Impact of COVID-19 vaccination on menstrual cycle in women of reproductive age.

OBJECTIVE: To study the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination on the menstrual cycle in response to concerns that the vaccines cause menstrual cycle disturbances and affect potential pregnancy. METHOD: An online survey-based cross-sectional study was conducted from November 20 to 27, 2021. Study participants were women of reproductive age (15-49 years) and the study tool used was a semi-structured pretested questionnaire. A total of 300 participants were recruited for the study. RESULTS: The mean age (± standard deviation) of the participants was 26.2 ± 4.8 years. 232 participants (77.3%) were unmarried. Only 30 participants (10%) reported a change in the regularity of menstruation and 33 (11%) participants reported a change in cycle duration after vaccination. CONCLUSION: In the present study, a change in the regularity of menstrual cycles was reported in 30 (10%) of the participants and a  change in the duration of the cycle was reported in 11% of the participants (33). There was a significant association between the type of vaccine used and the changes in the menstrual cycle after vaccination. However, its long-term health implications are yet to be determined.

Mortality analysis of COVID-19 cases during the second wave and its comparison with the first wave: A hospital-based study.

Objectives: This study was undertaken to determine the characteristics of COVID-19 deaths during the second wave and to compare these characteristics with the mortality during the first wave in a dedicated COVID hospital (DCH). Study Design: It was a hospital record-based descriptive study. Methodology: The study was conducted in a tertiary care COVID hospital, using a standard death audit proforma. The data were analyzed to know various demographic characteristics and factors related to mortality during the second wave from March to June 2021. The findings were compared with the mortality data during the first wave from April to July 2020 at the same hospital. Results: A total of 264 deaths occurred at the center during the study period with a mortality rate of 22.8%. Male cases were more in number, the age group was 21-70 years, the highest number of mortality was seen in the mid of the study period, duration of stay was five days on average and common causes of death were pneumonia alone or with acute respiratory distress syndrome with sepsis. In comparison to the first wave, the mortality rate was four times higher, the age group was younger and opportunistic infections viz. mucormycosis and aspergillosis were present during the second wave. Conclusion: The mortality rate was significantly higher and the younger age groups were involved during the second wave, with opportunistic fungal infections due to the use of immunomodulators.

Symptom relationships between internet addiction and anxiety across primary and middle school students during the Omicron lockdown.

During the Omicron pandemic, students in Shenzhen took classes at home via the internet, which could lead to internet addiction (IA) symptoms, and anxiety is often considered an important risk factor for IA. There are several different developmental stages within adolescence. However, no studies have explored the interaction between IA and anxiety at the symptom level using a longitudinal design stratified by age. A total of 2744 students completed the questionnaire 50 days after starting the online classes (T1) and 50 days after they returned to school (T2). A cross-lagged panel network model was used to describe the structure of the comorbidity network. With the help of bootstrapping, the Mann-Whitney U test was used to examine the differences between primary school students' and middle school students' networks. The results found that there is a bidirectional interaction between IA and anxiety, and anxiety plays a dominant role. Feeling afraid is the bridge symptom between IA and anxiety. IA did not show developmental stage differences, but anxiety did. These findings extend the model of compensatory internet use and suggest that, when alleviating IA symptoms in adolescents, attention should be given to their possible comorbid anxiety symptoms, especially in middle school students.

