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Perceived Stress Associated with COVID-19 Pandemic in Korem, Tigray, Ethiopia: Community Based Crossectional Study
Girmay Adhena,
Tesfay Temesgen
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 6, November 2020
Pages:
155-160
Received:
10 September 2020
Accepted:
9 October 2020
Published:
4 November 2020
Abstract: Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a major health crisis affecting several nations, within millions of cases and more than half-million deaths globally. In addition to its high infectivity and fatality rates, it is associated with adverse mental health consequences. Despite this, little is known about stress due to this pandemic in the community of Africa, particularly in Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to assess perceived stress associated with COVID-19 in Korem, Tigray, Ethiopia. Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 1-30/2020 among 422 participants. Simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Interviewer-administered data collection was done using a pretested and structured Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried to identify associated factors. Finally, variable with P-value<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Result: About 276 (65.4%) participants scored high perceived stress to COVID-19 pandemic. Being illiterate [AOR=5.1, 95% CI: (1.84, 13.9)], having a chronic disease [AOR=4.8, 95% CI: (1.8, 12.9)], being merchant [AOR=6.6, 95% CI:(2.05, 20.9)], not implementing preventive measures [AOR=3.7, 95% CI: (1.89, 7.34)], and not following policies and scientific evidence to COVID-19 [AOR=2.97 (1.59, 5.5)] were significantly associated factors. Conclusion: Two-thirds of the participants scored high perceived stress. Enhancing community awareness mainly on improving mental health and developing psychological resilience. Encouraging the community on practicing and implementing COVID-19 preventive and controlling measures, strengthen policies and scientific evidence, and addressing the riskiest populations is crucial to reducing the problem.
Abstract: Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a major health crisis affecting several nations, within millions of cases and more than half-million deaths globally. In addition to its high infectivity and fatality rates, it is associated with adverse mental health consequences. Despite this, little is known about stress due to this...
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Immune Regulation of "Nourishing Yin and Qi, Activating Blood Circulation and Detoxifying" in Elderly Diabetic Patients Complicated with Coronary Heart Disease
Fu Xianzhao,
Huang Guang Ming,
Qiu Hai Xian,
Li Chunyan,
Huang Wenhua,
Cao Qiuxia,
Lu Mian
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 6, November 2020
Pages:
161-167
Received:
19 September 2020
Published:
4 November 2020
Abstract: Objective: To investigate the immune regulation of "nourishing Yin and Qi, activating blood circulation and detoxifying" in elderly diabetic patients complicated with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and analyze its possible mechanisms. Methods: 69 diabetic patients aged 50-75 years and complicated with ACS, from March 2019 to February 2020 in the Department of Cardiology and Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities were randomly divided into control group (34 cases) and treatment group (35 cases). The control group was given western medicine standardized treatment, while the treatment group were treated with HJJR on the basis of routine Western medical treatment, and the therapeutic course for al1 were 2 months. Before and after treating, in the two groups, the levels of pro-inflammatory factors [C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor - α (TNF - α) and anti-inflammatory factors [IL-10, adiponectin (ADPN)] were detected. The clinical symptoms of chest tightness, chest pain, attacking frequency and duration, palpitation, shortness of breath, fatigue and the total scores of syndromes in the two groups were detected. At the same time, electrocardiogram (ECG) changes and adverse reactions were observed. Results: Compared with before treatment, after treating, the levels of pro-inflammatory factors CRP, IL-8, TNF - α in the two groups were evidently decreased, while the anti-inflammatory factors IL-10 and ADPN were obviously increased, but the changes in the treatment group were more significant (all P<0.05); the scores of frequency chest tightness and chest pain in both groups were decreased, while the duration of chest tightness and chest pain, fatigue and total score of TCM syndromes in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05); the number of ST down segment, T-wave flattening, T-wave inversion in ECG were significantly lower than before treatment, with more obviously increased in the treatment group, but no statistically significant. No other adverse reactions were found in the two groups during the medication. Conclusion: HJJR can significantly reduce the levels of CRP, IL-8, TNF - α, and increase the levels of IL-10 and ADPN in the serum of diabetic elderly patients complicated with ACS, suggesting that the effect of “nourishing yin and Qi, activating blood circulation and detoxifying” can regulate the balance mechanism of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors, and bring into the protective effect on elderly diabetic patients with ACS.
Abstract: Objective: To investigate the immune regulation of "nourishing Yin and Qi, activating blood circulation and detoxifying" in elderly diabetic patients complicated with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and analyze its possible mechanisms. Methods: 69 diabetic patients aged 50-75 years and complicated with ACS, from March 2019 to February 2020 in the De...
