COVID

Post-COVID condition is frequently associated with persistent fatigue, reduced functional capacity, and loss of independence in activities of daily living. Exercise intolerance and post-exertional symptom exacerbation limit participation in conventional rehabilitation programs, highlighting the need for safe and scalable home-based interventions. The REACT-COVID project aims to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and potential effects of a home-based intervention combining whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) with functional activities of daily living in individuals with post-COVID condition. This study will be a randomized, placebo-controlled, participant-blinded pilot trial including 30 participants allocated to either an experimental group receiving active WB-EMS or a control group receiving sham stimulation over a 12-week period. The primary aim is to assess feasibility, safety, and acceptability. As exploratory clinical outcomes, fatigue severity (Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire, CFQ-11) and functional capacity (Six-Minute Walk Test, 6 MWT) will also be evaluated. Secondary outcomes include handgrip strength and independence in activities of daily living (ADLQ). Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0), post-intervention (week 12), and three-month follow-up (week 24). This intervention is designed to provide a low-mechanical-load, accessible alternative for individuals unable to tolerate conventional exercise programs. This study’s findings will inform larger multicenter trials and contribute to scalable rehabilitation models for post-COVID care. Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07312357). Full article

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by an infodemic that promoted the use of so-called “miracle products” lacking scientific evidence, posing significant public health risks. Despite increasing concern, evidence on effective educational strategies to counteract this misinformation remains limited, particularly in Latin America. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre–post study without a control group was conducted among university students in Mexico City between February and June 2021. Participants were recruited via Facebook using a snowball sampling approach. A validated nine-item questionnaire assessed knowledge about miracle products before and after exposure to an educational video intervention. Paired statistical analyses were performed to evaluate changes in knowledge. Results: A total of 157 participants completed the pre-test, and 103 completed the post-test. The intervention resulted in a significant increase in knowledge scores, from a mean of 5.98 (SD = 1.73) to 9.05 (SD = 1.54) (p < 0.001). Significant improvements were observed in eight of nine items, with the largest increases in knowledge related to high-risk substances and reporting mechanisms. No significant baseline differences were found between participants who completed and those who did not complete the post-test. Conclusions: The video-based educational intervention was effective in improving knowledge about miracle products during COVID-19. These findings support the use of digital health education strategies as scalable tools to combat misinformation, particularly in resource-constrained settings. However, further research using controlled designs is needed to assess long-term effects and behavioral outcomes. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the introduction of South Africa’s Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant to mitigate income shocks among individuals excluded from existing social programs. This study utilizes a three-year national representative dataset from the General Household Survey and applies a fixed effects regression framework to estimate the association between COVID-19 SRD grants and unemployment. The findings indicate a positive and statistically significant association between grant receipt and unemployment. Specifically, the results suggest that grant recipients are approximately 27–32% more likely to be unemployed than non-recipients. The findings suggest that while the grant provided necessary initial financial relief, in the absence of complementary labour market interventions, income support alone may be insufficient to address unemployment. The study concludes by recommending the coordination of temporary income relief integrated with active labour market policies to promote sustainable employment outcomes. Full article

Background: During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, nursing students faced heightened infection risks during clinical practicum while managing significant psychological demands. However, factors predicting the preventive practices of future healthcare professionals remain poorly understood. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined 261 nursing students on COVID-19 knowledge, attitudes, practices, psychological distress, self-efficacy, and resilience during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. Grounded in the Knowledge–Attitudes–Practice (KAP) framework, hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of preventive practice behaviors. Results: Depressive symptoms (β = 0.27, p = 0.023) and resilience (β = 0.29, p < 0.001) were significantly positive predictors of COVID-19 preventive practice. Conclusions: Resilience emerged as the strongest predictor of COVID-19 preventive practice among nursing students, highlighting the importance of psychological resources in sustaining infection prevention behaviors. Nursing education programs should incorporate resilience-building strategies to strengthen pandemic preparedness and clinical readiness among future healthcare professionals. Full article

