# pos

id: cord-158219-hk55bzqm
pos: NNP
token:
  https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2020/05/13/coronavirus-nuovo-focolaio-in-molise-72-contagi-a-campobasso-legati-a-un-funerale-della-comunita-rom/5800192/

lemma:
  https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2020/05/13/coronavirus-nuovo-focolaio-in-molise-72-contagi-a-campobasso-legati-a-un-funerale-della-comunita-rom/5800192/


id: cord-031072-uit0nm20
pos: NNP
token:
  cnbc.com/2019/10/10/reuters-america-update-1-italy-plans-to-issue-more-foreign-currency-bonds-next-year.html

lemma:
  cnbc.com/2019/10/10/reuters-america-update-1-italy-plans-to-issue-more-foreign-currency-bonds-next-year.html


id: cord-033328-ny011lj3
pos: NNP
token:
  who.int/news-room/detail/30-01-2020-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)emergency-committee-regarding-the-outbreak-of-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov

lemma:
  who.int/news-room/detail/30-01-2020-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)emergency-committee-regarding-the-outbreak-of-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov


id: cord-033328-ny011lj3
pos: NNP
token:
  who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19-11-march-2020

lemma:
  who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19-11-march-2020


id: cord-033328-ny011lj3
pos: NNP
token:
  https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/view/?ref=128_128287-5agkkojaaa&title=The-territorial-impact-of-covid-19managing-the-crisis-across-levels-of-government

lemma:
  https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/view/?ref=128_128287-5agkkojaaa&title=The-territorial-impact-of-covid-19managing-the-crisis-across-levels-of-government


# ent

id: cord-298872-gbi74g0n
type: DNA
entity:
  b Figure 3 Dotted blue the Italian cumulative curve red cubic approximant black logistic approximant


id: cord-230294-bjy2ixcj
type: CL
entity:
  stem abband 3 Draw links between a stemmed word and its subsequent one Store the resulting edge list of word co occurrences 4 Sentences containing a negation i e not underwent an additional step parsing their syntactic structure This was done in order to identify the target of negation e g in this is not peace the negation refers to peace Syntactic dependencies were not used for network construction but intervened in emotional profiling instead see below The resulting word network also captures syntactic dependencies between words 16 related by online users to a specific hashtag or combination of hashtag We used closeness centrality to detect the relevance of words for a given hashtag Text pre processing such as word stemming and syntactic dependencies was performed using Mathematica 11 3


id: cord-274366-t138l6px
type: ORG
entity:
  the University Hospital Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese Ethical Committee Siena Italy Prot n 16929


id: cord-274366-t138l6px
type: ORG
entity:
  UTIP San Donato Hospital 33 Department of Health Sciences Clinic of Infectious Diseases Department of Molecular Medicine University of Padova Padova Italy 47 Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases University of Brescia


id: cord-267644-guzn0peq
type: PERSON
entity:
  ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi ffi


id: cord-309273-gtvi37gh
type: GGP
entity:
  Parkinson s disease Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement Personality in Adulthood Personality and sedentary behavior A systematic review and meta


id: cord-309273-gtvi37gh
type: LAW
entity:
  the COVID 19 Outbreak Testing a Moderated Mediation Model and Machine Learning Algorithms Psychological


id: cord-330057-3vucm0s1
type: PRODUCT
entity:
  Improving the Accuracy of Demographic and Molecular Clock Model Comparison While Accommodating Phylogenetic Uncertainty Bayesian Coalescent Inference of Past Population Dynamics


id: cord-258229-l716wjwn
type: GGP
entity:
  professionals 9 11 related PTSD among highly exposed populations a systematic review 15 years after the attack Health outcomes during the 2008 financial crisis in Europe systematic literature review The nascent empirical


id: cord-258229-l716wjwn
type: ORG
entity:
  Marche Ancona University of Ferrara University of Milan Bicocca University of Milan Statale University of Perugia University of Pisa Sapienza University


id: cord-290975-2kmvyovm
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  Craving and Other Transdiagnostic Dimensions in Addiction Toward Personalized Neuromodulation Treatments Psychological


id: cord-290975-2kmvyovm
type: CHEMICAL
entity:
  Di Carlo Francesco Corbo Mariangela Vellante Federica Fiori Federica Tourjansky Gaia Catalano Gabriella


id: cord-349415-q0g0uqj6
type: CELL_LINE
entity:
  Hong Kong China COVID 19 Educational Disruption and Response Mitigate the effects of home confinement on children during the COVID 19


id: cord-342386-t5b8wpe2
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  Do You Trust The Consequences of Partisanship and Trust in Government for Public Responsiveness to COVID 19 Trust and Trustworthiness Ideology


id: cord-336257-f6yglaz8
type: ORG
entity:
  Somatization Obsessive Compulsive Interpersonal Sensitivity Depression Anxiety Anger Hostility Phobic Anxiety Paranoid Ideation Psychoticism and Sleep Disturbance A Global Severity


id: cord-336257-f6yglaz8
type: ORG
entity:
  Somatization Obsessive Compulsive Interpersonal Sensitivity Depression Anxiety Anger Hostility Phobic Anxiety Paranoid Ideation Psychoticism and Sleep Disturbance


id: cord-347960-vl5zhxyh
type: GGP
entity:
  P s y c h ia Global mental health how are we doing Public responses to the novel 2019 coronavirus 2019 nCoV


id: cord-347960-vl5zhxyh
type: ORG
entity:
  Rome Cattolica University of Rome University of Trieste University of Ferrara the Center for Behavioral Sciences


id: cord-347960-vl5zhxyh
type: ORG
entity:
  American Psychiatric Association Severity of Acute Stress Symptoms Adult National Stressful Events Survey Acute


id: cord-322577-5bboc1z0
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  Manual for the ASEBA Adult Forms Profiles Inequality in the Impact of the coronavirus shock evidence from real


id: cord-322577-5bboc1z0
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  The Short Term Economic Consequences of Covid 19 Exposure to Disease Remote Work and Government Response Metacognitive


id: cord-342919-ls2q1g0v
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  Battling the Modern Behavioral Epidemic of Loneliness Suggestions for Research and Interventions Advancing


# url

id: cord-158219-hk55bzqm
domain: www.ilfattoquotidiano.it
url:
  http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2020/05/13/coronavirus-nuovo-focolaio-in-molise-72-contagi-a-campobasso-legati-a-un-funerale-della-comunita-rom/5800192/


id: cord-033328-ny011lj3
domain: read.oecd-ilibrary.org
url:
  http://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/view/?ref=128_128287-5agkkojaaa&title=The-territorial-impact-of-covid-19managing-the-crisis-across-levels-of-government>


# bib

id: cord-029160-z2sxr3dx
title: Supply chain contagion and the role of industrial policy
author: Coveri, Andrea
date: 2020-07-14
txt: ./txt/cord-029160-z2sxr3dx.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-029160-z2sxr3dx.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7358319/
doi: 10.1007/s40812-020-00167-6
summary:
  Therefore, the first channel through which the pandemic has affected the global economy concerns the interruption of the supply chains, hitting what has been identified as the productive heart of the world, that is East Asia, and China in particular (Buckley and Strange 2015) . Unsurprisingly, with the outbreak of the pandemic, this complex global interconnection of production-and the crucial role that the "factory of the world" plays in this context-has prompted part of the economic literature to warn about the need for many countries to promote supplier diversification with the aim of reducing their dependence on imports of intermediate goods from China (Javorcik 2020; Monga 2020). Finally, an industrial policy aimed at strengthening the position of European national industries in the value chains of strategic productions could help reduce the social and economic costs and risks of hyper-specialization.

abstract:
  The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a major disruption in global value chains (GVCs) that pushed the global economy into a recession that promises to be worse than the 2008 crisis. This article illustrates the mechanisms through which the COVID-19 pandemic affected GVCs in the context of a changing configuration of the global economy. In particular, it is argued that GVCs became the main transmission channels of “economic contagion”. Finally, we posit that the pandemic provides an opportunity to revive the role of industrial policy as to govern the landslides of a world economy constantly pressured by globalization and deglobalization forces.


id: cord-031072-uit0nm20
title: How to restructure Euro area sovereign debt in the era of Covid-19
author: Arnold, Theresa
date: 2020-08-12
txt: ./txt/cord-031072-uit0nm20.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-031072-uit0nm20.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7454476/
doi: 10.1093/cmlj/kmaa015
abstract: nan
summary:
  In contrast to Italian creditors, the foreign-law holdout creditors in the Greek restructuring in 2012 had the rights to declare cross defaults, accelerate the debt and sue for recovery in English, Swiss or Japanese courts under the explicit consents to jurisdiction and waivers of immunities from suit and execution in the contracts. Theresa Arnold, Mitu Gulati and Ugo Panizza • Euro area sovereign debt in the era of The CACs in the Italian foreign-law bonds, such as the one issued in October 2019, are buttressed with all sorts of potent investor protections including acceleration clauses, cross default provisions, waivers of immunity and consents to jurisdiction. If faced with a debt crisis situation and the need to protect against holdouts, Italy will likely wish to retroactively add the two enhancements mentioned above-the option of using single-shot CACs and the disenfranchisement of the ECB-to all of its already-issued and outstanding local-law-governed debt.


id: cord-033328-ny011lj3
author: VESE, Donato
date: 2020-09-03
txt: ./txt/cord-033328-ny011lj3.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-033328-ny011lj3.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7542320/
doi: 10.1017/err.2020.82
summary:
  Specifically, the article argues that the administrative strategy for effectively implementing emergency risk regulation based on an adequate and correct risk assessment requires "power sharing" across the different levels of government with the participation of all of the institutional actors involved in the decision-making process: Government, Regions and local authorities. Specifically, the article argues that the administrative strategy for effectively implementing emergency risk regulation based on an adequate and correct risk assessment requires "power sharing" across the different levels of government with the participation of all of the institutional actors involved in the decision-making process: Government, Regions and local authorities. In particular, as I will claim in analysing the Italian policies (Sections IV.1.a and IV.1.b), the administrative strategy for effectively implementing emergency risk regulation in a pandemic requires power sharing across the different levels of government with the participation of all of the institutional actors involved in the decision-making process in order to adopt consistent measures based on the constant monitoring and updating of the nationwide epidemiological risk assessment.

