scholarly journals South African Population Immunity and Severe Covid-19 with Omicron Variant

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shabir Madhi ◽  
Gaurav Kwatra ◽  
Jonathan E Myers ◽  
Waasila Jassat ◽  
Nisha Dhar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Gauteng Province ◽  
Population Immunity ◽  
Epidemiological Trends ◽  
Fourth Wave ◽  
Death Data ◽  
Excess Deaths

Background We conducted a seroepidemiological survey from October 22 to December 9, 2021, in Gauteng Province, South Africa, to determine SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) seroprevalence primarily prior to the fourth wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), in which the B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant is dominant. We evaluated epidemiological trends in case rates and rates of severe disease through to December 15, 2021, in Gauteng. Methods We contacted households from a previous seroepidemiological survey conducted from November 2020 to January 2021, plus an additional 10% of households using the same sampling framework. Dry blood spot samples were tested for anti-spike and anti-nucleocapsid protein IgG using quantitative assays on the Luminex platform. Daily case and death data, weekly excess deaths, and weekly hospital admissions were plotted over time. Results Samples were obtained from 7010 individuals, of whom 1319 (18.8%) had received a Covid-19 vaccine. Overall seroprevalence ranged from 56.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 52.6 to 59.7) in children aged <12 years to 79.7% (95% CI, 77.6 to 81.5) in individuals aged >50 years. Seropositivity was 6.22-fold more likely in vaccinated (93.1%) vs unvaccinated (68.4%) individuals. Epidemiological data showed SARS-CoV-2 infection rates increased more rapidly than in previous waves but have now plateaued. Rates of hospitalizations and excess deaths did not increase proportionately, remaining relatively low. Conclusions We demonstrate widespread underlying SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in Gauteng Province prior to the current Omicron-dominant wave, with epidemiological data showing an uncoupling of hospitalization and death rates from infection rate during Omicron circulation.

scholarly journals Collateral impact of COVID-19: why should children continue to suffer?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prasad Nagakumar ◽  
Ceri-Louise Chadwick ◽  
Andrew Bush ◽  
Atul Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Collateral Effects ◽  
Rsv Infection ◽  
Syncytial Virus ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The Uk

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-COV-2 virus fortunately resulted in few children suffering from severe disease. However, the collateral effects on the COVID-19 pandemic appear to have had significant detrimental effects on children affected and young people. There are also some positive impacts in the form of reduced prevalence of viral bronchiolitis. The new strain of SARS-COV-2 identified recently in the UK appears to have increased transmissibility to children. However, there are no large vaccine trials set up in children to evaluate safety and efficacy. In this short communication, we review the collateral effects of COVID-19 pandemic in children and young people. We highlight the need for urgent strategies to mitigate the risks to children due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What is Known:• Children and young people account for <2% of all COVID-19 hospital admissions• The collateral impact of COVID-19 pandemic on children and young people is devastating• Significant reduction in influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in the southern hemisphere What is New:• The public health measures to reduce COVID-19 infection may have also resulted in near elimination of influenza and RSV infections across the globe• A COVID-19 vaccine has been licensed for adults. However, large scale vaccine studies are yet to be initiated although there is emerging evidence of the new SARS-COV-2 strain spreading more rapidly though young people.• Children and young people continue to bear the collateral effects of COVID-19 pandemic

Virtual screening attributes male biased COVID-19 mortality to predicted antiviral activity of female sex hormones

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Galal Yahya ◽  
Basem Mansour ◽  
Kristina Keuper ◽  
Moataz Shaldam ◽  
Ahmed El-Baz
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Screening ◽  
Sex Hormones ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Antiviral Effect ◽  
Sex Hormone ◽  
Female Sex ◽  
Female Sex Hormones ◽  
Disaggregated Data ◽  
Male Sex

