Category: Corona Virus Vaccine

In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers examined the effects of employment on geriatric health during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak.

Study:Impact of employment on the elderly in a super-aging society during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Image Credit:Cryptographer/Shutterstock.com

Due to the aging population and the necessity to complement the working-age population, Japan's older population is becoming more employed. This occupation is viewed as a means of preventing cognitive deterioration and lowering the chance of mortality.

The COVID-19 pandemic, on the other hand, has underlined the necessity to research the impact of work on the health of elderly individuals. Elders have avoided going out due to the severity of COVID-19 and the related mortality risk.

A fear has arisen that if individuals do not go out, their activity levels will decline, and their health may deteriorate. Maintaining high levels of physical and mental activity can lower the likelihood of frailty, and being active in social engagements such as work may benefit geriatric health throughout the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.

However, it is uncertain whether continuing to work during COVID-19 improved cognitive and motor abilities compared to regular periods.

In the present analysis, researchers explored the cognitive and motor functional implications of employment during COVID-19 among elderly individuals.

The study included 144 individuals aged65 years and older who undertook medical examinations at three centers (i.e., Hamate District Public Hall, Yamate District Public Hall, and Health and Welfare Center) in the Kaizuka city of Osaka Prefecture over six days between August and September 2021. The individuals were divided into employed and non-employed groups.

A one-to-one survey was conducted, querying the employment status and income of the participants. The motor function was assessed based on the skeletal muscle index (SMI), 2.4-meter walking speed (m/s), bone mineral density, and a two-step test.

General cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination-Japanese edition (MMSE-J), and attention function (selection, persistence, distribution, and transfer) was assessed using the Trail Making Test-Parts A and B (TMT-A/B).

In addition, frailty (weakness, weight loss, exhaustion, slowness, and low activity level) was assessed using the modified Japanese edition of the Cardiovascular Health Study (J-CHS) criteria. Univariate analysis and logistic regression models were used to determine the odds ratios (ORs), adjusting for gender and age. The team excluded individuals restricted from exercising by health professionals and those with inadequate data.

The mean walking speed was determined based on the duration of completing a 2.0-meter walk at regular speed. The dominant hands grip strength was measured by grip strength meters, and the SMI values were determined based on body composition, height, and bio-impedance. The heel bone density (right side) was determined ultrasonically and compared to the corresponding bone density values for young adults.

Among the study participants, the mean age was 76 years; 33 (23%) were employed, and 111 (77%) were unemployed. Among employed individuals, 16 (49%) were female, whereas among those unemployed, 87 (78%) were female.

Concerning employment reasons, ten individuals (30%) worked for health, five (15%) for social connections, five (15%) for income, four (12%) for survival, three (nine percent) for additional income, two (six percent) for having plenty of time to spare, and four (12%) for other reasons.

Concerning employment type, one individual (three percent) worked full-time, 18 (55%) worked part-time, eight (24%) were self-employed, and six (18%) were categorized as other employment types.

The univariate analysis showed significantly higher SMI values and grip strength among employed individuals, likely due to the skewed gender ratio among the groups.

Concerning motor function, non-significant differences were observed in the locomotive two-step test, frailty, and walking speed between the groups.TMT-A was an independent factor for employed individuals (OR, 0.96). Working individuals were significantly more attentive than non-working individuals, as indicated by significantly less time on the TMT-A.

Overall, the study findings showed significantly higher attention among employed individuals than their unemployed counterparts during COVID-19, likely because attention is required to execute job-related tasks.

In addition, an individual needs to process visual data and write while performing jobs. Future studies must investigate the component of the attention function impacted by employment, considering underlying medical conditions affecting motor and cognitive functions and including larger sample sizes to improve the generalizability of the study findings.

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Influence of employment during COVID-19 on cognitive and motor ... - News-Medical.Net

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From 46% to 61% of adults receiving mpox vaccination at two US public health clinics reported a decrease in sexual behaviors tied to viral transmission, including one-time encounters, sex partners, dating app or sex venuebased sex, and group sex, according to a study published late last week in Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

The study, led by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researchers, involved 711 adults seeking mpox vaccination at two clinics in Washington, DC, who completed questionnaires from August to October 2022.

