July 2021–

UB COVID-19 Information Digest                               Thursday, 1 July 2021

How long does covid-19 immunity last?https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1605

Covid tourism freeze could cost global economy $4tn by year end. Turkey, Ecuador and South Africa will be among hardest hit as pandemic-related losses reach $2.4tn, says UN report. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jun/30/covid-tourism-freeze-could-cost-global-economy-4tn-by-year-end

World Bank says will boost COVID-19 vaccine funding to $20 billion.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-world-bank/world-bank-says-will-boost-covid-19-vaccine-funding-to-20-billion-idUSKCN2E62CW

Aspen to partner with finance institutions to boost vaccine know-how.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/aspen-partner-with-finance-institutions-boost-vaccine-know-how-2021-06-30/

Unequal access to vaccines skews global recovery, says IMF chief economist.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-imf-inflation-usa/unequal-access-to-vaccines-skews-global-recovery-says-imf-chief-economist-idUSKCN2E61I7

Audio Interview: Another New Covid-19 Vaccine.  In this audio interview conducted on June 29, 2021, the editors discuss the encouraging results of a phase 3 study of the Novavax vaccine NVX-CoV2373, as well as new data on the effect of vaccines on the severity of disease. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2110939?query=featured_home

Prevention and Attenuation of Covid-19 with the BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 Vaccines. Authorized mRNA vaccines were highly effective among working-age adults in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection when administered in real-world conditions, and the vaccines attenuated the viral RNA load, risk of febrile symptoms, and duration of illness among those who had breakthrough infection despite vaccination. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2107058?query=featured_home

Safety and Efficacy of NVX-CoV2373 Covid-19 Vaccine. A two-dose regimen of the NVX-CoV2373 vaccine administered to adult participants conferred 89.7% protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and showed high efficacy against the B.1.1.7 variant. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2107659?query=featured_home

SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Response in Persons with Past Natural Infection.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2103825?query=featured_home

Covid-19 and the Investigator Pipeline.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2100086?query=featured_secondary

Protecting Olympic Participants from Covid-19 — The Urgent Need for a Risk-Management Approach. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2108567?query=featured_secondary

Alcohol-Related Diseases Increased as Some People Drank More During the COVID-19 Pandemic. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2781739

Effects of Wearing an N95 Respirator or Cloth Mask Among Adults at Peak Exercise. A Randomized Crossover Trial.  https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781514

Infection Risk of COVID-19 in Dentistry Remains Unknown: A Preliminary Systematic Review.  Conclusions: Although it seems that there are almost no reported cases of infection by SARS-CoV-2 during dental treatments, occupational or nosocomial transmission could not be ruled out. Hence, further prospective assessment of COVID-19 transmission is urgently required, and careful and protective measurements are necessary to avoid infection during dental practice. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34191900/

 

OTHER NEWS

Vaccine made of live malaria parasites shows early success. Strategy uses a combination of parasites and medicines to generate immunity while avoiding symptoms. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01806-1

Beyond coronavirus: the virus discoveries transforming biology. SARS-CoV-2 is just one of nonillions of viruses on our planet, and scientists are rapidly identifying legions of new species. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01749-7

Journal impact factor gets a sibling that adjusts for scientific field.https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/06/journal-impact-factor-gets-sibling-adjusts-scientific-field

Assessment of 25-Year Survival of Women With Estrogen Receptor–Positive/ERBB2-Negative Breast Cancer Treated With and Without Tamoxifen Therapy. A Secondary Analysis of Data From the Stockholm Tamoxifen Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781511

Timing and Length of Nocturnal Sleep and Daytime Napping and Associations With Obesity Types in High-, Middle-, and Low-Income Countries. These findings suggest that encouraging earlier bedtime and avoiding short nocturnal sleep may benefit weight control. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781513

Modeling Cervical Cancer Screening Strategies With Varying Levels of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781509

Effectiveness and safety of reactive focal mass drug administration (rfMDA) using dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine to reduce malaria transmission in the very low-endemic setting of Eswatini: a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/6/e005021

Exploring smoke: an ethnographic study of air pollution in rural Malawi. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/6/e004970

Dietary alteration of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids for headache reduction in adults with migraine: randomized controlled trial. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1448

Dietary omega 3 fatty acids for migraine.  The linked study by Ramsden and colleagues (doi:10.1136/bmj.n1448) now provides good evidence that a diet rich in omega 3 (n-3) fatty acids reduces headache frequency compared with a diet with normal intake of omega 3 and omega 6 (n-6) fatty acids. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1535

Threats to the effectiveness of insecticide-treated bednets for malaria control: thinking beyond insecticide resistance. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00216-3/fulltext

Ultra-processed food consumption and adult obesity risk: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Our study suggests that UPF consumption is associated with an increased risk of excess weight or abdominal obesity. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34190668/

UB COVID-19 Information Digest                               Friday, 2 July 2021

S.African medics threaten court action as staff shortages hit COVID response.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/safrican-medical-body-threatens-court-action-over-internships-2021-07-01/

WTA rules no Asian tournament swing due to COVID-19 restrictions.https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/wta-rules-no-asian-tournament-swing-due-covid-19-restrictions-2021-07-01/

Scientists identify long-sought marker for COVID vaccine success. Knowing which signatures in the blood predict protection against COVID-19 could speed the development of new vaccines. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01778-2

Mix-and-match COVID vaccines: the case is growing, but questions remain. A slew of studies suggests that mixing vaccines provokes potent immune responses, but scientists still want answers on real-world efficacy and rare side effects.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01805-2

COVID, Quickly, Episode 10: Long Haulers, Delta Woes and Barbershop Shots.https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/covid-quickly-episode-10-long-haulers-delta-woes-and-barbershop-shots/

Scientists quit journal board, protesting ‘grossly irresponsible’ study claiming COVID-19 vaccines kill. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/07/scientists-quit-journal-board-protesting-grossly-irresponsible-study-claiming-covid-19

 Can immune responses alone reveal which COVID-19 vaccines work best? https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/07/can-immune-responses-alone-reveal-which-covid-19-vaccines-work-best

SARS-CoV-2 immune evasion by the B.1.427/B.1.429 variant of concern.https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/06/30/science.abi7994?rss=1

Ultrapotent antibodies against diverse and highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants.https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/06/30/science.abh1766?rss=1

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on the total CD4+ and CD8+ T cell reactivity in infected or vaccinated individuals. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(21)00204-4

Sharing Technology and Vaccine Doses to Address Global Vaccine Inequity and End the COVID-19 Pandemic. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2781756

Ethical Considerations of Offering Benefits to COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2781755

Covid-19: Pfizer vaccine could provide lasting immunity, small study suggests. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1675

COVID-19 international border surveillance at Toronto’s Pearson Airport: a cohort study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e050714

Responsive and agile vaccination strategies against COVID-19 in India.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00284-9/fulltext

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Q&A. Conversations with Frontline Clinicians and Experts About the COVID-19 Pandemic. Free Video and Podcast CME https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/covid-19-interviews?utm_campaign=COVIDQA_B&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=leader&utm_term=728×90

OTHER NEWS

Plastics have become an essential material of the modern global consumer economy, yet many of the properties that make them useful in so many applications also make them a serious environmental threat.https://science.sciencemag.org/content/373/6550/34

Depressive symptoms among people with HIV/AIDS in Northwest Ethiopia: comparative study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e048931

Cross-sectional hospital-based study on the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus markers among healthcare workers, NWR, Cameroon. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e045716

Systematic Study and Meta-Analysis of Risk Factors Associated with Cholera Outbreaks in Africa: A Review. https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=110195&utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=chenling

We need people’s WHO to solve vaccine inequity, and we need it now.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e006598

CUGH’s Past and Current Efforts to Reduce Disparities, Inequalities, and Decolonize its Activities (June 2021)

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/CUGH-s-Efforts-to-Reduce-Disparities–Inequalities-and-Decolonize-its-Activities.html?soid=1112846108446&aid=ztD5gw4g70I

UB COVID-19 Information Digest                               

Saturday, 3 July 2021

Saudi Arabia bans entry from UAE, Vietnam, Ethiopia and Afghanistan -agency. Saudi Arabia will restrict travel to and entry from Ethiopia, UAE, Vietnam and Afghanistan over coronavirus concerns, the state news agency (WAS) reported on Saturday.https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-bans-entry-uae-vietnam-ethiopia-afghanistan-agency-2021-07-02/

South Africa hits record 24,000 new COVID-19 cases in third wave.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica/south-africa-hits-record-24000-new-covid-19-cases-in-third-wave-idUSKCN2E82B6

S.African medics threaten court action as staff shortages hit COVID response.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/safrican-medical-body-threatens-court-action-over-internships-2021-07-01/

Ugandan police hunt phoney doctor, arrest two nurses in COVID vaccine scam.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ugandan-police-hunt-phoney-doctor-arrest-two-nurses-covid-vaccine-scam-2021-07-01/

Coronavirus: Research, Commentary, and News.https://www.sciencemag.org/collections/coronavirus

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?utm_source=CellPressTheLancetandSocietiesPublishing&utm_medium=brighttalk&utm_campaign=486735?utm_medium=homepage

Frequency of Thrombocytopenia and Platelet Factor 4/Heparin Antibodies in Patients With Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2781791

Sparks through the stubble: dying in a pandemic. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01439-2/fulltext

Sleep problems during COVID-19 pandemic and its’ association to psychological distress: A systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8192091/

OTHER NEWS

Gender Disparity in Citations in High-Impact Journal Articles. These findings suggest that gender-based differences in article citations may be a key contributor to disparities in the advancement and promotion of women in academic medicine.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781617

Gender Disparities in Journal Citations—Another Metric of Inequity in Academia.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781619

Process evaluation of an implementation strategy to support uptake of a tuberculosis treatment adherence intervention to improve TB care and outcomes in Malawi. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e048499

Sustainability drivers and inhibitors for the health system performance improvement projects in selected health facilities in Kenya: a qualitative study.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e035475

Perspectives of education sector stakeholders on a teacher training module to reduce HIV/AIDS stigma in Western Kenya. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-11331-5

Fertility drugs do not increase breast cancer risk, study finds. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/06/210621123746.htm

UB COVID-19 Information Digest                               

Monday, 5 July 2021  

Update–Research and Development Priorities for COVID-19 in Africa.https://www.aasciences.africa/publications/update-research-and-development-goals-covid-19-africa

Experimental Assessment of Carbon Dioxide Content in Inhaled Air With or Without Face Masks in Healthy Children.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2781743

South Africa hits a new record with 26,000 daily COVID-19 cases. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-hits-new-record-with-26000-daily-covid-19-cases-2021-07-03/

South Africa approves China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine – health ministry. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/south-africa-approves-chinas-sinovac-covid-19-vaccine-domestic-use-health-2021-07-03/

Health service buckling as third coronavirus wave fuelled by Delta variant sweeps across South Africa. With new cases soaring by 25% President Cyril Ramaphosa warns of massive resurgence of infections. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/04/health-service-buckling-as-third-coronavirus-wave-fuelled-by-delta-variant-sweeps-across-south-africa

The Role of Nutrition in COVID-19 Susceptibility and Severity of Disease: A Systematic Review. https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/151/7/1854/6274856#.YOJ5VOklqTA.twitter

Mathematical assessment of the role of denial on COVID-19 transmission with non-linear incidence and treatment functions. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227621001150

Assessment of infection prevention and control measures adopted by eye care practitioners in Ghana and South Africa against COVID-19. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227621000703

Bacteriological profile and antimicrobial efficacy of alcohol-based hand rubs among health care workers and family caregivers at the children’s university teaching hospital in Lusaka, Zambia.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S246822762100079X

Serologic response to SARS-CoV-2 in an African population. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S246822762100106X

Africa CDC Vaccine Dashboard, https://africacdc.org/covid-19-vaccination/ Find any country.

OTHER NEWS

Addressing weight stigma and anti-obesity rhetoric in policy changes to prevent eating disorders. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01109-0/fulltext

Countdown on health and climate change: too important for methodological errors. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00884-9/fulltext

Child malnutrition: hungry for action. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(21)00170-X/fulltext

Effect of HIV infection on growth and bone density in peripubertal children in the era of antiretroviral therapy: a cross-sectional study in Zimbabwe. Despite ART, HIV is associated with substantial skeletal deficits towards the end of puberty. The extent of bone deficits associated with TDF and its widespread use in children in sub-Saharan Africa are a concern for future adult fracture risk. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(21)00133-4/fulltext

HIV generic drug for babies distributed in Africa, says UNITAID. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-aids-children/hiv-generic-drug-for-babies-distributed-in-africa-says-unitaid-idUSKCN2EA051

Application of next generation sequencing in HIV drug resistance studies in Africa, 2005-2019: A systematic review. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227621001332?dgcid=rss_sd_all

Internet of medical things, policies and geriatrics: An analysis of the national digital health strategy for South Africa 2019–2024 from the policy triangle framework perspective. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227621000636

Effectiveness of peer to peer strategy in reducing accidents and injuries at a selected platinum mine in Zimbabwe. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227621000338

Predictors associated with the variation of CD4 cell count and body mass index (BMI) for HIV positive adults under ART. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227621001241

In-person versus virtual suturing and knot-tying curricula: Skills training during the COVID-19 era. https://www.surgjournal.com/article/S0039-6060(21)00562-6/fulltext#.YOI3T-7LwuM.twitter

Aspirin and cancer survival: a systematic review and meta-analyses of 118 observational studies of aspirin and 18 cancers. There is a considerable body of evidence suggestive of about a 20% reduction in mortality in patients with cancer who take aspirin, and the benefit appears not to be restricted to one or a few cancers. Aspirin, therefore, appears to deserve serious consideration as an adjuvant treatment of cancer, and patients with cancer, and their carers, have a right to be informed of the available evidence. https://ecancer.org/en/journal/article/1258-aspirin-and-cancer-survival-a-systematic-review-and-meta-analyses-of-118-observational-studies-of-aspirin-and-18-cancers#.YOI3RqwbEVA.twitter

Tuesday, 6 July 2022

Ivory Coast sends mobile clinics to speed up COVID vaccinations.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/ivory-coast-sends-mobile-clinics-speed-up-covid-vaccinations-2021-07-05/

Delta variant drives Africa COVID threat to ‘whole new level´: WHO warns; ‘dominant’ in Europe by August. https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/07/1095152

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (1 July 2021).https://www.africanews.com/2021/07/02/coronavirus-rwanda-covid-19-update-1-july-2021/

Africa’s post-COVID-19 pandemic economic recovery. https://www.africanews.com/2021/07/02/africa-s-post-covid-19-pandemic-economic-recovery/

A timeline of South Africa’s vaccine mistakes. https://qz.com/africa/2029193/south-africa-vaccine-program-what-went-wrong/

Africa suffers record number of COVID cases. 

African nations combined saw a daily average of 36,141 new COVID-19 cases from June 28 to July 4 as the pandemic flares up across the continent, surpassing the 32,609 daily cases registered in early January, during the previous high point of the virus. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-07-africa-covid-cases.html

TRAIN WRECKED South Africa suspend training for second time in a WEEK with whole squad in isolation after another positive Covid test. https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/15496376/south-africa-rugby-lions-coronavirus/

OTHER NEWS

HIV generic drug for babies distributed in Africa, says UNITAID. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-aids-children/hiv-generic-drug-for-babies-distributed-in-africa-says-unitaid-idUSKCN2EB14G

World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE) recommendation on COVID-19 certificates for international travel. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e006651

Equity and expertise in the UN Food Systems Summit. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e006569

Incentive preferences for community health volunteers in Kenya: findings from a discrete choice experiment. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e048059

Substance use disorders and adherence to antituberculosis medications in Southwest Ethiopia: a prospective cohort study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e043050

Revisiting blood pressure thresholds to define hypertension during pregnancy: is 140/90 mmHg too high? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00285-0/fulltext

Blood pressure thresholds in pregnancy for identifying maternal and infant risk: a secondary analysis of Community-Level Interventions for Pre-eclampsia (CLIP) trial data. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00219-9/fulltext#%20

Keeping an eye on eye care: monitoring progress towards effective coverage. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00212-6/fulltext

Weds, 7 July 2022

COVAX says it’s negotiating with new vaccine suppliers.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/covax-says-its-negotiating-with-new-vaccine-suppliers-2021-07-06/

Tunisia to buy 3.5 mln doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/tunisia-buy-35-mln-doses-johnson-johnson-covid-19-vaccine-2021-07-06/

Ivory Coast sends mobile clinics to speed up COVID vaccinations.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/ivory-coast-sends-mobile-clinics-speed-up-covid-vaccinations-2021-07-05/

EU says it plans more COVID-19 vaccine donations as world faces two-track pandemic. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/eu-says-it-plans-more-covid-19-vaccine-donations-world-faces-two-track-pandemic-2021-07-06/

Mounting evidence suggests Sputnik COVID vaccine is safe and effective. Russia’s vaccine is in use in nearly 70 nations, but its adoption has been slowed by controversies and questions over rare side effects, and it has yet to garner World Health Organization approval. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01813-2

COVID vaccines to reach poorest countries in 2023 — despite recent pledges. Amid a COVID surge in Africa, vaccine promises from richer nations are not enough to bring an early end to the pandemic, experts say. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01762-w

A Tsunami of Disability Is Coming as a Result of ‘Long COVID’. We need to plan for a future where millions of survivors are chronically ill.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-tsunami-of-disability-is-coming-as-a-result-of-lsquo-long-covid-rsquo/

Kynurenic acid may underlie sex-specific immune responses to COVID-19. https://stke.sciencemag.org/content/14/690/eabf8483

COVID-19 affects men and women differently. So why don’t clinical trials report gender data? https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/07/covid-19-affects-men-and-women-differently-so-why-don-t-clinical-trials-report-gender

Africa CDC ramps up training on SARS-CoV-2 genomics and bioinformatics.https://africacdc.org/news-item/africa-cdc-ramps-up-training-on-sars-cov-2-genomics-and-bioinformatics/

Association Between Administration of IL-6 Antagonists and Mortality Among Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19. A Meta-analysis. The WHO Rapid Evidence Appraisal for COVID-19 Therapies (REACT) Working Group. Conclusions and Relevance  In this prospective meta-analysis of clinical trials of patients hospitalized for COVID-19, administration of IL-6 antagonists, compared with usual care or placebo, was associated with lower 28-day all-cause mortality. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2781880

IL-6 Receptor Antagonist Therapy for Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19. Who, When, and How? https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2781881

Seroprevalence of and Risk Factors Associated With SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Health Care Workers During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781622

Addressing disruptions in childhood routine immunisation services during the COVID-19 pandemic: perspectives from Nepal, Senegal and Liberia.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e005031

Rugby: Lions look to play down COVID-19 crisis in South Africa.https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/rugby–lions-look-to-play-down-covid-19-crisis-in-south-africa-15166902

OTHER NEWS

Bill Gates Should Stop Telling Africans What Kind of Agriculture Africans Need. Among other things, we might simply not agree. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bill-gates-stop-telling-africans-what-kind-of-agriculture-africans-need/

The Plasmodium falciparum ABC transporter ABCI3 confers parasite strain-dependent pleiotropic antimalarial drug resistance. https://www.cell.com/cell-chemical-biology/fulltext/S2451-9456(21)00305-6

Prevalence of abdominal obesity and its association with cardiovascular risk among the adult population in Burkina Faso: findings from a nationwide cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e049496

Introducing the non-invasive prenatal testing for detection of Down syndrome in China: a cost-effectiveness analysis. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e046582

The digital divide: Overcoming barriers to digital learning in post-Covid-19 South Africa. https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/499/217529.html

Evaluation of point-of-care algorithms to detect diabetes during screening for latent TB infection. RESULTS: Of 472 participants, 13% had DM and half were unaware of their diagnosis. Limiting HbA1c testing to ages ≥30 years with a RBG level of 120–180 mg/dL helped identify most participants with DM (sensitivity 85%, specificity 99%) at an average test cost of US$2.56 per person compared to US$9.56 per person using HbA1c for all patients.https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iuatld/ijtld/2021/00000025/00000007/art00005;jsessionid=3hnk9m24mpb6o.x-ic-live-01

8 July 2022

Handwashing ‘impossible’ for one in three amid COVID-19. https://www.scidev.net/global/news/handwashing-impossible-for-one-in-three-amid-covid-19/?utm_source=SciDev.Net&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=12508376_2021-07-07%20Daily%20Email%20Digest%20-%20Template&dm_i=1SCG,7G3IW,5R8D9U,U9G4M,1

Tunisia reports daily record near 10,000 coronavirus cases, 134 deaths. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-tunisia/tunisia-reports-daily-record-near-10000-coronavirus-cases-134-deaths-idUSKCN2ED2KJ

Germany to donate all remaining AstraZeneca vaccines in Aug.  The cabinet decided that at least 500,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine would be given to the COVAX consortium, which aims to ensure poor countries get access to vaccines. Almost all vaccination has taken place in rich countries so far. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany-vaccines/germany-to-donate-all-remaining-astrazeneca-vaccines-in-aug-idUSKCN2ED1TG

UK to track COVID-19 variants with genomic sequencing across the world. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-genome/uk-to-track-covid-19-variants-with-genomic-sequencing-across-the-world-idUSKCN2ED1G3

Nigerian lawmakers approve $2.4 billion to fight violence, fund vaccines.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigerian-lawmakers-approve-24-billion-fight-violence-fund-vaccines-2021-07-07/

COVID and the brain: researchers zero in on how damage occurs. Growing evidence suggests that the coronavirus causes ‘brain fog’ and other neurological symptoms through multiple mechanisms. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01693-6

Daily briefing: The evidence is stacking up for Sputnik V vaccine. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01864-5

What Fighting COVID and Fighting Drug Addiction Have in Common In both cases, harm reduction is a better strategy than draconian rules that feel virtuous but don’t actually work. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-fighting-covid-and-fighting-drug-addiction-have-in-common/

‘Too good to be true’: Doubts swirl around trial that saw 77% reduction in COVID-19 mortality. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/07/too-good-be-true-doubts-swirl-around-trial-saw-77-reduction-covid-19-mortality

Audio Interview: How Well Are Covid-19 Vaccines Working?https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2111369?query=featured_home

Effectiveness of an Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Chile. Our results suggest that the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine effectively prevented Covid-19, including severe disease and death, a finding that is consistent with results of phase 2 trials of the vaccine. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2107715?query=featured_home

Infection and Vaccine-Induced Neutralizing-Antibody Responses to the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617 Variants. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2107799?query=featured_home

Beyond the First Dose — Covid-19 Vaccine Follow-through and Continued Protective Measures. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2104527?query=featured_home

Lay Epidemiology and Vaccine Acceptance. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2781943

Assessment of Prolonged Physiological and Behavioral Changes Associated With COVID-19 Infection. Symptom data were collected only during the acute phase of infection, which limited our ability to compare long-term physiological and behavioral changes with long-term symptoms. In the future, with larger sample sizes and more comprehensive participant-reported outcomes, it will be possible to better understand factors associated with interindividualized variability in COVID-19 recovery. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781687

Covid-19: Vaccines journal retracts controversial paper after editorial board members quit.  A research paper that was promoted by anti-vaccination activists has been retracted by the journal Vaccines after several members of its editorial board resigned. The peer reviewed article, “The Safety of Covid-19 Vaccinations—We Should Rethink the Policy,” misinterpreted data to conclude that “for three deaths prevented by vaccination we have to accept two inflicted by vaccination.” https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1726

Mandatory covid-19 vaccination for care home workers. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1684

Passive and active immunity in infants born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy: prospective cohort study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e053036

Role of efficient testing and contact tracing in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic: a network modelling study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e045886

OTHER NEWS

UNESCO highlights gaps in science spending. https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/news/unesco-highlights-gaps-in-science-spending/?utm_source=SciDev.Net&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=12508376_2021-07-07%20Daily%20Email%20Digest%20-%20Template&dm_i=1SCG,7G3IW,5R8D9U,U9G4M,1

Kenya in rush to vaccinate 4m children as measles cases surge. WHO reports measles outbreaks in eight African countries amid huge fall-off in jabs during Covid. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/jul/07/kenya-in-rush-to-vaccinate-4m-children-as-measles-cases-surge

Research managers are essential to a healthy research culture. But for maximal benefit, more of these academic administrators need to get involved in the scholarly aspect of research. There are some 20,000 RMAs working in universities; most are in high-income countries, but expansion is under way in lower-income nations, particularly in Africa. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01823-0

Landmark research integrity survey finds questionable practices are surprisingly common. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/07/landmark-research-integrity-survey-finds-questionable-practices-are-surprisingly-common

Translocated microbiome composition determines immunological outcome in treated HIV infection. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)00653-X

Common elective orthopaedic procedures and their clinical effectiveness: umbrella review of level 1 evidence. Results Randomised controlled trial evidence supports the superiority of carpal tunnel decompression and total knee replacement over non-operative care. No randomised controlled trials specifically compared total hip replacement or meniscal repair with non-operative care. Trial evidence for the other six procedures showed no benefit over non-operative care. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1511

Symptoms of common mental disorders and adherence to antiretroviral therapy among adults living with HIV in rural Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e049824

Measuring research capacity development in healthcare workers: a systematic review. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e046796

Acceptability of patient-centered hypertension education delivered by community health workers among people living with HIV/AIDS in rural Uganda. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-11411-6

The Multiple Lenses on the Community Health System:  Implications for Policy, Practice and Research. https://www.ijhpm.com/article_4077_81fe5390eb70c86f3110c705a6e4a32c.pdf

9 July 2021

Mass infection is not an option: we must do more to protect our young. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01589-0/fulltext?utm_campaign=lancetcovid21&utm_content=172221470&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&hss_channel=tw-27013292

Blood transcriptional biomarkers of acute viral infection for detection of pre-symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection: a nested, case-control diagnostic accuracy study.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00146-4/fulltext

Reactivation of IgA vasculitis after COVID-19 vaccination. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(21)00211-3/fulltext

Science, not speculation, is essential to determine how SARS-CoV-2 reached humans.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01419-7/fulltext

COVID-19’s Delta variant: What you need to know. https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/covid-19-new-delta-variant–what-you-need-to-know.h00-159461634.html?cmpid=twitter

The quest to find genes that drive severe COVID. Genome studies have discovered some genetic risk factors for disease — and could point to treatments.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01827-w

Human genetic variants identified that affect COVID susceptibility and severity. An individual’s genetics can influence their risk of infection and the severity of disease symptoms. A large international study has identified parts of the human genome that can affect the risk of severe COVID-19. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01773-7

Will COVID become a disease of the young? A growing share of infections among unvaccinated youths in countries with high vaccination rates is putting the spotlight on the role of young people in the pandemic. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01862-7

Should we delay covid-19 vaccination in children?https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1687

COVID and schools: the evidence for reopening safely. After a school term filled with anxiety and vitriol, researchers assess the spread of coronavirus and the prospects for a return to normal. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01826-x

After the pandemic: perspectives on the future trajectory of COVID-19.https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03792-w

Potential COVID-19 Endgame Scenarios Eradication, Elimination, Cohabitation, or Conflagration? https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2781945

Guidance for Health Care Leaders During the Recovery Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic. A Consensus Statement. Findings  The 10 imperatives in the framework are: (1) acknowledge staff and celebrate successes; (2) provide support for staff well-being; (3) develop a clear understanding of the current local and global context, along with informed projections; (4) prepare for future emergencies (personnel, resources, protocols, contingency plans, coalitions, and training); (5) reassess priorities explicitly and regularly and provide purpose, meaning, and direction; (6) maximize team, organizational, and system performance and discuss enhancements; (7) manage the backlog of paused services and consider improvements while avoiding burnout and moral distress; (8) sustain learning, innovations, and collaborations, and imagine future possibilities; (9) provide regular communication and engender trust; and (10) in consultation with public health and fellow leaders, provide safety information and recommendations to government, other organizations, staff, and the community to improve equitable and integrated care and emergency preparedness systemwide.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781729

Asymptomatic and Symptomatic COVID-19 Infections Among Health Care Personnel Before and After Vaccination. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781727

The covid-19 lab leak hypothesis: did the media fall victim to a misinformation campaign? https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1656

Efficacy and safety of an inactivated whole-virion SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CoronaVac): interim results of a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial in Turkey. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01429-X/fulltext

WHO COVID-19 therapeutic guidelines. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01331-3/fulltext

Worst of COVID-19 is yet to come for Africa: WHO. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-07-worst-covid-africa.html