The Relationship Between Health Literacy, Knowledge, Fear, and COVID-19 Prevention Behavior in Different Age Groups: Cross-sectional Web-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 prevention behaviors have become part of our lives, and they have been reported to be associated with health literacy, knowledge, and fear. However, the COVID-19 pandemic may be characterized by different situations in each age group. Since the severity of the infection and the means of accessing information differ by age group, the relationship between health literacy, knowledge, and fear may differ. Thus, factors that promote preventive behavior may differ by age group. Clarifying the factors related to prevention behaviors by age may help us consider age-appropriate promotion. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the association between COVID-19 prevention behaviors and health literacy, COVID-19 knowledge, and fear of COVID-19 by age group. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 512 participants aged 20-69 years, recruited from a web-based sample from November 1 to November 5, 2021. A web-based self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain the participants' characteristics, COVID-19 prevention behaviors, health literacy, COVID-19 knowledge, and fear of COVID-19. The Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test was used to compare the scores of each item for each age group. The relationships among COVID-19 prevention behaviors, health literacy, COVID-19 knowledge, and fear of COVID-19 were analyzed using the Spearman rank correlation analysis. Additionally, multiple regression analysis was conducted with COVID-19 prevention behaviors as dependent variables; health literacy, COVID-19 knowledge, and fear of COVID-19 as independent variables; and sex and age as adjustment variables. RESULTS: For all participants, correlation and multiple regression analyses revealed that prevention behaviors were significantly related to health literacy, COVID-19 knowledge, and fear of COVID-19 (P<.001). Additionally, correlation analysis revealed that fear of COVID-19 was significantly negatively correlated with COVID-19 knowledge (P<.001). There was also a significant positive correlation between health literacy and COVID-19 knowledge (P<.001). Furthermore, analysis by age revealed that the factors associated with prevention behaviors differed by age group. In the age groups 20-29, 30-39, and 40-49 years, multiple factors, including health literacy, influenced COVID-19 prevention behaviors, whereas in the age groups 50-59 and 60-69 years, only fear of COVID-19 had an impact. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study revealed that the factors associated with prevention behaviors differ by age. Age-specific approaches should be considered to prevent infection.

Epidemic of Depression and Anxiety in child and adolescent population during COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta analysis of the prevalence of depression and anxiety.

COVID-19 has caused mayhem in the life of people. It has disrupted the social fabric of life. The children and adolescent population has been particularly affected by its direct and indirect effects. This systematic review aims to find the prevalence of depression and anxiety in children and adolescent age groups. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for finding the prevalence of depression and anxiety. We found the total number of participants to be 71,016. A random effect model was used for conducting meta-analysis. The prevalence of depression was mentioned in 17 studies of 23 and the pooled prevalence was 27% [95% confidence interval: 21%-36%] and heterogeneity (I2 statistics; P <.00001) was 100%. The prevalence of anxiety was found in 20 studies of 23 and the pooled anxiety prevalence was 25% (95% confidence interval: 16%-41%) and heterogeneity (I2 statistics; P < .00001) was found to be 100%. The summary of the findings has been provided. Due to high heterogeneity, moderator analysis was performed separately for depression and anxiety subgroups. The study design consisted of cross-sectional studies and some studies conducted through online surveys. The age range varied considerably from 1 year to 19 years; 5 studies had participants aged more than 19 years, but the mean age of the total sample was less than 18 years. We conclude that indeed there is a mental health epidemic among the child and adolescent population. We recommend early intervention and tailored made strategies should for management. As the pandemic is enduring, rigorous monitoring should be done. This age group is under extra pressure owing to a large uncertainty about their studies as well their future.

Exploration of Sex and Age-Based Associations in Clinical Characteristics, Predictors of Severity, and Duration of Stay among COVID-19 Patients at the University Hospital of Saudi Arabia.

COVID-19 infection has a spectrum of variable clinical severity between populations because of their characteristic demographic features, co-morbidities, and immune system reactions. This pandemic tested the healthcare system's preparedness, which depends on predictors of severity and factors related to the duration of hospital stays. Therefore, we carried out a single-center, retrospective cohort study in a tertiary academic hospital to investigate these clinical features and predictors of severe disease and study the different factors that affect hospital stay. We utilized medical records from March 2020 to July 2021, which included 443 confirmed (positive RT-PCR) cases. The data were explained using descriptive statistics and analyzed via multivariate models. Among the patients, 65.4% were female and 34.5% were male, with a mean age of 45.7 years (SD ± 17.2). We presented seven age groups with ranges of 10 years and noticed that patients aged 30-39 years old comprised 23.02% of the records, while patients aged 70 and above comprised 10%. Nearly 47% were diagnosed as having mild, 25% as moderate, 18% as asymptomatic, and 11% as having a severe case of COVID-19 disease. Diabetes was the most common co-morbidity factor in 27.6% of patients, followed by hypertension (26.4%). Our population's predictors of severity included pneumonia, identified on a chest X-ray, and co-morbid conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, ICU stay, and mechanical ventilation. The median length of hospital stay was six days. It was significantly longer in patients with a severe disease and who were administered systemic intravenous steroids. An empirical assessment of various clinical parameters could assist in effectively measuring the disease progression and follow-up with patients.