Median participant age was 32 years, 52.0% were White, 20.5% were Black, 14.6% were Hispanic, 7.9% were Asian, 2.0% were multiracial, 0.3% were American Indian/Alaska Native, and 9% had HIV. Most participants were men who have sex with men (MSM) (61.0%), 27.0% were women, and 3.8% were men who have sex with only women.

During the 2022 multicountry mpox outbreak, more than 30,000 mpox cases were reported, mainly among MSM. "Decreases in U.S. mpox cases were likely accelerated by a combination of vaccination and modifications to sexual behaviors associated with mpox virus transmission," the researchers wrote.

Many participants reported fewer one-time sexual encounters (60.8%), sex partners (54.3%), less dating app or sex venuefacilitated sex (53.4%), and less group sex (45.6%). A total of 39% to 54% reported no change in these behaviors, and 0.4% reported an increase.

While reported cases of mpox continue to be low, individuals may return to behaviors and practices that they engaged in prior to the outbreak. In turn, behavior mitigation strategies may only be implemented as temporary protective measures, underscoring the importance of mpox vaccination for continued protection.

A greater proportion of Black participants reported decreases in all four behaviors since learning about mpox (61% to 76%), compared with White participants (41% to 54%). Also, a higher percentage of participants with HIV than those without HIV said they were engaging less in these activities (72% to 82% vs 43% to 59%).

"While reported cases of mpox continue to be low, individuals may return to behaviors and practices that they engaged in prior to the outbreak," the authors wrote. "In turn, behavior mitigation strategies may only be implemented as temporary protective measures, underscoring the importance of mpox vaccination for continued protection."

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Paxlovid shown not effective against long COVID in veterans - University of Minnesota Twin Cities

On Monday, the department posted a message on Facebook, announcing that Sgt. Jenson died over the weekend surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues.

Sergeant Jon Jenson was part of Fort Worth Police for 26 years, but his family didn't know a lot about his day-to-day there.

When he was home, it was all about family," said Vickie Jenson, his wife.

So, she was surprised when he came home one day with a Lifesaving Award.

"I said, What is this? He goes, Oh, they had a banquet, I didnt go,'" she laughed.

Turns out, he had helped rescue an older man who thought he was back in World War II.

"He called commandsWorld War II commands, and was able to get the man out of the tunnel and into safety," Vickie recalled.

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One of her fondest memories is getting married in the rain in March of 2001.

There was a certain song that was playing that we danced to," she said.

All moments she and her kids are now holding onto after COVID-19 shattered their lives.

I started to get better after a week, he did not. He started getting worse," said Vickie.

They contracted the virus in mid-August, and she said her husband was in and out of the hospital from then on.

Vickie said her husband got the virus while on the job.

I was always scared of him getting COVID because he already had lung problems, he hashes an asthmatic," she said.

She said after being on an ECMO, Jenson's liver and kidney started failing. An ECMO machine pumps blood outside the body, allowing the patient's heart and lungs to rest.

"He went from...breathing oxygen, to a mask, to the highest form of ventilator, like within 24 hours or so," Vickie said.

They said their goodbyes to the 57-year-old on Saturday.

We were there to hold his hand whenever he passed and it was very hard," she said, looking at her two kids.

I think the things that really made him great was the things that everyone has been saying for forever," said Jenson's son, William, "Hes just a loving, caring father and husband, and very honest, very thoughtful.

Vickie said he loved babies and animals and was a caring person.

Anytime anybody needed anything, he was the first one to jump up and help or whip out his wallet if anybody needed something-- to pay for flowers or anything. He just, he was always the first one to jump up and say, Ill do it," Vickie said.

She said he always wanted to take care of his team, too-- buying Christmas presents for them every year and, she found out over the last few days, sometimes surprising his staff with food.

Thats just the things that he did. And he didnt ask for anything in return," she said.

Vickie said she felt one last moment as they transported Jenson's casket, and their song started playing over the radio.

"As soon as we got out of the car, it started raining. And then as soon as we got in the car, it stopped," she said. "Its like I knew he was there."

Members of the Fort Worth Police Department are remembering Jenson for being "a great husband, father, friend and leader."

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Family remembers Fort Worth police officer who died of COVID-19 complications - NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

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More than 50% of long-COVID patients failed to improve 1.5 years after their initial diagnosis, according to a new study based on cases seen at a Danish post-COVID clinic, both before and after the Omicron variant period. The study was published yesterday in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.

