Strict Containment Research Articles

Monitoring the Reproduction Number and Stringency Index of Covid-19 Pandemic in Nigeria

In order to track the Covid-19 pandemic's reproduction number and stringency index in Nigeria, this research presents the implementation of control chart approaches. This will assist in monitoring these pertinent parameters and assist decision-makers in determining whether to impose stricter or less strict containment measures to stop the spread of the disease. The data for this study was sourced from the Our World In Data (OWID) website (https://www.owid.org). This database contains information about how the Covid-19 pandemic has spread globally. The data consists of the reproduction number and the stringency index of the pandemic from February 2020 to July 2022. The range chart was used to monitor the variability in these indices. The findings indicate that during the first 42 days of infection, the pandemic's reproduction number and stringency index are not within statistically significant ranges, and hence out of statistical control. This could explain the virus's quick spread as well as the nation's economy's suffering due to harsh government measures. The study concludes, therefore, that statistical quality control charts are a viable option for tracking a few key pandemic metrics. This would assist in educating interested parties about the necessity of taking the necessary actions to stop the spread of such a pandemic.

The impact of social interventions on COVID-19 spreading based on multilayer commuter networks

From March to June 2022, Shanghai was struck by a new coronavirus variant, Omicron, resulting in the infected cases of at least 600,000 people. Despite implementing a strict containment policy of city-wide silence (i.e., residents were not allowed to go out unless necessary), the outbreak cannot be effectively prevented within a short period of time. A significant academic and practical question is: how could we prevent and control outbreak of COVID-19 in large, densely populated cities like Shanghai? It is necessary to develop a rational epidemic spreading model for large cities, in order to accurately predict the trend of disease and quantitatively assess the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions. In this paper, a multilayer commuter metapopulation network model is constructed to capture commuting flows and the size of epidemic outbreak during commuting between districts. The model accurately predicts epidemic spreading in each district of Shanghai. Assuming strict city-wide lockdowns, with each district locked down and limited inter-district commuting as social zones, simulations demonstrate significant suppression of outbreaks due to social-level interventions. For example, a 1-fold increase in PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) testing efficiency reduces the size of epidemic outbreak by approximately 70%. Larger districts require stricter controls to prevent exponential growth. Lockdowns effectively prevent epidemic outbreak at low disease rates but less so at high rates. Liberalized policies lead to varied outbreak trends, with economically developed regions peaking earlier due to higher population densities. This study provides a comprehensive framework for quantitatively evaluating the impact of social and regional controls on urban epidemics.

Long-term variation in exposure to NO2 concentrations in the city of Naples, Italy: Results of a citizen science project

The objective of this study is to evaluate long-term changes in the level of exposure to NO2 among the population living in the urban area of Naples (south Italy). This has been achieved by integrating data from the regional reference monitoring network with information collected during the citizen science initiative called ‘NO2, NO grazie!’ conducted in February 2020 and coordinated by the Non-Governmental Organisation ‘Cittadini per l'aria’. This citizen science campaign was based on low-cost passive samplers (Palmes tubes), providing the ability to obtain unprecedented high-resolution NO2 levels. Using a Land Use Random Forest (LURF), we extrapolated the experimental data obtained from the citizen science campaign and evaluated the changes in population exposure from 2013 to 2022 and the uncertainty associated with this assessment was quantified. The results indicate that a large proportion of the inhabitants of Naples are still exposed to high NO2 concentrations, even if strict emission containment measures are enforced. The average levels remain higher than the new interim and air quality targets suggested by the World Health Organisation. The implementation of co-created citizen science projects, where NGO and citizens actively participate alongside scientists, can significantly improve the estimation and the interpretation of official reference data.

