scholarly journals Psychosocial emergency care in times of COVID-19: the Essen University Hospital concept for corona-infected patients, their relatives, and medical staff

Author(s):  
Vanessa Rentrop ◽  
Johanna Sophie Schneider ◽  
Alexander Bäuerle ◽  
Florian Junne ◽  
Nora Dörrie ◽  
...  

Abstract Due to the SARS CoV-2-virus (COVID-19), anxiety, distress, and insecurity occur more frequently. In particular, infected individuals, their relatives, and medical staff face an increased risk of high psychological distress as a result of the ongoing pandemic. Thus, structured psychosocial emergency concepts are needed. The University hospital of Essen has taken up this challenge by creating the PEC concept to reduce psychosocial long-term consequences for infected patients, relatives, and medical staff at the university hospital. The concept includes professional medical as well as psychological support to convey constructive coping strategies and the provision of adequate tools such as the low-threshold online training program (CoPE It), which is accessible via the webpage www.cope-corona.de.

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1064
Author(s):  
Gitana Scozzari ◽  
Cristina Costa ◽  
Enrica Migliore ◽  
Maurizio Coggiola ◽  
Giovannino Ciccone ◽  
...  

This observational study evaluated SARS-CoV-2 IgG seroprevalence and related clinical, demographic, and occupational factors among workers at the largest tertiary care University-Hospital of Northwestern Italy and the University of Turin after the first pandemic wave of March–April 2020. Overall, about 10,000 individuals were tested; seropositive subjects were retested after 5 months to evaluate antibodies waning. Among 8769 hospital workers, seroprevalence was 7.6%, without significant differences related to job profile; among 1185 University workers, 3.3%. Self-reporting of COVID-19 suspected symptoms was significantly associated with positivity (Odds Ratio (OR) 2.07, 95%CI: 1.76–2.44), although 27% of seropositive subjects reported no previous symptom. At multivariable analysis, contacts at work resulted in an increased risk of 69%, or 24% for working in a COVID ward; contacts in the household evidenced the highest risk, up to more than five-fold (OR 5.31, 95%CI: 4.12–6.85). Compared to never smokers, being active smokers was inversely associated with seroprevalence (OR 0.60, 95%CI: 0.48–0.76). After 5 months, 85% of previously positive subjects still tested positive. The frequency of SARS-COV-2 infection among Health Care Workers was comparable with that observed in surveys performed in Northern Italy and Europe after the first pandemic wave. This study confirms that infection frequently occurred as asymptomatic and underlines the importance of household exposure, seroprevalence (OR 0.60, 95%CI: 0.48–0.76).


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey I. Schneider

Frostbite and hypothermia are becoming increasingly common as the popularity of extreme and outdoor sports rises and the homeless population increases. Advanced age is also associated with an increased risk of frostbite and hypothermia; thus, their incidence will likely continue to increase as the population ages. Frostbite occurs when there is sufficient heat loss to produce ice crystals within either superficial or deep flesh. Hypothermia is defined as an involuntary drop in body temperature to below 35°C, but a useful functional definition is a decrease in temperature that results in an inability of the body to maintain its natural functions. This review details the assessment and stabilization, diagnosis, and treatment and disposition for frostbite and hypothermia. Figures show factors that may predispose individuals to developing frostbite, long-term consequences of severe frostbite, and an approach for pleural cavity lavage. Tables list factors that increase the risk of frostbite, degrees of frostbite, three phases of frostbite, and staging of hypothermia. This review contains 3 highly rendered figures, 4 tables, and 71 references.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Suhartoyo Winarno ◽  
Anne Mondal ◽  
Franca Christina Martignoni ◽  
Tanja Natascha Fehm ◽  
Monika Hampl

