health crisis accounted for 21.9, 5.2, and 13.1%, respectively; farmers have the highest IES-R score than others; people with the highest income have the lowest SA level; a significant positive correlation existed between the IES-R and STAI scores; and TA produces both direct and indirect (through the IES-R) effects on SA. Overall, the general Chinese public exhibited much higher anxiety levels than normal in the early days of the pandemic outbreak. Accordingly, we strongly recommend psychological counseling and intervention support to mitigate the adverse psychological impacts of such an event.

Epidemiology of Paediatric Orthopaedic Trauma, Before, During, and After the Outbreak of COVID-19 Pandemic: An Observational Study From a Tertiary Referral Center in Wales.

IntroductionThe outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the resultant lockdown has had a great impact on global healthcare. This observational study aimed to analyse the consequences of national lockdown on the epidemiology of significant paediatric orthopaedic trauma, presenting to a tertiary referral centre in Wales, during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.MethodsPaediatric patients presenting with orthopaedic trauma, from March 2019 to July 2019 (baseline period), March 2020 to July 2020 (lockdown period), and March 2021 to July 2021 (post lockdown period), were identified and compared. Those aged less than 16 years, presenting with a significant orthopaedic injury, defined here for the study as, those requiring either manipulation under anaesthesia or, surgical intervention were included in this study.ResultsMean age of children with significant orthopaedic injuries during the lockdown dropped significantly to 6.52 years in comparison to those during the baseline period (7.9 years), and post lockdown period (8.85 years). The incidence of outdoor injuries plummeted significantly from 64.71% in the baseline period, to 41.27% during the lockdown period, but rose to 80.65% in the post lockdown period. There was a 48% reduction in the number of children who required intervention in operating theatre during the lockdown period, in comparison to the other two study periods.ConclusionOur study reports a significant decrease in the incidence of paediatric orthopaedic trauma needing intervention in operating theatre during the lockdown period, with a significant rise in the incidence of domestic injuries, and relatively younger children sustaining these injuries. A public information campaign could help reduce the incidence of such domestic accidents during future lockdowns. We recommend improving awareness among parents, creating a safe indoor as well as outdoor environment to help reduce the incidence of fractures in the paediatric population. This will subsequently help in reducing the financial burden on an already stretched healthcare system.

The Effect of Governmental Health Measures on Public Behaviour During the COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in radical changes in many aspects of life. To deal with this, each country has implemented continuous health measures from the beginning of the outbreak. Discovering how governmental actions impacted public behaviour during the outbreak stage is the purpose of this study. This study uses a hybrid large-scale data visualisation method to analyse public behaviour (epidemic concerns, self-protection, and mobility trends), using the data provided by multiple authorities. Meanwhile, a content analysis method is used to qualitatively code the health measures of three countries with severe early epidemic outbreaks from different continents, namely China, Italy, and the United States. Eight dimensions are coded to rate the mobility restrictions implemented in the above countries. (1) Governmental measures did not immediately persuade the public to change their behaviours during the COVID-19 epidemic. Instead, the public behaviour proceeded in a three-phase rule, which is typically witnessed in an epidemic outbreak, namely the wait-and-see phase, the surge phase and the slow-release phase. (2) The strictness of the mobility restrictions of the three countries can be ranked as follows: Hubei Province in China (with an average score of 8.5 out of 10), Lombardy in Italy (7.125), and New York State in the United States (5.375). Strict mobility restrictions are more likely to cause a surge of population outflow from the epidemic area in the short term, whereas the effect of mobility restrictions is positively related to the stringency of policies in the long term. The public showed generally lawful behaviour during regional epidemic outbreaks and blockades. Meanwhile public behaviour was deeply affected by the actions of local governments, rather than the global pandemic situation. The contextual differences between the various countries are important factors that influence the effects of the different governments' health measures.

COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak in the Subcontinent: A Data Driven Analysis.