The analysis included 806 patients who were infected with the wild-type strain, Alpha, Delta, or Omicron strain. All case-patients had been referred to a long COVID clinic with symptoms persisting at least 12 weeks from onset of COVID-19. Seventy percent of participants were female, with a median age of 48.

Patients were given a post-COVID symptom questionnaire (PCQ), and standard health scores, four times between enrollment and 18 months of follow-up. The first clinic visit for long COVID occurred an average of 7 months after acute infection. Patients were grouped according to the period of transmission of predominant SARS-CoV-2 variants, with 69% of patients infected during the wild-type period and 9%, 7%, and 15% infected in the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron periods, respectively.

The authors found that patients infected in the Delta period had significantly more severe long COVID initially, with a mean PCQ score of 43, compared with 38 for patients infected in the wild-type period.

Patients infected in the Omicron period did not differ in PCQ score (median 40) compared to wild-type patients (median 38) or to pre-Omicron patients (median 38). However, patients infected with Omicron had a lower health-related quality of life compared to patients infected with wild-type strain.

At 1.5 year after infection, patients had no clinically meaningful decline in severity of long COVID.

"At 1.5 year after infection, patients had no clinically meaningful decline in severity of long COVID, and 57% (245/429) of patients failed to improve 1.5 years after infection, with no differences between variants," the authors wrote.

Overall, PCQ scores fell 7 to 10 months post-infection, then plateaued between 10 and 18 months, Overall median PCQ score declined from 38 at 7 months to 33 at 18-month follow-up.

"In some patients, long COVID may last for more than 2 years after infection, which is supported by our data," the authors concluded.

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CDC weighs in on JN.1 COVID-19 variant developments - University of Minnesota Twin Cities

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TEMPERATURES have recently taken a dip in London, where I live, and, at home, I have been digging out my jumpers. At work, the winter feel is reinforced by a surge of interest in covid-19, with rising reported UK cases leading to familiar concerns over pressures on hospitals.

Because there is now much more population immunity to covid-19, it seems unlikely we would go back to restrictions on public mixing and so on. But in hospitals, where people are more vulnerable, there are questions over whether they should be reintroducing measures like staff wearing masks and having stricter isolation policies.

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HEPA filters cut covid-19 sick days but we've been slow proving this - New Scientist

November 01, 2023

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Antibiotic use among critically ill patients hospitalized with COVID-19 declined between 2020 and 2022, researchers found.

Antibiotics are commonly prescribed to patients who have COVID -19 even though they do not treat viral infections, Christine Kim, PhD, MSPH, senior health scientist at CDC, told Healio.

We updated a previous analysis of hospital discharge records in PINC AI Healthcare Data through June 2022 to characterize inpatient antibiotic use in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The main objective of this analysis was to evaluate changes in antibiotic use and identify opportunities for improving prescribing practices, she said.

To do so, Kim and colleagues conducted a retrospective analysis of adults aged 18 years and older who were hospitalized in the U.S. and included in the PINC AI Healthcare Data (PHD) Special Release COVID-19 edition (PHD-SR COVID-19) a hospital-based, all-payer database that contains inpatient discharge records from participating general acute-care, nonfederal U.S. hospitals.

Researchers used this cohort to calculate the monthly proportion of hospital discharges in which patients received at least one dose of an antibiotic during their hospital stay and stratified by critical care status, days of therapy (DOT)/1,000 patient days (PDs) and length of therapy/1000 PDs, according to the study.

In total, 1,142,752 adults were hospitalized and discharged with a COVID-19 diagnosis between March 2020 and June 2022, with most patients (69.9%) receiving an antibiotic during their hospital stay 88.1% of which were started at admission.

According to the study, antibiotic use rates were higher among critically ill patients compared with those among noncritically ill patients (903 DOT/1,000 PDs vs. 763 DOT/1,000 PDs). These patients were more likely to be older, critically ill, have longer hospital stays and higher in-hospital mortality.

Overall, the study showed that among noncritically ill patients discharged in 2020, 71.1% received an antibiotic of whom 92.3% were started on admission vs. 62.1% in 2022, of whom 88.2% were started on admission. The largest decreases in antibiotics were observed for azithromycin (40.2% to 30.9%) and ceftriaxone (46.6% to 39.9%).

