Results of the COVID-19 mental health international for the general population (COMET-G) study.

INTRODUCTION: There are few published empirical data on the effects of COVID-19 on mental health, and until now, there is no large international study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, an online questionnaire gathered data from 55,589 participants from 40 countries (64.85% females aged 35.80 ± 13.61; 34.05% males aged 34.90±13.29 and 1.10% other aged 31.64±13.15). Distress and probable depression were identified with the use of a previously developed cut-off and algorithm respectively. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics were calculated. Chi-square tests, multiple forward stepwise linear regression analyses and Factorial Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tested relations among variables. RESULTS: Probable depression was detected in 17.80% and distress in 16.71%. A significant percentage reported a deterioration in mental state, family dynamics and everyday lifestyle. Persons with a history of mental disorders had higher rates of current depression (31.82% vs. 13.07%). At least half of participants were accepting (at least to a moderate degree) a non-bizarre conspiracy. The highest Relative Risk (RR) to develop depression was associated with history of Bipolar disorder and self-harm/attempts (RR = 5.88). Suicidality was not increased in persons without a history of any mental disorder. Based on these results a model was developed. CONCLUSIONS: The final model revealed multiple vulnerabilities and an interplay leading from simple anxiety to probable depression and suicidality through distress. This could be of practical utility since many of these factors are modifiable. Future research and interventions should specifically focus on them

Single-stage unifocalization and correction with median sternotomy in complex pulmonary atresia

Objective: This study assessed the surgical and post-operative outcome of single-stage complete unifocalization and repair procedure in patients with complex pulmonary atresia

Peri-operative comparison of different transient external shunt techniques in bidirectional cavo-pulmonary shunt

Objective: In patients with functional single ventricular physiology, the avoidance of cardiopulmonary bypass offers many advantages including earlier extubation, decreased necessity of inotropic support, improved hemodynamical status and reduced likehood of postoperative prolonged pleural effusion. We believe that the bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis operations may be performed with transient external shunt techniques. The purpose of this prospective study is the peri- and post-operative comparison of different transient external shunt methods used in bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt operations. Methods: Between years 1997 and 2000, 30 patients have undergone bidirectional cavo-pulmonary shunt operation by using three different types of external shunt. The mean patient age was 13 months (range, 3 months-3 years). Previous operations had been performed in ten patients (33%). All patients were divided into three groups according to type of external shunt used. In group A (ten patients), the transient external shunt was constructed between superior vena cava and right atrium by uniting two standard venous cannulas with a Y-connector. In group B (ten patients), the external shunt was performed with a single short venous cannula constructed between superior vena cava and right atrium. In group C (ten patients), the external shunt was constructed between superior vena cava and left pulmonary artery by using a single short venous carmula. During operation, central venous pressure (CVP), arterial O-2 saturation and mean arterial blood pressure were recorded continuously. Results: All operations are completed without the establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass. Hospital mortality was 3.3%. One patient in group A died because of low cardiac output at the end of postoperative day 2. All patients were extubated within 4 h. In groups A-C mean superior vena caval pressures were measured 28, 24 and 21 mmHg, respectively during superior vena cava-right pulmonary artery anastomosis. In both groups A and B patients, arterial O-2 saturation decreased to a minimum 53 +/- 2 and 53 +/- 2%, respectively during the operation. In the group C, minimum arterial O-2 saturation was measured 82 2%. Although mean arterial pressure decreased in all groups during clampage; in group C patients, this drop is not significant. Conclusion: Based on the study presented here, bidirectional cavo-pulmonary anastomosis can be carried out by using different types of transient external shunt. The best hemodynamical condition and arterial O-2 levels were achieved with the shunt constructed between superior vena cava and left pulmonary artery. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

The surgical treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms in patients with light to moderate renal dysfunction

Objective : The incremental surgical risk caused by mild or moderate renal dysfunction in patients undergoing surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm is not well defined. The aim of this study is to analyze the prognostic significance of mild or moderate renal dysfunction in 79 patients who have undergone repair of an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm at our institution

Heat stress increases the effectiveness of early ischemic preconditioning in spinal cord protection

Objective: This study was aimed to test the hypothesis that the combination of heat stress and early ischemic preconditioning (IP) applied before aortic occlusion would be protective against spinal cord ischemic injury

Interannual variability of germination and cone/seed morphometric characteristics in the endemic Grecian fir (Abies cephalonica) over an 8-year-long study

Abies cephalonica cone and seed morphometric characteristics as well as seed germination behaviour were investigated during an 8-year-long diachronic study (2007-2015). The research was carried out in Parnitha National Park, in the part of this Greek endemic, silver fir population that was spared from an unprecedented wildfire (2007). A statistically significant interannual and among-tree variation of cone traits has been identified, except for cone diameter. Cone length is correlated to the number of seeds per cone, while the percentage of empty seeds has been consistently high, with extreme values of 29.3 and 81.8% in a masting (2015) and lean crop (2009) year, respectively. There is also a considerable proportion of dead (including infected) and non-germinated seeds, and the eventual germinable fraction is well below 25% with spikes in masting years (39.4 and 60.9% in 2010 and 2015, respectively). Untreated seeds have been tested at a wide range of constant and alternating temperatures and germination is completed within 4-5 weeks at T ≥ 15°C and ca 15 weeks at 5-10°C. A chilling pretreatment of 4-8 weeks (at 2-4°C) concludes germination at 15-20°C within 2 weeks. A significant white light requirement has been observed for untreated seeds at 15-20°C, while germination was light indifferent at lower or higher temperatures. Data obtained in this study confirm the present, field seed germination during springtime; we may also predict an earlier germination (late autumn to mid-winter) in forest gaps, under the predicted, warmer conditions in the future. © Copyright Cambridge University Press 2017