Dynamics of household consumption after the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana using input–output analysis

Purpose: This study analyzes the dynamic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumption among Ghanaian households, by identifying the existing consumption inequalities in the households according to the different age categories of the household head and changes in consumption patterns among the household constituents. In particular, the study examines the effects of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) on household consumption and the differing impact on the different age categories of the household. Design/methodology/approach: The research methodology of the study is based on the input–output analysis of the Ghanaian economy during the years 2015 and 2021 by using data on household consumption disaggregated by age. Economic impact is estimated through multi-sector modeling, specifically a demand model expressed based on a money metric measure valued in Ghanaian cedis. This model allows us to obtain the direct impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the manufacturing sector, professional, scientific and technical activities, Water supply, sewerage, and waste management within Ghanaian households. The model also observed a negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the public sector works and defense, and SSNIT sectors of the Ghanaian economy. Findings: The findings of the study revealed that for the category of age group between the ages of 15–29 years, the consumption of manufacturing products experienced an increase of 6.20% whiles that of electricity consumption, air conditioning and heating reduced by 2.26% for the period under consideration. However, public sector works and defense, and SSNIT experienced a decline by 8.24%. For the age group between 30 and 45 years, the highest and most positive percentage change in household consumption was noted to be professional, scientific and technical activities (6.20%), Water supply, sewerage, waste management (5.98%), as well as manufacturing (5.65%). However, there was a decline in the consumption level of education by Ghanaian households during the lockdown especially among people within the age group of 46–65 years. There was a decline of 6.11% for the administrative and support services and there was also a decline the services of defense and SSNIT service consumption by 2.10%. For the final age group of 66 years and above, there was an increase of 6.94% in the consumption of such essential utilities in Ghana between 2015 and 2021. The demand for education however showed a drastic reduction of 8.1% over the study period due to this category of age group with majority of them retiring from work. Research limitations/implications: The findings from this study will help in understanding the effects caused by the pandemic on household consumption and the differing impact on different age category of the household, especially on young households. This can potentially shape future policy by especially helping policymakers to device a more targeted social safety-net policies not only to speed-up recovery, but also to mitigate the negative impact of any future outbreak of a pandemic on household consumption and limit the age gaps in consumptions. However, the study does not consider the income levels of the different age groups. This becomes a limitation of the study and can be further explored in future studies. Originality/value: This study measures the impact of a global health pandemic on the consumption of all households, with its accompanying impact of this variation. It can be noted that analyzing household consumption and quantifying the positive and negative impact on different age category of the household and the different sectors of the Ghanaian economy add to the limited knowledge of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at the household level. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

The impact of social-relationship patterns on worsening mental health among the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Hungary.