Hospital antimicrobial stewardship programs are critical in leading efforts to decrease early initiation of unnecessary antibiotics among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, Kim said. With increasing cases of respiratory viruses this season, stewardship programs also support optimizing the use of diagnostic testing and appropriate antimicrobial treatment, including antiviral therapy, to improve the evaluation and treatment of patients hospitalized with respiratory infections.

Kim added, Clinicians should follow national or hospital treatment guidelines for patients with COVID-19.

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A pair of studies sheds new light on the SARS-CoV-2related multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), with Dutch researchers finding that previous COVID-19 infection helps protect children against the condition, and a US study showing that low-dose corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) were tied to shorter hospital stays and less severe disease.

Both studies were published in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.

For the first study, a team led by Leiden University researchers conducted an international study involving 564 hospitalized pediatric COVID-19 or MIS-C patients from March 2020 to December 2022. The children were from the Netherlands, Curacao, and Surinam.

Most children hospitalized for COVID-19 (239/375; 64%) had a respiratory tract infection. About one third of admitted children (136/375; 36%) had primarily nonrespiratory COVID-19 symptoms (eg, fever, gastrointestinal symptoms).

Of the 375 COVID-19 patients, 36% required supplemental oxygen, and 9.3% were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). Risk factors for severe disease were age older than 12 years, a history of neurocognitive developmental abnormalities, and underlying chronic lung conditions.

Over one third (36%) of COVID-19 patients were severely ill. Of these patients, 26% were admitted to an ICU, 15 needed mechanical ventilation, 2 received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and 1 patient with severe underlying conditions died.

Of the 189 MIS-C patients, 43% had severe illness. All severely ill patients were admitted to the ICU. Five patients required mechanical ventilation, and none died. The gastrointestinal (90%) and cardiac (75%) systems were most often involved.

Our data supports the notion that, similar to adults, prior immunity protects against severe sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infections in children.

Most COVID-19 cases were from wild-type variant predominance (34%), followed by the Delta period (25%). The incidence of MIS-C was highest during Delta predominance (4.0 cases per 1 million people), with a steep fall-off when Omicron emerged (1.2 per million). No MIS-C cases were documented after July 2022. MIS-C patients younger than 5 years had milder illness than their older counterparts.

Children had less severe infections during the Omicron than during preceding variant periods. After population immunity rose due to COVID-19 vaccine rollouts and previous infections, the incidence of COVID declined except for in infants younger than 1 year, in whom the rate remained stable.

"Our data supports the notion that, similar to adults, prior immunity protects against severe sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infections in children," the study authors wrote. "Real-time reporting of accurate and high-quality data is feasible and impacts clinical and public health decision-making."

In the second study, a team led by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researchers obtained data on 233 MIS-C patients at four children's hospitals in Florida, Georgia, Arizona, and Missouri from March 2020 to March 2021. Median age at MIS-C onset was 9 years.

Patients who received high-dose steroids and aspirin had increased rates of severe outcomes and longer duration of treatment, indicating that patients with severe illness may have been selected for these treatments.

The most commonly administered treatments were corticosteroids (88.4%), aspirin (81.1%), IVIG (77.7%), and anticoagulants (71.2%). Compared with patients without respiratory symptoms, those with respiratory involvement were less likely to be given IVIG and steroids on the same day (44.1%).

After adjustment for confounding variables, patients given IVIG within 1 day of hospitalization were less likely to have a hospital stay of 8 days or longer (relative risk [RR], 0.53). Patients given low-dose steroids on their first day of hospitalization were less likely to develop ventricular dysfunction (RR, 0.45), have increasingly elevated troponin levels (an indication of heart damage; RR, 0.55), or remain hospitalized for at least 8 days (RR, 0.46).

"Patients who received high-dose steroids and aspirin had increased rates of severe outcomes and longer duration of treatment, indicating that patients with severe illness may have been selected for these treatments," the researchers wrote. "Furthermore, treatment with IVIG and low-dose steroids within 1 day of hospitalization lowered the risk of severe outcomes, illustrating that prompt treatment is essential for better outcomes among patients with MIS-C."