Background: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a newly emerged pandemic leading to a state of international alert with millions of infected individuals and thousands of deaths all over the world. Analysis of statistics and epidemiological data for the pandemic outcome pinpointed a puzzling influence of human sex on the heterogeneous outcome of COVID-19, where hospital admissions and mortality were higher among males than females. Two theories explained the observed male-biased COVID-19 mortality based on either dosage of immunoregulatory genes coded in X- chromosomes or on the abundance of the angiotensin-converting enzyme two (ACE2) receptors in males than females. Objective: In our study, we propose a third scenario through virtual screening of direct antiviral effects of sex hormones. Materials & Methods: Updated screening statistics from 47 countries displaying sex-disaggregated data on COVID-19 were employed and visualized in the form of heatmaps depicting sex difference effects on statistics of cases and deaths. Molecular docking and binding simulations of investigated sex steroids against COVID-19 specific proteins were investigated. Results: Analysis of COVID-19 sex-disaggregated data confirmed that male-biased mortality and computer-aided docking found unexpected female sex hormones biased binding against key targets implicated in the life cycle of COVID-19 compared to the male sex hormone testosterone. Other investigated steroids showed promising docking scores, while the male sex hormone exhibited the lowest affinity. Conclusion: Female sex hormones virtually exhibited direct COVID-19 effect. The proposed antiviral effect of sex hormones should be considered to explain the outcomes of mortality; moreover, the fluctuation of sex hormones influences sex and personal derived-differential response to COVID-19 infection.

scholarly journals The Patient Level Cost of Asthma in Adults in South Central Ontario

1998 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 463-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy J Ungar ◽  
Peter C Coyte ◽  
Kenneth R Chapman ◽  
Linda MacKeigan ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Of Illness ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Indirect Costs ◽  
Provincial Government ◽  
Multiple Perspectives ◽  
Drug Plan ◽  
Medication Costs ◽  
South Central

OBJECTIVE: To assess the annual cost of asthma per adult patient from the perspectives of society, the Ontario Ministry of Health and the patient.DESIGN: Prospective cost of illness evaluation.SETTING: Ambulatory out-patients residing in southern central Ontario.POPULATION STUDIED: Nine hundred and forty patients with asthma over 15 years of age studied between May 1995 and April 1996.OUTCOME MEASURES: Direct costs, such as respiratory-related visits to general/family practitioners, respiratory specialists, emergency rooms, hospital admissions, laboratory tests, prescription medications, dispensing fees, devices and out-of-pocket expenses, were calculated. Indirect costs, such as absences from work or usual activities, and travel and waiting time, were studied.MAIN RESULTS: Unadjusted annual costs were $2,550 per patient. Hospitalizations and medications each accounted for 22% of the total cost and indirect costs 50% of the total costs. More severe disease, older age, smoking, drug plan availability and retirement were significant predictors of costs. Annual costs per patient varied from $1,255 (95% CI $1,061 to $1,485) in young nonsmokers with no drug plan and mild disease to $5,032 (95% CI $4,347 to $5,825) in older smokers with drug plans and severe disease. Clinically important reductions in the quality of life occurred with increasing severity.CONCLUSIONS: Interventions aimed at reducing productivity losses, admissions to hospital and medication costs may result in savings to society, the provincial government and the patient. The quality of policy and allocation decisions may be enhanced by cost of illness estimates that are comprehensive, precise and incorporate multiple perspectives.

scholarly journals Bibliometric analysis of the development of nanoscience research in South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 113 (11/12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xolani Makhoba ◽  
Anastassios Pouris
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
Gauteng Province ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Institutional Profile ◽  
High Level ◽  
The University

Nanotechnology is a fast-growing scientific research area internationally and is classified as an important emerging research area. In response to this importance, South African researchers and institutions have also increased their efforts in this area. A bibliometric study of articles as indexed in the Web of Science considered the development in this field with respect to the growth in literature, collaboration profile and the research areas that are more within the country’s context. We also looked at public institutions that are more active in this arena, including government policy considerations as guided by the National Nanotechnology Strategy launched in 2005. We found that the number of nanotechnology publications have shown a remarkable growth ever since the launch of the strategy. Articles on nanotechnology have been published in numerous journals, with Electrochimica Acta publishing the most, followed by Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. These publications fall within the traditional domains of chemistry and physics. In terms of the institutional profile and based on publication outputs over the period reviewed, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research is a leading producer of publications in nanotechnology, followed by the University of the Witwatersrand – institutions that are both based in the Gauteng Province. There is a high level of international collaboration with different countries within this field – the most productive collaboration is with India, followed by the USA and China, as measured through co-authorship.

scholarly journals Session 3: Joint Nutrition Society and Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute Symposium on ‘Nutrition and autoimmune disease’ Nutrition in Crohn's disease

2009 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria O'Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Crohn’S Disease ◽  
Crohn's Disease ◽  
Enteral Nutrition ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Hospital Stays ◽  
Current Guidelines