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy has been associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, particularly in severe disease. However, evidence stratified by disease severity from Southeastern Europe remains limited. The aim of this study was to compare obstetric and neonatal outcomes between mild and severe COVID-19 among pregnant women managed in tertiary maternity hospitals in Tirana, Albania. Methods: A retrospective multicenter observational study was conducted between January 2020 and December 2022 in the two main tertiary maternity hospitals in Tirana. Pregnant or postpartum women with RT-PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included. COVID-19 cases were classified as mild or severe according to clinical presentation and oxygen saturation. Maternal, obstetric, and neonatal outcomes were analyzed and multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between disease severity and selected outcomes. Results: A total of 270 pregnant women were included, of whom 212 (78.5%) had mild COVID-19 and 58 (21.5%) severe disease. The mean maternal age was 29.4 years and most infections occurred during the third trimester (80.8%). Severe COVID-19 was associated with significantly higher odds of NICU admission (aOR 2.87, 95% CI 1.36–6.05), Apgar score < 7 at 5 min (aOR 8.39, 95% CI 1.49–47.35), low birth weight (aOR 2.53, 95% CI 1.06–6.03), and emergency cesarean section (aOR 8.10, 95% CI 2.64–24.86). Maternal age, obesity, parity, and comorbidities were not significantly associated with the examined outcomes. Conclusions: Severe COVID-19 during pregnancy was associated with poorer neonatal condition at birth and increased obstetric intervention, highlighting the importance of close monitoring and coordinated obstetric–neonatal management in pregnancies complicated by severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Full article

The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is associated with milder symptoms and lower hospitalization and mortality rates than Delta variants, although the impact of Omicron on immunocompromised patients, especially solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, is still unclear. This study compares the hospitalization rate and outcomes between immunocompromised, immunocompetent, and SOT patients during the Delta and Omicron periods. We included adult patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on PCR or nasopharyngeal antigen test between 26 June 2021 to 8 September 2022, at our institution. A total of 12,401 COVID-19 patients were included, of which 11,055 were immunocompetent, and 1346 were immunocompromised (375 SOT recipients). Throughout the Delta and Omicron outbreaks, immunocompromised patients exhibited higher comorbidities and 30-day hospitalizations, but rates of mechanical ventilation and ICU-level care were like immunocompetent patients. During the Omicron wave, immunocompromised patients had higher unadjusted relative risk estimates (RR = 2.37, 95% CI 1.96–2.87, p < 0.05) than Delta (RR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.24–2.01, p < 0.05), with higher adjusted relative risk for hospitalization in Omicron (RR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.10–2.03, p = 0.01). Analyses show increased hospitalization risk in immunocompromised during the Omicron wave compared to the Delta wave, with no significant difference in hospitalization outcomes. The relative risk of hospitalization for SOT patients was higher in both waves. Full article

Background: COVID-19 during pregnancy has been associated with various obstetric complications; however, epidemiological evidence regarding its relationship with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and preterm birth remains inconclusive. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the association between COVID-19 during pregnancy and the risk of HDP and preterm birth among Mexican pregnant women. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study based on a review of 3710 medical records of women treated at a tertiary hospital between 2020 and 2023. COVID-19 was diagnosed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. We estimated adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) using robust Poisson regression models, controlling for potential confounders. Results: The COVID-19 rate was 2.5%. We observed that women with COVID-19 had a higher risk of HDP (aRR = 1.59; 95% CI = 1.07–2.36). When HDP subgroups were analyzed separately, COVID-19 was associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia (aRR = 2.04; 95% CI = 1.34–4.20) and preterm birth (aRR = 1.50; 95% CI = 1.02–2.19). The association with gestational hypertension lost statistical significance after adjustment. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that COVID-19 during pregnancy may be associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and preterm birth. However, the observed association with preeclampsia should be interpreted cautiously because diagnostic overlap between severe COVID-19 and preeclampsia cannot be excluded. Full article

Background/Objectives: The health status of institutionalized older adults is determined by the interaction of functional, cognitive, nutritional, anthropometric, and biochemical factors, which may not be adequately captured through single-domain assessments. Within the framework of the VIVA Project (Vulnerability Index: Valencia institutionalized Adults), this study aimed to characterize institutionalized older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic using an integrated multidimensional approach and to explore clinically interpretable vulnerability profiles. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 124 residents from 10 nursing homes of Valencia, Spain. Data were obtained from institutional records and included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), Barthel Index, Mini-Examination of Cognition (MEC), Tinetti scale, Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF), and biochemical markers related to protein status, lipid metabolism, micronutrient availability, and renal function. An exploratory VIVA multidimensional index was constructed from nine standardized variables, and k-means clustering was applied to these variables rather than to a single summed score to identify residents’ phenotypes. An exploratory logistic regression model was used to assess the internal discrimination of the high-vulnerability phenotype. Results: The cohort showed marked heterogeneity across functional, cognitive, nutritional, anthropometric, and biochemical domains. Cluster analysis identified three clinically interpretable phenotypes ranging from lower to higher vulnerability. Functional impairment, particularly the Barthel Index and Tinetti score, was the main driver of separation between phenotypes, while biochemical markers contributed to refining profile discrimination. The exploratory logistic regression model showed high internal discrimination for the high-vulnerability phenotype, supporting the internal coherence of the integrated framework. Conclusions: An integrated multidimensional framework may be useful for characterizing vulnerability among institutionalized older adults and supporting risk stratification in long-term care settings. The logistic regression findings, including the high AUC, should be interpreted only as evidence of internal discrimination and internal coherence of the exploratory construct, not as evidence of external validity, reproducibility, diagnostic accuracy, or future predictive utility. Full article

