Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the opinions of different groups of people in Iran on their willingness to receive a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed a sample (based on consecutive referrals) of 5 groups of people in late 2020: a group of the general population from Shiraz (without a history of any chronic medical or psychiatric problems), patients with epilepsy, patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), patients with cardiac problems, and patients with psychiatric problems. The survey included 4 general questions and 3 COVID-19–specific questions.Results: A total of 582 people participated. In total, 66 (11.3%) people expressed that they were not willing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Psychiatric disorders (odds ratio [OR]: 3.15; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31-7.60; P = 0.006) and male sex (OR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.23-3.58; P = 0.010) were significantly associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.Conclusion: Vaccine hesitancy is a global issue. Patients with psychiatric disorders had the highest rate of vaccine hesitancy. Previous studies have shown that depression and anxiety are associated with a reduced adherence to the recommended medical advice. Why male sex is associated with vaccine hesitancy is not clear. Researchers should investigate the rates and the factors affecting the vaccine hesitancy in their corresponding communities.

Peganum harmala L. and Lavandula angustifolia are two traditional herbs with probable antiseizure effects. This study evaluated the effects of these two herbal extracts on pentylenetetrazol‐ (PTZ‐) induced seizures in mice. We prepared hydroalcoholic extracts using P. harmala seeds and the aerial parts of L. angustifolia and then randomly divided 190 mice into 19 groups. Normal saline (10 mg/kg), diazepam (2 mg/kg), P. harmala (2.5, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, and 60 mg/kg), and L. angustifolia (200, 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg) were intraperitoneally (IP) administrated 30 min before an IP administration of PTZ (90 mg/kg). Animals were observed for behavioral changes for one hour. In addition, the effects of flumazenil and naloxone on the antiseizure activity of P. harmala and L. angustifolia were assessed. P. harmala showed antiseizure activity at the dose of 10 mg/kg; it prolonged the seizure latency and decreased the seizure duration. The mortality protection rate was 90% for this herbal extract. L. angustifolia (600 mg/kg) prolonged the seizure latency and decreased both seizure duration and mortality. Neither flumazenil nor naloxone significantly reversed the antiseizure activities of P. harmala and L. angustifolia. In mice, the hydroalcoholic extracts of P. harmala and L. angustifolia showed antiseizure activity against PTZ‐induced seizures. We could not delineate the exact antiseizure mechanisms of these extracts in the current study.

Introduction: We investigated the longevity of COVID-associated brain fog in patients who have survived the COVID-19. Methods: This was a follow-up study of 2,696 adult patients with COVID-19 from our previous study. We selected every other patient in our database. The follow-up data were collected during a phone call to the participants in January–February 2022 (11 months after the initial study): concentration difficulty and the patient’s self-declared status in their ability to concentrate. Results: In total, 1,164 people were included; 35 people (3.0%) had concentration difficulty and 65 individuals (5.6%) had a worsened status in their ability to concentrate and think; 26 people (2.2%) responded yes to both questions and were considered as having long-lasting brain fog. People with long-lasting brain fog were more often admitted to ICUs during the initial hospitalization (23.1% vs. 9.3%; p = 0.032) compared with those without long-lasting brain fog. Conclusion: We may conclude that a minority of the hospitalized patients with COVID-19 may suffer from long-lasting post-COVID brain fog, at least for more than 1 year after their initial illness. Long-lasting post-COVID brain fog has a significant association with the severity of the initial illness.

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to investigate the prevalence of face mask wearing among different groups of people in south Iran. We also investigated the associations between mask wearing hesitancy and various factors. Methods: We surveyed a sample (convenience sampling) of five groups of people: general population, people with epilepsy, people with diabetes mellitus, people with cardiac problems, and people with psychiatric problems. The survey included four general questions [age, sex, education, and medical/psychiatric problem] and four COVID-19 specific questions [contracting COVID-19, relatives with COVID-19, wearing a face mask while in crowded places, and the frequency of daily hand washings]. Results: 582 people (153 people with epilepsy, 127 patients with diabetes mellitus, 98 people with cardiac problems, 96 patients with psychiatric disorders, and 108 healthy individuals) participated. 28 (4.8%) people expressed that they do not wear a face mask when at crowded places. A lower education and less frequent daily hand washings had associations with mask wearing hesitancy. Conclusion: Mask wearing hesitancy is a concern during a respiratory viral disease pandemic. Paying attention to personal variables, especially if they are modifiable (e.g., education and hygiene), is probably productive and practical in promoting mask wearing culture.

This longitudinal study within the Generation R cohort (n = 1,085) examined how maternal, child, and contextual factors relate to maternal sensitivity across childhood. Maternal sensitivity was observed at child ages 1, 3, 4, and 10 using the Ainsworth and Erickson scales. Predictors included maternal history of childhood maltreatment, family functioning, prenatal psychopathology, child temperament, genetic predisposition to psychopathology, marital status, and education. Linear mixed-effects models revealed that no maternal, child, or contextual characteristics predicted baseline levels or linear changes in maternal sensitivity from ages 1 to 10 after correcting for multiple testing. However, post-hoc analysis identified a nonlinear decline in sensitivity, ocurring primarily during the child's first four years. Sensitivity analyses for ages 1 to 4 similarly showed no significant predictors, except child sex: mothers exhibted higher sensitivity toward daughters. Overall, maternal sensitivity appears largely independent of these background factors, highlighting the need for further replication beyond infancy.