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Frontiers in Public Health 2024The issue of low consumption among rural households in China has a longstanding history, and the experience of infectious diseases may exacerbate the existing challenges...
OBJECTIVE
The issue of low consumption among rural households in China has a longstanding history, and the experience of infectious diseases may exacerbate the existing challenges in fostering consumption growth. However, studies that characterize the impact of infectious diseases on household consumption are limited in China. This study aims to explore rural household consumption responses to infectious diseases post-assessment, and identify the underlying mechanisms.
METHODS
A total of 1,539 rural households from China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) datasets of 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 were recruited as the study sample. The presence of infectious disease experience was employed as the independent variable and household consumption as the dependent variable. A panel fixed effects (FE) regression model was initially employed to identify the influence of infectious disease experiences on rural household consumption. The instrumental variable (IV) method was used to address potential endogeneity between independent and dependent variables. Robustness checks such as Propensity Score Matching (PSM) test were employed to ensure the reliability of the findings.
RESULTS
The results reveal a statistically significant negative impact of infectious disease experiences on consumption over time, becoming no more significant at around 7-9 years post-disaster. This effect leads to more pronounced consumption deprivation for households with limited health insurance coverage and heightened healthcare resource constraints. The mechanism test indicates that infectious disease experiences affect the consumption levels of rural households through channels that include income constraints, the crowding-out of healthcare expenditure, and risk perception, with the precautionary savings motive acting as a moderator. Furthermore, the diminishing effect of infectious diseases on individual consumption surpasses that of natural disasters. Temporal discrepancy is observed in the impacts of infectious and chronic disease shocks on household consumption. The accumulation of liquid assets emerges as an effective strategy for households to mitigate the impact of infectious disease shocks.
CONCLUSION
The findings underscore the importance of integrating short- and long-term policies to bolster consumption capacity, strategically allocate inter-regional medical resources, and fortify the resilience of rural households against economic risks.
Topics: Humans; China; Rural Population; Family Characteristics; Communicable Diseases; Female; Male; Adult; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38932772
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1390432 -
Vaccines Jun 2024Early studies have found that the initial COVID-19 vaccination series was protective against severe symptoms and long COVID. However, few studies have explored the...
Early studies have found that the initial COVID-19 vaccination series was protective against severe symptoms and long COVID. However, few studies have explored the association of booster doses on severe disease outcomes and long COVID. This cross-sectional analysis used data from the 2022 US National Health Interview Survey data to investigate how vaccination status correlates with COVID-19 infection severity and long COVID among previously infected individuals. Participants were categorized into three groups: those who had received at least one booster, those with only the initial complete vaccination series, and those with either an incomplete series or no vaccinations. Out of 9521 survey respondents who reported a past positive COVID-19 test, 51.2% experienced moderate/severe infections, and 17.6% experienced long COVID. Multivariable regression models revealed that receiving at least one booster shot was associated with lower odds of experiencing moderate/severe symptoms (aOR = 0.78, < 0.001) compared to those unvaccinated or with an incomplete series. Additionally, having at least one booster reduced long COVID odds by 24% (aOR = 0.76, = 0.003). Completing only the primary vaccine series did not significantly decrease the likelihood of severe illness or long COVID. These findings support the continued promotion of booster vaccinations to mitigate long COVID risks in vulnerable populations.
PubMed: 38932418
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060688 -
Vaccines Jun 2024Given the increase in COVID-19 emergency department visits and hospitalizations during the winter of 2023-2024, identifying groups that have a high prevalence of...
Given the increase in COVID-19 emergency department visits and hospitalizations during the winter of 2023-2024, identifying groups that have a high prevalence of COVID-19 cases, severity, and long-term symptoms can help increase efforts toward reducing disparities and prevent severe COVID-19 outcomes. Using data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey ( = 27,651), we assessed the prevalence of COVID-19 outcomes (prior diagnosis, moderate/severe COVID-19, and long COVID) by sociodemographic characteristics and factors associated with each COVID-19 outcome. Approximately one third of adults reported a prior COVID-19 diagnosis (30.7%), while one half (51.6%) who had COVID-19 reported moderate or severe symptoms, and one fifth (19.7%) who had COVID-19 symptoms reported long COVID. The following were associated with higher odds of moderate/severe COVID-19 and long COVID: havinga high-risk condition (aOR = 1.20, OR = 1.52); having anxiety or depression (OR = 1.46, OR = 1.49); having a disability (OR = 1.41, OR = 1.60); and having a food insecurity (OR = 1.37, OR = 1.50) compared to a lack of these conditions. Having two or more COVID-19 vaccinations was associated with lower odds of a COVID-19 diagnosis (OR = 0.75), moderate/severe COVID-19 (OR = 0.86), and long COVID (OR = 0.82). Improving vaccination coverage and reducing disparities in COVID-19 outcomes could advance health equities and protect against future resurgence of disease.
