Vaccines against Covid-19, venous thromboembolism, and thrombocytopenia. A population-based retrospective cohort study

Background Covid-19 vaccines may increase the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), thrombocytopenia (TCP), and VTE associated with TCP. We aimed at estimating this risk by age and sex, after the first dose of both adenovirus vector-based and mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccines, and after the second dose of m-RNA vaccines. Methods In this population-based retrospective cohort study, we examined three groups: 1 662 719 people 10 years of age and over vaccinated with the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, 622 778 with the second dose, and 190 616 diagnosed of Covid-19 in the same period (between1 January 2021 and 18 April 2021). The rates of various clinical presentations of VTE and TCP were compared with those in the reference population (7 013 040 people served by the health care system in 2919). The two primary outcomes were the observed 21 day rate of a composite variable of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, mesenteric thrombosis, portal vein thrombosis, or any venous thromboembolism (VTE) associated with thrombocytopenia (TCP), and the rate of any VTE associated with TCP (VTE+TCP). Analyses were standardised by age and sex. Findings The 21 day rate per 100 000 of the primary composite variable was 2.15 in the reference population, 5.65 following the first vaccine dose (standardised difference, 2.53 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.04-4.00), and 7.23 following the second dose (standardised difference, 4.07 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.43-6.70). The event rates of VTE+TCP and of all the secondary variables showed the same patterns. Excess event rates were higher in men than in women, and they were not especially increased in any particular age group. All Covid-19 vaccines were associated with increased rates of the outcome variables. Excess event rates were many-fold higher in the Covid-19 cohort. Interpretation We observed small increases of rates of venous thromboembolism in usual and unusual anatomical sites and of thrombocytopenia in recipients of both adenovirus vector and mRNA vaccines against Covid-19. Excess rates were higher in men than in women and they were not particularly elevated in any specific age group.

Disparities in Cancer-Related Avoidable Mortality by the Level of Area Deprivation in South Korea

Background: This study investigated trends in cancer-related avoidable (preventable and treatable) mortality and its association with area deprivation in Korea. Methods: Cancer-related avoidable mortality rates per 100,000 population between 2015 and 2019 were measured using the Causes of Death Statistics. Area Deprivation Index (ADI) was measured from the Population and Housing Census and information on other independent variables from the Korea Community Health Survey. The gap in avoidable mortality between the more and less deprived groups was expressed as rate ratios (RR) and absolute differences (ADs) with a 95 percent confidence interval (95% CI). The association between avoidable mortality and ADI was investigated through Poisson regression modelling. Results: The more deprived areas had higher avoidable (RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.13–1.17; AD 6.58, 95% CI 5.59–7.57) and preventable (RR 1.19, 95% CI 1.17–1.21; AD 6.22, 95% CI 5.38–7.06) mortality. The overall cancer-related avoidable mortality decreased but the gap between the more and less deprived groups did not decline significantly during the study period. The association between avoidable and preventable mortality and area deprivation remained significant after adjusting for variables, including area levels of smokers and alcohol drinkers. Conclusions: The gap in avoidable mortality signifies the importance of addressing related disparities in cancer.

Precision medicine in refractory metastatic triple-negative breast cancer is enhanced by molecular subtyping and genomic profiling.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a very variable disease, and molecular subtyping may enable more precise diagnosis and treatment. Our earlier work categorized TNBCs into four subgroups, each with its own set of potential treatment targets. To assess the effectiveness of these targets, we performed the study, a phase Ib/II subtyping-based and genomic biomarker-guided umbrella study. Patients with refractory metastatic TNBC were enrolled and assigned to one of seven arms: (A) pyrotinib plus capecitabine, (B) androgen receptor inhibitor plus CDK4/6 inhibitor, (C) anti-PD-1 plus nab-paclitaxel, (D) PARP inhibitor plus nab-paclitaxel, (E) and (F) anti-VEGFR plus nab-paclitaxel, or (G The major outcome measure was the rate of objective response (ORR). We included 69 patients with resistant metastatic TNBC who had previously received a median of three lines of treatment (range, 1-8). Twenty-nine (29.0 percent, 95 percent confidence interval (CI): 18.7 percent -41.2 percent ) of the 69 intention-to-treat (ITT) patients obtained an objective response. Our findings indicated that immunotherapy (arm C) had the greatest ORR (52.6 percent, 95 percent confidence interval [CI]: 28.9 percent -75.6 percent ) in the ITT group. Arm E had a good ORR (26.1 percent, 95 percent CI: 10.2 percent -48.4 percent in the ITT group), but was associated with a higher prevalence of severe adverse events (grade 3). Somatic mutations in TOP2A and CD8 immunohistochemistry score may be able to predict immunotherapy response in patients with TNBC classified as immunomodulatory. In conclusion, the phase Ib/II study demonstrated the therapeutic benefit of subtyping-based targeted therapy for refractory metastatic TNBC.