Africa’s COVID-19 cases surge by 20% as U.S. donates additional 20m vaccine doses. https://www.thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2021/07/08/africas-covid-19-cases-surge-by-20-as-u-s-donates-additional-20m-vaccine-doses/

Africa’s COVID-19 cases surpass 5.78 mln: Africa CDC. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-07/09/c_1310050456.htm

Harnessing the Microbiome to Optimize Surgical Outcomes in the COVID-19 Era. https://journals.lww.com/aosopen/Fulltext/2021/06000/Harnessing_the_Microbiome_to_Optimize_Surgical.1.aspx

Leveraging Videoconferencing Technology to Augment Surgical Training During a Pandemic. https://journals.lww.com/aosopen/Fulltext/2021/06000/Leveraging_Videoconferencing_Technology_to_Augment.7.aspx

OTHER NEWS

Decolonising global health: beyond ‘reformative’ roadmaps and towards decolonial thought. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e006371

Decolonising global health: where are the Southern voices?https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e006576

Model for developing context-sensitive responses to vulnerability in research: managing ethical dilemmas faced by frontline research staff in Kenya. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e004937

Undernutrition and associated factors in orphan children aged 6–59 months in Gambella Southwest, Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e045892

Protocol: Implementation science protocol for a participatory, theory-informed implementation research programme in the context of health system strengthening in sub-Saharan Africa (ASSET-ImplementER). https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e048742

Nutritional basis of type 2 diabetes remission. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1449

19 July 2022

Lessons from two SARS-CoV-2 waves in South Africa. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00313-2/fulltext

Difference in mortality among individuals admitted to hospital with COVID-19 during the first and second waves in South Africa: a cohort study. In South Africa, the second wave was associated with higher incidence of COVID-19, more rapid increase in admissions to hospital, and increased in-hospital mortality. Although some of the increased mortality can be explained by admissions in the second wave being more likely in older individuals, in the public sector, and by the increased health system pressure, a residual increase in mortality of patients admitted to hospital could be related to the new Beta lineage. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00289-8/fulltext

Roche Suspends Patents on Tocilizumab in LMICs After WHO Recommends it as Treatment for Severe COVID-19. https://healthpolicy-watch.news/roche-suspends-patents-on-tocilizumab-for-lmics-after-who-recommends-it-as-treatment-for-severe-covid/

Arab countries pledge aid as Tunisia struggles with COVID pandemic. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-tunisia-aid/arab-countries-pledge-aid-as-tunisia-struggles-with-covid-pandemic-idUSKCN2EF2DB

Senegal to build COVID-19 vaccine plant in bid to expand African access. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-senegal-vaccine/senegal-to-build-covid-19-vaccine-plant-in-bid-to-expand-african-access-idUSKCN2EF1O4

Factbox-Countries weigh need for booster COVID-19 shots.Pfizer and its partner BioNTech plan to ask U.S. and European regulators to approve a booster dose following a two-shot regimen of their COVID-19 vaccine, based on evidence of greater risk of infection six months after inoculation. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-pfizer-booster-fac/factbox-countries-weigh-need-for-booster-covid-19-shots-idUSKCN2EF1K9

Quarter-dose of Moderna COVID vaccine still rouses a big immune response. Results hint that dose stretching could help to address the world’s acute vaccine shortage.’ https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01893-0

Daily briefing: How COVID damages the brain. The coronavirus’s damaging effects on the brain, the month’s most spectacular science images and whether COVID will become a disease of the young. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01900-4

The quest to find genes that drive severe COVID. Genome studies have discovered some genetic risk factors for disease — and could point to treatments.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01827-w

Mix-and-Match COVID Vaccines: The Case Is Growing, but Questions Remain. Studies suggest mixing vaccines provokes potent immune responses, but scientists want answers on real-world efficacy and rare side effects. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mix-and-match-covid-vaccines-the-case-is-growing-but-questions-remain/

Why is COVID-19 associated with mental illness?https://www.cell.com/med/fulltext/S2666-6340(21)00240-3

Delta variant of COVID-19 is forcing Asian countries to lock down, while Africa suffers its worst week a year and a half into the pandemic. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/delta-variant-of-covid-19-is-forcing-asian-countries-to-lock-down-while-africa-suffers-its-worst-week-a-year-and-a-half-into-the-pandemic/ar-AALY43d?ocid=uxbndlbing

OTHER NEWS

Data saves lives. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1694

PROTOCOL: Economics of healthcare access in low-income and middle-income countries: a protocol for a scoping review of the economic impacts of seeking healthcare on slum-dwellers compared with other city residents. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e045441

Initial implementation of PrEP in Zambia: health policy development and service delivery scale-up. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e047017

Geographical variations and factors associated with recent HIV testing prevalence in Ghana: spatial mapping and complex survey analyses of the 2014 demographic and health surveys. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e045458

Use of Feedback Data to Reduce Surgical Site Infections and Optimize Antibiotic Use in Surgery. A Systematic Scoping Review. https://journals.lww.com/annalsofsurgery/Abstract/9000/Use_of_Feedback_Data_to_Reduce_Surgical_Site.93555.aspx

12 July 2022

The Power of Local Celebrities in the Fight against Vaccine Hesitancy. They can play a key role in the fight against misinformation.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-power-of-local-celebrities-in-the-fight-against-vaccine-hesitancy/?s=04&fbclid=IwAR0IjeOUhfytYZAsuM-IZPh61mVK_4lNNO1UqsYPYPx-CKT6twwFr3k-CuE

Africa can’t be left to go it alone when it comes to Covid vaccines. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/10/africa-covid-vaccines-europe-us

Epidemiology, not geopolitics, should guide COVID-19 vaccine donations. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01323-4/fulltext?utm_campaign=lancetcovid21&utm_content=172581890&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&hss_channel=tw-27013292

Ugandan minister blames west for Covid vaccine shortage. Chris Baryomunsi says Uganda unable to obtain more shots because ‘western world has focused on its population’. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/11/ugandan-minister-blames-west-for-countrys-covid-vaccine-shortage

South Africa extends tight COVID-19 restrictions for another 14 days. South Africa extended tight COVID-19 rules on Sunday for another 14 days, maintaining restrictions that include a ban on gatherings, a curfew from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. and a prohibition on the sale of alcohol. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica/south-africa-extends-tight-covid-19-restrictions-for-another-14-days-idUSKBN2EH0GJ

Virus variants threaten global recovery, G20 warns. https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/g20-signs-off-tax-crackdown-warns-virus-variants-2021-07-10/

Arab countries pledge aid as Tunisia struggles with COVID pandemic. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/arab-countries-pledge-aid-tunisia-struggles-with-covid-pandemic-2021-07-09/

After the pandemic: perspectives on the future trajectory of COVID-19. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03792-w

SARS-COV-2 spike binding to ACE2 in living cells monitored by TR-FRET. https://www.cell.com/cell-chemical-biology/fulltext/S2451-9456(21)00307-X

WHO COVID-19 therapeutic guidelines. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01331-3/fulltext

COVID-19 in Africa: the role of research. Sharing experiences and perspectives on how Tanzania and South Africa’s research communities have tackled the pandemic.https://tdr.who.int/home/global-health-matters-podcast/covid-19-in-africa-the-role-of-research

Africa’s scientists set out their Covid-19 research priorities. https://www.news24.com/health24/medical/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/africas-scientists-set-out-their-covid-19-research-priorities-20210707

Association of Country-wide Coronavirus Mortality with Demographics, Testing, Lockdowns, and Public Wearing of Masks. https://www.ajtmh.org/view/journals/tpmd/103/6/article-p2400.xml

OTHER NEWS

Efficacy, acceptability, and safety of muscle relaxants for adults with non-specific low back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. Muscle relaxants are the third most frequently prescribed drugs for low back pain, but this analysis finds very low certainty evidence that they might offer a small, non-clinically important reduction in pain intensity at two weeks. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1446?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

13 July 2021

Nigeria’s Lagos state faces ‘potential third wave’ of COVID-19. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-nigeria/nigerias-lagos-state-faces-potential-third-wave-of-covid-19-idUSKBN2EI0OU

South Africa extends tight COVID-19 restrictions for another 14 days. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-extends-tight-covid-19-restrictions-another-14-days-2021-07-11/

Association Between BNT162b2 Vaccination and Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pregnant Women. Among pregnant women, receipt of the BNT162b2 vaccine was associated with a lower risk of incident SARS-CoV-2 infection. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2782047

Estimated SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in US Patients Receiving Dialysis 1 Year After the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781907

Decolonising human rights: how intellectual property laws result in unequal access to the COVID-19 vaccine. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e006169

Evaluation of the Effects of Remdesivir and Hydroxychloroquine on Viral Clearance in COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) Solidarity trial showed no effect of remdesivir or hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on mortality, but the antiviral effects of these drugs are not known. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M21-0653

The Case for Mandating COVID-19 Vaccines for Health Care Workers. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M21-2366

Update Alert 6: Masks for Prevention of Respiratory Virus Infections, Including SARS-CoV-2, in Health Care and Community Settings. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/L21-0393

Update Alert: Should Remdesivir Be Used for the Treatment of Patients With COVID-19? Rapid, Living Practice Points From the American College of Physicians (Version 2). https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/L21-0389

Covid-19: Turkmenistan becomes first country to make vaccination mandatory for all adults. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1766

OTHER NEWS

Association of Early Antibiotic Exposure With Childhood Body Mass Index Trajectory Milestones. The findings of this study suggest these small associations with BMI trajectory milestones after early-life antibiotic exposure should not affect the individual decision to prescribe antibiotics https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781906

Toward Gender Equity in Academic Promotions. Promotion in academic medicine drives career opportunities, including leadership roles and salary increases. Yet women physicians face slower promotional timelines and are less likely to reach associate or full professorship compared with their male counterparts, a gap that has not meaningfully changed in more than 3 decades. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2782002

REVISED Knowledge and attitude of secondary school students in Nakaseke, Uganda towards HIV transmission and treatment [version 2; peer review: 2 approved with reservations]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-23

Equity and expertise in the UN Food Systems Summit. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e006569

Surgical Workforce Study. Senior authors: Professor Abebe Bekele, Chair, COSECSA Examinations and Credentials committee; Professor Eric Borgstein, Secretary General, COSECSA. We want to hear from you! This study has received ethical clearance from Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), COSECSA Institutional Review Board, and COSECSA Data Governance Group.  https://rdc.rcsi.com/surveys/index.php?s=EAAJ97MTPN  Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey

14 July 2021

What constitutes success in the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines?https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01244-7/fulltext?utm_campaign=lancetcovid21&utm_content=172611737&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&hss_channel=tw-27013292

Daily briefing: Mini Moderna dose rouses big immune response. Quarter-doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine gave rise to long-lasting protective antibodies and virus-fighting T cells. Plus, the DARPA-ization of research.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01931-x

COVID Risks at the Tokyo Olympics Aren’t Being Managed, Experts Say. Current prevention measures may not be enough to prevent an outbreak. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-risks-at-the-tokyo-olympics-arent-being-managed-experts-say/

Will COVID-19 change science? Past pandemics offer clues. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/07/will-covid-19-change-science-past-pandemics-offer-clues

An intranasal vaccine durably protects against SARS-CoV-2 variants in mice. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)00869-X

Sputnik V Vaccine Elicits Seroconversion and Neutralizing Capacity to SARS CoV-2 after a Single Dose. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(21)00208-1

Clinical Characterization and Prediction of Clinical Severity of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among US Adults Using Data From the US National COVID Cohort Collaborative. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781923

Donuts, drugs, booze, and guns: what governments are offering people to take covid-19 vaccines. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1737

Intention to have the seasonal influenza vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic among eligible adults in the UK: a cross-sectional survey. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e049369

Are the rights of people with disabilities included in international guidance on WASH during the COVID-19 pandemic? Content analysis using EquiFrame/ https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e046112

Averting Future Vaccine Injustice. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2107528#.YO5dgA7hOPU.twitter

Contribution of traditional Chinese medicine combined with conventional western medicine treatment for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), current evidence with systematic review and meta-analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34256418/

Investing in surgical systems supports pandemic preparedness. https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/healthcare/559988-investing-in-surgical-systems-supports-pandemic-preparedness

OTHER NEWS

Association Between Iatrogenic Delivery for Suspected Fetal Growth Restriction and Childhood School Outcomes.  Meaning–  Iatrogenic delivery for suspected FGR in severe SGA infants was associated with poorer school outcomes. Iatrogenic delivery for suspected FGR in infants with normal growth was not associated with poorer school outcomes. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2781857

Effectiveness of spatially targeted interventions for control of HIV, tuberculosis, leprosy and malaria: a systematic review. Studies investigating spatially targeted interventions were few in number, and mostly underpowered or otherwise limited methodologically, affecting interpretation of intervention impact. Applying advanced epidemiological methodologies supporting more robust hotspot identification and larger or more intensive interventions would strengthen the evidence-base for this increasingly important approach. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e044715

Preventing avoidable hospital admissions after emergency care in humanitarian settings: a cross-sectional review of Médecins Sans Frontières emergency departments. EDs are critical in improving the agility and access to emergency care (EC) in humanitarian settings. This study demonstrated that EC provision resulted in the majority of patients being discharged from EDs, helping prevent avoidable hospital admissions. These results could help better understand the healthcare needs of vulnerable populations, improve responsiveness to emergency conditions and support programmatic planning in humanitarian settings. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e049785

Surgical procedures for children in the public healthcare sector: a nationwide, facility-based study in Uganda. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e048540

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study. Global PaedSurg Research Collaboration. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00767-4/fulltext

Decolonising Humanitarianism or Humanitarian Aid? A clear distinction must be made between humanitarianism –the active belief in the equal value of all human life and the consequent action to assist others, protect their rights, and accept and promote their agency and worldview– and the current form of humanitarian aid –the formalized system of governments, agencies, and organizations largely based in and led by the Global North. https://speakingofmedicine.plos.org/2021/07/13/decolonising-humanitarianism-or-humanitarian-aid/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=plosblogs&utm_content=speakingofmedicine

Kent Buse: Healthy societies—fixing systems not people.  https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/07/13/kent-buse-healthy-societies-fixing-systems-not-people/

15 July 2021

Scaling Up Covid-19 Vaccination in Africa — Lessons from the HIV Pandemic. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2103313?query=featured_secondary

Study Suggests Lasting Immunity After COVID-19, With a Big Boost From Vaccination. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2782139

Long COVID and kids: scientists race to find answers. Children get long COVID too, but researchers are still working to determine how frequently and how severely.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01935-7

Longitudinal analysis shows durable and broad immune memory after SARS-CoV-2 infection with persisting antibody responses and memory B and T cells. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(21)00203-2

Monoclonal Antibodies and Vaccine Boosts. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2111903?query=featured_home

Bamlanivimab plus Etesevimab in Mild or Moderate Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2102685?query=featured_home

Averting Future Vaccine Injustice. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2107528?query=featured_home

Safety, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy of the BNT162b2 Covid-19 Vaccine in Adolescents. The BNT162b2  (Pfizer–BioNTech) vaccine in 12-to-15-year-old recipients had a favorable safety profile, produced a greater immune response than in young adults, and was highly effective against Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2107456?query=featured_home

Durable Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses 8 Months after Ad26.COV2.S Vaccination. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2108829?query=featured_home

 Heterologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and mRNA-1273 Vaccination. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2110716?query=featured_home

Effect of Physician-Delivered COVID-19 Public Health Messages and Messages Acknowledging Racial Inequity on Black and White Adults’ Knowledge, Beliefs, and Practices Related to COVID-19. A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781934

Health system governance and the UHC agenda: key learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e006519

Covid-19: France and Greece make vaccination mandatory for healthcare workers. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1797

Covid-19: The countries that have mandatory vaccination for health workers. https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1645

Impact of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection on nutritional status and subjective functional loss in a prospective cohort of COVID-19 survivors. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e048948

COVID-19 pandemic leads to major backsliding on childhood vaccinations, new WHO, UNICEF data shows. 23 million children missed out on basic childhood vaccines through routine health services in 2020, the highest number since 2009 and 3.7 million more than in 2019. https://www.who.int/news/item/15-07-2021-covid-19-pandemic-leads-to-major-backsliding-on-childhood-vaccinations-new-who-unicef-data-shows

Immunity and inflammatory biomarkers in COVID-19: A systematic review. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34260778/

 RESOURCES

Research Development Fellowships 2021/22.  To be eligible, applicants must be a national of a country in Sub-Saharan Africa. Deadline: September 23, 2021! Who is eligible: Research active post-doctoral scientists and clinicians who are nationals of and employed in Sub-Saharan Africa who were awarded their doctorate within the last six years; and clinicians without a doctorate but who have a Masters degree or a specialist clinical qualification and between three and seven years active research experience (see detailed eligibility criteria). https://www.africaresearchexcellencefund.org.uk/research-development-fellowships-2021

American College of Surgeons 2021 Quality & Safety Conference VIRTUAL will run from Monday, July 12 through Friday, July 16.  Online registration is FREE and provides an open-access pass to all sessions. Registration is required for all attendees. Register Online Now. https://www.facs.org/quality-programs/quality-safety-conference/register

African Academy of Science–The AAS has announced a fixed cost of USD 100 to allow organizations to assess their compliance against the requirements of the global standard for Good Financial Grant Practice (GFGP) to receive or award funds quickly and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic sooner and efficiently. Find out more.https://globalgrantcommunity.com/covid-19

American College of Surgeons. Call for Clinical Trials and Late-Breaking Abstracts. Deadline 2 August 2021.  All virtual conference. https://www.facs.org/clincon2021/late-breaking

LitCovid is a curated literature hub for tracking up-to-date scientific information about the 2019 novel Coronavirus. Includes an interactive world map. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/research/coronavirus/

The Portable Surgical Simulator.  Build or buy. The GlobalSurgBox is a portable, adaptable, and affordable surgical trainer that can be used by trainees of all levels. https://globalsurgbox.com/  What’s Inside the GlobalSurgBox… https://globalsurgbox.com/the-global-surgbox/

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Q&A. Conversations with Frontline Clinicians and Experts About the COVID-19 Pandemic. Free Video and Podcast CME https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/covid-19-interviews?utm_campaign=COVIDQA_B&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=leader&utm_term=728×90

OTHER NEWS

Local Staff Perceptions and Expectations of International Visitors in Global Surgery Rotations. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2781953

How medical dominance and interprofessional conflicts undermine patient-centred care in hospitals: historical analysis and multiple embedded case study in Morocco, https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e006140

Global hospital admissions and in-hospital mortality associated with all-cause and virus-specific acute lower respiratory infections in children and adolescents aged 5–19 years between 1995 and 2019: a systematic review and modelling study. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e006014

Local Staff Perceptions and Expectations of International Visitors in Global Surgery Rotations. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2781953

Gender disparity between authors in leading medical journals during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional review. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e051224

Surviving maternal sepsis in low-income countries, https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00294-1/fulltext

Availability of facility resources and services and infection-related maternal outcomes in the WHO Global Maternal Sepsis Study: a cross-sectional study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00248-5/fulltext

Estimating global and regional disruptions to routine childhood vaccine coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: a modelling study, https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01337-4/fulltext

Measuring routine childhood vaccination coverage in 204 countries and territories, 1980–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020, Release 1. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00984-3/fulltext

16 July 2021

The US is boosting funding for research monkeys in the wake of COVID. The investments are promising but won’t fix the primate shortage, experts say.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01894-z

Deaths from COVID ‘incredibly rare’ among children. Studies find that overall risk of death or severe disease from COVID-19 is very low in kids. The studies did not evaluate rates of less-severe illness or debilitating ‘long COVID’ symptoms that can linger months after the acute phase of the infection has past. “https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01897-w

Kids Get ‘Long COVID’ Too. Children can suffer lingering symptoms from the disease, but researchers are still working to determine how frequently and how severely. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/kids-get-long-covid-too/

Long-term Symptoms After SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children and Adolescents. This study found a low prevalence of symptoms compatible with long COVID in a randomly selected cohort of children assessed 6 months after serologic testing. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2782164

There Are Few Good COVID Antivirals, but That Could Be Changing. Developing pills that block the novel coronavirus has been challenging. A new Biden administration program aims to boost the effort. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/there-are-few-good-covid-antivirals-but-that-could-be-changing/

This ‘super antibody’ for COVID fights off multiple coronaviruses. An newly identified immune molecule raises hopes for a vaccine against a range of viruses related to SARS-CoV-2. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01917-9

Generation of glucocorticoid-resistant SARS-CoV-2 T cells for adoptive cell therapy. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)00849-4

Association of Remdesivir Treatment With Survival and Length of Hospital Stay Among US Veterans Hospitalized With COVID-19. Meaning  The findings suggest that routine use of remdesivir may be associated with increased use of hospital beds but not with improvements in survival.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781959

Black and Latinx Community Perspectives on COVID-19 Mitigation Behaviors, Testing, and Vaccines. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781957

Equity without human rights: a false COVID-19 narrative?https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e006720

Caution, vaccines, testing: the only way forward. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1781

Defining covid-19 elimination. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1794

Characterisation of in-hospital complications associated with COVID-19 using the ISARIC WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol UK: a prospective, multicentre cohort study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00799-6/fulltext

Investments in surgical systems contribute to pandemic readiness and health system resilience. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s41271-021-00292-z

OTHER NEWS

Research capacity of global health institutions in China: a gap analysis focusing on their collaboration with other low-income and middle-income countries. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e005607

Africa is not a museum: the ethics of encouraging new parenting practices in rural communities in low-income and middle-income countries. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e006218

Body-mass index and diabetes risk in 57 low-income and middle-income countries: a cross-sectional study of nationally representative, individual-level data in 685 616 adults. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00844-8/fulltext

COVID-19 in Africa: a lesson in solidarity.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01610-X/fulltext

17 July 2021

Botswana counts on other COVID-19 vaccines as it runs out of AstraZeneca shots. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-botswana/botswana-counts-on-other-covid-19-vaccines-as-it-runs-out-of-astrazeneca-shots-idUSKBN2EM1RZ

Europe sends aid to help Tunisia counter COVID surge. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-tunisia/europe-sends-aid-to-help-tunisia-counter-covid-surge-idUSKBN2EM1ND

Mental disorders and risk of COVID-19-related mortality, hospitalisation, and intensive care unit admission: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(21)00232-7/fulltext#.YPERc4NfvSs.twitter

Effect of Oral Azithromycin vs Placebo on COVID-19 Symptoms in Outpatients With SARS-CoV-2 Infection. A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2782166

Exploring the Gap Between Excess Mortality and COVID-19 Deaths in 67 Countries. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781968

Mere rhetoric? Using solidarity as a moral guide for deliberations on border closures, border reopenings and travel restrictions in the age of COVID-19. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e006701

An aberrant inflammatory response in severe COVID-19. https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(21)00300-0

SnapShot: SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(21)00283-3

Global COVID-19 vaccine inequity: The scope, the impact, and the challenges.https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(21)00285-7

Virus hunters: Discovering the evolutionary origins of SARS-CoV-2. https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(21)00290-0

Children and SARS-CoV-2. https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(21)00297-3

Cross-sectional study of preprints and final journal publications from COVID-19 studies: discrepancies in results reporting and spin in interpretation. The COVID-19 preprints and their subsequent journal publications were largely similar in reporting of study characteristics, outcomes and spin. All COVID-19 studies published as preprints and journal publications should be critically evaluated for discrepancies and spin. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e051821

Reducing COVID-19 quarantine with SARS-CoV-2 testing: a simulation study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e050473

Factors Associated with the Incidence and Mortality of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) after 126-million Cases: A Meta-analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34270185/

Global agencies sign tech transfer deals to boost COVID testing in Africa, Latam. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/emb-tech-transfers-boost-antigen-testing-africa-latin-america-2021-07-15/

Senegal president threatens to close borders as COVID cases soar. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/senegal-president-threatens-close-borders-covid-cases-soar-2021-07-16/

Vaccine-starved Namibia receives Sinopharm boost. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/vaccine-starved-namibia-receives-sinopharm-boost-2021-07-16/

OTHER NEWS

Systematic review of academic bullying in medical settings: dynamics and consequences, https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e043256

Living with scars: how sharing mistakes can make us better doctors. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/07/16/living-with-scars-how-sharing-mistakes-can-make-us-better-doctors/

21 July 2021

Delta variant takes hold in developing world as infections soar. https://www.ft.com/content/fa4f248a-a476-491d-a5ce-f128360e9f24

Masitinib is a broad coronavirus 3CL inhibitor that blocks replication of SARS-CoV-2. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/07/19/science.abg5827?rss=1

People with COVID Often Infect Their Pets. New unpublished studies show that dogs and cats with COVID-positive owners frequently have SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/people-with-covid-often-infect-their-pets/

How COVID-19 has transformed scientific fieldwork.https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/07/how-covid-19-has-transformed-scientific-fieldwork

Longitudinal Metabolomics of Human Plasma Reveals Prognostic Markers of COVID-19 Disease Severity. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(21)00223-8

Effect of Canakinumab vs Placebo on Survival Without Invasive Mechanical Ventilation in Patients Hospitalized With Severe COVID-19. A Randomized Clinical Trial. Among patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19, treatment with canakinumab, compared with placebo, did not significantly increase the likelihood of survival without IMV.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2782185

OTHER NEWS

The parenting penalties faced by scientist mothers. Starting a family at a key career stage comes at a cost to birthing parents — and many end up leaving the profession as a result. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01993-x

22 July 2021

‘SA will see a drop in COVID-19 deaths if its able to vaccinate most people in the country’ – SAPHRA. https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/sa-will-see-a-drop-in-covid-19-deaths-if-its-able-to-vaccinate-most-people-in-the-country-saphra/

S.Africa targets 35 million people vaccinated against COVID-19 by Christmas.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica/s-africa-targets-35-million-people-vaccinated-against-covid-19-by-christmas-idUSKBN2ER21R

South African firm to help make Pfizer/BioNTech COVID vaccine.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/pfizerbiontech-strike-south-africa-covid-19-manufacturing-deal-with-biovac-2021-07-21/

South Africa’s Biovac to start making Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in H2 2022 – CEO. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-pfizer-biovac/south-africas-biovac-to-start-making-pfizer-biontech-vaccine-in-h2-2022-ceo-idUSKBN2ER18D

Pfizer will turn to a plant in Africa to help supply the continent with vaccines next year.But the agreement comes with caveats that will significantly limit its impact at a time when the fast-spreading Delta variant has driven a surge in infections and hospitalizations and sent the continent into the most devastating phase of its pandemic. Crucially, the South African producer, Biovac, will only be handling distribution and “fill-finish” — the final phase of the manufacturing process, during which the vaccine is placed in vials and packaged for shipping. It will rely on Pfizer facilities in Europe to make the vaccine substance and ship it to its Cape Town facility. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/21/business/pfizer-will-turn-to-a-plant-in-africa-to-help-supply-the-continent-with-vaccines-next-year.html

How the Delta variant achieves its ultrafast spread. Viral load is roughly 1,000 times higher in people infected with the Delta variant than those infected with the original coronavirus strain, according to a study in China.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01986-w

Tunisia president says army will take over management of COVID-19 crisis. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/tunisia-president-says-army-will-take-over-management-covid-19-crisis-2021-07-21/

Should Children Get COVID Vaccines? What the Science Says. With vaccination campaigns underway in some countries while others weigh the options, Nature looks at the evidence for vaccinating younger people.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/should-children-get-covid-vaccines-what-the-science-says/

At Least Two Million Children Have Lost a Parent or Grandparent Caregiver to COVID. That’s at a minimum. The real number could be significantly higher. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/at-least-two-million-children-have-lost-a-parent-or-grandparent-caregiver-to-covid/

When will COVID-19 vaccines be fully approved—and does it matter whether they are?https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/07/when-will-covid-19-vaccines-be-fully-approved-and-does-it-matter-if-they-are

Audio Interview: The Impact of Covid-19 on Trainees and Junior Faculty. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2112375?query=featured_home

Effectiveness of Covid-19 Vaccines against the B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant. Only modest differences in vaccine effectiveness were noted with the delta variant as compared with the alpha variant after the receipt of two vaccine doses. Absolute differences in vaccine effectiveness were more marked after the receipt of the first dose. This finding would support efforts to maximize vaccine uptake with two doses among vulnerable populations. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2108891?query=featured_home

Household Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from Children and Adolescents. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2031915?query=featured_home

