Time and Covid-19 stress in the lockdown situation: Time free,«Dying» of boredom and sadness.

International audienc

Changes in cannabis consumption during the global covid-19 lockdown: The international COVISTRESS study

International audienceIntroduction: COVID-19 lockdown measures have been sources of both potential stress and possible psychological and addiction complications. A lack of activity and isolation during lockdown are among the factors thought to be behind the growth in the use of psychoactive substances and worsening addictive behaviors. Previous studies on the pandemic have attested to an increase in alcohol consumption during lockdowns. Likewise, data suggest there has also been a rise in the use of cannabis, although it is unclear how this is affected by external factors. Our study used quantitative data collected from an international population to evaluate changes in cannabis consumption during the lockdown period between March and October, 2020. We also compared users and non-users of the drug in relation to: (1) socio-demographic differences, (2) emotional experiences, and (3) the information available and the degree of approval of lockdown measures. Methods: An online self-report questionnaire concerning the lockdown was widely disseminated around the globe. Data was collected on sociodemographics and how the rules imposed had influenced the use of cannabis and concerns about health, the economic impact of the measures and the approach taken by government(s). Results: One hundred eighty two respondents consumed cannabis before the lockdown vs. 199 thereafter. The mean cannabis consumption fell from 13 joints per week pre-lockdown to 9.75 after it (p < 0.001). Forty-nine respondents stopped using cannabis at all and 66 admitted to starting to do so. The cannabis users were: less satisfied with government measures; less worried about their health; more concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on the economy and their career; and more frightened of becoming infected in public areas. The risk factors for cannabis use were: age (OR = 0.96); concern for physical health (OR = 0.98); tobacco (OR = 1.1) and alcohol consumption during lockdown (OR = 1.1); the pre-lockdown anger level (OR = 1.01); and feelings of boredom during the restrictions (OR = 1.1). Conclusion: In a specific sub-population, the COVID-19 lockdown brought about either an end to the consumption of cannabis or new use of the drug. The main risk factors for cannabis use were: a lower age, co-addictions and high levels of emotions. Methods: An online self-report questionnaire concerning the lockdown was widely disseminated around the globe. Data was collected on sociodemographics and how the rules imposed had influenced the use of cannabis and concerns about health, the economic impact of the measures and the approach taken by government(s).Results: One hundred eighty two respondents consumed cannabis before the lockdown vs. 199 thereafter. The mean cannabis consumption fell from 13 joints per week pre-lockdown to 9.75 after it (p < 0.001). Forty-nine respondents stopped using cannabis at all and 66 admitted to starting to do so. The cannabis users were: less satisfied with government measures; less worried about their health; more concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on the economy and their career; and more frightened of becoming infected in public areas. The risk factors for cannabis use were: age (OR = 0.96); concern for physical health (OR = 0.98); tobacco (OR = 1.1) and alcohol consumption during lockdown (OR = 1.1); the pre-lockdown anger level (OR = 1.01); and feelings of boredom during the restrictions (OR = 1.1).Conclusion: In a specific sub-population, the COVID-19 lockdown brought about either an end to the consumption of cannabis or new use of the drug. The main risk factors for cannabis use were: a lower age, co-addictions and high levels of emotions

An Assessment of the Novel COVISTRESS Questionnaire: COVID-19 Impact on Physical Activity, Sedentary Action and Psychological Emotion

International audienceGlobally the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has triggered an economic downturn and a rise in unemployment. As a result, global communities have had to face physical, health, psychological and socio-economical related stressors. The purpose of this study was to assess and report the impact of isolation and effect of coronavirus on selected psychological correlates associated with emotions. Following ethical approval, a mixed methods observational study was conducted using the validated COVISTRESS questionnaire. Two observational study scenarios were evaluated namely "Prior" to the COVID-19 outbreak and "Currently", i.e., during the COVID-19 pandemic. 10,121 participants from 67 countries completed the COVISTRESS questionnaire. From the questionnaire responses only questions that covered the participant's occupation; sociodemographic details, isolation and impact of coronavirus were selected. Further analyses were performed on output measures that included leisure time, physical activity, sedentary time and emotions. All output measures were evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) with an intensity ranging from 0-100. Descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Spearman correlational analysis were applied to the leisure time, physical activity, sedentary time and emotional feeling datasets; p = 0.05 was set as the significance level. Both males and females displayed similar output measures. The Wilcoxon signed rank test showed significant differences with respect to "Prior" COVID-19 and "Currently" for sedentary activity (Z = -40.462, p r > 0.081) for "Prior"; and poor correlations (r) between leisure, physical activity and sedentary action (i.e., -0.078 > r > 0.167) for "Current". The correlations (r) between sedentary action and emotion for "Prior" and "Currently" were (-0.100 > r > 0.075) and (-0.040 > r > 0.041) respectively. The findings presented here indicate that the COVISTRESS project has created awareness in relation to the physical and psychological impact resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings have also highlighted individual distress caused by COVID-19 and associated health consequences for the global community