Association between Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and serointensity and brain volume in adults: A cross-sectional study

The intracellular protozoal parasite Toxoplasma gondii has been associated with worsened cognitive function in animal models and in humans. Despite these associations, the mechanisms by which Toxoplasma gondii might affect cognitive function remain unknown, although Toxoplasma gondii does produce physiologically active intraneuronal cysts and appears to affect dopamine synthesis. Using data from the UK Biobank, we sought to determine whether Toxoplasma gondii is associated with decreased prefrontal, hippocampal, and thalamic gray-matter volumes and with decreased total gray-matter and total white-matter volumes in an adult community-based sample. The results from adjusted multivariable regression modelling showed no associations between Toxoplasma gondii and prefrontal, hippocampal, and thalamic brain gray-matter volumes. In contrast, natural-log transformed antibody levels against the Toxoplasma gondii p22 (b = -3960, 95-percent confidence interval, -6536 to -1383, p < .01) and sag1 (b = -4863, 95-percent confidence interval, –8301 to -1425, p < .01) antigens were associated with smaller total gray-matter volume, as was the mean of natural-log transformed p22 and sag1 titers (b = -6141, 95-percent confidence interval, -9886 to -2397, p < .01). There were no associations between any of the measures of Toxoplasma gondii and total white-matter volume. These findings suggest that Toxoplasma gondii might be associated with decreased total gray-matter in middle-aged and older middle-aged adults in a community-based sample from the United Kingdom.

Evaluation of Wine Purpose Varieties of Grapes under the Environmental Condition of Malwa Plateau

The quality of wine totally depends on the variety of grape. Grapes are unique among fruits. Ripe, they contain sufficient sugar and an appropriate amount of acid so that when they ferment enough alcohol is produced to make a palatable wine that is protected against imminent spoilage. In present investigation experiment was carried during 2014 to 2016 for 3 year. Treatment performance was observed using Tukey’s mean separation method in 95% percent confidence interval. Under this experiment grape ten variety tested under different characteristics. From the result it is found that number of mature and fruitful cane maximum found in Shiraz variety 39.61 and 22.05. Total soluble Solid (TSS) and acidity is important aspect for wine preparation. Minimum TSS and acidity was found in Shiraz variety 0.62 and 18.5. Highest yield variety was recorded in Grenache. From the study, it is observed that performance of Shriraz variety is most suitable for wine preparation in Malwa plateau.

Reliability of Repeated Measures of Nutrient Intake by Diet Records in Residents in the Western Region of Japan

Objective: We aimed to assess the day-to-day variation in twelve one-day diet records over one year from 131 residents of urban and rural areas in the western region of Japan. Methods: Between 2014 and 2015, the participants provided repeated one-day diet records once a month. We estimated the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICCs) for intakes for energy and 39 crude and energy-adjusted nutrients using linear mixed models. Results: Among the unadjusted nutrients, ICCs ranged from 0.05 (95 percent confidence interval = 0.03–0.09) for vitamin A retinol equivalent (RE) to 0.55 (95% CI = 0.48–0.62) for potassium. After energy adjustment, the ICCs were 0.02 (95 percent confidence interval = 0.03–0.09) for vitamin A (RE) and 0.52 (95 percent confidence interval = 0.45–0.59) for potassium. Intakes of energy-adjusted macronutrients tended to have moderate degrees of day-to-day coefficients of variation (CVw, range = 0.13–0.23, mean = 0.18), while the coefficients of variation for intakes of micronutrients varied dramatically (CVw, range = 0.17–2.59, mean = 0.54). Conclusion: There were large day-to-day variations in nutrient intake assessed by diet records among urban and rural residents in the western region of Japan. This study provided information on the reproducibility of crude and energy-adjusted nutrients that may be useful for other dietary studies in Japanese populations.