Human civilization is experiencing a critical situation that presents itself for a new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This virus emerged in late December 2019 in Wuhan city, Hubei, China. The grim fact of COVID-19 is, it is highly contagious in nature, therefore, spreads rapidly all over the world and causes severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Responding to the severity of COVID-19 research community directs the attention to the analysis of COVID-19, to diminish its antagonistic impact towards society. Numerous studies claim that the subcontinent, i.e., Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, could remain in the worst affected region by the COVID-19. In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it is important to predict the trend of COVID-19 beforehand the planning of effective control strategies. Fundamentally, the idea is to dependably estimate the reproduction number to judge the spread rate of COVID-19 in a particular region. Consequently, this paper uses publicly available epidemiological data of Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan to estimate the reproduction numbers. More specifically, we use various models (for example, susceptible infection recovery (SIR), exponential growth (EG), sequential Bayesian (SB), maximum likelihood (ML) and time dependent (TD)) to estimate the reproduction numbers and observe the model fitness in the corresponding data set. Experimental results show that the reproduction numbers produced by these models are greater than 1.2 (approximately) indicates that COVID-19 is gradually spreading in the subcontinent.

Remote Management of Prosthodontic Emergencies in the Geriatric Population During the Pandemic Outbreak of COVID-19.

The global pandemic outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has put the world in a panic situation. It has been evident that the geriatric population is more susceptible to acquire this infection. Thus, due to this ongoing crisis, geriatric individuals cannot visit a dental operatory, and there is the possibility of their dental needs and emergencies to remain unattended. Partial or complete edentulism is very prevalent among the geriatric population, and prosthodontic management of these patients is essential for their well-being. However, the prosthesis can lead to various emergencies of the oral and its supporting structures. There are currently no available recommendations to address these prosthodontic emergencies in geriatric individuals during this pandemic period. Hence, the aims of this minireview were to discuss the common prosthodontic emergencies in the geriatric population and provide recommendations to manage these issues during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

P093 COVID-19 lockdown and mental health burden in Inflammatory Bowel Disease paediatric patients: a case-control study

BackgroundFrom March 10 to May 3, 2020, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and subsequent enforced lockdown in Italy has led to an increased general psychological distress1. In particular, people with both compromised immune function and pre-existing physical or psychiatric problems are at increased risk of adverse psychosocial outcomes2. The purpose of this study was to compare mental health burden in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) paediatric patients with and without COVID-19 lockdown exposure.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective case-control study comparing mental health outcomes of two matched 1:1 IBD paediatric groups: Group 1 - before the exposure (January 2019-September 2019) and Group 2 - after COVID-19 pandemic lockdown (April 2020-December 2020). Matching criteria included gender, age, disease duration, IBD subtype, Body Mass Index and disease activity (remission or active). This study included patients with Crohn Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC), >12 years, attending outpatient visits at Bambino Gesù Children Hospital. Data were collected using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) for anxiety and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depression. We have estimated the prevalence of anxiety and depression between the two groups. Both groups were also compared with respect to the average score of anxiety and depression symptoms. Sociodemographic and clinical data were recorded from patients’ medical chart.ResultsA total of 108 IBD paediatric patients (62 males, 54 with CD and 54 with UC, mean age=16±2,5 years) was enrolled in this study. Out of these, 54 patients were enrolled in Group 1 and 54 in Group 2. Using a cut-off score ≥10, we found similar prevalence of anxiety (13.0% vs 22.2%, P=.206) and depression (13.0% vs 18.5%, P=.428) among the groups. Average scores were quite similar among the two groups, both for anxiety (5.78 vs 5.96, P=.924) and depression (5.89 vs 5.87, P=. 704). Symptom severity levels were mild (≃6) in both groups, according to standardized instrument cut-offs. No significant associations were found between disease activity and symptoms of anxiety and depression in both groups.ConclusionIBD-related symptoms (i.e. weight loss, persistent diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fatigue) lead to severe psychosocial impairment in paediatric IBD patients. COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and enforced isolation (i.e., lockdown, long distance learning, and social restrictions) limited patients’ stressful social situations engagement and paradoxically prevented a worsening of their mental health.References-Gualano MR et al., Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(13):4779.-Druss BG, JAMA Psychiatry 2020; 77: 891–92.

Remote management of dental problems in children during and post the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak: A teledentistry approach.

