COVID-19 Gender Disparities and Mitigation Recommendations: A Narrative Review

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has rapidly created widespread impacts on global health and the economy. Data suggest that women are less susceptible to severe illness. However, sex-disaggregated data are incomplete, leaving room for misinterpretation, and focusing only on biologic sex underestimates the gendered impact of the pandemic on women. This narrative review summarizes what is known about gender disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic, domestic, and health burdens along with overlapping vulnerabilities related to the pandemic. In addition, this review outlines recommended strategies that advocacy groups, community leaders, and policymakers should implement to mitigate the widening gender disparities related to COVID-19.     

Safety and immunogenicity of Px563L,a recombinant anthrax vaccine candidate,in a two-dose regimen for post-exposure prophylaxis in healthy adults

Px563L is a next-generation anthrax vaccine candidate consisting of a protein subunit, mutant recombinant protective antigen SNKE167-ΔFF-315-E308D (mrPA), and liposome-embedded monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) adjuvant. Px563L has the potential to deliver an improved safety and immunogenicity profile relative to the currently licensed vaccine, which is produced from filtered B. anthracis culture supernatants.We conducted a Phase 1, double–blind, placebo–controlled, dose–escalation study in 54 healthy subjects to evaluate Px563L at 3 dose levels of mrPA (10, 50, and 80 mcg). For each dose level, 18 subjects were randomized in an 8:8:2 ratio to Px563L (mrPA with adjuvant), RPA563 (mrPA only) or placebo (saline). Each subject received an intramuscular (IM) injection on Day 0 and Day 28. Primary safety and immunogenicity analysis was conducted after all subjects completed the Day 70 visit, a duration deemed clinically relevant for post-exposure prophylaxis. Long-term safety was assessed through Day 393.Vaccinations with Px563L at all dose levels were well-tolerated. There were no serious adverse events or adverse events (AE) leading to early withdrawal. In all treatment groups, most AEs were due to injection site reactions, and all AEs at the 10 and 50 mcg dose levels were mild. For the primary immunogenicity endpoint (protective toxin neutralizing antibody 50% neutralization factor [TNA NF₅₀]), titers started to increase significantly after the second administration of Px563L, from Day 35 through Day 70, with the geometric mean and lower bound of the 95% confidence interval exceeding 0.56, a threshold correlating with significant survival in animal models of anthrax exposure.In conclusion, Px563L, administered as two IM doses 28 days apart, was well-tolerated and elicited a protective antibody response starting at seven days after the second vaccination. These findings support the continued development of Px563L in a two-dose regimen for anthrax post-exposure prophylaxis. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02655549.     

Efficacy and safety of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) created using covered stents of different diameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to make a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the stent diameter (8 mm vs. 10 mm) that conveys better safety and clinical efficacy for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).Materials and methodsFour databases were used to identify clinical trials published from inception until March 2020. Data were extracted to estimate and compare one-year and three-year overall survivals, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal rebleeding, and shunt dysfunction rates between patients with 8 mm covered stents and those with 10 mm covered stents.ResultsFive eligible studies were selected, which included 489 patients (316 men, 173 women). The 8 mm covered stent group had higher efficacy regarding one-year or three-year overall survival (odds ratio [OR], 2.88; P = 0.003) and (OR, 1.81; P = 0.04) and lower hepatic encephalopathy (OR, 0.69; P = 0.04) compared with 10 mm covered stent group. There were no significant differences in variceal rebleeding rate (OR 0.80; P = 0.67). However, shunt dysfunction was lower in 10 mm covered stent group (OR, 2.26; P = 0.003).ConclusionsOur results suggest that the use of 8 mm covered stents should be preferred to that of 10 mm covered stents for TIPS placement when portal pressure is frequently monitored.     

厦门市社区老年慢性病共病与不良生活方式共存现状研究

目的 调查社区老年人常见的14种慢性病共病情况及不良生活方式共存现象。 方法 采用方便抽样的方法抽取厦门市社区906例老年人群为研究对象,使用自设问卷调查研究对象的慢病共存及不良方式共存现象,使用检验和多因素logistic回归方法进行分析。结果 共纳入906例老年人,慢性病患病率为79.5%,老年人慢性病共病患病率为58.9%。主要的不良生活方式是BMI异常(46.8%)、饮酒(40.5%)、睡眠时间少(37.9%)、缺乏锻炼(35.2%)、吸烟(32.8%)等。多因素logistic回归分析显示,女性(OR=2.232,95%CI:1.474～3.380,P＜0.001)、高龄(OR=2.038,95%CI:1.234～3.365,P=0.001)、有慢性病家族史(OR=2.854,95%CI:1.943～4.194,P＜0.001)、肥胖(OR=2.571,95%CI:1.096～6.033,P=0.030)、饮酒(OR=3.582,95%CI:2.531～5.071,P＜0.001)、吸烟(OR=1.789,95%CI:1.172～2.732,P=0.007)、嗜盐(OR=1.818,95%CI:1.170～2.823,P=0.008)、嗜油(OR=2.023,95%CI:1.153～3.550,P=0.010)、睡眠质量差(OR=2.091,95%CI:1.360～3.215,P=0.001)的老年人,慢性病共病的比例高。 结论 厦门市社区老年人慢性病共病和不良生活方式共存现象严重。肥胖、饮酒、吸烟、嗜盐、嗜油、睡眠质量差等行为生活方式是慢性病重要的可干预因素,社区工作者应提高社区居民对健康生活方式重要性的认识,促使其主动改变不良生活方式并长期坚持健康的生活方式,以降低其慢性病的发病风险,减少其伤残程度,提高生活质量。     

Atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveNew-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery is common, with rates up to 60%. POAF has been associated with early and late stroke, but its association with other cardiovascular outcomes is less known. The objective was to perform a meta-analysis of the studies reporting the association of POAF with perioperative and long-term outcomes in patients with cardiac surgery.MethodsWe performed a systematic review and a meta-analysis of studies that presented outcomes for cardiac surgery on the basis of the presence or absence of POAF. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were assessed; 57 studies (246,340 patients) were selected. Perioperative mortality was the primary outcome. Inverse variance method and random model were performed. Leave-one-out analysis, subgroup analyses, and metaregression were conducted.ResultsPOAF was associated with perioperative mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58-2.33), perioperative stroke (OR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.90-2.49), perioperative myocardial infarction (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.06-1.54), perioperative acute renal failure (OR, 2.74; 95% CI, 2.42-3.11), hospital (standardized mean difference, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.53-1.07) and intensive care unit stay (standardized mean difference, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.24-0.86), long-term mortality (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.54; 95% CI, 1.40-1.69), long-term stroke (IRR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.21-1.46), and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation (IRR, 4.73; 95% CI, 3.36-6.66).ConclusionsThe results suggest that POAF after cardiac surgery is associated with an increased occurrence of most short- and long-term cardiovascular adverse events. However, the causality of this association remains to be established.