Evidence indicates the coronavirus pandemic has severely affected the oldest age group: in Hungary 92.7 per cent of those who died due to COVID-19 infection were 60 years of age or older. The age structure of the deceased was very similar in other countries. As, due to their underlying health status, elderly people are more vulnerable to the serious diseases caused by the coronavirus, strict government restrictions were introduced worldwide to protect them when the epidemic broke out. However, this social isolation can cause severe psychological and emotional strain. The study aim was to examine how patterns of social relationships were related to changes in mental health of the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary. We used the database of SHARE COVID-19 for our analysis. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were conducted. Findings of this study suggest that the network lacking contacts increases the severity of depression, anxiety, sleeping disorders, and loneliness the most among the elderly. Interestingly, the group with an intense close-knit network had a higher risk of worsening mental symptoms compared to multiple contact actives. Moreover, electronic communication - telephone, Skype - did not help either: there was a particularly high probability of worsening depression in this group. Another interesting result is that both in the group dominated by family contacts and among those with multiple relationships, the chances of worsening mental symptoms were lower, thus, personal contact - whether they include family members or other acquaintances - is truly protective. Results demonstrate that both the network characterised by lack of contact network and electronic contact activity contribute to greater risk of worsening mental health within elderly. A network pattern characterised by various types and forms of contacts is the most beneficial to mental health, and intensive contacts of limited scope alone are not sufficient to protect mental health.

Prostatic Cancer: Analysis of the mortality rate in Chile between 2017-2021

Introduction: Prostate cancer (PC) is a hormone-dependent neoplasm of the prostate. It presents a global mortality in decline, decreasing from 39 to 19 per 100,000 people;In Chile there is no recent data. Objective: To describe the mortality rate (MR) of prostate cancer in the years between 2017-2021 in Chile. Material y methods: An ecological study on deaths from PC in the period 2017-2021 in Chile(n=10,783, according to age group and region. Using data obtained by the Departamento de Estadística e Información de Salud, to perform descriptive statistics and calculation MR. No ethics committee was required. Results: A MR of 34.84/100,000 men in the period studied was evidenced, presenting a decrease of 7.90%. The age group of 65 to 79 years old presented a greater number of deaths with 139.95%(4308). The metropolitan regon presented the largest number of functions with 32.96% (3,555). Conclusion: The decrease in MR during the covid-19 pandemic may be due to the fact that patients were possibly misclassified as covid-19 deaths. Regarding the age group with the highest number of deaths, it is consistent with the literature. The region with the highest number of deaths was the most populated region of Chile, which may have the highest number of patients with PC. In conclusion, CP presents high TM in older age groups, it is important to make diagnoses in a timely manner, since it is a detectable pathology that entails health costs. (English) [ FROM AUTHOR]

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF MOTOR ACTIVITY AND PHYSICAL FITNESS OF AGE PEOPLE BEFORE AND AFTER THE PANDEMIC

Objective of the study was to assess the level of physical activity and its impact on the indicators of physical fitness of older people before and after the end of the pandemic. Methods and structure of the study. Since 2018, a pedagogical experiment has been conducted at the Faculty of Physical Education of the National Research Tomsk State University to study the effect of physical activity of older people on the duration and quality of their life. Since March 2020, due to the pandemic, organized classes have been suspended due to the high risk of COVID-19. The participants of the experiment were given methodical and practical recommendations for independent physical exercises. Immediately after the resumption of organized classes, a sociological survey and testing of the level of physical fitness were conducted. Results and conclusions. A break in organized physical exercises for older wom-en caused the following changes in their psychophysical state: all participants in the experiment noted a lack of physical activity;in 35% of the subjects during the pandemic, their own weight increased from 2 to 6 kg;25% experienced a depressed psychological state associated with limited communications and pro-longed solitude, and 30% of the participants in the experiment, by the end of the pandemic, noted a significant deterioration in well-being. The reasons for the decrease in the indicators of motor activity of the subjects are associated with irreversible age-related changes in the psychophysiological state of the organism of the participants in the experiment, supplemented by a forced two-year period of motor restrictions, as well as the lack of organized physical exercises with an instructor. © 2022, Teoriya i praktika fizicheskoy kul'tury i sporta. All rights reserved.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates in Hungary: an interrupted time-series analysis.