Abstract Background: Sentinel node biopsy (SLNB) technique in unifocal vulvar cancer (diameter of < 4cm) and unsuspicious groin lymph nodes, the morbidity rate of patients has significantly decreased all over the world. In contrast to SLNB, bilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy (IFL) has been associated with increased risk of common morbidities. Current guidelines (NCCN, ESGO, RCOG, and German) suggest that in cases of metastasis of unilateral SLNB, groin node dissection with IFL, should be performed bilaterally. However, a publication by Woelber et al. 0% (p=0/28) and Nica et al. 5.3% (p=1/19) contradicted the current guideline. Methods: A single-center analysis conducted in the University Hospital of Dusseldorf, evaluating vulvar cancer patients treated with SLNB retrospectively from 2002 to 2018. Result, discussion and conclusion: Current guideline for bilateral IFL should remain as the standard management because 22.2% women (n=4/18) had contralateral IFL groin metastasis after unilateral SLNB metastasis initially. The depth of tumor infiltrating cells was correlated significantly and positively with the incidence rate of groin metastasis (p=0.0038). Therefore, it is an indication for bilateral IFL.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ettore Piro ◽  
Ingrid Anne Mandy Schierz ◽  
Gregorio Serra ◽  
Giuseppe Puccio ◽  
Mario Giuffrè ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The rate of twinning continues to increase due to the combined effect of a rise in parental age and increased use of assisted reproductive technology. The risk of congenital anomalies in twins is higher than in singletons, but it is less well reported in relation to growth patterns. We focused to the auxological outcome of twin pregnancies when one or both of twins are affected by one or more malformations. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study reviewing the clinical charts of twins admitted in the period between January 2003 and December 2018 at the University Hospital of Palermo. The associations between malformations and anthropometric variables at birth were analyzed by comparison within each twin pair and regarding each variable as ordered difference between the two twins. Results: We studied data of 488 neonates (52% females) from 244 pregnancies. The rate of major congenital anomalies was 11%, affecting significantly the smaller twin (p = .00018; Odds ratio 3.21; 95% CI 1.65 6.59). Malformation class distribution was as following: genitourinary (24%), gastrointestinal (20%), cardiovascular (18.5%), musculoskeletal (11%), central nervous system (9%), syndromic (9%), ocular (5.5%) and diaphragmatic hernia (2%). The most predictive value, the Birthweight (BW) difference mean ratio in malformed versus not malformed neonates (-0.31 vs 0.02; p= .0016) was distributed equally lower than zero in all malformed twins, except for those with congenital heart defects ( p= .0000083). Microcephaly (head circumference <2 standard deviation, SD) was present in 3% of symmetrically smaller twin, and severe microcephaly (<3 SD) was present in 0.6%. We found that an intertwin BW discordance of 18% or greater identified 50% of neonates with microcephaly, but only 11% of malformed twins. Conclusions: In case of one twin with a BW <10 th centile, a concomitant intertwin BW discordance ≥18% could reveal an increased risk for microcephaly but not for malformation. Lower values of BW, Ponderal index, Body mass index but above all negative value of BW difference mean ratio are associated with malformations in twin pairs.


Author(s):  
Renata Carlos ◽  
Nicole Oliver ◽  
Ana Luísa F. Cruz ◽  
Suzanny Lays da Silva ◽  
Jesimiel Missias de Souza ◽  
...  

