Number Of New Cases Research Articles

RISINGTREND OF HANSENS DISEASE: A 5 YEARRETROSPECTIVE STUDYIN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Introduction: Leprosy or Hansens disease is caused by Mycobacterium Leprae. It is a chronic granulomatous and infectious disease primarily affecting the skin and peripheral nerves. Case detection rates are still high indicating active transmission. This study was conducted to analyze the trends in leprosy over a period of five year in a tertiary care hospital, Central India. Methods and Materials: Slit skin smear were taken as per standard protocol from patients attending outpatient Department of Dermatology (Venerology and leprosy) from a tertiary care hospital in Central India. Medical records of clinically diagnosed Hansens patients were collected retrospectively between January 2018 to December 2022. Results: A total 2166 cases of slit skin smear positive for acid fast bacilli was seen in 37.30%. A slow but steady rise in leprosy cases has been noted. In the year 2022, there were maximum number of new cases detected which were 244 accounting for 48.03%. Males 492 (60.89%) outnumbered females 316 (39.11%). The majority of the participants 486 (60.15%) were between the ages of 21 to 40. Maximum number of cases 669 (82.79%) found to have bacteriological index between 1+ to 3+. Of newly diagnosed leprosy cases, 378 (46.79%), had MI between 1 to 25. Multibacillary patients constituted 436 (53.96%) while 372 (46.03%) were paucibacillary patients. Conclusion: The leprosy programs have brought down the cases but pockets of active transmission exist in some areas. Early case detection, early institutional visit, enhancing active health education and interventions for leprosy are forwarded to eliminate disease. Detection of high number of cases signifies increased burden of Hansens diseases in this area even in the post elimination era.

Preparedness of Emergency Room Nurses After Emerging Infectious Diseases Screening

Emerging infectious diseases (EID) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide since it initially attacks a population or has existed before but is increasing very rapidly in terms of the number of new cases in a population. Early detection of EID patients refers to early screening. Screening of patients with suspected EID such as Covid-19 or other airborne infectious diseases must be performed at the first contact with suspected patients. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of EID screening instrument applied at the Emergency Room (ER). This was a quantitative pre-experimental study with a one-group pretest-posttest design. The sample size consisted of 34 nurses at the ER of Mangusada Hospital, Bali, who were selected using a total sampling technique. The intervention administered in this study was the implementation of EID screening instrument before the patients entered triage for 1 month on June 2022 at the ER of Mangusada Hospital. After ensuring the distribution and homogeneity of the data, a paired t-test was employed for parametric statistical data analysis. The result of the study showed a p-value of (0.004) or p <α (0.05). So, it can be concluded that there was an effect of the screening instrument applied at the ER of Mangusada Hospital on the preparedness of nurses in dealing with EID. Thus, the screening for patients with EID should be implemented in each emergency unit. The study finding can help improve nurse preparedness regarding the prevention of EID. In addition, future study is recommended to assess the competence of nurses regarding the prevention of EID.

Relationship between microcephaly and indicators of social inequality in the state of Paraíba, Brazil.

• Seventy-four (33.18%) municipalities in the state of Paraíba registered live births with microcephaly. • The highest proportion of cases (23.03%) was concentrated in the capital, João Pessoa. • Number of inhabitants, number of cases of Zika virus, water supply, and average household income were associated with a higher proportion of new cases. To analyze the relationship between microcephaly and social inequality indicators in the state of Paraíba during the biennium January 2015 and December 2016. Ecological study with data from newborn microcephaly records and municipal socioeconomic, environmental, and demographic indicators was conducted using two health information systems from the Brazilian Ministry of Health (SINASC and SINAN) and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. A Poisson multiple regression model was applied with a significance level of 5%. Among 223 municipalities in Paraíba, 74 registered new cases of microcephaly. The number of Zika virus cases, number of inhabitants, number of households without adequate water supply, and household income were predictor variables of the number of new cases of microcephaly in Paraíba. Microcephaly is associated with indicators of social inequality in Paraíba. Zika virus cases, water supply, and family income are the indicators that best explain the increase in microcephaly cases. Therefore, these variables must be monitored by health professionals and authorities.

