COVID-19-related consultation-liaison (CL) mental health services in general hospitals: A perspective from Europe and beyond

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic posed new challenges for integrated health care worldwide. Our study aimed to describe newly implemented structures and procedures of psychosocial consultation and liaison (CL) services in Europe and beyond, and to highlight emerging needs for co-operation. Methods: Cross-sectional online survey from June to October 2021, using a self-developed 25-item questionnaire in four language versions (English, French, Italian, German). Dissemination was via national professional societies, working groups, and heads of CL services. Results: Of the participating 259 CL services from Europe, Iran, and parts of Canada, 222 reported COVID-19 related psychosocial care (COVID-psyCare) in their hospital. Among these, 86.5% indicated that specific COVID-psyCare co-operation structures had been established. 50.8% provided specific COVID-psyCare for patients, 38.2% for relatives, and 77.0% for staff. Over half of the time resources were invested for patients. About a quarter of the time was used for staff, and these interventions, typically associated with the liaison function of CL services, were reported as most useful. Concerning emerging needs, 58.1% of the CL services providing COVID-psyCare expressed wishes for mutual information exchange and support, and 64.0% suggested specific changes or improvements that they considered essential for the future. Conclusion: Over 80% of participating CL services established specific structures to provide COVID-psyCare for patients, their relatives, or staff. Mostly, resources were committed to patient care and specific interventions were largely implemented for staff support. Future development of COVID-psyCare warrants intensified intra- and inter-institutional exchange and co-operation

Effect of rMnSOD on survival signaling in pediatric high risk T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is a mitochondrial enzyme that defends against oxidative damage due to reactive oxygen species (ROS). A new isoform of MnSOD with cytotoxic activity was recently discovered in liposarcoma cells. Here, we tested the effectiveness of a recombinant form of this isoform (rMnSOD) on leukemic T cells, Jurkat cells, and lymphocytes. Our results confirm that leukemic T cells can internalize rMnSOD and that rMnSOD causes apoptosis of 99% of leukemic cells without showing toxic effects on healthy cells. Using light and electron microscopy, we determined that an rMnSOD concentration of 0.067 μM most effective on apoptosis induction. Western blot analysis showed that treatment with 0.067 μM rMnSOD resulted in high expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and low expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in leukemia cells. Concerning signal transduction pathway no influence was observed after treatment except for Jurkat cells showing a slightly decreased expression of ERK phosphorylation. These results suggest that rMnSOD may be an effective and non-toxic treatment option for T-cell leukemia