ABSTRACT
Economic and social crises like those experienced in 2020-2022 are familiar from earlier European experiences. What is now the European Union originated in a common-market toolbox in the aftermath of World War II. It evolved through crises into a complicated and unstable set of policies and institutions. The COVID-19 and war in Ukraine reinforced policy coordination and added a novel common fiscal facility to that supranational policy framework, but renewed emphasis on governments and subsidies threatens the crucial role of integrated markets as the principal instrument for growth, cohesion, stability, and peace in Europe. © 2022, Casa Editrice Leo S. Olschki. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The common-market project, that after World War II aimed to prevent future wars among European Nations, evolved through crises into a complicated and unstable set of European Union policies and institutions. The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine reinforced coordination and added common debt issuance to the supranational policy toolkit. But the NextGenEU program relies heavily on government subsidies rather than on market incentives, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine shows that economic integration can at most move the boundaries of war to those of the integrated economic area, rather than of Nations. These developments weaken the crucial role of integrated markets as the principal instrument for growth, cohesion, stability, and peace in Europe.
ABSTRACT
Background: Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is a self-limiting inflammatory thyroid disorder, of uncertain pathogenesis, associated with upper respiratory viral infections. Several cases of SAT following SARS-CoV-2 infection have been described during the current pandemic. In addition, there have been reports of SAT occurring after administration of influenza and H1N1 vaccines. Recently, a little, but increasing number of SATs has also been described associated with different types of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. We report 3 cases of SAT occurred after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-Vaccination (Comirnaty, Pfizer/BioNTech). Case Report: All patients were females, aged 50, 55 and 60 yrs. In one patient symptoms started about four weeks after the 1st dose, and in two patients symptoms started at day 1 and day 8 after the 2nd dose. None had a history of thyroid disease, recent respiratory tract infections, or a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. All patients complained about anterior cervical pain (in two patients radiated to their ears) and fever. Two patients presented with thyrotoxicosis. TRAb, TPO-Ab and Tg-Ab were negative. In all patients CRP was increased (average 8 mg/dl;range 4.7-11.7) and neck ultrasound showed a typical pattern of SAT (large hypoechoic areas, poor blood flow). All patients received prednisone therapy for a mean of 13 weeks (range 8-18 weeks), with immediate improvement of symptoms and complete long-term recovery. Conclusions: we suggest an association between SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations and SAT, although further data are needed to confirm this hypothesis.