Employment trends in the world and a reference perspective for university graduates in Vietnam in of the period before and after the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global economic crisis, endangering the health, jobs and income of millions of people around the world. The strict containment measures adopted by many countries to contain the increase in infections have created a significant drag on most economic and social activities. The decline in total hours worked and the decline in workforce participation are unprecedented in peacetime. There are signs that many economies around the world are in sharp and deep recession and have reached the bottom. Ensuring that the recovery is swift and sustainable and rebuilding a more resilient and inclusive labor market remain significant challenges for us. In this context, the Vietnam case study has demonstrated that unemployment rates and workers receiving wages below the minimum wage have increased, while temporary layoffs and job quality have increased, and wages fell again. The goal of this article, the authors will learn and research the following issues: Overview of the employment situation in the world during and after the COVID-19 pandemic; Reference perspective on the trend of working with university graduates in Vietnam after the COVID-19 pandemic; and some conclusions & recommendations for Vietnam related to the research issue.

Longitudinal trajectories of psychosocial functioning in patients with pre-existing mental disorders after one year of COVID-19 pandemic

Aims of the present study were to prospectively assess psychosocial functioning trajectories during the COVID pandemic and the possible impact of sociodemographic variables, as well as of COVID-19 pandemic-related factors, on these trajectories, in a sample of patients with pre-existing severe mental disorders. Moreover, we aimed at identifying predictors of impairment in psychosocial functioning over a period of 9 months of COVID-19 pandemic. Patients were recruited during the 3rd wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (T0, March–April 2021) while strict containment measures were applied in Italy, and reassessed after 3 months (T1, June–July 2021), and after 6 months from T1 (T2- November–December 2021), during the 4th wave of COVID pandemic. A sample of 300 subject (out of the 527 subjects recruited at baseline) completed the T2 evaluation. Patients were assessed by: Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) for psychosocial functioning, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item (GAD-7) for anxiety symptoms, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depressive symptoms and the Impact of Events Scale-Revised, for post-traumatic symptoms. Cluster analyses identified 4 trajectories of functioning: the High, Stable Functioning group (N = 77), the Improvement Functioning group (N = 62), the Progressive Impairment group (N = 83) and the Persistent Severe Impairment group (N = 78) respectively. We found that predictors of higher WSAS score at T2 were higher WSAS score at T0 (B = 0.43, p < .001), PHQ scores at baseline >10 (B = 2.89, p < .05), while not living alone was found to be a protective factor (B = −2.5, p < .05).Results of the present study provides insights into the vulnerability of individuals with psychiatric disorders during times of crisis. Study findings can contribute to a better understanding of the specific needs of this population and inform interventions and support strategies.

Creation of a pandemic memory by tracing COVID-19 infections and immunity in Luxembourg (CON-VINCE)

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic swift implementation of research cohorts was key. While many studies focused exclusively on infected individuals, population based cohorts are essential for the follow-up of SARS-CoV-2 impact on public health. Here we present the CON-VINCE cohort, estimate the point and period prevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, reflect on the spread within the Luxembourgish population, examine immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination, and ascertain the impact of the pandemic on population psychological wellbeing at a nationwide level.MethodsA representative sample of the adult Luxembourgish population was enrolled. The cohort was followed-up for twelve months. SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR and serology were conducted at each sampling visit. The surveys included detailed epidemiological, clinical, socio-economic, and psychological data.ResultsOne thousand eight hundred sixty-five individuals were followed over seven visits (April 2020—June 2021) with the final weighted period prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection of 15%. The participants had similar risks of being infected regardless of their gender, age, employment status and education level. Vaccination increased the chances of IgG-S positivity in infected individuals. Depression, anxiety, loneliness and stress levels increased at a point of study when there were strict containment measures, returning to baseline afterwards.ConclusionThe data collected in CON-VINCE study allowed obtaining insights into the infection spread in Luxembourg, immunity build-up and the impact of the pandemic on psychological wellbeing of the population. Moreover, the study holds great translational potential, as samples stored at the biobank, together with self-reported questionnaire information, can be exploited in further research.Trial registrationTrial registration number: NCT04379297, 10 April 2020.

