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Asian-Pacific perspective on the psychological well-being of healthcare workers during the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Nicholas W. S. Chew, Jinghao Nicholas Ngiam, Benjamin Yong-Qiang Tan, Sai-Meng Tham, Celine Yan-Shan Tan, Mingxue Jing, Renarebecca Sagayanathan, Jin Tao Chen, Lily Y. H. Wong, Aftab Ahmad, Faheem Ahmed Khan, Maznah Marmin, Fadhlina Binte Hassan, Tai Mei-Ling Sharon, Chin Han Lim, Mohamad Iqbal Bin Mohaini, Rivan Danuaji, Thang H. Nguyen, Georgios Tsivgoulis, Sotirios Tsiodras, Paraskevi C. Fragkou, Dimitra Dimopoulou, Arvind K. Sharma, Kenam Shah, Bhargesh Patel, Suktara Sharma, R. N. Komalkumar, R. V. Meenakshi, Shikha Talati, Hock Luen Teoh, Cyrus S. Ho, Roger C. Ho, Vijay K. Sharma
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 6 / Issue 6 / November 2020
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 08 October 2020, e116
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- Article
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Background
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to significant strain on front-line healthcare workers.
AimsIn this multicentre study, we compared the psychological outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in various countries in the Asia-Pacific region and identified factors associated with adverse psychological outcomes.
MethodFrom 29 April to 4 June 2020, the study recruited healthcare workers from major healthcare institutions in five countries in the Asia-Pacific region. A self-administrated survey that collected information on prior medical conditions, presence of symptoms, and scores on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales and the Impact of Events Scale-Revised were used. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) relating to COVID-19 was compared, and multivariable logistic regression identified independent factors associated with adverse psychological outcomes within each country.
ResultsA total of 1146 participants from India, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam were studied. Despite having the lowest volume of cases, Vietnam displayed the highest prevalence of PTSD. In contrast, Singapore reported the highest case volume, but had a lower prevalence of depression and anxiety. In the multivariable analysis, we found that non-medically trained personnel, the presence of physical symptoms and presence of prior medical conditions were independent predictors across the participating countries.
ConclusionsThis study highlights that the varied prevalence of psychological adversity among healthcare workers is independent of the burden of COVID-19 cases within each country. Early psychological interventions may be beneficial for the vulnerable groups of healthcare workers with presence of physical symptoms, prior medical conditions and those who are not medically trained.
In situ generation of milk protein-derived peptides in drying-off cows
- Chin H Ho, Chai J Chang, Wen B Liu, Huo C Peh, Shuen E Chen, Hui Y Chen, Tsung H Ho, Ming T Chen, Hajime Nagahata
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- Journal:
- Journal of Dairy Research / Volume 77 / Issue 4 / November 2010
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 08 September 2010, pp. 487-497
- Print publication:
- November 2010
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Our previous studies demonstrated prompt elevation of proteinase activity in mammary secretion of drying-off cows and goats. The current study examined the progressive changes in composition of cow mammary secretion following drying-off and, in parallel, characterized the mode of peptide neogenesis using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and liquid chromatography-electrospray-ionization (LC-ESI) MS/MS. The results show that the percentage of casein of total milk protein at time of drying-off was 76%, which dropped to 41%, 24%, and 16%, respectively, 1, 2, and 3 weeks after drying-off. Levels of β-lactoglobulin and α-lactoalbumin in mammary secretions of drying-off cows decreased prominently while levels of lactoferrin, BSA, and casein derived-proteins increased concomitantly compared with regular milk. A fractionation procedure was applied to remove molecules larger than 10 kDa before MALDI-TOF MS and LC-ESI MS/MS and the results show that the MALDI-TOF MS peptide profile of mammary secretion ranging from m/z 600 to 4000 was apparently modified after drying-off for 1 week, whereas species 1590 m/z and 2460 m/z were most obviously enriched compared with regular milk. LC-ESI MS/MS results were used to map peptide sequence with Mascot search server and under no post translational modification to reduce database size and 202 novel β-casein-derived peptides were successfully identified in mammary secretion after drying-off for 1 week in contrast to regular milk. Accordingly at least 48 additional cleavage positions were assigned on β-casein for mammary secretion. Among the 202 novel peptides, 5 are homologous with confirmed opioid agonists, angiotensin 1-converting enzyme inhibitors, or immuno-modulators. In conclusion, peptides are released in situ from milk proteins within short intervals following drying-off in cows. They might play roles in the transition of mammary glands from lactating to non-lactating. With specified post-translational modifications and focused functional screening, novel peptides are yet to be discovered in dry cow mammary secretion.