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A two-sided "credit-line channel"—relating to drawdowns and repayments—explains the severe drop and partial subsequent recovery in bank stock prices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Banks with greater exposure to undrawn credit lines saw larger stock price declines but performed better outside of crises periods. Despite deposit inflows, high drawdowns led to reduced bank lending, suggestive of capital encumbrance upon drawdowns. Repayments of credit lines unencumbered capital which explains the stock price recovery starting Q2 2020. Bank provision of credit lines resembles writing put options on aggregate risk, and we propose how to incorporate this feature into bank stress tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the role of short-term economic dynamism in responding to crisis induced supply shortages. We focus on the domestic manufacturing ramp-up of surgical masks, respirators, and their intermediary products in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We develop a novel method for timely identification and validation of the evolving state of domestic manufacturing. To unpack the activities of domestic manufacturers and related institutions, we triangulate across 56 qualitative interviews, certifications, Thomasnet.com®, industry associations, and other public data. We find that while large manufacturers could rapidly scale up, onshore, or diversify production to enter into domestic production of critical medical supplies, these large manufacturers alone were insufficient to meet the spike in demand. In face of this shortage, small and medium enterprises (SME), who entered into mask and respirator production as de novo firms, spin-offs, and by diversifying, were important in increasing overall domestic capacity and serving markets unmet by large hospital distributors. These firms often had fewer competencies and resources compared to larger firms, and received less effective government support. Despite these disadvantages, a number of SMEs succeeded in entering into domestic production, and our interviews suggest this capacity could have been better integrated into the national response. We propose new theory for how and when federal and state governments should support short-term economic dynamism (firm entry into target products and/or markets) during crises to address supply shortages, and the types of market and network failures federal or state governments may be most effective at addressing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We construct text-based measures of the primary concerns listed firms associated with the spread of COVID-19 and other epidemic diseases. We identify which firms perceive to lose or gain from a given epidemic and textually decompose the epidemic's effect on the firm's demand and supply. We find that the effects of COVID-19 manifest as a simultaneous shock to demand and supply, with both shocks affecting firms' market valuations in equal measure on average. By contrast, demand-related impacts appear more important in accounting for the observed collapse in firm-level investment during the COVID-19 crisis. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix , which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the design of stress tests that provide information about aggregate and idiosyncratic risk in banks' portfolios and impose contingent capital requirements. In the optimal static test, an adverse scenario fails all weak and some strong banks, limiting the stigma of failure. Sequential tests outperform static tests. Under natural conditions, the optimal sequential test consists of a precautionary recapitalization, followed by a scenario that fails only weak banks, similar to TARP in 2008, followed by SCAP in 2009. Our results also shed light on the Federal Reserve's decision to test the banks twice in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix , which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The effectiveness of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation may differ by source of purchase. The changing influence of self-selection on purchase location caused by COVID-19 pandemic-related vape shop closures means we can examine the association between smoking abstinence e-cigarette use by purchase source and test for the moderation of this association by the timing of the pandemic. Aims and Methods Repeat-cross-sectional nationally representative surveys, conducted between January 2017 and August 2023. Participants (N  = 1284; ≥18 years, 46.9% women) who made a past-year quit attempt, used an e-cigarette in their most recent attempt, currently vaping and provided data on the purchase source were included. The association between e-cigarette purchase source and continuous abstinence following the most recent quit attempt was assessed with adjusted regression, including an interaction between the timing of pandemic restrictions (March 2020 through January 2022). Results Overall, 48.1% usually purchase their e-cigarettes from vape shops, declining from 53.6% prepandemic to 40.6% during the pandemic. There was inconclusive evidence that those purchasing from vape shops had greater odds of quitting smoking (ORadj = 1.25, 95% CI =.92 to 1.76). The association between purchase source and successful quitting did not depend upon whether purchasing occurred before or during the pandemic (F  = 0.08, p interaction = .774; prepandemic: ORadj = 1.23, 0.79–1.91; and pandemic: ORadj = 1.29, 0.81–2.06). Conclusions More data are needed to conclusively determine whether purchasing from a specialist vape shop increases smoking cessation. Given the changing influence of self-selection on purchase location caused by the pandemic, the similar associations between purchase source and quit success across both periods suggest it is unlikely an artifact of unmeasured confounding. Implications If purchasing e-cigarettes from a specialist vape shop can increase their effectiveness for smoking cessation is an empirical question. While we found a positive association between purchasing from a specialist vape shop and abstinence rates, the results were inconclusive. Further studies are required to establish whether purchasing from specialist vape shops improves smoking cessation outcomes compared with other purchase sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Varenicline helps people who smoke quit at rates 2–3 times greater than placebo. Currently, in the United States, varenicline is not available over the counter (OTC). Aims and Methods In this study, we assessed the safety and efficacy of 1 mg and 0.5 mg varenicline as an OTC medication for smoking cessation in comparison to placebo. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed at two clinical sites in the United States of n  = 313 people. The treatment period was 12 weeks. During the COVID pandemic, the protocol was modified to allow remote participation; verification of smoking status was via breath carbon monoxide levels for in-person visits and mailed urine cotinine kits for the remote participants. Results There was no difference in biologically confirmed continuous abstinence by condition between weeks 8 and 12; however, the odds of biologically confirmed point prevalence abstinence were higher for those in the 1 mg b.i.d. condition than for those in the placebo condition at week 12 (OR 3.39; 95% CI 1.49, 7.71), and were higher for those assigned to the 1.0 mg b.i.d. condition than the 0.5 mg b.i.d. condition at week 12 (OR 2.37; 95% CI 1.11, 5.05). Adverse events were modest, and as expected (vivid dreams and nausea in the medication conditions). Conclusions The results are suggestive that varenicline is safe and effective as an OTC medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"The Contagion of Liberty: The Politics of Smallpox in the American Revolution" by Andrew M. Wehrman explores how smallpox influenced social and political discourse in the late eighteenth century, shaping American self-governance. Wehrman argues that community organizing around inoculation and demands for equitable healthcare access were crucial to the American Revolution. The book also discusses the shift from community-based health demands of the Revolutionary era to a more individualized view of American healthcare with the emergence of vaccination in the early nineteenth century. The work is a well-argued and timely text that sheds light on the intersection of health, politics, and history in the American Revolution. [Extracted from the article]