PubMed: 38932398
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060669 -
Vaccines Jun 2024A systematic review with a meta-analysis was performed to gather available evidence on the effectiveness of monoclonal antibody nirsevimab in the prevention of lower... (Review)
Review
A systematic review with a meta-analysis was performed to gather available evidence on the effectiveness of monoclonal antibody nirsevimab in the prevention of lower respiratory tract diseases (LRTDs) due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in children and newborns (CRD42024540669). Studies reporting on real-world experience and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched for in three databases (PubMed, Embase, and Scopus) until 1 May 2024. Our analysis included five RCTs, seven real-world reports, and one official report from the health authorities. Due to the cross-reporting of RCTs and the inclusion of multiple series in a single study, the meta-analysis was performed on 45,238 infants from 19 series. The meta-analysis documented a pooled immunization efficacy of 88.40% (95% confidence interval (95% CI) from 84.70 to 91.21) on the occurrence of hospital admission due to RSV, with moderate heterogeneity (I 24.3%, 95% CI 0.0 to 56.6). Immunization efficacy decreased with the overall length of the observation time (Spearman's r = -0.546, = 0.016), and the risk of breakthrough infections was substantially greater in studies with observation times ≥150 days compared to studies lasting <150 days (risk ratio 2.170, 95% CI 1.860 to 2.532). However, the effect of observation time in meta-regression analysis was conflicting ( = 0.001, 95% CI -0.001 to 0.002; = 0.092). In conclusion, the delivery of nirsevimab was quite effective in preventing hospital admissions due to LRTDs. However, further analyses of the whole RSV season are required before tailoring specific public health interventions.
PubMed: 38932369
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060640 -
Vaccines Jun 2024Patients with long COVID syndrome present with various symptoms affecting multiple organs. Vaccination before or after SARS-CoV-2 infection appears to reduce the...
Patients with long COVID syndrome present with various symptoms affecting multiple organs. Vaccination before or after SARS-CoV-2 infection appears to reduce the incidence of long COVID or at least limit symptom deterioration. However, the impact of vaccination on the severity and extent of multi-organ long COVID symptoms and the relationship between the circulating anti-spike protein antibody levels and the severity and extent of multi-organ symptoms are unclear. This prospective cohort study included 198 patients with previous PCR-verified SARS-CoV-2 infection who met the criteria for long COVID syndrome. Patients were divided into vaccinated ( = 138, 69.7%) or unvaccinated ( = 60, 30.3%) groups. Anti-spike protein antibody levels were determined at initial clinical presentation and compared between the groups. Long COVID symptoms were quantified on the basis of the number of affected organs: Class I (mild) with symptoms in three organs, Class II (moderate) with symptoms in four to five organs, and Class III (severe) with symptoms in six or more organ systems. Associations between time to infection and vaccination with anti-spike protein antibody levels were assessed. The anti-spike protein antibody levels were 1925 ± 938 vs. 481 ± 768 BAU/mL ( < 0.001) in the vaccinated vs. unvaccinated patients. The circulating anti-spike antibody cutoff of 665.5 BAU/mL allowed us to differentiate the vaccinated from the unvaccinated patients. Vaccinated patients had fewer class II and class III multi-organ symptoms (Class II 39.9% vs. 45.0%; Class III 10.1% vs. 23.3%, -value 0.014). Anti-spike antibody level correlated negatively with multi-organ symptom classes ( = 0.016; 95% CI -1.229 to -0.126). Anti-spike antibody levels in unvaccinated patients declined markedly with time, in contrast to the persistence of high anti-spike antibody levels in the vaccinated patients. Multi-organ symptoms were lower in vaccinated long-COVID patients, especially in those with higher anti-spike antibody levels (≥665.5 BAU/mL). Classifying the symptoms on the basis of the number of affected organs enables a more objective symptom quantification.
PubMed: 38932339
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060610 -
Vaccines May 2024Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an emerging transboundary and highly infectious viral disease mainly affecting cattle. The fact that it was initially confined to Africa and...