Knowledge, attitudes and experience of physicians working in Chile toward the prescription of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): A cross-national survey.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) involves administering antiretroviral drugs to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in at-risk subjects. Chile is considered one of the countries with the highest number of new cases per year of HIV infections. A nationwide cross-sectional study was carried out in Chile. A questionnaire of physicians' attitudes toward the prescription of PrEP was used. 632 doctors responded correctly the survey. 58.5% (n = 370) were women, and median age was 34years (IQR 25-43). 55.4% (n = 350) responded that they have never prescribed antiretrovirals for HIV-negative individuals to prevent HIV infection, and only 10.1% have prescribed PrEP. 60.8% (n = 384) mentioned having informed about the possibility of using antiretroviral post-exposure prophylaxis in case of risky sexual activity. 76.3% (n = 482) believed each institution should formulate internal protocols for administering these drugs, and 98.4% (n = 622) stated that with the currently available evidence, PrEP should be suggested to cope with the HIV pandemic. It was concluded that knowledge, attitudes and experience toward PrEP prescribing are variable and related to patient care. However, Chile has a marked tendency in favor of this therapy, which is similar to that reported in studies worldwide.

Papillary thyroid cancer in children. Clinical cases

Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common endocrine tumor in pediatric patients. Papillary carcinoma accounts for the highest rate among differentiated TCs (80—90%). Papillary thyroid cancer in children is clinically different from this pathology in adults. In comparison with adults, papillary thyroid cancer in children is diagnosed at later stages and is associated with a more aggressive course of the disease. Despite the high frequency of metastases and recurrences of papillary thyroid cancer in children, the prognosis remains favorable. In Ukraine, 10 years after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the average incidence rates of papillary thyroid cancer among children of all ages gradually decreased, but since 2010—2011, a negative trend towards an increase in the number of new cases of pathology, especially children under 14 years of age, has been restored. Several studies suggest that the increase in the incidence of papillary thyroid cancer is only partially explained by the increase in the number of preventive examinations performed, as there is also an increase in the detection of large tumors and the diagnosis of advanced stages of the disease.Over the past 14 years, 759 children aged 3 to 18 from all regions of Ukraine were operated in the clinic of the Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Center for Endocrine Surgery, Transplantation of Endocrine Organs and Tissues of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (Center). From them, based on the results of histopathological examinations, papillary thyroid cancer was diagnosed in 290 (38.2%) children (including 73.45% girls and 26.55% boys). In most cases, the disease was diagnosed during adolescence, except for isolated cases among children of primary school and preschool age. The paper presents two clinical cases.Annual preventive thyroid ultrasound investigation is required for early diagnosis of nodular goiter, including malignant thyroid tumors, especially in children with a burdened family history of these tumors. Any nodular goiter in children should be considered potentially malignant until its benign nature is proven by appropriate qualified investigations. To ensure proper and timely verification of malignant thyroid tumors in pediatric patients, to avoid unjustified (insufficient or excessive) surgical treatment of children with thyroid tumors, such patients should be referred to medical institutions with modern diagnostic capabilities and expert‑level surgical experience in the treatment of children with nodular goiter and malignant thyroid tumors.

Effectiveness of lockdown to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 pandemic during its first wave in India

Background: Countries across the globe had adopted various prevention and control measures ranging from social distancing and isolation, to shutting down of nonessential services and countrywide lockdowns. The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of the nation-wide lockdown to prevent or delay the spread of COVID-19 in India. Methods: This was a cross sectional and descriptive study. We used the secondary data from WHO website, from 01 January to 30 October 2020. We calculated mean, median number of new cases, deaths reported per day and case fatality rate, using Microsoft excel spreadsheet. Results: There was a steady rise in number of cases and deaths in India, during the lockdown and unlock period from phase-1 to phase-4. Approximately 10-fold increase in death was reported in the duration of 68 days of lockdown from phase-1 to Phase 4. The number of cases reported in unlock phase-4 were approximately 6 times more compared to unlock phase 1. The case fatality rate per day had declined during the lockdown period, from 3 .4% to 2 .5% deaths per day. The case fatality rate was lowest during the peak of pandemic, 1.27% in September 2020. Indicating good care of hospitalized patients compared to initial stage of pandemic in India. Conclusions: Indian government had imposed complete sudden lockdown at the right time. The peak of pandemic was delayed or slowed down. Indicating the timing of lockdown is an essential step to save the lives in pandemic, in resource limited settings.