Medicine is currently confronted with an increase in irrationality, and non-scientific thinking manifesting in semingly more holistic and natural treatment options, especially in cancer therapy. The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated that irrational beliefs are widely spread even among physicians. Max Bill (1908–94) was a Swiss architect, designer, and artist representing an art style called concrete art that focuses on geometrical abstraction and mathematical thinking. December 9, 2024, will be the 30th death anniversary of Max Bill. The following manuscript describes Max Bill's life and art and tries to offer some suggestions on how his concept of art together with the philosophy of critical rationalism may be excellent instruments to teach medical students and young doctors scientific thinking, and may even be an antidote for irrationality in medicine. Key messages Max Bill was a prominent Swiss member of concrete art. Concrete art is a style that fosters logical and mathematical thinking in art. Bill considered works of art as instruments for reflection and mental engagement. Max Bill had a rational and scientifically sound approach, not only to art, but also to architecture, and environmental design. He considered art a result of deep logical and mathematical thought processes, rather than as a consequence of a spontaneous gesture of emotional expression. Understanding the concepts beyond individual works of concrete art is an intellectually challenging, but nonetheless, a satisfying experience which contributes to the sharpening of logical thinking. Getting acquainted with Max Bill's work may educate students on more rigorous method of scientific thinking in medicine and may help 'immunize ' them against the current increase in irrational beliefs in medicine, but also in society. The philosophy of critical rationalism, whose main proponent were Karl Popper and Hans Albert, recognized that there can be never an ultimate justification of theories, but rather that knowledge requires a constant search for contradictions. This search for contradictions was termed falsifiability and refutability. This can supplement the concept of concrete art in counteracting the currently seen irrational tendencies in medicine and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a legal case involving the use of a mobile app, 'čTečka,' for verifying compliance with COVID-19 infection-free status conditions in the Czech Republic. The Supreme Administrative Court ruled that the emergency decree requiring customers to demonstrate compliance and operators to verify using the app was unlawful due to lack of justification and consideration of privacy rights and GDPR principles. The court found that the decree did not explicitly define the purpose of personal data processing, leading to a violation of GDPR regulations. The respondent's failure to address data protection issues and establish a legitimate purpose for data processing rendered the emergency decree unlawful in parts related to the use of the 'čTečka' application. [Extracted from the article]

Objective The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in health care workers experiencing temporary or permanent changes in employment due to layoffs, quits, and postpandemic increased job demand. Analyzing the association of the COVID-19 pandemic with employment changes and results of changes for practicing pharmacists and understanding the associations with demographic and work-related factors could inform practice, policy, and educational programs. This study aimed to explore the frequency, characteristics, and results of employment status changes (ESCs) experienced by pharmacists practicing pharmacy in March 2020 (ie, the start of the COVID-19 pandemic). Methods A descriptive, cross-sectional survey research design was used to collect data from a random sample of 93,990 licensed pharmacists in the United States. The study team developed an online survey questionnaire designed to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on pharmacists' work and work-life. The survey items used for this study related to ESCs, work-life characteristics, work characteristics in March 2020 and 2022, and demographic variables. A total of 4947 usable responses were received between November 2022 and January 2023. Results Overall, 36.4% of respondents reported experiencing an ESC and approximately 70% of those reporting an ESC reported experiencing just 1 ECS. Overall, 39.5% of respondents who experienced an ESC stopped working (ie, were unemployed) pursuant to an ESC. Respondents who experienced an ESC reported significantly lower levels of work exhaustion and interprofessional disengagement and significantly higher levels of professional fulfillment in their current employment than respondents that did not experience an ESC. Conclusion The overall increase in demand for workers in the health care sector appeared to provide opportunities for pharmacists, especially pharmacists with 1 to 10 years of experience, to change their employment situation, resulting in better work-life characteristics. Given projections of a pharmacist shortage, research, policy, and educational programs could determine the best practices to improve work settings and the work-life characteristics of practicing pharmacists to improve the health of the current pharmacist workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue explores the vulnerabilities of national innovation systems (NIS) which were exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent policy responses. New technologies and solutions were needed such as new drugs, medical equipment, and treatments, and new innovative institutions, organizations, and capabilities were needed to respond quickly, develop, and offset the acute demand. While some policy responses were effective, others fell short or were completely absent. The phenomenon provided a unique opportunity to uncover how governments and industry sought to mitigate the negative impacts and to prepare for future crises by building more resilient NIS. The five articles included in this special issue identify some of the vulnerabilities of NIS, suggesting that greater research on the resilience of NIS is needed if we were to weather future crises more effectively. Subsequent policy implications for innovation systems are drawn to address the vulnerabilities highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the case of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) as a natural experiment, this study discusses how innovation policy should be designed in times of crisis when public interest and privacy concerns collide. For this purpose, the causal relationship between social distancing enforcement and innovation adoption in consideration of privacy concerns is explored by using national-level survey data. Our key findings from econometric analysis are as follows: first, the implementation of social distancing policies leads to an increase in the adoption of wearable devices. Second, the strengthening of social distancing has caused a decrease in individual privacy concerns. Finally, a decrease in individual privacy concerns leads to an increase in wearable device adoption. Social distancing during the COVID-19 not only accelerated innovation adoption but also led a decrease in privacy concerns. Our results suggest that government should play a role in safe guarding public privacy when individuals may let their guard down during times of crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities and regions are facing diverse challenges, and the transformation to a digital economy is a core issue. The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had widespread impacts on business, and it has heightened the need for digitalization. We analyse if and to what degree the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the metropolitan region of Madrid. Our research strategy is based