scholarly journals Do concerns about COVID-19 impair sustained attention?

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jihyang Jun ◽  
Yi Ni Toh ◽  
Caitlin A. Sisk ◽  
Roger W. Remington ◽  
Vanessa G. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Traffic Accidents ◽  
Educational Achievement ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Continuous Performance Task ◽  
Attention Task ◽  
Workplace Productivity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

AbstractThe novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has considerably heightened health and financial concerns for many individuals. Similar concerns, such as those associated with poverty, impair performance on cognitive control tasks. If ongoing concerns about COVID-19 substantially increase the tendency to mind wander in tasks requiring sustained attention, these worries could degrade performance on a wide range of tasks, leading, for example, to increased traffic accidents, diminished educational achievement, and lower workplace productivity. In two pre-registered experiments, we investigated the degree to which young adults’ concerns about COVID-19 correlated with their ability to sustain attention. Experiment 1 tested mainly European participants during an early phase of the pandemic. After completing a survey probing COVID-related concerns, participants engaged in a continuous performance task (CPT) over two, 4-min blocks, during which they responded to city scenes that occurred 90% of the time and withheld responses to mountain scenes that occurred 10% of the time. Despite large and stable individual differences, performance on the scene CPT did not significantly correlate with the severity of COVID-related concerns obtained from the survey. Experiment 2 tested US participants during a later phase of the pandemic. Once again, CPT performance did not significantly correlate with COVID concerns expressed in a pre-task survey. However, participants who had more task-unrelated thoughts performed more poorly on the CPT. These findings suggest that although COVID-19 increased anxiety in a broad swath of society, young adults are able to hold these concerns in a latent format, minimizing their impact on performance in a demanding sustained attention task.

scholarly journals The Buffering Effects of Social Insurance for the Spread of Covid-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4(I)) ◽  
pp. 19-27
Author(s):  
Moein Mirani Ahangarkolaei ◽  
Eser Demir ◽  
Tolga Constantinou ◽  
Mostafa Toranji ◽  
Tadashi Adino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Insurance ◽  
Transmission Rate ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Welfare Programs ◽  
Monthly Data ◽  
The Social ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Low Educated

Global pandemics are associated with substantial losses of human capital. The best strategy of policymakers in public health before a population-wide vaccination is to reduce the outbreak of the disease and finding ways to alleviate its negative consequences in society. Previous studies show that welfare programs have externalities in unintended areas and for unplanned outcomes including a wide range of health outcomes. In this paper, we show that payments under the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program have the potential to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. Applying a difference-in-difference technique on monthly data of all US counties from January 2020 to January 2021, we document that the social insurance under the umbrella of UI payments can reduce the transmission rate of Covid-19. The results show heterogeneity across subsample with the largest effects among blacks, poor, and low educated regions

SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) Current Pharmacotherapy for Mother and Infant

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 175-182
Author(s):  
Jim Thigpen
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Fetal Development ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Effective Treatments

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), appeared in the United States over 1 year ago. This virus has a wide range of presentations, from being asymptomatic to causing severe acute respiratory syndrome, which can lead to death. It has led to a worldwide effort to find effective treatments, from repurposed medications to new discoveries, as well as the push to develop effective vaccines. As the race to fight this pandemic unfolds, this column provides what is currently available to combat this virus, how it has been utilized in the pregnant population, and what data have been made available about how these treatments affect fetal development and the neonate.

scholarly journals Laboratory markers included in the Corona Score can identify false negative results on COVID-19 RT-PCR in the emergency room

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-359
Author(s):  
Roberto Assandri ◽  
Ciro Canetta ◽  
Giovanni Viganò ◽  
Elisabetta Buscarini ◽  
Alessandro Scartabellati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Room ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Clinical Syndrome ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Emergency Rooms ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Emergency Room Patients ◽  
False Negative Results ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

After December 2019 outbreak in China, the novel Coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has very quickly overflowed worldwide. Infection causes a clinical syndrome encompassing a wide range of clinical features, from asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic course to acute respiratory distress and death. In a very recent work we preliminarily observed that several laboratory tests have been shown as characteristically altered in COVID-19. We aimed to use the Corona score, a validated point-based algorithm to predict the likelihood of COVID-19 infection in patients presenting at the Emergency rooms. This approach combines chest images-relative score and several laboratory parameters to classify emergency room patients. Corona score accuracy was satisfactory, increasing the detection of positive patients’ rate.

scholarly journals Novel coronavirus infection COVID-19: extrapulmonary manifestations