Sunlight Exposure and Protection Behavior as Prevention of Skin Cancer in Nursing Students

Background: Skin cancer ranks fifth in the world. Melanoma, a type of skin cancer, ranks 23rd in Indonesia. Meanwhile, deaths caused by skin cancer are more than half of the number of new cases in Indonesia. Indonesia is a country that lies across the equator. It makes Indonesia have longer exposure to sunlight and a higher UV index. This study aims to describe the sunlight exposure level and protection behavior among nursing students.Methods: The samples of this study were 248 respondents from the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, who were recruited with a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using a modified Sun Exposure Behaviour Inventory (SEBI). The data were processed using SPSS statistical software to determine behavioral descriptions and exposure to sunlight. Then, the result of the data analysis was performed with descriptive analysis (frequency and percentage).Results: The result of this study showed that most of the respondents (84.3%) always used longsleeved clothes to cover their shoulders. Most respondents (85.9%) used sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or more, and more than half of the respondents (68.5%) used sunscreen that can protect from Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB). Most respondents (76.2%) never spent time under natural or artificial Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) to get the desired brown skin. More than half of the respondents (66.9%) had never sunbathed in the last 12 months. Conclusions: More than half of the respondents had adequate protective behavior against sun exposure and had moderate sun exposure. Using sunscreens with a higher SPF has shown a stronger preventive effect. Therefore, regular use of sunscreen can decrease the risk of skin cancer.

Healthcare policies, precautionary measures and outcomes of mass gathering events in the era of COVID-19 pandemic: Expedited review

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, several countries suspended or restricted mass gathering (MG) events to mitigate the risk of superspreading events. Prohibiting MGs aimed to lessen the likelihood of highly infectious persons coming into close contact with many others. Now that the world has opened its doors wide and removed most of precautionary measures, many questions arise. In this review, we aimed to summarize the current evidence regarding the policies and regulations that were implemented for the safe return of MG events. Besides, we highlighted the impact of the return of MG events during 2021 on the trajectory of COVID-19 spread. Canceling MG events can carry religious, societal, economic, and public negative consequences necessitating the safe return of these events. The experience with the COVID-19 pandemic was the foundation for the recommendations for the safe conduction of MG events during the pandemic by international public health bodies. When policymakers adequately applied precautionary measures and strategic approaches, we witnessed the safe holding of huge MG events without aggravating the COVID-19 situation or increasing the number of new cases beyond the capacity and readiness of the national healthcare system.

Mental health trajectories of Brazilian health workers during two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021).

This study aimed to: (a) monitor the progression of symptoms of mental health burden among frontline workers caring for COVID-19 patients in Brazil during the two waves of the pandemic, considering the number of new cases and deaths, and; (b) to verify the different mental health outcomes and potential associations with current burnout symptoms. A non-probabilistic sample of health professionals was assessed as the pandemic progressed in Brazil (May/2020 August/2021). Standardized instruments focusing on anxiety, depression, insomnia, post-traumatic stress, and burnout symptoms were applied online. The results indicate a decrease in anxiety levels, what was related to when the number of new cases declined (end 1th-wave); symptoms returned to higher levels later. Emotional exhaustion increased when there was a higher incidence of cases, returning to the baseline levels at the end of the second wave. Depersonalization symptoms increased in this phase, characterized by a further decrease in new cases, while professional accomplishment decreased during the follow-up. The highest number of new cases was associated with a higher frequency of anxiety (OR = 1.467;95%CI = 1.109-1.941; p = 0.007) and professional accomplishment (OR = 1.490;95%CI = 1.098-2.023; p = 0.011). The subjects with trajectory of resilience against anxiety presented the lowest level of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (p < 0.05). The conclusion is that the pressure experienced by healthcare professionals throughout the pandemic caused different impacts on their mental health, emphasizing the dynamic nature of this condition and the need for constant monitoring and care. This finding directly affects mental health prevention and intervention measures, which remain a priority and require continuous reinforcement, especially among the most vulnerable groups.