on a quantitative analysis of survey data at the company level. Our results show that a large share of SMEs invested in digital technologies as a response to the pandemic, but there are also important differences between basic and more advanced digital technologies and between manufacturing and service sector firms. SMEs' previous knowledge and technological resources and capabilities, as well as their collaboration networks with providers are found to trigger adoption of digital technology. Implications for postpandemic policies are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the digital transformation of businesses. Using a unique global panel dataset, this paper documents the patterns of digital adoption during the pandemic across firms in 57 (mostly developing) countries. The data show the tale of two stories. On one hand, the pandemic drove firms to increase the use of digital platforms and invest in digital solutions. On the other hand, the digital divide increased across several dimensions. There remain substantial gaps between small and large firms as well as across sectors, particularly for new investments in digital solutions. Firms that did not use any digital platform or channel before the pandemic, also lagged in their response to the pandemic, increasing the gap with those that were more digitally ready. Moreover, although the share of online sales across firms for all size groups increased, there is a growing concentration of online sales among top firms. The paper analyzes some of the factors associated with this increase in the digital divide and discusses the policy implications addressing the widening digital divide and leveraging the benefits of rapid digitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent social distancing measures sparked a surge in demand and unprecedented growth opportunities for OTT (over-the-top) services. Despite the need to foster Korea's domestic media and cultural industry, the Korean government has almost failed to properly operate OTT policies and the opportunity went to global operators. Although Korea's content competitiveness has advanced to a global level, local OTTs continue to lag Netflix. This is not a concern confined to Korea. This paper identifies the focal actors of Korea's local OTT platforms, analyzes the developmental phases of the Korean OTT market, and draws policy-related and industrial implications by ascertaining, which factors hinder local OTT services from achieving their desired development, within the context of the actor-network theory. This paper offers a fresh perspective on the policy responses to the rise of global OTT platforms and the downturn of local OTT platforms in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background We examined the clinical effectiveness of molnupiravir in reducing deaths in a real-world cohort of adult patients with COVID-19 during the Omicron outbreak. Methods This was a population-wide retrospective cohort study in the Czech Republic. We analyzed all 74 541 patients with an officially registered diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection between 1 January and 31 December 2022, aged 18 years or older, treated with molnupiravir. The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality; the secondary outcome was 30-day COVID-19-related mortality. Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using stratified Cox regression and the Fine-Gray model. Results The use of molnupiravir in adult SARS-CoV-2 positive patients was associated with a lower risk of both 30-day all-cause mortality: adjusted HR 0.58 (95% confidence interval, 0.53–0.64; P <.001) and 30-day COVID-19–related mortality: adjusted HR 0.50 (95% confidence interval, 0.42–0.58; P <.001). The effect of molnupiravir was highly significant regardless of sex, Deyo-Charlson Comorbidity Index score, hospitalization status, COVID-19 vaccination status, and patients older than age 65 years. Conclusions In this cohort study, early initiation of molnupiravir was associated with a significant reduction in 30-day all-cause and COVID-19–related mortality in adult SARS-CoV-2 positive patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background There is ongoing debate regarding the association between telogen effluvium (TE) and COVID-19, as well as COVID-19 vaccines. Objectives To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination on the development of TE among patients visiting dermatology clinics in South Korea. Methods Between 2017 and 2022, data regarding patients with TE and other types of hair loss were collected from 22 hospitals in South Korea. An interrupted time series analysis was conducted, dividing the time into periods before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as before and after the COVID-19 vaccination. Results There was a significant slope change in the percentage of cases of TE during the postpandemic period (slope change 0.011, 95% confidence interval 0.005–0.017, P < 0.001), but no significant changes were observed after vaccination. The percentage of patients with other types of hair loss was not associated with COVID-19 or vaccination. The retrospective nature of the study may have limited the ability to establish causation. Conclusions This multicentre study provides insights into the epidemiology of TE, showing a significant increase in cases of TE following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there was no association between the occurrence of TE and COVID-19 vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-mortem studies have shown that patients dying from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection frequently have pathological changes in their CNS, particularly in the brainstem. Many of these changes are proposed to result from para-infectious and/or post-infection immune responses. Clinical symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, and chest pain are frequently reported in post-hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. We propose that these symptoms are in part due to damage to key neuromodulatory brainstem nuclei. While brainstem involvement has been demonstrated in the acute phase of the illness, the evidence of long-term brainstem change on MRI is inconclusive. We therefore used ultra-high field (7 T) quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) to test the hypothesis that brainstem abnormalities persist in post-COVID patients and that these are associated with persistence of key symptoms. We used 7 T QSM data from 30 patients, scanned 93–548 days after hospital admission for COVID-19 and compared them to 51 age-matched controls without prior history of COVID-19 infection. We correlated the patients' QSM signals with disease severity (duration of hospital admission and COVID-19 severity scale), inflammatory response during the acute illness (C-reactive protein, D-dimer and platelet levels), functional recovery (modified Rankin scale), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7). In COVID-19 survivors, the MR susceptibility increased in the medulla, pons and midbrain regions of the brainstem. Specifically, there was increased susceptibility in the inferior medullary reticular formation and the raphe pallidus and obscurus. In these regions, patients with higher tissue susceptibility had worse acute disease severity, higher acute inflammatory markers, and significantly worse functional recovery. This study contributes to understanding the long-term effects of COVID-19 and recovery. Using non-invasive ultra-high field 7 T MRI, we show evidence of brainstem pathophysiological changes associated with inflammatory processes in post-hospitalized COVID-19 survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background While SARS-CoV-2 infection has direct obvious consequences on patients undergoing dialysis, the COVID-19 pandemic also had an indirect impact on health systems. