Wellbeing of Breastfeeding Women in Australia and New Zealand during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

During the COVID-19 pandemic, breastfeeding women have experienced restricted access to support, placing them at increased risk of mental health concerns and limited breastfeeding assistance. This study investigated the effect of the pandemic on feeding choices and maternal wellbeing amongst breastfeeding mothers living in Australian and New Zealand. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey that examined feeding methods, maternal mental wellbeing, worries, challenges, and positive experiences during the pandemic. Most women were exclusively breastfeeding (82%). Partial breastfeeding was associated with perceived low milk supply and longer pregnancy duration during the pandemic. Reduced mental health and wellbeing was associated with lower levels of family functioning, increased perceived stress, and perinatal anxiety. Longer pregnancy duration during the pandemic was associated with lower mental health wellbeing scores, while higher perceived stress scores were reported for regions with higher COVID-19 infection rates and women with perceived low milk supply. Women reported that the pandemic resulted in less pressure and more time for family bonding, while worries about the pandemic, family health, and parenting challenges were also cited. Mental health concerns of breastfeeding women appear to be exacerbated by COVID-19, highlighting a critical need for access to mental health and broader family support during the pandemic.     

Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Lifestyles of Health Sciences University Students in Spain: A Longitudinal Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted daily activities worldwide. University students may have experienced substantial changes in daily living as a result of restrictions on university attendance. The return to normalcy may take a long time, and understanding the influence that shifts in daily routines have had on the lifestyles of university students may inform approaches to support overall well-being. We analyzed changes in the lifestyles of students enrolled at a health sciences university during the COVID-19 pandemic. This longitudinal study took place at the Faculty of Medicine and Nursing in the University of the Basque Country in Spain, and the final sample consisted of 113 nursing students, 109 medical students, and 45 physiotherapy students. Our results demonstrate changes in lifestyles of university students during the pandemic. MedDiet adherence scores and the percentage of students with high adherence increased during the pandemic. This increase was due to the increased consumption of vegetables and nuts. In terms of physical activity, the practice of moderate and intense physical activity was maintained. These results provide important information for both public health authorities and educational institutions to guide strategies to maintain the well-being of students and enhance opportunities for young adults to lead a healthy lifestyle.     

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Adults after Mild SARS-CoV-2 Infection,Japan

In Japan, a 51-year-old man had minimally symptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome was diagnosed ≈5 weeks later; characteristics included severe inflammation, cardiac dysfunction, and IgG positivity. Clinicians should obtain detailed history and examine IgG levels for cases of inflammatory disease with unexplained cardiac decompensation.     

A Local COVID-19 Support Platform for Nursing Homes: Feedback and Perspectives

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on nursing homes (NHs), which were not prepared to manage infections among their at-risk patient populations. In order to comply with the French government's guidelines, we rapidly set up a local support platform (LSP) to help NHs manage their cases of COVID-19. The LSP comprised multidisciplinary decision support, a specialist phone hotline, mobile geriatric medicine teams, and videoconferences on COVID-19.We first quantified the LSP's interventions in 63 local NHs since the start of the first wave of COVID-19 (March 2020): 9 instances of multidisciplinary decision support, 275 calls to the specialist phone hotline, 84 interventions by mobile geriatric medicine teams, and 16 videoconferences. The LSP had been used during and between the first and second waves of the epidemic, and all had evolved to meet the NHs' needs.     

Absence of COVID-19 Disease Among Chronically Ventilated Nursing Home Patients

ObjectiveTo describe the experience of COVID-19 disease among chronically ventilated and nonventilated nursing home patients living in 3 separate nursing homes.DesignObservational study of death, respiratory illness and COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results among residents and staff during nursing home outbreaks in 2020.Setting and Participants93 chronically ventilated nursing home patients and 1151 nonventilated patients living among 3 separate nursing homes on Long Island, New York, as of March 15, 2020. Illness, PCR results, and antibody studies among staff are also reported.MeasurementsData were collected on death rate among chronically ventilated and nonventilated patients between March 15 and May 15, 2020, compared to the same time in 2019; prevalence of PCR positivity among ventilated and nonventilated patients in 2020; reported illness, PCR positivity, and antibody among staff.ResultsTotal numbers of deaths among chronically ventilated nursing home patients during this time frame were similar to the analogous period 1 year earlier (9 of 93 in 2020 vs 8 of 100 in 2019, P = .8), whereas deaths among nonventilated patients were greatly increased (214 of 1151 in 2020 vs 55 of 1189 in 2019, P < .001). No ventilated patient deaths were clinically judged to be COVID-19 related. No clusters of COVID-19 illness could be demonstrated among ventilated patients. Surveillance PCR testing of ventilator patients failed to reveal COVID-19 positivity (none of 84 ventilator patients vs 81 of 971 nonventilator patients, P < .002). Illness and evidence of COVID-19 infection was demonstrated among staff working both in nonventilator and in ventilator units.Conclusions and ImplicationsCOVID-19 infection resulted in illness and death among nonventilated nursing home residents as well as among staff. This was not observed among chronically ventilated patients. The mechanics of chronic ventilation appears to protect chronically ventilated patients from COVID-19 disease.     

FAM19A4基因启动子甲基化检测在宫颈癌及其癌前病变筛查的研究

宫颈癌是最常见的妇科恶性肿瘤之一。目前人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)检测及细胞学检查是宫颈癌及其癌前病变(CCPL)的主要筛查手段。由于上述传统筛查方法,仍然存在对CCPL漏诊的风险,因此寻找有效识别CCPL的特异性分子标志物,具有重要临床意义。对具有序列相似性家族19成员A4(FAM19A4)基因启动子甲基化定量检测,可有效检出CCPL组织,较传统筛查方法有较高特异度,有望成为CCPL筛查的特异性分子标志物。笔者拟就FAM19A4基因启动子甲基化定量检测,在CCPL筛查中应用的最新研究现状进行阐述,旨在为进一步推进CCPL筛查方法的开发,提供思路。     

Risk for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Healthcare Workers,Turin, Italy

We measured severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein subunits S1/S2 antibodies by using capillary electrophoresis and a chemiluminescence immunoassay for 5,444 active healthcare workers in Italy. Seroprevalence was 6.9% and higher among participants having contact with patients. Seroconversion was not observed in 37/213 previously infected participants.     

Review of COVID-19 and male genital tract

COVID-19 pandemic leads to health challenges globally, and its diverse aspects need to be uncovered. Multi-organ injuries have been reported by describing potential SARS-CoV-2 entrance routes: ACE2 and TMPRSS2. Since these cell surface receptors’ expression has been disclosed within the male reproductive system, its susceptibility to being infected by SARS-CoV-2 has been summarised through this literature review. Expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 at RNA or protein level has been reported across various investigations indicates that the male genitalia potentially is vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Presence of SARS-CoV-2 within semen samples and following direct viral damage, secondary inflammatory response causing orchitis or testicular discomfort and finally the amount of viral load leading testicular damage and immune response activation are among probable underlying mechanisms. Therefore, genital examination and laboratory tests should be considered to address the male reproductive tract complications and fertility issues.