Endothelial and hematopoietic hPSCs differentiation via a hematoendothelial progenitor

International audienceAbstract Background hPSC-derived endothelial and hematopoietic cells (ECs and HCs) are an interesting source of cells for tissue engineering. Despite their close spatial and temporal embryonic development, current hPSC differentiation protocols are specialized in only one of these lineages. In this study, we generated a hematoendothelial population that could be further differentiated in vitro to both lineages. Methods Two hESCs and one hiPSC lines were differentiated into a hematoendothelial population, hPSC-ECs and blast colonies (hPSC-BCs) via CD144 + -embryoid bodies (hPSC-EBs). hPSC-ECs were characterized by endothelial colony-forming assay, LDL uptake assay, endothelial activation by TNF-α, nitric oxide detection and Matrigel-based tube formation. Hematopoietic colony-forming cell assay was performed from hPSC-BCs. Interestingly, we identified a hPSC-BC population characterized by the expression of both CD144 and CD45. hPSC-ECs and hPSC-BCs were analyzed by flow cytometry and RT-qPCR; in vivo experiments have been realized by ischemic tissue injury model on a mouse dorsal skinfold chamber and hematopoietic reconstitution in irradiated immunosuppressed mouse from hPSC-ECs and hPSC-EB-CD144 + , respectively. Transcriptomic analyses were performed to confirm the endothelial and hematopoietic identity of hESC-derived cell populations by comparing them against undifferentiated hESC, among each other’s ( e.g. hPSC-ECs vs. hPSC-EB-CD144 + ) and against human embryonic liver (EL) endothelial, hematoendothelial and hematopoietic cell subpopulations. Results A hematoendothelial population was obtained after 84 h of hPSC-EBs formation under serum-free conditions and isolated based on CD144 expression. Intrafemorally injection of hPSC-EB-CD144 + contributed to the generation of CD45 + human cells in immunodeficient mice suggesting the existence of hemogenic ECs within hPSC-EB-CD144 + . Endothelial differentiation of hPSC-EB-CD144 + yields a population of > 95% functional ECs in vitro. hPSC-ECs derived through this protocol participated at the formation of new vessels in vivo in a mouse ischemia model. In vitro, hematopoietic differentiation of hPSC-EB-CD144 + generated an intermediate population of > 90% CD43 + hPSC-BCs capable to generate myeloid and erythroid colonies. Finally, the transcriptomic analyses confirmed the hematoendothelial, endothelial and hematopoietic identity of hPSC-EB-CD144 + , hPSC-ECs and hPSC-BCs, respectively, and the similarities between hPSC-BC-CD144 + CD45 + , a subpopulation of hPSC-BCs, and human EL hematopoietic stem cells/hematopoietic progenitors. Conclusion The present work reports a hPSC differentiation protocol into functional hematopoietic and endothelial cells through a hematoendothelial population. Both lineages were proven to display characteristics of physiological human cells, and therefore, they represent an interesting rapid source of cells for future cell therapy and tissue engineering

Changes in Cannabis Consumption During the Global COVID-19 Lockdown: The International COVISTRESS Study