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether the COVID-19 era itself was associated with adverse consequences in the Swiss dialysis population as compared to the pre-COVID-19 era, while accounting for direct impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods We retrospectively included all patients recorded in the Swiss dialysis registry from January 2014 to December 2022. The pre-COVID-19 era and the COVID-19 era were defined based on the cut-off date of January 2020. Cox proportional hazard model was used with all-cause mortality as the primary outcome. Results The cohort consisted of 7837 patients from 97 dialysis centres. Median age was 68.6 years with 66.1% men. Crude mortality rates were 11.6% (11.0% to 12.2%) and 14.2% (13.4% to 14.9%) person-years for the pre-COVID-19 era and the COVID-19 era, respectively. In multivariable analysis, SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with an increased risk of mortality (HR 4.26, 95% CI 3.65 to 4.97, P < .001) while the COVID-19 era itself was not (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.08, P = .687). Conclusions The COVID-19 era was not associated with an excess of mortality in the Swiss dialysis population as compared to the pre-COVID-19 era when accounting for the direct effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This suggests that control measures established during the pandemic did not have a negative impact on dialysis patients at the national level. These results could inform health policy makers in the eventuality of future pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Estimates of excess deaths provide critical intelligence on the impact of population health threats including seasonal respiratory infections, pandemics and environmental hazards. Timely estimates of excess deaths can inform the response to COVID-19. However, access to timely mortality data is challenging due to the time interval between the death occurring and the date the death is registered and available for analysis ('registration interval'). Development Using data from the New South Wales, Australia, Births Deaths and Marriages Registry, we developed a Poisson regression model that estimated near-complete weekly counts, for a given week of death, from partially-complete death registration counts. A 10-weeks lag was considered, and a 2-year baseline of historical registration intervals was used to correct lag weeks. Application Validation of estimated counts found that the root-mean-square error (as a percentage of mean observed near-complete registrations) was less than 7% for lag week 3, and <5% for lag weeks 4–9. We incorporated this method utilizing an existing rapid weekly mortality surveillance system. Counts corrected for registration interval replaced observed values for the most recent weeks. Excess death estimates, based on corrected counts, were within 1.2% of near-complete counts available 9 weeks from the end of the analysis period. Conclusions This study demonstrates a method for estimating recent death counts to correct for registration intervals. Estimates obtained at a 3-week lag were acceptable, while those at greater than 3 weeks were optimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resilience is a boundary object, holding different meanings for the different groups of scholars who share its use. Here we survey its application in historical research, especially premodern environmental history, and trace how the term entered historical discourse from ecology. A shift in recent decades expanded the term initially toward contemporary social science and subsequently the study of the past. This has resulted in a fuzzy conceptualization of the term within historical discourse. Yet the concept has nevertheless proven important in challenging catastrophist approaches to the societal impacts of environmental stressors (e.g. the fall of the Roman Empire). We demonstrate that today's discussion continues an earlier twentieth-century debate between an environmentally determinist view and one that emphasizes the role of human factors in the course of history. We conclude that despite the issues accompanying the use of the term and the application of formal resilience theory, both remain valuable, especially in intradisciplinary discourse, primarily as a paradigm through which more nuanced arguments can be framed. We conclude by suggesting the value of more critical work with the term in the future to take advantage of its roots in ecology and the social sciences to promote such a nuanced synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the methodology behind joint malaria prevention recommendations from Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, and The Netherlands. These countries have collaborated to align their recommendations based on epidemiological data quality and refined methodology. The process involves defining malaria risk categories, compiling data on malaria incidence, creating raw risk maps, adjusting maps based on expert discussions, and publishing final recommendations. The aim is to provide transparent and evidence-based recommendations for travel medicine advisors and travelers. [Extracted from the article]

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Sweden emphasized voluntary guidelines over mandates. We exploited a rapid change and reversal of the Public Health Agency of Sweden's COVID-19 testing guidelines for vaccinated and recently infected individuals as a quasi-experiment to examine sociodemographic differences in the response to changes in pandemic guidelines. We analyzed daily polymerase chain reaction tests from 1 October 2021 to 15 December 2021, for vaccinated or recently infected adults (≥20 years; n  = 1 596 321) from three Swedish regions (Stockholm, Örebro, and Dalarna). Using interrupted time series analysis, we estimated abrupt changes in testing rates at the two dates when the guidelines were changed (1 November and 22 November). Stratified analysis and meta-regression were employed to explore sociodemographic differences in the strength of the response to the guideline changes. Testing rates declined substantially when guideline against testing of vaccinated and recently infected individuals came into effect on 1 November [testing rate ratio: 0.50 (95% confidence interval, CI 0.41, 0.61)], and increased again from these lowered levels by a similar amount upon its reversal on 22 November [testing rate ratio: 2.19 (95% CI: 1.69, 2.85)]. Being Sweden-born, having higher household income, or higher education, were all associated with a stronger adherent response to the guideline changes. Adjusting for stratum-specific baseline testing rates and test-positivity did not influence the results. Our findings suggest that the population was responsive to the rapid changes in testing guidelines, but with clear sociodemographic differences in the strength of the response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on how feminist activist groups, specifically the Burundian women's peace organization Mouvement Inamahoro, responded to the misinformation and "fake news" regarding COVID-19 during a public health crisis. It highlights the gendered burden of disinformation on women, particularly in refugee communities, as they became key figures in combating false narratives.

The article focuses on the gendered implications of online education during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, particularly examining the exacerbation of existing barriers for young women. It highlights issues such as unpaid labor, unequal access to technology, unreliable health resources, and increased rates of cyberbullying, which have worsened during the pandemic.

The article focuses on the gendered impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on marginalized women in Liberia, particularly those who survived the country's brutal civil wars. It explores how the pandemic exacerbated existing vulnerabilities, including poverty, social exclusion, and gender-based violence. It highlights how the intersection of past trauma, economic hardship, and limited access to healthcare has made these women particularly susceptible to the compounded harms of the pandemic.

The article focuses on how the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing challenges for women in Kashmir, India a region marked by militarization, patriarchy, and impunity. It highlights the rising cases of domestic violence during the pandemic, the limited response from state institutions, and the intersection of gender-based violence with the ongoing conflict in the region.