BACKGROUND: From 2010 to 2019, suicide mortality fell steadily and substantially in Hungary: the declining trend remained stable, and the suicide rate decreased by more than one-third which was remarkable even from an international perspective. However, despite the declining trend, regional inequalities have always characterised the distribution of suicide mortality in Hungary. Following these favourable trends, COVID-19 appeared in Hungary on the 4th of March 2020 which might lead to an increase in suicides. We aimed to investigate this hypothesis in Hungary by gender, age, educational attainment, and region, as well. METHODS: To test whether the pandemic changed the declining trend of Hungarian suicide rates, the observed number of suicides during March-December 2020 (pre-vaccination period) was compared with the expected numbers (without the appearance of COVID-19). An interrupted time-series analysis was conducted by negative binomial regression using monthly data from January 2010 to February 2020 (pre-pandemic period). RESULTS: Suicide mortality increased significantly compared to the trend during the pre-pandemic period: overall (by 16.7%), among males (18.5%), in the age group 35-49 years (32.8%), and among vocational school graduates (26.1%). Additionally, significant growths in suicide rates were detected in the two regions (Central Hungary and Central Transdanubia) with the lowest COVID mortality rates (by 27.3% and 22.2%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed reversed trend in suicide mortality during the pre-vaccination period compared to the pre-pandemic period in Hungary. There were significant differences in the pattern of suicide rates by gender, age group, educational attainment, and region during the pre-vaccination period in Hungary, which might be attributed to the socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings could prove useful in preventive strategies as the identification of groups at higher risk may be important for suicide prevention; however, further investigations are needed to explore the reasons.

Dynamics of household consumption after the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana using input–output analysis

Purpose This study analyzes the dynamic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumption among Ghanaian households, by identifying the existing consumption inequalities in the households according to the different age categories of the household head and changes in consumption patterns among the household constituents. In particular, the study examines the effects of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) on household consumption and the differing impact on the different age categories of the household. Design/methodology/approach The research methodology of the study is based on the input-output analysis of the Ghanaian economy during the years 2015 and 2021 by using data on household consumption disaggregated by age. Economic impact is estimated through multi-sector modeling, specifically a demand model expressed based on a money metric measure valued in Ghanaian cedis. This model allows us to obtain the direct impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the manufacturing sector, professional, scientific and technical activities, Water supply, sewerage, and waste management within Ghanaian households. The model also observed a negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the public sector works and defense, and SSNIT sectors of the Ghanaian economy. Findings The findings of the study revealed that for the category of age group between the ages of 15-29 years, the consumption of manufacturing products experienced an increase of 6.20% whiles that of electricity consumption, air conditioning and heating reduced by 2.26% for the period under consideration. However, public sector works and defense, and SSNIT experienced a decline by 8.24%. For the age group between 30 and 45 years, the highest and most positive percentage change in household consumption was noted to be professional, scientific and technical activities (6.20%), Water supply, sewerage, waste management (5.98%), as well as manufacturing (5.65%). However, there was a decline in the consumption level of education by Ghanaian households during the lockdown especially among people within the age group of 46-65 years. There was a decline of 6.11% for the administrative and support services and there was also a decline the services of defense and SSNIT service consumption by 2.10%. For the final age group of 66 years and above, there was an increase of 6.94% in the consumption of such essential utilities in Ghana between 2015 and 2021. The demand for education however showed a drastic reduction of 8.1% over the study period due to this category of age group with majority of them retiring from work. Research limitations/implications The findings from this study will help in understanding the effects caused by the pandemic on household consumption and the differing impact on different age category of the household, especially on young households. This can potentially shape future policy by especially helping policymakers to device a more targeted social safety-net policies not only to speed-up recovery, but also to mitigate the negative impact of any future outbreak of a pandemic on household consumption and limit the age gaps in consumptions. However, the study does not consider the income levels of the different age groups. This becomes a limitation of the study and can be further explored in future studies. Originality/value This study measures the impact of a global health pandemic on the consumption of all households, with its accompanying impact of this variation. It can be noted that analyzing household consumption and quantifying the positive and negative impact on different age category of the household and the different sectors of the Ghanaian economy add to the limited knowledge of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at the household level.

BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination uptake, safety, effectiveness and waning in children and young people aged 12-17 years in Scotland.