Introduction: From 12 March 2020, when the first cases of COVID-19 were registered in Kosovo, to 9 March 2023, there were a total of 273,310 reported cases of COVID-19 and 3211 reported deaths in Kosovo (CFR: 1.17%). Health care workers (HCWs) have been at a higher risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 infection; nevertheless, data on seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among HCWs in Kosovo are very limited. Methodology: A cross-sectional serology study with 1654 healthcare professionals throughout Kosovo was conducted to determine the presence of antibodies against the spike antigen of SARS-CoV-2. In addition, a structured questionnaire was administered to study participants to obtain basic demographic data, and information on prior infection and COVID-19 vaccination status. Results: Antibodies against the spike antigen of SARS-CoV-2 were detected in almost all (99.8%) HCWs that participated in the study. The average antibody titer was 8030.8 AU/mL in women and 9533.7 AU/mL in men. Sixty-four percent of HCWs in this study reported prior infection with SARS-CoV-2, 6% of whom were hospitalized. Over 98% of study participants had received SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Conclusions: Almost all HCWs participating in the study had antibodies against the spike antigen of SARS-CoV-2. This is most probably the result of the high COVID-19 vaccination rate in Kosovo as well as infection with SARS-CoV-2. Full article

Introduction: Several Enterobacterales species harboring New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM-1) have been reported worldwide. Among them is Providencia stuartii (P. stuartii), an emerging pathogen in nosocomial infections. Objective: This study aimed to perform the clinical and genomic characterization of NDM-1-producing P. stuartii isolates recovered from hospitalized patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Southern Brazil. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted between April and September 2021 at a Brazilian teaching hospital. Fifty P. stuartii isolates were identified, and carbapenem-resistant isolates underwent phenotypic and molecular characterization. Genetic relatedness was assessed by Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR), and selected isolates were subjected to whole-genome sequencing using the Illumina NextSeq platform to determine sequence types, resistance genes, virulence determinants, and plasmid content. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: Among the 50 isolates, 21 (42%) harbored the blaNDM-1 gene. Most isolates were recovered from tracheal aspirates (57.2%), followed by blood (23.8%), urine (9.5%), and skin and soft tissue samples (9.5%). Significant associations were observed between NDM-1-producing isolates and SARS-CoV-2 infection (p = 0.013), central venous catheter use (p = 0.012), mechanical ventilation (p = 0.006), hemodialysis (p = 0.033), previous antimicrobial exposure, and mortality (p = 0.021). Genomic analysis revealed the presence of blaNDM-1, blaOXA-1, and multiple resistance determinants associated with aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, tetracyclines, and folate pathway inhibitors. ERIC-PCR demonstrated low genetic variability among isolates, suggesting possible clonal dissemination within the hospital environment. Conclusions: This study reports the emergence of NDM-1-producing P. stuartii during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Brazilian teaching hospital. The low genetic variability among isolates and the multidrug-resistant profile highlight the potential for nosocomial dissemination and reinforce the importance of genomic surveillance and infection control strategies. Full article

