Background The majority of breast cancer patients are severely psychologically affected by breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent therapeutic procedures. The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions on public life have additionally caused significant psychological distress for much of the population. It is therefore plausible that breast cancer patients might be particularly susceptible to the additional psychological stress caused by the pandemic, increasing suffering. In this study we therefore aimed to assess the level of psychological distress currently experienced by a defined group of breast cancer patients in our breast cancer centre, compared to distress levels pre-COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Female breast cancer patients of all ages receiving either adjuvant, neoadjuvant, or palliative therapies were recruited for the study. All patients were screened for current or previous COVID-19 infection. The participants completed a self-designed COVID-19 pandemic questionnaire, the Stress and Coping Inventory (SCI), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) Distress Thermometer (DT), the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ C30, and the BR23. Results Eighty-two breast cancer patients were included. Therapy status and social demographic factors did not have a significant effect on the distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the DT pre and during COVID-19 pandemic did not differ significantly. Using the self-designed COVID-19 pandemic questionnaire, we detected three distinct subgroups demonstrating different levels of concerns in relation to SARS-CoV-2. The subgroup with the highest levels of concern reported significantly decreased life quality, related parameters and symptoms. Conclusions This monocentric study demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected psychological health in a subpopulation of breast cancer patients. The application of a self-created “COVID-19 pandemic questionnaire” could potentially be used to help identify breast cancer patients who are susceptible to increased psychological distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore may need additional intensive psychological support. Trial registration DRKS-ID: DRKS00022507.

Background The onset of mental illness such as depression and anxiety disorders in pregnancy and postpartum period is common. The coronavirus induced disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the resulting public policy responses represent an exceptional situation worldwide and there are hints for adverse psychosocial impact, hence, the study of psychological effects of the pandemic in women during hospitalization for delivery and in the postpartum period is highly relevant. Methods Patients who gave birth during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany (March to June 2020) at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Würzburg, Germany, were recruited at hospital admission for delivery. Biosamples were collected for analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and various stress hormones and interleukin-6 (IL-6). In addition to sociodemographic and medical obstetric data, survey questionnaires in relation to concerns about and fear of COVID-19, depression, stress, anxiety, loneliness, maternal self-efficacy and the mother–child bonding were administered at T1 (delivery stay) and T2 (3–6 months postpartum). Results In total, all 94 recruited patients had a moderate concern of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at T1 with a significant rise at T2. This concern correlated with low to low-medium general psychosocial stress levels and stress symptoms, and the women showed a significant increase of active coping from T1 to T2. Anxiety levels were low and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale showed a medium score of 5 with a significant (T1), but only week correlation with the concerns about SARS-CoV-2. In contrast to the overall good maternal bonding without correlation to SARS-CoV-2 concern, the maternal self-efficiency correlated negatively with the obstetric impairment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion Obstetric patients` concerns regarding SARS-CoV-2 and the accompanying pandemic increased during the course of the pandemic correlating positively with stress and depression. Of note is the increase in active coping over time and the overall good mother–child-bonding. Maternal self-efficacy was affected in part by the restrictions of the pandemic. Clinical trial registration DRKS00022506

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Chemie lngenieur Technik (69) 7 I 97 ijberwachung und Steuerung des Produktionsprozesses herangezogen werden.Die Phasen-Doppler-Anemometrie (PDA) ist ein Verfahren, welches sich bereits bei der Untersuchung von Zerstaubungsprozessen bewart hat. Hierbei handelt es sich um ein laseroptisches MeRverfahren, das beriihrungslos simultan GroRe und Geschwindigkeit der zerstaubten Partikel wiedergibt. Erfolgreich eingesetzt wurde die PDA bislang u. a. bei der Untersuchung der Zerstaubungsvorgange von Wasser, 01, Brennstoffen und z. T. auch von Metall.Die Applikation eines Standard-PDA an Spriihtrocknungsanlagen gelang bisher nur ansatzweise. Die in den Tropfen suspendierte oder emulgierte Produktphase fiihrt zu einer mit herkommlichen Methoden nicht beschreibbaren Storung des PDA-Messergebnisses. Es ist dennoch moglich, Partikelkollektive solcher ,optisch inhomogener Partikeln' zu vermessen. Hierzu beschreibt man die hervorgerufene Storung des optischen Signals durch eine ,,hertragungsfunktion" und berechnet auf mathematischem Wege die Durchmesserverteilung des vermessenen Partikelkollektives. Fur die meisten Anwendungsfalle ist die ijbertragungsfunktion einer GauBfunktion nahezu identisch und 1aBt sich durch Mittelwert und Standardabweichung charakterisieren. Die Verwaschung des MeRergebnissesund damit die Standardabweichung der ijbertragungsfunktionnimmt mit steigender Volumenkonzentration der in den Tropfen enthaltenen Feinstpartikel zu. Dadurch bedingt weicht die berechnete Durchmesserverteilung jedoch immer starker von der real vorliegenden Durchmesserverteilung ab. Einen wesentlichen Vorteil bietet hier der Einsatz von Infrarot-PDA-Systemen, deren Genauigkeit im Gegensatz zu den handelsublichen Geraten wesentlich weniger von inhomogenen ProzeBfluiden beeinflufit wird. Die aktuellsten Experimente hierzu zeigen, daR im Falle von inhomogenen ProzeBfluiden ein IR-PDA dem Standard-PDA (Wellenlingen bis 700 nm) uberlegen ist. Bei gleichartigen ProzeBfluiden 1aRt sich damit der Einsatzbereich auf mehr als dreimal so hoch konzentrierte Suspensionen steigern.

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