title:
  Managing the Pandemic: The Italian Strategy for Fighting COVID-19 and the Challenge of Sharing Administrative Powers

abstract:
  This article analyses the administrative measures and, more specifically, the administrative strategy implemented in the immediacy of the emergency by the Italian government in order to determine whether it was effective in managing the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the country. In analysing the administrative strategy, the article emphasises the role that the current system of constitutional separation of powers plays in emergency management and how this system can impact health risk assessment. An explanation of the risk management system in Italian and European Union (EU) law is provided and the following key legal issues are addressed: (1) the notion and features of emergency risk regulation from a pandemic perspective, distinguishing between risk and emergency; (2) the potential and limits of the precautionary principle in EU law; and (3) the Italian constitutional scenario with respect to the main provisions regulating central government, regional and local powers. Specifically, this article argues that the administrative strategy for effectively implementing emergency risk regulation based on an adequate and correct risk assessment requires “power sharing” across the different levels of government with the participation of all of the institutional actors involved in the decision-making process: Government, Regions and local authorities. “And the flames of the tripods expired. And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all”. Edgar Allan Poe, The Mask of the Red Death, Complete Tales and Poems (New York, Vintage Books 1975) p 273


id: cord-158219-hk55bzqm
author: Cintia, Paolo
date: 2020-06-04
txt: ./txt/cord-158219-hk55bzqm.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-158219-hk55bzqm.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2006.03141v1.pdf
doi: nan
summary:
  We compare the evolution (from January to May 2020) of the daily mobility flows in Italy, measured by means of nation-wide mobile phone data, and the evolution of transmissibility, measured by the net reproduction number, i.e., the mean number of secondary infections generated by one primary infector in the presence of control interventions and human behavioural adaptations. We also find a strong relationship between the number of days above the epidemic threshold before the mobility flows reduce significantly as an effect of lockdowns, and the total number of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections per 100k inhabitants, thus indirectly showing the effectiveness of the lockdown and the other non-pharmaceutical interventions in the containment of the contagion. The relationship between human mobility and viral transmissibility during the COVID-19 epidemics in Italy Page 10 Net Reproduction Number R t Epidemiologic Data Figure 4 and 5 show the evolution of the mobility self-flows (blue curves), the net reproduction number (orange curves) and the number of positive cases (grey curves) for the northern regions and central-southern regions, respectively.

title:
  The relationship between human mobility and viral transmissibility during the COVID-19 epidemics in Italy

abstract:
  We describe in this report our studies to understand the relationship between human mobility and the spreading of COVID-19, as an aid to manage the restart of the social and economic activities after the lockdown and monitor the epidemics in the coming weeks and months. We compare the evolution (from January to May 2020) of the daily mobility flows in Italy, measured by means of nation-wide mobile phone data, and the evolution of transmissibility, measured by the net reproduction number, i.e., the mean number of secondary infections generated by one primary infector in the presence of control interventions and human behavioural adaptations. We find a striking relationship between the negative variation of mobility flows and the net reproduction number, in all Italian regions, between March 11th and March 18th, when the country entered the lockdown. This observation allows us to quantify the time needed to"switch off"the country mobility (one week) and the time required to bring the net reproduction number below 1 (one week). A reasonably simple regression model provides evidence that the net reproduction number is correlated with a region's incoming, outgoing and internal mobility. We also find a strong relationship between the number of days above the epidemic threshold before the mobility flows reduce significantly as an effect of lockdowns, and the total number of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections per 100k inhabitants, thus indirectly showing the effectiveness of the lockdown and the other non-pharmaceutical interventions in the containment of the contagion. Our study demonstrates the value of"big"mobility data to the monitoring of key epidemic indicators to inform choices as the epidemics unfolds in the coming months.


id: cord-186031-b1f9wtfn
title: Analysis of online misinformation during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemics in Italy
author: Caldarelli, Guido
date: 2020-10-05
txt: ./txt/cord-186031-b1f9wtfn.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-186031-b1f9wtfn.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2010.01913v1.pdf
doi: nan
summary:
  When analysing the emerging 4 communities, we find that they correspond to 1 Right wing parties and media (in steel blue) 2 Center left wing (dark red) 3 5 Stars Movement (M5S ), in dark orange 4 Institutional accounts (in sky blue) Details about the political situation in Italy during the period of data collection can be found in the Supplementary Material, Section 1.2: ''Italian political situation during the Covid-19 pandemics''. In line with previous results on the validated network of verified users, the table clearly shows how the vast majority of the news coming from sources considered scarce or non reputable are tweeted and retweeted by the center-right and right wing communities; 98% of the domains tagged as NR are shared by them.

abstract:
  During the Covid-19 pandemics, we also experience another dangerous pandemics based on misinformation. Narratives disconnected from fact-checking on the origin and cure of the disease intertwined with pre-existing political fights. We collect a database on Twitter posts and analyse the topology of the networks of retweeters (users broadcasting again the same elementary piece of information, or tweet) and validate its structure with methods of statistical physics of networks. Furthermore, by using commonly available fact checking software, we assess the reputation of the pieces of news exchanged. By using a combination of theoretical and practical weapons, we are able to track down the flow of misinformation in a snapshot of the Twitter ecosystem. Thanks to the presence of verified users, we can also assign a polarization to the network nodes (users) and see the impact of low-quality information producers and spreaders in the Twitter ecosystem.


id: cord-230294-bjy2ixcj
title: #lockdown: network-enhanced emotional profiling at the times of COVID-19
author: Stella, Massimo
date: 2020-05-09
txt: ./txt/cord-230294-bjy2ixcj.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-230294-bjy2ixcj.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2005.04404v1.pdf
doi: nan
summary:
  We address this gap through social media by introducing MERCURIAL (Multi-layer Co-occurrence Networks for Emotional Profiling), a framework which exploits linguistic networks of words and hashtags to reconstruct social discourse describing real-world events. Emotional profiling conveys information about basic affective dimensions such how positive/negative or how arousing a message is, and also includes the analysis of more fine-grained emotions such as fear or trust that might be associated with the lockdown and people''s hopes for the future [9, 30, 22] . By extracting individual words from the hashtags of a given network, it is possible to reconstruct the emotional profile of the social discourse around the focal hashtags #sciacalli, #italylockdown and #iorestoacasa. Not surprisingly, the social discourse around #sciacalli shows a less prominent positive emotional profile, with a higher probability of featuring hashtags eliciting anxiety, negative valence and increased states of arousal, as it can be seen in Figure 2 (center, top) .

abstract:
  The COVID-19 pandemic forced countries all over the world to take unprecedented measures like nationwide lockdowns. To adequately understand the emotional and social repercussions, a large-scale reconstruction of how people perceived these unexpected events is necessary but currently missing. We address this gap through social media by introducing MERCURIAL (Multi-layer Co-occurrence Networks for Emotional Profiling), a framework which exploits linguistic networks of words and hashtags to reconstruct social discourse describing real-world events. We use MERCURIAL to analyse 101,767 tweets from Italy, the first country to react to the COVID-19 threat with a nationwide lockdown. The data were collected between 11th and 17th March, immediately after the announcement of the Italian lockdown and the WHO declaring COVID-19 a pandemic. Our analysis provides unique insights into the psychological burden of this crisis, focussing on: (i) the Italian official campaign for self-quarantine (#iorestoacasa}), (ii) national lockdown (#italylockdown), and (iii) social denounce (#sciacalli). Our exploration unveils evidence for the emergence of complex emotional profiles, where anger and fear (towards political debates and socio-economic repercussions) coexisted with trust, solidarity, and hope (related to the institutions and local communities). We discuss our findings in relation to mental well-being issues and coping mechanisms, like instigation to violence, grieving, and solidarity. We argue that our framework represents an innovative thermometer of emotional status, a powerful tool for policy makers to quickly gauge feelings in massive audiences and devise appropriate responses based on cognitive data.


id: cord-258229-l716wjwn
author: Fiorillo, Andrea
date: 2020-09-28
txt: ./txt/cord-258229-l716wjwn.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-258229-l716wjwn.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.89
doi: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.89
summary:
  The COMET trial includes three phases: phase one consists in the dissemination of a survey on the impact of lockdown and its related containment measures on the mental health of the Italian general population; the second phase consists in the development of a new psychosocial online supportive intervention [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48] for the management of the consequences on mental health of the pandemic; the last phase consists in the evaluation of the efficacy and feasibility of the experimental psychosocial intervention in a randomized control trial. In order to evaluate factors associated with the severity of depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms at DASS-21 (primary outcomes), multivariate linear regression models were performed, including as independent variables: being infected by COVID-19, having a pre-existing mental disorder, being a healthcare professional.

title:
  Effects of the lockdown on the mental health of the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: Results from the COMET collaborative network

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an unprecedented traumatic event influencing the healthcare, economic, and social welfare systems worldwide. In order to slow the infection rates, lockdown has been implemented almost everywhere. Italy, one of the countries most severely affected, entered the “lockdown” on March 8, 2020. METHODS: The COvid Mental hEalth Trial (COMET) network includes 10 Italian university sites and the National Institute of Health. The whole study has three different phases. The first phase includes an online survey conducted between March and May 2020 in the Italian population. Recruitment took place through email invitation letters, social media, mailing lists of universities, national medical associations, and associations of stakeholders (e.g., associations of users/carers). In order to evaluate the impact of lockdown on depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms, multivariate linear regression models were performed, weighted for the propensity score. RESULTS: The final sample consisted of 20,720 participants. Among them, 12.4% of respondents (N = 2,555) reported severe or extremely severe levels of depressive symptoms, 17.6% (N = 3,627) of anxiety symptoms and 41.6% (N = 8,619) reported to feel at least moderately stressed by the situation at the DASS-21. According to the multivariate regression models, the depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms significantly worsened from the week April 9–15 to the week April 30 to May 4 (p < 0.0001). Moreover, female respondents and people with pre-existing mental health problems were at higher risk of developing severe depression and anxiety symptoms (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Although physical isolation and lockdown represent essential public health measures for containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, they are a serious threat for mental health and well-being of the general population. As an integral part of COVID-19 response, mental health needs should be addressed.


id: cord-258431-8zgwj2fa
author: Strafella, Claudia
date: 2020-07-03
txt: ./txt/cord-258431-8zgwj2fa.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-258431-8zgwj2fa.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32635188/
doi: 10.3390/genes11070741
summary:
  The eQTLs analysis located in and targeting ACE2 revealed a high distribution of eQTL variants in different brain tissues, suggesting a possible link between ACE2 genetic variability and the neurological complications in patients with COVID-19. The final goal of the study has been the research of variants potentially affecting ACE2 expression and function, which may contribute to SARS-Cov-2 spreading among worldwide populations, and may have a clinical significance regarding the clinical variability and outcome displayed by patients with COVID-19. The final goal of the study has been the research of variants potentially affecting ACE2 expression and function, which may contribute to SARS-Cov-2 spreading among worldwide populations, and may have a clinical significance regarding the clinical variability and outcome displayed by patients with COVID-19. Moreover, they found a higher allelic frequency of eQTL variants, which is associated with higher ACE2 expression in tissues, suggesting a different susceptibility or response to SARS-Cov-2 infection with respect to other populations under similar conditions [28] .

title:
  Analysis of ACE2 Genetic Variability among Populations Highlights a Possible Link with COVID-19-Related Neurological Complications

abstract:
  Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has been recognized as the entry receptor of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2). Structural and sequence variants in ACE2 gene may affect its expression in different tissues and determine a differential response to SARS-Cov-2 infection and the COVID-19-related phenotype. The present study investigated the genetic variability of ACE2 in terms of single nucleotide variants (SNVs), copy number variations (CNVs), and expression quantitative loci (eQTLs) in a cohort of 268 individuals representative of the general Italian population. The analysis identified five SNVs (rs35803318, rs41303171, rs774469453, rs773676270, and rs2285666) in the Italian cohort. Of them, rs35803318 and rs2285666 displayed a significant different frequency distribution in the Italian population with respect to worldwide population. The eQTLs analysis located in and targeting ACE2 revealed a high distribution of eQTL variants in different brain tissues, suggesting a possible link between ACE2 genetic variability and the neurological complications in patients with COVID-19. Further research is needed to clarify the possible relationship between ACE2 expression and the susceptibility to neurological complications in patients with COVID-19. In fact, patients at higher risk of neurological involvement may need different monitoring and treatment strategies in order to prevent severe, permanent brain injury.


