Trauma-Related Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic In 59 Countries

First published online March 11, 2022The COVID-19 pandemic has upended life like few other events in modern history, with differential impacts on varying population groups. This study examined trauma-related distress among 6,882 adults ages 18 to 94 years old in 59 countries during April to May 2020. More than two-thirds of participants reported clinically significant trauma-related distress. Increased distress was associated with unemployment; identifying as transgender, nonbinary, or a cisgender woman; being from a higher income country; current symptoms and positive diagnosis of COVID-19; death of a loved one; restrictive government-imposed isolation; financial difficulties; and food insecurity. Other factors associated with distress included working with potentially infected individuals, care needs at home, a difficult transition to working from home, conflict in the home, separation from loved ones, and event restrictions. Latin American and Caribbean participants reported more trauma-related distress than participants from Europe and Central Asia. Findings inform treatment efforts and highlight the need to address trauma-related distress to avoid long-term mental health consequences.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the European Commission (H2020-MSCA-IF-2018-837228-ENGRAVING). Daniela Ramos-Usuga was supported by a predoctoral fellowship from the Basque Government (PRE_2019_1_0164)

The cell biology of Nek8, defective in cystic kidney diseases

Ciliopathies, which are caused by defects in cilia and basal bodies include the cystic kidney diseases. Mutations in the NIMA-related kinase, Nek8, are associated with the cystic kidney disease, nephronophthisis, and cause renal cysts in juvenile cystic kidney (jck) mice. In this study, I find that Nek8 localizes to cilia in cell culture and in developing mouse kidney. Specifically, Nek8 is expressed in cilia of epithelial cells lining the tubules of the uretic bud lineage. Cystogenic forms of Nek8 show differential ciliary localization, but do not affect ciliogenesis. In jck mouse kidney, ciliary Nek8 localization is reduced. These data indicate Nek8 functions within the cilium and defects in localization are correlated with renal cystogenesis

Slamming the door on unwanted guests: Why preemptive strikes at the mucosa may be the best strategy against HIV

This was an invited review summarizing recent findings about the role of dendritic cells in HIV transmission and how these might influence the success of microbicides in preventing HIV spread

Sleeping with the enemy: The insidious relationship between dendritic cells and immunodeficiency viruses

This was an invited book chapter encompassing the current knowledge about the dichotomous involvement of dendritic cells in HIV transmission and amplification