COVID-19 prevention and control effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions-fuzzy-sets qualitative comparative analysis based on 69 countries in the world.

Coronavirus disease 2019 occurred unexpectedly in late December 2019, it was difficult to immediately develop an effective vaccine or propose targeted medical interventions in the early stages of the outbreak. At this point, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are essential components of the public health response to COVID-19. How to combine different NPIs in the early stages of an outbreak to control the spread of epidemics and ensure that the policy combination does not incur high socio-economic costs became the focus of this study. We mainly used the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to assess the impact of different combinations of NPIs on the effectiveness of control in the COVID-19 pandemic early stage, using open datasets containing case numbers, country populations and policy responses. We showed that the configuration of high morbidity results includes one, which is the combination of non-strict face covering, social isolation and travel restrictions. The configuration of non-high morbidity results includes three, one is strict mask wearing measures, which alone constitute sufficient conditions for interpreting the results; the second is strict testing and contact tracing, social isolation; the third is strict testing and contact tracing, travel restriction. The results of the robustness test showed that the number, components and consistency of the configurations have not changed after changing the minimum case frequency, which proved that the analysis results are reliable. In the early stages of the epidemic, the causes of high morbidity are not symmetrical with the causes of non-high morbidity. Strict face covering is the most basic measure required to prevent and control epidemics, and the combination of non-strict face covering and containment is the most important factor leading to poor prevention and control, and the combination of strict containment and proactive pursuit is the way to achieve superior prevention and control, timely and proactive containment strategies have better prevention and control, and should mobilize the public to cooperate.

The COVID-19 pandemic's effects on mental and psychosocial health in the Philippines: A scoping review.

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remained at elevated risk for the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic because of persistent stressors to their health systems. Simultaneously facing high infection rates, strict containment measures and natural disasters, the Philippines provides important grounds for health research in LMICs. This review examined how the COVID-19 pandemic affected mental and psychosocial health in the Philippines. This scoping review included literature in English from 2020 to mid-2022 from PubMed, PsycInfo and SCOPUS, and used the PRISMA-ScR and PCC-question model. Two independent reviewers conducted blind article screening and data extraction using COVIDENCE software, followed by consensus building, data charting and analyses. This work identified 405 publications across PubMed (N=56), PsycInfo (N=106) and SCOPUS (N=243), of which 76 articles addressed the Philippines. Article types included 54 research articles, 10 opinion pieces, 4 literature reviews, 6 letters to journals, 1 study protocol and 1 other report. These findings focused primarily on health professionals (N=23) and educators/learners (N=22) and reported mostly on moderate-to-severe clinical outcomes such as fear, depression, anxiety or stress. Coping behaviors, like resiliency and other ways of adapting to the pandemic, including religious, spiritual and community-oriented approaches highlighted experiences with stringent infection prevention and control measures to contain COVID-19 in the Philippines. The COVID-19 pandemic brought severe challenges to mental and psychosocial health in the Philippines. The literature focused mostly on healthcare workers and educators/learners, and moderate-to-severe mental health outcomes in these groups. There is a need to expand studies to other sociodemographic groups and communities across the Philippines. Future work stands to benefit from more in-depth qualitative, mixed methods, longitudinal and representative quantitative research in LMICs following this pandemic. Literature reviews remain important to synthesize post-pandemic experiences by providing context for future studies and health practice in the Philippines and other LMICs.