The article focuses on the compounded challenges faced by returnee migrant women workers in Sri Lanka's tea plantation sector during the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis. It examines how these women experienced economic reintegration, highlighting the role of gender-discriminatory policies and the intersectionality of their struggles, including job insecurity, discrimination, and financial hardship.

The article focuses on the gendered risks faced by Yemeni women, particularly peacebuilders, during the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing armed conflict. It explores how women in Yemen navigate a complex landscape of socio-political and health crises, where their efforts in peacebuilding are obstructed by armed groups like the Houthi rebels. It examines the intersectionality of their challenges, including economic hardship, violence, and the suppression of women's rights.

The article focuses on the critical role of women peacebuilders in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in conflict-affected and fragile contexts. It highlights how women peacebuilders utilized their deep understanding of local communities to identify vulnerabilities, address gendered impacts, and protect peacebuilding and gender equality gains.

The COVID-19 crisis created, and continues to produce, unprecedented challenges globally. Marginalized and racialized families, communities, and nations are experiencing their worst impacts, and in particular, women and girls are the hardest hit. The most pressing concerns raised by COVID-19 include a surge in gender-based violence, a rise in care burden, the feminization of poverty, and growing unemployment, largely in the Global South and conflict-affected regions. Drawing on feminist security studies and intersectionality literature, this forum explores gendered risks in the COVID-19 era, focusing on the security of women and girls from racialized and marginalized backgrounds in both the Global North and South. This forum presents seven short papers providing rich data on a range of case studies that include Yemen, Sri Lanka, Liberia, Canada, India, and Burundi. The contributions draw attention to the multilayered, diverse, intersectional, complex, and contextual gendered risks associated with the pandemic. The through line themes of intersectional identities, patriarchy, conflict, post-conflict, militarization, and marginalization are used to illustrate how gendered risks are (re)constructed during and after the COVID-19 crisis. This forum launched what we hope will offer a new research agenda and support to provide scholarly terrain for future research. This forum section not only provides insights into the vast and complex gendered impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic but also sparks broader thinking about everyday forms of insecurity that women and girls face in global crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives The number of people with memory problems who desire or are forced to age in place has been growing rapidly. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has brought significant challenges to the ability of those with memory problems to stay active and age in place. This study investigated the roles of neighborhood environments in helping community-dwelling people with memory problems maintain physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research Design and Methods We used retrospective online survey data from 75 caregivers who responded on behalf of their care recipients with memory problems living in Texas communities. We used difference-in-difference (DID) estimations based on zero-inflated negative binomial regression models to examine the changes in recreational walking and moderate-to-strenuous exercise before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and whether such changes vary by diversity of walkable neighborhood destinations. Results In the total sample, there was a significant reduction in both recreational walking (Δ change = −45.16 min/week, p  < .001) and exercise (Δ change = −36.28 min/week, p  = .03) after the COVID-19 outbreak. The pandemic's impact on exercise varied by diversity of neighborhood destinations (DID = 0.81, p  = .03). Those living in neighborhoods with diverse walkable destinations experienced less decline in physical activity compared to those living in areas with limited destinations. Discussion and Implications These findings suggest that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity among people with memory problems may be partially explained by neighborhood land-use characteristics. Destination-rich, mixed-use neighborhood environments can help people with memory problems stay active even during pandemics such as COVID-19 in the United States and potentially elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiologists have long argued that side effects of the stress response include preterm birth. Research reports that fear of lethal infection stressed pregnant persons at the outset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and that "shutdowns" and "social distancing" impeded access to social support and prenatal care. The decline in preterm births in high-income countries, including the United States, during the early months of the pandemic therefore poses a paradox for science. Explanations of this "pandemic preterm paradox" remain untested. We applied time-series modeling to data describing 80 monthly conception cohorts begun in the United States from July 2013 through February 2020 to determine which of 3 explanations most parsimoniously explained the paradox. We infer that "prior loss," or the argument that an increase in spontaneous abortions and stillbirths depleted the population of fetuses at risk of preterm birth, best explains data currently available. We describe the implications of these results for public health practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The effectiveness of the early treatment for antiviral agents in SARS-CoV-2 infection is closely related to patient comorbidities. Data on effectiveness in immunocompromised patients are limited, with reports involving highly heterogeneous and not well-defined populations. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of treatment in reducing hospitalizations in a real-world cohort of severely immunocompromised COVID-19 outpatients. Patients and methods We conducted a multicentre, retrospective, observational cohort study of immunocompromised outpatients attended in infectious diseases departments from 1 January to 31 December 2022. Propensity score matching (PSM) multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio [(aOR, 95% confidence interval (CI)] for the association between antiviral prescription and outcome (COVID-19–related hospitalization up to Day 90). Results We identified 746 immunocompromised outpatients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. After eligibility criteria and PSM, a total of 410 patients were analysed: 205 receiving treatment (remdesivir, sotrovimab or nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) and 205 matched controls. Fifty-two patients required at least one COVID-19–related hospitalization 8 (3.9%) versus 44 (21.5%) in the antiviral and matched control cohorts, respectively. There were 13 deaths at 90 days, of which only 4 were COVID-19–related and none in the antiviral treatment group. After adjustment for residual confounders, the use of early therapy was associated with a protective effect on the risk of hospitalization [aOR 0.13 (0.05–0.29)], as was the use of biological immunomodulators [aOR 0.27 (0.10–0.74)], whereas chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [aOR 4.65 (1.09–19.69)] and anti-CD20 use [aOR 2.76 (1.31–5.81)] increased the odds. Conclusions Early antiviral treatment was associated with a reduced risk of COVID-19–related hospitalization in ambulatory severely immunocompromised COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background