id: cord-267644-guzn0peq
author: Livadiotis, George
date: 2020-05-29
txt: ./txt/cord-267644-guzn0peq.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-267644-guzn0peq.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32469989/
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233875
summary:
  We perform a statistical analysis for understanding the effect of the environmental temperature on the exponential growth rate of the cases infected by COVID-19 for US and Italian regions. In particular, we analyze the datasets of regional infected cases, derive the growth rates for regions characterized by a readable exponential growth phase in their evolution spread curve and plot them against the environmental temperatures averaged within the same regions, derive the relationship between temperature and growth rate, and evaluate its statistical confidence. The results clearly support the first reported statistically significant relationship of negative correlation between the average environmental temperature and exponential growth rates of the infected cases. First, we derive the exponential growth rates of the infected cases characterizing each examined region of US and Italy; then, we plot these values against the environmental temperatures of each region, and perform the corresponding statistical analysis.

title:
  Statistical analysis of the impact of environmental temperature on the exponential growth rate of cases infected by COVID-19

abstract:
  We perform a statistical analysis for understanding the effect of the environmental temperature on the exponential growth rate of the cases infected by COVID-19 for US and Italian regions. In particular, we analyze the datasets of regional infected cases, derive the growth rates for regions characterized by a readable exponential growth phase in their evolution spread curve and plot them against the environmental temperatures averaged within the same regions, derive the relationship between temperature and growth rate, and evaluate its statistical confidence. The results clearly support the first reported statistically significant relationship of negative correlation between the average environmental temperature and exponential growth rates of the infected cases. The critical temperature, which eliminates the exponential growth, and thus the COVID-19 spread in US regions, is estimated to be T(C) = 86.1 ± 4.3 F(0).


id: cord-271027-4omocd8q
title: Spatial-temporal variations of atmospheric factors contribute to SARS-CoV-2 outbreak
author: Fronza, R.
date: 2020-05-01
txt: ./txt/cord-271027-4omocd8q.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-271027-4omocd8q.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.26.20080846
doi: 10.1101/2020.04.26.20080846
summary:
  While it is possible to reason that observed variation in the number and severity of cases stem from the initial number of infected individuals, the difference in the testing policies and social aspects of community transmissions, the factors that could explain high discrepancy in areas with a similar level of healthcare still remain unknown. A generalized Poisson model was fitted to estimate the association among the data showing the number of infected cases per million and the atmospheric factors. Binary classifier based on an artificial neural network (ANN) was implemented to test the capacity of the atmospheric variables to predict the epidemic escalation of the number of positive cases per million on the basis of a combination of where l= PM2.5, PM10, NH 3 dM A l and O 3 . The expected number of infected cases in the total of 107 Italian provinces were predicted for the months of March (Spring), June (Summer), September (Autumn) and December (Winter) using the real measured values for PM2.5 and O 3 atmospheric factors from 2018 seasonal datasets.

abstract:
  The global outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reached over two million confirmed cases worldwide, and numbers are still growing at a fast rate. The majority of new infections are now being reported outside of China, where the outbreak officially originated in December 2019 in Wuhan. Despite the wide outbreak of the infection, a remarkable asymmetry is observed in the number of cases and in the distribution of the severity of the COVID-19 symptoms in patients with respect to the countries/regions. In the early stages of a new pathogen outbreak, it is critical to understand the dynamics of the infection transmission, in order to follow contagion over time and project the epidemiological situation in the near future. While it is possible to reason that observed variation in the number and severity of cases stem from the initial number of infected individuals, the difference in the testing policies and social aspects of community transmissions, the factors that could explain high discrepancy in areas with a similar level of healthcare still remain unknown. Here we introduce a binary classifier based on an artificial neural network that can help in explaining those differences and that can be used to support the design of containment policies. We propose that air pollutants, and specifically particulate matter (PM) 2.5 and ozone, are oppositely related with the SARS-CoV-2 infection frequency and could serve as surrogate markers to complement the infection outbreak anticipation.


id: cord-273181-fsrdu4tq
title: COVID-19 outbreak in Italy: estimation of reproduction numbers over two months toward the Phase 2
author: Allieta, M.
date: 2020-05-18
txt: ./txt/cord-273181-fsrdu4tq.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-273181-fsrdu4tq.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.12.20076794
doi: 10.1101/2020.05.12.20076794
summary:
  Our estimates suggest basic reproduction number averaged over all the regions of 3.29, confirming that epidemiological figures of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Italy are higher than those observed at the early stage of Wuhan (China) outbreak. As it is widely known, Table S2 shows that COVID-19 epidemic affected (and is affecting) harder the northern Italian regions, with N=16859 and NA=89384 on April 24th, i.e. more than 80% of the cases of the country (with 54,7% of the Italian resident population), if we aggregate epidemiological and demographic data of the northern regions (Lombardia, Piemonte, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Liguria, Valle D''Aosta, Trentino-Alto Adige) plus Marche and Toscana regions. . https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.12.20076794 doi: medRxiv preprint Caption: ( + ) Date of epidemic onset February 24 th ; (*) the original incidence data related to Trento and Bolzano were merged into a single region called Trentino-Alto Adige resulting in a geographical disaggregation of Italy into 20 regions.

abstract:
  After two months from the first case in COVID-19 outbreak, Italy counts more than 190,000 confirmed positive cases. From the beginning of April 2020, the nationwide lockdown started to show early effects by reducing the total cumulative incidence reached by the epidemic wave. This allows the government to program the measures to loosen lockdown restrictions for the so called "Phase 2". Here we provided the reproduction number estimation both in space and in time from February 24th to April 24th, 2020 across two months into the epidemic. Our estimates suggest basic reproduction number averaged over all the regions of 3.29, confirming that epidemiological figures of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Italy are higher than those observed at the early stage of Wuhan (China) outbreak. Based on the SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics reported here, we gave a quantitative evaluation of the efficiency of the government measures to low the reproduction number under the unity (control regime). We estimated that among the worst hit regions in Italy, Lombardy reached the control regime on March 22nd followed by Emilia-Romagna (March 23th), Veneto (March 25th) and Piemonte (March 26th). Overall, we found that the mean value of time to reach the control regime in all the country is about 31 days from the February 24th and about 14 days from the first day of nationwide lockdown (March 12th). Finally, we highlighted the interplay between the reproduction number and two demographic indices in order to probe the "state of activity" of the epidemic for each Italian region in the control regime. We believe that this approach can provide a tool in the management of "Phase 2", potentially helping in challenging decision to continue, ease or tighten up restrictions.


id: cord-274366-t138l6px
author: Benetti, Elisa
date: 2020-07-17
txt: ./txt/cord-274366-t138l6px.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-274366-t138l6px.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32681121/
doi: 10.1038/s41431-020-0691-z
summary:
  Taking advantage of the Network of Italian Genomes (NIG), a consortium established to generate a public database (NIG-db) containing aggregate variant frequencies data for the Italian population (http://www.nig.cineca.it/), here we describe the genetic variation of ACE2 in the Italian population, one of the newly affected countries by the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak causing COVID-19. In order to shed light on the role of ACE2 variants on interindividual variability and susceptibility to COVID-19 in Italian population we performed WES analysis on a cohort of 131 patients and 258 controls who agreed in participating to the study (see "Materials and methods"). These variants which surround residual essentials for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding were predicted to likely affect the cleavage-dependent virion intake, such as the polymorphic c.2158A>G p.(Asn720Asp) (allele frequency 0.011) which lies four amino acids from the cleavage sequence of TMPRSS2 or to have a substantial impact on protein structure and spike protein interaction by MD simulation (Fig. 3a) .

title:
  ACE2 gene variants may underlie interindividual variability and susceptibility to COVID-19 in the Italian population

abstract:
  In December 2019, an initial cluster of interstitial bilateral pneumonia emerged in Wuhan, China. A human-to-human transmission was assumed and a previously unrecognized entity, termed coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) due to a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was described. The infection has rapidly spread out all over the world and Italy has been the first European country experiencing the endemic wave with unexpected clinical severity in comparison with Asian countries. It has been shown that SARS-CoV-2 utilizes angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as host receptor and host proteases for cell surface binding and internalization. Thus, a predisposing genetic background can give reason for interindividual disease susceptibility and/or severity. Taking advantage of the Network of Italian Genomes (NIG), here we mined whole-exome sequencing data of 6930 Italian control individuals from five different centers looking for ACE2 variants. A number of variants with a potential impact on protein stability were identified. Among these, three more common missense changes, p.(Asn720Asp), p.(Lys26Arg), and p.(Gly211Arg) were predicted to interfere with protein structure and stabilization. Rare variants likely interfering with the internalization process, namely p.(Leu351Val) and p.(Pro389His), predicted to interfere with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding, were also observed. Comparison of ACE2 WES data between a cohort of 131 patients and 258 controls allowed identifying a statistically significant (P value < 0.029) higher allelic variability in controls compared with patients. These findings suggest that a predisposing genetic background may contribute to the observed interindividual clinical variability associated with COVID-19, allowing an evidence-based risk assessment leading to personalized preventive measures and therapeutic options.


id: cord-281585-8dh4wg4x
author: Patrì, Angela
date: 2020-05-02
txt: ./txt/cord-281585-8dh4wg4x.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-281585-8dh4wg4x.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.14915
doi: 10.1111/ijd.14915
abstract: nan
summary:
  The economic and psychological impact of the epidemic on Italian people will be great; however, the efficacy of lockdown is now manifesting with decreasing new infected cases as well as the number of patients hospitalized. However, private dermatologists are connected through an online network with the hospital structure: they can send patients who need urgent visits as well as can support the research activity of our University. In southern Italy, the epidemic has not reached the numbers of the northern regions, and we hope we don''t face the same terrible emergency in the immediate future thanks to the all restrictive measures actually in place. Dermatology practices as vectors for COVID-19 transmission: a call for immediate cessation of non-emergent dermatology visits Emergency management for preventing and controlling nosocomial infection of 2019 novel coronavirus: implications for the dermatology department Global coronavirus pandemic (2019-nCOV): implication for an Italian medium size dermatological clinic of a II level hospital

title:
  COVID‐19 pandemic: University of Naples Federico II Dermatology''s model of dermatology reorganization


id: cord-290975-2kmvyovm
author: Martinotti, Giovanni
date: 2020-09-03
txt: ./txt/cord-290975-2kmvyovm.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-290975-2kmvyovm.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33101086/
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.572245
summary:
  In this paper, we aim at evaluating the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic, and the relative containment measures, have had on a real-life sample of patients suffering from substance use disorders (SUDs) and/or behavioral addictions. Within the general population, problems such as feelings of frustration, aggressive behavior (2) , post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), depression, anxiety, insomnia, perceived stress, and adjustment disorder symptoms (ADS) have increased (3) , with the consequent risk of self-medication through the abuse of alcohol and/or psychoactive substances and with a greater tendency to engage in pathological behaviors (gambling and internet addiction). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic, and the relative containment measures adopted by the Italian Government, had on patients with SUDs and/or behavioral addictions; to assess the psychopathological burden in terms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic load; and to evaluate the relevance of craving symptoms and their correlation with psychiatric symptoms and quality of life.

