Psychological Responses Among Korean Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Survivors and Bereaved Families

Author(s):  
Dayoung Lee ◽  
Junghyun H Lee ◽  
Kyoungsun Jeon ◽  
Nabin Lee ◽  
Minyoung Sim

Abstract Objective: In 2015, the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in South Korea affected 186 patients and led to 38 bereaved families. This study aimed at investigating the nature and related factors of the psychological responses of MERS victims during the acute phase of disaster. Methods: The MERS Psychological Support Team under the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare provided counseling services to MERS survivors and bereaved families for 4 weeks, based on crisis intervention. In this study, we reviewed the counseling records of 109 survivors and 80 bereaved family members, and analyzed their epidemiological and MERS-related information along with psychological responses. Results: Somatic symptoms and anxiety related to social stigmatization or disease transmission were common in MERS survivors, whereas grief reactions such as sadness, and anger were frequently observed in bereaved families. Bereaved MERS survivors showed more avoidance/isolation than non-bereaved MERS survivors. Females, those with an underlying physical or psychiatric health condition, and those having experienced longer duration of hospitalization and non-healthcare workers were more at risk of suffering from psychological problems. Conclusions: Survivors and bereaved families of epidemics can experience various psychological distresses depending on individual characteristics and the inherent features of the epidemic. Therefore, mental health in epidemics should be approached and considered more seriously.

Author(s):  
Jin-Won Noh ◽  
Ki-Bong Yoo ◽  
Young Kwon ◽  
Jin Hong ◽  
Yejin Lee ◽  
...  

This study examined the effect of disclosing a list of hospitals with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) patients on the number of laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV cases in South Korea. MERS-CoV data from 20 May 2015 to 5 July 2015 were from the Korean Ministry of Health & Welfare website and analyzed using segmented linear autoregressive error models for interrupted time series. This study showed that the number of laboratory-confirmed cases was increased by 9.632 on 5 June (p < 0.001). However, this number was significantly decreased following disclosure of a list of hospitals with MERS-CoV cases (Estimate = −0.699; p < 0.001). Disclosing the list of hospitals exposed to MERS-CoV was critical to the prevention of further infection. It reduced the number of confirmed MERS-CoV cases. Thus, providing accurate and timely information is a key to critical care response.


Pneumologie ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 69 (04) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Becher ◽  
J von Recum ◽  
K Schierhorn ◽  
T Wolff ◽  
M Tönnies ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (06) ◽  
pp. 422-426
Author(s):  
C. Rau ◽  
J. Lindert ◽  
S. Kotsias-Konopelska ◽  
R. Kobbe

ZusammenfassungErkrankungen der Atemwege gehören zu den häufigsten Gesundheitsproblemen von Kindern und treten regelhaft auch während und nach Reisen auf. Virale Atemwegsinfektionen können die Reisefähigkeit von Kindern – und damit auch ihren Angehörigen – ungünstig beeinflussen, beispielsweise durch Fieber, bronchiale Obstruktion und Schwierigkeiten beim Druckausgleich während des Fliegens durch Schwellungen und Sekretionen der Schleimhäute und der eustachi‘schen Röhre. Zu den reisemedizinisch relevanten aerogen übertragenen Krankheiten zählen neben banalen, viralen Erkältungen auch potenziell schwer verlaufende Viruserkrankungen, allen voran die saisonale Influenza und die Masern, sowie bakterielle Infektionen durch Meningokokken und die Tuberkulose. Gegen einige dieser Erkrankungen stehen effektive Impfstoffe zur Verfügung. Auch seltene, schwer verlaufende Atemwegsinfektionen, die unter bestimmten epidemiologischen Umständen außerhalb Europas erworben werden können, sollen im Folgenden exemplarisch an den Erkrankungen Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) und der Histoplasmose dargestellt werden.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Kamorowski ◽  
Karl Ask ◽  
Maartje Schreuder ◽  
Marko Jelicic ◽  
Corine de Ruiter

Previous research has shown that mock and actual jurors give little weight to actuarial sexual offending recidivism risk estimates when making decisions regarding civil commitment for so-called sexually violent predators (SVPs). We hypothesized that non-risk related factors, such as irrelevant contextual information and jurors’ information-processing style, would influence mock jurors’ perceptions of sexual recidivism risk. This preregistered experimental study examined the effects of mock jurors’ (N = 427) need for cognition (NFC), irrelevant contextual information in the form of the offender’s social attractiveness, and an actuarial risk estimate on mock jurors’ estimates of sexual recidivism risk related to a simulated SVP case vignette. Mock jurors exposed to negative risk-irrelevant characteristics of the offender estimated sexual recidivism risk as higher than mock jurors exposed to positive information about the offender. However, this effect was no longer significant after mock jurors had reviewed Static-99R actuarial risk estimate information. We found no support for the hypothesis that the level of NFC moderates the relationship between risk-irrelevant contextual information and risk estimates. Future research could explore additional individual characteristics or attitudes among mock jurors that may influence perceptions of sexual recidivism risk and insensitivity to actuarial risk estimates.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Mostafijur Rahman ◽  
Md. Bayejid Hosen ◽  
M. Zakir Hossain Howlader ◽  
Yearul Kabir

