ABSTRACT
The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222/Vaxzervia) adapted from the chimpanzee adenovirus Y25 (ChAd-Y25) has been critical in combatting the severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. However, as part of the largest vaccination campaign in history, a potentially lifethreatening clotting disorder, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia, resembling heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), has been observed in a minority of AZD1222 patients following the first but not the second dose. Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is characterised by development of thromboses at uncommon sites such as the cerebral venous sinuses and the splanchnic veins, with concomitant thrombocytopaenia. Therefore, to determine how ChAdOx1 may contribute to this novel disorder, it is critical to investigate the vector-host interactions of ChAdOx1. Structural and in vitro analysis of the fiber knob responsible for the primary virus-cell interaction suggests that coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) is the primary ChAdOx1 receptor. However, ChAdOx1 infection of CAR(-) human vascular endothelial cells has been demonstrated in vitro, suggesting ChAdOx1 may be using additional receptors. Dual tropism has been demonstrated in other human adenoviruses, with HAdV-D26 and HAdV-D37 both using sialic acid and CAR for transduction. Furthermore, coagulation factor X (FX), a factor demonstrated to bind to the hexon and facilitate human adenovirus type 5 (HAdV-C5) transduction via a CARindependent pathway does not increase ChAdOx1 infection, with amino acid alignment between the hexon proteins suggesting ChAdOx1 is unable to bind FX. Taken together, these findings suggest ChAdOx1 uses additional as yet unknown mechanisms for transduction, which may further contribute to the pathogenesis of VITT.
ABSTRACT
Background/Aim. One of the anti-epidemic measures in the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 in Serbia was the mandatory complete ban on movement for people over 65 years of age. Two main stress factors affecting their health have been identified: intensive media coverage of the new disease and total physical and even social isolation of the elderly. The aim of this study was to assess the immediate impact of these anti-epidemic measures to combat the COVID-19 epidemic in Serbia on the health of people over 65 years old and to recognize protective factors for their health in the conditions of their obligatory isolation. Methods. The cross-sectional study was conducted on a 20% sample of inhabitants over 65 (184 in total) in the urban part of the city of Kruševac, in the central part of Serbia, during April and May 2020. Results. Anti-epidemic measures to combat the COVID-19 epidemic have been associated with deteriorating health in a significantly large proportion of the elderly in the sample (approximately 84%), such as unreasonable fatigue, tension, difficulties performing routine activities due to immobility, concerns, sleeping disorders, and hypertensive episodes. Gender, higher education, and material status were not related to protection and emotional well-being, but some personality factors are related to stress resilience. Conclusion. The protective personality factors for health are the respondents’ inclination toward hope, having a purpose in life, faith, optimism, interest, as well a high appreciation of positive emotions in the respondent’s life (love, joy, enthusiasm, closeness, and belonging) and having a fulfilled emotional life.
ABSTRACT
This paper aims to investigate the main drivers of sustainable profitability trends in the Serbian insurance industry over the years 2008-2019 (inclusive). Our study is motivated by the fact that insurance companies contribute to economic growth, and thus it is essential to understand the factors that contribute to their financial strength and stability. We use a set of standard panel regression models, including the mixed-effects model, followed by a more robust GMM estimation to uncover the linkage between selected micro-specific, macroeconomic, and institutional factors, and return of assets (ROA) and return on total premiums (ROTP). The present paper constitutes a significant contribution to the existing literature on the account of its comprehensiveness both in terms of the institutional datasets that we use, and in terms of the methodologies we apply (in particular, mixed effects and the generalized method of moments (GMM)). The estimated parameters are model-specific, and we find that firm size, GDP, the population growth rates, political stability, and the degree of specialization (in some empirical models) all lead to higher profitability. On the other hand, we observe that excessive risk-taking and inflation (in some specifications) are inversely related to profitability. Finally, we note that regulatory quality, average wage, and life expectancies are found to be not statistically significant. Accordingly, we argue that a profitability-centric managerial strategy should be based on expanded market share and stringent risk management protocols. At the macro level, we conclude that pro-growth and pro-population policies, combined with a well-oiled institutional setting that ensures political stability, constitute the best possible prescription for strong operational performance and profit sustainability in the Serbian insurance industry.