Longitudinal trajectories of anxiety and depression in subjects with different mental disorders after one year in the COVID-19 pandemic

The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the development and trajectories of anxiety and depressive symptoms among subjects with different mental disorders, during the 3rd wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (T0, March-April 2021) while strict containment measures were applied in Italy, and after 3 months (T1, June-July 2021), with reduced restrictive measures. A sample of 527 subjects, with different DSM-5 diagnoses, was enrolled at nine Italian psychiatric outpatient services. Assessments at T0 and T1 included the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item (GAD-7) for anxiety symptoms, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depressive symptoms. Differences in anxiety and depressive symptoms rates emerged across different mental disorders and a general improvement at T1 was detected for all of them in both the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores, except for Psychosis and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Patients with Feeding and Eating Disorders (FED) reported statistically significantly higher: GAD-7 scores than those with Bipolar Disorder (BD), at both times, and Anxiety Disorders at baseline; PHQ-9 scores than all other diagnostic categories, at both times. Unemployment, no COVID-19 infection, OCD were predictive variables related to GAD-7 scores at T1, while being unmarried, BD or FED related to PHQ-9 scores at T1. Subjects with mental disorders reported anxiety and depressive symptoms during the third pandemic wave and most of patients showed an improvement over a 3-month follow-up, despite differences emerged among diagnostic categories and for the variables involved. Further studies are needed to deepen knowledge on pandemic impact on patients with mental disorders.

The Impact of the Covid-19 on Real Estate Companies: Vanke A and Poly Development

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the global macroeconomic landscape, social order, and corporate operations. In light of the prevailing trend of economic globalization, the pandemic has significantly affected this process, but it will not deter the progress of economic globalization. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only had a considerable impact on various countries worldwide but has also affected China. To protect the lives and health of our citizens, China has implemented strict containment policies. The pandemic has also had a significant impression on company operations. Our research focuses on two major Chinese real estate companies, "Poly Developments" and "Vanke A." Both companies have publicly available and transparent financial reports that include information on profit figures, profit margins, cash flow, and debt situations. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vanke witnessed a downward trend in total revenue and cash flow from 2019 to 2021, but a slight recovery was observed in 2022. Vanke displayed stable revenue growth in its development activities and gradually stabilized its profitability. The company also prioritized effective cash flow management and pursued a diversified development strategy, leading to a significant year-on-year increase in investment cash flow. Overall, Vanke exhibited remarkable performance in sustainable strategic planning, collaboration, and operational activities, maintaining its position as an industry leader.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Chinese and Americans Economies and Its Comparison

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of how COVID-19 has impacted the economies of China and the United States. It explores their responses, policy measures, and sectoral dynamics during and in the aftermath of the pandemic. Both countries faced significant economic contractions as a result of the crisis. However, their paths to recovery diverged. China's centralized governance played a crucial role in enabling a swift rebound, as the government implemented strict containment measures and provided substantial fiscal and monetary support. In contrast, the United States, with its federal structure, encountered a more prolonged recession, as coordinated responses were more challenging to achieve. Nonetheless, both governments recognized the importance of adaptive policies, implementing significant fiscal and monetary measures to support their economies. The pandemic revealed vulnerabilities in global supply chains, leading to efforts to enhance resilience. Both China and the United States recognized the need to diversify supply chains and develop resilient industries to reduce reliance on international markets. Sectoral analysis highlighted divergent impacts, emphasizing the urgency of economic diversification and the promotion of resilient industries capable of withstanding future shocks. Employment challenges and labor market dynamics were critical concerns for both nations. Both China and the United States faced the daunting task of preserving jobs and ensuring stability in their labor markets. The study recognizes the importance of implementing measures to support workers during such challenging times and advocates for inclusive approaches to foster a sustainable recovery.

“More than Disease”: Uncovering the Economic, Social, and Political Consequences of Sierra Leone’s COVID-19 Pandemic

AbstractWhen COVID-19 reached Sierra Leone, the government responded by implementing strict containment measures. While the effectiveness of such actions has been debated, the socioeconomic and political implications were undeniable. This qualitative study reveals that people suffered tremendously from economic insecurity, strains on social relationships, and civil rights violations, prompting many to perceive the COVID-19 pandemic as worse than the 2014–15 Ebola epidemic. These hardships have driven distrust of the government, which threatens continuing mitigation efforts. Using a feminist global health security frame, which recenters the protection of vulnerable individuals in relation to the state, we call for more contextually-relevant, civil society-informed pandemic responses.