Prevalence of colorectal cancer in 2020: a comparative analysis between China and the world

Objective: To demonstrate the disease burden and epidemiological characteristics of colorectal cancer in different regions by analyzing the incidence and mortality data in China and worldwide in 2020. Methods: Estimation of the incidence and mortality data of colorectal cancer were obtained from the GLOBOCAN 2020 database. The incidence, death, age standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age standardized mortality rate (ASMR) of colorectal cancer in China and 20 regions in the world were compared. The correlation between the Human Development Index (HDI) and ASIR/ASMR was analyzed. Results: In 2020, the number of new cases of colorectal cancer in the world reached 1 931 600, and the number of deaths reached 935 200. The incidence and mortality in all regions of the world continued to rise in the age group above 50 years old. The morbidity and mortality in male were higher than those in female. East Asia ranked the highest number of incidence cases and deaths in the world, which were 740 000 and 360 100 respectively. There were significant differences in incidence and mortality among regions in the world. The highest ASIR and ASMR were observed in Northern Europe (33.61/100 000) and Eastern Europe (14.53/100 000), whereas the lowest ASIR and ASMR were both observed in South-Central Asia (5.46/100 000 and 3.16/100 000). HDI had significant exponential relationship with ASIR (r(2)=0.59, P<0.001) and ASMR (r(2)=0.38, P<0.001). There were 555 500 new cases and 286 200 death cases of colorectal cancer in China, accounting for about 30% of the world and more than 75% of East Asia. The ASIR of China was 24.07/100 000, ranking at the medium level, while the ASMR was 12.07/100 000, ranking at the high level of world. Conclusion: The incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer are highly correlated with HDI. China is one of the countries with the heaviest disease burden of colorectal cancer in the world.

Spatiotemporal reproduction number with Bayesian model selection for evaluation of emerging infectious disease transmissibility: an application to COVID-19 national surveillance data

BackgroundTo control emerging diseases, governments often have to make decisions based on limited evidence. The effective or temporal reproductive number is used to estimate the expected number of new cases caused by an infectious person in a partially susceptible population. While the temporal dynamic is captured in the temporal reproduction number, the dominant approach is currently based on modeling that implicitly treats people within a population as geographically well mixed.MethodsIn this study we aimed to develop a generic and robust methodology for estimating spatiotemporal dynamic measures that can be instantaneously computed for each location and time within a Bayesian model selection and averaging framework. A simulation study was conducted to demonstrate robustness of the method. A case study was provided of a real-world application to COVID-19 national surveillance data in Thailand.ResultsOverall, the proposed method allowed for estimation of different scenarios of reproduction numbers in the simulation study. The model selection chose the true serial interval when included in our study whereas model averaging yielded the weighted outcome which could be less accurate than model selection. In the case study of COVID-19 in Thailand, the best model based on model selection and averaging criteria had a similar trend to real data and was consistent with previously published findings in the country.ConclusionsThe method yielded robust estimation in several simulated scenarios of force of transmission with computing flexibility and practical benefits. Thus, this development can be suitable and practically useful for surveillance applications especially for newly emerging diseases. As new outbreak waves continue to develop and the risk changes on both local and global scales, our work can facilitate policymaking for timely disease control.