Background: Endothelial dysfunction and renal injury are emerging as a common feature of long COVID, especially in those with hypertension. It is not yet well characterised whether SARS-CoV-2 infection exacerbates podocyte dysfunction, fibrotic signalling and renal hemodynamic remodelling, over and above the effects of hypertension alone and there are no reliable early biomarkers in this population. Methods: We conducted a comparative cross-sectional study with prospective 6-month treatment response follow-up in 120 adult patients (aged 30–60 years) with essential hypertension (Stage I, II or III; n = 40 per stage), at Bukhara Regional Multidisciplinary Hospital. Each stage subgroup was further divided into post-COVID (3–6 months after recovery; n = 20) and non-COVID (n = 20) strata. Patients with diabetes, known chronic kidney disease, previous myocardial infarction or stroke and other major comorbidities were excluded. Serum cystatin-C, creatinine, aldosterone, TGF-β1 and VEGF-A; urinary nephrin and microalbumin; cystatin-C-derived eGFR (CKD-EPI) and oral protein-loaded renal functional reserve (RFR); and renal Doppler indices (Vps, Ved, RI, PI) of the main, segmental and interlobar arteries were assessed before and after 6 months of guideline-based renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade (enalapril 5–10 mg or azilsartan 40–80 mg, ±eplerenone). Comparisons were made by Student’s t-test—associations by Pearson correlation. Results: At baseline, post-COVID hypertensive patients exhibited consistently higher endothelial–podocyte injury markers than non-COVID counterparts. Urinary nephrin was elevated across all stages (Stage I: 126.5 ± 9.1 vs. 91.9 ± 8.3 pg/mL, p < 0.01; Stage III: 203.3 ± 11.2 vs. 164.5 ± 9.7 pg/mL, p < 0.05), as were VEGF-A (Stage III: 286.1 ± 16.4 vs. 223.2 ± 12.6 pg/mL, p < 0.01) and TGF-β1 (Stage III: 186.4 ± 10.1 pg/mL, 1.3-fold higher; p < 0.01). The detection of microalbuminuria was 100% in Stage III post-COVID patients and 85% in non-COVID controls. The post-COVID groups had selective loss of renal functional reserve (7.8 ± 1.1% in Stage III compared to 12.5 ± 1.6% in non-COVID controls, p < 0.001). Nephrinuria correlated strongly with RFR (r = −0.824, p < 0.001), eGFR (r = −0.797, p < 0.001) and aldosterone (r = 0.613, p < 0.001). Six months of RAAS blockade reduced nephrinuria, microalbuminuria and TGF-β1 in both arms but the magnitude of biomarker reduction appeared smaller in the post-COVID group, particularly in Stage III. Conclusions: Long COVID appears to be associated with persistent endothelial dysfunction and podocyte injury in hypertensive patients. These results indicate that nephrinuria, VEGF-A, TGF-β1 and renal functional reserve are potential exploratory markers of endothelial and renal abnormalities in hypertensive patients following COVID-19. Before clinical utility can be determined, larger studies with multivariable modelling, diagnostic-performance analyses and correction for multiple testing are needed. The differences in biomarker response between groups observed in this study need to be confirmed in larger prospective studies with multivariable modelling and formal interaction analyses. Full article

The German author Hans Erich Nossack (1901–1977) wrote the novel “On Call: A Report on the Epidemic” four years before his death. This fascinating novel has yet to be translated into English. It depicts a bleak future in which a mysterious global epidemic erupts. The focus is on an unnamed first-person narrator, a chemist in a so-called on-call unit. His task is to recover the numerous bodies left behind by the epidemic. In a matter-of-fact, almost emotionless tone, he reconstructs the course of the catastrophe in retrospect. The disease is an anomaly: it is a kind of ‘suicide epidemic’ in which people apparently die or take their own lives for no apparent reason. The reasons for this remain unclear, intensifying uncertainty and a sense of helplessness within society. The novel describes in great detail fundamental changes in individual psychology and global society, revealing striking parallels nearly 50 years later during the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. This paper seeks to compare the suicide pandemic described in the novel with today’s COVID-19 pandemic. To the best of my knowledge, this association has not been previously described. Similarities between the novel and the pandemic will be analysed. Nevertheless, there are also fundamental differences between the novel’s plot and the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, some basic information about the author Nossack (a rather complex personality), likely not well-known to non-German-speaking readers, will be provided. The goal of this contribution is to familiarise non-German-speaking readers with this novel and its author. Finally, I will briefly mention Aaron Antonovsky’s concept of salutogenesis, which focuses on building resilience, resources, and supportive environments to manage disease. Nossack’s “Bereitschaftsdienst” anticipates key questions in salutogenesis—particularly the importance of finding meaning, comprehensibility, and coping strategies in the face of existential threats—but explores them within a far darker and more sceptical framework. Full article