During the first pandemic of COVID-19, early empirical antibiotic use rates for pneumonia varied widely. The benefit remains hypothetical. Methods We assessed the benefit of empirical antibiotic use at admission in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia. We enrolled all adults admitted from 1 March to 30 April 2020 with symptoms for ≤14 days, a positive nasopharyngeal PCR or a highly suggestive CT scan. The primary outcome was mortality at Day 28. The secondary outcomes were transfer to the ICU, mechanical ventilation and length of hospital stay. To handle confounding-by-indication bias, we used a propensity score analysis, expressing the outcomes in the original and overlap weighted populations. Results Among 616 analysed patients, 402 (65%) received antibiotics. At Day 28, 102 patients (17%) had died, 90 (15%) had been transferred to the ICU and 24 (4%) had required mechanical ventilation. Mortality in patients who received antibiotics was higher before but not after weighting (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.5–5.0, P  < 0.001 and OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.8–2.5, P  = 0.28, respectively. Antibiotic use had no benefit on: transfer to ICU before and after weighting (OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.8–2.3, P  = 0.30 and OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.6–1.9, P  = 0.78, respectively); mechanical ventilation before and after weighting (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.2–1.1, P  = 0.079 and OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.3–2.0, P  = 0.55, respectively); and length of hospital stay before and after weighting (mean difference −0.02 ± 0.5 days, P  = 0.97 and mean difference 0.54 ± 0.75 days, P  = 0.48, respectively). Conclusions We did not find any benefit of antibiotic use in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and associated infodemic increased depression and anxiety. Proper information can help combat the infodemic and promotes mental health; however, rural residents have more difficulties in getting correct information than urban residents. Objective To examine whether the information on COVID-19 provided by the local government maintained the mental health of rural residents in Japan. Methods A self-administered questionnaire survey of Okura Village (northern district of Japan) residents aged ≥16 years was conducted in October 2021. The main outcomes, depressive symptoms, psychological distress, and anxiety were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale 7-item. Exposure was defined as whether the resident read the leaflet on COVID-19 distributed by the local government. The targeted maximum likelihood estimation was used to analyse the effect of leaflet reading on the main outcomes. Results A total of 974 respondents were analysed. Reading the leaflet was significantly lower risk for depressive symptoms relative risk (95% confidence interval): 0.64 (0.43–0.95). Meanwhile, no clear effects of leaflet reading were observed on mental distress and anxiety. Conclusions In rural areas with local governments, analogue information may be effective to prevent depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The National Health Service in England funds 12 months of weekly s.c. tocilizumab (qwTCZ) for patients with relapsing or refractory GCA. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, some patients were allowed longer treatment. We sought to describe what happened to patients after cessation of qwTCZ. Methods Multicentre service evaluation of relapse after stopping qwTCZ for GCA. The log-rank test was used to identify significant differences in time to relapse. Results A total of 336 GCA patients were analysed from 40 centres, treated with qwTCZ for a median [interquartile range (IQR)] of 12 (12–17) months. At time of stopping qwTCZ, median (IQR) prednisolone dose was 2 (0–5) mg/day. By 6, 12 and 24 months after stopping qwTCZ, 21.4%, 35.4% and 48.6%, respectively, had relapsed, requiring an increase in prednisolone dose to a median (IQR) of 20 (10–40) mg/day. 33.6% relapsers had a major relapse as defined by EULAR. Time to relapse was shorter in those that had previously also relapsed during qwTCZ treatment (P  = 0.0017), in those not in remission at qwTCZ cessation (P  = 0.0036) and in those with large vessel involvement on imaging (P  = 0.0296). Age ≥65 years, gender, GCA-related sight loss, qwTCZ treatment duration, TCZ taper, prednisolone dosing and conventional synthetic DMARD use were not associated with time to relapse. Conclusion Up to half our patients with GCA relapsed after stopping qwTCZ, often requiring a substantial increase in prednisolone dose. One-third of relapsers had a major relapse. Extended use of TCZ or repeat treatment for relapse should be considered for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses social work's singular conceptual and analytical contribution to the field of epidemics. A systematic literature review was conducted to analyze how social work studies overlap to construct epidemic narratives. The author collected 601 articles from the Social Services Abstracts database and carried out a targeted search within 20 social work journals. Five epidemic narratives were identified: (1) a psychosocial consequences narrative, (2) a social work competence narrative, (3) a social risk factors narrative, (4) a misinformation narrative, and (5) a power matrix narrative. Results highlighted the social success of psychosocial perspectives prevalent in classic public health narratives. This understanding relies on a "politics of access" perspective and advocates for the improvement of current social services. The findings revealed that social work does not have a conceptual specificity in the field of epidemics but, rather, its current distinctive contribution mostly lies in its use of social work–centric inquiries that analyze social work practices and describe the consequences experienced by social work actors during epidemics. The author argued that the social work literature could benefit from analyses informed by a "politic of emancipation" that are less prominent in the analyzed studies. Avenues for future research are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do crises affect authority structures in international regime complexes? The international order is characterized by regime complexes consisting of ever more overlapping institutions competing for authority. Most complexes consist of established institutions facing a growing number of more recently created institutional contenders. We argue that crises can alter the competitive structure of regime complexes. From the perspective of states, crisis situations can provide newly created contenders—designed as institutional alternatives—with functional advantages over established institutions. Long-established institutions tend to be highly institutionalized, decreasing flexibility and speed of decision-making. Thus, during crises, states may shift their cooperative activities away from inert institutions and to newly created, more flexible alternatives that are less encompassing. We test the plausibility of our claim by studying the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the regime complex of financial assistance (FA). The results of a qualitative process analysis of institutional crisis responses combined with a comparative network analysis of the FA complex support our argument. The COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity for the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank to position themselves as crisis-proof alternatives for developing countries to established institutions like the World Bank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study aimed to evaluate psychological and emotional violence in relation with sociodemographic characteristics and anxiety and depression symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in a sample of Portuguese residents. Methods A cross-sectional online study using snowball sampling collected data on demographics, socioeconomic factors, mental health (anxiety and depression symptoms) and couple psychological and emotional violence. The study spanned three months and included 519 individuals aged 18 or above in a relationship since January 2020 or earlier. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, t-tests, chi-squared tests, logistic regression models (Odds-Ratio [OR] and 95% Confident Interval [CI]), and cluster analysis (K-medoids) using R software (significance threshold of 0.05). Results The sample was predominantly composed of women (78.8%) with an average age of 36.8 years and 79% holding higher education degrees. Two clusters emerged: Cluster 1 (n = 420) presented fewer psychological and emotional violence victims, while Cluster 2 (n = 99) presented more. Older age (OR = 1.026, 95%CI 1.000–1.052) and depression symptoms (OR = 1.163, 95%CI 1.080–1.252) increased the likelihood of psychological and emotional abuse. Men also had 2.87 times higher odds of being victims (95%CI 0.203–0.599). Conclusions The study underscores the need for comprehensive interventions and prevention measures to address psychological and emotional violence by acknowledging it as a public health concern and pushing for interdisciplinary methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Public health unit (PHU) engagement in schools is important for promoting wellness in students. We aimed to investigate if PHU engagement with schools may have provided protection against the risk of depression and anxiety in students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We used longitudinal data from the Cannabis, Obesity, Mental health, Physical activity, Alcohol use, Smoking and Sedentary behaviour survey between the 2018/19 and 2020/21 academic years. Multilevel models were used to assess the association between PHU engagement with school mental health programs prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and depressive (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale Revised) and anxiety symptoms (Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results The sample included 23 894 students across 104 secondary schools in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. In confounder-adjusted models, PHU engagement before the pandemic was not associated with student depressive symptoms (B = −0.01, 95% CI = −0.04, 0.02), but was protective against anxiety symptoms (B = −0.03, −0.06, 0.001) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussion The results highlight that PHU engagement with mental health programming in schools was protective against anxiety for students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings support the importance of PHU engagement for improving student mental health and pandemic recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2 or COVID-19) led to lockdowns predisposing people to sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy behaviours which may have affected bone mineral density (BMD) and fragility fracture risk. However, limited studies describe such an association. We aimed to investigate how COVID-19 lockdowns has affected BMD and fragility fractures in a large cohort. Methods Patients were referred to our DXA scanner from 2004 to 2024 and were subsequently categorized as pre- or post-March 23, 2020 (pre- and post-COVID-19) to allow analysis between the groups. Demographic, BMD and compositional data were compared between the two populations. A multivariate logistic regression modelled the odds of reporting a fracture including hip and non-hip fracture. A multiple linear regression was used to model how the lockdown has affected bone density. All analyses were adjusted for confounders. Results Of 43 799 referrals, 6564 were post-COVID-19. Post-COVID-19 patients had higher non-hip fracture rates (42.0% vs 39.8%), were 3 kg heavier, and had lower left femoral T-scores. Patients referred post-COVID-19 had a statistically significant reduction of −0.23 to their T-score after adjusting for confounders as well as increased risk of getting diagnosed with osteoporosis [odds ratio (OR) 1.49, 95% CI 1.40–1.59]. Patients referred after the pandemic had a reduced odds of any fracture (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.77–0.88), hip (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.62–0.88) and non-hip fracture (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.73–0.83). Conclusion COVID-19 lockdowns may have negatively affected bone; however, this has not translated to an increased fracture risk in our study. Further research is needed with prospective cohorts to corroborate this risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Early onset Colorectal Cancer (EOCRC), defined as those diagnosed under the age of 50, has been increasing rapidly since 1970. UK data on EOCRC are currently limited and better understanding of the condition is needed. Materials and Methods A single-center retrospective study of patients with EOCRC treated over 9 years (2013-2021) at a large UK cancer center was performed. Clinicopathological features, risk factors, molecular drivers, treatment, and survival were analyzed. Results In total, 203 patients were included. A significant increase in cases was reported from 2018-2019 (n  = 33) to 2020-2021 (n  = 118). Sporadic EOCRC accounted for 70% of cases and left-sided tumors represented 70.9% (n  = 144). Median duration of symptoms was 3 months, while 52.7% of the patients had de-novo metastatic disease. Progression-free survival after first-line chemotherapy was 6 months (95% CI, 4.85-7.15) and median overall survival (OS) was 38 months (95% CI, 32.86-43.14). In the advanced setting, left-sided primary tumors were associated with a median OS benefit of 14 months over right-sided primaries (28 vs 14 months, P  = .009). Finally, primary tumor resection was associated with median OS benefit of 21 months compared with in situ tumors (38 vs 17 months, P  < .001). Conclusions The incidence of EOCRC is increasing, and survival outcomes remain modest. Raising public awareness and lowering the age for colorectal cancer screening are directions that could improve EOCRC clinical outcomes. There is also a need for large prospective studies to improve the understanding of the nature of EOCRC and the best therapeutic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Little is known about serious illness conversations (SIC) conducted during telemedicine visits and their impact on end-of-life (EOL) outcomes for patients with advanced cancer. Patients and Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis telemedicine visits for patients with metastatic lung cancer conducted during the first surge of the COVID-19 pandemic (October 3, 2020-October 6, 2020). We used natural language processing (NLP) to characterize documentation of SIC domains (ie, goals of care [GOC], limitation of life-sustaining treatment [LLST], prognostic awareness [PA], palliative care [PC], and hospice). We used unadjusted logistic regression to evaluate factors associated with SIC documentation and the relationship between SIC documentation and EOL outcomes. Results The study included 634 telemedicine visits across 360 patients. Documentation of at least one SIC domain was present in 188 (29.7%) visits with GOC and PA being the most discussed domains. Family presence (odds ratio [OR], 1.66; P  = .004), progressive or newly diagnosed disease (OR, 5.42; P  < .000), age ≥ 70 (OR, 1.80; P  = .009), and male sex (OR, 2.23; P  < .000) were associated with a greater likelihood of discussing ≥ 1 SIC domain. Of the 61 patients who died within 12 months of the study period, having ≥ 1 SIC domain discussed was associated with a lower likelihood of hospitalization in the last 30 days of life (OR, 0.27; P  = .020). Conclusion In this study of telehealth visits, we identified important factors associated with an increased likelihood of having documentation of an SIC