title:
  Psychopathological Burden and Quality of Life in Substance Users During the COVID-19 Lockdown Period in Italy

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: Following the development of the COVID-19 pandemic, a rigid public health strategy of reduced social contact and shelter-in-place has been adopted by the Italian Government to reduce the spread of the virus. In this paper, we aim at evaluating the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic, and the relative containment measures, have had on a real-life sample of patients suffering from substance use disorders (SUDs) and/or behavioral addictions. METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire was filled out by 153 addicted patients, both outpatients and residential inpatients, recruited across Italy and highly representative of the current Italian population suffering from addictions. Psychopathological burden (anxiety and depressive symptomatology, somatization, irritability, and post-traumatic symptoms), quality of life, and craving changes in daily habits were assessed. RESULTS: In our sample, we found moderate rates of depression (22.9%), anxiety (30.1%), irritability (31.6%), and post-traumatic stress (5.4%) symptoms. Psychopathological burden was globally higher among residential patients. Reported levels of craving were generally low. DISCUSSION: This study is the first attempt to collect Italian data regarding the effects of the rigid quarantine period, during the COVID-19 pandemic, on patients suffering from a SUD and/or behavioral addictions. The presence of a moderate psychopathological burden correlated to poor quality of life and low craving scores represented the main outcomes. Long-term studies, with follow-up after the end of the restrictive measures, should be considered to implement our findings.


id: cord-291837-qz4g4v1u
author: Livadiotis, George
date: 2020-04-24
txt: ./txt/cord-291837-qz4g4v1u.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-291837-qz4g4v1u.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: http://medrxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.04.21.20072405v1?rss=1
doi: 10.1101/2020.04.21.20072405
summary:
  We perform a statistical analysis for understanding the effect of the environmental temperature on the exponential growth rate of the cases infected by COVID-19 for US and Italian regions. In particular, we analyze the datasets of regional infected cases, derive the growth rates for regions characterized by readable exponential growth phase in their evolution spread curve and plot them against the environmental temperatures averaged within the same regions, derive the relationship between temperature and growth rate, and evaluate its statistical confidence. The results clearly support the first reported statistically significant relationship of negative correlation between the average environmental temperature and exponential growth rates of the infected cases. First, we derive the exponential growth rates of the infected cases characterizing each examined region of Italy and US; then, we plot these values against the environmental temperatures of each region, and perform the corresponding statistical analysis.

title:
  Statistical analysis of the impact of environmental temperature on the exponential growth rate of cases infected by COVID-19

abstract:
  We perform a statistical analysis for understanding the effect of the environmental temperature on the exponential growth rate of the cases infected by COVID-19 for US and Italian regions. In particular, we analyze the datasets of regional infected cases, derive the growth rates for regions characterized by readable exponential growth phase in their evolution spread curve and plot them against the environmental temperatures averaged within the same regions, derive the relationship between temperature and growth rate, and evaluate its statistical confidence. The results clearly support the first reported statistically significant relationship of negative correlation between the average environmental temperature and exponential growth rates of the infected cases. The critical temperature, which eliminates the exponential growth, and thus the COVID-19 spread in US regions, is estimated to be Tc = 86.1 ± 4.3 F.


id: cord-298872-gbi74g0n
title: Estimating the epidemic growth dynamics within the first week
author: FIORITI, V.
date: 2020-08-16
txt: ./txt/cord-298872-gbi74g0n.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-298872-gbi74g0n.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.08.14.20170878
doi: 10.1101/2020.08.14.20170878
summary:
  It is only necessary to collect the cumulative data of the daily infected over a week in some of the most important cities involved in the outbreak, to form a unique sequence of these numbers and then to calculate the first digit distribution. The main idea is to estimate an approximating function for the epidemic growth curve within a time horizon of Tf days, using only the first seven epidemic data points of fifty Italian cities, accounting for about the 30% of the population, considered as a unique sequence formed of 50x7 data-points, called 50_cities sequence. To classify various possible approximant curves we have calculated their Benford gof, showed in the Table 1 , together with the gof of the real Italian epidemic data, the logistic curve, of the cubic curve and of the 50_cities.

abstract:
  Information about the early growth of infectious outbreaks are indispensable to estimate the epidemic spreading. A large number of mathematical tools have been developed to this end, facing as much large number of different dynamic evolutions, ranging from sub-linear to super-exponential growth. Of course, the crucial point is that we do not have enough data during the initial outbreak phase to make reliable inferences. Here we propose a methodology to estimate the epidemic growth dynamics from the infected cumulative data of just a week, provided a surveillance system is available over the whole territory. The methodology, based on the Newcomb-Benford Law, is applied to Italian covid 19 case-study. Results show that it is possible to discriminate the epidemic dynamics using the first seven data points collected over fifty Italian cities. Moreover, the form of the most probable approximating function of the growth, within a six weeks epidemic scenario, is identified.


id: cord-306017-4wf4yhyz
title: COVID-19 and medical liability: Italy denies the shield to its heroes
author: d''Aloja, Ernesto
date: 2020-07-24
txt: ./txt/cord-306017-4wf4yhyz.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-306017-4wf4yhyz.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32734174/
doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100470
abstract: nan
summary:
  As well known, Italy is one of the Countries in a worldwide context more severely affected by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and some of the northern regions paid the highest price in terms of deaths among health care workers (HCWs).The ''Istituto Nazionale Assicurazione Infortuni sul Lavoro'' (INAIL), the Italian public insurance body that protects workers in the event of accidents and occupational diseases, reported that 40% of the 236 filedfatal cases involved HCWs [1] . From a negligent pandemic point of view, this may mean that if the hospital À even a no-COVID one -does not provide for all these measures, and one or more cases of SARS-COV-2 positive patients are detected in the healthcare facility, a presumption of liability may be enough to pursuing a negligent pandemic crime (article 452, Italian penal code).


id: cord-309273-gtvi37gh
author: Flesia, Luca
date: 2020-10-19
txt: ./txt/cord-309273-gtvi37gh.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-309273-gtvi37gh.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9103350
doi: 10.3390/jcm9103350
summary:
  Finally, with the goal of anticipating persons in need of treatment and improving the targeting and overall effectiveness of preventive programs, we aimed at developing machine learning models to predict individual psychological responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, based on sociodemographic and psychological variables with maximal sensitivity in classifying subjects with high versus low levels of perceived stress. To better understand the role of stable psychological traits in predicting the level of perceived stress (PSS-10 score), a second multiple linear regression was run, adding to the previous model the scores of the five coping styles measured by the COPE-NVI-25 (COPE positive, COPE problem, COPE avoidance, COPE religion and COPE support), the BSCS total score, the internal LOC score, and the scores for the five personality traits measured by the BFI-10 (BFI-10 agreeableness, BFI-10 conscientiousness, BFI-10 emotional stability, BFI-10 extraversion and BFI-10 openness).

title:
  Predicting Perceived Stress Related to the Covid-19 Outbreak through Stable Psychological Traits and Machine Learning Models

abstract:
  The global SARS-CoV-2 outbreak and subsequent lockdown had a significant impact on people’s daily lives, with strong implications for stress levels due to the threat of contagion and restrictions to freedom. Given the link between high stress levels and adverse physical and mental consequences, the COVID-19 pandemic is certainly a global public health issue. In the present study, we assessed the effect of the pandemic on stress levels in N = 2053 Italian adults, and characterized more vulnerable individuals on the basis of sociodemographic features and stable psychological traits. A set of 18 psycho-social variables, generalized regressions, and predictive machine learning approaches were leveraged. We identified higher levels of perceived stress in the study sample relative to Italian normative values. Higher levels of distress were found in women, participants with lower income, and participants living with others. Higher rates of emotional stability and self-control, as well as a positive coping style and internal locus of control, emerged as protective factors. Predictive learning models identified participants with high perceived stress, with a sensitivity greater than 76%. The results suggest a characterization of people who are more vulnerable to experiencing high levels of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. This characterization may contribute to early and targeted intervention strategies.


id: cord-313716-pw0odm88
author: Moccia, Lorenzo
date: 2020-04-20
txt: ./txt/cord-313716-pw0odm88.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-313716-pw0odm88.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.04.048
doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.04.048
summary:
  title: Affective temperament, attachment style, and the psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak: an early report on the Italian general population This study aims to investigate the psychological distress perceived by the Italian general population during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to analyze affective temperament and adult attachment styles as potential mediators. Cyclothymic (OR: 1.17; p=0.008) and depressive (OR: 1.32; p=0.003) temperaments resulted as risk factors in subjects with moderate-to-severe psychological distress compared to mild distress, while the ASQ "Confidence" (OR: 0.92; p=0.039) and "Discomfort with closeness" (OR: 0.94; p=0.023) were protective. To the best of our knowledge, our survey results are the first showing that a relevant percentage of the Italian population might have experienced from mild to moderate-to-severe psychological distress symptoms during the early phase of the COVID-19 outbreak, and that both temperament and AAS features may predict the extent of mental health burden.

title:
  Affective temperament, attachment style, and the psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak: an early report on the Italian general population

abstract:
  The outbreak of COVID-19 is severely affecting mental health worldwide, although individual response may vary. This study aims to investigate the psychological distress perceived by the Italian general population during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to analyze affective temperament and adult attachment styles as potential mediators. Through an online survey, we collected sociodemographic and lockdown-related information and evaluated distress, temperament, and attachment using the Kessler 10 Psychological Distress Scale (K10), the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire short version (TEMPS-A) and the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ). In our sample (n=500), 62% of the individuals reported no likelihood of psychological distress, whereas 19.4% and 18.6% displayed mild and moderate-to-severe likelihood. Cyclothymic (OR: 1.24; p<0.001), depressive (OR: 1.52; p<0.001) and anxious (OR: 1.58; p=0.002) temperaments, and the ASQ “Need for approval” (OR: 1.08; p=0.01) were risk factors for moderate-to-severe psychological distress compared to no distress, while the ASQ “Confidence” (OR: 0.89; p=0.002) and “Discomfort with closeness” were protective (OR: 0.92; p=0.001). Cyclothymic (OR: 1.17; p=0.008) and depressive (OR: 1.32; p=0.003) temperaments resulted as risk factors in subjects with moderate-to-severe psychological distress compared to mild distress, while the ASQ “Confidence” (OR: 0.92; p=0.039) and “Discomfort with closeness” (OR: 0.94; p=0.023) were protective. Our data indicated that a relevant rate of individuals may have experienced psychological distress following the COVID-19 outbreak. Specific affective temperament and attachment features predict the extent of mental health burden. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first data available on the psychological impact of the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic on a sizeable sample of the Italian population. Moreover, our study is the first to investigate temperament and attachment characteristics in the psychological response to the ongoing pandemic. Our results provide further insight into developing targeted intervention strategies.