The exact aetiology of Crohn's disease remains unknown. The consensus is that the disease results from a complex interaction between genes, immunity and environmental factors. Diet is attractive, in theory, as an environmental risk factor in the aetiology of the disease. The epidemiological data, often impeded by methodological issues, have failed to confirm a direct link between pre-diet illness and the development of Crohn's disease. Once diagnosed, however, nutrition has an important role in disease management. Among the nutritional issues are malnutrition, weight loss and suboptimal nutritional status; these outcomes may be present at any stage of the disease but are likely to be overt during acute illness and hospitalisation. Malnutrition has been identified in approximately 40% of hospital admissions with Crohn's disease and is associated with higher mortality, longer hospital stays and higher healthcare costs. Patients in remission may indeed be overweight and appear to be influenced by the general population trends toward overweight and obesity. Irrespective of BMI, patients are at risk of micronutrient deficiencies. Vitamin D deficiency, for example, is common in Crohn's disease and has important implications for bone health. Moreover, newer evidence suggests that vitamin D has potential anti-inflammatory effects. Dietary approaches, in the form of enteral nutrition, have previously been shown to reduce inflammation and treat the active disease. Current guidelines now recommend that corticosteroids are more effective than enteral nutrition for treating adults. Enteral nutrition has important growth and developmental benefits and continues to be a recommended therapy for children with Crohn's disease.

scholarly journals "From The Worst To The Best": An Exploratory Qualitative Study Of The Process Of Social Change At A South African Secondary School

2003 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Berendien Van Aswegen ◽  
Willem Schurink
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Social Process ◽  
Organisational Change ◽  
Gauteng Province ◽  
Process Of Change ◽  
The Social ◽  
Role Players ◽  
Analyse Data ◽  
Ineffective Schools ◽  
Disadvantaged School

The primary aim of the study is to describe an initiative to effect organisational change at a previously disadvantaged school in South Africa’s Gauteng Province. Qualitative methods were used to collect and analyse data on the social process of change in the school. Essays of role players in the change process on their experiences led to important insights. This exploratory study points to a process that was effective in bringing about change at a school and holds promise for constructing a theoretical model of how change could be effected in ineffective schools. OpsommingDie primêre doel van die studie is die beskrywing van ’n organisatoriese verandering by ’n voorheen benadeelde skool in Suid-Afrika se Gauteng Provinsie. Kwalitatiewe metodes is gebruik om data oor die sosiale proses te genereer en te analiseer. Opstelle van betrokkenes by die veranderingsproses oor hulle ervarings het tot belangrike insigte gelei. Hierdie verkennende studie dui op ’n proses wat suksesvol gewerk het om verandering te weeg te bring en hou belofte in vir die ontwikkeling van ’n teoretiese model van hoe verandering in oneffektiewe skole bewerkstellig kan word.

scholarly journals P488 The COVID19 pandemic impact on Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Management in a Romanian Tertiary Gastroenterology Centre

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S474-S475
Author(s):  
R Costache ◽  
R Iacob ◽  
R Vadan ◽  
T Stroie ◽  
L Gheorghe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Management ◽  
Biological Therapy ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Biological Agent ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Aminosalicylic Acid ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Background The IBD patients management has been challenging during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, due to lockdowns, limitation of access to medical facilities and new recommendations regarding patient management. The implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on IBD patient’s management were assessed in our Tertiary Gastroenterology Centre in Bucharest, Romania. Methods Using the hospital’s medical system, records of IBD patients admitted between 15th of March and 15th of August 2020 have been retrospectively reviewed and compared to a control cohort of consecutive IBD patients admitted to our unit during the corresponding period of 2019, registering the epidemiological features, patient management and the incidence of COVID-19 infection. Results 410 individual IBD cases were managed in our unit in 2020 compared to 532 in 2019, with a significant shift towards one-day hospitalization: 1059 admissions (9% ward hospitalizations, 91% one-day hospitalizations) compared to 1327 cases in the corresponding period of 2019 (17.8% ward hospitalizations, 82.2% one day hospitalizations). There was no statistically significant difference between the distribution of patient’s gender, IBD phenotype or newly diagnosed IBD cases between the two periods. A significantly lower proportion of admitted patients received 5-aminosalicylic acid (29% vs. 41.2%, p=0.0001), whereas a substantially higher number pf patients were prescribed biological therapy in 2020 in comparison to the corresponding 2019-time frame (79.5% vs 57.9%, p&lt;0.0001). The distribution of the biological agent used was significantly different, mainly due to the increase of vedolizumab prescription in 2020 (p&lt;0.0001). Among the newly diagnosed cases 50.0% had a severe disease requiring a biological agent (vs 30.2% in 2019, p&gt;0.05). Moreover, from our previously diagnosed patients, 7.1% needed the initiation of biological therapy due to disease flare-up (vs. 4.3% in 2019, p=0.003). During the study period in 2020, seven IBD patients (1.7%) were diagnosed with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov2) infection, all of them with mild symptoms without impact on the IBD course. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic led to reorganizing medical care, restricting the hospital admissions in favour of severe IBD cases, favouring telemedicine for mild disease and optimization of treatment for moderate to severe IBD with an increased use of biologicals aimed to maximize the risk/benefit ratio. Incidence of SARS-Cov2 infection during the first wave of COVID-19 infection in our study group was 1.7% and did not adversely impact the IBD disease course.

