scholarly journals Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies prior to the widespread introduction of vaccine programmes in the WHO European Region, January - December 2020: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Vaughan ◽  
EF Duffell ◽  
GS Friedl ◽  
DS Lemos ◽  
T Funk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Disease ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
European Region ◽  
Significant Heterogeneity ◽  
Regional Office ◽  
Medium Risk ◽  
National Estimates ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Roll Out

ABSTRACTBackgroundSeroprevalence surveys are essential to assess the age-specific prevalence of pre-existing cross-reactive antibodies in the population with the emergence of a novel pathogen; to measure population cumulative seroincidence of infection, and to contribute to estimating infection severity. With the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, ECDC and WHO Regional Office for Europe have supported Member States in undertaking standardized population-based SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence surveys across the WHO European Region.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to undertake a systematic literature review of SARS-CoV-2 population seroprevalence studies undertaken in the WHO European Region to measure pre-existing and cumulative seropositivity prior to the roll out of vaccination programmes.MethodsWe systematically searched MEDLINE, ELSEVIER and the pre-print servers medRxiv and bioRxiv within the “COVID-19 Global literature on coronavirus disease” database using a predefined search strategy. We included seroepidemiology studies published before the widespread implementation of COVID-19 vaccination programmes in January 2021 among the general population and blood donors, at national and regional levels. Study risk of bias was assessed using a quality scoring system based on sample size, sampling and testing methodologies. Articles were supplemented with unpublished WHO-supported Unity-aligned seroprevalence studies and other studies reported directly to WHO Regional Office for Europe and ECDC.ResultsIn total, 111 studies from 26 countries published or conducted between 01/01/2020 and 31/12/2020 across the WHO European Region were included. A significant heterogeneity in implementation was noted across the studies, with a paucity of studies from the east of the Region. Eighty-one (73%) studies were assessed to be of low to medium risk of bias. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity prior to widespread community circulation was very low. National seroprevalence estimates after circulation started ranged from 0% to 51.3% (median 2.2% (IQR 0.7-5.2%); n=124), while sub-national estimates ranged from 0% to 52% (median 5.8% (IQR 2.3-12%); n=101), with the highest estimates in areas following widespread local transmission.ConclusionsThe review found evidence of low national SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence (<10%) across the WHO European Region in 2020. The low levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibody in most populations prior to the start of vaccine programmes highlights the critical importance of vaccinating priority groups at risk of severe disease while maintaining reduced levels of transmission to minimize population morbidity and mortality.

scholarly journals The Antibacterial Effects of Resin-Based Dental Sealants: A Systematic Review of In Vitro Studies

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 413
Author(s):  
Saad Saeed AlShahrani ◽  
Mana’a Saleh AlAbbas ◽  
Isadora Martini Garcia ◽  
Maha Ibrahim AlGhannam ◽  
Muath Abdulrahman AlRuwaili ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibacterial Agents ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Dental Sealants ◽  
Medium Risk ◽  
Metabolic Activities ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Phosphate Buffered Saline ◽  
Full Text Screening

This review aimed to assess the antimicrobial effects of different antibacterial agents/compounds incorporated in resin-based dental sealants. Four databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science and Scopus) were searched. From the 8052 records retrieved, 275 records were considered eligible for full-text screening. Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Data extraction and quality assessment was performed by two independent reviewers. Six of the nineteen included studies were judged to have low risk of bias, and the rest had medium risk of bias. Compounds and particles such as zinc, tin, Selenium, chitosan, chlorhexidine, fluoride and methyl methacrylate were found to be effective in reducing the colony-forming unit counts, producing inhibition zones, reducing the optical density, reducing the metabolic activities, reducing the lactic acid and polysaccharide production and neutralizing the pH when they are added to the resin-based dental sealants. In addition, some studies showed that the antibacterial effect was not significantly different after 2 weeks, 2 months and 6 months aging in distilled water or phosphate-buffered saline. In conclusion, studies have confirmed the effectiveness of adding antibacterial agents/compounds to dental sealants. However, we should consider that these results are based on laboratory studies with a high degree of heterogeneity.

scholarly journals Epidemiology of systemic sclerosis: a multi-database population-based study in Tuscany (Italy)

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessio Coi ◽  
◽  
Simone Barsotti ◽  
Michele Santoro ◽  
Fabio Almerigogna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Sclerosis ◽  
Rare Diseases ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Pulmonary Involvement ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Vital Statistics ◽  
Drug Prescriptions ◽  
Malignant Neoplasms ◽  
Lower Survival ◽  
Treatment And Prevention