Background: The two-dose BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine has demonstrated high efficacy against COVID-19 disease in clinical trials of children and young people (CYP). Consequently, we investigated the uptake, safety, effectiveness and waning of the protective effect of the BNT162b2 against symptomatic COVID-19 in CYP aged 12-17 years in Scotland. Methods: The analysis of the vaccine uptake was based on information from the Turas Vaccination Management Tool, inclusive of Mar 1, 2022. Vaccine safety was evaluated using national data on hospital admissions and General Practice (GP) consultations, through a self-controlled case series (SCCS) design, investigating 17 health outcomes of interest. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) against symptomatic COVID-19 disease for Delta and Omicron variants was estimated using a test-negative design (TND) and S-gene status in a prospective cohort study using the Scotland-wide Early Pandemic Evaluation and Enhanced Surveillance of COVID-19 (EAVE II) surveillance platform. The waning of the VE following each dose of BNT162b2 was assessed using a matching process followed by conditional logistic regression. Findings: Between Aug 6, 2021 and Mar 1, 2022, 75.9% of the 112,609 CYP aged 16-17 years received the first and 49.0% the second COVID-19 vaccine dose. Among 237,681 CYP aged 12-15 years, the uptake was 64.5% and 37.2%, respectively. For 12-17-year-olds, BNT162b2 showed an excellent safety record, with no increase in hospital stays following vaccination for any of the 17 investigated health outcomes. In the 16-17-year-old group, VE against symptomatic COVID-19 during the Delta period was 64.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 59.2-68.5) at 2-5 weeks after the first dose and 95.6% (77.0-99.1) at 2-5 weeks after the second dose. The respective VEs against symptomatic COVID-19 in the Omicron period were 22.8% (95% CI -6.4-44.0) and 65.5% (95% CI 56.0-73.0). In children aged 12-15 years, VE against symptomatic COVID-19 during the Delta period was 65.4% (95% CI 61.5-68.8) at 2-5 weeks after the first dose, with no observed cases at 2-5 weeks after the second dose. The corresponding VE against symptomatic COVID-19 during the Omicron period were 30.2% (95% CI 18.4-40.3) and 81.2% (95% CI 77.7-84.2). The waning of the protective effect against the symptomatic disease began after five weeks post-first and post-second dose. Interpretation: During the study period, uptake of BNT162b2 in Scotland has covered more than two-thirds of CYP aged 12-17 years with the first dose and about 40% with the second dose. We found no increased likelihood of admission to hospital with a range of health outcomes in the period after vaccination. Vaccination with both doses was associated with a substantial reduction in the risk of COVID-19 symptomatic disease during both the Delta and Omicron periods, but this protection began to wane after five weeks. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council); Research and Innovation Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund; Chief Scientist's Office of the Scottish Government; Health Data Research UK; National Core Studies - Data and Connectivity.

Bilateral multifocal choroiditis with disc edema in a 15-year-old girl following COVID-19 vaccination.

A few cases of posterior uveitis following COVID-19 vaccination have been reported but none in the pediatric age group. A 15-year-old girl presented with history of headache and bilateral blurred vision of five days duration. The symptoms developed five days after vaccination with the first dose of Covaxin (inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine). Her anterior segment was normal in both eyes (BE), whereas the posterior segment showed mild vitritis with disc edema and multiple yellowish lesions at the level of choroid clustered at the macula and associated with multiple serous detachments. BE uveitis resolved, and the vision was completely recovered three weeks after treatment with steroids. Hence, ophthalmologists should be aware of uveitis following vaccination-a condition that is usually benign, transient, and results in excellent outcomes with timely diagnosis and early treatment with steroids.