The world has already been facing food, nutrition, and security challenges for the last few decades. The coronavirus 2019, COVID-19, has a significant impact on food security and agriculture, such as affecting food demand and the food supply chain, with the greatest consequences on the most vulnerable population. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the effects of COVID-19 on global agriculture and food security, drawing on recent scientific publications, institutional reports, and policy documents from 2020 to 2026. The review examines the impact of the pandemic on cropping patterns, fruit and vegetable harvests, availability of farm inputs, connectivity of the agricultural system, food supply chains, food demand, and labor availability. Vegetable and fruit markets were most affected due to the spread of COVID-19. Due to the closing of markets and restaurants, produce distributors and farmers were required to transfer supplies entirely from the food production to the marketplace. These effects are additionally being felt in agriculture and food security. Almost 55% of researchers indicated that COVID-19 has the most impact on agriculture and its complete harvest during the season, and an additional 45% stated that COVID-19 has adversely affected food security. However, food has slowed down well to date in numerous nations. The spread of COVID-19 is beginning to disrupt the supply of agricultural products and food to consumers and the marketplace across and within borders. The different spring crops, such as sunflower, canola, maize, barley, spring wheat, and various field vegetables, cannot be grown during COVID-19. Consequently, COVID-19 has had a binding effect on the food supply chain and agriculture due to the disruption, which the government should have addressed promptly. Full article

This study analyses the pharmacological profiles of medications administered to critically ill COVID-19 patients to evaluate their efficacy regarding recovery rates and duration of hospitalization. The results demonstrate a significant difference in clinical outcomes. While the administration of Ceftazidime, Ceftriaxone, and Oseltamivir was associated with negative survival trends, Dexamethasone and Favipiravir were associated with a fourfold higher probability of survival in severe cases. Notably, no pharmacological intervention significantly reduced the length of hospital stay; instead, recovery duration was primarily influenced by comorbidities such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Furthermore, age and preexisting physiological conditions remained primary predictors of mortality. Observational analysis in our study for drug repurposing identified Amikacin, Remdesivir, and Rivaroxaban as potential therapeutic candidates. However, Dexamethasone was identified as the most effective treatment for recovery, likely due to a molecular structure with high potential binding affinity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These findings suggest that while specific repurposed drugs offer measurable benefits, patient history remains a critical determinant of outcomes, highlighting the necessity for further research to refine therapies against emerging viral pathogens. Full article

Objective: Long COVID (LC) has been defined as a chronic condition that occurs after SARS-CoV-2 infection and persists for more than 3 months. Dyspnea is the most common and disabling symptom with several mechanisms identified. The pathophysiology of post-COVID dyspnea is unknown. The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical profile of patients presenting with dyspnea in the context of LC and to assess its possible relation with complementary diagnostic tests. Material and Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study including adult patients diagnosed with LC attending a post-COVID outpatient clinic. Dyspnea was assessed using mMRC and Borg scales. Complementary tests included chest imaging, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and a six-minute walk test (6MWT). These assessments were performed at several time points throughout follow-up (3, 6, and 12 months). Results: Eighty patients diagnosed with LC were included, the mean age was 60.0 ± 14.4 and 43 (54.8%) were female. Most patients were hospitalized during acute infection (97.5%) and 25 patients experienced respiratory failure. During the follow-up, chest X-rays showed persistent abnormalities in 67.5% of patients, and 6MWT was pathological in 61.3% at 277 days (IQR 176–326) after acute infection. No significant differences were observed in the prevalence of ventilatory failure across dyspnea severity categories. Reduced DLCO was observed in 20% of patients, while obstructive or restrictive patterns were infrequent. Through three follow-up visits, pulmonary function and exercise capacity remained stable, with modest improvements in DLCO and exercise-induced desaturation (p = 0.005). In multivariable analysis, obesity (adjusted OR 7.88; p = 0.023) and lower DLCO (p = 0.049) were independent predictors of more severe dyspnea, highlighting the role of non-pulmonary factors in Long COVID. Conclusions: This study describes the clinical and functional profile of a cohort of patients with LC. Although abnormal findings were frequent, only impaired DLCO and obesity were independently associated with dyspnea severity, while imaging and six-minute walk test abnormalities showed no consistent association with symptom intensity, supporting a multifactorial origin of post-COVID dyspnea. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic placed unprecedented pressure on healthcare systems and frontline professionals, particularly nurses, highlighting the importance of understanding their emotional experiences and coping strategies. This study aimed to explore the emotional experiences and coping strategies of nursing professionals during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in a Spanish regional healthcare setting. A qualitative descriptive phenomenological study was conducted in 2020. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and written narratives from 36 nursing professionals working in the Riojan Health Service. Three main themes emerged: perceived emotions, stressors, and coping strategies. Nurses reported intense feelings of fear, uncertainty, and frustration, which negatively impacted their mental health and hindered emotional regulation and decision-making. Key stressors included high workload, lack of resources, constant exposure to risk, and rapidly changing clinical situations. Despite these challenges, participants described various coping strategies, such as peer support, professional commitment, and adaptive emotional responses, which helped them manage the situation. The findings describe the emotional impact experienced by nursing professionals during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic and identify coping strategies used in a specific regional healthcare context in Spain. Full article