The recent pandemic outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has created a helpless situation in healthcare systems worldwide. The disease can be transmitted in different ways, e.g., through contact, droplets, fomites, and aerosol-generating procedures. Subsequently, the World Health Organization (WHO) released recommendations regarding precautions to be taken by all healthcare workers, including dentists, in order to avoid the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 indeed has become a pandemic, and there is a need for an innovative method to continue providing dental care to children with a minimal risk of cross-infection. The objective of this short communication was to draw special attention to the teledentistry model in pediatric dentistry and to guide the management of children with dental problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Teledentistry is a feasible method and its use can overcome challenges in the present situation. The teledentistry approach enables providing guidance, treatment plans and follow-up with remote-assistance dental care through the use of information technology instead of face-to-face contact with patients.

Impact of lockdown on emergency general surgery during first 2020 COVID-19 outbreak.

PurposeTo evaluate and analyze the impact of lockdown strategy due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on emergency general surgery (EGS) in the Milan area at the beginning of pandemic outbreak.MethodsA survey was distributed to 14 different hospitals of the Milan area to analyze the variation of EGS procedures. Each hospital reported the number of EGS procedures in the same time frame comparing 2019 and 2020. The survey revealed that the number of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in 2020 was reduced by 19% when compared with 2019. The decrease was statistically significant only for abdominal wall surgery. Interestingly, in 2020, there was an increase of three procedures: surgical intervention for acute mesenteric ischemia (p = 0.002), drainage of perianal abscesses (p = 0.000285), and cholecystostomy for acute cholecystitis (p = 0.08).ConclusionsDuring the first COVID-19 pandemic wave in the metropolitan area of Milan, the number of patients operated for emergency diseases decreased by around 19%. We believe that this decrease is related either to the fear of the population to ask for emergency department (ED) consultation and to a shift towards a more non-operative management in the surgeons ‘decision making’ process. The increase of acute mesenteric ischaemia and perianal abscess might be related to the modification of dietary habits and reduction of physical activity related to the lockdown.

Influence of the Youth's Psychological Capital on Social Anxiety during the COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak: The Mediating Role of Coping Style.

Background:The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak has led to travel bans and restricted social contact. Sudden decrease of social activities can easily trigger social anxiety, especially for community youths. Existing studies have inconclusive results regarding whether the development of youths’ social anxiety can be predicted by psychological capital. This study aims to clarify the influence mechanisms of psychological capital and coping style on social anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.Methods:Overall 600 community youths with ages of 18–22 yr in Northeast China were randomly selected and voluntarily answered the online questionnaire survey in Mar 2020. General information questionnaire form, positive psychological capital questionnaire, social interaction anxiety scale, and simple coping style questionnaire were used to obtain the participants’ information.Results:Psychological capital has a medium negative correlation with social anxiety, low positive correlation with positive coping (r = −0.42, 0.38), and low negative correlation with negative coping (r = −0.19). Social anxiety is negatively correlated with positive coping to a small degree and positively correlated with negative coping at a medium level (r = −0.16, 0.43). Positive coping has a low positive correlation with negative coping (r = 0.13). Positive coping and negative coping play partial mediating roles between psychological capital and social anxiety, with mediating effect values of −0.03 and 0.01, respectively.Conclusion:Youth’s psychological capital is closely associated with coping style and social anxiety. In addition to its direct bearing on social anxiety, psychological capital influences social anxiety through the mediating effect of coping style.

Does Physical Activity Matter for the Mental Health of University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Research indicates that university and college students are at higher risk of experiencing mental health problems than other populations. This study aims to examine the relationship between Physical Activity (PA) and the mental health of Ukrainian university students during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown. The conventional sample consisted of 1512 students from 11 Ukrainian universities, with a mean age of 20 years (M = 20.06, SD = 3.05) and 69% of whom were female. The cross-sectional online survey was disseminated through the most popular social media channels in Ukraine (i.e., Facebook, Viber, Telegram) and included the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale to measure anxiety and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to assess depression. Data were collected from 14 May to 4 June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Ukraine. Among university students, 43% were engaged in PA ≥ 150 min weekly, 24% met the criteria of GAD, and 32% met the criteria of depression. More students were involved in PA before the COVID-19 outbreak than during the national lockdown. Students with anxiety and depression were almost two times less likely to engage in PA than their counterparts without mental health disorders. The inactive group had higher scores of anxiety and depression than the physically active group. The relationship of PA with anxiety and depression was statistically significant but weak during the COVID-19 pandemic.