2020 ◽  
Vol 92 (8) ◽  
pp. 4-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. V. Maev ◽  
A. V. Shpektor ◽  
E. Yu. Vasilyeva ◽  
V. N. Manchurov ◽  
D. N. Andreev
Keyword(s):  
Arterial Thrombosis ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Myocardial Damage ◽  
Cardiovascular Complications ◽  
Clinical Syndrome ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Serum Transaminases ◽  
Coronavirus Infection ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

The novel coronavirus infection COVID-19 in most cases manifests with respiratory symptoms and fever, however, some patients may have cardiovascular and gastroenterological manifestations. A feature of the clinical syndrome of COVID-19 is the development of pronounced immunopathological reactions and disorders of hemostasis, leading to the development of a wide range of cardiovascular complications. The course of COVID-19 may be complicated by the development of acute myocardial infarction, venous and arterial thrombosis and thromboembolism in various vascular pools, the development of acute myocardial damage and myocarditis. Among the gastroenterological manifestations, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, as well as abdominal pain, are most often detected. These symptoms may precede the appearance of respiratory signs of the disease, and in some cases come to the fore in the clinical picture of the disease. In addition, in some patients there are laboratory signs of liver injury (increased serum transaminases). The exact pathogenesis of the above disorders continues to be studied.

scholarly journals The relationship between sustained attention and aerobic fitness in a group of young adults

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3831 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis F. Ciria ◽  
Pandelis Perakakis ◽  
Antonio Luque-Casado ◽  
Cristina Morato ◽  
Daniel Sanabria
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Aerobic Fitness ◽  
Vigilance Task ◽  
Attention Task ◽  
Oddball Task ◽  
Broad Array ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Psychomotor Vigilance

BackgroundA growing set of studies has shown a positive relationship between aerobic fitness and a broad array of cognitive functions. However, few studies have focused on sustained attention, which has been considered a fundamental cognitive process that underlies most everyday activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of aerobic fitness as a key factor in sustained attention capacities in young adults.MethodsForty-four young adults (18–23 years) were divided into two groups as a function of the level of aerobic fitness (high-fit and low-fit). Participants completed the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) and an oddball task where they had to detect infrequent targets presented among frequent non-targets.ResultsThe analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed faster responses for the high-fit group than for the low-fit group in the PVT, replicating previous accounts. In the oddball task, the high-fit group maintained their accuracy (ACC) rate of target detection over time, while the low-fit group suffered a significant decline of response ACC throughout the task.DiscussionImportantly, the results show that the greater sustained attention capacity of high-fit young adults is not specific to a reaction time (RT) sustained attention task like the PVT, but it is also evident in an ACC oddball task. In sum, the present findings point to the important role of aerobic fitness on sustained attention capacities in young adults.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Caused by the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): A Practical Comprehensive Literature Review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Montenegro ◽  
Luis Unigarro ◽  
Gustavo Paredes ◽  
Tatiana Moya ◽  
Ana Romero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽  
Respiratory Distress ◽  
Distress Syndrome ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Comprehensive Literature Review ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Introduction: The exponential growth of the SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission during the first months of 2020 has placed substantial pressure on health systems worldwide. The complications derived from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vary in due to comorbidities, sex and age, with more than 50% of the patients who require some level of intensive care developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Areas covered: Various complications caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection have been identified, the most lethal being the acute respiratory distress syndrome, caused most likely by the presence of severe immune cell response and the concomitant alveolus inflammation. The authors carried out an extensive and comprehensive literature review on SARS-CoV-2 infection, the clinical, pathological and radiological presentation as well as the current treatment strategies. Expert Opinion Elevation of inflammatory biomarkers is a common trend among seriously ill patients. The information available strongly suggests that in COVID-19 patients, their altered immune response, including a massive cytokine storm, is responsible for the further damage evidenced among ARDS patients. The increasingly high number of scientific articles and evidence available can only suggest that the individualization of each case is the norm, not all patients with acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19 meet the Berlin definition and therefore ARDS should be considered as a heterogeneous disease, with a wide range in the expression of its severity and clinical manifestations.