Background: Home care (HC) has expanded globally, offering individualized care and reducing hospital demand, but the role of the family caregiver imposes a significant physical and emotional burden, particularly during health crises like coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to analyze the performance and quality of life perspectives of family caregivers during the pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative study was conducted with 101 family caregivers from the Better at Home Program in Santo André, Brazil, between February and March 2021. The World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) instrument was used to assess quality of life, and the Barthel Index was used to evaluate the degree of patient dependence. Results: The sample showed a predominance of women (mean age 56 years, SD = 12.541; 13.9% aged 20–40 years, 41.4% aged 43–59 years, 44.7% aged 60–84 years) convenience sample, with low education and family income up to two minimum wages. Most caregivers were fully dedicated to patients with high dependence (89.1% in total or severe dependence, mainly due to neurological disorders). Overall quality of life was classified as “needing to improve” or “regular” in 61.4% of cases, with the pandemic intensifying perceived difficulties and negatively impacting all quality of life domains. A high prevalence of untreated chronic diseases and low COVID-19 vaccination rates were concerning findings. Conclusions: Family caregivers represent a vulnerable population requiring public policies and integrated support strategies, including quality of life assessment, psychological support, financial assistance, and respite care to ensure continuity of humanized, quality care. Full article

Research on oxazolones, particularly 4-alkynyloxazolones, has garnered increasing interest due to the presence of an alkynyl group, which facilitates molecular conjugation and enables diverse chemical modifications. In this study, three representative 4-alkynyloxazolone derivatives (L1–L3) were synthesized and structurally characterized through single-crystal X-ray diffraction and computational analysis to obtain a reliable structure of L1–L3 to subsequently predict in silico interactions with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike glycoprotein. The crystallographic results revealed high molecular planarity and multifurcated hydrogen bonding. Considering the obtained crystallographic structure, theoretical descriptors such as HOMO–LUMO energy gaps and electrostatic potential maps indicated that these compounds exhibit favorable electronic reactivity, particularly for L3, with favorable drug-like predictions. The lack of methoxy groups in L2 and L3 makes these compounds have lower predicted toxicity parameters than L1. Molecular docking calculations targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein in three different feasible conformations in a biological matrix, i.e., three receptor-binding domains (RBD) in down conformation, two RBD in down and one in up conformation, as well as RBD bound to the human receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), suggested strong binding affinities and specific interactions with the RBD moiety, mainly in the up conformation. Overall, this work integrates crystallographic and computational approaches to establish the structural and in silico evaluation of spike-binding properties of early substituted 4-alkynyloxazolones, suggesting L3 as a candidate for future in vitro antiviral assays. Full article

This study identifies the factors that influence the use of the Airbnb platform by Generation Z and Y in Greece, classifies them into groups according to their attitudes, and profiles the tourists of each generation according to their preferences regarding Airbnb bookings. The researchers conducted a primary survey using a sample of 576 citizens. Factor analysis was conducted initially to identify the main factors that affect each generation in using Airbnb after the COVID-19 pandemic. Cluster analysis was performed to classify each generation into groups. Quadratic discriminant analysis was conducted in the third phase to check cluster predictability. Non-parametric tests, including the chi-square test, were performed to profile tourists of each generation according to their preferences regarding Airbnb bookings. The results of this study indicate that people of Generations Z and Y preferred to use Airbnb accommodations even after the COVID-19 pandemic. The fact that Airbnb is safer than a conventional hotel due to COVID-19, the easy booking process and access to house amenities, as well as other marketing issues, affects most people of Generation Z and Y. This market segmentation study is quite essential in the tourism industry, especially in a country where tourism is of great importance to its economy. It highlights the impact of the pandemic on decisions and attitudes regarding the use of Airbnb. Full article