id: cord-321913-zie2uv21
title: SEIR Modeling of the Italian Epidemic of SARS-CoV-2 Using Computational Swarm Intelligence
author: Godio, Alberto
date: 2020-05-18
txt: ./txt/cord-321913-zie2uv21.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-321913-zie2uv21.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17103535
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17103535
summary:
  We focused on the application of a stochastic approach in fitting the model parameters using a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) solver, to improve the reliability of predictions in the medium term (30 days). We present an updated version of the predictive model of epidemic phenomena based on the approach called SEIR (Susceptible-Exposed-Infective-Recovered), widely used to analyze infection data during the different stages of an epidemic outbreak. Figure 5a ,b shows the SEIR model prediction for the Veneto region, according to the deterministic and PSO approaches, respectively. Figure 5a ,b shows the SEIR model prediction for the Veneto region, according to the deterministic and PSO approaches, respectively. The SEIR modeling for the Piedmont region is shown in Figure 6a ,b, where the solution using the deterministic and PSO prediction are reported, respectively. The SEIR modeling for the Piedmont region is shown in Figure 6a ,b, where the solution using the deterministic and PSO prediction are reported, respectively.

abstract:
  We applied a generalized SEIR epidemiological model to the recent SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in the world, with a focus on Italy and its Lombardy, Piedmont, and Veneto regions. We focused on the application of a stochastic approach in fitting the model parameters using a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) solver, to improve the reliability of predictions in the medium term (30 days). We analyzed the official data and the predicted evolution of the epidemic in the Italian regions, and we compared the results with the data and predictions of Spain and South Korea. We linked the model equations to the changes in people’s mobility, with reference to Google’s COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports. We discussed the effectiveness of policies taken by different regions and countries and how they have an impact on past and future infection scenarios.


id: cord-322577-5bboc1z0
title: Mental Health Through the COVID-19 Quarantine: A Growth Curve Analysis on Italian Young Adults
author: Parola, Anna
date: 2020-10-02
txt: ./txt/cord-322577-5bboc1z0.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-322577-5bboc1z0.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.567484
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.567484
summary:
  Despite several recent psychological researches on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlighting that young adults represent a high risk category, no studies specifically focused on young adults'' mental health status have been carried out yet. This study aimed to assess and monitor Italian young adults'' mental health status during the first 4 weeks of lockdown through the use of a longitudinal panel design. The Syndromic Scales of Adult Self-Report 18-59 were used to assess the internalizing problems (anxiety/depression, withdrawn, and somatic complaints), externalizing problems (aggressive, rule-breaking, and intrusive behavior), and personal strengths. CONCLUSIONS: The results contributed to the ongoing debate concerning the psychological impact of the COVID-19 emergency, helping to plan and develop efficient intervention projects able to take care of young adults'' mental health in the long term. This study assessed and monitored Italian young adults'' mental health status during the firsts 4 weeks of lockdown imposed by the government during the COVID-19 outbreak, from March 16 to April 16.

abstract:
  INTRODUCTION: Health emergencies, such as epidemics, have detrimental and long-lasting consequences on people’s mental health, which are higher during the implementation of strict lockdown measures. Despite several recent psychological researches on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlighting that young adults represent a high risk category, no studies specifically focused on young adults’ mental health status have been carried out yet. This study aimed to assess and monitor Italian young adults’ mental health status during the first 4 weeks of lockdown through the use of a longitudinal panel design. METHODS: Participants (n = 97) provided self-reports in four time intervals (1-week intervals) in 1 month. The Syndromic Scales of Adult Self-Report 18-59 were used to assess the internalizing problems (anxiety/depression, withdrawn, and somatic complaints), externalizing problems (aggressive, rule-breaking, and intrusive behavior), and personal strengths. To determine the time-varying effects of prolonged quarantine, a growth curve modeling will be performed. RESULTS: The results showed an increase in anxiety/depression, withdrawal, somatic complaints, aggressive behavior, rule-breaking behavior, and internalizing and externalizing problems and a decrease in intrusive behavior and personal strengths from T1 to T4. CONCLUSIONS: The results contributed to the ongoing debate concerning the psychological impact of the COVID-19 emergency, helping to plan and develop efficient intervention projects able to take care of young adults’ mental health in the long term.


id: cord-323775-sonsrf5b
author: Franchini, Linda
date: 2020-07-21
txt: ./txt/cord-323775-sonsrf5b.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-323775-sonsrf5b.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113317
doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113317
summary:
  We described a telephone-based surveillance on 101 euthymic Mood Disorder outpatients in Milan by a non-standardized survey to evaluate reactions to lockdown measures and the presence of quarantine stressors. The present report aims at describing the telephone-based mental illness surveillance on Mood Disorder patients attending the Mood Disorder Outpatient Center at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, with the aid of a non-standardized survey to evaluate reactions to lockdown measures. Among our sample, 76% of patients reported frustration due to restrictions, 53.5% fears about infection, 45.5% financial concerns, 44.5% psychic anxiety, 40.6% low mood, 36.6% somatization, 31.6% increased alertness, 29.7% insomnia, 20.8% self-medication with sedatives, 2.9% inadequate supplies. The purpose of our brief report is to describe the telephone-based mental illness surveillance on the quarantine effects in a sample of euthymic mood disorder patients who could not attend their scheduled psychiatric visit due to lockdown measures.

title:
  Mental Health Services For Mood Disorder Outpatients In Milan During COVID-19 Outbreak: the experience of the health care providers at San Raffaele Hospital

abstract:
  The spread of COVID-19 throughout Italy, particularly Lombardy, led to adopt quarantine measures, known to exacerbate pre-existing psychiatric conditions. We described a telephone-based surveillance on 101 euthymic Mood Disorder outpatients in Milan by a non-standardized survey to evaluate reactions to lockdown measures and the presence of quarantine stressors. Frustration was the most represented quarantine stressor. Being jobless was significantly related to the presence of frustration, somatization, increased alertness, psychic anxiety and low mood; younger age to the presence of psychic anxiety, alertness and financial concerns. No recurrences were observed at the time of writing.


id: cord-327779-lt3t4shi
title: Treatment of COVID-19 Patients in Italy: A Physician’s Experience and Insights
author: Gilad, Vered
date: 2020-07-31
txt: ./txt/cord-327779-lt3t4shi.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-327779-lt3t4shi.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32792048/
doi: 10.5041/rmmj.10419
summary:
  This perspective piece focuses on the main challenges faced by Italian hospital managements: hospital overcrowding; the need for urgent reorganization of the country''s healthcare systems; the lack of data regarding COVID-19 diagnostics, clinical course, and effective treatment; individual and collective consequences of the crisis; and the importance of disease containment measures and early treatment strategies. 9 The main factors associated with stress disorders included supporting the challengingly high number of critically ill patients, scarcity of intensive care beds, unfamiliar treatment strategies, feelings of inadequacy, uncertainty about pandemic duration, the risk of infection and deficiency of personal protective equipment, high-workload shifts, and physical distress related to the need to use heavy protective uniforms. In view of the importance of identifying patients in the early stages of disease, an open letter signed by more than 100,000 Italian doctors was sent to the Italian Ministry of Health, asking for a strengthening of community assistance and the telemedicine infrastructure to allow home surveillance and care of COVID-19 patients.

abstract:
  The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Italy, the first Western country hit by the pandemic, seriously impacted the Italian healthcare system and social and economic environment. This perspective piece focuses on the main challenges faced by Italian hospital managements: hospital overcrowding; the need for urgent reorganization of the country’s healthcare systems; the lack of data regarding COVID-19 diagnostics, clinical course, and effective treatment; individual and collective consequences of the crisis; and the importance of disease containment measures and early treatment strategies.


id: cord-330057-3vucm0s1
author: Franzo, Giovanni
date: 2020-04-29
txt: ./txt/cord-330057-3vucm0s1.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-330057-3vucm0s1.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-64477-4
doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-64477-4
summary:
  In the present study, 361 IBV QX (the most relevant field genotype in Italy) sequences were obtained between 2012 and 2016 from the two main Italian integrated poultry companies. Finally, the different viral population pattern observed in the two companies over the same time period supports the pivotal role of management and control strategies on IBV epidemiology. Almost identical results were obtained including a third "ghost" deme (i.e. an estimated deme for which no sequences were available, representative of other unsampled companies and farms) in the analysis or using the "traditional" coalescent approach. In the particular Italian QX scenario, the serially sampled (i.e. with known collection date) strains were used to infer the migration rate and history between the two integrated poultry companies (i.e. considered as different demes) over time.

title:
  Phylodynamic analysis and evaluation of the balance between anthropic and environmental factors affecting IBV spreading among Italian poultry farms

abstract:
  Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) control is mainly based on wide vaccine administration. Although effective, its efficacy is not absolute, the viral circulation is not prevented and some side effects cannot be denied. Despite this, the determinants of IBV epidemiology and the factors affecting its circulation are still largely unknown and poorly investigated. In the present study, 361 IBV QX (the most relevant field genotype in Italy) sequences were obtained between 2012 and 2016 from the two main Italian integrated poultry companies. Several biostatistical and bioinformatics approaches were used to reconstruct the history of the QX genotype in Italy and to assess the effect of different environmental, climatic and social factors on its spreading patterns. Moreover, two structured coalescent models were considered in order to investigate if an actual compartmentalization occurs between the two integrated poultry companies and the role of a third “ghost” deme, representative of minor industrial poultry companies and the rural sector. The obtained results suggest that the integration of the poultry companies is an effective barrier against IBV spreading, since the strains sampled from the two companies formed two essentially-independent clades. Remarkably, the only exceptions were represented by farms located in the high densely populated poultry area of Northern Italy. The inclusion of a third deme in the model revealed the likely role of other poultry companies and rural farms (particularly concentrated in Northern Italy) as sources of strain introduction into one of the major poultry companies, whose farms are mainly located in the high densely populated poultry area of Northern Italy. Accordingly, when the effect of different environmental and urban parameters on IBV geographic spreading was investigated, no factor seems to contribute to IBV dispersal velocity, being poultry population density the only exception. Finally, the different viral population pattern observed in the two companies over the same time period supports the pivotal role of management and control strategies on IBV epidemiology. Overall, the present study results stress the crucial relevance of human action rather than environmental factors, highlighting the direct benefits that could derive from improved management and organization of the poultry sector on a larger scale.


id: cord-336257-f6yglaz8
author: Forte, Giuseppe
date: 2020-06-10
txt: ./txt/cord-336257-f6yglaz8.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-336257-f6yglaz8.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9061802
doi: 10.3390/jcm9061802
summary:
  Although these results need to be considered with caution being based on self-reported data collected at the beginning of this emergency, they should be used as a starting point for further studies aimed to develop interventions to minimize both the brief and long-term psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. In both countries younger age, student status, female gender and direct contact with COVID-19 infection are associated with a greater psychological impact of the emergency, involving many psychopathological dimensions (e.g., anxiety, distress, sleep disturbance) [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] 26] . One of the aims of the study was to analyse the psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in the different Italian territorial areas. Overall, the results highlighted high levels of anxiety, psychopathological symptoms and PTSD symptoms in Italian respondents during the first critical phase of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and of the Government measures taken to contain it.