SARS-CoV-2 Human Challenge Studies — Establishing the Model during an Evolving Pandemic. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2106970?query=featured_home

Prevention and Attenuation of Covid-19 with the BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 Vaccines. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2107058?query=featured_home

Age-Dependent Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 and P.1 Variant by Vaccine Immune Serum Samples. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2782428

Association Between COVID-19 Exposure and Self-reported Compliance With Public Health Guidelines Among Essential Employees at an Institution of Higher Education in the US. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2782144

OTHER NEWS

Second-Line Treatment of HIV-1 Infection in Sub-Saharan Africa. Dolutegravir or Darunavir in Combination with Zidovudine or Tenofovir to Treat HIV. Dolutegravir in combination with NRTIs was effective in treating patients with HIV-1 infection, including those with extensive NRTI resistance in whom no NRTIs were predicted to have activity. Tenofovir was noninferior to zidovudine as second-line therapy. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2101609?query=featured_home

Reform of research funding processes could pave the way for progress in global health. Much of the funds are directed towards salaries of the researchers from the Global North, despite the applications themselves pointing to excellent talented local researchers who will lead the studies on the ground. These excellent local researchers are often not proportionately compensated monetarily or academically for their efforts. Research ethics committees in the Global North rarely question these fundamental imbalances. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00207-2/fulltext#%20

A systematic review on ethical challenges of ‘field’ research in low-income and middle-income countries: respect, justice and beneficence for research staff? Data collection in LMICs can carry harmful consequences for the involved research staff, including threats to their physical and emotional well-being and intricate role conflicts. Further challenges comprise precarious employment conditions, inadequate remuneration, intellectual exploitation and feelings of guilt and shame that could arise due to vast socioeconomic disparities between researchers and the study population. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e005380.full?ijkey=czjeg7jBaxw2NKD&keytype=ref

Global health is dead; long live global health! Critiques of the field and its future. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e006648

Creating the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group of Experts (STAGE) to advance maternal, newborn, child, adolescent health and nutrition: a new approach. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e006726

Short message service (SMS) reminders for childhood immunisation in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e005035

Geospatial analysis of pediatric surgical need and geographical access to care in Somaliland: a cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e042969

Symptoms of acute transfusion reactions at a general referral hospital in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo: a cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e045081

Impact of Community-Based Clinical Breast Examinations in Botswana. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33405960/

Elements of a strategic approach for strengthening national mortality statistics programmes. https://gh.bmj.com/content/4/5/e001810

23 July 2021

Vaccine inequity undermining global economic recovery.https://www.who.int/news/item/22-07-2021-vaccine-inequity-undermining-global-economic-recovery

Global Dashboard for Vaccine Equity. https://data.undp.org/vaccine-equity/

Africa demands local production of COVID vaccines. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/africa-start-receiving-400-mln-jj-covid-19-vaccine-doses-next-week-2021-07-22/

COVID and mass sport events: early studies yield limited insights. UK allowed mass gatherings and attempted to study them but the early results provide limited data on viral transmission. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02016-5

COVID vaccines have higher approval in less affluent countries. Surveys show that people in ten low- and middle-income nations are generally more eager to receive the COVID-19 jab than people in two wealthier nations where vaccine is plentiful.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01987-9

Spatiotemporal invasion dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 emergence. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/07/22/science.abj0113?rss=1

Potential impact of intervention strategies on COVID-19 transmission in Malawi: a mathematical modelling study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e045196

Low vitamin D levels and prognosis in a COVID-19 paediatric population: a systematic review. The systematic review showed that almost half of the pediatric COVID patients suffer from vitamin D deficiency. It is also clear that the low level of vitamin D is associated with greater risk of infection and poorer outcome in pediatrics. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34293161/

OTHER NEWS

Reform of research funding processes could pave the way for progress in global health. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00207-2/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

‘Contraception divides opinion’: tackling taboos in Zimbabwe as teen pregnancies soar. With Covid lockdowns blamed for rising rates, MPs and teachers say it’s time to ‘face reality’ and allow younger teens access to birth control. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/jul/20/contraception-divides-opinion-tackling-taboos-in-zimbabwe-as-teen-pregnancies-soar

How scientists are subtracting race from medical risk calculators. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/07/how-scientists-are-subtracting-race-medical-risk-calculators

Evaluation of a Clinical Decision Support Strategy to Increase Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Among Hospitalized Children Before Inpatient Discharge. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2782168

Analysis of Physician Use of Social Media. These findings suggest that, despite many physicians engaging with SM, few physicians regularly use SM as a public platform. Female physicians were more likely to use SM, while surgeons and older physicians posted more on SM and had more followers. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2782171

Promoting evidence-informed cancer treatment policy making in sub-Saharan Africa. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00315-6/fulltext

Physical punishment and child outcomes: a narrative review of prospective studies. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00582-1/fulltext

Social unrest disrupts South African health care. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01654-8/fulltext

24 July 2021

Nine Lessons Learned From the COVID-19 Pandemic for Improving Hospital Care and Health Care Delivery. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2782429

Incidence of Axillary Adenopathy in Breast Imaging After COVID-19 Vaccination. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2782036

The Need for Life-Course Study of Children Born to Mothers With Prior COVID-19 Infection. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2782147

Antibody Response After a Third Dose of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Kidney Transplant Recipients With Minimal Serologic Response to 2 Doses. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2782538

Notice of Retraction. Walach H, et al. Experimental Assessment of Carbon Dioxide Content in Inhaled Air With or Without Face Masks in Healthy Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. Published online June 30, 2021.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2782288

Ethical frameworks in clinical research processes during COVID-19: a scoping review. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e047076

Experiences of supported isolation in returning travellers during the early COVID-19 response: a qualitative interview study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e050405

 

OTHER NEWS

Women, girls rarely factored into malaria equation. https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/women-girls-rarely-factored-into-malaria-equation/?utm_source=SciDev.Net&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=12544218_2021-07-23%20Daily%20Email%20Digest%20-%20Template&dm_i=1SCG,7GV6I,5R8D9U,UCWML,1

Comparison of best supportive care, CHOP, or R-CHOP for treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in Malawi: a cost-effectiveness analysis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00261-8/fulltext

Sickle Cell Disease Genomics of Africa (SickleGenAfrica) Network: ethical framework and initial qualitative findings from community engagement in Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e048208

Incidence of childhood injuries and modifiable household risk factors in rural Ghana: a multistage, cluster-randomised, population-based, household survey. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e039243

Time to transition: In support of alcohol-based surgical rub. https://www.surgjournal.com/article/S0039-6060(21)00645-0/fulltext#%20

Decolonizing Global Health: A Moment To Reflect On A Movement. https://www.forbes.com/sites/madhukarpai/2021/07/22/decolonizing-global-health-a-moment-to-reflect-on-a-movement/amp/?sh=539dfb1a5386&__twitter_impression=true

Cheryl Moyer: egalitarian in global health research. She is used to being on the road for much of the year for global health research, and she misses her African friends and colleagues. But she says that while the COVID-19 pandemic stopped her regular field trips to Ghana, it has empowered her local partners to “grab the ball and run with it. They may not need us high-income country partners after all”, she laughs. “That’s how it should be and I feel good about that.” https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01645-7/fulltext

26 July 2021

South Africa lifts some coronavirus restrictions after cases drop. South Africa on Sunday lifted restrictions on the sale of alcohol on weekdays and the movement of people between provinces as President Cyril Ramaphosa said a third wave of the coronavirus may have peaked. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-lifts-some-coronavirus-restrictions-third-wave-peak-passes-2021-07-25/

Renowned bioinformatician joins forces with Stellenbosch University in fight against pandemics. http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=8418

Can covid-19 vaccines be global public goods?https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/07/22/can-covid-19-vaccines-be-global-public-goods/

Cognitive deficits in people who have recovered from COVID-19. https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2589-5370%2821%2900324-2

Ghana aims to receive 18 million COVID shots by October.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ghana-aims-receive-18-million-covid-shots-by-october-2021-07-25/

Covid-19: Longer interval between Pfizer doses results in higher antibody levels, research finds. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1875

OTHER NEWS

Building Capacity for Global Cancer Research: Existing Opportunities and Future Directions. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13187-021-02043-w

Promoting evidence-informed cancer treatment policy making in sub-Saharan Africa. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00315-6/fulltext

Decolonising cancer research: why it matters, what can be done. https://cancerworld.net/decolonising-cancer-research-why-it-matters-what-can-be-done/

“Mr X presents with central crushing chest pain”—Breaking the male norm in medical education.  https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/07/22/mr-x-presents-with-central-crushing-chest-pain-breaking-the-male-norm-in-medical-education/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

A commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion for BMJ and our journals. 2. Supporting authors from the Global South

— To encourage authors from the Global South to publish in our open access journals, we provide waivers/discounts upon request and we provide free access or low-cost access to subscriptions to our journals for readers from the Global South
— We provide BMJ author services to help improve the quality and readability of articles.  We acknowledge the hegemony of the English language in science and we will develop further what we can do to promote equality.
— We also encourage the appropriate attribution of authors from the Global South in the author byline of papers. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/07/23/a-commitment-to-equality-diversity-and-inclusion-for-bmj-and-our-journals/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Factors associated with research productivity in higher education institutions in Africa: a systematic review [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-26/v1?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

Single motherhood, social independence and non-communicable disease (NCD) outcomes among young females (15-24 years old) in South Africa [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-31

27 July 2021

Long covid—mechanisms, risk factors, and management. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1648?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

How to stop COVID-19 fuelling a resurgence of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. A focus on the coronavirus has disrupted detection and treatment of other infectious diseases. Governments and funders can do four things to avert a catastrophe.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02334-0

Emergence of an early SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in the United States. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)00889-8

Combating information chaos: a case for collaborative clinical guidelines in a pandemic. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(21)00229-9

Safety Evaluation of the Second Dose of Messenger RNA COVID-19 Vaccines in Patients With Immediate Reactions to the First Dose. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2782348

OTHER NEWS

Using Updated PubMed. New Features and Functions to Enhance Literature Searches. PubMed is a free web-based public access resource that supports the search and retrieval of literature from the National Library of Medicine’s MEDLINE database. In the past 2 years, PubMed has been updated to improve functionality and add important new features, including a set of search statements to identify COVID-19 articles and a new publication filter to allow PubMed searches to retrieve early-release preprints. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2782570

Global Incidence and Mortality of Gastric Cancer, 1980-2018. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2782336

Using variation between countries to estimate demand for Cochrane reviews when access is free: a cost–benefit analysis. Institutions in many low-income and middle-income countries are granted free or inexpensive access through the WHO’s HINARI Access to Research for Health Programme (see also http://www.who.org/hinari), but healthcare professionals and patients outside of an institutional context are excluded.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e033310

Pooled analysis of the association between alcohol use and violence against women: evidence from four violence prevention studies in Africa. Data from five data sets generated by four violence against women and girls prevention studies in three countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa, Ghana and Rwanda. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e049282

Determining a safe upper limit of oxygen supplementation for adult patients: a systematic review. In this systematic review, we found inadequate evidence to identify a safe upper dosage of oxygen, but the identified studies suggest a benefit of keeping inspiratory oxygen fraction below 0.8 with regard to formation of atelectases. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e045057

Play interventions for paediatric patients in hospital: a scoping review. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e051957

28 July 2021

Covid-19: Countries dump vaccines as demand slumps and sharing proves difficult.https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1893?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

U.S. trade chief says engaged with WTO members on vaccine waiver talks. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-africa-vaccines/u-s-trade-chief-says-engaged-with-wto-members-on-vaccine-waiver-talks-idUSKBN2EX29W

Remember Ebola: stop mass death in Africa. The wealthy world must rally or nations will collapse across Africa. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01964-2

COVID vaccines slash viral spread – but Delta is an unknown. Studies show that vaccines reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 by more than 80%, but the Delta variant is creating fresh uncertainty. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02054-z

The Crucial Vaccine Benefit We’re Not Talking about Enough. They not only prevent people from getting sick; they also cut down on transmission by those who get infected after immunization. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-crucial-vaccine-benefit-were-not-talking-about-enough1/

Structural basis of mismatch recognition by a SARS-CoV-2 proofreading enzyme.https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/07/26/science.abi9310

Performance of Crisis Standards of Care Guidelines in a Cohort of Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients in the United States. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(21)00230-5

Assessment of the Performance Consistency of an Adverse Outcome Prediction Tool for Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2782421

COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes and practices: a mixed-mode cross-sectional survey in Liberia. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e049494

Building a multisystemic understanding of societal resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e006794

A Few Days on Antibiotics Are Often as Good as Weeks, Research Shows, Shorter courses cause fewer side effects and breed fewer antibiotic-resistant “superbugs”.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-few-days-on-antibiotics-are-often-as-good-as-weeks-research-shows/

29 July 2021

Überantibodies From Recovered COVID-19 Patients Could Spur New Therapeutics and Vaccines. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2782673

The overlooked superpower of mRNA vaccines. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/07/overlooked-superpower-mrna-vaccines

Covid-19 Breakthrough Infections in Vaccinated Health Care Workers.  Among fully vaccinated health care workers, the occurrence of breakthrough infections with SARS-CoV-2 was correlated with neutralizing antibody titers during the peri-infection period. Most breakthrough infections were mild or asymptomatic, although persistent symptoms did occur. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2109072?query=featured_home

Serologic Surveillance and Phylogenetic Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Hospital Health Care Workers. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2782430

Effect of Targeted Behavioral Science Messages on COVID-19 Vaccination Registration Among Employees of a Large Health System. A Randomized Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2782435

Mental health crisis in healthcare providers in the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional facility-based survey. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e052184

 

Tofacitinib in Patients Hospitalized with Covid-19 Pneumonia.  Among patients hospitalized with Covid-19 pneumonia, tofacitinib led to a lower risk of death or respiratory failure through day 28 than placebo. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2101643?query=featured_home

Pandemics & protests: Unrest grips developing countries. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-emerging-protests/pandemics-protests-unrest-grips-developing-countries-idUSKBN2EY22Y

Tanzania leader launches COVID-19 vaccination drive, orders more jabs. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-tanzania/tanzania-leader-launches-covid-19-vaccination-drive-orders-more-jabs-idUSKBN2EY1EN

Raab calls for global vaccine drive as UK starts donating shots. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-covax/raab-calls-for-global-vaccine-drive-as-uk-starts-donating-shots-idUSKBN2EY1UE

South Africa plans $2.4 billion relief measures over COVID-19, riots. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-safrica-economy/south-africa-plans-2-4-billion-relief-measures-over-covid-19-riots-idUSKBN2EY1JF

BNT162b2-Elicited Neutralization against New SARS-CoV-2 Spike Variants. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2106083?query=featured_home

Association Between Mood Disorders and Risk of COVID-19 Infection, Hospitalization, and Death. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2782453

Association of Facial Pustular Neutrophilic Eruption With Messenger RNA–1273 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/2782441

Will Some Adolescents and Young Adults Forgo Adherence to COVID-19 Prevention Methods in Favor of Romantic Relationships?https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2782326

 

Covid-19: Evidence used to support mass lateral flow testing was flawed, experts say. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1907

Diagnostic accuracy of rapid antigen tests in asymptomatic and presymptomatic close contacts of individuals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection: cross sectional study. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1676

Covid 19: More US institutes, universities, and businesses make masks mandatory as cases rise sharply. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1905

Youth versus pandemics: the role of future generations in the pandemic treaty. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00307-7/fulltext

Breakthrough Infections of SARS-CoV-2 Gamma Variant in Fully Vaccinated Gold Miners, French Guiana, 2021. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27/10/21-1427_article

 

OTHER NEWS

Genetic engineering test with mosquitoes ‘may be game changer’ in eliminating malaria. UK scientist says gene-drive study rendering female insects infertile may lead to ‘self destruct mosquito’ field tests within 10 years. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/28/genetic-engineering-test-with-mosquitoes-may-be-game-changer-in-eliminating-malaria

Duration of Adjuvant Aromatase-Inhibitor Therapy in Postmenopausal Breast Cancer. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2104162?query=featured_home

US Female Surgeons…may be at increased risk of infertility and pregnancy complications; changing surgical culture and enacting policies that support pregnancy may reduce risk of adverse obstetric outcomes. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2782357

Women Surgeons at Greater Risk of Pregnancy Loss, Study Finds The demands of the profession appear to clash with the process of starting a family. “There’s a health risk in it.” https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/28/health/women-surgeons-pregnancy.html?smid=tw-share

 Long-term Outcomes of Laparoscopic Lavage for Perforated Diverticulitis Remain Unfavorable. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2782360

Diverse experts’ perspectives on ethical issues of using machine learning to predict HIV/AIDS risk in sub-Saharan Africa: a modified Delphi study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e052287

Has the billion dollar crusade to eradicate polio come to an end?https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1818?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage&__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=pmd_79027d49e972c527d05052217be54fd8c63f4c21-1627535134-0-gqNtZGzNAmKjcnBszRM6

30 July 2021

Safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of an aerosolised adenovirus type-5 vector-based COVID-19 vaccine (Ad5-nCoV) in adults: preliminary report of an open-label and randomised phase 1 clinical trial.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00396-0/fulltext

Stretched Senegalese hospitals overwhelmed by third COVID wave. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/stretched-senegalese-hospitals-overwhelmed-by-third-covid-wave-2021-07-29/

Daily briefing: Predicting breakthrough COVID. A study links high levels of virus-blocking antibodies to reduced risk of infection in vaccinated people. Plus: Turning water into metal, and a fossil that could be from Earth’s earliest known animal.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02100-w

How the coronavirus infects cells — and why Delta is so dangerous. Scientists are unpicking the life cycle of SARS-CoV-2 and how the virus uses tricks to evade detection. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02039-y

Immune correlates of protection by mRNA-1273 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in nonhuman primates. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/07/29/science.abj0299?rss=1

The overlooked superpower of mRNA vaccines. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/07/overlooked-superpower-mrna-vaccines

Fostering Hospital Resilience—Lessons From COVID-19. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2782738

Self-reported Memory Problems 8 Months After COVID-19 Infection. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2782531

Covid-19: NICE issues guidance on vaccine induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1914

Risk of acute myocardial infarction and ischaemic stroke following COVID-19 in Sweden: a self-controlled case series and matched cohort study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00896-5/fulltext

Ivermectin for preventing and treating COVID‐19. Based on the current very low‐ to low‐certainty evidence, we are uncertain about the efficacy and safety of ivermectin used to treat or prevent COVID‐19. The completed studies are small and few are considered high quality. Several studies are underway that may produce clearer answers in review updates. Overall, the reliable evidence available does not support the use ivermectin for treatment or prevention of COVID‐19 outside of well‐designed randomized trials. https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD015017.pub2/full 

 

OTHER NEWS

DIABETES–INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL ISSUE. A century of progress. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/373/6554/504

Aetiology and severity of childhood pneumonia in primary care in Malawi: a cohort study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e046633

Impact of aspirin use on clinical outcomes in patients with vasospastic angina: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Aspirin use may not reduce the risk of future cardiovascular events in VSA patients without significant stenosis. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e048719

Causes and circumstances of maternal death: a secondary analysis of the Community-Level Interventions for Pre-eclampsia (CLIP) trials cohort. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00263-1/fulltext     

COMMENT–Uncertainty in computerised analysis of maternal deaths. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00336-3/fulltext

31 July 2021

Hard-won gains at risk as Delta variant spreads- WHO. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/hard-won-gains-being-lost-delta-variant-spreads-who-2021-07-30/

Uganda partially eases COVID-19 containment measures. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-uganda/uganda-partially-eases-covid-19-containment-measures-idUSKBN2F02V9

Botswana pays equivalent of $15 a dose for Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/botswana-pays-equivalent-15-dose-sinovacs-covid-19-vaccine-2021-07-30/

Germany drops S.Africa, others from ‘virus variant’ list.https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-drops-safrica-others-virus-variant-list-2021-07-30/

Kenya suspends in-person meetings to curb COVID-19 spread. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/kenya-suspends-all-in-person-meetings-countrywide-contain-covid-19-spread-2021-07-30/

Covid-19: Pfizer vaccine’s efficacy declined from 96% to 84% four months after second dose, company reports. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1920

A blood marker predicts who gets ‘breakthrough’ COVID. Real-world evidence from a medical centre links high levels of potent antibodies after vaccination to a reduced risk of infection. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02096-3

COVID boosters for wealthy nations spark outrage. Nations short of vaccine should get first doses to curb the pandemic, researchers say.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02109-1

Why Do Variants Such as Delta Become Dominant?Mutations that make a virus more transmissible are only part of the equation. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-variants-such-as-delta-become-dominant/

COVID, Quickly, Episode 12: Masking Up Again and Why People Refuse Shots. https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/covid-quickly-episode-12-masking-up-again-and-why-people-refuse-shots/

No shortcuts to SARS-CoV-2 antivirals. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/373/6554/488

The road to addressing Long Covid. Long Covid is likely the first illness in history that has been defined by patients through social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook https://science.sciencemag.org/content/373/6554/491

COVID-19 provides an opportunity to transform cancer research. https://www.cell.com/cancer-cell/fulltext/S1535-6108(21)00397-4

Abbreviated Profile of Drugs (APOD): modeling drug safety profiles to prioritize investigational COVID-19 treatments. https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(21)01769-2

Affinity maturation of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies confers potency, breadth, and resilience to viral escape mutations. https://www.cell.com/immunity/fulltext/S1074-7613(21)00294-6

Biodiversity and COVID-19: A report and a long road ahead to avoid another pandemic. https://www.cell.com/one-earth/fulltext/S2590-3322(21)00349-3

Self-reported vs Directly Observed Face Mask Use in Kenya. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2782566

To Advance Health Equity During COVID-19 and Beyond, Elevate and Support Community Health Workers. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2782746

 

OTHER NEWS

Disassembly of HIV envelope glycoprotein trimer immunogens is driven by antibodies elicited via immunization. https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/7/31/eabh2791

Public Perceptions of Physician Attire and Professionalism in the US. Findings suggest that individuals prefer that physicians wear white coats and that gender biases in the perception of professional physician attire exist  https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2782564

National optimisation of accessibility to emergency obstetrical and neonatal care in Togo: a geospatial analysis. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e045891

Consideration of antimicrobial resistance and contextual factors in infectious disease guidelines: a systematic survey. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e046097

2 Aug 2021

Mandating COVID-19 Vaccination for Health Care Workers. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M21-3150

Achieving Racial and Ethnic Equity in COVID-19 Vaccination. From Individual Readiness to Health System Readiness. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2782620

Identification of COVID-19 Virus in Human Intraocular Tissues. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/2782449

Presumed SARS-CoV-2 Viral Particles in the Human Retina of Patients With COVID-19.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/2782445

Association Between Mood Disorders and Risk of COVID-19 Infection, Hospitalization, and Death. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2782453

OTHER NEWS

An ecological study on the association between early childhood caries and intimate partner violence in 20 low- and middle-income countries: 2007-2017 [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-39/v1?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

Disability: measurement matters. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00312-0/fulltext

Should global financing be the main priority for pandemic preparedness?https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01387-8/fulltext

Checklist Framework for Surgical Education Disaster Plans. https://www.journalacs.org/article/S1072-7515(21)00493-2/fulltext

Level of knowledge and practice of female healthcare providers about early detection methods of breast cancer at Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialised Hospital: a cross-sectional study. https://research.one.surgery/level-of-knowledge-and-practice-of-female-healthcare-providers-about-early-detection-methods-of-breast-cancer-at-debre-tabor-comprehensive-specialised-hospital-a-cross-sectional-study/

The need to reshape global food processing: a call to the United Nations Food Systems Summit. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e006885

3 Aug 2021

A simple text has the power to increase COVID vaccinations. People who received a short ‘nudge’ by mobile phone were more likely to get a jab than were those who did not. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02108-2

COVID boosters for wealthy nations spark outrage. Nations short of vaccine should get first doses to curb the pandemic, researchers say.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02109-1

The COVID vaccine makers tell all. A book from the Oxford–AstraZeneca team, and a documentary, go behind the scenes in the race to vaccinate the world.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02090-9

Flawed ivermectin preprint highlights challenges of COVID drug studies. The study, now withdrawn, deals a blow to the anti-parasite drug’s chances as a COVID treatment, researchers say. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02081-w

The Crucial Vaccine Benefit We’re Not Talking about Enough. The vaccines not only prevent people from getting sick; they also cut down on transmission by those who get infected after immunization. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-crucial-vaccine-benefit-were-not-talking-about-enough1/

Covid-19: Delta infections threaten herd immunity vaccine strategy. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1933

Covid-19: UK cases of delta variant. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 is not the same as covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1896

Rapid, early and accurate SARS-CoV-2 detection using RT-qPCR in primary care: a prospective cohort study (REAP-1). https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e045225

Correlates of intended COVID-19 vaccine acceptance across time and countries: results from a series of cross-sectional surveys. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e048025

In adults hospitalized with COVID-19, the 5-variable SOARS score predicted in-hospital mortality. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ACPJ202108170-095 

President Uhuru Kenyatta unveils the first locally developed Malaria Test Kit at the KEMRI. https://www.kemri.org/2021/07/22/launch-of-the-first-locally-manufactured-malaria-rapid-diagnostic-kit/

Cognitive Decline Associated With Anesthesia and Surgery in Older Patients.  https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2782851

Law, criminalisation and HIV in the world: have countries that criminalise achieved more or less successful pandemic response? https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/8/e006315

Dementia risk in professional footballers is linked to player position and career length, study finds. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1934

4 Aug 2021

Surprise dip in UK COVID cases baffles researchers. Daily recorded infections have more than halved since mid-July. Few researchers anticipated such a sharp decline, and they are now struggling to interpret it. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02125-1

COVID ‘Fast Grants’ sped up pandemic science. Programme awarded $US50 million in rapid grants and highlights limitations in existing scientific-funding mechanisms. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02111-7

Broad betacoronavirus neutralization by a stem helix–specific human antibody. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/08/03/science.abj3321?rss=1

No evidence of human genome integration of SARS-CoV-2 found by long-read DNA sequencing. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)00961-X?utm_medium=homepage

Intellectual property waiver for covid-19 vaccines will advance global health equity. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1837

 

OTHER NEWS

Why sports concussions are worse for women. As women’s soccer, rugby and other sports gain popularity, scientists are racing to understand how the female brain responds to head injury. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02089-2

Roopa Dhatt: How a simple statistic helped put women on the global health map. In 2015, practising physician Roopa Dhatt and her colleagues wangled their way into the World Health Assembly in Geneva, and counted how many of the chief delegates representing countries were women. It was 23%, despite women making up 70% of the global health and social workforce. That simple statistic started a movement. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1827

Hypothermia for moderate or severe neonatal encephalopathy in low-income and middle-income countries (HELIX): a randomised controlled trial in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00264-3/fulltext

Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy in low resource settings—time to stop cooling?https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00343-0/fulltext

5 Aug 2021

African countries to do rapid mass testing for COVID-19: Africa CDC. https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/african-countries-to-do-rapid-mass-testing-for-covid-19-africa-cdc/

Why are low-risk countries on the Covid travel ‘red list’?https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/04/why-are-low-risk-countries-on-the-covid-travel-red-list

WHO calls for halting COVID-19 vaccine boosters in favor of unvaccinated. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/who-calls-moratorium-covid-19-vaccine-booster-doses-until-september-end-2021-08-04/

Cash payments in Africa could boost vaccine uptake. When doses finally arrive, use cash incentives to overcome hesitancy. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02086-5

‘Breakthrough’ Infections Do Not Mean COVID Vaccines Are Failing. Getting flu again postinoculation is more common than a return case after a COVID shot. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/breakthrough-infections-do-not-mean-covid-vaccines-are-failing/

Audio Interview: Looking Back and Looking Forward — Part 2. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2112855?query=featured_home

Therapeutic Anticoagulation with Heparin in Critically Ill Patients with Covid-19. In critically ill patients with Covid-19, an initial strategy of therapeutic-dose anticoagulation with heparin did not result in a greater probability of survival to hospital discharge or a greater number of days free of cardiovascular or respiratory organ support than did usual-care pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2103417?query=featured_home

Therapeutic Anticoagulation with Heparin in Noncritically Ill Patients with Covid-19. In noncritically ill patients with Covid-19, an initial strategy of therapeutic-dose anticoagulation with heparin increased the probability of survival to hospital discharge with reduced use of cardiovascular or respiratory organ support as compared with usual-care thromboprophylaxis. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2105911?query=featured_home