Safety and Effectiveness of SeptimebTM in Patients with COVID-19 Referred to a Teaching and Referral Hospital: An Uncontrolled Clinical Trial Study (Phase II)

Background: We conducted this study to determine the safety and evidence of effectiveness of SeptimebTM among patients with COVID-19.&#x0D; Methods: An uncontrolled phase II clinical trial with SeptimebTM was implemented in Imam Khomeini Hospital as a before-and-after trial during May to October 2020. Considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 33 patients with COVID-19 were treated using SeptimebTM. The patients received the anti-inflammatory drug 150 mg /10 ml /IV infusion SeptimebTM on the first day and then 300 mg /20 ml / IV infusion from the second day onwards for at least 2 days and up to 13 days based on the improvement of clinical symptoms and laboratory findings in addition to treatment which were selected according to the national protocol. The patients were then evaluated for the treatment efficacy and side effects. Adherence to treatment, clinical observations, and side effects were recorded before and after the treatment.&#x0D; Results: The herbal drug SeptimebTM was injected in phase two of an uncontrolled clinical trial on 33 patients with COVID-19 in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran as a before-and-after trial. The number of new cases admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the new need to Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) ecreased compared to before the treatment. Also, blood oxygen saturation and platelet count increased. Conversely, CRP, ESR, and ferritin levels decreased (p&lt;0.05). Besides, SeptimebTM did not show any serious side effects except recurrent thrombophlebitis during the treatment.&#x0D; Conclusion: We found some evidence regarding the efficacy of this drug and its low amount of short term side effects. The investigators recommend conducting the third phase of the clinical trial.

Early diagnosis of neural impairment in seropositive leprosy household contacts: The experience of a reference center in Brazil.

Leprosy is an infectious disease that remains with a high number of new cases in developing countries. Household contacts have a higher risk for the development of the disease, but the neural impairment in this group is not well elucidated yet. Here, we measured the chance of occurrence of peripheral neural impairment in asymptomatic leprosy household. Contacts who present anti-PGL-I IgM seropositivity, through electroneuromyography (ENMG) evaluation. We recruited 361 seropositive contacts (SPC) from 2017 to 2021, who were subjected to an extensive protocol that included clinical, molecular, and electroneuromyographic evaluations. Our data revealed a positivity of slit skin smear and skin biopsy qPCR of 35.5% (128/361) and 25.8% (93/361) respectively. The electroneuromyographic evaluation of the SPC showed neural impairment in 23.5% (85/361), with the predominance of a mononeuropathy pattern in 62.3% (53/85). Clinical neural thickening was observed in 17.5% (63/361) of seropositive contacts, but among the individuals with abnormal ENMG, only 25.9% (22/85) presented neural thickening in the clinical exam. Ours results corroborates the need to make the approach to asymptomatic contacts in endemic countries more timely. Since leprosy in its early stages can present an indolent and subclinical evolution, serological, molecular, and neurophysiological tools are essential to break the disease transmission chain.

The effect of air quality parameters on new COVID-19 cases between two different climatic and geographical regions in Turkey.

Different health management strategies may need to be implemented in different regions to cope with diseases. The current work aims to evaluate the relationship between air quality parameters and the number of new COVID-19 cases in two different geographical locations, namely Western Anatolia and Western Black Sea in Turkey. Principal component analysis (PCA) and regression model were utilized to describe the effect of environmental parameters (air quality and meteorological parameters) on the number of new COVID-19 cases. A big difference in the mean values for all air quality parameters has appeared between the two areas. Two regression models were developed and showed a significant relationship between the number of new cases and the selected environmental parameters. The results showed that wind speed, SO2, CO, NOX, and O3 are not influential variable and does not affect the number of new cases of COVID-19 in the Western Black Sea area, while only wind speed, SO2, CO, NOX, and O3 are influential parameters on the number of new cases in Western Anatolia. Although the environmental parameters behave differently in each region, these results revealed that the relationship between the air quality parameters and the number of new cases is significant.

