Level of Concern, Spending, and External Support Related to COVID-19: A Comparison between Working and Non-Working Older Adults

This study compared levels of concern, spending, and use of external support by working status among older adults in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. It assessed whether work influences these variables related to wellness. Data from 2489 older adults from the 2020 U.S. Health and Retirement Study were analyzed using multiple linear and logistic regression. Older adults who worked had lower concerns about the pandemic (β = −0.28, p = 0.048), were less likely to increase their spending (OR = 0.74, p = 0.041), and were less likely to use external support (OR = 0.50, p < 0.001). Use of external support increased with age (OR = 1.04, p < 0.001) and increased spending (OR = 1.32, p = 0.019). Married older adults were less likely to increase spending (OR = 0.75, p = 0.007) and had lower concerns toward COVID-19 (β = −0.28, p = 0.011). Higher levels of concern were reported among women (β = 0.31, p = 0.005) and participants who had friends or family members diagnosed with COVID-19 (β = 0.51, p < 0.001). Women were more likely to use support (OR = 1.80, p < 0.001). Work appears to bolster older adult wellness outcomes

Exploring Factors Associated with Chinese-Americans’ Willingness to Receive an Additional Hypothetical Annual Dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine

Chinese-Americans are one of the largest groups of Asian-Americans in the US with distinctive behavioral and cultural characteristics that influence health service use. Although Chinese-Americans have significantly higher COVID-19-related mortality rates, relative to other racial and ethnic groups, limited literature is available examining their willingness to accept the COVID-19 vaccine. With recent development of the combination influenza-COVID-19 vaccine by biotechnology companies to mitigate COVID-19 infection, we examined factors associated with Chinese-Americans’ acceptance of hypothetical annual doses of COVID-19 vaccination before the vaccine rollout. A total of 241 Chinese-Americans who received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine completed an online questionnaire developed and based on health behavior theories. Our results indicated that Chinese-American participants who were satisfied with their prior COVID-19 vaccination experience, who had more accurate knowledge and perceived higher susceptibility of getting COVID-19, were more willing to receive the annual COVID-19 vaccine in the future. The findings of our current study may be used to guide the development of strategic messages to promote uptake of the annual COVID-19 vaccine by Chinese-Americans in the U.S

Mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on college students

The COVID-19 pandemic is having profound effects on college students, and those with mental health conditions are more vulnerable to the impact of this stress. Objective: To study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on college students’ mental health. Participants: Participants (n=489) were mostly female, undergraduate, and aged 18–25. Methods: Participants completed an online survey assessing symptoms of mental health problems including hopelessness, loneliness, sadness, anxiety, sadness, and anger. Results: Approximately 81.6 % self-reported at least one negative mental health symptom. Students reported increased feelings of hopelessness (+7.8%), loneliness (+6.7%), sadness (+8.8%), depression (+2.6%), anxiety (+5.2%), and anger (+14.6%) during the pandemic than before. LGBTQ students and Black students had significantly more mental health symptoms during the pandemic than straight and White students. Conclusions: Results of this study highlight the negative impact of the pandemic and resultant changes on college students’ mental health

Down-Regulated Receptor Interacting Protein 140 Is Involved in Lipopolysaccharide-Preconditioning-Induced Inactivation of Kupffer Cells and Attenuation of Hepatic Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

<div><p>Background</p><p>Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) preconditioning is known to attenuate hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/RI); however, the precise mechanism remains unclear. This study investigated the role of receptor-interacting protein 140 (RIP140) on the protective effect of LPS preconditioning in hepatic I/RI involving Kupffer cells (KCs).</p><p>Methods</p><p>Sprague—Dawley rats underwent 70% hepatic ischemia for 90 minutes. LPS (100 μg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 24 hours before ischemia. Hepatic injury was observed using serum and liver samples. The LPS/NF-κB (nuclear factor-κB) pathway and hepatic RIP140 expression in isolated KCs were investigated.</p><p>Results</p><p>LPS preconditioning significantly inhibited hepatic RIP140 expression, NF-κB activation, and serum proinflammatory cytokine expression after I/RI, with an observation of remarkably reduced serum enzyme levels and histopathologic scores. Our experiments showed that protection effects could be effectively induced in KCs by LPS preconditioning, but couldn’t when RIP140 was overexpressed in KCs. Conversely, even without LPS preconditioning, protective effects were found in KCs if RIP140 expression was suppressed with siRNA.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Down-regulated RIP140 is involved in LPS-induced inactivation of KCs and hepatic I/RI attenuation.</p></div

The influence of LPS on RIP140 expression of KCs.

<p>The RIP140 knockdown and overexpression in KCs were assessed using RT-PCR and WB <b>(A)</b>. KC RIP140 expression was examined with RT-PCR, western blot <b>(B)</b>, and immunofluorescence assay <b>(C)</b> (<i>*</i>, <i>P</i> < 0.01).</p

The influence of LPS preconditioning on RIP140 expression and NF-κB signal transduction.

<p>Hepatic RIP140 expression in the rats from different groups was examined with immunohistochemical analysis <b>(A)</b>, RT-PCR <b>(B)</b>, and western blot <b>(C)</b>. Hepatic NF-κB activity <b>(D)</b>, and TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 expression levels <b>(E)</b> were examined with ELISA and RT-PCR (*, <i>P</i> < 0.01).</p

The influence of LPS preconditioning dose on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury.

<p>Animals subjected to 90 minutes of 70% hepatic ischemia, followed by 6 h reperfusion, then the hepatic I/RI was evaluated. <b>(A)</b> The H&E staining of the liver from sham group, LPS + I/RI group and I/RI group. <b>(B)</b> ALT serum level. <b>(C)</b> Suzuki’s pathological score (*, <i>P</i> < 0.01).</p