Age- and sex-based changes in spike protein antibody status after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and effect of past-infection in healthcare workers in Osaka.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the changes in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibody titres based on age group and sex using paired blood sampling after vaccination in association with the presence of nucleocapsid protein antibody. METHODS: All participants were healthcare workers at Yao Municipal Hospital in Osaka who voluntarily provided peripheral blood samples (n = 636, men/women 151/485, mean age 45 years). We investigated the serial changes in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibody titres at 1 and 7 months after the second vaccination regarding their relationship with sex and age group. At 7 months, we also examined anti-nucleocapsid assays. Antibody titres were shown as logarithmic values and the differences were assessed using a paired or unpaired student's t-test as appropriate. RESULTS: Among participants younger than 30 years, the antibody titres of spike protein were significantly higher in women one (p = 0.005) and seven (p = 0.038) months after vaccination. However, among those aged 30-49 years, the antibody titres were not different between the sexes at either follow-up time point. In contrast, among those aged 50-59 years, between-sex differences in antibody titres were observed only at 7 months, which was associated with a significant reduction in men. A significant negative correlation was observed between the antibody titres for spike protein at both time points in participants with positive nucleocapsid protein antibody at 7 months (r = - 0.467, p = 0.043), although a significant positive correlation was observed in those with negative results (r = 0.645, p < 0.001), CONCLUSIONS: Between-sex differences in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibody titres by paired blood sampling at different time points after vaccination depended on age group. The presence of nucleocapsid protein antibody was associated with changes in spike protein antibody titres after vaccination.

COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness against Omicron Variant among Underage Subjects: The Veneto Region's Experience.

Even if most of the complications due to COVID-19 are observed in the elderly, in Italy the impact of COVID-19 among young people has not been negligible. Furthermore, their contribution to SARS-CoV-2 circulation is still unclear. These reasons have driven policy makers to involve subjects aged 5 to 17 years in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. However, the trade-off of vaccinating this age-group should be further investigated, especially in view of the rise of new immunologically evasive variants of concern (VOCs). We used regional databases to retrospectively estimate vaccine effectiveness over time of each approved vaccination schedule among children (5-11) and adolescents (12-17). Our findings suggest that COVID-19 vaccines were highly effective and their protection levels lasted longer during a period of Delta variant predominance, whereas they offered just mild to moderate levels of protection-apparently affected by a rapid waning effect-in a period of Omicron variant predominance. Considering these results, it is plausible to evaluate a reformulation of possible future COVID-19 vaccination campaigns among underage subjects. However, effectiveness against serious complications due to COVID-19, as well as indirect benefits of underage vaccinations, should first be addressed. Furthermore, vaccine effectiveness should be kept monitored, as new VOCs may arise, but also new adapted vaccines may start being administered.

Assessing of Humoral Immunity to SARS-COV-2 in Residents of Orenburg During the Epidemic Period

