Abstract
Background
School closure created difficulties for parents, who were asked to care for their children and help them with schooling, while working at home. We aimed to explore the experiences ...in organising school for children at home and its implications on children’s psychological well-being and educational progress during the quarantine for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
A nationwide online survey of mothers of primary and middle school students was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Demographic data and information on distance learning organisation and children’s attitudes and behavioural changes were collected.
Results
2149 mothers completed the survey, with a final sample of 1601 subjects. Large differences between primary and middle school emerged: lessons were less organised and routines were more instable for the youngest, who could not pay attention for more than 20 min (28.3%) and needed breaks every 10 min (21.6%), with lower quality of learning (40.6%), increased restlessness (69.1%), and aggressiveness (33.3%). A large use of screens was reported, with an abuse in screen time in 2%. Two thirds of mothers did not approve of distance learning (72.2%) because of their role in replacing teachers (77.8%), the effort required (66%), and the great commitment required (78.3%).
Conclusions
Distance learning increased educational deprivation and social inequalities, especially for the youngest children, who lost almost one year of school. The situation was even worse for children with disabilities, who were neglected by the institutions. This period should be considered as an opportunity to correct the weaknesses of our school system.
Quarantine as a preventive action to reduce people's exposure to a contagious disease has substantial psychological impact. We aimed to collect information on psychologically distressing experiences ...of Italians living in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic.
From 6 to 20 April 2020 participants filled out an online questionnaire. Demographic and physical symptoms data from the prior 14 days of quarantine were collected. Psychological impact of quarantine was assessed by the COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI).
In all, 20,158 participants completed the online survey. Of these, 11,910 (59.1%) were from Lombardy, the region with 37.7% of positive cases identified during the survey period. 30.1% of responders were male. About half (55.9%) of responders were 18-50 years old, 54.3% had a tertiary level of education, 69.5% were workers, 84.1% were living in houses with ≥3 rooms, and 13.7% were living alone. 9.7% had had contact with COVID-19 positive people. Of all responders, 9978 (48.6%) reported a psychological impact, 8897 (43.4%) of whom reported mild or moderate and 1081 (5.2%) severe psychological impact. The multivariate analysis, after adjustments, showed that an increasing CPDI score was associated with gender (female), first-second educational level, being unemployed, living in a ≤2 room house, having had new health problems during the previous 14 days, and not having been out of the house in the previous week. Concerning the type of psychological distress, 2003 responders (9.9%) reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms, 1131 (5.5%) moderate to severe anxiety symptoms, and 802 (3.9%) moderate to severe physical symptoms. A positive correlation was found between responder rate (per 10.000 residents) and positive COVID-19 cases (per 10.000 residents) by region (r
= + 0.83, p = < 0.0001), and between responder rate and region latitude (r
= + 0.91, p = < 0.0001), with a greater response rate in the north. Considering Lombardy Region responders, a negative correlation between CPDI score and distance from place of residence to the red zone (Nembro-Alzano) was found. Higher prevalence of psychological distress was found up to 25 km away from the red zone and, in particular, severe distress up to 15 km.
Policy makers and mental health professionals should be aware of quarantine's adverse mental health consequences. Factors influencing the success of quarantine and infection control practices for both disease containment and community recovery should be identified and additional support to vulnerable persons at increased risk of adverse psychological and social consequences of quarantine should be guaranteed.
Background
Social media contains an overabundance of health information relating to people living with different type of diseases. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental ...condition with lifelong impacts and reported trends have revealed a considerable increase in prevalence and incidence. Research had shown that the ASD community provides significant support to its members through Twitter, providing information about their values and perceptions through their use of words and emotional stance. Our purpose was to analyze all the messages posted on Twitter platform regarding ASD and analyze the topics covered within the tweets, to understand the attitude of the various people interested in the topic. In particular, we focused on the discussion of ASD and COVID-19.
Methods
The data collection process was based on the search for tweets through hashtags and keywords. After bots screening, the NMF (Non-Negative Matrix Factorization) method was used for topic modeling because it produces more coherent topics compared to other solutions. Sentiment scores were calculated using AFiNN for each tweet to represent its negative to positive emotion.
Results
From the 2.458.929 tweets produced in 2020, 691.582 users were extracted (188 bots which generated 59.104 tweets), while from the 2.393.236 total tweets from 2019, the number of identified users was 684.032 (230 bots which generated 50.057 tweets). The total number of COVID-ASD tweets is only a small part of the total dataset. Often, the negative sentiment identified in the sentiment analysis referred to anger towards COVID-19 and its management, while the positive sentiment reflected the necessity to provide constant support to people with ASD.
Conclusions
Social media contributes to a great discussion on topics related to autism, especially with regards to focus on family, community, and therapies. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the use of social media, especially during the lockdown period. It is important to help develop and distribute appropriate, evidence-based ASD-related information.