Lower breast cancer survival among Black women in Brazil: a population-based retrospective study

ObjectivesTo analyze the rates of breast cancer survival among Black and White women according to age and stage at diagnosis. Study designA retrospective cohort study. MethodsThe study examined women registered in the population-based cancer registry of Campinas in 2010–2014. The primary variable was the declared race (White or Black). Other races were excluded. Data were linked with the Mortality Information System, and missing information was accessed by active search. Overall survival (OS) was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, comparisons were done by chi-squared tests, and hazard ratios were examined by Cox regression. ResultsThe total numbers of new cases of staged breast cancer among Black and White women were 218 and 1522 cases, respectively. The rates of stages III/IV were 35.5% among White women and 43.1% among Black women (P = 0.024). The frequencies among White and Black women under 40 years old were 8.0% and 12.4% (P = 0.031), 19.6% and 26.6% (P = 0.016) for ages of 40–49 years, and 23.8% and 17.4% (P = 0.037) for ages of 60–69 years, respectively. The mean OS was 7.5 years (7.0; 8.0) among Black women and 8.4 years (8.2; 8.5) among White women. The 5-year OS was 72.3% among Black women and 80.5% among White women (P = 0.001). Black women had an age-adjusted risk of death that was 1.7 times higher (1.33; 2.20). The risk was 6.4 times higher for diagnoses in stage 0 (1.65; 24.90) and 1.5 times for diagnoses in stage IV (1.04; 2.17). ConclusionThe 5-year OS for women with breast cancer was significantly lower among Black women than White women. Black women were more frequently diagnosed in stages III/IV, and their age-adjusted risk of death was 1.7 times higher. Differences in access to care may explain these differences.

The Incidence and Severity of Myopia in the Population of Medical Students and Its Dependence on Various Demographic Factors and Vision Hygiene Habits

(1) Background: Myopia is one of the leading causes of visual impairment. Visual work and usage of electronic devices are known risk factors of myopia. Many education systems were forced to apply online and hybrid teaching methods, to reduce the number of new cases of COVID-19. Medical students are a population well-known for intense visual work in the form of learning; (2) Methods: Visual acuity and refractive error were measured in the population of medical students. Participants also filled out the survey that included their population characteristic and their habits related to the hygiene of vision; (3) Results: We found a correlation between the age of the first diagnosis of myopia and current values of refractive error. The majority of participants believe that the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the health of their vision. Among methods of studying, usage of the computer screen was less preferred by myopic students; (4) Conclusions: In the population of medical school students in Eastern Poland, visual acuity was lower than 1.0 in 232 (52.97%) in the right eye and 234 (53.42%) in the left eye. Early recognition of refractive error has influenced its current values. Among methods of studying, usage of the computer screen was less preferred by myopic students. More population-based studies should focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health of vision.

Comparison of Breast Cancer Classification Using the Decision Tree ID3 Algorithm and K-Nearest Neighbors Algorithm

One of the main causes of death is cancer. The most common cancer in women is breast cancer. Breast cancer (Carcinoma mammae) is defined as a malignant neoplasm originating from the parenchyma. Breast cancer ranks first in terms of the highest number of cancers in Indonesia and is one of the first contributors to cancer deaths. Globocan data in 2020, the number of new cases of breast cancer reached 68,858 cases (16.6%) of the total 396,914 new cases of cancer in Indonesia. Meanwhile, the number of deaths reached more than 22 thousand cases (Romkom, 2022). This death rate is increasing due to lack of information about the early symptoms and dangers of breast cancer itself. From this lack of information, a system is needed that can provide information about breast cancer such as early diagnosis. Classification data mining techniques can be used to predict which patients will develop breast cancer and which do not with several parameters. In this study, a comparison of the classification of breast cancer using the Decision Tree ID3 algorithm and the K-Nearest Neighbors algorithm will be carried out. Attribute data used consists of Menopause, Tumor-Size, Node-Caps, Deg-Malig, Breast, Breast-Squad and Irradiant. The main objective of this study is to improve classification performance in breast cancer diagnosis by applying feature selection to several classification algorithms. The Decision Tree ID3 algorithm has an accuracy rate of 93.333% and the K-Nearest Neighbors algorithm has an accuracy rate of 76.6667%.