Abstract Background Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease with a complex pathogenesis that includes vascular injury, abnormal immune activation, and tissue fibrosis. We provided a complete epidemiological characterization of SSc in the Tuscany region (Italy), considering prevalence and incidence, survival, comorbidities and drug prescriptions, by using a multi-database population-based approach. Cases of SSc diagnosed between 1st January 2003 and 31st December 2017 among residents in Tuscany were collected from the population-based Rare Diseases Registry of Tuscany. All cases were linked to regional health and demographic databases to obtain information about vital statistics, principal causes of hospitalization, complications and comorbidities, and drug prescriptions. Results The prevalence of SSc in Tuscany population resulted to be 22.2 per 100,000, with the highest prevalence observed for the cases aged ≥ 65 years (33.2 per 100,000, CI 95% 29.6–37.3). In females, SSc was predominant (86.7% on the total) with an overall sex ratio F/M of 6.5. Nevertheless, males presented a more severe disease, with a lower survival and significant differences in respiratory complications and metabolic comorbidities. Complications and comorbidities such as pulmonary involvement (HR = 1.66, CI 95% 1.17–2.35), congestive heart failure (HR = 2.76, CI 95% 1.80–4.25), subarachnoid and intracerebral haemorrhage (HR = 2.33, CI 95% 1.21–4.48) and malignant neoplasms (HR = 1.63, CI 95% 1.06–2.52), were significantly associated to a lower survival, also after adjustment for age, sex and other SSc-related complications. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, endothelin receptor antagonists, and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors were the drugs with the more increasing prevalence of use in the 2008–2017 period. Conclusions The multi-database approach is important in the investigation of rare diseases where it is often difficult to provide accurate epidemiological indicators. A population-based registry can be exploited in synergy with health databases, to provide evidence related to disease outcomes and therapies and to assess the burden of disease, relying on a large cohort of cases. Building an integrated archive of data from multiple databases linking a cohort of patients to their comorbidities, clinical outcomes and survival, is important both in terms of treatment and prevention.

ЮНВТО Всемирная туристская Барометр, и статистическое приложение Обновленная информация, ИСентябрь 2021 года

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-40
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
International Travel ◽  
International Tourism ◽  
Modest Improvement ◽  
International Tourist ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Roll Out ◽  
Made In

International tourism shows slight recovery in June and July 2021 driven by vaccinations and border reopening International tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) in the first seven months of 2021 were 40% below the levels of 2020, and still 80% down when compared to the same period of pre-pandemic year 2019. After a weak start of the year, international tourism saw a modest improvement during the months of June and July 2021. The small improvement in June and July was underpinned by the reopening of many destinations to international travel, mostly in Europe and the Americas. The relaxation of travel restrictions to vaccinated travellers, coupled with progress made in the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines, contributed to ease travel restrictions, lift consumer confidence and gradually restore safe mobility in Europe and other parts of the world. Small islands in the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia and the Pacific, together with a few small European destinations recorded the best performance in June and July, with arrivals coming close to, or sometimes exceeding pre-pandemic levels. July (-67%) saw comparatively better performance than June (-77%), making it the best month so far since April 2020. Asia and the Pacific continued to suffer the weakest results in January-July 2021, with a 95% drop in international arrivals compared to the same period in 2019. The Middle East (-82%) recorded the second largest decline, followed by Europe and Africa (both -77%). The Americas (-68%) saw a comparatively smaller decrease. Although destinations continued to report very weak international tourism revenues in the first seven months of 2021, several countries recorded a modest improvement in the months of June and July, and some even surpassed the earnings of 2019. The same is true for outbound travel. Among the larger source markets, France (-35% over 2019) and the United States (-49%) saw a small rebound in expenditure in July. Despite the relative improvement over the low levels of 2020, international tourism remained well below 2019 levels. This is also reflected in the evaluation made by the UNWTO Panel of Experts in the September survey, showing mixed results for the period May-August 2021. Looking ahead, most experts continue to expect a rebound in 2022, driven by unleashed pent-up demand, mostly during the second and third quarter of that year. Nearly one-third of respondents expect a potential rebound in 2023. Almost half of all experts continue to see a return of international arrivals to 2019 levels in 2024 or later.

scholarly journals CURRENT ISSUES OF THE INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH IN EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES. LITERATURE REVIEW

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 473-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina A. Pogonysheva ◽  
D. A. Pogonyshev
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Environmental Control ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
Atmospheric Pollutants ◽  
World Health ◽  
European Region ◽  
Disease Rate ◽  
Regional Office ◽  
Environment And Health ◽  
Environmental Causes