Introduction: COVID-19 lockdown measures have been sources of both potential stress and possible psychological and addiction complications. A lack of activity and isolation during lockdown are among the factors thought to be behind the growth in the use of psychoactive substances and worsening addictive behaviors. Previous studies on the pandemic have attested to an increase in alcohol consumption during lockdowns. Likewise, data suggest there has also been a rise in the use of cannabis, although it is unclear how this is affected by external factors. Our study used quantitative data collected from an international population to evaluate changes in cannabis consumption during the lockdown period between March and October, 2020. We also compared users and non-users of the drug in relation to: (1) socio-demographic differences, (2) emotional experiences, and (3) the information available and the degree of approval of lockdown measures. Methods: An online self-report questionnaire concerning the lockdown was widely disseminated around the globe. Data was collected on sociodemographics and how the rules imposed had influenced the use of cannabis and concerns about health, the economic impact of the measures and the approach taken by government(s). Results: One hundred eighty two respondents consumed cannabis before the lockdown vs. 199 thereafter. The mean cannabis consumption fell from 13 joints per week pre-lockdown to 9.75 after it (p < 0.001). Forty-nine respondents stopped using cannabis at all and 66 admitted to starting to do so. The cannabis users were: less satisfied with government measures; less worried about their health; more concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on the economy and their career; and more frightened of becoming infected in public areas. The risk factors for cannabis use were: age (OR = 0.96); concern for physical health (OR = 0.98); tobacco (OR = 1.1) and alcohol consumption during lockdown (OR = 1.1); the pre-lockdown anger level (OR = 1.01); and feelings of boredom during the restrictions (OR = 1.1). Conclusion: In a specific sub-population, the COVID-19 lockdown brought about either an end to the consumption of cannabis or new use of the drug. The main risk factors for cannabis use were: a lower age, co-addictions and high levels of emotions.publishedVersio

COVID‐19 lockdown consequences on body mass index and perceived fragility related to physical activity: A worldwide cohort study

International audienceBackground: This paper is a follow-up study continuing the COVISTRESS network previous research regarding health-related determinants.Objective: The aim was to identify the main consequences of COVID-19 lockdown on Body Mass Index and Perceived Fragility, related to Physical Activity (PA), for different categories of populations, worldwide.Design: The study design included an online survey, during the first wave of COVID-19 lockdown, across different world regions.Setting and participants: The research was carried out on 10 121 participants from 67 countries. The recruitment of participants was achieved using snowball sampling techniques via social networks, with no exclusion criteria other than social media access.Main outcome measures: Body Mass Index, Physical Activity, Perceived Fragility and risk of getting infected items were analysed. SPSS software, v20, was used. Significance was set at P < .05.Results: Body Mass Index significantly increased during lockdown. For youth and young adults (18-35 years), PA decreased by 31.25%, for adults (36-65 years) by 26.05% and for the elderly (over 65 years) by 30.27%. There was a high level of Perceived Fragility and risk of getting infected for female participants and the elderly. Correlations between BMI, Perceived Fragility and PA were identified.Discussion and conclusions: The research results extend and confirm evidence that the elderly are more likely to be at risk, by experiencing weight gain, physical inactivity and enhanced Perceived Fragility. As a consequence, populations need to counteract the constraints imposed by the lockdown by being physically active

The major worldwide stress of healthcare professionals during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic - the international COVISTRESS survey

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has initiated an upheaval in society and has been the cause of considerable stress during this period. Healthcare professionals have been on the front line during this health crisis, particularly paramedical staff. The aim of this study was to assess the high level of stress of healthcare workers during the first wave of the pandemic.Materials and methodsThe COVISTRESS international study is a questionnaire disseminated online collecting demographic and stress-related data over the globe, during the pandemic. Stress levels were evaluated using non-calibrated visual analog scale, from 0 (no stress) to 100 (maximal stress).ResultsAmong the 13,537 individuals from 44 countries who completed the survey from January to June 2020, we included 10,051 workers (including 1379 healthcare workers, 631 medical doctors and 748 paramedical staff). The stress levels during the first wave of the pandemic were 57.8 33 in the whole cohort, 65.3 +/- 29.1 in medical doctors, and 73.6 +/- 27.7 in paramedical staff. Healthcare professionals and especially paramedical staff had the highest levels of stress (p &lt; 0.001 vs non-healthcare workers). Across all occupational categories, women had systematically significantly higher levels of work-related stress than men (p &lt; 0.001). There was a negative correlation between age and stress level (r = -0.098, p &lt; 0.001). Healthcare professionals demonstrated an increased risk of very-high stress levels (&gt;80) compared to other workers (OR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.87-2.41). Paramedical staff risk for very-high levels of stress was higher than doctors' (1.88, 1.50-2.34). The risk of high levels of stress also increased in women (1.83, 1.61-2.09; p &lt; 0.001 vs. men) and in people aged &lt;50 (1.45, 1.26-1.66; p &lt; 0.001 vs. aged &gt;50).ConclusionsThe first wave of the pandemic was a major stressful event for healthcare workers, especially paramedical staff. Among individuals, women were the most at risk while age was a protective factor