scholarly journals COVID-19 vaccine coverage and the necessity of its urgent development towards Omicron the new SARS CoV-2 B.1.1. 529 variant

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 058-060
Author(s):  
Laith Ghadhanfer Shareef

A SARS-CoV-2 variant belonging to Pango lineage B.1.1.529 with a significant number of S-gene mutations compared to the original virus was found in early November 2021. On 26th November 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the mutation as a variant of concern and assigned it the name Omicron. The difference is identified by 30 changes in the spike protein, three minor deletions, and one minor insertion, 15 of which are in the receptor-binding area. The Omicron variant is the most diverging variety discovered in substantial numbers so far during the pandemic, raising significant concerns that it may be associated with significant reductions in vaccination efficacy and an increased risk of reinfections. Omicron pseudo- or live virus isolates are urgently needed to understand better the virus's escape potential against both vaccination, and infection-acquired immunity is urgently required.

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (18) ◽  
pp. 2140-2165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelena B. Popovic-Djordjevic ◽  
Ivana I. Jevtic ◽  
Tatjana P. Stanojkovic

Background: Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMT2) is an endocrine disease of global proportions which is currently affecting 1 in 12 adults in the world, with still increasing prevalence. World Health Organization (WHO) declared this worldwide health problem, as an epidemic disease, to be the only non-infectious disease with such categorization. People with DMT2 are at increased risk of various complications and have shorter life expectancy. The main classes of oral antidiabetic drugs accessible today for DMT2 vary in their chemical composition, modes of action, safety profiles and tolerability. Methods: A systematic search of peer-reviewed scientific literature and public databases has been conducted. We included the most recent relevant research papers and data in respect to the focus of the present review. The quality of retrieved papers was assessed using standard tools. Results: The review highlights the chemical structural diversity of the molecules that have the common target-DMT2. So-called traditional antidiabetics as well as the newest and the least explored drugs include polypeptides and amino acid derivatives (insulin, glucagon-like peptide 1, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors, amylin), sulfonylurea derivatives, benzylthiazolidine- 2,4-diones (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ agonists/glitazones), condensed guanido core (metformin) and sugar-like molecules (α-glucosidase and sodium/ glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors). Conclusion: As diabetes becomes a more common disease, interest in new pharmacological targets is on the rise.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Malika D. Shah ◽  
Ola Didrik Saugstad

Abstract After more than 1 year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a great deal of knowledge on how this virus affects pregnant women, the fetus and the newborn has accumulated. The gap between different guidelines how to handle newborn infants during this pandemic has been minimized, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)’s recommendations are now more in accordance with those of the World Health Organization (WHO). In this article we summarize present knowledge regarding transmission from mother to the fetus/newborn. Although both vertical and horizontal transmission are rare, SARS-CoV-2 positivity is associated with an increased risk of premature delivery and higher neonatal mortality and morbidity. Mode of delivery and cord clamping routines should not be affected by the mother’s SARS-CoV-2 status. Skin to skin contact, rooming in and breastfeeding are recommended with necessary hygiene precautions. Antibodies of infected or vaccinated women seem to cross both the placenta and into breast milk and likely provide protection for the newborn.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salman Tahir Shafi

In January 2020, the pathogen was identified and named by the World Health Organization as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2). The consequent SARS-CoV-2-related disease was defined as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As data emerged about characteristics of the disease, it was found to be associated with increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). We explore the recent literature and reports emerging from the epicenters of the pandemic to help our viewers understand the nature of AKI among these patients. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-85
Author(s):  
Dwi Yuni Utami ◽  
Elah Nurlelah ◽  
Noer Hikmah

Liver disease is an inflammatory disease of the liver and can cause the liver to be unable to function as usual and even cause death. According to WHO (World Health Organization) data, almost 1.2 million people per year, especially in Southeast Asia and Africa, have died from liver disease. The problem that usually occurs is the difficulty of recognizing liver disease early on, even when the disease has spread. This study aims to compare and evaluate Naive Bayes algorithm as a selected algorithm and Naive Bayes algorithm based on Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Bagging to find out which algorithm has a higher accuracy in predicting liver disease by processing a dataset taken from the UCI Machine Learning Repository database (GA). University of California Invene). From the results of testing by evaluating both the confusion matrix and the ROC curve, it was proven that the testing carried out by the Naive Bayes Optimization algorithm using Algortima Genetics and Bagging has a higher accuracy value than only using the Naive Bayes algorithm. The accuracy value for the Naive Bayes algorithm model is 66.66% and the accuracy value for the Naive Bayes model with attribute selection using Genetic Algorithms and Bagging is 72.02%. Based on this value, the difference in accuracy is 5.36%.Keywords: Liver Disease, Naïve Bayes, Genetic Agorithms, Bagging.