ANALISIS USAHA, NILAI TAMBAH, DAN KESEMPATAN KERJA AGROINDUSTRI TAHU DI BANDAR LAMPUNG

The objectives of this study are to analize the business, the added-value and employment of the tofu agroindustry in Bandar Lampung. This study was conducted in Gunung Sulah and Kedamaian villages which are the tofu production centers. The respondents are randomly chosen. The data are processed by using the financial analysis and the value-added analysis. There are two kinds of tofu, i.e the kopong tofu dan the cina tofu. The average net revenues over the cash costs were Rp10.49 million/month of the kopong tofu and Rp12.10 million/month of the cina tofu. The average net revenues over the total costs were Rp4.02 million/month of the kopong tofu and Rp5.17 million/month of the cina tofu. The average standard costs were Rp16,949.97/kg of the kopong tofu and Rp9,206.70/kg of the cina tofu.The average added-value was Rp5,109.31/kg soybeans and its 95 percent confidence interval was Rp2,864.23-7,354.39/kg soybeans. The employment in the two tofu production centers was 143 people.Key words: added value, agroindustry, business analysis, employment, tofu

Comparative Bootstrap DEA Technical Efficiencies and Determinant Factors: Evidence From the Islamic Banks of Bahrain and United Arab Emirates

Applying the Bootstrap DEA method the paper obtained the technical efficiencies of the Islamic banks of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using the panel data of 2011-2016. The paper found the 95 percent confidence interval mean bias-corrected overall technical efficiencies (OTEBC) of the Islamic banks of Bahrain was less than that of UAE. The OTEBC of Bahrain and UAE was 85.4 percent and 99.1 percent respectively suggesting the average inefficiency (14.6 percent) of the Islamic banks of Bahrain was higher than that (0.5 percent) of the UAE bank and the difference was significant. The paper applied the Simar-Wilson regression (both sided truncated) for determining the efficiency factors. The regression results of pooled data found that non-performance loan to total assets (NPLTA), loan to total assets (LOATA), profitability index (ROA), and bank-size (LOGTA) were significant factors. The regression results found that the efficiency of the Islamic banks was positively related to ROA and negatively related to NPLTA, LOANTA, DEPTA, and LOGTA. Results of regression, running the regression separately for Bahrain and UAE, confirmed the findings of pooled results. The country wise regression results of the Bahrain and UAE Islamic banks found that the NPLTA, LOATA, and LOGTA were significant factors and they are negatively related to the efficiency of the Islamic banks. The finding of this paper that LOANTA was negatively related to bank TE supported the finding of Zelenyuk (2015).

Formal Volunteer Activity and Psychological Flourishing in Scandinavia: Findings from Two Cross-sectional Rounds of the European Social Survey

Studies have identified formal volunteer activity as having mental health benefits. This study set out to investigate the role of formal volunteering in the context of psychological flourishing in Scandinavia. Using the European Social Survey conducted in 2006 and 2012, nationally representative cross-sectional data from 7,078 to 7,318 participants aged 15 years and older in Scandinavia were analyzed to assess associations between volunteering and flourishing. The adjusted models for 2006/2012 showed that compared with nonvolunteering, volunteering once per week was associated with twice the likelihood of flourishing—2006: odds ratios (OR) = 2.04 (95 percent confidence interval [CI] = [1.15, 3.62]); 2012: OR = 2.05 (95 percent CI = [1.30, 3.24]). This appeared to be the case across pre- and postretirement age. Volunteering is an activity that not only benefits society but is also associated with optimal mental health in the general population.

Standing Height and its Estimation Utilizing Foot Length Measurements in Kosovan Adults: National Survey

The purpose of this research is to examine standing height in both Kosovan genders as well as its association with foot length, as an alternative to estimating standing height. A total of 1623 individuals (830 male and 793 female) participated in this research. The anthropometric measurements were taken according to the protocol of ISAK. The relationships between body height and foot length were determined using simple correlation coefficients at a ninety-five percent confidence interval. A comparison of means of standing height and foot length between genders was performed using a t-test. Then a linear regression analysis was carried out to examine extent to which foot length can reliably predict standing height. Results displayed that Kosovan male are 179.52±5.96cm tall and have a foot length of 26.22±1.19cm, while Kosovan female are 165.72±4.93cm tall and have a foot length of 23.52±1.01cm. The results have shown that both genders made Kosovans a tall nation but not even close to be in top tallest nations. Moreover, the foot length reliably predicts standing height in both genders; but, not reliably enough as arm span.