RISE IN INCOME INEQUALITY BEFORE AND AFTER THE COVID-19 CRISIS IN ARGENTINA

This article examines inequality in income distribution in Argentina between 2014 and 2020 in a context of stagnation and economic crisis, which coincided with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The determining factors of income distribution were analyzed based on a household survey, and a breakdown of the Gini coefficient was implemented to determine the factors that explained the increase in inequality. From a structuralist point of view, the retraction of formal employment, the expansion of the informal sector, and greater coverage of social protection policies were the central factors that explained the increased level of inequality at that time. Social transfers helped to mitigate inequality in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. © The Author(s) 2022.

Rise in income inequality before and after the Covid-19 crisis in Argentina

This article examines inequality in income distribution in Argentina between 2014 and 2020 in a context of stagnation and economic crisis, which coincided with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The determining factors of income distribution were analyzed based on a household survey, and a breakdown of the Gini coefficient was implemented to determine the factors that explained the increase in inequality. From a structuralist point of view, the retraction of formal employment, the expansion of the informal sector, and greater coverage of social protection policies were the central factors that explained the increased level of inequality at that time. Social transfers helped to mitigate inequality in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. © 2023 Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. All rights reserved.

INTENSIVE: InterNaTional rEgistry oN Sars-cov-2 posItiVe nEuroendocrine neoplasm patients

Background: Data about neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) patients with SARS-CoV-2 are scanty and specific indications for clinical practice are missing. Our aim is to create an international registry about NENs patients affected by SARS-CoV-2 positivity to give a worldwide representation of the situation. Methods: This is an observational retrospective/prospective multicenter survey based on a direct email invitation. All types of NEN are eligible except SCLC and MiNEN. Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria from March 1st, 2020 up to the end pf pandemic will be recruited. Electronic CRFs are filled out using the REDCap database. Local Institutional Review Board approval is required before data entry. Results: Eighty-one centers, 24 in and 57 outside Italy, representing 39 countries and 5 continents, were contacted. Fourteen centers did not respond and 15 declined the invitation. Among the remaining 52, 6 centers are currently recruiting and 8 are active but not recruiting yet. As of the current abstract submission deadline, 67 patients have been included, mostly GEP-NET (75%), nonfunctioning (86%), metastatic (85%) and on active treatment [47% somatostatin analogs (SSAs), 10% everolimus, 12% tirosin-kinase inhibitors (TKIs), 10% peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), 15% chemotherapy]. Median age at NEN diagnosis was 57 years whilst the median age at SARSCoV-2 diagnosis was 62 years. Almost all patients reported COVID-19-related symptoms, more commonly fever (67% of patients), cough (55%) and dyspnea (51%), in 28% of cases exertional and in 22% at rest. More than one third of patients (n, 24) had a pneumonia. The most common therapies for COVID-19 were antibiotics, steroids and hydroxychloroquine. Eleven patients (16%) needed oxygen therapy, three (4%) sub-intensive care and none intensive care. Fifty-six patients (84%) clinically recovered, six (9%) with sequelae, whereas five (7%) died. Among these latter 4 had a NET and 1 a NEC, and no patients have been receiving chemotherapy. With regard to the anti-tumor therapy no change occurred in 66% of patients, temporary interruption in 30%, and definitive discontinuation in 3%, 2% missing. Conclusions: Most of the NEN patients completely recovered from COVID-19, in many cases without any antitumor therapy adjustment. No clear correlations were observed with type, primary site and treatment of NEN. The recruitment is ongoing.

Samples Management and Data Protection through SARS-Cov2 infection

Privacy and security of data are emerged as fundamental parts of routine clinical and laboratory practice. The adoption of electronic medical record, the connectivity of information systems and instruments to Internet have increased the risk for violation of patients privacy. The European Union General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR 2016/679) defines how personal information must be used by adopting measures that guarantee high level of security. Accordingly, transparency about the generation and managing of data in research became crucial. The most important ethical issue document is represented by the informed consent, which can be signed by the donor to authorize the collection, storage and use of the samples and associated data for specific research purposes. In May 2020, a screening for novel coronavirus SARS-CoV2 infection in all the patients and employees at the Santa Lucia Foundation, in Rome has been conducted, together with the voluntary opportunity for all the participants to donate biological materials for future researches for COVID-19 disease. Materials: All participants were subjected to nasooropharyngeal swab test for viral SARS-CoV2 RNA detection, and blood sampling, for Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies assessment, in electrochemiluminescence immunoassay "ECLIA" (Roche). In addition, those who gave voluntary consent for donation to the Biobank, carried out an adjunctive tube for serum sample. According to the GDPR, the informed consent form is divided into two parts: The first for the donation of samples to the biobank and the second for personal data treatment authorization, including i. authorization to personal data processing, ii. genetic data processing, iii. transfer of biological samples and data to third parties in or iv. outside Europe (Research Institute, University, other biobanks), and v. consent to access to the electronic medical record. Results: A total of 742 patients and personnel participated at the screening for COVID-19: 468 gave the consent for donation of biological sample to the Biobank, while 43 denied consent. Among donors, 22 (4,7%) refused consent to the transfer/communication of biological samples/associated data to third parties in Europe while 35 (7,5%) denied the transfer/communication outside Europe. Regarding the consent for the genetic data processing, only 5 participants (1,1%) refused authorization. Conclusions: The fear of an uncontrolled dissemination of personal data, especially on internet or media, is one of the main reasons that preclude participation in research studies. Donation of biological materials and data for biobanking expose patients and donors to risk of threatening of their privacy, but represent a great need for future of translational medicine. Informed consent defines the authorizations for the processing of patient data and the possibility to withdraw at any time. Finally, transparency and security are the pillars for the patients healthcare.

COVID-19 and the UN sustainable development goals: threat to solidarity or an opportunity?

COVID-19, as a pandemic, is impacting institutions around the world. Its scope and economic dimensions also mean that it poses a major threat towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This article discusses how the coronavirus pandemic may influence the SDGs and could affect their implementation. The methods used entail an analysis of the literature, observations and an assessment of current world trends. The results obtained point out that, while COVID-19 has become a priority to many health systems in developing nations, they still need to attend to many other existing diseases such as malaria, yellow fever and others. Further, the study shows that strong concerns in dealing with COVID-19 are disrupting other disease prevention programs. As a result, problems such as mental health are also likely to be overlooked, since the isolation of social distancing may mask or lead to an increase in the percentage of suffers. The paper suggests that, due to its wide scope and areas of influence, COVID-19 may also jeopardize the process of the implementation of the SDGs. It sends a cautious warning about the need to continue to put an emphasis on the implementation of the SDGs, so that the progress achieved to date is not endangered.