scholarly journals Estimation of age-stratified contact rates during the COVID-19 pandemic using a novel inference algorithm

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M Pooley ◽  
Andrea B Doeschl-Wilson ◽  
Glenn Marion
Keyword(s):  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Joint Analysis ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Inference Algorithm ◽  
Public Response ◽  
Contact Rates ◽  
Reproduction Numbers ◽  
Public Data ◽  
Approximate Bayesian

Well parameterised epidemiological models including accurate representation of contacts, are fundamental to controlling epidemics. However, age-stratified contacts are typically estimated from pre-pandemic/peace-time surveys, even though interventions and public response likely alter contacts. Here we fit age-stratified models, including re-estimation of relative contact rates between age-classes, to public data describing the 2020-21 COVID-19 outbreak in England. This data includes age-stratified population size, cases, deaths, hospital admissions, and results from the Coronavirus Infection Survey (almost 9000 observations in all). Fitting stochastic compartmental models to such detailed data is extremely challenging, especially considering the large number of model parameters being estimated (over 150). An efficient new inference algorithm ABC-MBP combining existing Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) methodology with model-based proposals (MBP) is applied. Modified contact rates are inferred alongside time-varying reproduction numbers that quantify changes in overall transmission due to pandemic response, and age-stratified proportions of asymptomatic cases, hospitalisation rates and deaths. These inferences are robust to a range of assumptions including the values of parameters that cannot be estimated from available data. ABC-MBP is shown to enable reliable joint analysis of complex epidemiological data yielding consistent parametrisation of dynamic transmission models that can inform data-driven public health policy and interventions.

scholarly journals Epidemiological trends in digestive cancers compared to trends in alcohol consumption. Facts from Romania: correlation or coincidence?

2018 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 376-386
Author(s):  
Simona Valean ◽  
Romeo Chira ◽  
Dan Dumitrascu
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Causative Relationship ◽  
Consumption Data ◽  
Digestive Cancers ◽  
Epidemiological Trends

Cancer has emerged as the leading cause of death in human populations, according to recent estimations. Epidemiological studies emphasized the role of life style and of environmental factors in promoting the risk for digestive cancers. The contribution of alcohol was highly suspected. Even for digestive cancers with dominant infection etiology, like liver cancer and gastric cancer, the contribution of alcohol should be assessed. At population level there is therefore a need to compare trends in epidemiological data of gastrointestinal cancers and data on alcohol consumption, in order to extrapolate any causative relationship. The purpose of this review was to analyze the time trend of digestive cancers in Romania, in terms of mortality rates (between 1955-2012), and incidence rates (between 2008-2012), in males and females, and to analyze the alcohol consumption data, aiming to find out if there is any association.

scholarly journals Corporate sustainability and customer loyalty: the case of the railway industry

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Chinomona ◽  
Chengedzai Mafini ◽  
Chriss Narick Mangoukou Ngouapegne
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Rapid Transit ◽  
The South ◽  
Gauteng Province ◽  
Railway Systems ◽  
Railway Industry ◽  
Railway System ◽  
Mass Rapid Transit

Introduction of the mass rapid transit railway system through the Gautrain has not only addressed the transport issue in South Africa but has also motivated and promoted the country’s economic growth by creating employment. Despite the increase in research focusing on the importance of the Gautrain to the South African economy, the influence of perceived convenience, image and safety on commuter satisfaction and loyalty in the South African mass rapid transit railway system context is still limited. This paper used a data collected from 206 Gautrain commuters in the Gauteng province of South Africa to examine the interplay between perceived convenience, image, safety, commuter satisfaction and loyalty. Smart PLS software technique was used to statistically analyse the measurement and structural models. The results revealed that perceived convenience, image and safety positively influenced commuter satisfaction, which, in turn, influenced commuter loyalty. These results may be used by marketers in mass public railway systems to initiate strategies intended to increase both commuter satisfaction and loyalty

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document