Subcutaneous REGEN-COV Antibody Combination to Prevent Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2109682?query=featured_home

SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Patients with Immunosuppression. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsb2104756?query=featured_home

Contact Tracing for Covid-19 — A Digital Inoculation against Future Pandemics. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2102256?query=featured_secondary

Myocarditis and Pericarditis After Vaccination for COVID-19. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2782900

Variation of National and International Guidelines on Respiratory Protection for Health Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2782670

Setting Priorities to Address Research Gaps in Long-term COVID-19 Outcomes in Children. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2782612

Assessing the Association Between Social Gatherings and COVID-19 Risk Using Birthdays. This study suggests that events that lead to small and informal social gatherings, such as birthdays, and in particular, children’s birthdays, are a potentially important source in SARS-CoV-2 transmission. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2781306

Covid-19: Most symptomatic children recover within a week, study finds. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1947

Patient commentary: Protect patients like me—make covid vaccines mandatory for all eligible staff in care settings. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1921

OTHER NEWS

Association Between Self-reported Importance of Religious or Spiritual Beliefs and End-of-Life Care Preferences Among People Receiving Dialysis. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2782667

Exploring the factors that promote or diminish a psychologically safe environment: a qualitative interview study with critical care staff | BMJ Open. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e046699

Effect of a multifaceted intervention to improve clinical quality of care through stepwise certification (SafeCare) in health-care facilities in Tanzania: a cluster-randomised controlled trial. SafeCare did not improve clinical quality as assessed by compliance with IPC practices and correct case management. The absence of effect on clinical quality could reflect a combination of insufficient intervention intensity, insufficient links between structural quality and care processes, scarcity of resources for quality improvement, and inadequate financial and regulatory incentives for improvement. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00228-X/fulltext

Stepwise accreditation in Tanzania: no impact on process quality. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00286-2/fulltext#%20

Five Top Tips To Champion Female Leadership. https://www.forbes.com/sites/sairahashman/2021/06/30/five-top-tips-to-champion-female-leadership/?sh=291ee3d865fe

New #malaria point of care test uses an app to interpret #diagnosis, increasing access to testing in rural and remote areas.   @ScotNational. https://www.thenational.scot/news/19485255.scots-team-leads-development-origami-malaria-testing-app/

GLOBAL HEALTH IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 AND BEYOND:  WHAT’S JUSTICE GOT TO DO WITH IT? https://www.irg-ghj.org/our-vision

6 August 2021

Recovery after prolonged ICU treatment in patients with COVID-19.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00318-0/fulltext

‘They thought Covid only kills white people’: myths and fear hinder jabs in DRC. Mutant strain may emerge amid vaccine hesitancy, experts say, as even medics reject jabs in DR Congo. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/05/covid-only-kills-white-people-myths-and-fear-hinder-jabs-in-drc-congo

African Union says J&J vaccine shipments begin, warns of slow pace of deliveries.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/african-union-says-jj-vaccine-shipments-begin-warns-slow-pace-deliveries-2021-08-05/

Africa’s COVID vaccine project takes a step forward with bottling agreement -document. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/africas-covid-vaccine-project-takes-step-forward-with-bottling-agreement-2021-08-05/

WHO says COVID-19 related deaths in Africa reach record peak. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/who-says-covid-19-related-deaths-africa-reach-record-peak-2021-08-05/

COVID vaccine boosters: the most important questions. Concerns over waning immunity and SARS-CoV-2 variants have convinced some countries to deploy extra vaccine doses — but it’s not clear to scientists whether most people need them.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02158-6

Covid-19: WHO calls for booster shot ban until end of September. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1962

Delta threatens rural regions that dodged earlier COVID waves. Data on the variant’s spread in India make researchers fearful for areas in developing nations that lack health care and vaccines. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02146-w

A giant trial of COVID-19 treatments is restarting. Here are the drugs it’s betting on. Solidarity, a global study led by the World Health Organization (WHO), will test three new drugs in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: the cancer drug imatinib, an antibody named infliximab that is used to treat autoimmune diseases, and artesunate, an antimalarial. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/08/giant-trial-covid-19-treatments-restarting-here-are-drugs-it-s-betting

Humane shelter at home: a call to reimagine a core pandemic intervention. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/8/e006614

Why Cuba developed its own covid vaccine—and what happened next. The island’s national regulatory agency approved the Abdala vaccine on 9 July, making Cuba the first Latin American country to develop a successful covid-19 vaccine. The Center for State Control of Medicines, Equipment and Medical Devices reports that Abdala is 92% efficacious after three doses.  https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1912

Covid-19: CPAP reduces need for invasive mechanical ventilation in patients requiring oxygen, study finds. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1950

COVID-19, online shaming, and health-care professionals. Unfortunately, doctors, along with other health-care workers, have become the targets of online shaming pile-ons. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01706-2/fulltext

Critically ill COVID-19 patients in Africa: it is time for quality registry data. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01549-X/fulltext

What are the obligations of pharmaceutical companies in a global health emergency?An ethical approach to COVID-19 vaccine production and distribution should satisfy four uncontroversial principles: optimising vaccine production, including development, testing, and manufacturing; fair distribution; sustainability; and accountability. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01378-7/fulltext

Tobacco industry capitalises on the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00361-1/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030. WHO, No one should be harmed in health care.Yet, every minute, 5 patients die because of unsafe care. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240032705

‘Tortured phrases’ give away fabricated research papers. Analysis reveals that strange turns of phrase may indicate foul play in science.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02134-0

Quantifying conflict zones as a challenge to certification of Guinea worm eradication in Africa: a new analytical approach. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e049732

Methodological issues in economic evaluations of emergency transport systems in low-income and middle-income countries. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/3/e004723

‘Open’ relationships: reflections on the role of the journal in the contemporary scholarly publishing landscape. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09581596.2021.1958512

7 August 2021

Insights into How SARS-CoV-2 Causes Brain Pathology. https://www.jwatch.org/na53882/2021/08/03/insights-how-sars-cov-2-causes-brain-pathology

South African study shows high COVID protection from J&J shot. Corrects paragraph 4 to show protection rates are against hospitalisation, not infection. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/safrican-study-shows-jj-vaccine-protects-against-death-co-lead-investigator-says-2021-08-06/

COVID vaccine inequity, species swaps — the week in infographics. Nature highlights three key infographics from the week in science and research.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02151-z

COVID-19 vaccinemaker Novavax faces manufacturing setback.https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/08/covid-19-vaccinemaker-novavax-faces-manufacturing-setback

SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Responses in Infection-Naive or Previously Infected Individuals After 1 and 2 Doses of the BNT162b2 Vaccine. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2782762

Characteristics and outcomes of hospitalised adults with COVID-19 in a Global Health Research Network: a cohort study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e051588

Safety and immunogenicity of heterologous versus homologous prime-boost schedules with an adenoviral vectored and mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Com-COV): a single-blind, randomised, non-inferiority trial.  Despite the BNT/ChAd regimen not meeting non-inferiority criteria, the SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike IgG concentrations of both heterologous schedules were higher than that of a licensed vaccine schedule (ChAd/ChAd) with proven efficacy against COVID-19 disease and hospitalisation. Along with the higher immunogenicity of ChAd/BNT compared with ChAD/ChAd, these data support flexibility in the use of heterologous prime-boost vaccination using ChAd and BNT COVID-19 vaccines. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01694-9/fulltext

Cerebral venous thrombosis after vaccination against COVID-19 in the UK: a multicentre cohort study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01608-1/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Major UK science funder unveils strict open-access policy. The details align with Plan S — but UKRI hasn’t yet decided whether to pay for open-access publishing in some hybrid journals. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02148-8

Cancer as a Global Health Priority. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2782998

Gender distribution in the editorial boards of surgical journals: A snapshot from Western Europe. Plastic surgery journals had the highest mean percentage of women playing the role of associate editor (35%), followed by those focused on general surgery (21%), neurosurgery (14%), and orthopedic surgery (8%).https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0039606021006899?dgcid=coauthor

16 August 2021

Effectiveness of Covid-19 Vaccines against the B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant. Only modest differences in vaccine effectiveness were noted with the delta variant as compared with the alpha variant after the receipt of two vaccine doses. Absolute differences in vaccine effectiveness were more marked after the receipt of the first dose. This finding would support efforts to maximize vaccine uptake with two doses among vulnerable populations. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2108891?query=featured_home

Clinical Features of Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2109908?query=featured_home

Three Doses of an mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine in Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2108861?query=featured_home

Vaccine Effectiveness Studies in the Field.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2110605?query=featured_secondary

Making Vaccines Available to Other Countries Before Offering Domestic Booster Vaccinations. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2783234

Gordon Brown hits out at EU’s ‘neocolonial approach’ to Covid vaccine supplies. Former UK prime minister calls on western leaders to convene summit to address Africa’s vaccine deficit. Gordon Brown: the world is making billions of Covid vaccine doses, so why is Africa not getting them?https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/16/gordon-brown-hits-out-at-eu-neocolonial-approach-to-covid-vaccine-supplies\

Lesotho’s PM isolating with Covid as cases ‘go unrecorded’. Medics fear government is failing to gather data as ‘social media conspiracies’ slow vaccination take-up.https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/aug/12/lesothos-pm-isolating-with-covid-as-cases-go-unrecorded

Emergency vaccine summit needed to help Africa, says UK’s ex-PM Brown. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/emergency-vaccine-summit-needed-help-africa-says-uks-ex-pm-brown-2021-08-16/

Has COVID taught us anything about pandemic preparedness?. Researchers warn that plans to prevent the next global outbreak don’t consider the failures that have fuelled our current predicament. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02217-y

How do vaccinated people spread Delta? What the science says. Emerging data suggest that Delta could spread more readily than other coronavirus variants among people vaccinated against COVID-19. But key questions remain.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02187-1

Critical Care Doctors Are in Crisis. Who’s caring for the ICU physicians?https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/critical-care-doctors-are-in-crisis/

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?utm_medium=homepage

Audio Interview: Monoclonal Antibodies and Booster Shots. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2113398?query=featured_home

Change in Saliva RT-PCR Sensitivity Over the Course of SARS-CoV-2 Infection. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2783249

Variants of SARS-CoV-2. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2783248

Quantification of Specific Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2 in Breast Milk of Lactating Women Vaccinated With an mRNA Vaccine. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2782982

Time for action: towards an intersectional gender approach to COVID-19 vaccine development and deployment that leaves no one behind.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/8/e006854

What will we choose to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic?https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/8/e007005

New waves, new variants, old inequity: a continuing COVID-19 crisis.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/8/e007031

Covid-19: Uganda’s low inpatient numbers mask high community infection as desperate patients turn to herbs. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1909

The legacies of colonialism: putting African covid-19 vaccination into context. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/08/13/the-legacies-of-colonialism-putting-african-covid-19-vaccination-into-context/

Covid-19: Two vaccine doses are crucial for protection against delta, study finds.https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2029

Estimating spatiotemporal patterns of deaths by COVID-19 outbreak on a global scale. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e047002

Heterologous ChAdOx1-nCoV19–BNT162b2 vaccination provides superior immunogenicity against COVID-19.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00366-0/fulltext

Safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity of homologous and heterologous prime-boost immunisation with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and BNT162b2: a prospective cohort study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00357-X/fulltext

COVID-19 vaccine equity and booster doses. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00486-2/fulltext

Inhaled budesonide for COVID-19 in people at high risk of complications in the community in the UK (PRINCIPLE): a randomised, controlled, open-label, adaptive platform trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01744-X/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Cabotegravir for HIV PrEP in High-Risk Adults. https://www.nejm.org/do/10.1056/NEJMdo006117/full/

Enhancing HIV Prevention with Injectable Preexposure Prophylaxis.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2110665?query=featured_secondary

Effect of Intravenous Fluid Treatment With a Balanced Solution vs 0.9% Saline Solution on Mortality in Critically Ill Patients. /The BaSICS Randomized Clinical Trial.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2783039

Effect of Slower vs Faster Intravenous Fluid Bolus Rates on Mortality in Critically Ill Patients. The BaSICS Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2783040

Midcareer Medical School Research Faculty Perspectives on Vitality and Professionalism During the COVID-19 Pandemic.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2782993

Assessment of Undernutrition Among Children in 55 Low- and Middle-Income Countries Using Dietary and Anthropometric Measures.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2782986

Research within international non-governmental organisation programmes in low and middle-income countries: challenges amid opportunities.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/8/e006210

Trends and outcomes in primary health care expenditures in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–2017. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/8/e005798

Feasibility of implementing Extubation Advisor, a clinical decision support tool to improve extubation decision-making in the ICU: a mixed-methods observational study. . https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e045674

Strengthening ethics committees for health-related research in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e046546

Sexually transmitted infections and prior antibiotic use as important causes for negative urine cultures among adults presenting with urinary tract infection symptoms to primary care clinics in Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e050407

Effects of local handwashing agents on microbial contamination of hands in the rural settings of northwest Ethiopia: protocol for a two-arm, clustered-randomised controlled trial. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e046828

What do doctors understand by spiritual health? A survey of UK general practitioners. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e045110

Tuberculosis care cascade in Zambia – identifying the gaps in order to improve outcomes: a population-based analysis.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e044867

Effects of minimum unit pricing for alcohol in South Africa across different drinker groups and wealth quintiles: a modelling study.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e052879

Epistemic injustice in academic global health. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00301-6/fulltext

17 August 2021

Covid-19: Two vaccine doses are crucial for protection against delta, study finds.https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2029

More than 50 long-term effects of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95565-8

What you need to know about the coronavirus right now.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/what-you-need-know-about-coronavirus-right-now-2021-03-02/

Emergency vaccine summit needed to help Africa, says UK’s ex-PM Brown.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/emergency-vaccine-summit-needed-help-africa-says-uks-ex-pm-brown-2021-08-16/

A grim warning from Israel: Vaccination blunts, but does not defeat Delta. With early vaccination and outstanding data, country is the world’s real-life COVID-19 lab.https://www.science.org/content/article/grim-warning-israel-vaccination-blunts-does-not-defeat-delta

Generation and transmission of inter-lineage recombinants in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)00984-3

Combining spike- and nucleocapsid-based vaccines improves distal control of SARS-CoV-2. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)01108-6

Protective heterologous T cell immunity in COVID-19 induced by the trivalent Measles-Mumps-Rubella and Tetanus-Diptheria-Pertussis vaccine antigens. Tdap and MMR memory T cells reactivated by SARS-CoV-2 may provide protection against severe COVID-19 disease. https://www.cell.com/med/fulltext/S2666-6340(21)00289-0

Mask-Wearing Behavior at the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2783357

Profiteering from vaccine inequity: a crime against humanity?https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2027

Covid-19: Children born during the pandemic score lower on cognitive tests, study finds (Rhode Island, USA) . The researchers have largely ruled out a direct effect of the virus, as mothers or children with a history of testing positive for covid-19 were excluded from the analysis. Instead, the authors say, reduced interaction with parents and less outdoor exercise are likely culprits, along with effects that occurred during pregnancy.https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2031

OTHER NEWS

Ivory Coast begins Ebola vaccinations after case confirmed in Abidjan. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-ebola-ivorycoast-guinea/ivory-coast-begins-ebola-vaccinations-after-case-confirmed-in-abidjan-idUSKBN2FH1VQ

Science Must Be for Everyone. .Racism and sexism are obstacles to making the scientific enterprise worthy of its public funding.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/science-must-be-for-everyone/

Vaccine Lessons From COVID Could Help Prevent Future Pandemics. Effective COVID-19 vaccines arrived in record time. That success story, years in the making, offers lessons that could help prevent future outbreaks, including pandemic influenza.https://www.scientificamerican.com/custom-media/vaccine-lessons-from-covid-could-help-prevent-future-pandemics/?mvt=i&mvn=9a8f3d19c32945529333414bb2c8225e&mvp=NA-SCIEAMERLIVE-11237933&mvl=HomeAgenda

Conducting clinical research in a resource-constrained setting: lessons from a longitudinal cohort study in The Gambia. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/8/e006419

Beyond the metrics of health research performance in African countries.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e006019

18 August 2021

Critically ill COVID-19 patients in Africa: it is time for quality registry data – Authors’ reply. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01545-2/fulltext

Patient care and clinical outcomes for patients with COVID-19 infection admitted to African high-care or intensive care units (ACCCOS): a multicentre, prospective, observational cohort study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00441-4/fulltext

Botswana’s COVID-19 budget balloons as it battles for vaccines.  Botswana needs to budget an extra 1.13 billion pula ($100 million) to help secure COVID-19 vaccines and equipment as the southern African country battles a third wave of infections, Finance Minister Peggy Serame told parliament on Tuesday. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/botswanas-covid-19-budget-balloons-it-battles-vaccines-2021-08-17/

U.S. ships nearly 500k COVID vaccine doses to Rwanda. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/us-ships-nearly-500k-covid-vaccine-doses-rwanda-2021-08-17/

Iran hopes to defeat COVID with home-grown crop of vaccines. Nature talks to vaccine developer Kayhan Azadmanesh about efforts in Iran to develop ten or more COVID jabs, two of which have been approved for use.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02216-z

Antibodies reveal who’s protected by Moderna’s COVID vaccine. Trial results add to growing evidence that low levels of ‘neutralizing’ antibodies are a marker of vulnerability to COVID-19. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02237-8

The WHO is right to call a temporary halt to COVID vaccine boosters. Richer countries should focus on ramping up vaccine supply to the billions who are still waiting for their first dose. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02219-w

Vaccine Lessons From COVID Could Help Prevent Future Pandemics. Effective COVID-19 vaccines arrived in record time. That success story, years in the making, offers lessons that could help prevent future outbreaks, including pandemic influenza.https://www.scientificamerican.com/custom-media/vaccine-lessons-from-covid-could-help-prevent-future-pandemics/?mvt=i&mvn=775a6ae7baa242dbbf29675d87a7a809&mvp=NA-SCIEAMERLIVE-11237933&mvl=HomeLatest

The animal origin of SARS-CoV-2. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abh0117

Vaccine nationalism and the dynamics and control of SARS-CoV-2. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abj7364

Sputnik V vaccine elicits seroconversion and neutralizing capacity to SARS-CoV-2 after a single dose. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(21)00208-1

Short-term Reactions Among Pregnant and Lactating Individuals in the First Wave of the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2783112

Lessons from two SARS-CoV-2 waves in South Africa. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00313-2/fulltext

SARS-CoV-2 delta variant neutralisation after heterologous ChAdOx1-S/BNT162b2 vaccination. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01891-2/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

7-1-7: an organising principle, target, and accountability metric to make the world safer from pandemics. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01250-2/fulltext

Global, regional, and national progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 for neonatal and child health: all-cause and cause-specific mortality findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01207-1/fulltext

Spatio-temporal distribution and associated factors of anaemia among children aged 6–59 months in Ethiopia: a spatial and multilevel analysis based on the EDHS 2005–2016. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e045544

Arresting vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (AVERT-HBV) in pregnant women and their neonates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a feasibility study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00304-1/fulltext

Global, regional, and national progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 for neonatal and child health: all-cause and cause-specific mortality findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01207-1/fulltext

Enablers of gender equitable scientific career progression in Sub-Saharan Africa: Insights from the DELTAS Africa Initiative [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-42

Vision impairment and traffic safety outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00303-X/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

19 August 2021

No need for COVID booster jabs for now – WHO. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-boosters/no-need-for-covid-booster-jabs-for-now-who-idUSKBN2FJ1F9

Delta surging in areas of low COVID-19 vaccine coverage – WHO.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who/delta-surging-in-areas-of-low-covid-19-vaccine-coverage-who-idUSKBN2FJ1EW

Antibodies reveal who’s protected by Moderna’s COVID vaccin. Trial results add to growing evidence that low levels of ‘neutralizing’ antibodies are a marker of vulnerability to COVID-19. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02237-8

The interferon landscape along the respiratory tract impacts the severity of COVID-19. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)00990-9

Early Convalescent Plasma for High-Risk Outpatients with Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2103784?query=featured_home

Audio Interview: Aspects of Covid-19 Immunity. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2113747?query=featured_home

Pan-Sarbecovirus Neutralizing Antibodies in BNT162b2-Immunized SARS-CoV-1 Survivors. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2108453?query=featured_home

Breakthrough Infections in BNT162b2-Vaccinated Health Care Workers. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2108076?query=featured_home

Myocarditis after Covid-19 mRNA Vaccination. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2109975?query=featured_home

Confronting the Delta Variant of SARS-CoV-2, Summer 2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2783478

OTHER NEWS

African languages to get more bespoke scientific terms. Many words common to science have never been written in African languages. Now, researchers from across Africa are changing that. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02218-x

Decades-old SARS virus infection triggers potent response to COVID vaccines. Dramatic antibody production in people that were infected during the 2002–04 outbreak furthers hopes of a vaccine against many coronaviruses.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02260-9

Health researchers report funder pressure to suppress results. Small study hints that interference from bodies funding research into public-health issues such as nutrition and exercise may be more common than realized.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02242-x

Evaluation of Adjunctive Ultrasonography for Breast Cancer Detection Among Women Aged 40-49 Years With Varying Breast Density Undergoing Screening Mammography. A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2783177

20 August 2021

Facing backlash, EU says import of J&J vaccines from South Africa is temporary. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-says-import-jj-vaccines-south-africa-is-temporary-2021-08-19/

South Africa to open up COVID-19 vaccinations to 18-35 year olds from Friday. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-open-up-covid-19-vaccinations-18-35-year-olds-friday-2021-08-19/

Ebola, other outbreaks, atop COVID-19, risk straining West Africa health systems -WHO. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ebola-other-outbreaks-atop-covid-19-risk-straining-west-africa-health-systems-2021-08-19/

COVID vaccines protect against Delta, but their effectiveness wanes. Massive UK study of COVID-19 cases shows that people who are jabbed have good immunity at first, but quickly become more vulnerable to the fast-spreading Delta variant.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02261-8

Delta’s rise is fuelled by rampant spread from people who feel fine. People infected with the Delta variant generally do not have COVID-19 symptoms until two days after they start shedding the coronavirus. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02259-2

Masks Are a Must-Have to Go Back to School during the Delta Variant Surge. Face coverings are essential to protecting children, keeping schools open and slowing the highly contagious coronavirus variant, experts say. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/masks-are-a-must-have-to-go-back-to-school-during-the-delta-variant-surge/

Confronting the Delta Variant of SARS-CoV-2, Summer 2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2783478

OTHER NEWS

Analysis of Maternal Postnatal Depression, Socioeconomic Factors, and Offspring Internalizing Symptoms in a Longitudinal Cohort in South Africa. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2783238

Recognizing the Complexity of Psychosocial Factors Associated With Children’s Development—the Case of Maternal Depression.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2783244

The absurdity of research registration for community-oriented knowledge coproduction. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/8/e007040

Governance factors that affect the implementation of health financing reforms in Tanzania: an exploratory study of stakeholders’ perspectives.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/8/e005964

How to improve outbreak response: a case study of integrated outbreak analytics from Ebola in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/8/e006736

21 August 2021

Using the COVID-19 pandemic to reimagine global health teaching in high-income countries. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/4/e005649[mt1] 

U.S. shipping COVID-19 vaccine doses to Togo, Angola – official.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-africa/u-s-shipping-covid-19-vaccine-doses-to-togo-angola-official-idUSKBN2FL1P9

South Africans form long queues as COVID-19 jabs opened to all adults.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica/south-africans-form-long-queues-as-covid-19-jabs-opened-to-all-adults-idUSKBN2FL1GA

Facing backlash, EU says import of J&J vaccines from South Africa is temporary. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-says-import-jj-vaccines-south-africa-is-temporary-2021-08-19/

The mutation that helps Delta spread like wildfire. A key amino-acid change might underlie the coronavirus variant’s ferocious infectivity.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02275-2

Should You Get a Booster Shot? Here’s What We Know. Experts weigh in on common questions about whether and when additional doses of coronavirus vaccines may be needed. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/should-you-get-a-booster-shot-heres-what-we-know/

Do Delta ‘breakthroughs’ really mean vaccine protection is waning, and are boosters the answer? Science sifts through the latest, sometimes murky data on COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against the coronavirus variant.https://www.science.org/content/article/do-delta-breakthroughs-really-mean-vaccine-protection-waning-and-are-boosters-answer

Live Imaging of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Mice Reveals that Neutralizing Antibodies Require Fc Function for Optimal Efficacy.https://www.cell.com/immunity/fulltext/S1074-7613(21)00347-2

The Origins of SARS-CoV-2: A Critical Review. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)00991-0

Characterization of Nonphysician Health Care Workers’ Burnout and Subsequent Changes in Work Effort.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2783264

OTHER NEWS

The Reporting of Race and Ethnicity in Surgery Literature. The frequency of race and ethnicity reporting among surgical journals is low. A journal’s statement of adherence to ICMJE recommendations did not affect the frequency of race and ethnicity reporting; however, there was an increase in the use of ICMJE quality metrics. These findings suggest the need for increased and more standardized reporting of racial and ethnic demographic data among surgical journals. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2783256

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23 August 2021

Using the COVID-19 pandemic to reimagine global health teaching in high-income countries. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/4/e005649

U.S. shipping COVID-19 vaccine doses to Togo, Angola – official.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-shipping-covid-19-vaccine-doses-togo-angola-official-2021-08-20/

Policies Mandated by Multilateral Institutions Are Contributing to India’s COVID Catastrophe. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund’s pressure to privahttps://www.office.com/launch/powerpoint?auth=2&username=margaret.tarpley@Vanderbilt.Edu&login_hint=margaret.tarpley@Vanderbilt.Edutize India’s health care system deepened inequities in access—to lethal effect. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/policies-mandated-by-multilateral-institutions-are-contributing-to-indias-covid-catastrophe/

Do Delta ‘breakthroughs’ really mean vaccine protection is waning, and are boosters the answer? https://www.science.org/content/article/do-delta-breakthroughs-really-mean-vaccine-protection-waning-and-are-boosters-answer

OTHER NEWS

Challenge of diagnosing acute infections in poor resource settings in Africa [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-28

REVISED High infectious disease burden as a basis for the observed high frequency of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections in sub-Saharan Africa [version 2; peer review: 1 approved]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-2

Factors associated with research productivity in higher education institutions in Africa: a systematic review [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]. https://aasopenresearch.org/browse?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

24 August 2021

COVID vaccines and blood clots: what researchers know so far. Scientists are trying to understand why a small number of people develop a mysterious clotting disorder after receiving a COVID jab. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02291-2

How Nature’s COVID coverage has made a difference. We analysed the impact of Nature’s coronavirus journalism and opinion. Here’s what we found.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02277-0

COVID Vaccines Show No Signs of Harming Fertility or Sexual Function. The novel coronavirus, in contrast, can disrupt both things in unvaccinated men and women. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-vaccines-show-no-signs-of-harming-fertility-or-sexual-function/

Egypt to intensify vaccination ahead of a fourth COVID-19 wave.-Egypt will vaccinate all 4.5 million of its state employees against COVID-19 in August and September as it seeks to accelerate vaccinations ahead of a likely fourth wave of infections, the health minister said on Monday. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-egypt/egypt-to-intensify-vaccination-ahead-of-a-fourth-covid-19-wave-idUSKBN2FO178

A SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Broadly Neutralizes SARS-related Coronaviruses and Variants by Coordinated Recognition of a Virus Vulnerable Site. https://www.cell.com/immunity/fulltext/S1074-7613(21)00359-9

Epitope diversity of SARS-CoV-2 hyperimmune intravenous human immunoglobulins and neutralization of variants of concern. https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(21)00974-3

Real world effectiveness of covid-19 vaccines. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2034

Delirium is a good predictor for poor outcomes from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34425488/

 25 August 2021

Nigeria approves Sinopharm COVID vaccine, expects 7.7 mln doses. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigeria-approves-sinopharm-covid-vaccine-expects-77-mln-doses-2021-08-24/

Type I interferon autoantibodies are associated with systemic immune alterations in patients with COVID-19. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abh2624

Organising knowledge to prevent global health crises: a comparative analysis of pandemic preparedness indicators. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/8/e006864

Unlocking the health system barriers to maximise the uptake and utilisation of molecular diagnostics in low-income and middle-income country setting. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/8/e005357

Covid-19: 40% of patients with weakened immune system mount lower response to vaccines. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2098

Covid-19: Which countries are doing well on test and trace—and how can we tell?https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2053