Basic and translational research in reproductive medicine can provide new insights with the application of scanning probe microscopies, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning near-field ...optical microscopy (SNOM). These microscopies, which provide images with spatial resolution well beyond the optical resolution limit, enable users to achieve detailed descriptions of cell topography, inner cellular structure organization, and arrangements of single or cluster membrane proteins. A peculiar characteristic of AFM operating in force spectroscopy mode is its inherent ability to measure the interaction forces between single proteins or cells, and to quantify the mechanical properties (i.e., elasticity, viscoelasticity, and viscosity) of cells and tissues. The knowledge of the cell ultrastructure, the macromolecule organization, the protein dynamics, the investigation of biological interaction forces, and the quantification of biomechanical features can be essential clues for identifying the molecular mechanisms that govern responses in living cells. This review highlights the main findings achieved by the use of AFM and SNOM in assisted reproductive research, such as the description of gamete morphology; the quantification of mechanical properties of gametes; the role of forces in embryo development; the significance of investigating single-molecule interaction forces; the characterization of disorders of the reproductive system; and the visualization of molecular organization. New perspectives of analysis opened up by applying these techniques and the translational impacts on reproductive medicine are discussed.
Actin-binding filamin C (FLNC) is expressed in cardiomyocytes, where it localizes to Z-discs, sarcolemma, and intercalated discs. Although FLNC truncation variants (
) are an established cause of ...arrhythmias and heart failure, changes in biomechanical properties of cardiomyocytes are mostly unknown. Thus, we investigated the mechanical properties of human-induced pluripotent stem cells-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) carrying
. CRISPR/Cas9 genome-edited homozygous FLNC
hiPSC-CMs and heterozygous knock-out FLNC
hiPSC-CMs were analyzed and compared to wild-type FLNC (FLNC
) hiPSC-CMs. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to perform micro-indentation to evaluate passive and dynamic mechanical properties. A qualitative analysis of the beating traces showed gene dosage-dependent-manner "irregular" peak profiles in FLNC
and FLNC
hiPSC-CMs. Two Young's moduli were calculated: E1, reflecting the compression of the plasma membrane and actin cortex, and E2, including the whole cell with a cytoskeleton and nucleus. Both E1 and E2 showed decreased stiffness in mutant FLNC
and FLNC
iPSC-CMs compared to that in FLNC
. The cell adhesion force and work of adhesion were assessed using the retraction curve of the SCFS. Mutant FLNC iPSC-CMs showed gene dosage-dependent decreases in the work of adhesion and adhesion forces from the heterozygous FLNC
to the FLNC
model compared to FLNC
, suggesting damaged cytoskeleton and membrane structures. Finally, we investigated the effect of crenolanib on the mechanical properties of hiPSC-CMs. Crenolanib is an inhibitor of the Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor α (PDGFRA) pathway which is upregulated in
hiPSC-CMs. Crenolanib was able to partially rescue the stiffness of FLNC
hiPSC-CMs compared to control, supporting its potential therapeutic role.
The connection between cytoskeleton alterations and diseases is well known and has stimulated research on cell mechanics, aiming to develop reliable biomarkers. In this study, we present results on ...rheological, adhesion, and morphological properties of primary rat cardiac fibroblasts, the cytoskeleton of which was altered by treatment with cytochalasin D (Cyt-D) and nocodazole (Noc), respectively. We used two complementary techniques: quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and digital holographic microscopy (DHM). Qualitative data on cell viscoelasticity and adhesion changes at the cell-substrate near-interface layer were obtained with QCM, while DHM allowed the measurement of morphological changes due to the cytoskeletal alterations. A rapid effect of Cyt-D was observed, leading to a reduction in cell viscosity, loss of adhesion, and cell rounding, often followed by detachment from the surface. Noc treatment, instead, induced slower but continuous variations in the rheological behavior for four hours of treatment. The higher vibrational energy dissipation reflected the cell's ability to maintain a stable attachment to the substrate, while a cytoskeletal rearrangement occurs. In fact, along with the complete disaggregation of microtubules at prolonged drug exposure, a compensatory effect of actin polymerization emerged, with increased stress fiber formation.
Young children's healthy development depends on nurturing care, which ensures health, nutrition, responsive caregiving, safety and security, and early learning. Infancy and childhood are ...characterized by rapid growth and development, and these two factors contribute largely to determining health status and well-being across the lifespan. Identification of modifiable risk factors and prognostic factors during the critical periods of life will contribute to the development of effective prevention and intervention strategies. The NASCITA (NAscere e creSCere in ITAlia) study was created to evaluate physical, cognitive, and psychological development, health status and health resource utilization during the first six years of life in a cohort of newborns, and to evaluate potential associated factors.