Author(s):  
Elise Paul

Specific populations at risk for suicide differ considerably according to region, country, sex, age, and the most common suicide methods used, highlighting the need for ongoing systematic surveillance to inform prevention efforts. The magnitude of the problem is not limited to suicide deaths. It is estimated that for every suicide, there are 20 more persons who have made an attempt. Individuals who have made a suicide attempt are at increased risk for dying by suicide. This chapter explores differences in the suicide and suicide attempt rates in the general population on different continents, by examining data from the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Health Estimates and the World Mental Health Survey Initiative. Differences across contexts in suicidal behaviours and the need for ongoing monitoring are emphasized.


Depression ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 3-10
Author(s):  
Raymond W. Lam

Depression is a common condition with a lifetime prevalence of about 15%. People with depression experience significant impairment in psychosocial functioning, particularly in those with a recurrent or chronic course. Depression is now the leading cause of years lived with disability worldwide. Depression is also associated with increased risk of developing a medical illness and an increased risk of overall mortality, even when deaths from suicide are excluded. The economic costs of depression are staggering, largely owing to indirect costs associated with occupational impairment leading to work absence and reduced productivity. Depression remains undertreated, particularly in lower- and middle-income countries, but the World Health Organization has estimated that scaling up of depression treatment returns US$5 for every US$1 spent.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 272-278
Author(s):  
Tess Hickson

A quarter of children in the UK are entering primary school either overweight or obese ( NHS Digital, 2017 ). These children have an increased risk of serious health consequences during their childhood years, which often continues into adulthood ( World Health Organization (WHO, 2017 ). A Healthy Weight Discussion Tool was created and introduced into a health visiting service to assist staff to identify and manage children presenting with excess weight. Three teams trialled its use, but uptake of this tool was low. A focus group evaluation was therefore carried out to examine the experience of staff using the tool. Although the tool was effective when implemented as intended, certain factors prevented its use in practice. These findings need to be addressed and the use of the tool re-evaluated to ascertain whether this service improvement will enhance the management of children with excess weight within the Universal service.


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 543-546
Author(s):  
Catherine Best

Social determinants of health continue to exist and perpetuate health inequalities. Catherine Best explores the contribution of nurses on an international scale, particularly in regards to solving inequality in access to healthcare Encouraging nursing to be a global profession has gained considerable momentum in recent years. For significantly longer, social determinants of health have featured in multiple national and international reports, and their devastating impacts on societies, both nationally and globally, are still being experienced. The time for rhetoric has long gone. Instead, unprecedented action is needed to bring this to the fore of all governments across the globe. The World Health Organization, International Council of Nurses and the United Nations have done much to raise awareness of the need for change and make it clear that the nursing profession can contribute to take positive action. The provision of good healthcare should not be reliant on where you live and work, but should be available to everyone. This article will explore the difference that nurses can make to the everyday lives of those we care for, and in improving equal access to healthcare for everyone.


Author(s):  
Nicky J Mehtani ◽  
Lori Rosman ◽  
William J Moss

Abstract Children infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at increased risk of measles morbidity and mortality. We searched abstracts from the PubMed, Embase, and Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information databases for articles published from the earliest date available through September 26, 2017. The primary outcome of interest was serological responses to measles vaccine, stratified by HIV infection status. A total of 2,858 potentially eligible articles were identified, and the final review included 12 studies published between 1992 and 2013, 9 of which reported data on vaccine safety. The studies we included represented 3,573 children, of whom at least 335 were infected with HIV, 788 were HIV-exposed but not infected, and 1,478 were unexposed to HIV. Four of the 12 studies found statistically significant reductions in seropositivity among HIV-infected children compared with HIV-uninfected children within 4 months of vaccination (prevalence ratio range, 0.44–0.70), and forest plots provided visual trends of decreasing immunity over time among HIV-infected children in 2 additional studies. No vaccine-related deaths or serious adverse events were reported. This updated review demonstrated limitations of the existing published literature but supported evidence of reduced immunogenicity of measles vaccine among HIV-infected children, supporting the World Health Organization recommendation to revaccinate HIV-infected children against measles following immune reconstitution with combination antiretroviral therapy.


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