Search

Unhealthy behaviors (UBs) can affect mental health. The most impactful of these are alcohol abuse, sedentary behavior, and sleep disturbances. Since these UBs are not well explored in medical residents, this study aims to overcome this gap, focusing on outcomes such as depression and anxiety. The Public Health Residents' Anonymous Survey in Italy (PHRASI) is a nationwide cross-sectional study based on an 88-item questionnaire. UBs were explored through validated questionnaires: the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-c (AUDIT-C), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Depressive symptoms and anxiety were detected by Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), respectively. Hierarchical cluster analysis described clusters using responses from the AUDIT-C, IPAQ, and ISI. A total of 375 participants were included in this study. Three distinct clusters (CL) were identified: CL1 was characterized by a moderate risk for alcohol abuse and high insomnia dissatisfaction, with a significantly higher frequency of depressive symptoms (46%, p < 0.001) and anxiety (53%, p < 0.001); CL2 had no risk for alcohol abuse, high sleep satisfaction, and better mental health profile, with the lowest prevalence of depressive symptoms (15%, p < 0.001); CL3 had the highest risk of alcohol abuse, the highest rate of physical activity (40%, p = 0.013), and the lowest prevalence of anxiety (27%, p < 0.001). Subjects belonging to CL1 required much more attention to prevent the worsening of mental outcomes. Interventions for promoting mental health should be addressed in all Public Health schools to create more sustainable working conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Annali di Igiene, Medicina Preventiva e di Comunità is the property of Societa Editrice Universo s.r.l. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Despite the high impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social interactions and healthcare workers' (HWs') mental health, few studies have investigated the association between social network characteristics and HWs' mental health, particularly during the pandemic. Therefore, we aimed to assess the associations between public health residents' (PHRs') social network characteristics and depression. We used data from the Public Health Residents' Anonymous Survey in Italy (PHRASI), a nationwide cross-sectional study. Social network characteristics were self-reported. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Linear and logistic models adjusted for age, sex, physical activity, and alcohol were used. A moderation analysis by sex was also performed. A total of 379 PHRs participated in the survey (58% females, median age of 30 years). More peer-to-peer (odds ratio OR = 0.62 (0.47–0.83)) and supervisor support (OR = 0.49 (0.36–0.68)), more social participation ((OR) = 0.36 95% CI (0.25–0.50)), and having a partner (OR = 0.49 (0.25–0.96)) were significantly associated with a lower risk of clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Work-to-private-life interference was significantly associated with a higher risk of clinically relevant depressive symptoms (OR = 1.77 (1.28–2.45)). Promoting a supportive work environment and social participation as well as reducing work-to-private life interference can contribute to reducing the high burden among PHRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) is a growth factor produced by both peripheral nerves and skeletal muscle. In muscle, it regulates neuromuscular junction gene expression, acetylcholine receptor number, muscle homeostasis and satellite cell survival. NRG1 signalling is mediated by the tyrosine kinase receptors ErbB3 and ErbB4 and their co-receptors ErbB1 and ErbB2. The NRG1/ErbB system is well studied in nerve tissue after injury, but little is known about this system in skeletal muscle after denervation/ reinnervation processes. Here, we performed a detailed time-course expression analysis of several NRG1 isoforms and ErbB receptors in the rat superficial digitorum flexor muscle after three types of median nerve injuries of different severities. We found that ErbB receptor expression was correlated with the innervated state of the muscle, with upregulation of ErbB2 clearly associated with the denervation state. Interestingly, the NRG1 isoforms were differently regulated depending on the nerve injury type, leading to the hypothesis that both the NRG1α and NRG1β isoforms play a key role in the muscle reaction to injury. Indeed, in vitro experiments with C2C12 atrophic myotubes revealed that both NRG1α and NRG1β treatment influences the best-known atrophic pathways, suggesting that NRG1 might play an anti-atrophic role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]