Covid-19: FDA approves Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in record time. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2096

Polarisation, incivility, and scientific debate during covid-19—an essay by Agnes Arnold-Forster. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1888

Mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents during the covid-19 pandemic. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1730

Vaccine Rollout Resumes Albeit Minor Hiccups. Batswana turned up in large numbers to heed the call for the second dose phase of their COVID-19 vaccine shots at the different vaccination sites in the capital city. https://www.mmegi.bw/news/vaccine-rollout-resumes-albeit-minor-hiccups/news

OTHER NEWS

Medicinal plants used among pregnant women in a tertiary teaching hospital in Jimma, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e046495

A step-by-step guide to peer review: a template for patients and novice reviewers, https://informatics.bmj.com/content/28/1/e100392

Antimicrobial resistance in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence in foods, food handlers, animals, and the environment. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771421000768?via%3Dihub

26 August 2021

The Guardian view on global vaccine inequality: unwise as well as unethical. Editorial. Richer countries must wake up and see the bigger Covid picture. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/25/the-guardian-view-on-global-vaccine-inequality-unwise-as-well-as-unethical

Daily briefing: COVID vaccines and rare blood clots. The science around COVID vaccines and blood clots, a ban on preprints in early-career funding applications and a call to control methane. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02335-7

Origins of SARS-CoV-2: window is closing for key scientific studies. Authors of the March WHO report into how COVID-19 emerged warn that further delay makes crucial inquiry biologically difficult. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02263-6

Booster shot of J&J vaccine raises antibody levels, company says. Unpublished data suggest second shot could help fight COVID-19. https://www.science.org/content/article/booster-shot-j-j-vaccine-raises-antibody-levels-company-says

Audio Interview: Assessing Vaccine Safety.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2114106?query=featured_home

Safety of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine in a Nationwide Setting. In this study in a nationwide mass vaccination setting, the BNT162b2 vaccine was not associated with an elevated risk of most of the adverse events examined. The vaccine was associated with an excess risk of myocarditis (1 to 5 events per 100,000 persons). The risk of this potentially serious adverse event and of many other serious adverse events was substantially increased after SARS-CoV-2 infection. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2110475?query=featured_home

Therapeutic Anticoagulation with Heparin in Critically Ill Patients with Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2103417?query=featured_home

Therapeutic Anticoagulation with Heparin in Noncritically Ill Patients with Covid-19.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2105911?query=featured_home

Surviving Covid-19 with Heparin?https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2111151?query=featured_secondary

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange in Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2109465?query=featured_home

Influenza’s Unprecedented Low Profile During COVID-19 Pandemic Leaves Experts Wondering What This Flu Season Has in Store. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2783644

Post–COVID-19 Symptoms Were Worse Than Cancer’s Effects.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2783410

Covid-19: Protection from two doses of vaccine wanes within six months, data suggest. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2113

How the world is (not) handling surplus doses and expiring vaccines. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2062

OTHER NEWS

High blood pressure driven by obesity, poverty – WHO study. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/high-blood-pressure-driven-by-obesity-poverty-who-study-2021-08-24/

Seasonal Malaria Vaccination with or without Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention. Administration of RTS,S/AS01E was noninferior to chemoprevention in preventing uncomplicated malaria. The combination of these interventions resulted in a substantially lower incidence of uncomplicated malaria, severe malaria, and death from malaria than either intervention alone. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2026330?query=featured_home

A Monoclonal Antibody for Malaria Prevention. Among adults who had never had malaria infection or vaccination, administration of the long-acting monoclonal antibody CIS43LS prevented malaria after controlled infection. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2034031?query=featured_home

27 August 2021

Profiling CD8+ T Cell Epitopes of COVID-19 Convalescents Reveals Reduced Cellular Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Variants. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)01155-4

Comparison of two highly-effective mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 during periods of Alpha and Delta variant prevalence.  This article is a preprint and has not been peer-reviewed [what does this mean?]. It reports new medical research that has yet to be evaluated and so should not be used to guide clinical practice. Although clinical trials and real-world studies have affirmed the effectiveness and safety of the FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines, reports of breakthrough infections and persistent emergence of new variants highlight the need to vigilantly monitor the effectiveness of these vaccines. Here we compare the effectiveness of two full-length Spike protein-encoding mRNA vaccines from Moderna (mRNA-1273) and Pfizer/BioNTech (BNT162b2) in the Mayo Clinic Health System over time from January to July 2021, during which either the Alpha or Delta variant was highly prevalent. We defined cohorts of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals from Minnesota (n = 25,589 each) matched on age, sex, race, history of prior SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing, and date of full vaccination. Both vaccines were highly effective during this study period against SARS-CoV-2 infection (mRNA-1273: 86%, 95%CI: 81-90.6%; BNT162b2: 76%, 95%CI: 69-81%) and COVID-19 associated hospitalization (mRNA-1273: 91.6%, 95% CI: 81-97%; BNT162b2: 85%, 95% CI: 73-93%). In July, vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization has remained high (mRNA-1273: 81%, 95% CI: 33-96.3%; BNT162b2: 75%, 95% CI: 24-93.9%), but effectiveness against infection was lower for both vaccines (mRNA-1273: 76%, 95% CI: 58-87%; BNT162b2: 42%, 95% CI: 13-62%), with a more pronounced reduction for BNT162b2. Notably, the Delta variant prevalence in Minnesota increased from 0.7% in May to over 70% in July whereas the Alpha variant prevalence decreased from 85% to 13% over the same time period. Comparing rates of infection between matched individuals fully vaccinated with mRNA-1273 versus BNT162b2 across Mayo Clinic Health System sites in multiple states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona, Florida, and Iowa), mRNA-1273 conferred a two-fold risk reduction against breakthrough infection compared to BNT162b2 (IRR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.39-0.64). In Florida, which is currently experiencing its largest COVID-19 surge to date, the risk of infection in July after full vaccination with mRNA-1273 was about 60% lower than after full vaccination with BNT162b2 (IRR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.24-0.62). Our observational study highlights that while both mRNA COVID-19 vaccines strongly protect against infection and severe disease, further evaluation of mechanisms underlying differences in their effectiveness such as dosing regimens and vaccine composition are warranted. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.06.21261707v2

Association of COVID-19 Mitigation Measures With Changes in Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Body Mass Index Among Children Aged 7 to 10 Years in Austria. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2783511

Risk of thrombocytopenia and thromboembolism after covid-19 vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 positive testing: self-controlled case series study. Increased risks of haematological and vascular events that led to hospital admission or death were observed for short time intervals after first doses of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and BNT162b2 mRNA vaccines. The risks of most of these events were substantially higher and more prolonged after SARS-CoV-2 infection than after vaccination in the same population. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1931

Strengthening international surveillance of vaccine safety. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1994

A clinical risk score to predict in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e048770

Novel 3D printable powered air purifying respirator for emergency use during PPE shortage of the COVID-19 pandemic: a study protocol and device safety analysis. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e049605

1-year outcomes in hospital survivors with COVID-19: a longitudinal cohort study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01755-4/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Nine in 10 female doctors in UK have experienced sexism at work, says BMA. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2123

Cognitive stimulation in the workplace, plasma proteins, and risk of dementia: three analyses of population cohort studies. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1804

Methodological considerations for linking household and healthcare provider data for estimating effective coverage: a systematic review. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e045704

Can the Robson 10 Group Classification System help identify which groups of women are driving the high caesarean section rate in major private hospitals in eastern Ethiopia? A cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e047206

Global, regional, and national estimates and trends in stillbirths from 2000 to 2019: a systematic assessment. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01112-0/fulltext

Resource availability, utilisation and cost in the provision of critical care in Tanzania: a protocol for a systematic review. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e050881

30 August 2021

Unraveling the Mystery of Why Children Are Better Protected from COVID Than Adults. Their immune system is more primed to fight off the novel coronavirus.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/unraveling-the-mystery-of-why-children-are-better-protected-from-covid-than-adults/

The Origins of SARS-CoV-2: A Critical Review. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)00991-0?utm_medium=homepage

Changes in Body Mass Index Among Children and Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2783690

Factors Associated With Household Transmission of SARS-CoV-2. An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2783544

Codevelopment of COVID-19 infection prevention and control guidelines in lower-middle-income countries: the ‘SPRINT’ principles.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/8/e006406

Indirect effects of COVID-19 on maternal, neonatal, child, sexual and reproductive health services in Kampala, Uganda. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/8/e006102

Strengthening international surveillance of vaccine safety.https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1994

What symptoms best predict severe distress in an online survey of UK health and social care staff facing COVID-19: development of the two-item Tipping Point Index.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e047345

1-year outcomes in hospital survivors with COVID-19: a longitudinal cohort study.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01755-4/fulltext

Understanding long COVID: a modern medical challenge.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01900-0/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Cardiac Performance in the First Year of Age Among Preterm Infants Fed Maternal Breast Milk. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2783546

A cluster randomised trial of cookstove interventions to improve infant health in Ghana. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/8/e005599

Making miscarriage matter. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01379-9/fulltext

31 Aug 2021

WHO says C.1.2. COVID-19 variant does not seem to be spreading.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/who-says-c12-covid-19-variant-does-not-seem-be-spreading-2021-08-31/

What you need to know about the coronavirus right now.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/what-you-need-know-about-coronavirus-right-now-2021-03-02/

South Africa detects new coronavirus variant, still studying its mutations. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-detects-new-coronavirus-variant-still-studying-its-mutations-2021-08-30/

US COVID origins report: researchers pleased with scientific approach. Intelligence investigation is inconclusive on virus’s origins, but finds SARS-CoV-2 wasn’t weaponized and unlikely to have been engineered.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02366-0

Having SARS-CoV-2 once confers much greater immunity than a vaccine—but vaccination remains vital. Israelis who had an infection were more protected against the Delta coronavirus variant than those who had an already highly effective COVID-19 vaccine. https://www.science.org/content/article/having-sars-cov-2-once-confers-much-greater-immunity-vaccine-no-infection-parties-please

Unethical? Unnecessary? The COVID-19 vaccine booster debate intensifiesAs United States reveals its plan to offer an extra dose of COVID-19 vaccine, equity and scientific questions abound. https://www.science.org/content/article/unethical-unnecessary-covid-19-vaccine-booster-debate-intensifies

COVID, Quickly, Episode 13: Vaccine Approval, Breakthrough Infections, Boosters.https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/covid-quickly-episode-13-vaccine-approval-breakthrough-infections-boosters/

Fab and Fc contribute to maximal protection against SARS-CoV-2 following NVX-CoV2373 subunit vaccine with Matrix-M™ vaccination. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(21)00263-9

Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Response Following Vaccination With BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2783797

Durability of Spike Immunoglobin G Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 Among Health Care Workers With Prior Infection.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2783618

NIH study shows no significant benefit of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 outpatients with early symptoms. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-study-shows-no-significant-benefit-convalescent-plasma-covid-19-outpatients-early-symptoms?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#main-content

Flawed ivermectin preprint highlights challenges of COVID drug studies. The study’s withdrawal from a preprint platform deals a blow to the anti-parasite drug’s chances as a COVID treatment, researchers say. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02081-w

OTHER NEWS

Governing Human Germline Editing Through Patent Law.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2783796

What’s needed to improve safety and quality of abortion care: reflections from WHO/HRP Multi-Country Study on Abortion across the sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America and Caribbean regions. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/8/e007226

Women’s wellbeing and the burden of unpaid work.https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1972

Empowering women through expanded contraceptive access in Nigeria and Zambia.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00388-0/fulltext

Expanding long-acting contraceptive options: a prospective cohort study of the hormonal intrauterine device, copper intrauterine device, and implants in Nigeria and Zambia. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00318-1/fulltext

Voices in the wilderness: how exclusionist article processing charge policies of academic journals underscore what is wrong with global health. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00262-X/fulltext

Monoclonal antibody prevents malaria in small NIH trial. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/monoclonal-antibody-prevents-malaria-small-nih-trial?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#main-content

Stopping the Progression of Moral Injury. A Priority During Surgical Training. https://journals.lww.com/annalsofsurgery/citation/9000/stopping_the_progression_of_moral_injury__a.93325.aspx

1 Sept 2021

South Africa detects new coronavirus variant, still studying its mutations.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-detects-new-coronavirus-variant-still-studying-its-mutations-2021-08-30/

Egypt ramps up local vaccine production with eye on exports.https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/egypt-ramps-up-local-vaccine-production-with-eye-exports-2021-08-31/

Nigeria prioritising four COVID-19 vaccines, not including Sinopharm. Nigeria is prioritising the AstraZeneca, Pfizer(PFE.N), Moderna (MRNA.O) and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.  https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigeria-prioritising-four-covid-19-vaccines-not-including-sinopharm-2021-08-31/

WHO says C.1.2. COVID-19 variant does not seem to be spreading. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/who-says-c12-covid-19-variant-does-not-seem-be-spreading-2021-08-31/

Rogue antibodies involved in almost one-fifth of COVID deaths. The self-targeting antibodies attack type 1 interferons that play a key role in fighting infection.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02337-5

A monocyte/dendritic cell molecular signature of SARS-CoV-2 related multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) with severe myocarditis.https://www.cell.com/med/fulltext/S2666-6340(21)00287-7

Risk factors for COVID-19-related in-hospital mortality in a high HIV and tuberculosis prevalence setting in South Africa: a cohort study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(21)00151-X/fulltext

Time for action: towards an intersectional gender approach to COVID-19 vaccine development and deployment that leaves no one behind. Integral to this approach is meaningful engagement of women at all levels to ensure that scientific, policymaking and programmatic decision-making processes benefit from their leadership, expertise and perspectives. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/8/e006854.full

OTHER NEWS

J&J’s HIV vaccine fails trial in latest blow to the field.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/johnson-johnsons-hiv-vaccine-fails-mid-stage-study-africa-2021-08-31/

A systems approach to elucidate personalized mechanistic complexities of antibody-Fc receptor activation post-vaccination. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(21)00244-5

Effect of Low-Normal vs High-Normal Oxygenation Targets on Organ Dysfunction in Critically Ill Patients. A Randomized Clinical Trial. Among critically ill patients, targeting oxygenation to a low-normal range compared with a high-normal range did not result in a statistically significant reduction in organ dysfunction. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2783810

Effect of Lower Tidal Volume Ventilation Facilitated by Extracorporeal Carbon Dioxide Removal vs Standard Care Ventilation on 90-Day Mortality in Patients With Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure. The REST Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2783809

Titrating Oxygen Therapy in Critically Ill Patients.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2783811

Strengthening Global Health Security and Reforming the International Health Regulations. Making the World Safer From Future Pandemics. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2783866

Malaria: Combining vaccine with prophylaxis cuts child deaths by 73%, study finds. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2137

How many infants may have died in low-income and middle-income countries in 2020 due to the economic contraction accompanying the COVID-19 pandemic? Mortality projections based on forecasted declines in economic growth.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e050551

Benefits and Risks Associated With Aspirin Use in Patients With Diabetes for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events and Mortality: A Meta-Analysis. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2021.741374/full?utm_source=S-TWT&utm_medium=SNET&utm_campaign=ECO_FENDO_XXXXXXXX_auto-dlvrit

7 Sept 2021

‘No one may be compelled’: Zimbabwe unions go to court over Covid jabs. Firms accused of ‘rounding up workers like animals’ for compulsory vaccination as country acts to stop spread of virus. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/sep/07/no-one-may-be-compelled-zimbabwe-unions-go-to-court-over-covid-jabs

Nigeria’s Delta region oil hub may need new COVID lockdown, governor says.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-nigeria/nigerias-delta-region-oil-hub-may-need-new-covid-lockdown-governor-says-idUSKBN2G30NZ

G20 urges COVID help for poor states, but short on new commitments.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-g20-health/g20-urges-covid-help-for-poor-states-but-short-on-new-commitments-idUSKBN2G217W

Kids and COVID: why young immune systems are still on top. Innate immunity might be the key to why children have fared better with the virus. But the Delta variant poses fresh unknowns. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02423-8

The emergence and ongoing convergent evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 N501Y lineages.https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)01050-3

How are mathematical models and results from mathematical models of vaccine-preventable diseases used, or not, by global health organisations?https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/9/e006827

In suspected COVID-19, RT-PCR with nasal plus throat swabs has 97% sensitivity vs. nasopharyngeal swabs. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/full/10.7326/ACPJ202109210-107

Covid-19: “Most complex patient in the world” should have ventilation withdrawn. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2193

Covid-19: Infection increases the risk of kidney disease even in mild cases, finds study. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2189

Which strategy for using medical and community masks? A prospective analysis of their environmental impact. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e049690

OTHER NEWS

Patterns of sexual violence against adults and children during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya: a prospective cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e048636

Adolescents and age of consent to HIV testing: an updated review of national policies in sub-Saharan Africa. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e049673

8 Sept 2021

COVID-19 disruption causing many deaths from TB, AIDS in poorest countries, fund says. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-tuberculosis/covid-19-disruption-causing-many-deaths-from-tb-aids-in-poorest-countries-fund-says-idUSKBN2G31XD

Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Israeli Children During the Circulation of Different SARS-CoV-2 Variants. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2783851

OTHER NEWS

How misconduct helped psychological science to thrive. Grass-roots action against bad behaviour has spurred reform — and should keep going.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02421-w

License CRISPR patents for free to share gene editing globally. Universities hold the majority of CRISPR patents. They are in a strong position to ensure that the technology is widely shared for education and research.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02420-x

Association of Thyroid Dysfunction With Cognitive Function. An Individual Participant Data Analysis. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2783799

Pulse oximetry adoption and oxygen orders at paediatric admission over 7 years in Kenya: a multihospital retrospective cohort study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e050995

Maternal experience of intermittent kangaroo mother care for late preterm infants: a mixed-methods study in four postnatal wards in China. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e050221

R.E.S.P.e.c.T and intimate partner violence: a cross-sectional study using DHS data in Kenya. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e046069

Seizing the moment to rethink health systems. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00356-9/fulltext#%20

9 Sept 2021

If you want to know about life in an unvaccinated country, look to Uganda. Africa is paying the price of western hoarding, and my country will endure Covid lockdowns until we get more doses. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/08/unvaccinated-country-uganda-africa-hoarding-covid-lockdown

South Africa puts off municipal election for 4 days after court bars long COVID delay. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-safrica-election/south-africa-puts-off-municipal-election-for-4-days-after-court-bars-long-covid-delay-idUSKBN2G5023

Face masks for COVID pass their largest test yet. A rigorous study finds that surgical masks are highly protective, but cloth masks fall short.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02457-y

Audio Interview: Protecting against Severe Disease and Transmission. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2114821?query=featured_home

Effectiveness of Covid-19 Vaccines in Ambulatory and Inpatient Care Settings. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2110362?query=featured_home

Receipt of mRNA Covid-19 Vaccines and Risk of Spontaneous Abortion. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2113891?query=featured_home

Spontaneous Abortion Following COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2784193

On Preliminary Findings of mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine Safety in Pregnant Persons. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2113516?query=featured_home

Effect of Vaccination on Transmission of SARS-CoV-2. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2106757?query=featured_home

Association of COVID-19 Lockdown With the Tumor Burden in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784019

Covering Tracheostomies Reduces Viral Spread to Health Care Staff. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2783835

Most Fully Vaccinated Patients With Cancer Have SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2783834

External validation of the 4C Mortality Score for patients with COVID-19 and pre-existing cardiovascular diseases/risk factors. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e052708

OTHER NEWS

No revolution: COVID-19 boosted open access, but preprints are only a fraction of pandemic papers. Critics of scientific publishing had hoped for a bigger shake-up from the global crisis. https://www.science.org/content/article/no-revolution-covid-19-boosted-open-access-preprints-are-only-fraction-pandemic-papers

Seasonal Malaria Vaccination with or without Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2026330?query=featured_home

Heterologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and mRNA-1273 Vaccination. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2110716?query=featured_home

Decline in Pathogenic Antibodies over Time in VITT. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2112760?query=featured_home

Representation of Women Among Editors in Chief of Leading Medical Journals. This study found that women are underrepresented among editors in chief of leading medical journals. For the benefit of medical research, a joint effort from editorial boards, publishers, authors, and academic institutions is required to address this gender gap. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784023

Increasing Representation of Women as Editors in Medical Journals. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784026Effect of High-Dose vs Standard-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation on Neurodevelopment of Healthy Term Infants. A Randomized Clinical Trial. These findings suggest that higher-than-standard doses of vitamin D are not required to optimize child neurodevelopment. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784018

10 Sept 2021

Send vaccines to Africa and ditch unproven third shot, AU says. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/give-vaccines-africa-ditch-unproven-third-shot-au-says-2021-09-09/

Sinovac to trial COVID-19 vaccine in South African children as part of global study. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica-vaccine/sinovac-to-trial-covid-19-vaccine-in-south-african-children-as-part-of-global-study-idUSKBN2G51BR

COVID advances win US$3-million Breakthrough prizes. Pioneers of mRNA vaccines and next-generation sequencing techniques are among the winners of science’s most lucrative awards. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02449-y

Face masks for COVID pass their largest test yet. A rigorous study finds that surgical masks are highly protective, but cloth masks fall short.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02457-y

NICE takes ethnicity out of estimating kidney function. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2159

What are the obligations of pharmaceutical companies in a global health emergency?https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01378-7/fulltext

13 Sept 2021

Protection against COVID-19: beyond antibodies. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00561-2/fulltext

A new strategy for health and sustainable development in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01995-4/fulltext

Azithromycin for mild-to-moderate COVID-19. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00379-9/fulltext

Azithromycin for mild-to-moderate COVID-19 – Authors’ reply. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00376-3/fulltext

South Africa loosens COVID curbs as third wave eases, https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africas-president-loosens-covid-19-curbs-shortens-curfew-2021-09-12/

S.Africa’s regulator approves Pfizer COVID-19 shot for children 12 and up. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/safricas-regulator-approves-pfizer-covid-19-shot-children-12-up-2021-09-11/

Sinovac in talks about setting up South Africa vaccine production. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/sinovac-talks-about-setting-up-safrica-vaccine-production-partner-says-2021-09-10/

How COVID is derailing the fight against HIV, TB and malaria. The pandemic’s effects on efforts to thwart other infectious diseases could exceed the direct impact of COVID-19. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02469-8

Pivotal climate summit dogged by COVID and equity concerns. Environmental network calls for delay to the November meeting, but many developing countries and the host nation vow to press on in face of climate threats.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02465-y

COVID in kids and fossil-fuel limits — the week in infographics. Nature highlights three key infographics from the week in science and research.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02470-1

A year of genomic surveillance reveals how the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic unfolded in Africa. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abj4336

Early cross-coronavirus reactive signatures of humoral immunity against COVID-19. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciimmunol.abj2901

COVID, Quickly, Episode 14: Best Masks, Explaining Mask Anger, Biden’s New Plan. https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/covid-quickly-episode-14-best-masks-explaining-mask-anger-bidens-new-plan/

A new strategy for health and sustainable development in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01995-4/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Efficacy and safety of baricitinib for the treatment of hospitalised adults with COVID-19 (COV-BARRIER): a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00331-3/fulltext

‘A very cruel exit’: UK’s aid cuts risk rapid return of treatable diseases. £200m project to eliminate avoidable blindness and disfigurement in Africa ends after funding is prematurely axed. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/sep/13/uks-ambition-to-stamp-out-neglected-tropical-diseases-gets-neglected

Controlling diabetes and hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa: lessons from HIV programmes. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01731-1/fulltext

Training and upskilling Ethiopia’s female physicians will promote gender equity and improve care. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/09/10/training-and-upskilling-ethiopias-female-physicians-will-promote-gender-equity-and-improve-care/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

14 Sept 2021

With many climate activists unable to access vaccines, should Cop26 go ahead? Because of hoarding by rich countries, those in the global south on the frontline of the crisis will be excluded from the talks.https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/14/climate-activists-vaccines-cop26-hoarding-crisis-talks

After long delay, Congo’s Tshisekedi receives COVID-19 vaccine.  Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi has received his first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the government said on Monday, after a six-month wait caused by his unwillingness to take the AstraZeneca shot. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-congo-vaccine/after-long-delay-congos-tshisekedi-receives-covid-19-vaccine-idUSKBN2G91B8

Why did this year’s projected supply of COVID-19 vaccine for needy countries go down? A lack of exported doses from India is a key factor—and booster shot plans could add to woes for low-income nations. https://www.science.org/content/article/why-did-year-s-projected-supply-covid-19-vaccine-needy-countries-go-down

Vaccinating people who have had covid-19: why doesn’t natural immunity count in the US? https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2101

Long COVID and post-infective fatigue syndrome – a review. https://academic.oup.com/ofid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ofid/ofab440/6367589

South Africa mulls vaccine passports as Covid-19 restrictions are eased. South Africa will start to ease several Covid-19 restrictions as infection rates decrease in the country, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday. Amongst other measures, the nationwide curfew will be reduced to 11pm until 4am, the size of gatherings can increase to 250 people indoors and 500 outdoors, and restrictions on alcohol sales will be further reduced. The measures will be reviewed in two weeks, he said. Ramaphosa said the country now has enough vaccine doses to cover the entire adult population, with more than a quarter of adults receiving at least one dose. The president encouraged everyone to get vaccinated to allow the country to get back to normal. https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/13/africa/south-africa-ease-covid-restrictions-intl/index.html

WHO: Africa COVID-19 Cases Fall by 23 Percent. https://www.voanews.com/home-page/who-africa-covid-19-cases-fall-23-percent

OTHER NEWS

Women less likely to win major research awards. Although the gap is narrowing, prestigious prizes are still more likely to go to men, finds an analysis of gender bias in the world’s top science awards. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02497-4

Preprint advocates must also fight for research integrity

 Efforts to share research with the public must include mechanisms to prevent harm resulting from low-quality work. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02481-y

Don’t make early career researchers ‘ghost authors.’ Give us the credit we deserve. https://www.science.org/content/article/don-t-make-early-career-researchers-ghost-authors-give-us-credit-we-deserve

Simplified models to assess newborn gestational age in low-middle income countries: findings from a multicountry, prospective cohort study. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/9/e005688

Association of maternal prenatal selenium concentration and preterm birth: a multicountry meta-analysis. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/9/e005856

Scaling up Kangaroo Mother Care in Ethiopia and India: a multi-site implementation research study. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/9/e005905

Client-perpetrated gender-based violence among female sex workers in conflict-affected Northern Uganda: a cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e046894

15 Sept 2021

Less than 3.5 % of Africans vaccinated against COVID – Africa CDC. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-africa/less-than-3-5-of-africans-vaccinated-against-covid-africa-cdc-idUSKBN2GA1G0

EXCLUSIVE WHO-backed vaccine hub for Africa to copy Moderna COVID-19 shot. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/exclusive-who-backed-vaccine-hub-africa-copy-moderna-covid-19-shot-2021-09-14/

India considers resuming vaccine exports soon, focus on Africa, says source. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india-vaccine/india-considers-resuming-vaccine-exports-soon-focus-on-africa-says-source-idUSKBN2GB0IU

Can ‘zero COVID’ countries continue to keep the virus at bay once they reopen? Successful strategies used in Asia and the Pacific may not be sustainable in the long run. https://www.science.org/content/article/can-zero-covid-countries-continue-keep-virus-bay-once-they-reopen

How the Pandemic Is Changing Mental Health. COVID has jostled people’s emotional equilibrium. Therapy apps, telehealth, lay counselors and psilocybin are poised to change the foundations of caregiving. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-pandemic-is-changing-mental-health/

Demographic and Clinical Characteristics Associated With Severity, Clinical Outcomes, and Mortality of COVID-19 Infection in Gabon. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784059

Africa’s COVID-19 Experience—A Window of Opportunity to Act. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784063

Profiteering from vaccine inequity: nudge pharma towards “doing well by doing good”. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2255

Covid-19: Boys are more at risk of myocarditis after vaccination than of hospital admission for covid. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2251

Remdesivir plus standard of care versus standard of care alone for the treatment of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (DisCoVeRy): a phase 3, randomised, controlled, open-label trial. No clinical benefit was observed from the use of remdesivir in patients who were admitted to hospital for COVID-19, were symptomatic for more than 7 days, and required oxygen support. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00485-0/fulltext

Remdesivir, on the road to DisCoVeRy. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00559-4/fulltext

Prevention of host-to-host transmission by SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00472-2/fulltext

Protection against COVID-19: beyond antibodies. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00561-2/fulltext