title:
  The Enemy Which Sealed the World: Effects of COVID-19 Diffusion on the Psychological State of the Italian Population

abstract:
  Background: Starting from the first months of 2020, worldwide population has been facing the COVID-19 pandemic. Many nations, including Italy, took extreme actions to reduce the diffusion of the virus, profoundly changing lifestyles. The Italians have been faced with both the fear of contracting the infection and the consequences of enforcing social distancing. This study was aimed to understand the psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and the psychopathological outcomes related to the first phase of this emergency. Methods: The study included 2291 respondents. An online survey collected information on socio-demographic variables, history of direct or indirect contact with COVID-19, and additional information concerning the COVID-19 emergency. Moreover, psychopathological symptoms such as anxiety, mood alterations and post-traumatic symptomatology were assessed. Results: The results revealed that respectively 31.38%, 37.19% and 27.72% of respondents reported levels of general psychopathological symptomatology, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms over the cut-off scores. Furthermore, a significant worsening of mood has emerged. Being a female or under the age of 50 years, having had direct contact with people infected by the COVID-19, and experiencing uncertainty about the risk of contagion represent risk factors for psychological distress. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic appear to impact not only on physical health but also on psychological well-being. Although these results need to be considered with caution being based on self-reported data collected at the beginning of this emergency, they should be used as a starting point for further studies aimed to develop interventions to minimize both the brief and long-term psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.


id: cord-338184-899km704
title: Covid-19: A Dynamic Analysis of Fatality Risk in Italy
author: Iosa, Marco
date: 2020-04-30
txt: ./txt/cord-338184-899km704.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-338184-899km704.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32426362/
doi: 10.3389/fmed.2020.00185
summary:
  In the present study, mathematical models were used to test if the high Italian CFR was only apparent because it was related to an underestimation of positive cases or if it represents a real increment of Covid-19 lethality, maybe related to the difficulties of the Health National System to manage many cases in a short period and in a small region as occurred in the north of Italy. The CFR computed day by day could be high due to the need to take into account a biological delay of about 14 days between deaths and the recorded number of positive cases (8) or for the insufficient number of beds into ICUs. In the former case, there is a statistical problem, whereas, in the latter case, the health policy of other countries should take into account the Italian lesson for Covid-19.

abstract:
  Italy was the second country in the world to face a wide epidemic of Covid-19 after China. The ratio of the number of fatalities to the number of cases (case fatality ratio, CFR) recorded in Italy was surprisingly high and increased in the month of March. The older mean age of population, the changes in testing policy, and the methodological computation of CFR were previously reported as possible explanations for the incremental trend of CFR, a parameter theoretically expected to be constant. In this brief report, the official data provided by the Italian Ministry of Health were analyzed using fitting models and the linear fit method approach. This last methodology allowed us to reach two findings. The trend of the number of deaths followed a 1–3-day delay of positive cases. This delay was not compatible with a biological course of Covid-19 but was compatible with a health management explanation. The second finding is that the Italian number of deaths did not increase linearly with the number of positive cases, but their relationship could be modeled by a second-order polynomial function. The high number of positive cases might have a direct and an indirect effect on the number of deaths, the latter being related to the overwhelmed bed capacity of intensive care units.


id: cord-339162-l5zxic3y
title: A Frail Health Care System for an Old Population: Lesson form the COVID-19 Outbreak in Italy
author: Volpato, Stefano
date: 2020-04-21
txt: ./txt/cord-339162-l5zxic3y.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-339162-l5zxic3y.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaa087
doi: 10.1093/gerona/glaa087
abstract: nan
summary:
  Higher mortality rates of older patients are expected as complicated COVID-19 is characterized by severe interstitial pneumonia followed by acute respiratory distress syndrome, thromboembolic events, and eventually multiorgan failure, a cascade of negative events that is obviously more likely in older frail patients, those with elevated multimorbidity and reduced functional reserve. The sudden explosion of the COVID-19 outbreak, with almost 10% of infected patients having respiratory failure and requiring mechanical ventilation has immediately saturated the acute care beds availability of Lombardy and northern Emilia-Romagna, including intensive care units'' (ICU) beds. From this point of view, the Italian tragedy suggests that a prompt population mass testing for detecting asymptomatic infected people along with immediate, widespread, draconian measures of social isolation, along with contract tracing and quarantine, might have more strongly reduced the rate of COVID-19 transmission, with the greatest benefit for frail patients, more prone to a complicated course of the disease.


id: cord-340262-5f2o7l16
author: Carpinelli Mazzi, Michele
date: 2020-10-14
txt: ./txt/cord-340262-5f2o7l16.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-340262-5f2o7l16.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-020-00413-z
doi: 10.1007/s41999-020-00413-z
summary:
  PURPOSE: The study evaluated the effects of the COVID-19 emergency lockdown on the psychological outcome in caregivers (children or spouses) of patients with dementia and the loss of the welfare services in these patients. Many people with dementia were deprived of care services and time of isolation had a significant negative effect on anxiety and depression in caregivers. The aim of the present study was to analyse the effects of the lockdown on the psychological outcome in caregivers of persons with dementia and on the loss of welfare services in these patients. The anxiety, depression and stress scores of the caregivers of patients with Alzheimer''s disease (AD) were compared with those with other forms of dementia using a non-parametric test for independent samples (Mann-Whitney). Regarding the effects of the lockdown on the psychological outcome in caregivers, multiple linear regression showed that education and time spent in isolation had an important role in anxiety and depression.

title:
  Time of isolation, education and gender influence the psychological outcome during COVID-19 lockdown in caregivers of patients with dementia

abstract:
  PURPOSE: The study evaluated the effects of the COVID-19 emergency lockdown on the psychological outcome in caregivers (children or spouses) of patients with dementia and the loss of the welfare services in these patients. METHODS: Zung’s depression and anxiety assessment scales and the Perceived Stress Scale were administered by a telephone interview or a self-compilation directly on the online platform. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 239 participants (men = 124; women = 115) with a mean age of 54.4 years (SD = 12.1). Education was associated with significantly lower overall anxiety and depression scores while days of isolation and female gender were associated with the higher scores. A marked reduction of health services was observed in all patients. CONCLUSION: The lockdown registered a particular impact on people with dementia and their caregivers. Many people with dementia were deprived of care services and time of isolation had a significant negative effect on anxiety and depression in caregivers.


id: cord-340511-syy9okhi
title: Air pollutants and risk of death due to COVID-19 in Italy
author: Dettori, Marco
date: 2020-11-11
txt: ./txt/cord-340511-syy9okhi.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-340511-syy9okhi.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33188767/
doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110459
summary:
  The link between air pollutants and COVID-19 mortality among Italian provinces was studied implementing a linear regression model, whereas the wide set of variables were examined by means of LISA (Local Indicators of Spatial Autocorrelation), relating the spatial component of COVID-19 related data with a mix of environmental variables as explanatory variables. In particular, it has aimed to study the role of air pollutants and a set of environmental variables, selected from recent observations [10, 17] , in relation to the number of deaths per each Italian province affected by COVID-19. The wide set of variables were examined by means of LISA (Local Indicators of Spatial Autocorrelation), relating the spatial component of COVID-19 related data (i.e., cases and deaths per province) with a mix of environmental variables as explanatory variables, such as annual average of PM 2,5 and PM 10 , NO 2 , numbers of trees per 100 inhabitants and urban green areas, number of vehicles and cycle paths, as reported in Table 1 .

abstract:
  The present work aims to study the role of air pollutants in relation to the number of deaths per each Italian province affected by COVID-19. To do that, specific mortality from COVID-19 has been standardised for each Italian province and per age group (10 groups) ranging from 0-9 years to >90 years, based on the 2019 national population figures. The link between air pollutants and COVID-19 mortality among Italian provinces was studied implementing a linear regression model, whereas the wide set of variables were examined by means of LISA (Local Indicators of Spatial Autocorrelation), relating the spatial component of COVID-19 related data with a mix of environmental variables as explanatory variables. As results, in some provinces, namely the Western Po Valley provinces, the SMR (Standardized Mortality Ratio) is much higher than expected, and the presence of PM(10) was independently associated with the case status. Furthermore, the results for LISA on SMR and PM(10) demonstrate clusters of high-high values in the wide Metropolitan area of Milan and the Po Valley area respectively, with a certain level of overlap of the two distributions in the area strictly considered Milan. In conclusion, this research appears to find elements to confirm the existence of a link between pollution and the risk of death due to the disease, in particular, considering land take and air pollution, this latter referred to particulate (PM(10)). For this reason, we can reiterate the need to act in favour of policies aimed at reducing pollutants in the atmosphere, by means of speeding up the already existing plans and policies, targeting all sources of atmospheric pollution: industries, home heating and traffic.


id: cord-340703-vtuy806l
title: Low bone mineral density in HIV-positive young Italians and migrants
author: Cascio, Antonio
date: 2020-09-03
txt: ./txt/cord-340703-vtuy806l.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-340703-vtuy806l.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237984
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237984
summary:
  We aimed to evaluate the bone mineral density (BMD) in naïve antiretroviral (ARV) treated HIV positive patients comparing native Italian group (ItG) to a Migrants group (MiG) upon arrival in Italy. Lumbar site low BMD is an initial condition of bone loss in HIV young patients, especially in female migrants. Our study aims to emphasize the burden of bone health in naïve ARV HIV positive patients and compare the bone density of the native Italian population group (ItG) with that of HIV Migrants (MiG) upon arrival in Italy. Finally, in Table 3 , we report the logistic regression analysis between Low BMD variable (dichotomous) and the independent variables: Gender (dichotomous), BMI (continuous), Hydroxy-Vitamin D (continuous), CD4 (continuous), and Previous Fractures (dichotomous) for the total sample, ItG, and MiG. Our previous reports [13, 14] on the prevalence of Low-BMD in HIV mono-infected patients who underwent ARV therapy showed higher percentage rates of osteopenia (44.9%) and osteoporosis (20.9%) than an agerelated healthy Italian population (18%) [16] .