Introduction: The prevalence of sleep disorders (SD) has increased significantly in recent decades in parallel to the worldwide obesity epidemic. The presence of SD provides an increased risk of postoperative complications, requiring greater care in these patients. The gold standard for evaluation and diagnosis of SD is polysomnography, but it is an expensive and highly complex exam, making the questionnaires and scales more accessible for diagnosis and screening. Objectives: To evaluate the presence of SD and to analyze the influence of anthropometric measures on the scores of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), snoring (ERS) and Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS) in obese patients. Method: An observational, cross-sectional study performed from August 2015 to August 2016. The patients in the preoperative group of bariatric surgery of the University Hospital were submitted to anthropometric evaluation and application of the ESS, ERS and SSS during the preoperative physiotherapy evaluation. Results: Were evaluated 100 obese (78 women), mean age of 41.4±10.7 years and BMI of 46.1±7.8kg/m2 . SD were identified in 25% by ESS and 21% by SSS of obese. There were no differences between genders for the scales scores. The score of the ERS correlated itself with waist (r=0.20, p=0.04) and neck (r=0.33, p=0.001) circumferences. Conclusion: The use of scales for diagnosis of SD is useful in the follow-up of the preoperative of bariatric surgery and our study found that 25% of patients present daytime somnolence. We also observed the influence of waist and neck circumferences on increasing snoring scale.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verena Hennig ◽  
Wolfgang Schuh ◽  
Antje Neubert ◽  
Dirk Mielenz ◽  
Hans-Martin Jäck ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) is a group of genodermatoses in which deficient ectodysplasin A signalling leads to maldevelopment of skin appendages, various eccrine glands, and teeth. Individuals with HED often have disrupted epithelial barriers and, therefore, were suspected to be more susceptible to coronavirus infection. Methods 56 households with at least one member who had coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) were enrolled in a longitudinal study to compare the course of illness, immune responses, and long-term consequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in HED patients (n = 15, age 9–52 years) and control subjects of the same age group (n = 149). Results In 14 HED patients, mild or moderate typical COVID-19 symptoms were observed that lasted for 4–45 days. Fever during the first days sometimes required external cooling measures. The course of COVID-19 was similar to that in control subjects if patients developed antibodies blocking the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Five out of six HED patients with completely abrogated ectodysplasin A signalling (83%) suffered from chronic, in two cases very severe fatigue following COVID-19, while only 25% of HED patients with residual activity of this pathway and 21% of control subjects recovering from COVID-19 experienced postinfectious fatigue. Hair loss after COVID-19 was also more frequent among HED patients (64%) than in the control group (13%). Conclusions HED appears to be associated with an increased risk of long-term consequences of a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Preventive vaccination against COVID-19 should be recommended for individuals affected by this rare genetic disorder.


2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gláucia Renata Souza Rodrigues ◽  
Marcela Melquíades ◽  
Maria Alvim Leite ◽  
Maíra Barros Louro ◽  
Carmen Perches ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the biochemical and nutritional status of smokers in treatment for smoking cessation and its association with anthropometric parameters. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with convenience sample. Adult smokers were assessed at the start of treatment in the Interdisciplinary Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention of the University Hospital of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (CIPIT/HU-UFJF). We evaluated the body mass index (BMI), conicity index (CI); waist circumference (WC), percentage of body fat (%BF), fasting glycemia, cortisol, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), LDL-c, HDL-c, triglycerides (TG) and metabolic syndrome (MS). RESULTS: Most participants (52.2%) had MS and high cardiovascular risk. The fasting glycemia was abnormal in 30.4%. There was a significant positive correlation between BMI and WC (r = 0.90; p = 0.0001), %BF (r = 0.79; p = 0.0001), CI (r = 0.65; p = 0.0001), glycemia (r = 0.42; p = 0.04) and TG (r = 0.47; p = 0.002). The CI presented positive correction with insulin (r = 0.60; p = 0.001), glycemia (r = 0.55; p = 0.007), TG (r = 0.54; p = 0.008) and %BF (r = 0.43; p = 0.004). Patients with longer duration of smoking had a higher risk of developing MS (OR = 9.6, p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: The smokers evaluated had increased risk for developing MS, especially those with longer duration of smoking, requiring urgent smoking cessation.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. e036003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie K Hyde ◽  
Sharon L Brennan-Olsen ◽  
John D Wark ◽  
Sarah M Hosking ◽  
Peter J Vuillermin ◽  
...  

PurposeThe Vitamin D in Pregnancy Study is a long-term ongoing cohort study. It was conceived to explore relationships between maternal vitamin D status in pregnancy and offspring growth and development, and has since diversified to include a wide range of physical and mental health exposures and outcomes.ParticipantsRecruitment was from the University Hospital Geelong (Barwon Health) antenatal clinic, Geelong, Victoria, Australia, between 2002 and 2004. 475 women were initially recruited, which resulted in 400 eligible mother–child pairs at birth.Findings to dateThe cohort has been followed up twice in pregnancy, at birth, and 1 year, 6 years and 11 years post birth. The study has reported an association between vitamin D in pregnancy and musculoskeletal health and body composition in the children.Future plansSubject to funding, there will be a prospective young adult follow-up. This profile aims to foster both cross-national and international collaborations with both existing and future data collection.


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