Daily testing for contacts of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection and attendance and SARS-CoV-2 transmission in English secondary schools and colleges: an open-label, cluster-randomised trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01908-5/fulltext

Covid-19: Government lays out its “plan B” to protect NHS this winter. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2270?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Leaders Make Urgent Call To Accelerate Vaccination Globally And In Africa. https://www.who.int/news/item/14-09-2021-leaders-make-urgent-call-to-accelerate-vaccination-globally-and-in-africa

COVID and venous thrombosis: systematic review of literature. Conclusions: Among patients hospitalized for COVID-19, VT is a relatively common finding, with higher prevalence rates in ICU patients. VT occurs mostly in the distal regions of the lower limb and is asymptomatic in most cases. Older age, obesity and higher D-dimer values on admission increased the odds of VT, while female sex was protective against the odds of VT. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34520137/

OTHER NEWS

Reproducibility: expect less of the scientific paper. Make science more reliable by placing the burden of replicability on the community, not on individual laboratories.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02486-7

The quality of medical products for cardiovascular diseases: a gap in global cardiac care. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/9/e006523

Barriers to follow-up after an abnormal cervical cancer screening result and the role of male partners: a qualitative study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e049901

“What are you carrying?” Experiences of mothers with preterm babies in low-resource setting neonatal intensive care unit: a qualitative study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e043989

Defining clinical empathy: a grounded theory approach from the perspective of healthcare workers and patients in a multicultural setting. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e045224

Demographic, occupational and societal risk exposures to physical injuries in a rural community in Western Kenya: a 12-week longitudinal study.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e053161

Safety and immunogenicity of the two-dose heterologous Ad26.ZEBOV and MVA-BN-Filo Ebola vaccine regimen in children in Sierra Leone: a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00128-6/fulltext

Safety and long-term immunogenicity of the two-dose heterologous Ad26.ZEBOV and MVA-BN-Filo Ebola vaccine regimen in adults in Sierra Leone: a combined open-label, non-randomised stage 1, and a randomised, double-blind, controlled stage 2 trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00125-0/fulltext

NIH needs to create a National Institute of Surgery. And that’s it. Barring the odd sentence here and there, surgery essentially doesn’t figure in the NIH’s plan. The same holds for global health. Bringing up the funding rear is the NIH’s smallest center: the Fogarty International Center (annual budget: $84 million). Fogarty — the single NIH entity actually devoted to global health — has a budget one one-hundredth the size of the National Cancer Institute and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. To put it a different way, out of its total funding, the NIH devotes two cents of every $10 to global health. https://www.statnews.com/2021/09/15/nih-needs-to-create-a-national-institute-of-surgery/

RCSI Institute of Global Surgery. The ‘Voices of Surgery’ by@OneDotSurgery is available to read & download now #GlobalSurgery voices from Nigeria, Burundi, Tanzania, India, Europe and beyond. Make sure to check out @theG4Allianceadvocacy article p. 19. http://static1.one.surgery/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/09/Hold-On-Dear-Life-13_-September-2021_compressedv1.pdf.pdf

The Burden of Traumatic Brain Injury in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1878875021013590

A systematic review on ethical challenges of ‘field’ research in low-income and middle-income countries: respect, justice and beneficence for research staff?https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e005380.citation-tools

16 Sept 2021

The fight to manufacture COVID vaccines in lower-income countries. Drug companies and wealthy countries are facing increased pressure to partner with firms in the global south but are reluctant to relinquish control. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02383-z

The tangled history of mRNA vaccines. Hundreds of scientists had worked on mRNA vaccines for decades before the coronavirus pandemic brought a breakthrough.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02483-w

SARS-like viruses may jump from animals to people hundreds of thousands of times a year. Study pinpoints Asian regions that could spark the next coronavirus pandemic.https://www.science.org/content/article/sars-viruses-may-jump-animals-people-hundreds-thousands-times-year

Study of up to 40,000 people will probe mysteries of Long Covid. Award of $470 million from NIH will enroll volunteers with long-term symptoms after coronavirus infection. https://www.science.org/content/article/study-40-000-people-will-probe-mysteries-long-covid

Low-dose mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine generates durable memory enhanced by cross-reactive T cells. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abj9853

Why Kids Beat Back COVID Better Than Adults. Innate immunity might be the key to why children have fared better with the virus. But the Delta variant poses fresh unknowns. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-kids-beat-back-covid-better-than-adults/

Hyperglycemia in Acute COVID-19 is Characterized by Insulin Resistance and Adipose Tissue Infectivity by SARS-CoV-2. https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(21)00428-9

Potent neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern by an antibody with an uncommon genetic signature and structural mode of spike recognition. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)01243-2

Audio Interview: New Evidence on SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Boosters. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2115200?query=featured_home

Protection of BNT162b2 Vaccine Booster against Covid-19 in Israel. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2114255?query=featured_home

Vaccine-Induced Thrombocytopenia with Severe Headache. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2112974?query=featured_home

Safety of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine in a Nationwide Setting. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2110475?query=featured_home

SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization with BNT162b2 Vaccine Dose 3. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2113468?query=featured_home

An International Agreement on Pandemic Prevention and Preparedness. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2784418

How COVID-19 Made It Even Tougher to Know ICU Patients as Individuals. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2784419

Rapid policy development for essential RMNCAH services in sub-Saharan Africa: what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic and what needs to happen going forward?The rapidity with which policies were issued by countries in sub-Saharan Africa to support reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) services in the COVID-19 pandemic is a positive development that could represent a new era in local policy making, that is more aligned with the sustainable development goals policy of self-reliance. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/9/e006938

Lessons learnt from the rapid implementation of reusable personal protective equipment for COVID-19 in Malawi. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/9/e006498

Menstrual changes after covid-19 vaccination. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2211

Covid-19: Long covid must be recognised as occupational disease, says BMA. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2258

Potential solutions for screening, triage, and severity scoring of suspected COVID-19 positive patients in low-resource settings: a scoping review. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e046130

Safety and immunogenicity of an inactivated COVID-19 vaccine, BBIBP-CorV, in people younger than 18 years: a randomised, double-blind, controlled, phase 1/2 trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00462-X/fulltext

Two-test or three-test  strategy for routine asymptomatic testing during air travel? https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/laninf/PIIS1473-3099(21)00357-1.pdf

Addendum needed on COVID-19 travel study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00454-0/fulltext

Addendum needed on COVID-19 travel study – Authors’ reply. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00562-4/fulltext

Malaria or COVID-19? A case report highlighting a diagnostic challenge in Africa. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-144340/v1

OTHER NEWS

Striving for Diversity in Research Studies.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2114651?query=featured_home

 Effect of Salt Substitution on Cardiovascular Events and Death. Among persons who had a history of stroke or were 60 years of age or older and had high blood pressure, the rates of stroke, major cardiovascular events, and death from any cause were lower with the salt substitute than with regular salt. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2105675?query=featured_home

Safety and Efficacy of a Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine in Malawian Children.  Among Malawian children 9 months to 12 years of age, administration of Vi-TCV resulted in a lower incidence of blood culture–confirmed typhoid fever than the MenA vaccine. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2035916?query=featured_home

Association Between Human Papillomavirus Infection Among Pregnant Women and Preterm Birth. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784112

A household-based community health worker programme for non-communicable disease, malnutrition, tuberculosis, HIV and maternal health: a stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial in Neno District, Malawi. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/9/e006535

Responses of physicians to an objective safety and quality knowledge test: a cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e040779

Multimorbidity and mortality in an older, rural black South African population cohort with high prevalence of HIV findings from the HAALSI Study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e047777

Economic burden of road traffic injuries in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review of existing literature. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e048231

Epistemic injustice in academic global health. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00301-6/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email#.YUMJdkEeiI8.twitter

17 Sept 2021

NEWS

COVID-19 vaccines: Keeping pace with SARS-CoV-2 variants. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)01057-6

Elicitation of broadly protective sarbecovirus immunity by receptor-binding domain nanoparticle vaccines. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)01062-X

Covid-19: Unvaccinated face 11 times risk of death from delta variant, CDC data show. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2282

Masks Protect Schoolkids from COVID despite What Antiscience Politicians Claim. Florida governor Ron DeSantis and politicians in Texas say research does not support mask mandates. Many studies show they are wrong. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/masks-protect-schoolkids-from-covid-despite-what-antiscience-politicians-claim/

The fight to manufacture COVID vaccines in lower-income countries. Drug companies and wealthy countries are facing increased pressure to partner with firms in the global south but are reluctant to relinquish control. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02383-z

COVID-vaccine booster shot shows promise in Israeli study. Risk of severe disease drops by factor of almost 20 in people over 60 — but some dispute the benefits of offering a third dose. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02516-4

A New Nurse Struggles to Save Patients in a New COVID Surge. Cases peaked, then fell, then rose again. “It is so much worse this time”https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-new-nurse-struggles-to-save-patients-in-a-new-covid-surge/

Did the coronavirus jump from animals to people twice?. A preliminary analysis of viral genomes suggests the COVID-19 pandemic might have multiple animal origins — but the findings still have to be peer reviewed. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02519-1

Coronavirus live news: Cambodia starts vaccinating six-year-olds; Africa jabs shortfall ‘raises risk of deadly variants’.https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/sep/17/coronavirus-live-news-austria-to-hear-first-lawsuit-over-resort-outbreak-africa-vaccine-shortfall-raises-risk-of-deadly-variants-who-warns

The emergence and ongoing convergent evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 N501Y lineages. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)01050-3

Our Best Judgment.  In this narrative medicine essay, a palliative medicine physician describes his brother’s hospitalization and death from COVID-19. He reflects on his brother’s ability to achieve a dignified death because the physicians caring for him honestly assessed his prognosis. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2784455

COVID outcome prediction in the emergency department (COPE): using retrospective Dutch hospital data to develop simple and valid models for predicting mortality and need for intensive care unit admission in patients who present at the emergency department with suspected COVID-19. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e051468

Comparing lung ultrasound: extensive versus short in COVID-19 (CLUES): a multicentre, observational study at the emergency department. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e048795

OTHER NEWS

Association of Care Environment With HIV Incidence and Death Among Orphaned, Separated, and Street-Connected Children and Adolescents in Western Kenya. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784182

Where Should Orphaned and Separated Children and Adolescents Live: Comparing Institutionalized- and Family-Based Venues in Kenya. Sten Vermund. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784188

Comparison of Routine Replacement With Clinically Indicated Replacement of Peripheral Intravenous Catheters. In this cohort study of 412 631 PVCs, there was a significantly increased incidence rate ratio of PVC-BSIs after switching from routine replacement to clinically indicated replacement of PVCs. After a routine replacement strategy was reestablished, a reduction of PVC-BSI incidence was observed. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2784458

Scoping future outbreaks: a scoping review on the outbreak prediction of the WHO Blueprint list of priority diseases. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/9/e006623

Towards a global framework for assessing male involvement in maternal health: results of an international Delphi study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e051361

Impact of bed height on the biomechanics of healthcare professionals during chest compressions on the neonate: a descriptive pilot study, https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e047666

Route of oxytocin administration for preventing blood loss at caesarean section: a systematic review with meta-analysis. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e051793

Unitaid at 15. Founded in 2006, Unitaid has changed the treatment of major infectious diseases in low-income countries. What will the next 15 years bring? Udani Samarasekera reports. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02086-9/fulltext

“Trauma—the forgotten pandemic?” Global annual deaths from Trauma are greater than any other single cause in the global working population, and, more than all contagious diseases added together including COVID-19. https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s00264-021-05213-z?sharing_token=rox3KcxSW0kLN6zBFx0N3ve4RwlQNchNByi7wbcMAY4eRvn9Jrh36Q5-Y8uT43J55J62lWDi_0W7Z2p8PBmKN_CO_QJHSVE0gysqkgvEoVuCeXrPSKQ9J0SznWGMp2EYYdaarM3GCgkkb5pS91MioLM_R13K2msRhJyLXEbkbMU%3D

20 Sept 2021

NEWS

COVID vaccine immunity is waning — how much does that matter?. As debates about booster shots heat up, what’s known about the duration of vaccine-based immunity is still evolving. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02532-4

Daily briefing: Evidence from Israel for COVID-vaccine boosters.A third COVID shot for people over 60 seems to drop the risk of severe disease by 19.5%. Plus, a new type of dark energy could solve a mystery about the Universe, and coronaviruses might jump from bats to humans 400,000 times per year. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02566-8

Vaccine innovation and COVID’s collateral damage — the week in infographics. Nature highlights three key infographics from the week in science and research.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02537-z

Interpreting SARS-CoV-2 Test Results. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2784473

Assessment of Allergic and Anaphylactic Reactions to mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines With Confirmatory Testing in a US Regional Health System. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784268

Embedding global access in development of future pandemic vaccines. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2256

OTHER NEWS

Women’s Experiences of Promotion and Tenure in Academic Medicine and Potential Implications for Gender Disparities in Career Advancement. A Qualitative Analysis. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784339

Effectiveness and Ethics of Incentives for Research Participation. 2 Randomized Clinical Trials. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2784194

Delirium and neuropsychological outcomes in critically Ill patients with COVID-19: a cohort study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e050045

Net zero healthcare: a call for clinician action. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1323?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Age-stratified and blood-pressure-stratified effects of blood-pressure-lowering pharmacotherapy for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and death: an individual participant-level data meta-analysis. Pharmacological blood pressure reduction should, therefore, be considered an important treatment option regardless of age, with the removal of age-related blood-pressure thresholds from international guidelines. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01921-8/fulltext?utm_campaign=lancet&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

21 Sept 2021

NEWS

Data: The Lifeblood of the Public Health Response to COVID-19, https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M21-3725

Ask an Expert: Why do breakthroughs occur among vaccinated people? https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2021/09/20/ask-an-expert-why-do-breakthroughs-occur-among-vaccinated-people/?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=VUToday+9.20.2021&utm_term=Ask+an+Expert%3a+Why+do+breakthroughs+occur+among+vaccinated+people%3f&utm_id=159171&sfmc_id=36607303

Daily briefing: Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine looks promising for young children. A child-size dose of the Pfizer vaccine is safe and generates a robust antibody response in children ages 5 to 11, say the companies. Plus, the mysterious hotness of the Sun’s corona. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02579-3

Emergency drug use in a pandemic: harsh lessons from COVID-19. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)01108-9   https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0092-8674%2821%2901108-9

The search for antivirals for covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2165

Covid-19: How is vaccination affecting hospital admissions and deaths? https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2306

Covid-19: Monoclonal antibody treatment to be rolled out to hospital patients with no antibody response. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2319

COVID-19 Prevention and Control Measures in Workplace Settings: A Rapid Review and Meta-Analysis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8345343/

Smoking is associated with worse outcomes of COVID-19 particularly among younger adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-11579-x

OTHER NEWS

Essential Emergency and Critical Care: a consensus among global clinical experts.The study has specified the content of care that should be provided to all critically ill patients. Implementing  Essential Emergency and Critical Care (EECC) could be an effective strategy for policy makers to reduce preventable deaths worldwide. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/9/e006585

Peer reviewer identity under the microscope… we calculated that reviewers (not including statistical reviewers) were almost perfectly split between high-income and low-income and middle-income countries. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00443-5/fulltext

Dialogical reflexivity towards collective action to transform global health. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/8/e006825

22 Sept 2021

NEWS

IMF calls for coordinated action, accountability in COVID-19 battle.https://www.reuters.com/world/imf-calls-coordinated-action-accountability-covid-19-battle-2021-09-21/

Leader of WHO’s new pandemic hub: improve data flow to extinguish outbreaks. Former Nigeria CDC leader Chikwe Ihekweazu talks with Nature about the COVID crisis, and strengthening global response to future public-health emergencies.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02577-5

Israel’s struggles to contain COVID-19 may be a warning for other nations. Widespread boosters don’t dent case rate as schools, holidays foster spread. https://www.science.org/content/article/israel-s-struggles-contain-covid-19-may-be-warning-other-nations

Prior infection with SARS-CoV-2 WA1/2020 partially protects rhesus macaques against re-infection with B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants.https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abj2641

Interferon gamma immunotherapy in five critically ill COVID-19 patients with impaired cellular immunity: a case series. https://www.cell.com/med/fulltext/S2666-6340(21)00318-4

 Efficacy and safety of hyperbaric oxygen treatment in SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) pneumonia: a systematic review. Limited and weak evidence from non-randomised studies including one propensity-matched cohort study suggests HBOT is safe and may be a promising intervention to optimise treatment and outcomes in hypoxaemic COVID-19 patients. Randomised controlled studies are urgently needed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34547778/

OTHER NEWS

EXTending availability of self-management structured EducatioN programmes for people with type 2 Diabetes in low-to-middle income countries (EXTEND)—a feasibility study in Mozambique and Malawi. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e047425

Azithromycin for the prevention of rehospitalisation and death among Kenyan children being discharged from hospital: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised controlled trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00347-8/fulltext

Does mass drug administration of azithromycin reduce child mortality? Mass administration of azithromycin is one of the key interventions in trachoma control programmes and potentially reduces child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Several trials done in sub-Saharan Africa have reported mixed efficacy of mass administration of azithromycin in reducing child mortality at a population level.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00417-4/fulltext#%20

23 Sept 2021

NEWS

Assessing Knowledge and Practices of the Community towards Corona Virus Disease 2019 in Mbale Municipality, Uganda: Across Section Study. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/eahrj/article/view/214165

Use of Face Mask as a COVID-19 Preventive Measure Among Household Heads in Enugu Nigeria. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ojm/article/view/214471

Potent neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern by an antibody with an uncommon genetic signature and structural mode of spike recognition. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)01243-2#relatedArticles

England’s Covid travel rules spark outrage around the world. Refusal to recognise vaccines given across Latin America, Africa and south Asia has been denounced as ‘discriminatory’. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/23/englands-covid-travel-rules-spark-outrage-around-the-world

Developing nations’ plea to world’s wealthy at U.N.: stop vaccine hoarding. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-un/developing-nations-plea-to-worlds-wealthy-at-u-n-stop-vaccine-hoarding-idUSKBN2GI1VM

Italy triples pledge to provide other nations with COVID-19 vaccines. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/italy-triples-pledge-provide-other-nations-with-covid-19-vaccines-2021-09-22/

Uganda loosens anti-coronavirus restrictions as pandemic ebbs. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-uganda/uganda-loosens-anti-coronavirus-restrictions-as-pandemic-ebbs-idUSKBN2GI208

Spain to donate 15 million more COVID-19 vaccine doses via COVAX. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-spain-vaccine/spain-to-donate-15-million-more-covid-19-vaccine-doses-via-covax-idUSKBN2GI1Q8

Greece used AI to curb COVID: what other nations can learn. Governments are hungry to deploy big data in health emergencies. Scientists must help to lay the legal, ethical and logistical groundwork. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02554-y

COVID-eVax, an electroporated plasmid DNA vaccine candidate encoding the SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain, elicits protective immune responses in animal models of COVID-19. https://www.cell.com/molecular-therapy-family/molecular-therapy/fulltext/S1525-0016(21)00466-4

Enhanced eosinophil-mediated inflammation associated with antibody and complement-dependent pneumonic insults in critical COVID-19. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)01258-4

Health belief model and behavioural practice of urban poor towards COVID-19 in Nigeria. The study concludes that though urban poor residents feel threatened by Covid-19, nexus of factors such as low financial earnings, inadequate knowledge, and limited access to basic medical needs hamper the effective adoption of Non-pharmaceutical Interventions–NPIs. https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(21)02140-X

Audio Interview: Vaccine Efficacy and Boosters in Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2115556?query=featured_home

Efficacy of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine at Completion of Blinded Phase. The mRNA-1273 vaccine continued to be efficacious in preventing Covid-19 illness and severe disease at more than 5 months, with an acceptable safety profile, and protection against asymptomatic infection was observed. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2113017?query=featured_home

Effectiveness of mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine among U.S. Health Care Personnel. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2106599?query=featured_home

Safety and Efficacy of NVX-CoV2373 Covid-19 Vaccine. A two-dose regimen of the NVX-CoV2373 vaccine administered to adult participants conferred 89.7% protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and showed high efficacy against the B.1.1.7 variant. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2107659?query=featured_home

Subcutaneous REGEN-COV Antibody Combination to Prevent Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2109682?query=featured_home

Religious views on the origin and meaning of COVID-2019. The sample for this study is random and the medium used allows for representativity in terms of age group (18+), gender, race, religious affiliation of South Africa, but not limited to this country. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/hts/article/view/212159

Covid and the virtual classroom: the new normal?https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jaaps/article/view/211802

Conceptualising Long COVID as an episodic health condition. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/9/e007004

Tracking development assistance for health and for COVID-19: a review of development assistance, government, out-of-pocket, and other private spending on health for 204 countries and territories, 1990–2050. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01258-7/fulltext

Infections, hospitalisations, and deaths averted via a nationwide vaccination campaign using the Pfizer–BioNTech BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in Israel: a retrospective surveillance study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00566-1/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Global Surgery Education and Training Programmes-a Scoping Review and Taxonomy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8386150/

Drug-resistant malaria is gaining a foothold in Africa. Analyses of patient blood samples suggest artemisinin effectiveness is slipping. https://www.science.org/content/article/drug-resistant-malaria-gaining-foothold-africa

Evidence of Artemisinin-Resistant Malaria in Africa.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2101746?query=featured_home

The COVID-19 lockdown was for the birds—in a good way. Less traffic made habitats more hospitable across North America. https://www.science.org/content/article/covid-19-lockdown-was-birds-good-way

Mental health and well-being of older adults living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e052810

Unequal access and use of contraceptives among parenting adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa: a cross-sectional analysis of demographic and health surveys. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e051583

Neurosurgeons’ experiences of conducting and disseminating clinical research in low-income and middle-income countries: a reflexive thematic analysis. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e051806

Estimated effect of increased diagnosis, treatment, and control of diabetes and its associated cardiovascular risk factors among low-income and middle-income countries: a microsimulation model. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00340-5/fulltext

Achieving sensible targets for a diabetes care cascade in LMICs. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00403-4/fulltext

24 Sept 2021

NEWS

Britain’s non-recognition of Africa-administered vaccines regrettable – AU. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-africa/britains-non-recognition-of-africa-administered-vaccines-regrettable-au-idUSKBN2GJ116

Closest known relatives of virus behind COVID-19 found in Laos. Studies of bats in China and Laos show southeast Asia is a hotspot for potentially dangerous viruses similar to SARS-CoV-2. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02596-2

News at a glance: India’s COVID-19 vaccine exports, inoculating kids, and tiny flying sensors. The latest in science and policy. https://www.science.org/content/article/news-glance-india-s-covid-19-vaccine-exports-inoculating-kids-and-tiny-flying-sensors

Defining variant-resistant epitopes targeted by SARS-CoV-2 antibodies: A global consortium study. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abh2315

When Will Kids’ COVID Vaccines Be Available?https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/when-will-kids-covid-vaccines-be-available1/

Antibody and cellular therapies for treatment of covid-19: a living systematic review and network meta-analysis. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2231

Covid-19 vaccination: evidence of waning immunity is overstated. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2320

COVID-19: learning as an interdependent world. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02125-5/fulltext

Tracking development assistance for health and for COVID-19: a review of development assistance, government, out-of-pocket, and other private spending on health for 204 countries and territories, 1990–2050. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01258-7/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Resistance to front-line malaria drugs confirmed in Africa The artemisinin-based treatments are taking longer to clear infections. But they are still working — for now.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02592-6

Clinical handover in a bilingual setting: interpretative phenomenological analysis to exploring translanguaging practices for effective communication among hospital staff. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e046494

Prevalence and associated factors of self-reported ischaemic heart disease and/or stroke: a cross-sectional nationally representative community-based study of adults in Malawi in 2017. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e048167

Music and dance in respiratory disease management in Uganda: a qualitative study of patient and healthcare professional perspectives. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e053189

Global, regional, and national sex differences in the global burden of tuberculosis by HIV status, 1990–2019: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00449-7/fulltext

Sex-disaggregated tuberculosis data call for gender-equitable tuberculosis control.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00617-4/fulltext

Quadrivalent adjuvanted haemagglutinin nanoparticle influenza vaccine: a step towards better protection of older adults from the constantly mutating H3N2 influenza viruses. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00209-7/fulltext

Comparison of the safety and immunogenicity of a novel Matrix-M-adjuvanted nanoparticle influenza vaccine with a quadrivalent seasonal influenza vaccine in older adults: a phase 3 randomised controlled trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00192-4/fulltext

27 Sept 2021

NEWS

Medical Ethics, Moral Courage, and the Embrace of Fallibility. This commentary considers this obligation through the lens of drafting critical care rationing protocols to address COVID-19-induced scarcity. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Abstract/9000/Medical_Ethics,_Moral_Courage,_and_the_Embrace_of.96542.aspx?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=

Even Mild Cases of COVID May Leave a Mark on the Brain. The new findings, although preliminary, are raising concerns about the potential long-term effects of COVID-19.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/even-mild-cases-of-covid-may-leave-a-mark-on-the-brain/

Do Monoclonal Antibodies Help COVID Patients? Experts explain what this treatment involves, who needs it and how to get it. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-monoclonal-antibodies-help-covid-patients/

Delivering the message: How a novel technology enabled the rapid development of effective vaccines. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)00993-4

Trajectory of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Over Time and Association of Initial Vaccine Hesitancy With Subsequent Vaccination. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784480

A living WHO guideline on drugs for covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3379

Functioning of the International Health Regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02124-3/fulltext

Rapid COVID-19 vaccine rollout: immense success but challenges ahead.   https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01911-5/fulltext

Infections, hospitalisations, and deaths averted via a nationwide vaccination campaign using the Pfizer–BioNTech BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in Israel: a retrospective surveillance study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00566-1/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Oesophageal Cancer: Practicalities of Palliation in 

Sub‑Saharan Africa. https://www.worldgastroenterology.org/UserFiles/file/e-wgn/ewgn-vol26-issue2-FINAL.pdf#e

Better Global Outcomes Through Better Education. https://pubs.asahq.org/monitor/article/85/10/43/117566/Better-Global-Outcomes-Through-Better-Education

The Ethics of Health Professions Education Research. Protecting the Integrity of Science, Research Subjects, and Authorship. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Abstract/9000/The_Ethics_of_Health_Professions_Education.96543.aspx?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=

Impact of household shocks on access to healthcare services in Kenya: a propensity score matching analysis. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e048189

Knowledge, attitude and practice of antibiotics and their determinants in Eritrea: an urban population-based survey. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e046432

28 Sept 2021

NEWS

Defining variant-resistant epitopes targeted by SARS-CoV-2 antibodies: A global consortium study. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abh2315

 

Africa ‘left behind by rest of the world’ on vaccines, says WHO – as it happened. https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/sep/14/coronavirus-live-news-new-china-outbreak-grows-uk-health-secretary-to-set-out-booster-plans?page=with:block-6140dd0d8f08762d2763145f

 

Characterising long COVID: a living systematic review. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/9/e005427

Assessing knowledge, attitude, practice and training related to COVID-19: a cross-sectional survey of frontline healthcare workers in Nigeria. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e050138

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jocn.16009#.YVKfIXOGCnA.twitter

U.S. schools with mask requirements are seeing fewer outbreaks, the C.D.C. finds. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/24/health/schools-mask-mandate-outbreaks-cdc.html

OTHER NEWS

Heading, concussion, and dementia: how medicine is changing football forever. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2343

Quality Research in Africa and Why It Is Important. http://www.aasciences.africa/publications/quality-research-africa-and-why-it-important

Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case for Virtual Residency Interviews.https://journals.lww.com/aosopen/Fulltext/2021/09000/Lessons_from_the_COVID_19_Pandemic__The_Case_for.2.aspx

Creating a Medical School Curriculum to Teach Empathy. https://journals.lww.com/aosopen/Fulltext/2021/09000/Creating_a_Medical_School_Curriculum_to_Teach.13.aspx

Surgical Teams’ Attitudes About Surgical Safety and the Surgical Safety Checklist at 10 Years. A Multinational Survey. https://journals.lww.com/aosopen/Fulltext/2021/09000/Surgical_Teams__Attitudes_About_Surgical_Safety.5.aspx

Before/after intervention study to determine impact on life-cycle carbon footprint of converting from single-use to reusable sharps containers in 40 UK NHS trusts. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e046200

