ABSTRACT
BackgroundMale sex and old age are risk factors for severe COVID-19, but the intersection of sex and aging on antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines has not been characterized. MethodsPlasma samples were collected from older adults (75-98 years) before and after three doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination, and from younger adults (18-74 years) post-dose two, for comparison. Antibody binding to SARS-CoV-2 antigens (spike protein [S], S-receptor binding domain [S-RBD], and nucleocapsid [N]) and functional activity against S were measured against the vaccine virus and variants of concern (VOC). ResultsVaccination induced greater antibody titers in older females than males, with both age and frailty associated with reduced antibody responses to vaccine antigens in males, but not females. ACE2 binding inhibition declined more than anti-S or anti-S-RBD IgG in the six months following the second dose (28-fold vs. 12- and 11-fold decreases in titer). The third dose restored functional antibody responses and eliminated disparities caused by sex, age, and frailty in older adults. Responses to the VOC were significantly reduced relative to the vaccine virus, with older males having lower titers to the VOC than females. Older adults had lower responses to the vaccine and VOC viruses than younger adults, with disparities being greater in males than females. ConclusionOlder and frail males may be more vulnerable to breakthrough infections due to low antibody responses before receipt of a third vaccine dose. Promoting third dose coverage in older adults, especially males, is crucial to protecting this vulnerable population. Brief summarySARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination induces greater antibody response in older females than males, and age and frailty reduce responses in males only. These effects are eliminated by a third vaccine dose, highlighting the need for third dose coverage, especially in older males.
ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the effects of Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average model-X (ARIMAX) and multivariate Long Short Term Memory Network (multivariate LSTM) in the prediction of daily total death toll in Yancheng City. Methods Based on total death toll data, meteorological data and air quality data from January 1st, 2014 to June 30th,2017 in Yancheng City, Jiangsu province, ARIMAX model and multivariate LSTM model were established to predict the daily total death toll from July 1st,2017 to July 14th,2017. RMSE, MAE and MAPE were used as evaluation indexes to compare the prediction effects of these two models. Results RMSE, MAE and MAPE of ARIMAX model and multivariate LSTM model were 20.742、15.094、9.921 and 47.182、35.863、19.633, respectively. Conclusion ARIMAX model is better than multivariate LSTM model to predict the daily death toll in Yancheng city.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the clinical application value of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with CT-guided percutaneous acetic acid injection (PAI) in treatment of huge hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Forty-three patients with huge HCC were randomly divided into two group. Twenty-one patients in group A underwent routine one course for TACE (three times), and the interval of TACEs was one month. Twenty-two patients in group B underwent TACE combined with PAI, and CT-guided PAI was performed once a week since 2-3 weeks after first TACE, and one course included 6-9 times of PAI. Postoperative follow-up was conducted (including AFP, the size of tumor, etc.). One course of treatment was repeated in case of tumor recurred. Results At the 1st month after treatment, no statistical difference was found of AFP positive rate between two groups. Statistical difference of total effective rate was found between two groups (38.10% vs 77.27%). The 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rate In group A was 47.62%, 23.81% and 9.52%, respectively, while in group B was 81.82%, 54.55% and 36.36%, respectively, and significant differences were found between the two groups for the same period. Conclusion TACE combined with PAI is safe and more effective than TACE alone in the treatment of huge HCC.