An Attenuated Vaccine Virus of the Neethling Lineage Protects Cattle against the Virulent Recombinant Vaccine-like Isolate of the Lumpy Skin Disease Virus Belonging to the Currently Established Cluster 2.5.
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an emerging transboundary and highly infectious viral disease mainly affecting cattle. The fact that it was initially confined to Africa and then spread beyond its geographical range to other regions, including the Middle East, Turkey, Europe, the Balkans, Russia and Asia, is an indication of the underestimation and neglect of this disease. Vaccination is considered the most effective way to control the spread of LSDV, when combined with other control measures. LSD is now on the rise in Southeast Asia, where the circulating virus belongs to recombinant lineage 2.5. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of an attenuated LSDV strain belonging to the Neethling cluster 1.1 by challenge with a virulent recombinant vaccine-like LSDV isolate "Mongolia/2021" belonging to cluster 2.5. Some of the vaccinated animals showed an increase in body temperature of 1-1.5 °C above the physiological norm, without clinical signs, local reactions, vaccine-induced viremia or generalization, demonstrating the efficacy and safety of the vaccine strain against a recombinant strain. Furthermore, all the vaccinated animals showed strong immune responses, indicating a high level of immunogenicity. However, the control group challenged with "Mongolia/2021" LSD showed moderate to severe clinical signs seen in an outbreak, with high levels of virus shedding in blood samples and nasal swabs. Overall, the results of the present study demonstrate that the attenuated LSDV Neethling strain vaccine has a promising protective phenotype against the circulating strains, suggesting its potential as an effective tool for the containment and control of LSD in affected countries from Southeast Asia.
PubMed: 38932327
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060598 -
Vaccines May 2024Measles seroprevalence data have potential to be a useful tool for understanding transmission dynamics and for decision making efforts to strengthen immunization... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Measles seroprevalence data have potential to be a useful tool for understanding transmission dynamics and for decision making efforts to strengthen immunization programs. In this study, we conducted a systematized review and bias assessment of all primary data on measles seroprevalence in low- and middle-income countries (as defined by World Bank 2021 income classifications) published from 1962 to 2021.
METHODS
On 9 March 2022, we searched PubMed for all available data. We included studies containing primary data on measles seroprevalence and excluded studies if they were clinical trials or brief reports, from only health-care workers, suspected measles cases, or only vaccinated persons. We extracted all available information on measles seroprevalence, study design, and seroassay protocol. We conducted a bias assessment based on multiple categories and classified each study as having low, moderate, severe, or critical bias. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022326075).
RESULTS
We identified 221 relevant studies across all World Health Organization regions, decades, and unique age ranges. The overall crude mean seroprevalence across all studies was 78.0% (SD: 19.3%), and the median seroprevalence was 84.0% (IQR: 72.8-91.7%). We classified 80 (36.2%) studies as having severe or critical overall bias. Studies from country-years with lower measles vaccine coverage or higher measles incidence had higher overall bias.
CONCLUSIONS
While many studies have substantial underlying bias, many studies still provide some insights or data that could be used to inform modelling efforts to examine measles dynamics and programmatic decisions to reduce measles susceptibility.
PubMed: 38932314
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060585 -
Viruses Jun 2024Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a potentially life-threatening complication of COVID-19. The pathophysiological mechanisms leading to severe...
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a potentially life-threatening complication of COVID-19. The pathophysiological mechanisms leading to severe disease are poorly understood. This study leveraged clinical samples from a well-characterized cohort of children hospitalized with COVID-19 or MIS-C to compare immune-mediated biomarkers. Our objective was to identify selected immune molecules that could explain, in part, why certain SARS-CoV-2-infected children developed MIS-C. We hypothesized that type-2 helper T cell-mediated inflammation can elicit autoantibodies, which may account for some of the differences observed between the moderate-severe COVID-19 (COVID) and MIS-C cohort. We enumerated blood leukocytes and measured levels of selected serum cytokines, chemokines, antibodies to COVID-19 antigens, and autoantibodies in children presenting to an academic medical center in Connecticut, United States. The neutrophil/lymphocyte and eosinophil/lymphocyte ratios were significantly higher in those in the MIS-C versus COVID cohort. IgM and IgA, but not IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain were significantly higher in the MIS-C cohort than the COVID cohort. The serum levels of certain type-2 cytokines (interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, and IL-33) were significantly higher in children with MIS-C compared to the COVID and SARS-CoV-2-negative cohorts. IgG autoantibodies to brain antigens and pentraxin were higher in children with MIS-C compared to SARS-CoV-19-negative controls, and children with MIS-C had higher levels of IgG anti-contactin-associated protein-like 2 (caspr2) compared to the COVID and SARS-CoV-19-negative controls. We speculate that autoimmune responses in certain COVID-19 patients may induce pathophysiological changes that lead to MIS-C. The triggers of autoimmunity and factors accounting for type-2 inflammation require further investigation.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome; Child; Female; Male; Prospective Studies; SARS-CoV-2; Child, Preschool; Autoantibodies; Cytokines; Adolescent; Infant; Biomarkers; Antibodies, Viral; Inflammation
PubMed: 38932242
DOI: 10.3390/v16060950 -
Viruses Jun 2024The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has posed significant health challenges worldwide. While children generally experience less severe illness compared to...