Cross-sectional assessment of tuberculosis and HIV prevalence in 13 correctional facilities in Zambia. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e052221

Advancing racial and ethnic equity in science, medicine, and health: a call for papers.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02095-X/fulltext

A brighter future for malaria prevention?https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00569-7/fulltext

Profile of authors publishing in ‘predatory’ journals and causal factors behind their decision: A systematic review. Findings of this review suggest causal factors include research evaluation policies and publication pressure that emerge from the research environment in which scholars operate authors’ limited capacity to publish in ‘legitimate’ journals and conventions of so-called ‘predatory’ publishers. https://academic.oup.com/rev/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/reseval/rvab032/6375151

29 Sept 2021

NEWS

Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/latest-worldwide-spread-coronavirus-2021-02-18/

What you need to know about the coronavirus right now.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/what-you-need-know-about-coronavirus-right-now-2021-03-02/

Algeria to start Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine production Wednesday. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/algeria-start-sinovac-covid-19-vaccine-production-wednesday-2021-09-28/

Egypt allows immediate COVID-19 vaccination amid fourth wave.https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/egypt-allows-immediate-covid-19-vaccination-amid-fourth-wave-2021-09-28/

Fringe Doctors’ Groups Promote Ivermectin for COVID despite a Lack of Evidence. The organizations touting unproved protocols for the antiparasitic drug may be harming vaccination efforts. https://www.scientificamerican.com/#advanced-search

New Chinese vaccine could bolster global arsenal. Protein-based shots developed by Clover shown to protect against five variants. https://www.science.org/content/article/new-chinese-vaccine-could-bolster-global-arsenal

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infections Among Students, Teachers, and Household Members During Lockdown and Split Classes in Berlin, Germany. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784548

World Heart Day 2021: COVID-19, digital health, and tackling cardiovascular disease. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02144-9/fulltext

Africa hinges hopes for COVID vaccine equity on US. https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/africa-hinges-hopes-for-covid-vaccine-equity-on-us/?utm_source=SciDev.Net&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=12692488_2021-09-29%20Weekly%20Email%20Digest%20-%20Sub-Saharan%20Africa%20Template.%20For%20Health&dm_i=1SCG,7K1L4,5R8D9U,UR7RV,1

OTHER NEWS

How food and beverage companies leveraged the great recession: lessons for the COVID-19 pandemic. Some companies, for example, seem to be currying favour of governments, civil society organisations and communities by handing out free ultraprocessed products to the food insecure through heavily branded philanthropic initiatives. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/9/e007146

Eliminating HIV transmission through breast milk from women taking antiretroviral drugs. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1697

Publication practices of sub-Saharan African Cochrane authors: a bibliometric study. Cochrane authors from SSA are increasingly publishing a diverse variety of systematic reviews and overviews of systematic reviews, often opting for non-Cochrane journals. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e051839

Association between newborn separation, maternal consent and health outcomes: findings from a longitudinal survey in Kenya. Newborns, mothers and families have a right to high-quality, respectful care, including the ability to stay together, be informed and properly consent for care. The implications of these experiences on health outcomes a month or more after discharge illustrate the importance of a positive experience of postnatal care. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e045907

Timing of first antenatal care contact, its associated factors and state-level analysis in Nigeria: a cross-sectional assessment of compliance with the WHO guidelines. Only a quarter of pregnant women, initiated ANC contact during the first trimester with wider disparities across the states in Nigeria and across the background characteristics of the pregnant women. There are needs to enhance women’s autonomy in healthcare utilisation. Concerted efforts on awareness creation and empowerment for women by all stakeholders in maternal and child healthcare are antidotes for early ANC contact initiation. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e047835

Is the tuberculosis response another casualty of COVID-19?https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00246-9/fulltext#.YVQZPGwoc3U.twitter

‘Witchcraft’ stigma surrounds dementia. https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/podcast/witchcraft-stigma-surrounds-dementia/?utm_source=SciDev.Net&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=12692488_2021-09-29%20Weekly%20Email%20Digest%20-%20Sub-Saharan%20Africa%20Template.%20For%20Health&dm_i=1SCG,7K1L4,5R8D9U,UR7RV,1

30 Sept 2021

NEWS

Factbox – Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus’ Russians may soon be able to receive vaccines not registered in the country from clinics set up in a special economic zone, Russian Kommersant daily reported, as Russia reported another new record of deaths. https://www.reuters.com/places/africa

A finding of sex similarities rather than differences in COVID-19 outcomes. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03644-7

Close cousins of SARS-CoV-2 found in a cave in Laos yield new clues about pandemic’s origins. New viruses show for first time that a key feature of the pandemic virus exists in the wild. https://www.science.org/content/article/close-cousins-sars-cov-2-found-cave-laos-yield-new-clues-about-pandemic-s-origins

Audio Interview: Covid-19 and the Media. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2115825?query=featured_home

REGEN-COV Antibody Combination and Outcomes in Outpatients with Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2108163?query=featured_home

Phase 3 Safety and Efficacy of AZD1222 (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) Covid-19 Vaccine. AZD1222 was safe and efficacious in preventing symptomatic and severe Covid-19 across diverse populations that included older adults. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2105290?query=featured_home

Resurgence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Highly Vaccinated Health System Workforce. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2112981?query=featured_home

Symptoms and Health Outcomes Among Survivors of COVID-19 Infection 1 Year After Discharge From Hospitals in Wuhan, China. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784558

COVID-19 Vaccine Nasal Spray. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2784523

Health systems resilience and preparedness: critical displacements and disruption. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/9/e007237

Covid-19: Fully vaccinated patients no longer need to test or isolate before elective procedures, hospitals are told. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2383

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for COVID-19: evolving outcomes from the international Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01960-7/fulltext

ECMO in COVID-19: do not blame the tool. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02137-1/fulltext

Pharmacological interventions to prevent Covid-19 disease: A rapid review. At the time of writing, there is insufficient high quality evidence to support the use of pharmacological interventions to prevent Covid-19. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rmv.2299

OTHER NEWS

Knowledge, attitude and practice of physical activity among patients with diabetes in Kilimanjaro region, Northern Tanzania: a descriptive cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e046841

1 Oct 2021

NEWS

­­­S.African president Ramaphosa eases COVID-19 restrictions to lowest level. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/safrican-president-ramaphosa-eases-covid-19-restrictions-lowest-level-2021-09-30/

Merck says a trial shows it has produced the first effective antiviral pill for Covid. The drug maker Merck said on Friday that it would seek authorization for the first antiviral pill for Covid after its drug, known as molnupiravir, was shown in a clinical trial to cut the risk of hospitalization or death in half when given to high-risk people early in their infections.  https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/01/us/merck-antiviral-pill-covid.html?searchResultPosition=2

Somalia opens first public oxygen plant to help treat COVID-19 amid severe shortage.                                                 https://www.reuters.com/world/the-great-reboot/somalia-opens-first-public-oxygen-plant-help-treat-covid-19-amid-severe-shortage-2021-09-30/

Africa lags on COVID-19 vaccination, healthcare workers at risk – WHO, nurses say.Only 15 of Africa’s 54 nations have fully vaccinated 10% of their populations against COVID-19 and many frontline health workers remain at risk, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Council of Nurses (ICN) said on Thursday. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-africa-nurses/africa-lags-on-covid-19-vaccination-healthcare-workers-at-risk-who-nurses-say-idUSKBN2GQ1TE

Tiny particles could make a powerful COVID vaccine. Nanoparticles that bristle with dozens of copies of a SARS-CoV-2 protein segment could protect against a wide variety of coronaviruses. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02561-z

Early sample tagging and pooling enables simultaneous SARS-CoV-2 detection and variant sequencing. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abj2266

Immune signatures underlying post-acute COVID-19 lung sequelae. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciimmunol.abk1741

AZD1222/ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination induces a polyfunctional spike protein-specific Th1 response with a diverse TCR repertoire. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abj7211

A prenylated dsRNA sensor protects against severe COVID-19. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abj3624

Why We Need to Upgrade Our Face Masks—and Where to Get Them. High-quality respirators such as N95s and K95s are now widely available and provide the best protection against COVID, according to experts. Why aren’t more people wearing them? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-we-need-to-upgrade-our-face-masks-and-where-to-get-them/

Fringe Doctors’ Groups Promote Ivermectin for COVID despite a Lack of Evidence. The organizations touting unproved protocols for the antiparasitic drug may be harming vaccination efforts. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fringe-doctors-groups-promote-ivermectin-for-covid-despite-a-lack-of-evidence/

Prevalence and predictors of burnout among nurses during COVID-19: a cross-sectional study in hospitals in central Uganda. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e054284

Global access to COVID-19 vaccines: a scoping review of factors that may influence equitable access for low and middle-income countries. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e049505

The origins of viruses: discovery takes time, international resources, and cooperation. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02180-2/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

How overstated scientific claims undermine ethical principles in parenting interventions. The scientific constructs, standards and findings used to guide parenting interventions are overwhelmingly based on research in Euro-American settings, resulting in a Western bias when applied to communities in low/middle-income countries. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/9/e007323#ref-1

Nudging toward vaccination: a systematic review. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/9/e006237

Association of anthropometric indices of obesity with hypertension among public employees in northern Ethiopia: findings from a cross-sectional survey. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e050969

Under-5 mortality in sub-Saharan Africa: is maternal age at first childbirth below 20 years a risk factor? https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e049337

Cohort profile: Prematurity Immunology in Mothers living with HIV and their infants Study (PIMS).  Prematurity Immunology in Mothers living with HIV and their infants Study (PIMS) is a prospective cohort study in South Africa investigating the association between antiretroviral therapy (ART) use, preterm delivery (PTD) and small-for-gestational age (SGA) live births. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/9/e047133

4 Oct 2021

NEWS

Vaccinating against covid and flu at same time is safe, study shows. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2411

Global COVID-19 deaths hit 5 million as Delta variant sweeps the world, https://www.reuters.com/world/global-covid-19-deaths-hit-5-million-delta-variant-sweeps-world-2021-10-02/

Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/latest-worldwide-spread-coronavirus-2021-02-18/

Nigeria gets $400 mln in World Bank financing for COVID-19. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigeria-gets-400-mln-world-bank-financing-covid-19-2021-10-01/

‘Unquestionably a game changer!’ Antiviral pill cuts COVID-19 hospitalization risk. Researchers excited about Merck drug, but caution data are preliminary and price is high. https://www.science.org/content/article/unquestionably-game-changer-antiviral-pill-cuts-covid-19-hospitalization-risk

Pregnant and Unvaccinated: Delta’s Deadly Toll. The number of pregnant people suffering from severe COVID is preventable tragedy. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pregnant-and-unvaccinated-deltas-deadly-toll/

Why We Need to Upgrade Our Face Masks—and Where to Get Them. High-quality respirators such as N95s and K95s are now widely available and provide the best protection against COVID, according to experts. Why aren’t more people wearing them? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-we-need-to-upgrade-our-face-masks-and-where-to-get-them/

Do Monoclonal Antibodies Help COVID Patients?. Experts explain what this treatment involves, who needs it and how to get it.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-monoclonal-antibodies-help-covid-patients/

Association of Children’s Physical Activity and Screen Time With Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic. In this cross-sectional survey study, more physical activity and less screen time were associated with better mental health for children, accounting for pandemic stressors. Children engaged in suboptimal amounts of physical activity and screen time, making this a potentially important target for intervention. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784611

Mass testing of university students for covid-19, https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2388

Covid-19: Lancet investigation into origin of pandemic shuts down over bias risk. The work of a task force commissioned by the Lancet into the origins of covid-19 has folded after concerns about the conflicts of interest of one its members and his ties through a non-profit organisation to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2414

Clinical value of laboratory indicators for predicting disease progression and death in patients with COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e043790

The durability of immunity against reinfection by SARS-CoV-2: a comparative evolutionary study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00219-6/fulltext?utm_campaign=lancetcovid21&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

Cutaneous vasculitis following COVID-19 vaccination. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(21)00309-X/fulltext

5 Oct 2021

NEWS

Factbox-Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-latest/factbox-latest-on-the-worldwide-spread-of-the-coronavirus-idUSKBN2GV0N9

A year after COVID vaccine waiver proposal, WTO talks are deadlocked. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-wto/a-year-after-covid-vaccine-waiver-proposal-wto-talks-are-deadlocked-idUSKBN2GU1X7

Senegal records fewest daily COVID-19 cases since outbreak began. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-senegal/senegal-records-fewest-daily-covid-19-cases-since-outbreak-began-idUSKBN2GU19E

Vaccination Protects Pregnant People and Their Babies from Severe COVID. Studies show the vaccines against the disease not only can be safely given to people who are expecting but can also save lives. https://www.scientificamerican.com/#advanced-search

S-acylation controls SARS-CoV-2 membrane lipid organization and enhances infectivity. https://www.cell.com/developmental-cell/fulltext/S1534-5807(21)00734-6

6-Thioguanine Blocks SARS-CoV-2 Replication by Inhibition of PLpro. https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(21)01181-0

The immune landscape of SARS-CoV-2-associated Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) from acute disease to recovery.https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(21)01183-4

PRAK-03202: A triple antigen virus-like particle vaccine candidate against SARS CoV-2. https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(21)02227-1

Effect of Convalescent Plasma on Organ Support–Free Days in Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19. A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2784914

Association of Serum Ferritin Levels and Methylprednisolone Treatment With Outcomes in Nonintubated Patients With Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784632

COVID-19 Messenger RNA Vaccination and Myocarditis—A Rare and Mostly Mild Adverse Effect. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2784801

Acute Myocarditis Following COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination in Adults Aged 18 Years or Older. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2784800

Evaluation of Messenger RNA From COVID-19 BTN162b2 and mRNA-1273 Vaccines in Human Milk. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2781679?widget=personalizedcontent&previousarticle=0

Association of Myocarditis With BNT162b2 Messenger RNA COVID-19 Vaccine in a Case Series of Children. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2783052?widget=personalizedcontent&previousarticle=0

Covid-19: Molnupiravir reduces risk of hospital admission or death by 50% in patients at risk, MSD reports. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2422

Covid-19: Chikwe Ihekweazu: “It’s a rare privilege” to lead new pandemic hub. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2423

COVID-19 and metabolic disease: mechanisms and clinical management. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(21)00244-8/fulltext

The durability of immunity against reinfection by SARS-CoV-2: a comparative evolutionary study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00219-6/fulltext

Effectiveness of mRNA BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine up to 6 months in a large integrated health system in the USA: a retrospective cohort study.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02183-8/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Quality Research in Africa and Why It Is Important. http://www.aasciences.africa/publications/quality-research-africa-and-why-it-important

Diagnostic Yield of Population-Based Screening for Chronic Kidney Disease in Low-Income, Middle-Income, and High-Income Countries. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784630

Guinea’s response to syndemic hotspots. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e006550

Assessing the quality of care for children attending health facilities: a systematic review of assessment tools. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e006804#:~:text=Assessing%20the%20quality%20of%20care%20for%20children%20attending%20health%20facilities%3A%20a%20systematic%20review%20of%20assessment%20tools

A brighter future for malaria prevention?https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00569-7/fulltext

The value of open-source clinical science in pandemic response: lessons from ISARIC. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00565-X/fulltext

Tackling the Digital Divide. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(21)00233-6/fulltext

6 OCTOBER 2021

NEWS

Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/latest-worldwide-spread-coronavirus-2021-02-18/

Factbox: Countries weigh need for booster COVID-19 shots. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/countries-weigh-need-booster-covid-19-shots-2021-09-24/

UK to keep trashing Africa’s vaccine certificates.  In a list publicised on Monday night, the UK government said only people vaccinated with adequate doses of Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna and John & Johnson (Janssen) will be considered inoculated, as long as they come from a region whose vaccination programme is approved by the UK. And of the more than 70 countries that are approved, none is from Africa, a continent where the UK has heavily supported with vaccine donations and other logistical support through the Covax programme. https://nation.africa/kenya/news/uk-to-keep-trashing-africa-s-vaccine-certificates–3573694

Explainer: What is the Covid-19 pill and how does it reduce chance of death?https://nation.africa/kenya/news/explainers/new-covid-pill-explainer-3571740

COVID vaccines cut the risk of transmitting Delta — but not for long. People who receive two COVID-19 jabs and later contract the Delta variant are less likely to infect their close contacts than are unvaccinated people with Delta.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02689-y

An affinity-enhanced, broadly neutralizing heavy chain-only antibody protects against SARS-CoV-2 infection in animal models. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abi7826

PRAK-03202: A triple antigen virus-like particle vaccine candidate against SARS CoV-2. https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(21)02227-1

A pragmatic approach to COVID-19 vaccine passport.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e006956

Effect of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns on planned cancer surgery for 15 tumour types in 61 countries: an international, prospective, cohort study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(21)00493-9/fulltext

AstraZeneca seeks emergency approval for COVID-19 antibodies isolated at Vanderbilt Univ Med Center. https://news.vumc.org/2021/10/05/astrazeneca-seeks-emergency-approval-for-covid-19-antibodies-isolated-at-vumc/

OTHER NEWS

Francis Collins to step down at NIH: scientists assess his legacy. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02727-9

Measuring facility readiness to provide childbirth care: a comparison of indices using data from a health facility survey in Ethiopia. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e006698

From drug discovery to coronaviruses: why restoring natural habitats is good for human health. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2329

Time trends, sociodemographic and health factors associated with discharge and length of stay of hospitalised patients with sickle cell disease in Ghana: a retrospective analysis of national routine health database.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e048407

Letter to the Editor: Debating Research in Global Surgery: Current Barriers and Potential Solutions. https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s00268-021-06344-5?sharing_token=VPV0y3Wz9-JLig0g-vLEnve4RwlQNchNByi7wbcMAY4OzWJNH9dabBtgkns68RMJxvyU0JQjRJvL_eMeoGv_HNw_52cPFWNMnCNLWp4q3M7hOV49njHBDN68EPPMzt9PPmOTj-3ACQWM0uz8diQVPLF9sYMrUteiQyPF3enrkQg%3D

7 OCTOBER 2021

NEWS

Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/latest-worldwide-spread-coronavirus-2021-02-18/

COVID’s lessons for climate, sustainability and more from Our World in Data. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02691-4

An affinity-enhanced, broadly neutralizing heavy chain-only antibody protects against SARS-CoV-2 infection in animal models.https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abi7826

Audio Interview: Are Covid-19 Vaccine Boosters Necessary?https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2115835?query=featured_home

Waning Immune Humoral Response to BNT162b2 Covid-19 Vaccine over 6 Months. Six months after receipt of the second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine, humoral response was substantially decreased, especially among men, among persons 65 years of age or older, and among persons with immunosuppression. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2114583?query=featured_home

Waning of BNT162b2 Vaccine Protection against SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Qatar. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2114114?query=featured_home

Myocarditis after BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine against Covid-19 in Israel. The incidence of myocarditis, although low, increased after the receipt of the BNT162b2 vaccine, particularly after the second dose among young male recipients. The clinical presentation of myocarditis after vaccination was usually mild. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2109730?query=featured_home

Myocarditis after Covid-19 Vaccination in a Large Health Care Organization.   Among patients in a large Israeli health care system who had received at least one dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine, the estimated incidence of myocarditis was 2.13 cases per 100,000 persons; the highest incidence was among male patients between the ages of 16 and 29 years. Most cases of myocarditis were mild or moderate in severity. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2110737?query=featured_home

Effectiveness of Covid-19 Vaccines in Ambulatory and Inpatient Care Settings.  Covid-19 vaccines in the United States were highly effective against SARS-CoV-2 infection requiring hospitalization, ICU admission, or an emergency department or urgent care clinic visit. This vaccine effectiveness extended to populations that are disproportionately affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2110362?query=featured_home

Protection of BNT162b2 Vaccine Booster against Covid-19 in Israel. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2114255?query=featured_home

REGEN-COV Antibody Combination and Outcomes in Outpatients with Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2108163?query=featured_home

Bamlanivimab plus Etesevimab in Mild or Moderate Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2102685?query=featured_home

Pan-Sarbecovirus Neutralizing Antibodies in BNT162b2-Immunized SARS-CoV-1 Survivors. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2108453?query=featured_home

Multimorbidity in South Africa: a systematic review of prevalence studies. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e048676

Can COVID-19 help accelerate and transform the diagnostics agenda?https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02093-6/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

WHO endorses use of world’s first malaria vaccine in Africa. World Health Organization’s director general hails ‘historic day’ in fight against parasitic disease. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/06/who-endorses-use-of-worlds-first-malaria-vaccine-in-africa

Influence of travel time and distance to the hospital of care on stillbirths: a retrospective facility-based cross-sectional study in Lagos, Nigeria. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e007052

Pursuing health systems strengthening through disease-specific programme grants: experiences in Tanzania and Sierra Leone. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e006615

Female authorship of covid-19 research in manuscripts submitted to 11 biomedical journals: cross sectional study. Women have been underrepresented as co-authors and in prominent authorship positions in covid-19 research, and this gender disparity needs to be corrected by those involved in academic promotion and awarding of research grants. Women attained some prominent authorship positions equally or more frequently than before the pandemic on non-covid-19 related manuscripts submitted at some time points during the pandemic. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2288

Transforming access to diagnostics: how to turn good intentions into action?https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02182-6/fulltext

8 OCTOBER 2021

NEWS

Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/latest-worldwide-spread-coronavirus-2021-02-18/

  Moderna plans African vaccine plant as drugmakers urged to help poorest. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/moderna-plans-mrna-vaccine-factory-africa-2021-10-07/

Association of Receipt of the Ad26.COV2.S COVID-19 Vaccine With Presumptive Guillain-Barré Syndrome, February-July 2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785009

Efficacy and Safety of Therapeutic-Dose Heparin vs Standard Prophylactic or Intermediate-Dose Heparins for Thromboprophylaxis in High-risk Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2785004

Anticoagulant Therapy in Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2785005

The path to global equity in mental health care in the context of COVID-19. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02233-9/fulltext

RESOURCES

Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2021 Reimagining Leadership 15-16 November 2021.  Virtual. Free. Register Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2021 | Women Leaders in Global Health Conference  https://wlgh.conference.tc/

15 November: (12:00pm – 3:30pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

16 November: (2:00pm – 6:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

Drawing on experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the inaugural Cochrane Conveneswill bring together leaders from across the world to explore and then recommend the changes needed in evidence synthesis to better prepare for and respond to future global health emergencies. October 14, 2021  09:30 – 13:00 UTC  FREE REGISTRATIONhttps://hopin.com/events/cochrane-convenes-open-session/registration

OTHER NEWS

Pregnancy-related healthcare utilisation in Agincourt, South Africa, 1993–2018: a longitudinal surveillance study of rural mothers. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e006915

Women’s acceptability of and experience with primary human papillomavirus testing for cervix screening: HPV FOCAL trial cross-sectional online survey results. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e052084

Relationship between medical students’ negative perceptions of colleagues’ work–life and burn-out during clerkships: a longitudinal observational cohort study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e049672

Cigarette prices in eight sub-Saharan African countries in 2018: a cross-sectional analysis. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e053114

Xpert MTB/XDR for rapid detection of drug-resistant tuberculosis beyond rifampicin. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00481-3/fulltext

World Mental Health Day: prioritise social justice, not only access to care. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02232-7/fulltext

11 OCTOBER 2021

NEWS

Low COVID-19 impact in Africa: The multifactorial Nexus [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-47/v1?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

Alzheimer’s and COVID-19 share a genetic risk factor. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/alzheimers-and-covid-19-share-a-genetic-risk-factor/2DdLtOvCOqqOGLLvNMSZ1E?utm_campaign=malert_101021_M3Learning&tag=Morning&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zeo20ogshcfm5qua50erv21pc6fqvnbarf9q9lug

Study uses saliva to predict COVID-19 severity risk in children. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/study-uses-saliva-to-predict-covid-19-severity-risk-in-children/4mb0aL6siF7h2wiSidbIfL?utm_campaign=malert_101021_M3Learning&tag=Morning&utm_source=iPost&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zm9r0eep9ah225a3rvqm62581thant37nn08rqc0

Factbox-Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-latest/factbox-latest-on-the-worldwide-spread-of-the-coronavirus-idUSKBN2H10MH

U.S. will accept WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccines for international visitors. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-will-accept-who-approved-covid-19-vaccines-international-visitors-2021-10-08/

How antiviral pill molnupiravir shot ahead in the COVID drug hunt. The Merck pill, which could become the first oral antiviral COVID treatment, forces the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus to mutate itself to death. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02783-1

Heart-inflammation risk from Pfizer COVID vaccine is very low. Two studies from Israel quantify the risk of myocarditis following the Pfizer–BioNTech shot, with one suggesting the chance of developing the condition is about one in 50,000.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02740-y

Why easing COVID restrictions could prompt a fierce flu rebound. As pandemic restrictions ease, other respiratory viruses are returning in unexpected ways. Why easing COVID restrictions could prompt a fierce flu rebound. As pandemic restrictions ease, other respiratory viruses are returning in unexpected ways.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02558-8

D-Dimer Testing for the Exclusion of Pulmonary Embolism Among Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert

If Young Children’s Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Is Similar to That of Adults, Can Children Also Contribute to Household Transmission?https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2785008

Health Care Professionals’ Spirituality and COVID-19. Meaning, Compassion, Relationship. This Viewpoint explores several spiritual considerations that may support clinicians in their work and also presents resources that may help clinicians in their professional and personal lives not only during the pandemic but also throughout their careers. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785147

Covid-19: Trial participants are offered approved vaccines so they can travel abroad. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2474

Global prevalence and burden of depressive and anxiety disorders in 204 countries and territories in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02143-7/fulltext

Depression and anxiety disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic: knowns and unknowns. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02221-2/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Scientists hail historic malaria vaccine approval — but point to challenges ahead. The WHO-approved RTS,S vaccine has modest efficacy and requires a complex regimen of doses, so ample funding and clear communication will be crucial to success.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02755-5

Are there sex differences in completeness of death registration and quality of cause of death statistics? Results from a global analysis.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e006660

Participant and narrative characteristics associated with host community members sharing experiences of peacekeeper-perpetrated sexual exploitation and abuse in the Democratic Republic of Congo. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e006631

Shingles, Zostavax vaccination and risk of developing dementia: a nested case–control study—results from the UK Biobank cohort. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e045871

Availability of essential diagnostics in ten low-income and middle-income countries: results from national health facility surveys. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00442-3/fulltext

Reimagining authorship guidelines to promote equity in co-produced academic collaborations. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17441692.2021.1971277

A phenomenological study on experiences of cancer stigma amongst selected people living with cancer in rural and urban Zimbabwe [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review] https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-48/v1?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

REVISED Impact of livestock interventions on maternal and child nutrition outcomes in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations]. https://aasopenresearch.org/browse?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

12 OCTOBER 2021

NEWS

Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/latest-worldwide-spread-coronavirus-2021-02-18/

Pandemic Year 1 Saw a Dramatic Global Rise in Anxiety and Depression. 2020 in hindsight witnessed a disproportionate mental health burden on women and young people. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pandemic-year-1-saw-a-dramatic-global-rise-in-anxiety-and-depression/

 

Effect of Antithrombotic Therapy on Clinical Outcomes in Outpatients With Clinically Stable Symptomatic COVID-19. The ACTIV-4B Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785218

Antithrombotic Therapy for Outpatients With COVID-19. Implications for Clinical Practice and Future Research. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785220

A Continuously Benchmarked and Crowdsourced Challenge for Rapid Development and Evaluation of Models to Predict COVID-19 Diagnosis and Hospitalization. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784779

Association Between Risk of COVID-19 Infection in Nonimmune Individuals and COVID-19 Immunity in Their Family Members. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2785141

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital utilisation in Sierra Leone. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e005988

Covid-19: Antibody levels fall after second Pfizer dose, but protection against severe disease remains, studies indicate. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2481

Under-reporting of deaths limits our understanding of true burden of covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2239

OTHER NEWS

Cost-Effectiveness of Lay First Responders Addressing Road Traffic Injury in Sub-Saharan Africa. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022480421005606?dgcid=author

The influence of the urban food environment on diet, nutrition and health outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e006358

‘Pneumonia has gone’: exploring perceptions of health in a cookstove intervention trial in rural Malawi. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e004596

Promoting compassionate and respectful maternity care during facility-based delivery in Ethiopia: perspectives of clients and midwives. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e051220

A mixed methods study to develop a tool to assess institutional readiness to conduct knowledge translation activities in low-income and middle-income countries. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e050049