Investigation of the effects of temperature and relative humidity on the propagation of COVID-19 in different climatic zones.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of temperature and relative humidity on the propagation of COVID-19 for indoor heating, ventilation, and air conditioning design and policy development in different climate zones. We proposed a cumulative lag model with two specific parameters of specific average temperature and specific relative humidity to evaluate the impact of temperature and relative humidity on COVID-19 transmission by calculating the relative risk of cumulative effect and the relative risk of lag effect. We considered the temperature and relative humidity corresponding to the relative risk of cumulative effect or the relative risk of lag effect equal to 1 as the thresholds of outbreak. In this paper, we took the overall relative risk of cumulative effect equal to 1 as the thresholds. Data on daily new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021, for three sites in each of four climate zones similar to cold, mild, hot summer and cold winter, and hot summer and warm winter were selected for this study. Temperature and relative humidity had a lagged effect on COVID-19 transmission, with peaking the relative risk of lag effect at a lag of 3-7 days for most regions. All regions had different parameters areas with the relative risk of cumulative effect greater than 1. The overall relative risk of cumulative effect was greater than 1 in all regions when specific relative humidity was higher than 0.4, and when specific average temperature was higher than 0.42. In areas similar to hot summer and cold winter, temperature and the overall relative risk of cumulative effect were highly monotonically positively correlated. In areas similar to hot summer and warm winter, there was a monotonically positive correlation between relative humidity and the overall relative risk of cumulative effect. This study provides targeted recommendations for indoor air and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system control strategies and outbreak prevention strategies to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. In addition, countries should combine vaccination and non-pharmaceutical control measures, and strict containment policies are beneficial to control another pandemic of COVID-19 and similar viruses.

The German Influenza Gap 2021 - A Multifactorial View

The end of the 2019/2020 influenza season was already registered in early summer 2020, and in the following season. There was an nearly complete absence of influenza. So far, the sometimes strict Covid-19 containment measures with contact restrictions and the obligation to wear a mask have been mentioned as reasons. The further processing of this influenza gap showed multifactorial reasons also the lack of registration of influenza cases This study looks for further reaseons and from several perspectives in order to develop strategies for a representative recording of influenza cases derive. For Evaluation the data of GrippeWeb, the RKI’s Survstat® tool and the RKI’s reporting data on the new coronavirus were used. In addition, an evaluation of billing data from the EBM from 2017 to 2022 for the GOP 32816 as well as an evaluation of data on sick leave and illness statistics from 2019 to 2021 and the consideration of inpatient and outpatient health costs based on the data requested in writing from the Federal Ministry of Health was performed. In contrast to influenza A/B, the other viral respiratory pathogens (adenovirus, parainfluenza virus and RS virus) do not show any significant reduction. From 2020, the number of reports of respiratory infections to the RKI increased from an average of 300,000 annual reports by 2019 to 1,985,985 reports in 2020, over 5,453,017 reports in 2021 and to 29,681,158 in 2022. On the other hand cases of incapacity to work due to respiratory infections fell from 31.0% in 2019 to 15.3% in 2021. Influenza-specific diagnoses (ICD: J10.1-3) were encrypted 33,727 times in 2021, in 2020 there were still 109,846. In the outpatient sector in particular, the treatment costs are falling from 2019 to 2021. The reduction in influenza A and B from 2020 as a result of the comprehensive Covid-19 control measures, including the obligation to wear masks, cannot be considered a major reason; rather, the aspect of underreporting of influenza cases plays a significant role. Therefore, the reporting quantity of the sentinal practices should be considered and the recording of incapacity diagnoses should be taken into account.

Monovalent type 2 OPV (mOPV2) management in the field: Interventions and lessons learned.