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has posed significant health challenges worldwide. While children generally experience less severe illness compared to adults, pneumonia remains a substantial risk, particularly for those under five years old. This study examines the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of pediatric COVID-19 pneumonia patients treated with favipiravir in Thailand, aiming to identify associated factors for pneumonia. A retrospective review was performed on pediatric patients aged 1 month to 18 years hospitalized with COVID-19 at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, from 13 January 2020 to 15 November 2021. Data on demographics, clinical symptoms, treatment, and outcomes were collected, and logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with pneumonia. Among 349 hospitalized children, the median age was 8 years, with 51.9% being male. Symptoms included a fever (100%), a cough (74.2%), and a rash (24.9%). COVID-19 pneumonia was diagnosed in 54.7% of the children. Favipiravir was administered as the standard treatment, showing mild adverse effects, including a rash (4.3%) and nausea (2.8%). Monocytosis was significantly associated with COVID-19 pneumonia (aOR 30.85, 95% CI: 9.03-105.41, < 0.001), with an ROC curve area of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.71-0.83). Pediatric COVID-19 patients typically exhibit mild-to-moderate symptoms, with pneumonia being common in the early pandemic phase. Monocytosis is a significant factor associated with COVID-19 pneumonia. Favipiravir demonstrated mild adverse effects. Further studies are needed to validate these findings across different settings and phases of the pandemic.
Topics: Humans; Amides; Female; Male; Pyrazines; Child; Child, Preschool; Retrospective Studies; COVID-19 Drug Treatment; Antiviral Agents; Adolescent; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Infant; Thailand; Tertiary Care Centers; Treatment Outcome; Hospitalization
PubMed: 38932238
DOI: 10.3390/v16060946 -
Viruses Jun 2024Oncolytic virotherapy, using viruses such as vesicular stomatitis virus (VSVΔ51) and Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1) to selectively attack cancer cells, faces challenges...
Oncolytic virotherapy, using viruses such as vesicular stomatitis virus (VSVΔ51) and Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1) to selectively attack cancer cells, faces challenges such as cellular resistance mediated by the interferon (IFN) response. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis and psoriasis and is recognized for its anti-cancer properties and has been shown to enhance both VSVΔ51 and HSV-1 oncolytic activity. Tepilamide fumarate (TPF) is a DMF analog currently undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of TPF in enhancing the effectiveness of oncolytic viruses. In vitro, TPF treatment rendered 786-0 carcinoma cells more susceptible to VSVΔ51 infection, leading to increased viral replication. It outperformed DMF in both increasing viral infection and increasing the killing of these resistant cancer cells and other cancer cell lines tested. Ex vivo studies demonstrated TPF's selective boosting of oncolytic virus infection in cancer cells without affecting healthy tissues. Effectiveness was notably high in pancreatic and ovarian tumor samples. Our study further indicates that TPF can downregulate the IFN pathway through a similar mechanism to DMF, making resistant cancer cells more vulnerable to viral infection. Furthermore, TPF's impact on gene therapy was assessed, revealing its ability to enhance the transduction efficiency of vectors such as lentivirus, adenovirus type 5, and adeno-associated virus type 2 across various cell lines. This data underscore TPF's potential role in not only oncolytic virotherapy but also in the broader application of gene therapy. Collectively, these findings position TPF as a promising agent in oncolytic virotherapy, warranting further exploration of its therapeutic potential.
Topics: Humans; Oncolytic Virotherapy; Cell Line, Tumor; Oncolytic Viruses; Virus Replication; Fumarates; Neoplasms; Dimethyl Fumarate; Herpesvirus 1, Human
PubMed: 38932212
DOI: 10.3390/v16060920