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Introduction: This particular coronavirus disease is a pandemic giving rise to great global affliction and uncertainty, even among those who have dedicated their lives to health care or the study of disease, or both. Notwithstanding those directly affected, the lives of all people have been turned upside down. Each person has to cope with her or his personal situation and a story is taking shape for everyone on earth. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus, the source of the 2020 pandemic. This paper contains brief highlights from a duplicable PubMed search of the COVID-19 literature published from January 1 to March 31, 2020, as well as a duplicable search of past influenza-related publications. Excerpts from select papers are highlighted. The main focus of this paper is a descriptive analysis of influenza and other respiratory viruses based on a 16-year population-based dataset. In addition, the paper includes analyses based on the presence or absence of mental disorder (MD) in relation to influenza and all other respiratory viruses. Methods: The investigation is descriptive and exploratory in nature. Employing a case-comparison design, a 16-year population-based dataset was analyzed to both understand the present and plan for the future. While not all viral infections are equal, this paper focuses on system responses by describing the epidemiology of respiratory viruses, such as influenza. Influenza is established in the global population and has caused epidemics in the past. Where possible direct comparisons are made between COVID-19, influenza, and other respiratory viruses. Results: Those with MD had a higher rate of viral infection per 100,000 capita compared to those with the viral infection and no MD. Further, the postviral infection MD rate was not higher compared to the MD per capita rate before viral infection. The postinfluenza rate of MD among those who were without mental disorder before influenza represents an estimate of postinfection mental health burden. Conclusions: In summary, those with preinfluenza MD are at greater risk for viral infection. Further, while the postviral infection MD rate was not higher compared to the MD per capita rate before viral infection, this independent estimate may inform the degree to which services may need to undergo a sustained increase to address the bio psychosocial needs of each served population were COVID-19 to persist and become established in the global population.

Background: An emerging area of psycho-cardiology explores fear of disease progression in cardiac patients, following extensive research of this topic in psycho-oncology. Novel interventions that target cardiac fear of progression(FoP) may be valuable in bridging the gap between the high psychological support needs in cardiac care and limitations surrounding the efficacy of standard psychosocial treatments. However, there appears to be limited research characterizing FoP in cardiac patients with which to inform potential interventions. Aims: Using a mixed methods approach in two inter-related studies, we aimed to develop a preliminary conceptualization of cardiac-FoP. Methods: Study 1 involved a scoping review of existing qualitative research to identify the range of fears relating to disease progression reported by cardiac patients. Study 2 investigated the prevalence and distress levels associated with a selection of fears identified in Study 1 through a quantitative study of 194 cardiac patient admissions at two Australian hospitals. Results: Study 1 conceptualized cardiac-FoP in two ways, by the content of the fears and by the behavioral responses to the fears. Fears were categorized into seven broad domains: fears associated with death, health, interpersonal relationships, treatment, accessing help, role responsibilities, and physical activity. Five categories of behavioral responses were identified: avoidance, hyperawareness, symptom misattribution, seeking help, and lifestyle changes. Study 2 indicated a high prevalence of fear, with an average endorsement of 40.9%. When fear was endorsed, an average of 45.2% of cardiac patients experienced moderate-to-severe distress. Discussion: This paper provides an initial conceptualization of FoP in cardiac patients, providing preliminary evidence of the rates of fear and associated distress in this population. Drawing on this conceptualization, unique measurement tools and interventions should be developed to identify and address FoP in cardiac patients.

Purpose: The Medical Maximizer-Minimizer Scale (MMS) has been validated to predict preferences for health-care service use on hypothetical vignettes in nonclinical cohorts. Using mixed methods, we sought to determine whether it would predict preferences for cardiac stress testing in a cohort of emergency department (ED) patients with low-risk chest pain within the context of the Health Belief Model (HBM). Design: Patients who met the definition for low-risk chest pain and who were eligible to take a cardiac stress test before being discharged from the hospital were recruited to participate. Each participant provided demographic information and completed the MMS-10 paper-and-pencil scale. They then watched a 7-min informational video on an iPad tablet that provided information about the condition of “low-risk chest pain” and the probabilities of results and outcomes following a cardiac stress test. After the video, participants answered a one-question survey on their intention-to-take (ITT) a cardiac stress test or not and were then interviewed about factors that influenced their decision-making. Interviews were interpreted using a HBM lens. Results: Sixty participants were enrolled in the study who were between the ages of 29 and 80 years with a mean age of 53 (± 10.8); 58% were women and 90% were white. The mean MMS score was 4.6 (± 0.8) and ranged from 2.6 to 6.8. Minimizers accounted for 25% (n = 15) of the cohort while maximizers accounted for 75% (n = 45). MMS scores followed a normal distribution and were found to be mildly correlated with ITT scores (r = 0.25; P = 0.051). The mean ITT scores for individuals with MMS scores in the 1st and 4th quartiles were 3.9 ± 2.2 and 5.9 ± 1.7, respectively. After watching the informational video, individuals' perceptions related to the: (1) low threat posed by the condition, (2) low utility (low benefits + significant barriers) of taking a cardiac stress test, and (3) high benefits of taking a cardiac stress test were all strongly associated with ITT scores in a directional manner. No direct connection was found between minimizer-maximizer preferences and health beliefs after watching the informational video. This may have been due to sample size and underrepresentation of minimizers in the cohort. Conclusions: MMS and health beliefs predicted preferences for cardiac stress testing in ED patients with low-risk chest pain after viewing an informational video on the topic. However, we did not find direct evidence that the relationship between MMS and decision-making is mediated through the formation of perceptions of threat and utility consistent with the HBM. More research is needed to establish this connection and understand how framing of information in the health-care space may interact with stable personality traits to influence decision-making.

The review deals with “physicians' dissatisfaction (PD) due to working conditions.” The definition of PD is not standardized, and therefore, published papers report different data. It is, however, undeniable that the position of the physicians within the society has altered dramatically and that these changes are distressing. Every human deserves the right to be happy and fulfilled in his/her vocation. Too many physicians dislike their work after some years in practice. Of note, the financial aspect is not the first relevant cause of their dissatisfaction. The most important causes of dissatisfaction are the loss of autonomy, political mismanagement, and many bureaucratic hurdles. The increasing dissatisfaction among many physicians cannot simply be dismissed as inconvenient. The causes of their dissatisfaction are real because they interfere with a good medical care of patients. Dissatisfied physicians can negatively influence the workplace. Physicians should enjoy good working conditions and communities to which they can connect. This will allow them to devote time and energy building ties in their communities. There is an urgent need for all stakeholders to reconsider how to create a working environment that would reduce PD.

Periodontal disease (PD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are two types of the most prevalent disorders in elderly people, and an increasing number of data have shown a clinically important association between these two diseases. Numerous published studies have revealed a positive association between PD and CVD, such as myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, stroke, and hypertension. Besides, periodontal conditions may be an independent predictor of all-cause mortality. Some interventional trials also indicate the effect of periodontal treatment on the CVD. The aim of this paper is to perform a critical review of the observational and interventional studies about this association, and we especially attached importance to the data from systematic reviews and meta-analysis. In addition, several pathogenic mechanisms implicated in the association between these two diseases were also reviewed. We suggest to promote close collaboration between physicians and dentists, thereby contributing to the improvement of prevention and control of cardiovascular conditions. Future researches are warranted to investigate the potential mechanisms.