The polio endgame strategy calls for ending the use of and removal of all Sabin vaccines globally given the risks of generation and spread of cVDPVs. With the successful eradication of wild poliovirus type 2 in 2015, the process of removing type 2 Sabin vaccines began with the switch from tOPV to bOPV across national vaccination programs. Following the tOPV to bOPV switch in April/May 2016, monovalent type 2 OPV (mOPV2) has been put into use in response to detected cVDPV2 polioviruses outbreaks. Between 31 May 2016 and 30 Jun 2020, 453 million doses of mOPV2 were provided to 21 countries to conduct 235 campaigns to respond to cVDPV2 outbreaks and high-risk events. However, the use of this vaccine paradoxically reintroduces live attenuated type 2 poliovirus into the populations and the environment, therefore, poses a risk for the emergence of new VDPV2s. Thus, it is critical to carefully and appropriately manage all in-country mOPV2 stocks utilized in outbreak response to minimize this risk. In this article, we examine the performance of mOPV2 vaccine management utilized for various outbreak responses after the switch.We present the major challenges faced and the lessons learned, to improve technical guidance and future response activities. Performance varied significantly across countries in terms of each of the activity areas evaluated. There were major gaps, especially in terms of vaccine accountability, and in many instances large numbers of vials went unaccounted presenting additional risk for further VDPV2 emergences. We have shown that especially at the beginning of implementation, insufficient attention has been given to mOPV2 vaccine management. Enhanced focus on mOPV2 vaccine management in line with the lessons learned presented in this paper should be a priority for public health programs and countries to consider and adapt in future VDPV2 responses as well as potential future activities associated with eventual complete withdrawal & cessation of OPV.These experiences can also be extended to other vaccines for which strict stock management and containment measures are required.

The Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Chronic Care Patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound and pervasive impact on psychosocial health and disrupted care systems world-wide. Our research aims to assess the psychosocial impact of the pandemic and related changes in chronic care provision on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure. A qualitative survey using semi-structured interviews was held among patients with COPD and heart failure. Using randomized sampling, 23 patients with COPD, heart failure, or both were recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were held by phone or videocall. The survey was held during the summer of 2021, when strict national containment strategies were widely implemented but gradually loosened and vaccination was ongoing. Inductive coding using Gioia's approach was used to analyze the data in Atlas.Ti 9.1 software. Using an iterative approach, the data were synthesized in a data structure and data table, which was analyzed using an interpretative approach. We found 3 aggregate dimensions in which the COVID-19 pandemic has a negative impact on psychosocial health of patients with chronic disease: (1) perceived vulnerability to disease, (2) influence of health policy, and (3) a mismatch of supply and demand of health care. In these dimensions, the impact of the COVID-19 crisis was found to have a negative impact on psychosocial well-being, compounded by national strategies to contain the pandemic and a disruption of chronic care for patients. Health care providers should be aware of a multidimensional nature of psychosocial distress for chronic disease patients due to the COVID-19 crisis. Future practice and health policy could be improved by increasing awareness among health care providers, promote regular attention for psychosocial well-being of patients, provision of clear information related to the pandemic, and strategies to secure continuity of care. Results of this study might be further explored in larger studies.

GPIbα shedding in platelets is controlled by strict intracellular containment of both enzyme and substrate