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Prior COVID infection lowers risk of multisystem inflammatory ... - University of Minnesota Twin Cities

DeSantis campaigns in NH with Florida surgeon general who rejected CDC COVID-19 guidance

Updated: 6:33 PM EDT Nov 1, 2023

Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis campaigned in New Hampshire on Wednesday with the Florida surgeon general, touting their sometimes controversial response to the COVID-19 pandemic.During the COVID-19 pandemic, DeSantis and Dr. Joseph Ladapo weren't afraid to steer Florida away from certain guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."They decided that healthy people should be quarantined, and that had never been done before," DeSantis said. "And you had schools the CDC pushed this; Joe and I rejected it but they would say if one kid got positive for COVID, then anyone in the class, even if they were healthy, had to go home and isolate for two weeks. It was terrible for families."Ladapo became a controversial figure in the medical community during the pandemic when he said healthy children should not be vaccinated against COVID-19, which went against recommendations from the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He said the negative impacts of the COVID-19 response should have been balanced against the danger of the virus."Record rates of alcohol abuse, drug abuse, overdoses, kids. I mean, it's crazy," Ladapo said. "Can you imagine that double-digit percentages of children have thought about suicide?"DeSantis is targeting a certain kind of primary voter, but talking about the pandemic also helps him draw a contrast with the GOP frontrunner, former President Donald Trump."The CDC director under Trump at one point said I think holding up a mask 'If we do this for six weeks, the pandemic will be over," DeSantis said. "That was false."

Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis campaigned in New Hampshire on Wednesday with the Florida surgeon general, touting their sometimes controversial response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, DeSantis and Dr. Joseph Ladapo weren't afraid to steer Florida away from certain guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"They decided that healthy people should be quarantined, and that had never been done before," DeSantis said. "And you had schools the CDC pushed this; Joe and I rejected it but they would say if one kid got positive for COVID, then anyone in the class, even if they were healthy, had to go home and isolate for two weeks. It was terrible for families."

Ladapo became a controversial figure in the medical community during the pandemic when he said healthy children should not be vaccinated against COVID-19, which went against recommendations from the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He said the negative impacts of the COVID-19 response should have been balanced against the danger of the virus.

"Record rates of alcohol abuse, drug abuse, overdoses, kids. I mean, it's crazy," Ladapo said. "Can you imagine that double-digit percentages of children have thought about suicide?"

DeSantis is targeting a certain kind of primary voter, but talking about the pandemic also helps him draw a contrast with the GOP frontrunner, former President Donald Trump.

"The CDC director under Trump at one point said I think holding up a mask 'If we do this for six weeks, the pandemic will be over," DeSantis said. "That was false."

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DeSantis campaigns in NH with Florida surgeon general who rejected CDC COVID-19 guidance - WMUR Manchester

The Michigan Department of Natural Resource (DNR) yesterday reported the first detection of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a deer in Ogemaw County, which is in the north central part of the lower peninsula.

The deer was a 4-year-old doe that was skinny, drooled, and showed no fear of people. The University of Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Madison confirmed the findings. CWD has now been found in 13 of Michigans 83 counties.

Chad Stewart, MS, the DNRs deer and elk specialist, said intensive surveillance had been done. "In light of this new detection, we are offering additional opportunities for those interested in getting their deer tested for CWD in Ogemaw County," he said. Officials said a drop box for CWD testing will be available in the area starting November 3.

Stewart said CWD isnt common in Michigan deer, and the hunting community continues to play a key role in helping with testing efforts. The DNR said it regularly tests around areas where CWD is detected as a way to detect the disease early. In 2021, it started a rotational approach, selecting a group of counties for testing each year with a longer-term goal of testing all Michigan counties.

The focus this year is counties in the northwestern lower peninsula and a few counties where more herd information is needed.

Michigans first CWD detection occurred in 2015, and, since then, more than 137,000 wild deer have been tested. The deer in Ogemaw County is the 251st to test positive.

CWD is a prion disease that causes neurodegeneration, similar to "mad cow disease," in several cervid species, or members of the deer family. The disease hasnt been shown to jump to people, but health officials urge people to avoid eating infected animals and to use precautions, such as wearing rubber gloves and minimizing contact with brain and spinal tissues, when processing deer.

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Simulation study shows best air exchange for cruise ships - University of Minnesota Twin Cities

A survey presented to the CDC shows vaccination rates for the latest COVID-19 booster are in the single digits. Health experts are urging people to get the shot.

Author: 13newsnow.com

Published: 11:09 PM EDT November 1, 2023

Updated: 11:09 PM EDT November 1, 2023

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As COVID-19 vaccination rates dwindle, health experts urge the ... - 13newsnow.com WVEC