and demonstrated that SIC documentation correlated with lower likelihood of hospitalization at EOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lockdown policies in Israel during the COVID-19 pandemic hampered familial grandparents–grandchildren relations. There is initial evidence that older adults' meaning in life and will-to-live decreased. Grandparents could no longer meet their grandchildren in person. In response, we utilized an intergenerational telehealth music therapy group intervention during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Forty-four pairs of grandparents and grandchildren enrolled in a quasi-experimental study with an intervention and waitlist control group. Twenty-one pairs of grandparents–grandchildren participated in a weekly virtual group music therapy intervention (via Zoom) for 8 weeks (experimental group) and the remainder were waitlisted and received no intervention (control group). Participants in both groups completed the same questionnaires in parallel before and after the intervention. The grandparents' meaning in life, will-to-live and behavioral grandparenthood increased compared to no change observed in the control group. Further research with randomized-controlled treatment is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the 1892 International Sanitary Conference in Venice, experts established international health politics as governing the flows of people, traffic, and information. This focus has remained ingrained in current health politics and shaped the international response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper focuses on the micropolitics among these experts to understand the emergence of such governance expertise. In Venice, experts struggled to perform authority as European governments were unwilling to accept authoritative international expert practice. In response, the experts limited the role of international politics to regulating the movements of information, traffic, and people to make their expertise more agreeable. Such compromising governance expertise entailed two acts of silencing. The experts claimed that interventions that limited themselves to governing these flows were still highly effective and also silenced the de facto intrusiveness of their expertise into colonized sites. Combining classical sociology with science and technology studies, this article contributes conceptually by detailing how authority performances affect governance expertise. Contributing to the history of international relations, I show how the notion of international health politics as governing flows—rather than targeting ill health with global sanitary reform—became established in the late nineteenth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Remdesivir, an RNA-polymerase prodrug inhibitor approved for treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), shortens recovery time and improves clinical outcomes. This prespecified analysis compared remdesivir plus standard of care (SOC) with SOC alone in adults hospitalized with COVID-19 requiring oxygen support in the early stage of the pandemic. Methods Data for 10-day remdesivir treatment plus SOC from the extension phase of an open-label study (NCT04292899) were compared with real-world, retrospective data on SOC alone (EUPAS34303). Both studies included patients aged ≥18 years hospitalized with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 up to 30 May 2020, with oxygen saturation ≤94% on room air or supplemental oxygen (all forms), and with pulmonary infiltrates. Propensity score weighting was used to balance patient demographics and clinical characteristics across treatment groups. The primary endpoint was time to all-cause mortality or end of study (day 28). Time to discharge, with a 10-day landmark to account for duration of remdesivir treatment, was a secondary endpoint. Results A total of 1974 patients treated with remdesivir plus SOC, and 1426 with SOC alone, were included after weighting. Remdesivir significantly reduced mortality versus SOC (hazard ratio [HR], 0.46; 95% confidence interval,.39–.54). This association was observed at each oxygen support level, with the lowest HR for patients on low-flow oxygen. Remdesivir significantly increased the likelihood of discharge at day 28 versus SOC in the 10-day landmark analysis (HR, 1.64; 95% confidence interval: 1.43–1.87). Conclusions Remdesivir plus early-2020 SOC was associated with a 54% lower mortality risk and shorter hospital stays compared with SOC alone in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 requiring oxygen support. Clinical Trials Registration. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04292899 and EUPAS34303. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic disrupted respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) seasonality. To optimize the use and evaluation of RSV infant immunization strategies, monitoring changes in RSV epidemiology is essential. Methods Hospitalizations for acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and RSV-coded ARI in children <2 years were extracted in 4 European hospitals, according to predefined case definitions (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes). Prepandemic RSV seasons (2017–2018 to 2019–2020) were compared to 2021–2022 and 2022–2023. Results In 2021–2022 and 2022–2023, the peak number of RSV hospitalizations was higher than prepandemic peaks after short periods of RSV circulation, and lower than prepandemic peaks after long periods of RSV circulation. A greater proportion of RSV hospitalizations occurred in children 1 to <2 years in 2021–2022 in the Netherlands (18% vs 9%, P =.04). No increase in age was observed elsewhere. High-risk children represented a greater proportion of RSV hospitalizations during the pandemic. The proportion of pediatric intensive care unit admissions did not increase. Conclusions A decrease in population immunity has been linked to older age at RSV hospitalization. We did not observe an increase in age in 3 of the 4 participating countries. Broad age categories may have prevented detecting an age shift. Monitoring RSV epidemiology is essential as Europe implements RSV immunization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To evaluate income trends among pharmacists and other select health professions (dentists, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and physicians) in the US for the 10-year period of 2012 to 2021, with special attention given to the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 and 2021). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted of 2012 to 2021 income data for select health professions, collected from the American Community Survey. Univariate time series analysis was conducted using exponential smoothing to examine income patterns over the 10-year study period and forecast income for the next 5-year period (2022 to 2026) for each health profession. Additionally, time series regression models were constructed for each health profession. Descriptive statistics (mean percent change in income and SD) were calculated for each health profession for the prepandemic era (2012 to 2019) and the first 2 years of the pandemic (2020 and 2021). Results Goodness-of-fit statistics for each forecast model indicate highly accurate forecasts. The model for each health profession indicates a significant positive trajectory in income (P < 0.001), although pharmacists are projected to have a lower rate of income growth among the 5 health professions for the next 5-year period, 2022 to 2026. During the first 2 years of the pandemic, pharmacists had the lowest mean percent change in income (mean, 2.0%; SD, 2.0%) among the 5 health professions. Conclusion Growth in pharmacist income is projected to lag behind that in other health professions in the near future. Individual-, organization-, and profession-level strategies may facilitate opportunities for income growth among pharmacists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]