Queers in quarantine: young LGBTQ+ people’s experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden

The COVID-19 pandemic led to major restrictions of everyday life activities. This worsened the social situation of many people, and marginalised groups have been especially affected. This article explores how LGBTQ+ young adults in Sweden have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent recommendations and restrictions. Fifteen participants between 20-29 years, who self-identified as LGBTQ+, were interviewed about their experiences. A thematic analysis of the data showed that the participants perceived their psychological wellbeing to have been greatly affected by the pandemic. Several reported symptoms of clinical depression, as well as anxiety, worry, rumination, and a heightened sensitivity to stress. Stressors included fear of the disease itself, and fear of spreading the virus, as well as the negative consequences of adhering to the recommendations of social distancing, which constantly interplayed with the marginalised position of being a young LGBTQ+ person. Most participants experienced a decrease in minority stress in face-to-face interaction with social distancing measures in place, but an increase in minority stress online. Those who faced minority stress at home experienced the isolation as particularly stressful. Limited access to the LGBTQ+ community was a common stressor. For transgender participants, the effects on transgender healthcare, such as prolonged waiting times for gender dysphoria assessment and hormone treatment, were a major challenge. Our results have added valuable knowledge to research indicating how vulnerable young adults were highly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions

3-Benzyl-6-(2-chloro­benzo­yl)-1,3-benzoxazol-2(3H)-one

In the title compound, C21H14ClNO3, the benzoxazolone ring system is planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.022 Å) and forms dihedral angles of 75.38 (10) and 65.92 (13)° with the mean planes of the chloro­benzoyl (r.m.s. deviation = 0.045 Å, excluding O atom) and benzyl (r.m.s. deviation = 0.023 Å) groups. The observed structure is stabilized by weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and weak inter­molecular C—H⋯π inter­actions

Serratia marcescens bacteremia traced to an infused narcotic

BACKGROUND From June 30, 1998, through March 21, 1999, several patients in the surgical intensive care unit of a hospital acquired Serratia marcescens bacteremia. We investigated this outbreak. METHODS A case was defined as the occurrence of S. marcescens bacteremia in any patient in the surgical intensive care unit during the period of the epidemic. To identify risk factors, we compared patients with S. marcescens bacteremia with randomly selected controls. Isolates from patients and from medications were evaluated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The hair of one employee was tested for fentanyl. RESULTS Twenty-six patients with S. marcescens bacteremia were identified; eight (31 percent) had polymicrobial bacteremia, and seven of these had Enterobacter cloacae and S. marcescens in the same culture. According to univariate analysis, patients with S. marcescensbacteremia stayed in the surgical intensive care unit longer than controls (13.5 vs. 4.0 days, PS. marcescens and E. cloacae. The isolates from the case patients and from the fentanyl infusions had similar patterns on pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. After removal of the implicated respiratory therapist, no further cases occurred. Full Text of Results... CONCLUSIONS An outbreak of S. marcescens and E. cloacae bacteremia in a surgical intensive care unit was traced to extrinsic contamination of the parenteral narcotic fentanyl by a health care worker. Our findings underscore the risk of complications in patients that is associated with illicit narcotic use by health care workers

“Under house arrest”: mental health and minority stress experiences of LGBTQ+ young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe

Introduction: Increased rates of mental health issues among LGBTQ+ people have been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among young people. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted 2021 with 61 young adult LGBTQ+ people residing in France, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, and the UK. Each interview was summarized on a template covering the participants’ experiences of pandemic restrictions, mental health, and minority stress during this period. A thematic analysis was conducted on the templates. Results: The pandemic restrictions had a large impact on the participants’ lives, leaving them stuck at home. Not having access to the LGBTQ+ community was an additional stress, as this is a venue for support. Half of the participants had suffered from mental health issues during the pandemic. Those who were living in non-affirmative households had a particularly difficult time and experienced overwhelming stress. Increased feelings of gender dysphoria were seen among trans participants due to lack of access to gender affirming healthcare. Most participants experienced less distal minority stress than usual due to social isolation restrictions. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated social restrictions had a large impact on the lives of LGBTQ+ young adults. Many experience worse mental health, although a relief from distal minority stress was common. Policy implications: Policy makers must consider the needs of LGBTQ+ young adults as they seek to explore and establish their gender and/or sexual identity. During a pandemic, it is particularly important to help young LGBTQ+ people to engage with the LGBTQ+ community

Professor Gösta Grotenfelt

vokkirjasto Aj-

Alternatives in the Management of Atherosclerotic Occlusive Disease of Aortic Arch Branches

• The cases of 62 patients with atherosclerotic occlusive disease at the origin of the aortic arch branches were reviewed. Thirty-six were initially without neurologic symptoms and in four (11%) intermittent neurologic symptoms without stroke developed during an average follow-up of 27 months. No patient had limb-threatening ischemia. Twenty-six operations were performed for neurologic symptoms or disabling limb ischemia, with one death. Five-year graft patency by life-table analysis was 81%. Preoperative or late postoperative stroke in three patients with occluded common carotid artery suggests this to be a more dangerous subgroup. We advise surgery for patients with disabling arm symptoms or with ischemic neurologic symptoms associated with multiple-vessel disease or with major lesions in the innominate-carotid circulation. We advocate selective revascularization with priority given to the innominate-carotid flow. Isolated subclavian lesions first seen as a single lesion or as the only residual lesion after reconstruction for multiple-vessel disease can be safely left unreconstructed.(Arch Surg 1981;116:1457-1460

Dependent Rubor as a Predictor of Limb Risk in Patients With Claudication

• We followed up 133 patients with claudication to determine the prognostic value of dependent rubor. Life tables analysis was used, with a threatened limb as the endpoint. A threatened limb was defined as the development of ischemic rest pain, skin ulceration, or gangrene. At four years, the rubor group had a limb-threat incidence of 25%, compared with only 9% in the nonrubor group. While not indicative of imminent limb loss, the presence of dependent rubor defines patients whose limb risk is greater than in those with claudication alone.(Arch Surg 1984;119:932-935