Relevance. The formation of humoral immunity is one of the most important manifestations of the protective mechanism against an infectious disease. The formation of antibodies with neutralizing activity is a key factor in preventing infection. Aims. Analysis of the esults of an ELISA study for the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies to the causative agent of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in the population of the Central Orenburg region. Materials and methods. Immunoassay of blood serum for the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies using ELISA test by Vectro-Best (Novosibirsk, Russia). Results and discussion. The analysis revealed the presence of more than half of the cases of sero conversion among the examined individuals. The most surveyed was the group aged 21 to 65 years. The most typical humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2 has been established, and the age-related characteristics of its formation have been determined. The dependence of the positivity coefficient on the age of the patients was revealed. Conclusions. According to the results of the study, the formed humoral (collective) immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus was registered in more than half of the studied sample. © Pankov AS et al.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MECHANISM AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT FRAUD: THE COMPLIANCE TO MCCG 2017 DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Business governance is definitely a worrying issue within the worldwide level, since the incidences associated with business problems plus insolvencies are usually upsurging quickly, particularly in the building nations such as Malaysia. Even though rules in addition to rules are usually created in order to motivate clear monetary confirming amongst businesses, the particular effectiveness from the execution is nevertheless something, given that the particular opportunistic behavior regarding professionals plus administration continue to be within the increase. With regards to the particular scams triangular design, the problem in the Covid-19 outbreak offers an additional chance for companies to do deceptive confirming in order to hide their own company deficits, therefore showing up a lot more lucrative with regard to traders. Consequently, the purpose of this particular research would be to evaluate the result associated with inner company governance system around the event of economic declaration scam throughout Covid-19 outbreak. The particular factors involving corporate and business governance are usually from the particular Malaysian Program code upon Business Governance 2017. Typically the supplementary information were extracted from the particular 2020 Yearly Reviews associated with 265 businesses which are on the Primary Marketplace regarding Bursa Malaysia. The program associated with SPSS has been utilized to carry out information evaluation with this examine. The outcomes uncover that this factors involving table self-reliance, panel sex plus review panel self-reliance possess an unfavorable organization along with economic declaration fraudulence. On the other hand, the particular factors associated with table age group, plank racial and even examine panel experience had been discovered to indicate an optimistic partnership together with deceitful confirming. Apart from, the outcomes furthermore highlighted that will panel period failed to possess any kind of partnership along with economical declaration scams, that was contrary to a lot of literatures previously. In addition, underneath the evaluation associated with mediating parameters, review panel dimension has been discovered to possess a mediating impact on typically the organization among taxation panel self-reliance together with monetary assertion scams. Nevertheless, the particular adjustable associated with aboard sizing had not been capable to mediate the connection in between mother board period plus fiscal declaration scam. Lastly, within the facet of assessment among possible in addition to non-potential bogus companies, it had been identified of which each forms of businesses experienced various conformity towards the business governance factors. Therefore, in line with the results, this specific analyze has furnished a few suggestions plus recommendations for long term research to improve typically the books this place.

Comparison of eyecare utilization at two service delivery levels during the COVID-19 pandemic as a measure of their impact: A multicentric retrospective analysis across four North Indian high-volume eyecare organizations.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the performance of the tertiary centers (TCS) and vision centers (VCs) of the four organizations participating in this research, once the lockdown was lifted, and to compare it with the performance during the same period of the previous year. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study assessing eyecare utilization in the first 2 months after resumption of services post the lockdown in 2020 and comparing that across the same time period in 2019. Anonymized data containing basic demographic details, proportions of patient visits and their reasons, as well as referral information was collected. The drop percentage method was used, and P values were calculated using paired t-tests. Results: Four TCs and 60 VCs were included. Overall, outpatient attendance dipped 51.2% at TCs and 27.5% at VCs, across the 2 years. At both levels of care delivery, the percentage drop in females was more than that in males; however, the overall drop at VCs was less than that at TCs, for both sexes. Eyecare utilization in pediatric populations dropped significantly more than in adult populations, across the overall sample. There was no significant change in referrals for refractive error as a proportion of total outpatients, although there was a significant decline in the same for cataract and specialty treatment. Conclusion: VCs are valuable and successful model for eyecare delivery especially in the continued aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Socially Distanced Case Study: Implementing the Unified Protocol-Adolescent in the Treatment of Comorbid Depression and Anxiety via Telehealth

Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health diagnoses in adolescents, with higher prevalence rates for gender-nonconforming youth relative to an age-equivalent population of cisgender youth (Veale et al., 2017). This case study examined the effectiveness of the Unified Protocol-Adolescent (UP-A) for a gender-nonconforming 13-year-old diagnosed with both generalized anxiety and mild depression. Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this transdiagnostic implementation provided psychoeducation and targeted emotion identification, present-moment awareness, cognitive restructuring, and problem-solving over 21 sessions. Outcome data demonstrated significant reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms, with a notable qualitative change on three subjective measures of anxiety/depression symptoms, as ratings moved from clinical to nonclinical score ranges. Moreover, outcome data demonstrated the potential efficacy of the UP-A administered via telehealth for nonbinary youth with comorbid anxiety and depression. Clinical and research implications regarding the utility of implementing a flexible, transdiagnostic approach to treating diverse adolescents’ emotional disorders are discussed. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Clinical Case Studies is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)