Lactoferrin as potential preventative and treatment for COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond Chang ◽  
Wei-Zen Sun ◽  
Tzi Bun Ng
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Supplement ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Adjunct Treatment ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Unique Potential

The novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is rapidly advancing across the globe despite public and personal health measures. Antivirals and nutritional supplements have been proposed as potentially useful against SARS-CoV-2 (virus that causes COVID-19), but few have been clinically established. Lactoferrin (Lf) is a naturally occurring and non-toxic glycoprotein that is orally available as a nutritional supplement and has established in vitro anti-viral efficacy against a wide range of virus including SARS-CoV, a closely related corona virus to SARS-CoV-2 (virus that causes COVID-19). Furthermore, Lf possesses unique immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects that maybe especially relevant to the pathophysiology of severe COVID-19 cases. We review the underlying biological mechanisms of Lf as antiviral and immune regulator, and propose its unique potential as preventative and adjunct treatment for COVID-19. We hope that further research and development of Lf nutritional supplementation would establish its role for COVID-19.

scholarly journals COVID-19: The Potential Treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kacper Lechowicz ◽  
Sylwester Drożdżal ◽  
Filip Machaj ◽  
Jakub Rosik ◽  
Bartosz Szostak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Pulmonary Involvement ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Right

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, appeared, causing a wide range of symptoms, mainly respiratory infection. In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic, therefore the efforts of scientists around the world are focused on finding the right treatment and vaccine for the novel disease. COVID-19 has spread rapidly over several months, affecting patients across all age groups and geographic areas. The disease has a diverse course; patients may range from asymptomatic to those with respiratory failure, complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). One possible complication of pulmonary involvement in COVID-19 is pulmonary fibrosis, which leads to chronic breathing difficulties, long-term disability and affects patients’ quality of life. There are no specific mechanisms that lead to this phenomenon in COVID-19, but some information arises from previous severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) epidemics. The aim of this narrative review is to present the possible causes and pathophysiology of pulmonary fibrosis associated with COVID-19 based on the mechanisms of the immune response, to suggest possible ways of prevention and treatment.

scholarly journals Serological Profile of Children and Young Adults with at Least One SARS-CoV-2 Positive Cohabitant: An Observational Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1488
Author(s):  
Marco Farronato ◽  
Carolina Dolci ◽  
Elisa Boccalari ◽  
Sara Izadi ◽  
Luis Hernan Salvatierra Rios ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Immunoglobulin M ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
The Novel ◽  
New Disease ◽  
Serological Profile ◽  
Children And Young Adults ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

At the end of 2019, a new disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 appeared in Wuhan Province in China. Children seemed to be infected less frequently than adults, and family clusters seemed to play an important role in the spread of the pandemic. The aim of this study is to evaluate the serological profile of children and young adults between 4 and 16 years of age in order to assess the transmission patterns of COVID-19 between cohabitants. The subjects lived with at least one cohabitant who tested positive for the disease using a nasopharyngeal swab. To avoid contact with the disease, families were interviewed by telephone. Forty-nine children and adolescents with a mean age of 11 years were then subjected to a rapid lateral flow chromatographic test. Of them, seven (14.3%) were immunoglobulin G (IgG)-positive, and four (8.2%) were immunoglobulin M (IgM)-positive. In total, 16.3% of the tested sample had antibodies against SARS-CoV-2: this may confirm the lower vulnerability of children to COVID-19, despite the small sample size. The time from the negativization of the cohabitant until the test day may have influenced the results, especially when this timeframe is wide.

scholarly journals Clinical Efficacy of Hydroxychloroquine or Chloroquine in Patients with COVID-19: An Umbrella Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kavous Shahsavarinia ◽  
Morteza Ghojazadeh ◽  
Sarvin Sanaie ◽  
Leila Vahedi ◽  
Mahta Ahmadpour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Efficacy ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Umbrella Review ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Background Many of the known coronaviruses cause a wide range of respiratory infections in humans, and the novel coronavirus is no exception to this rule. Although no drug has yet been discovered to prevent or treat this disease, chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) have been widely used in studies showing different results. Methods The present study is an umbrella study. The search was conducted for the articles published from January 2020 to November 2020 using the keywords ("COVID-19" OR "SARS-CoV-2" AND "Hydroxychloroquine" OR "Chloroquine" AND "Systematic Review" OR "Metanalysis"). This study was limited to human samples and systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis. The quality of the articles was also evaluated independently by two researchers. Results To evaluate the clinical efficacy of HCQ and CQ, a total of 176 papers and 643569 cases ranging from patients with mild pneumonia to intubated critically ill patients were evaluated. Finally, 8 studies were included. Conclusion There are conflicting results regarding HCQ or CQ efficacy and safety in the systematic reviews. More evidence is needed to confirm whether these drugs are useful in COVID-19 infection, and their usage as the standard care cannot be recommended based on the majority of the studies included in this umbrella review.

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