The Long-term Impact of Covid-19 on US Stock Market: Evidence from Time Series Model

The COVID-19 had a obvious impact on the world economy. Both the real economy and the financial markets suffered a huge negative impact in the short term. Considerable studies have pointed out that stock markets suffered a considerable negative impact on yields and volatility in the short-term following the outbreak, but few studies have explored the long-term impact of COVID-19 on stock markets. This research hopes to complement this part of the study. This study investigates the impact of the number of daily new cases on the three major U.S. stock indices, i.e., NASDAQ, S&amp;P 500, and DJI yields and volatility, by developing a VAR model and an ARMA-GARCHX model. The results of this study show that the number of COVID-19 new cases will only have a negative impact on stock yields on that day and will not have a long-term impact. And the number of new cases is negatively related to stock volatility. This study shows that after nearly three years of COVID-19 persistence, it no longer causes widespread panic and irrational behavior, and stock volatility has started to fall back. This result helps to build confidence that people will return to the stock market.

The Potential Role of Serum and Exhaled Breath Condensate miRNAs in Diagnosis and Predicting Exacerbations in Pediatric Asthma

Asthma is the most common chronic disease of the respiratory system in children and the number of new cases is constantly increasing. It is characterized by dyspnea, wheezing, tightness in the chest, or coughing. Due to diagnostic difficulties, disease monitoring, and the selection of safe and effective drugs, it has been shown that among the youngest patients, miRNAs fulfilling the above roles can be successfully used in common clinical practice. These biomolecules, by regulating the expression of the body's genes, influence various biological processes underlying the pathogenesis of asthma, such as the inflammatory process, remodeling, and intensification of airway obstruction. They can be detected in blood serum and in exhaled breath condensate (EBC). Among children, common factors responsible for the onset or exacerbation of asthma, such as infections, allergens, air pollution, or tobacco smoke present in the home environment, cause a change the concentration of miRNAs in the body. This is related to their significant impact on the modulation of the disease process. In the following paper, we review the latest knowledge on miRNAs and their use, especially as diagnostic markers in assessing asthma exacerbation, with particular emphasis on the pediatric population.

Current status of long-term follow-up system for women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: the HDP-PPAP study (HDP-Postpartum in Aomori prefecture study)

Objective Women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), especially those with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, are more likely to develop hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and chronic kidney disease later in life. However, the risk of lifestyle-related diseases in the immediate postpartum period among Japanese women with preexisting HDP is unclear, and a follow-up system for women with preexisting HDP has not been established in Japan. The purpose of this study was to examine the risk factors for lifestyle-related diseases in Japanese women in the immediate postpartum period and the usefulness of HDP follow-up outpatient clinics based on the situation of the HDP follow-up outpatient clinic at our hospital. Method We included 155 women with a history of HDP who visited our outpatient clinic between April 2014 and February 2020. We examined the reasons for dropout during the follow-up period. We also examined the number of new cases of lifestyle-related diseases and compared Body Mass Index(BMI), blood pressure values, and blood and urine test results at 1 and 3 years postpartum in 92 women who had been continuously followed for more than 3 years postpartum. Results The average age of our patient cohort was 34.8 ± 4.5 years. A total of 155 women with previous HDP were continuously followed for more than 1 year, of whom 23 had new pregnancies, and eight had recurrent HDP (recurrence rate 34.8%). Of the 132 patients who were not newly pregnant, 28 dropped out during follow-up, the most common reason being that the patient did not show up. The patients in this study developed hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia within a short period. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were at normal high levels at 1-year postpartum, and BMI significantly increased at 3 years postpartum. Blood tests revealed significant deterioration in creatinine (Cre), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γGTP) levels. Conclusion In this study, women with preexisting HDP were found to have developed hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia several years postpartum. We also found a significant increase in BMI and worsening of Cre, eGFR, and γGTP levels at 1 and 3 years postpartum. Although the 3-year follow-up rate at our hospital was relatively good (78.8%), some women discontinued follow-up due to self-interruption or relocation, suggesting the need to establish a nationwide follow-up system.