BackgroundA disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17) catalyzes platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ibα ectodomain shedding, thereby releasing glycocalicin in plasma. The spatiotemporal control over the enzyme-substrate interaction and the biological consequences of GPIbα shedding are poorly understood. ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the spatiotemporal control over GPIbα shedding by ADAM17. MethodsTransmission electron microscopy with immunogold staining, immunoprecipitation, and quantitative western blotting were used. ResultsImmunogold staining showed that all ADAM17 antigen is expressed intracellularly, irrespective of platelet activation. ADAM17 clustered in patches on a tortuous membrane system different from α- and dense granules. Mild activation by platelet adhesion to immobilized fibrinogen did not cause GPIbα shedding, whereas strong and sustained stimulation using thrombin and collagen (analogs) did. Glycocalicin release kinetics was considerably slower than typical hemostasis, starting at 20 minutes and reaching a plateau after 3 hours of strong stimulation. Inhibition of the ADAM17 scissile bond specifically in GPIbα receptors that reside on the platelet’s extracellular surface did not prevent shedding, which is in line with the strict intracellular location of ADAM17. Instead, shedding was restricted to a large GPIbα subpopulation that is inaccessible on resting platelets but becomes partially accessible following platelet stimulation. Furthermore, the data show that proteinaceous, water-soluble ADAM17 inhibitors cannot inhibit GPIbα shedding, whereas membrane permeable small molecule ADAM inhibitors can. ConclusionThe data show that platelets harbor 2 distinct GPIbα subpopulations: one that presents at the platelet’s surface known for its role in primary hemostasis and one that provides substrate for proteolysis by ADAM17 with kinetics that suggest a role beyond hemostasis.

The Transformation of Chinese Cultural Images of the Plague through Chinese Characters, Legends and Folkways1

The human experience of survival from a plague is about distinguishing the sick from the healthy as quickly as possible, establishing a barrier to stop the infection, and protecting healthy people. Nevertheless, the various quarantine rules and the acceptance and compliance of the population are a kind of battle between policy implementers and the public. This paper tries to understand how Chinese cultural attitudes (Henderson, 1984) unconsciously influence the Chinese people to be most cooperative with the strict containment and quarantine measures to confront the COVID-19 pandemic. This article begins with the Chinese characters, exemplified by the four characters of disease and plague, to discuss how the pictograph nature and spatial structural way profoundly shaped the cultural mind. Then, through plague-related Chinese legends, stories and folklore, the paper sets out the Chinese cultural attitudes which are also manifested in the analogical associations between disease, plague and seasons, the balance of the five elements of the universe and ghosts, gods and the government bureaucrats in the Kingdom of the Heaven. All of these approaches are well in line with Jung's method of associative amplification as a way to locate the archetypal wisdom that assures survival.

Streptococcus pneumoniae re-emerges as a cause of community-acquired pneumonia, including frequent co-infection with SARS-CoV-2, in Germany, 2021.

In Germany, the proportion of community-acquired pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumoniae rebounded to a near-pandemic level in the second half of 2021. Vaccination uptake against respiratory pathogens, including S. pneumoniae, should be strengthened. https://bit.ly/3JMlwFt.

Psychological impact of COVID-19 containment on CADASIL patients

IntroductionCOVID-19 restrictive containment was responsible for major psychological distress and alteration of quality of life (QoL) in the general population. Their impact in a group of patients having cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) and at high risk of stroke and disability was unknown.ObjectiveWe aimed to determine the potential psychological impact of strict containment during the COVID-19 pandemic in a sample of CADASIL patients, a rare SVD caused by NOTCH3 gene mutations.MethodsInterviews of 135 CADASIL patients were obtained just after the end of the strict containment in France. Depression, QoL and negative subjective experience of the containment were analysed, as well as predictors of posttraumatic and stressor-related manifestations, defined as an Impact Event Scale-Revised score ≥ 24, using multivariable logistic analysis.ResultsOnly 9% of patients showed a depressive episode. A similar proportion had significant posttraumatic and stressor-related disorder manifestations independently associated only with socio-environment factors, rather than clinical ones: living alone outside a couple (OR 7.86 (1.87–38.32), unemployment (OR 4.73 (1.17–18.70)) and the presence of 2 or more children at home (OR 6.34 (1.35–38.34).ConclusionPsychological impact of the containment was limited in CADASIL patients and did not appear related to the disease status. About 9% of patients presented with significant posttraumatic and stressor-related disorder manifestations which were predicted by living alone, unemployment, or exhaustion related to parental burden.