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected individuals may have osteoporosis. We aimed to evaluate the bone mineral density (BMD) in naïve antiretroviral (ARV) treated HIV positive patients comparing native Italian group (ItG) to a Migrants group (MiG) upon arrival in Italy. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 83 HIV patients less than 50 years old. We used the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) within six months from the HIV diagnosis. Participants were categorized as having low BMD if the femoral neck or total lumbar spine Z-score was– 2 or less. RESULTS: MiG showed low BMD more often than ItG (37.5% vs.13.6%), especially for the female gender (16.7% vs. 0.0%). A low CD4 rate (<200 cells/μl) was most often detected in MiG than ItG. In particular, we found most often male Italians with abnormal CD4 than male migrants (67.8% vs. 33.3%) and vice versa for females (30.5% vs. 66.7%). We found an abnormal bone mineral density at the lumbar site. Low BMD at the lumbar site was more frequently observed in female migrants than female Italians. Both male and female migrants had a Z-score value significantly lower than male and female Italians, respectively. By logistic regression low vitamin-D level was positively correlated to low BMD in ItG only. All data were verified and validated using a triple code identifier. CONCLUSIONS: Both DXA and vitamin-D evaluation should be offered after the diagnosis of HIV infection. Lumbar site low BMD is an initial condition of bone loss in HIV young patients, especially in female migrants. Vitamin D levels and supplementation may be considered after HIV diagnosis independently of age to improve bone health. HIGHLIGHTS: This study evaluates the frequency of bone mineral density in HIV positive patients naive to antiretroviral therapy. It compares the density of the native Italian population with that of HIV Migrants upon arrival in Italy. The results show that HIV positive migrants, even if younger than 50 years of age, are at risk for osteoporosis, especially if they are female.


id: cord-342386-t5b8wpe2
title: All We Need Is Trust: How the COVID-19 Outbreak Reconfigured Trust in Italian Public Institutions
author: Falcone, Rino
date: 2020-10-02
txt: ./txt/cord-342386-t5b8wpe2.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-342386-t5b8wpe2.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33132966/
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.561747
summary:
  Since overall trust in public authorities did not decrease after March 11 in the whole sample, this indicates a leveling in trust attribution across the country after the introduction of new measures, which in turn could be interpreted as a shift in the perception of the emergency: whereas in early March, a significant part of the Italian population still believed the outbreak to be somehow contained to specific regions, and thus a local problem unlikely to affect everybody in the same way, the nationwide interventions announced on March 11 made it crystal clear to all that COVID-19 was indeed a national concern.

abstract:
  The central focus of this research is the fast and crucial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a crucial psychological, relational, and political construct: trust. We investigate how the consequences of the pandemic, in terms of healthcare, state intervention and impositions, and daily life and habits, have affected trust in public institutions in Italy, at the time when the contagion was rapidly spreading in the country (early March 2020). In this survey, addressed to 4260 Italian citizens, we analyzed and measured such impact, focusing on various aspects of trust. This attention to multiple dimensions of trust constitutes the key conceptual advantage of this research, since trust is a complex and layered construct, with its own internal dynamics. In particular, the analysis focuses on how citizens attribute trust to Public Authorities, in relation to the management of the health crisis: with regard to the measures and guidelines adopted, the purposes pursued, the motivations that determine them, their capacity for involvement, and their effectiveness for the containment of the virus itself. A pandemic creates a bilateral need for trust, both in Public Authorities (they have to rely on citizens’ compliance and must try to promote and maintain their trust in order to be effective) and in citizens, since they need to feel that somebody can do something, can (has the power to) protect them, to act at the needed collective level. We are interested to explore how this need for trust affects the attributional process, regarding both attitudes and the corresponding decisions and actions. The most striking result of this survey is the very high level of institutional trust expressed by respondents: 75% of them trust Italian public authorities to be able to deal with the COVID-19 emergency. This is in sharp contrast with the relatively low levels of institutional trust characteristic of Italy, both historically and in recent surveys. Moreover, the survey allowed the discrimination of several potential predictors for trust, thus emphasizing factors that, during this crisis, are exhibiting an anomalous impact on trust.


id: cord-342919-ls2q1g0v
title: Italians on the Age of COVID-19: The Self-Reported Depressive Symptoms Through Web-Based Survey
author: Balsamo, Michela
date: 2020-10-16
txt: ./txt/cord-342919-ls2q1g0v.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-342919-ls2q1g0v.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33178074/
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.569276
summary:
  In the very early stage of the nationwide lockdown, 3,672 quarantined Italian adult residents (65% females, ranging from 18 to 85 years) participated in a web-based cross-sectional survey, including measures of depressive symptoms, which were measured by the Teate depression inventory, and state anxiety levels. Females, younger people, students, singles, residents in northern Italy, people who were reluctant to adhere to quarantine guidelines, and people less worried about being infected with COVID-19 were at high risk of developing depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 epidemic, also after controlling for state anxiety. Research evidence aims of this study were to explore (1) the likely effects of quarantine on mental health (anxiety and depressive symptoms), immediately after the nationwide lockdown issued by the Italian Government, and (2) the factors that contribute to, or mitigate, these consequences. Compared to the previous model, no statistical differences were found in sex, age, and adherence level to quarantine guidelines groups when predicting depression symptom severity, when controlling for anxiety (see Appendix A).

abstract:
  The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected the Italian community. The widespread use of quarantine had the desired impact of controlling the epidemic, although it caused many psychological consequences. To date, compliance of the Italian public with voluntary home quarantine has been very high, but little is known about the impact of psychological health on sociodemographic categories during the quarantine. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms in specific sociodemographic categories during the COVID-19 quarantine lockdown and the potential factors that contribute to, or mitigate, these effects. In the very early stage of the nationwide lockdown, 3,672 quarantined Italian adult residents (65% females, ranging from 18 to 85 years) participated in a web-based cross-sectional survey, including measures of depressive symptoms, which were measured by the Teate depression inventory, and state anxiety levels. The overall prevalence was 27.8% for moderate and 9.3% for severe levels of depressive symptoms. A generalized logistic model was used to identify the factors associated with mental health problems. Among these factors, sociodemographic variables (e.g., sex, age, employment status) and adherence to quarantine guidelines were analyzed. Females, younger people, students, singles, residents in northern Italy, people who were reluctant to adhere to quarantine guidelines, and people less worried about being infected with COVID-19 were at high risk of developing depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 epidemic, also after controlling for state anxiety. These findings showed that public levels of depressive symptoms did not increase the greater likelihood of being infected. Our study suggested that the monitoring of psychological outcomes for outbreaks could identify groups at higher risk of psychological morbidities due to the current pandemic in order to target future psychological interventions for implementation.


id: cord-343295-c3y6rtb7
title: The COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: policy and technology impact on health and non-health outcomes
author: Chiara, Berardi
date: 2020-09-03
txt: ./txt/cord-343295-c3y6rtb7.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-343295-c3y6rtb7.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlpt.2020.08.019
doi: 10.1016/j.hlpt.2020.08.019
summary:
  Objective: The paper aims to analyse the policies implemented by the government and their impact on health and non-health outcomes considering both scaling-up and scaling-down interventions. We investigate the impact of policies on the daily reported number of deaths, case fatality rate, confirmation rate, intensive care unit saturation, and financial and job market indicators across the three major geographical areas of Italy (North, Centre, and South). This section considers various interventions such as measures to contain the spread of the virus, policies for prevention and cure, interventions for economic stimulus, and the introduction of new health technology. This section describes the policy implemented by the government to cope with the limited capacity of the health care system and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, significant technological interventions seemed to be far from having any impact on the outcomes considered (daily number of reported deaths and ICU saturation) due to delayed implementation (see Figure 10 in the appendix).

abstract:
  Italy was the first Western country to experience a major coronavirus outbreak and consequently faced large-scale health and socio-economic challenges. The Italian government enforced a wide set of homogeneous interventions nationally, despite the differing incidences of the virus throughout the country. Objective: The paper aims to analyse the policies implemented by the government and their impact on health and non-health outcomes considering both scaling-up and scaling-down interventions. Methods: To categorise the policy interventions, we rely on the comparative and conceptual framework developed by Moy et al. (2020). We investigate the impact of policies on the daily reported number of deaths, case fatality rate, confirmation rate, intensive care unit saturation, and financial and job market indicators across the three major geographical areas of Italy (North, Centre, and South). Qualitative and quantitative data are gathered from mixed sources: Italian national and regional institutions, National Health Research and international organisations. Our analysis contributes to the literature on the COVID-19 pandemic by comparing policy interventions and their outcomes. Results: Our findings suggest that the strictness and timing of containment and prevention measures played a prominent role in tackling the pandemic, both from a health and economic perspective. Technological interventions played a marginal role due to the inadequacy of protocols and the delay of their implementation. Conclusions: Future government interventions should be informed by evidence-based decision making to balance, the benefits arising from the timing and stringency of the interventions against the adverse social and economic cost, both in the short and long term.


id: cord-347578-p54ir4rr
title: Cytology in the time of coronavirus disease (covid-19): an Italian perspective
author: Vigliar, Elena
date: 2020-04-19
txt: ./txt/cord-347578-p54ir4rr.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-347578-p54ir4rr.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1136/jclinpath-2020-206614
doi: 10.1136/jclinpath-2020-206614
summary:
  results During the emergency, the percentage of cytology samples reported as malignant increased (p<0.001), reflecting higher percentages of breast (p=0.002) and lymph nodes FNAs (p=0.008), effusions (p<0.001) and urine (p=0.005). results During the emergency, the percentage of cytology samples reported as malignant increased (p<0.001), reflecting higher percentages of breast (p=0.002) and lymph nodes FNAs (p=0.008), effusions (p<0.001) and urine (p=0.005). Exfoliative cytological samples dropped from n=324 to n=56, while ultrasound-guided Short report Figure 1 Distribution of cytological sample types during the first 3 weeks of Italian national lockdown amid covid-19 outbreak compared with data relative to the activity from the same period in 2019. Distribution of the diagnostic classes relative to cytological samples processed during the first 3 weeks of Italian national lockdown amid covid-19 outbreak compared with data relative to the activity from the same period in 2019.

abstract:
  INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) is changing the way we practice pathology, including fine needle aspiration (FNA) diagnostics. Although recommendations have been issued to prioritise patients at high oncological risk, postponing those with unsuspicious presentations, real world data have not been reported yet. METHODS: The percentages of the cytological sample types processed at the University of Naples Federico II, during the first 3 weeks of Italian national lockdown were compared with those of the same period in 2019. RESULTS: During the emergency, the percentage of cytology samples reported as malignant increased (p<0.001), reflecting higher percentages of breast (p=0.002) and lymph nodes FNAs (p=0.008), effusions (p<0.001) and urine (p=0.005). Conversely, thyroid FNAs (p<0.001) and Pap smears (p=0.003) were reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Even in times of covid-19 outbreak, cytological examination may be safely carried out in patients at high oncological risk, without the need to be postponed.


id: cord-347960-vl5zhxyh
author: Giallonardo, Vincenzo
date: 2020-06-05
txt: ./txt/cord-347960-vl5zhxyh.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-347960-vl5zhxyh.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00533
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00533
summary:
  The present study has been developed with the aims to: a) evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and its containment measures on mental health of the Italian population; b) to identify the main areas to be targeted by supportive long-term interventions for the different categories of people exposed to the pandemic. The survey includes the following self-reported questionnaires: the General Health Questionnaire -12 items (GHQ-12) (31); the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale -21 Items (DASS-21) (32); the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory -Revised (OCI-R) (33); the Insomnia Severity Index (34) ; the Severity-of-Acute-Stress-Symptoms-Adult (35); the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS) (36); the Impact of Event Scale -6 items (37); the UCLA loneliness scale -short version (38) ; the Brief COPE (39); the Post Traumatic Growth Inventory short form (40) ; the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scaleshort form (41) ; the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived social support (42); the Pattern of Care Schedule (PCS)-modified version (43); the Maslach Burnout Inventory (only for health professionals) (44) .