Background: 3C-like protease also called the main protease is an essential enzyme for the completion of the life cycle of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. In our study we predicted compounds which are capable of inhibiting 3C-like protease, and thus inhibit the lifecycle of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus using in silico methods. </P><P> Methods: Lead like compounds and drug molecules which are capable of inhibiting 3C-like protease was identified by structure-based virtual screening and ligand-based virtual screening method. Further, the compounds were validated through absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion filtering. Results: Based on binding energy, ADME properties, and toxicology analysis, we finally selected 3 compounds from structure-based virtual screening (ZINC ID: 75121653, 41131653, and 67266079) having binding energy -7.12, -7.1 and -7.08 Kcal/mol, respectively and 5 compounds from ligandbased virtual screening (ZINC ID: 05576502, 47654332, 04829153, 86434515 and 25626324) having binding energy -49.8, -54.9, -65.6, -61.1 and -66.7 Kcal/mol respectively. All these compounds have good ADME profile and reduced toxicity. Among eight compounds, one is soluble in water and remaining 7 compounds are highly soluble in water. All compounds have bioavailability 0.55 on the scale of 0 to 1. Among the 5 compounds from structure-based virtual screening, 2 compounds showed leadlikeness. All the compounds showed no inhibition of cytochrome P450 enzymes, no blood-brain barrier permeability and no toxic structure in medicinal chemistry profile. All the compounds are not a substrate of P-glycoprotein. Our predicted compounds may be capable of inhibiting 3C-like protease but need some further validation in wet lab.


Author(s):  
Talita Stelling de Araujo ◽  
Glauce Moreno Barbosa ◽  
Karoline Sanches ◽  
Jéssica M. Azevedo ◽  
Katia Maria dos Santos Cabral ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Sumathi Sivapalasingam ◽  
George A Saviolakis ◽  
Kirsten Kulcsar ◽  
Aya Nakamura ◽  
Thomas Conrad ◽  
...  

Abstract Background REGN3048 and REGN3051 are human monoclonal antibodies (mAb) targeting the spike glycoprotein on the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which binds to the receptor dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) and is necessary for infection of susceptible cells. Methods Preclinical study: REGN3048, REGN3051 and isotype immunoglobulin G (IgG) were administered to humanized DPP4 (huDPP4) mice 1 day prior to and 1 day after infection with MERS-CoV (Jordan strain). Virus titers and lung pathology were assessed. Phase 1 study: healthy adults received the combined mAb (n = 36) or placebo (n = 12) and followed for 121 days. Six dose levels were studied. Strict safety criteria were met prior to dose escalation. Results Preclinical study: REGN3048 plus REGN3051, prophylactically or therapeutically, was substantially more effective for reducing viral titer, lung inflammation, and pathology in huDPP4 mice compared with control antibodies and to each antibody monotherapy. Phase 1 study: REGN3048 plus REGN3051 was well tolerated with no dose-limiting adverse events, deaths, serious adverse events, or infusion reactions. Each mAb displayed pharmacokinetics expected of human IgG1 antibodies; it was not immunogenic. Conclusions REGN3048 and REGN3051 in combination were well tolerated. The clinical and preclinical data support further development for the treatment or prophylaxis of MERS-CoV infection.


Author(s):  
Melissa McDiarmid ◽  
Marian Condon ◽  
Joanna Gaitens

Pandemic diseases of this century have differentially targeted healthcare workers globally. These infections include Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome SARS, the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and Ebola. The COVID-19 pandemic has continued this pattern, putting healthcare workers at extreme risk. Just as healthcare workers have historically been committed to the service of their patients, providing needed care, termed their “duty of care”, so too do healthcare employers have a similar ethical duty to provide care toward their employees arising from historical common law requirements. This paper reports on results of a narrative review performed to assess COVID-19 exposure and disease development in healthcare workers as a function of employer duty of care program elements adopted in the workplace. Significant duty of care deficiencies reported early in the pandemic most commonly involved lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) availability. Beyond worker safety, we also provide evidence that an additional benefit of employer duty of care actions is a greater sense of employee well-being, thus aiding in the prevention of healthcare worker burnout.


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