Despite that sleep disturbance and poor neurocognitive performance are common complaints among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors, few studies have focused on the effect of post-COVID-19 sleep disturbance (PCSD) on cognitive function. This study aimed to identify the impact of PCSD on neurocognitive function and explore the associated risk factors for the worsening of this condition. This cross-sectional study was conducted via the web-based assessment in Chinese mainland. Neurocognitive function was evaluated by the modified online Integrated Cognitive Assessment (ICA) and the Number Ordering Test (NOT). Propensity score matching (PSM) was utilized to match the confounding factors between individuals with and without PCSD. Univariate analyses were performed to evaluate the effect of PCSD on neurocognitive function. The risk factors associated with worsened neurocognitive performance in PCSD individuals were explored using binary logistic regression. A total of 8692 individuals with COVID-19 diagnosis were selected for this study. Nearly half (48.80%) of the COVID-19 survivors reported sleep disturbance. After matching by PSM, a total of 3977 pairs (7954 individuals in total) were obtained. Univariate analyses revealed that PCSD was related to worse ICA and NOT performance (P<0.05). Underlying disease, upper respiratory infection, loss of smell or taste, severe pneumonia, and self-reported cognitive complaints were associated with worsened neurocognitive performance among PCSD individuals (P<0.05). Furthermore, aging, ethnicity (minority), and lower education level were found to be independent risk factors for worsened neurocognitive performance in PCSD individuals (P<0.05). PCSD was related to impaired neurocognitive performance. Therefore, appropriate prevention and intervention measures should be taken to minimize or prevent PCSD and eliminate its potential adverse effect on neurocognitive function.
Humans ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Sleep Wake Disorders/epidemiology* ; Propensity Score ; Middle Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adult ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Aged ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Cognition ; Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology* ; Neuropsychological Tests

AIM:To study the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS)using the glucose regulated protein 78(GRP78)/CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein(CHOP)pathway and explore the related mech-anism of Wenyang-Shengji ointment in facilitating the repair of diabetic refractory wounds.METHODS:To establish a rat model of diabetic refractory wound repair,Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were fed a high-fat diet and intraperitoneally in-jected with streptozotocin.Subsequently,full-thickness skin defects were induced in the dorsal region of the rats.The ex-periment included 4 groups:normal,model(diabetic refractory wounds),Wenyang-Shengji ointment,and Beifuxin(re-combinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor gel)groups.The normal and model groups were treated with normal saline after disinfection.In the Wenyang-Shengji ointment and Beifuxin groups,the wounds were topically treated with the re-spective ointments once daily.After 14 d of treatment,wound healing was assessed and quantified using the wound healing rate.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was employed to examine the micromorphology of the wound tissue.Western blot analysis was performed to measure GRP78,CHOP and caspase-12 levels in the wound tissue.Immunohistochemical analy-sis was used to detect the expression and distribution patterns of GRP78,CHOP and caspase-12 in the wounds.Transmis-sion electron microscopy was used to observe reticulum numbers and swelling.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine interleukin-1β(IL-1β)level as a pro-inflammatory factor within the wound.RESULTS:Indexes of each group were assessed 14 d after the corresponding intervention.Compared with normal group,the rats in model group exhibited a significant decrease in the wound healing rate(P＜0.01),accompanied by increased inflammatory exudation and poor granulation tissue growth.Additionally,there were increases in the expression levels of GRP78,CHOP and cas-pase-12 proteins(P＜0.01),as well as a significant elevation in the content of inflammatory factor IL-1β(P＜0.01).In contrast,compared with model group,treatment with Wenyang-Shengji ointment resulted in a significant improvement in wound healing rate(P＜0.01),reduction in inflammatory exudation,and enhanced granulation tissue growth(P＜0.01).Furthermore,there was a notable decrease in the protein expression of GRP78/CHOP/caspase-12 within the wound tissue following treatment with Wenyang-Shengji ointment(P＜0.01).The levels of inflammatory factor IL-1β also showed a sig-nificant decrease(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION:Wenyang-Shengji promotes the healing of diabetic refractory wounds,which may be associated with the downregulation of the GRP78/CHOP pathway,inhibition of excessive ERS,and reduc-tion in the level of wound cell apoptosis.

Clinical Trials as Topic ; Electroacupuncture ; Facial Paralysis ; therapy ; Humans ; Treatment Outcome