title:
  The Impact of Quarantine and Physical Distancing Following COVID-19 on Mental Health: Study Protocol of a Multicentric Italian Population Trial

abstract:
  The COVID-19 pandemic and its related containment measures—mainly physical distancing and isolation—are having detrimental consequences on the mental health of the general population worldwide. In particular, frustration, loneliness, and worries about the future are common reactions and represent well-known risk factors for several mental disorders, including anxiety, affective, and post-traumatic stress disorders. The vast majority of available studies have been conducted in China, where the pandemic started. Italy has been severely hit by the pandemic, and the socio-cultural context is completely different from Eastern countries. Therefore, there is the need for methodologically rigorous studies aiming to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 and quarantine measures on the mental health of the Italian population. In fact, our results will help us to develop appropriate interventions for managing the psychosocial consequences of pandemic. The “COVID-IT-mental health trial” is a no-profit, not-funded, national, multicentric, cross-sectional population-based trial which has the following aims: a) to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and its containment measures on mental health of the Italian population; b) to identify the main areas to be targeted by supportive long-term interventions for the different categories of people exposed to the pandemic. Data will be collected through a web-platform using validated assessment tools. Participants will be subdivided into four groups: a) Group 1—COVID-19 quarantine group. This group includes the general population which are quarantined but not isolated, i.e., those not directly exposed to contagion nor in contact with COVID-19+ individuals; b) Group 2—COVID-19+ group, which includes isolated people directly/indirectly exposed to the virus; c) Group 3—COVID-19 healthcare staff group, which includes first- and second-line healthcare professionals; d) Group 4—COVID-19 mental health, which includes users of mental health services and all those who had already been diagnosed with a mental disorder. Mental health services worldwide are not prepared yet to manage the short- and long-term consequences of the pandemic. It is necessary to have a clear picture of the impact that this new stressor will have on mental health and well-being in order to develop and disseminate appropriate interventions for the general population and for the other at-risk groups.


id: cord-348142-p2phkwo0
title: Changes in sleep pattern, sense of time and digital media use during COVID‐19 lockdown in Italy
author: Cellini, Nicola
date: 2020-05-15
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url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32410272/
doi: 10.1111/jsr.13074
summary:
  In the survey, we asked participants to think about their use of digital media before going to bed, their sleep pattern and their subjective experience of time in the previous week (March 17–23, which was the second week of the lockdown) and up to the first week of February (February 3–10, before any restriction in any Italian area). We were interested in characterizing the change in digital media use before going to bed, in sleep quality and timing, and in the subjective experience of time passing, and their relationship with depression, anxiety and stress levels. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the impact of the Italian restriction measures on individuals'' daily habits, such as sleep-wake rhythms, digital media use and the experience of time. Changes in sleep pattern, sense of time and digital media use during COVID-19 lockdown in Italy

abstract:
  Italy is one of the major COVID‐19 hotspots. To reduce the spread of the infections and the pressure on Italian healthcare systems, since March 10, 2020, Italy has been under a total lockdown, forcing people into home confinement. Here we present data from 1,310 people living in the Italian territory (M (age) = 23.91 ± 3.60 years, 880 females, 501 workers, 809 university students), who completed an online survey from March 24 to March 28, 2020. In the survey, we asked participants to think about their use of digital media before going to bed, their sleep pattern and their subjective experience of time in the previous week (March 17–23, which was the second week of the lockdown) and up to the first week of February (February 3–10, before any restriction in any Italian area). During the lockdown, people increased the usage of digital media near bedtime, but this change did not affect sleep habits. Nevertheless, during home confinement, sleep timing markedly changed, with people going to bed and waking up later, and spending more time in bed, but, paradoxically, also reporting a lower sleep quality. The increase in sleep difficulties was stronger for people with a higher level of depression, anxiety and stress symptomatology, and associated with the feeling of elongation of time. Considering that the lockdown is likely to continue for weeks, research data are urgently needed to support decision making, to build public awareness and to provide timely and supportive psychosocial interventions.


id: cord-348573-uyuazdhk
title: Validation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Italian Version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale
author: Soraci, Paolo
date: 2020-05-04
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url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00277-1
doi: 10.1007/s11469-020-00277-1
summary:
  METHODS: The sample comprised 250 Italian participants who were administered Italian versions of the FCV-19S, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Severity Measure for Specific Phobia–Adult (SMSP-A). The statistical analyses carried out were as follows: (i) descriptive statistics of the FCV-19S items (i.e., means and standard deviations of the main items); (ii) construct and criterion validity of the Italian FCV-19S; (iii) the reliability of the scale, examined via composite reliability (CR) (e.g., CR values greater than 0.7 are associated with good test reliability; Fornell and Larcker 1981; Netemeyer et al. The total score of the FCV-19S was correlated with variables that have been formerly associated with fear of COVID-19 (i.e., anxiety and depression; Ahorsu et al. Concurrent validity was supported by the HADS (anxiety and depression levels among participants) and SMSP-A (phobia among participants) as indicated by the significant positive correlations for both scales (p < .001).

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: The advent of COVID-19 worldwide has led to consequences for people’s health, both physical and psychological, such as fear and anxiety. This is the case in Italy, one of the countries most affected by the pandemic. Given the heightened fear concerning COVID-19 in Italy., the present study analyzed the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). METHODS: The sample comprised 250 Italian participants who were administered Italian versions of the FCV-19S, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Severity Measure for Specific Phobia–Adult (SMSP-A). Several psychometric tests were performed to investigate the validity and reliability of the test including confirmatory factor analysis. RESULTS: Analysis of the data showed satisfactory psychometric characteristics and confirmed the scale’s unidimensional properties. The seven FCV-19S items had acceptable correlations with the test total (from .443 to .784). Furthermore, the loadings on the factor were significant and strong (from .684 to .897). The internal consistency was very good (α = .871). Construct validity for the FCV-19S was supported by significant and positive correlations with the HADS (r=.649) and SMSP-A (r=.703). CONCLUSIONS: The Italian version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale is valid and reliable in assessing fear of COVID-19 among the general Italian population.


id: cord-349415-q0g0uqj6
author: Commodari, Elena
date: 2020-09-23
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url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33071884/
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.559951
summary:
  In this scenario, this study aimed to provide a general overview of the perceived risk related to COVID-19 and the psychological experience of quarantine in a large sample of Italian adolescents. Nine hundred and seventy eight adolescents (males = 339; females = 639) living in 13 Italian regions and attending upper secondary school (age range: 13–20, M = 16.57, SD = 1.20), responded to an internet-based questionnaire about perceived health risk related to COVID-19, knowledge and information on measures to control the pandemic, beliefs and opinions on stage two of the quarantine, and psychological experiences related to quarantine. Moreover, it explored perceived health risk related to COVID-19, knowledge and information on measures to control the pandemic, beliefs and opinions on stage two of the quarantine, routines and habits of life that adolescents miss most (such as going out with friends, meeting boyfriend or girlfriend, going to visit their relatives, for a total of six items), and psychological experiences related to quarantine.

title:
  Adolescents in Quarantine During COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy: Perceived Health Risk, Beliefs, Psychological Experiences and Expectations for the Future

abstract:
  Since March 2020, many countries throughout the world have been in lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In Italy, the quarantine began on March 9, 2020, and containment measures were partially reduced only on May 4, 2020. The quarantine experience has a significant psychological impact at all ages but can have it above all on adolescents who cannot go to school, play sports, and meet friends. In this scenario, this study aimed to provide a general overview of the perceived risk related to COVID-19 and the psychological experience of quarantine in a large sample of Italian adolescents. Nine hundred and seventy eight adolescents (males = 339; females = 639) living in 13 Italian regions and attending upper secondary school (age range: 13–20, M = 16.57, SD = 1.20), responded to an internet-based questionnaire about perceived health risk related to COVID-19, knowledge and information on measures to control the pandemic, beliefs and opinions on stage two of the quarantine, and psychological experiences related to quarantine. 31.1% of the participants lived in “red zones,” which are places where the government has imposed stricter measures of containment due to exponential and uncontrolled growth in contagion cases compared to other areas in Italy. According to our results, Italian adolescents had a low perception of risk of COVID-19. Perceived comparative susceptibility and perceived seriousness were also very low. However, they were aware of the restriction measures necessary to contain the spread of the virus, and they agreed with the limitations imposed by the government. Females and adolescents living in a “red zone” showed more significant psychological negative feelings about the quarantine experience. However, no significant differences were found about the regions where the teenagers of our sample live and the other variables related to the COVID-19 experience. This is very interesting data, leading us to hypothesize that the participants’ negative feelings may be more related to the adolescent period than to the pandemic itself.


id: cord-355898-hlkwwaqe
author: Grippo, Antonello
date: 2020-07-21
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url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-04585-1
doi: 10.1007/s10072-020-04585-1
summary:
  METHODS: Presidents of SINC, LICE, and AITN endorsed three members per each society to formulate recommendations: classification of the degree of urgency of EEG clinical indications, management and behavior of physicians and neurophysiology technologists, hygiene and personal protection standards, and use of technical equipment. the neurological specialist assesses the clinical need and establishes the appropriate timing of all EEG studies in COVID+/COVID-uncertain patients, in collaboration with the team of clinicians involved in direct care; if the NPT staff is limited, the neurological specialist assesses the appropriateness of all EEG requests, regardless of COVID-19 status; the possibility of performing a prolonged EEG recording rather than repeated standard EEG examinations (20-30 min) is examined beforehand, depending on the request, in order to reduce overall NPT efforts and the contact time of COVID+/COVID-uncertain patients; the usefulness/necessity of standard activation procedures, particularly hyperventilation, is carefully assessed in the individual case.

title:
  Electroencephalography during SARS-CoV-2 outbreak: practical recommendations from the task force of the Italian Society of Neurophysiology (SINC), the Italian League Against Epilepsy (LICE), and the Italian Association of Neurophysiology Technologists (AITN)

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: During COVID-19 lockdown, non-urgent medical procedures were suspended. Grade of urgency of electroencephalography (EEG) may vary according to the clinical indication, setting, and status of infection of SARS-CoV-2 virus. “Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology” (SINC), “Italian League Against Epilepsy” (LICE), and the “Italian Association of Neurophysiology Technologists” (AITN) aimed to provide clinical and technical recommendation for EEG indications and recording standards in this pandemic era. METHODS: Presidents of SINC, LICE, and AITN endorsed three members per each society to formulate recommendations: classification of the degree of urgency of EEG clinical indications, management and behavior of physicians and neurophysiology technologists, hygiene and personal protection standards, and use of technical equipment. RESULTS: Scientific societies endorsed a paper conveying the recommendation for EEG execution in accordance with clinical urgency, setting (inpatients/outpatients), status of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection (positive, negative and uncertain), and phase of governmental restrictions (phase 1 and 2). Briefly, in phase 1, EEG was recommended only for those acute/subacute neurological symptoms where EEG is necessary for diagnosis, prognosis, or therapy. Outpatient examinations should be avoided in phase 1, while they should be recommended in urgent cases in phase 2 when they could prevent an emergency room access. Reduction of staff contacts must be encouraged through rescheduling job shifts. The use of disposable electrodes and dedicated EEG devices for COVID-19-positive patients are recommended. CONCLUSIONS: During the different phases of COVID-19 pandemic, the EEG should be reserved for patients really benefiting from its execution in terms of diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and avoidance of emergency room access.