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Correlation Analysis of Thyroid Function and Autoantibodies in Graves’ Disease Patients with Different Iodine Nutritional Status
Jing Feng,
Cuicui Wang,
Zhaoxin Mu,
Xinsheng Li,
Zhenjiang Hou
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 6, November 2020
Pages:
168-176
Received:
23 September 2020
Published:
27 November 2020
Abstract: Objective: To investigate the correlation between thyroid function stratification and autoantibody titers in patients with Graves’ disease (GD) under different iodine nutrition conditions. Methods: The levels of serum thyroid hormones, autoantibodies and urinary iodine in 100 patients with different thyroid function GD [GD-A, GD-B] and 60 healthy subjects are detected by electrochemical immunoluminescence and iodine-catalyzed arsenic-cerium method. Results: The proportion of GD patients with the sum of iodine overdosage and iodine overdosage group is consistent with iodine adequate group, which is significantly higher than iodine deficiency group, and the (Median Urine Iodine, MUI) of GD-A group is significantly higher than GD-B group. Urinary iodine levels in GD group and GD-A group are positively correlated with serum FT3 and FT4 (P<0.05), and negatively correlated with (thyroid stimulating hormone, TSH) (P<0.05). The levels of serum (thyroid peroxidase antibody, TPOAb) and (thyroid globulin antibody, TGAb) in each GD group are significantly higher than those in the control group. Serum TSH levels in the high TPOAb group and high TgAb group are lower than those in the low TPOAb group, low TgAb group and control group, respectively. The levels of FT3 and FT4 are higher than those of the low TPOAb group and the low TgAb group, however, there is no significant difference between the FT3 of low TgAb and T3 and T4 levels that belong to the control group, high TPOAb group, high TgAb group, low TPOAb group, and low TgAb group. In conclusion: GD patients with different thyroid functions have corresponding changes in their thyroid hormone and autoantibody levels under different iodine nutrition conditions, which indicates that iodine nutrition status involve in and play an important role in the development of GD with different thyroid functions and different antibody levels.
Abstract: Objective: To investigate the correlation between thyroid function stratification and autoantibody titers in patients with Graves’ disease (GD) under different iodine nutrition conditions. Methods: The levels of serum thyroid hormones, autoantibodies and urinary iodine in 100 patients with different thyroid function GD [GD-A, GD-B] and 60 healthy s...
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Detection and Related Research of Serum Levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-8 and ET in Patients with Hyperthyroidism
Li Hongyan,
Zhang Jingyu,
Xu Qian,
Wang Cuicui,
Cao Tingting,
Hou Zhenjiang
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 6, November 2020
Pages:
177-180
Received:
23 October 2020
Published:
27 November 2020
Abstract: Objective: To discuss the changes of serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-8 and ET in patients with hyperthyroidism, and to analyze the correlation between them and thyroid function indexes, and to find more objective indexes for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of hyperthyroidism. Methods: 251 patients with hyperthyroidism (Study Group) and 130 healthy persons (control group) were selected. Five indexes of serum thyroid function: serum free triiodothyronine (FT3), total triiodothyronine (TT3), serum free thyroxine (FT4), total thyroxine (TT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured by electrochemiluminescence. The levels of seruminterleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) were detected by ELISA double antibody sandwich method, and the level of endothelin (ET) was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The level of IL-2 in study group was significantly lower (P<0.05), which was negatively correlated with serum FT3, FT4, TT3 and TT4; The levels of IL-6, IL-8 and ET were significantly increased (P<0.05), and positively correlated with serum FT3, FT4, TT3 and TT4; The four indexes were not correlated with serum TSH. Conclusions: IL-2, IL-6, IL-8 and ET are involved in the occurrence and development of hyperthyroidism, and monitoring the changes of each index has certain clinical application value for the diagnosis, pathogenesis research, judgment and prognosis of hyperthyroidism.
Abstract: Objective: To discuss the changes of serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-8 and ET in patients with hyperthyroidism, and to analyze the correlation between them and thyroid function indexes, and to find more objective indexes for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of hyperthyroidism. Methods: 251 patients with hyperthyroidism (Study Group) and 130 h...
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Analysis of Financial Policy for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19 in China
Li Liu,
Jing Deng,
Xue Yu
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 6, November 2020
Pages:
181-186
Received:
25 November 2020
Accepted:
9 December 2020
Published:
22 December 2020
Abstract: During the prevention and control of the COVID-19 virus, the Chinese government quickly issued various funding guarantee policies. This study analyzes the financial policies for the prevention and control of COVID-19 in China and understands China's financial support in the field of infectious disease prevention and control. The time limit is from January 22 to June 10, 2020. This study collected 78 national financial policies for COVID-19 prevention and control from the Magic of Peking University database and 9 local early treatment funding guarantee policies for visual statistical analysis. The article conducted an in-depth analysis of the government's financial support from four aspects. One is the financial support method and analyzed the financial responsibilities of the central and local governments in the field of infectious disease prevention and control. It was found that the central and local fiscal responsibilities are not well-distributed and unclear; second, the scope of financial support, the fiscal policy covers all areas, mainly medical treatment; Third, in terms of financial support scale, the outbreak prevention, and control funds have exceeded one-half of China's public health expenditures in recent years, indicating that the normalization of infectious disease prevention and control has insufficient financial support. Fourth, financial support is passive and remedial. This study summarizes the experience of China's financial support policy for COVID-19. At the same time, it provides a reference for other countries in the world affected by COVID-19 to propose effective financial policies for the prevention and control of the epidemic.
Abstract: During the prevention and control of the COVID-19 virus, the Chinese government quickly issued various funding guarantee policies. This study analyzes the financial policies for the prevention and control of COVID-19 in China and understands China's financial support in the field of infectious disease prevention and control. The time limit is from ...
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