NASCITA is an ongoing, dynamic, prospective, population-based birth cohort study of an expected number of more than 5000 newborns who will be recruited in 22 national geographic clusters starting in 2019. It was designed to follow children from birth to school entry age for a wide range of determinants, disorders, and diseases. Recruitment of the newborns (and their parents) will take place during the first routine well-child visit, which takes place at the office of the pediatrician assigned to them by the local health unit of residence, and which is scheduled for all newborns born in Italy within the first 45 days of their life. Data will be web-based and collected by the family pediatricians during each of the 7 standard well-child visits scheduled for all children during their first 6 years of life. Information on every contact with the enrolled children in addition to these prescheduled visits will be also recorded.
The NASCITA cohort study provides a framework in which children are followed from birth to six-years of age. NASCITA will broaden our understanding of the contribution of early-life factors to infant and child health and development. NASCITA provides opportunities to initiate new studies, also experimental ones, in parts of the cohort, and will contribute relevant information on determinants and health outcomes to policy and decision makers. Cohort details can be found on https://coortenascita.marionegri.it.
Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03894566. Ethics committee approval: 6 February 2019, Verbale N 59.
To investigate timely access to and the time needed to complete the diagnostic path of children and adolescents with suspected attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the 18 Italian ...Lombardy Region ADHD reference centers.
Data of children and adolescents enrolled in the Regional ADHD disease-oriented Registry for suspected ADHD who requested their first visit in 2013-2017 were analyzed.
The sample comprised 2262 children and adolescents aged 5-17 years who accessed the ADHD centers for diagnostic classification and management. The median waiting time was of 177 days (range 66-375) from the request for the initial appointment to the completion of the diagnostic path, with a three - fold difference between centers. In addition to the center, the strongest significant predictors of long waiting times were age comorbidities, the severity of the disorder, and having already completed some diagnostic procedures provided by the common standard path.
To guarantee an equal standard of care in ADHD centers for all children and adolescents there is a pressing need to reduce the times to complete the diagnostic path. It is the task of both policymakers and each center to optimize the quality of the service and of the care delivered.
In its many applications, the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) is a promising tool in cardiac mechanobiology because it can unravel the viscoelastic and mechano-dynamic properties of individual ...cardiomyocytes. However, the biophysical investigation of more accurate 3D models is hampered by commercial probes, which typically operate at the cell sub-compartmental resolution. We have previously shown how flat macro-probes can overcome these limitations by extending the AFM mechanical measurements to multicellular aggregates. Such macro-probes are fabricated by standard micromachining and carry a flat polymeric wedge to offset the AFM mounting tilt. Therefore, the AFM is upgraded to a micro-parallel plate rheometer with unmatched force range and sensitivity. In this article, we show how these macro-probes can be applied to reveal the global rheology of primary cardiomyocytes spheroids, by performing stress-relaxation tests. More importantly, we demonstrate that these macro-probes can be used as passive sensors capable of monitoring the spheroid beating force and beating pattern, and to perform a “micro-CPR” on the spheroid itself.
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•Cardiac mechanobiology has been succesfully studied at the single-cell level using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).•Commercial cantilevers can interrogate the sample at the single-cell level only, so we fabricate large and flat ones.•We can now disclose relevant information regarding the mechanical properties of whole 3D cardiac spheroids.•We perform stress-relaxation experiments, which give us an estimation of the spheroids' viscoelasticity.•By mechanically loading the spheroids with cyclic compressions, we stimulate their autonomous beating.
Background: The purpose of this article is to update the diagnostic assessment, therapeutic approach, and 12–18 month follow-up of patients added to the Italian Lombardy Attention Deficit ...Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Register. Methods: Medical records of patients added to the Registry from 2011 to 2021 were analysed. Results: 4091 of 5934 patients met the criteria for a diagnosis of ADHD, and 20.3% of them presented a familiarity with the disorder. A total of 2879 children (70.4%) had at least one comorbidity disorder, in prevalence a learning disorder (39%). Nearly all (95.9%) received at least one psychological prescription, 17.9% of them almost one pharmacological treatment, and 15.6% a combination of both. Values of ≥5 of the Clinical Global Impression—Severity scale (CGI-S) are more commonly presented by patients with a pharmacological prescription than with a psychological treatment (p < 0.0001). A significant improvement was reported in half of the patients followed after 1 year, with Clinical Global Impression—Improvement scale (CGI-I) ≤ 3. In all, 233 of 4091 are 18-year-old patients. Conclusions: A ten-year systematic monitoring of models of care was a fruitful shared and collaborative initiative in order to promote significant improvement in clinical practice, providing effective and continuous quality of care. The unique experience reported here should spread.
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