EU countries have accumulated a considerable amount of scientific research demonstrating the influence of a number of environmental factors on human health. The paper reviews European research on the relation between the environment and human health. The authors present a review of normative and non-governmental initiatives in the field of environmental control and human health in the European region, major environmental causes of human health deterioration and initiatives aiming at preventing ecology-dependant health issues. In 1989 World Health Organisation (WHO) held the First Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health that kickstarted the process uniting the healthcare field and the field of environmental protection. The main objective of the “Environment and Health” Process is to mitigate major environmental risks for human health. The objective is to be achieved through regular Ministerial Conferences held every five years by the World Health Organisation Regional Office. According to the policy stated in “Health-2020”, ecology is an important factor for maintaining good human health and establishment of sustainable communities and favorable environment should be prioritized in the European region of WHO. According to the research presented by WHO, major environmental causes of increased disease rate are atmospheric pollutants, accumulation of heavy metal leads and other harmful chemicals in the environment, climate change, noise pollution, low quality of drinking water and poor hygienic conditions. The review presents a consideration of recommendations given in “Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement”, Scopus, Web of Science, eLIBRARY.RU, CyberLeninka, and other scientific databases were used for this review.

scholarly journals Firework-related injuries treated at emergency departments in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 compared to 2018–2019

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Maassel ◽  
Abbie Saccary ◽  
Daniel Solomon ◽  
David Stitelman ◽  
Yunshan Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Census Data ◽  
The United States ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Consumer Product Safety Commission ◽  
Injury Surveillance System ◽  
Time Period ◽  
National Estimates ◽  
Us Census

Abstract Background Despite a national decrease in emergency department visits in the United States during the first 10 months of the pandemic, preliminary Consumer Product Safety Commission data indicate increased firework-related injuries. We hypothesized an increase in firework-related injuries during 2020 compared to years prior related to a corresponding increase in consumer firework sales. Methods The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was queried from 2018 to 2020 for cases with product codes 1313 (firework injury) and narratives containing “fireworks”. Population-based national estimates were calculated using US Census data, then compared across the three years of study inclusion. Patient demographic and available injury information was also tracked and compared across the three years. Firework sales data obtained from the American Pyrotechnics Association were determined for the same time period to examine trends in consumption. Results There were 935 firework-related injuries reported to the NEISS from 2018 to 2020, 47% of which occurred during 2020. National estimates for monthly injuries per million were 1.6 times greater in 2020 compared to 2019 (p < 0.0001) with no difference between 2018 and 2019 (p = 0.38). The same results were found when the month of July was excluded. Firework consumption in 2020 was 1.5 times greater than 2019 or 2018, with a 55% increase in consumer fireworks and 22% decrease in professional fireworks sales. Conclusions Firework-related injures saw a substantial increase in 2020 compared to the two years prior, corroborated by a proportional increase in consumer firework sales. Increased incidence of firework-related injuries was detected even with the exclusion of the month of July, suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted firework epidemiology more broadly than US Independence Day celebrations.

scholarly journals Effects of Composite Attachments on Orthodontic Clear Aligners Therapy: A Systematic Review

Materials ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 533
Author(s):  
Riccardo Nucera ◽  
Carolina Dolci ◽  
Angela Mirea Bellocchio ◽  
Stefania Costa ◽  
Serena Barbera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Bias Assessment ◽  
Bodily Movement ◽  
Study Selection ◽  
Medium Risk ◽  
Clear Aligner ◽  
Anterior Root

This systematic review aims to highlight the differences between different clear aligner therapies that differ in the presence of attachments or in attachment configuration. Eight electronic databases were searched up to March 2020. Two authors independently proceeded to study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. The analysis of the results was carried out examining six groups of movements (mesio-distal tipping/bodily movement; anterior bucco-lingual tipping/root torque; posterior bucco-lingual tipping/expansion; intrusion; extrusion; rotation). Five clinical trials were selected and all of them showed a medium risk of bias. Literature showed that attachments mostly increase the effectiveness of orthodontic treatment with clear aligners, improving anterior root torque, rotation, and mesio-distal (M-D) movement; they are also important to increase posterior anchorage. However, some articles showed contradictory or not statistically significant results. Attachments also seem to improve intrusion, but the evidence about this movement, as well as extrusion, is lacking. No studies evaluated posterior bucco-lingual tipping/expansion. Further clinical trials are strongly suggested to clarify the influence of attachments and their number, size, shape, and position on each orthodontic movement.

scholarly journals The Use of Green Coffee Extract as a Weight Loss Supplement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Clinical Trials

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igho Onakpoya ◽  
Rohini Terry ◽  
Edzard Ernst
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Methodological Quality ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Significant Heterogeneity ◽  
Green Coffee ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Using Data

The purpose of this paper is to assess the efficacy of green coffee extract (GCE) as a weight loss supplement, using data from human clinical trials. Electronic and nonelectronic searches were conducted to identify relevant articles, with no restrictions in time or language. Two independent reviewers extracted the data and assessed the methodological quality of included studies. Five eligible trials were identified, and three of these were included. All studies were associated with a high risk of bias. The meta-analytic result reveals a significant difference in body weight in GCE compared with placebo (mean difference: kg; 95%CI: , ). The magnitude of the effect is moderate, and there is significant heterogeneity amongst the studies. It is concluded that the results from these trials are promising, but the studies are all of poor methodological quality. More rigorous trials are needed to assess the usefulness of GCE as a weight loss tool.

