Prevalence of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Among Psychiatric Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused extensive public health concerns, posing significant challenges to healthcare services. One particular area of concern is the mental health of psychiatric patients, who are often a neglected group. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of, and associated factors for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among psychiatric patients in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Self-reported questionnaires were distributed to patients in four psychiatric hospitals in Beijing, China, between April 28th and May 30th, 2020. Information regarding sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19 related factors, support, psychosomatic factors, and PTSD symptoms was collected data using a series of scales, such as the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale, and so on. Multivariate regression was used to identify factors related to PTSD symptoms. Results: A total of 1,055 psychiatric patients were included in the final sample. The prevalence of PTSD symptoms was 41.3%. Hierarchical linear regression demonstrated that fear of the pandemic and anxiety were shared associated factors for both symptoms of PTSD and its subscales. Additionally, age was an associated factor for the total PTSD (β = 0.12, p < 0.01), intrusion (β = 0.18, p < 0.001), and avoidance (β = 0.1, p < 0.05) symptoms; depression was an associated factor for the total PTSD s (β = 0.13, p < 0.001), intrusion (β = 0.11, p < 0.01), and hyperarousal (β = 0.19, p < 0.001) symptoms. Conclusions: The prevalence of PTSD symptoms was high among psychiatric patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. This study found that age, fear of the pandemic, anxiety and depression are significant associated factors of PTSD symptoms in psychiatric patients during the pandemic. We call for higher awareness and introduction of PTSD interventions to relieve the psychological stress in these patients.

P300/CBP-Associated Factor Activates Cardiac Fibroblasts by SMAD2 Acetylation

Various heart diseases cause cardiac remodeling, which in turn leads to ineffective contraction. Although it is an adaptive response to injury, cardiac fibrosis contributes to this remodeling, for which the reactivation of quiescent myofibroblasts is a key feature. In the present study, we investigated the role of the p300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF), a histone acetyltransferase, in the activation of cardiac fibroblasts. An intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of a high dose (160 mg/kg) of isoproterenol (ISP) induced cardiac fibrosis and reduced the amount of the PCAF in cardiac fibroblasts in the mouse heart. However, the PCAF activity was significantly increased in cardiac fibroblasts, but not in cardiomyocytes, obtained from ISP-administered mice. An in vitro study using human cardiac fibroblast cells recapitulated the in vivo results; an treatment with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) reduced the PCAF, whereas it activated the PCAF in the fibroblasts. PCAF siRNA attenuated the TGF-β1-induced increase in and translocation of fibrosis marker proteins. PCAF siRNA blocked TGF-β1-mediated gel contraction and cell migration. The PCAF directly interacted with and acetylated mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2 (SMAD2). PCAF siRNA prevented TGF-β1-induced phosphorylation and the nuclear localization of SMAD2. These results suggest that the increase in PCAF activity during cardiac fibrosis may participate in SMAD2 acetylation and thereby in its activation.

A FALLS AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTOR AMONG THE ELDERLY: RESULTS FROM AN ELDERLY SCREENING PROGRAMME IN KELANTAN

Falls in the elderly is one of the health issues. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of fall among the elderly and its associated factor. This was a cross-sectional retrospective record review study. Data from the elderly health screening programme of government health clinics in Kota Bharu, Kelantan were obtained. All elderly who participated in the programme for the year 2014 was eligible. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess for associated factors of falls with self-reported fall events. Data for n=434 participants were retrieved. The prevalence of falls among the elderly who participated in the health screening programme was 23.3% (95% CI: 0.19, 0.27). This study demonstrated that falls was associated with age more than 80 years old (OR adj 32.20, 95% CI: 8.54, 121.39; p<0.001), being female (OR adj 0.46, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.87; p= 0.017), being employed (OR adj 0.04, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.26; p=0.001), obesity (OR adj 2.65, 95% CI: 1.20, 5.86; p= 0.016), symptoms of dizziness (OR adj 6.77, 95% CI: 1.39, 32.98; p= 0.018), imbalance and instability (OR adj 9.92, 95% CI: 1.39, 32.98; p<0.001), polypharmacy (OR adj 4.72, 95% CI: 1.20, 5.86; p=0.001) and increased waist circumference (OR adj 2.54, 95% CI: 1.29, 5.01; p=0.007). This study demonstrated that the prevalence of falls among the elderly is still an issue and its associated factors should be intervened.