Barómetro OMT del Turismo Mundial y anexo estadístico, septiembre 2021

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-40
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
International Travel ◽  
International Tourism ◽  
Modest Improvement ◽  
International Tourist ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Roll Out ◽  
Made In

International tourism shows slight recovery in June and July 2021 driven by vaccinations and border reopening International tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) in the first seven months of 2021 were 40% below the levels of 2020, and still 80% down when compared to the same period of pre-pandemic year 2019. After a weak start of the year, international tourism saw a modest improvement during the months of June and July 2021. The small improvement in June and July was underpinned by the reopening of many destinations to international travel, mostly in Europe and the Americas. The relaxation of travel restrictions to vaccinated travellers, coupled with progress made in the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines, contributed to ease travel restrictions, lift consumer confidence and gradually restore safe mobility in Europe and other parts of the world. Small islands in the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia and the Pacific, together with a few small European destinations recorded the best performance in June and July, with arrivals coming close to, or sometimes exceeding pre-pandemic levels. July (-67%) saw comparatively better performance than June (-77%), making it the best month so far since April 2020. Asia and the Pacific continued to suffer the weakest results in January-July 2021, with a 95% drop in international arrivals compared to the same period in 2019. The Middle East (-82%) recorded the second largest decline, followed by Europe and Africa (both -77%). The Americas (-68%) saw a comparatively smaller decrease. Although destinations continued to report very weak international tourism revenues in the first seven months of 2021, several countries recorded a modest improvement in the months of June and July, and some even surpassed the earnings of 2019. The same is true for outbound travel. Among the larger source markets, France (-35% over 2019) and the United States (-49%) saw a small rebound in expenditure in July. Despite the relative improvement over the low levels of 2020, international tourism remained well below 2019 levels. This is also reflected in the evaluation made by the UNWTO Panel of Experts in the September survey, showing mixed results for the period May-August 2021. Looking ahead, most experts continue to expect a rebound in 2022, driven by unleashed pent-up demand, mostly during the second and third quarter of that year. Nearly one-third of respondents expect a potential rebound in 2023. Almost half of all experts continue to see a return of international arrivals to 2019 levels in 2024 or later.

Abstract P234: Diabetes as Risk Factor for Coronary Heart Disease in Women Compared with Men

Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 129 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanne A Peters ◽  
Rachel R Huxley ◽  
Mark Woodward
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Heart Disease ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Sex Difference ◽  
Prolonged Exposure ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Excess Risk ◽  
Significant Heterogeneity ◽  
Increased Risk

Introduction: A previous pooled analysis suggested that women with diabetes are at substantially increased risk of fatal coronary heart disease (CHD) compared with affected men. Additional findings from larger and more contemporary studies have since published on the sex-specific associations between diabetes and incident CHD. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis so as to provide the most reliable evidence of any sex difference in the effect of diabetes on subsequent risk of CHD. Methods: PubMed MEDLINE was systematically searched for prospective population-based cohort studies published between on January 1, 1966 and February 13, 2013. Eligible studies had to have reported sex-specific estimates of the relative risk (RR) for incident CHD associated with diabetes, and its associated variability. Random effects meta-analyses with inverse variance weighting were used to obtain sex-specific RRs and their ratio (RRR). Results: Data from 64 cohorts including 858,507 individuals and 28,203 incident CHD events were included. The RR for incident CHD associated with diabetes compared with no diabetes was 2.83 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.37, 3.38) in women and 2.11 (95% CI: 1.79, 2.50) in men. The multiple-adjusted RRR for incident CHD was 44% greater in women with diabetes than it was in men with diabetes (95% CI: 27; 63) with no significant heterogeneity between studies (I2=20%). Conclusions: Women with diabetes have more than a 40% greater risk of incident CHD compared with men with diabetes. Sex disparities in pharmacotherapy are unlikely to explain the excess risk in women. Instead, a greater deterioration in cardiovascular risk profile combined with more prolonged exposure to adverse levels of cardiovascular risk factors among pre-diabetic women compared with their male equivalents may be responsible for the excess risk of diabetes-related CHD in women. Future studies are warranted elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the substantial sex-difference in diabetes-related risk of CHD.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document