Women’s perceptions and self-reports of excessive bleeding during and after delivery: findings from a mixed-methods study in Northern Nigeria. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e047711

Polio eradication: what kind of world do we want? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00458-8/fulltext

Risk factors for the spread of vaccine-derived type 2 polioviruses after global withdrawal of trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine and the effects of outbreak responses with monovalent vaccine: a retrospective analysis of surveillance data for 51 countries in Africa. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00453-9/fulltext

13 OCTOBER 2021

NEWS

First-of-its-kind drug cuts risk of severe COVID-19 in half, AstraZeneca says. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/first-of-its-kind-drug-cuts-risk-of-severe-covid-19-in-half-astrazeneca-says/2um7NCKpoVQM44abpWXs7Z?show_order=1&article_type=&utm_campaign=ealert_101221_Including_SD_ordt_other&tag=Evening&utm_medium=email&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&iqs=9z2zfp5a1iuvelgf161smhvf2st58e13u9qm1pftelg

Matt Hancock appointed UN special envoy to help Covid recovery in Africa. Former health secretary’s role comes as MPs release damning report into UK’s pandemic response. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/oct/12/matt-hancock-appointed-un-special-envoy-to-help-covid-recovery-in-africa

Homegrown Covid vaccines fill gap as UN Covax scheme misses target. India, Egypt and Cuba among first states to develop and make their own vaccines as Covax falls behind. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/13/local-covid-vaccines-fill-gap-as-un-covax-scheme-misses-target

Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/latest-worldwide-spread-coronavirus-2021-02-18/

Moderna’s search for African site set to intensify – chairman. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/modernas-search-african-site-set-intensify-chairman-2021-10-12/

Assessing COVID Risk and More with Air Quality Monitors. The consumer devices track pollutants as well as CO2—a proxy for potentially virus-laden human breath. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/assessing-covid-risk-and-more-with-air-quality-monitors/

How Antiviral Pill Molnupiravir Shot Ahead in the COVID Drug Hunt. The Merck pill, which could become the first oral antiviral COVID treatment, forces the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus to mutate itself to death. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-antiviral-pill-molnupiravir-shot-ahead-in-the-covid-drug-hunt/

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 After COVID-19 Screening and Mitigation Measures for Primary School Children Attending School in Liège, Belgium. These results suggest that children may play a larger role in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 than previously assumed. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784812

Under-reporting of deaths limits our understanding of true burden of covid-19.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2239

Minimising exposure to respiratory droplets, ‘jet riders’ and aerosols in air-conditioned hospital rooms by a ‘Shield-and-Sink’ strategy. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e047772

Impact of COVID-19 on the digital divide: a rapid review. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e053440

 

 

OTHER NEWS

One reason men often sweep the Nobels: few women nominees. In recent years, changes to the process have roughly doubled the percentage of women in the nominee pool. https://www.science.org/content/article/one-reason-men-often-sweep-nobels-few-women-nominees

Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case for Virtual Residency Interviews. https://journals.lww.com/aosopen/Fulltext/2021/09000/Lessons_from_the_COVID_19_Pandemic__The_Case_for.2.aspx

Creating a Medical School Curriculum to Teach Empathy. https://journals.lww.com/aosopen/Fulltext/2021/09000/Creating_a_Medical_School_Curriculum_to_Teach.13.aspx

Surgical Teams’ Attitudes About Surgical Safety and the Surgical Safety Checklist at 10 Years. A Multinational Survey. https://journals.lww.com/aosopen/Fulltext/2021/09000/Surgical_Teams__Attitudes_About_Surgical_Safety.5.aspx

14 OCTOBER 2021

NEWS

Job satisfaction among healthcare workers in Ghana and Kenya during the COVID-19 pandemic: Role of perceived preparedness, stress, and burnout. https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000022

‘I hope you die’: how the COVID pandemic unleashed attacks on scientists. Dozens of researchers tell Nature they have received death threats, or threats of physical or sexual violence. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02741-x

China’s COVID vaccines have been crucial — now immunity is waning. Billions of shots of China’s CoronaVac and Sinopharm vaccines have been given globally, but studies have questioned the length of protection they offer.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02796-w

WHO announces new expert group to investigate origins of covid-19 and other outbreaks. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/10/13/who-covid-origins-sago/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F34f6bc6%2F616705f99d2fda9d410d13a5%2F5cd2efff9bbc0f0bf88b0810%2F29%2F70%2F616705f99d2fda9d410d13a5

Covid-19 Breakthrough Infections in Vaccinated Health Care Workers.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2109072

Receipt of mRNA Covid-19 Vaccines and Risk of Spontaneous Abortion. Our findings suggest that the risk of spontaneous abortion after mRNA Covid-19 vaccination either before conception or during pregnancy is consistent with the expected risk of spontaneous abortion; these findings add to the accumulating evidence about the safety of mRNA Covid-19 vaccination in pregnancy. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2113891

On Preliminary Findings of mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine Safety in Pregnant Persons.  https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2113516

CORRECTION

Preliminary Findings of mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine Safety in Pregnant Persons. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMx210016

mRNA Covid-19 Vaccines in Pregnant Women. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMx210017

Changes in COVID-19 Vaccine Intent From April/May to June/July 2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785290

Short-term and Long-term Rates of Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection. A Systematic Review. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784918

Delta Variant Linked With Spike in Youth Hospitalizations. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2784947

India’s New COVID-19 DNA Vaccine for Adolescents and Adults Is a First. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2784978

Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/latest-worldwide-spread-coronavirus-2021-02-18/

Nigeria orders civil servants to show COVID-19 vaccination or negative test from Dec 1. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigeria-orders-civil-servants-show-covid-19-vaccination-or-negative-test-dec-1-2021-10-13/

Five steps to solving the vaccine inequity crisis.https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000032

Achieving vaccination justice: A call for global cooperation. https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000036

Vaccine rollout strategies: The case for vaccinating essential workers early. https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000020

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on health facility delivery in Ethiopia; results from PMA Ethiopia’s longitudinal panel. https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000023

OTHER NEWS

Using scientific authorship criteria as a tool for equitable inclusion in global health research. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e007632

Black and Asian doctors still face discrimination when applying for jobs in the NHS. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2451

Temporal trends in incidence and mortality rates of laryngeal cancer at the global, regional and national levels, 1990–2017. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e050387

Screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection in asymptomatic individuals using the Panbio COVID-19 antigen rapid test (Abbott) compared with RT-PCR: a prospective cohort study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e048206

A step towards decolonising medical training. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/10/12/a-step-towards-decolonising-medical-training/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Consensus statement on measures to promote equitable authorship in the publication of research from international partnerships. 

https://associationofanaesthetists-publications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/anae.15597

Comparison and lessons learned from neglected tropical diseases and tuberculosis. https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000027

A qualitative study of the barriers and enhancers to retention in care for pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV. https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000004

15 OCTOBER 2021

South Africa to vaccinate teenagers with single dose of Pfizer – health minister. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica/south-africa-to-vaccinate-teenagers-with-single-dose-of-pfizer-health-minister-idUSKBN2H50RQ

Zimbabwe bars unvaccinated civil servants from work.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-zimbabwe/zimbabwe-bars-unvaccinated-civil-servants-from-work-idUSKBN2H50O0

Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/latest-worldwide-spread-coronavirus-2021-02-18/

U.S. donates 3.6 million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to Nigeria. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-nigeria-vaccine-us/u-s-donates-3-6-million-doses-of-pfizer-covid-19-vaccines-to-nigeria-idUSKBN2H42IX

France donates COVID-19 vaccine to Nigeria under COVAX scheme. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/france-donates-covid-19-vaccine-nigeria-under-covax-scheme-2021-10-14/

U.S. donates 17 million J&J doses to African Union. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-kenya-vaccines/u-s-donates-17-million-jj-doses-to-african-union-idUSKBN2H42G3

EU, South Africa hold “intense talks” to break vaccine patent impasse. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-wto/eu-south-africa-hold-intense-talks-to-break-vaccine-patent-impasse-idUSKBN2H42AX

COVID scientists in the public eye need protection from threats. Researchers are facing harassment for speaking out during the pandemic. Their institutions must do more to support them. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02757-3

News at a glance: Third vaccine doses, revised guidance on aspirin, and a research reactor leak. The latest in science and policy. https://www.science.org/content/article/news-glance-third-vaccine-doses-revised-guidance-aspirin-and-research-reactor-leak

WHO unveils new 26-member panel to restart study of the pandemic’s origins.Permanent advisory group will also investigate future outbreaks and epidemics. https://www.science.org/content/article/who-unveils-new-26-member-panel-restart-study-pandemic-s-origins

COVID-19 Precautions Help Make Music That’s Beautiful and Safe. This Medical News article describes simple measures like masking instruments, social distancing, and curtailing performance length to improve safety for musicians and their audiences during live performances. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785304

Trying to Block SARS-CoV-2 Transmission With Intranasal Vaccines.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785303

Novel strategies to support global promotion of COVID-19 vaccination. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e006066

Covid and flu: what do the numbers tell us about morbidity and deaths?https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2514

Unmet need for COVID-19 therapies in community settings.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00633-2/fulltext

Developing COVID-19 vaccine policy in increments.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02242-X/fulltext

Associations between HIV infection and clinical spectrum of COVID-19: a population level analysis based on US National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) data. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(21)00239-3/fulltext

Sociodemographic, clinical, and immunological factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and severe COVID-19 outcomes in people living with HIV: a retrospective cohort study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(21)00240-X/fulltext

More evidence for worse COVID-19 outcomes in people with HIV. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(21)00272-1/fulltext

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination uptake by patients with inflammatory bowel disease on biological therapy. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langas/article/PIIS2468-1253(21)00347-2/fulltext

Diagnostic performances of common nucleic acid tests for SARS-CoV-2 in hospitals and clinics: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00214-7/fulltext

Do we need booster shots? The Lancet Voicehttps://www.thelancet.com/the-lancet-voice

OTHER NEWS

Associations of Serum Uric Acid Levels With Macrovascular and Renal Microvascular Dysfunction Among Individuals From Sub-Saharan Africa. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784992

Current evidence on dietary intakes of fatty acids and mortality. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2379

Effectiveness of hygiene kit distribution to reduce cholera transmission in Kasaï-Oriental, Democratic Republic of Congo, 2018: a prospective cohort study.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e050943

Climate change, climate-related disasters and mental disorder in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e051908

Vision impairment and traffic safety outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00303-X/fulltext

18 OCTOBER 2021

Gordon Brown urges emergency Covid vaccine airlift to Africa. Former UK prime minister says operation could be under way within days if world leaders signed off.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/17/gordon-brown-urges-emergency-covid-vaccine-airlift-to-africa

Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/latest-worldwide-spread-coronavirus-2021-02-18/

COVID super-immunity: one of the pandemic’s great puzzles. People who have previously recovered from COVID-19 have a stronger immune response after being vaccinated than those who have never been infected. Scientists are trying to find out why.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02795-x

Who Needs a COVID Booster Shot? Experts Answer Common Questions. Now that the FDA has authorized the shots for a broad range of Americans, many people want to know if they need a booster dose. Here’s what we have learned so far. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/who-needs-a-covid-booster-shot-experts-answer-common-questions/

Covid-19: People who take statins may be less likely to die, research suggests. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2536

Covid-19 treatments and vaccines must be evaluated in pregnancy.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2377

Associations between HIV infection and clinical spectrum of COVID-19: a population level analysis based on US National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) data. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(21)00239-3/fulltext

Initiation of long-acting cabotegravir plus rilpivirine as direct-to-injection or with an oral lead-in in adults with HIV-1 infection: week 124 results of the open-label phase 3 FLAIR study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(21)00184-3/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment in Patients With a History of Breast Cancer.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785382

Changes in Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Associated With the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785014

How Scrubs Reinforce Sexist Double Standards

Female doctors have always dealt with appearance-related confusion and disrespect. That only got worse during the pandemic.https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/10/how-pandemic-fueled-sexism-against-women-doctors/620380/

Racial profiling for induction of labour: improving safety or perpetuating racism?https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/10/15/racial-profiling-for-induction-of-labour-improving-safety-or-perpetuating-racism/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

19 OCTOBER 2021

WHO-led program aims to buy antiviral COVID-19 pills for $10. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/exclusive-who-led-programme-aims-buy-antiviral-covid-19-pills-10-document-2021-10-19/

Burundi launches COVID-19 vaccination drive. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/burundi-launches-covid-19-vaccination-drive-2021-10-18/

South Africa regulator not authorising Russian COVID-19 vaccine for now.  https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-regulator-not-authorising-russian-covid-19-vaccine-now-2021-10-18/

Fights over confidentiality pledge and conflicts of interest tore apart COVID-19 origin probe. Former members of The Lancet task force challenge why economist Jeffrey Sachs disbanded effort. https://www.science.org/content/article/fights-over-confidentiality-pledge-and-conflicts-interest-tore-apart-covid-19-origin-probe

Immunogenicity of standard and extended dosing intervals of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)01221-6?utm_medium=homep

Monoclonal antibodies protect aged rhesus macaques from SARS-CoV-2 induced immune activation and neuroinflammation. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)01415-7

Association Between Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors and the Risk of Hospitalization or Death Among Patients With Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Disease and COVID-19.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785080

Vaccine nationalism and internationalism: perspectives of COVID-19 vaccine trial participants in the United Kingdom. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e006305

Covid-19: Silencing health workers, researchers, and journalists caused unnecessary deaths, says Amnesty. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2552

Covid-19: Prevalence rises among schoolchildren in England. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2542

Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Breakthrough Infections in Health Care Workers Identified Through Routine Universal Surveillance Testing. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M21-3486

Subcutaneous interferon beta-1a in COVID-19: raking the ashes of an intervention trial. 

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00412-4/fulltext

Colchicine in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00435-5/fulltext

Efficacy of interferon beta-1a plus remdesivir compared with remdesivir alone in hospitalised adults with COVID-19: a double-bind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00384-2/fulltext

Long-term consequences of the misuse of ivermectin data. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00630-7/fulltext

Cancer in HIV-positive and HIV-negative adolescents and young adults in South Africa: a cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e043941

OTHER NEWS

How can we better integrate the prevention, treatment, control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases with other health interventions? A systematic review. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e006968

Trends in gender of authors of original research in oncology among major medical journals: a retrospective bibliometric study. Conclusions The continued under-representation of women means that more efforts to address parity for advancement of women in academic oncology are needed. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e046618

20 OCTOBER 2021

Burundi launches COVID-19 vaccination drive. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/burundi-launches-covid-19-vaccination-drive-2021-10-18/

COVID, racism, China: three tests for the next NIH leader. The successor to Francis Collins will need to be steadfast, nimble and creative in how they run the world’s largest biomedical research agency at a pivotal time.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02842-7

A cancer survivor had the longest documented COVID-19 infection. Here’s what scientists learned. Yearlong infection spawned a striking mutation beyond SARS-CoV-2’s spike protein. https://www.science.org/content/article/cancer-survivor-had-longest-documented-covid-19-infection-here-s-what-scientists-learned

Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection elicits sexually dimorphic placental immune responses. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abi7428

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines drive differential antibody Fc-functional profiles in pregnant, lactating, and non-pregnant women. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abi8631[mt1] 

Pregnancy Influences Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abm2070

Covid-19: Why Africa’s pandemic is different, https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2512

Financing of surgery and anaesthesia in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e051617

Escalating burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Ethiopia https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00436-8/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

SARS-CoV-2 sequencing collaboration in west Africa shows best practices. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00389-2/fulltext

Seroepidemiology and model-based prediction of SARS-CoV-2 in Ethiopia: longitudinal cohort study among front-line hospital workers and communities. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00386-7/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Application of an innovative alignment optimisation method to a cross-cultural mean comparison of teacher self-efficacy: A cross-country study. https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(21)02315-X

Systematic analysis of authorship demographics in global surgery. Conclusion Authorship disparities are evident within global surgery academia. Remedial actions to address the lack of authorship opportunities for LMIC authors and female authors are required. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e006672

Consensus statement on measures to promote equitable authorship in the publication of research from international partnerships. https://associationofanaesthetists-publications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/anae.15597

Credit local authors fairly on international research papers. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02831-w

21 OCTOBER 2021

Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/latest-worldwide-spread-coronavirus-2021-02-18/

 

Kenya lifts COVID-19 curfew as infection rates ease, president says. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/kenyas-president-kenyatta-lifts-coronavirus-curfew-2021-10-20/

 

Senegal logs zero new COVID-19 cases for first time since pandemic began. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-senegal/senegal-logs-zero-new-covid-19-cases-for-first-time-since-pandemic-began-idUSKBN2HA18N

 

COVID vaccine makers brace for a variant worse than Delta. Companies are updating vaccines and testing them on people to prepare for whatever comes next in the pandemic. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02854-3

 

SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization with BNT162b2 Vaccine Dose 3. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2113468

 

Covid-19 Breakthrough Infections in Vaccinated Health Care Workers. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2113497

 

Quantifying and Benchmarking Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination Rates by Race and Ethnicity. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785314

 

COVID-19 Rolls Back Progress Against HIV, TB, and Malaria. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785252

Covid-19’s rebel scientists: has iSAGE been a success?https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2504

Community health workers’ job satisfaction in Ebola-stricken areas of Sierra Leone and its implication for COVID-19 containment: a cross-sectional mixed-methods study.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e051645

Global prevalence and burden of depressive and anxiety disorders in 204 countries and territories in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02143-7/fulltext

Escalating burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Ethiopia.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00436-8/fulltext

Covid-19: Chikwe Ihekweazu: “It’s a rare privilege” to lead new pandemic hub. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2423

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international reconstructive collaborations in Africa. https://research.one.surgery/the-impact-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-international-reconstructive-collaborations-in-africa/

Effect of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns on planned cancer surgery for 15 tumour types in 61 countries: an international, prospective, cohort study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8492020/

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global neurosurgical education: a systematic review.  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10143-021-01664-5

OTHER NEWS

Association Between Baseline Diastolic Blood Pressure and the Efficacy of Intensive vs 

Standard Blood Pressure–Lowering Therapy. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785309

Laparoscopic vs Open Distal Gastrectomy for Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer

Five-Year Outcomes From the CLASS-01 Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2785366

Traditional healers to improve access to quality health care in Africa. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00438-1/fulltext

Paving the way towards hepatitis B virus-free generations in Africa. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00415-0/fulltext

Mind the gap: Patterns of red blood cell product usage in South Africa, 2014 – 2019.http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/13402

Functional recovery after cesarean delivery: a prospective cohort study in rural Rwanda. https://research.one.surgery/functional-recovery-after-cesarean-delivery-a-prospective-cohort-study-in-rural-rwanda/

Application of the research electronic data capture (REDCap) system in a low- and middle income country– experiences, lessons, and challenges. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12553-021-00600-3

We Asked the Experts: The Promises and Challenges of Surgical Telehealth in Low Resourced Settings. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00268-021-06318-7

Ghanaian views of short-term medical missions: The pros, the cons, and the possibilities for improvement.  https://globalizationandhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12992-021-00741-0

---

22 OCTOBER 2021

WHO says studying Sweden pause of Moderna vaccine; Sputnik review resumed. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-vaccines/who-says-studying-sweden-pause-of-moderna-vaccine-sputnik-review-resumed-idUSKBN2HB1TQ

Factbox: Countries respond to heart inflammation risk from mRNA shots.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/countries-respond-heart-inflammation-risk-mrna-shots-2021-10-08/

Daily briefing: Natural COVID immunity might be short-lived

Unvaccinated people who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 are at risk of reinfection within a couple years, models propose. Plus, why fossil-fuel subsidies are so hard to kill and how refugee scientists are keeping their research dreams alive. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02870-3

Protection against SARS-CoV-2 beta variant in mRNA-1273 vaccine–boosted nonhuman primates.

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abl8912

Pathogen-Sensing Mask Could Detect COVID Infection

Freeze-dried genetic circuits could reveal the presence of SARS-CoV-2, Ebola, MRSA, and more. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pathogen-sensing-mask-could-detect-covid-infection/

Effect of 12 mg vs 6 mg of Dexamethasone on the Number of Days Alive Without Life Support in Adults With COVID-19 and Severe Hypoxemia. The COVID STEROID 2 Randomized Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785529

Glucocorticoid Dose in COVID-19. Lessons for Clinical Trials During a Pandemic.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785531

The Flawed Science of Antibody Testing for SARS-CoV-2 Immunity.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785530

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Rates of COVID-19–Associated Hospitalization, Intensive Care Unit Admission, and In-Hospital Death in the United States From March 2020 to February 2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785325

Covid-19: Vaccines are highly effective in preventing deaths from delta variant, study indicates. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2582

COVID-19 and the rebiologisation of racial difference. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02241-8/fulltext

Fertility rates and birth outcomes after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccination. We found no evidence of an association between reduced fertility and vaccination with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (p=0·53–0·80; table 1; for fertility rates by site. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02282-0/fulltext

Does infection with or vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 lead to lasting immunity?https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00407-0/fulltext

Waning immunity to SARS-CoV-2: implications for vaccine booster strategies.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00458-6/fulltext

Colchicine treatment in COVID-19: the remaining unsolved question.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00462-8/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Prevalence and outcomes of twin pregnancies in Botswana: a national birth outcomes surveillance study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e047553

Seroprevalence and associated factors of maternal cytomegalovirus in Southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e051390

Investing in Surgery, Closing A Global Health Gap. Access to surgery can keep treatable conditions, such as a common fracture, from becoming lifelong disabilities. https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/investing-surgery-closing-global-health-gap?utm_medium=social_owned&utm_source=tw_tgh

25 OCTOBER 2021

REVISED High infectious disease burden as a basis for the observed high frequency of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections in sub-Saharan Africa [version 3; peer review: 2 approved]. 

https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-2/v3?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

Low COVID-19 impact in Africa: The multifactorial Nexus [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-47

Namibia to suspend use of Russian COVID-19 vaccine – ministry.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/namibia-suspends-use-russian-covid-vaccine-after-safrica-flags-hiv-concerns-2021-10-23/

 Tunisia imposes COVID-19 vaccine pass on Tunisians and all foreign visitors.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/tunisia-imposes-covid-19-vaccine-pass-tunisians-all-foreign-visitors-2021-10-22/

Mix-and-match COVID vaccines ace the effectiveness test

Combining two different COVID-19 vaccines provides protection on par with that of mRNA vaccines — including protection against the Delta variant.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02853-4

Rhino puzzle and China’s COVID vaccines — the week in infographics.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02878-9

COVID Vaccine Makers Prepare for a Variant Worse than Delta

Companies are updating vaccines and testing them on people to prepare for whatever comes next in the pandemic. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-vaccine-makers-prepare-for-a-variant-worse-than-delta/

Share vaccine know-how. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abm8724

Assessment of Cognitive Function in Patients After COVID-19 Infection.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785388

Contrastive Learning Improves Critical Event Prediction in COVID-19 Patients.https://www.cell.com/patterns/fulltext/S2666-3899(21)00256-7

Beta RBD Boost Broadens Antibody-Mediated Protection Against SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Animal Models. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(21)00318-9

Covid-19: New WHO group to look into pandemic origins is dogged by alleged conflicts of interest. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2588

Vitamin D insufficiency in COVID-19 and influenza A, and critical illness survivors: a cross-sectional study .    https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e055435

Innovations in COVID-19 testing: the road from pandemic response to control.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309921002917

Recombinant protein vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309921002279

A cross-sectional survey investigating the impact of COVID-19 on surgery training at teaching hospitals accredited by the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa. http://journal.cosecsa.org/index.php/ECAJS/article/view/20200067

Persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection: the urgent need for access to treatment and trials. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309921004643

RESOURCES

Samiran Nundy, Atul Kakar, and Zulfi Bhutta have published a book titled How to Practice Academic Medicine and Publish from Developing Countries? A Practical Guide. It’s a book that will be extremely useful to the growing number of academics working in low and middle income countries. The book is publishedby Springer and will from 30 October be available open access, meaning you can access it for free as often as you want. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/10/21/academic-medicine-and-publishing-from-developing-countries/

OTHER NEWS

A phenomenological study on experiences of cancer stigma amongst selected people living with cancer in rural and urban Zimbabwe [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-48

In an age of interprofessional care, why do we need nursing research?https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2589

Paediatric tuberculosis preventive treatment preferences among HIV-positive children, caregivers and healthcare providers in Eswatini: a discrete choice experiment. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e048443

A brighter future for malaria prevention?https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309921005697

Arterolane-based combinations for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Kenyan children.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1473309921000049

Implementation science: A missing link in global surgery. http://journal.cosecsa.org/index.php/ECAJS/article/view/20200087/

26 OCTOBER 2021

S.Africa’s Aspen aims to sharply increase COVID-19 vaccine capacity.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-safrica-aspen-pharmacare-vaccine/s-africas-aspen-aims-to-sharply-increase-covid-19-vaccine-capacity-idUSKBN2HF13W

S.Africa’s Aspen aims to expand vaccine capacity to 1.3 billion doses a year.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-safrica-aspen-pharmacare/s-africas-aspen-aims-to-expand-vaccine-capacity-to-1-3-billion-doses-a-year-idUSKBN2HF0XW

Factbox: Countries respond to heart inflammation risk from mRNA shots. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/countries-respond-heart-inflammation-risk-mrna-shots-2021-10-08/

Daily briefing: mRNA vaccines beyond COVID

COVID-19 vaccine technology could help to protect us from other diseases. Plus: the genetic origins of modern domestic horses and a false-alarm ‘alien’ signal.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02945-1

COVID Quickly, Episode 17: Vaccine Lies and Protecting Immunocompromised People. https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/covid-quickly-episode-17-vaccine-lies-and-protecting-immunocompromised-people/

Unlocking SARS-CoV-2 detection in low- and middle-income countries.

https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-methods/fulltext/S2667-2375(21)00148-X

Selective functional antibody transfer into the breastmilk after SARS-CoV-2 infection. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)01436-4

Snakebites and COVID-19: two crises, one research and development opportunity. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e006913

Factors associated with the time to return negative RT-PCR from COVID-19 in paediatric patients: a retrospective cohort study.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e052609

Diabetes, hypertension, body mass index, smoking and COVID-19-related mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e052777

Current malaria infection, previous malaria exposure, and clinical profiles and outcomes of COVID-19 in a setting of high malaria transmission: an exploratory cohort study in Uganda. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00240-8/fulltext

Symptom Persistence Despite Improvement in Cardiopulmonary Health – Insights from longitudinal CMR, CPET and lung function testing post-COVID-19. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(21)00439-9/fulltext

Risk factors for poor prognosis in children and adolescents with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(21)00435-1/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Predatory publishers’ latest scam: bootlegged and rebranded papers

To thwart publishing rackets that undermine scholars and scholarly publishing, legitimate journals should show their workings.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02906-8

Modelling the effect of infection prevention and control measures on rate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission to clinic attendees in primary health clinics in South Africa. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e007124

Access to paediatric surgery: the geography of inequality in Nigeria. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e006025

Systematic analysis of authorship demographics in global surgery.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e006672

Virological measures and factors associated with outcomes, and missing outcome data in HIV clinical trials: a methodological study.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e039462

R|S Atlas: Identifying existing cohort study data resources to accelerate epidemiological research on the influence of religion and spirituality on human health. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e043830

28 OCTOBER 2021

S.Africa’s Aspen aiming for 1.3 bln dose/year COVID-19 vaccine capacity by 2024.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/safricas-aspen-aiming-13-bln-doseyear-covid-19-vaccine-capacity-by-2024-2021-10-25/

What COVID vaccines for young kids could mean for the pandemic. As US Food and Drug Administration advisers recommend authorizing shots for children aged 5 to 11, researchers predict what this might mean for populations.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02947-z

The COVID pandemic must lead to tuberculosis vaccines The coronavirus crisis has halted decades of progress on TB. But the speed of COVID vaccines shows there can still be hope for advances against neglected diseases.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02892-x

Was NIH-funded work on MERS virus in China too risky? Science examines the controversy. EcoHealth Alliance defends hotly debated research that altered deadly coronavirus. https://www.science.org/content/article/was-nih-funded-work-mers-virus-china-too-risky-science-examines-controversy

COVID Expanded the Boundaries of Personal Space—Maybe for Good. Our physical safety perimeters have widened, a study suggests.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-expanded-the-boundaries-of-personal-space-maybe-for-good1/

Visibility, collaboration and impact of the Cuban scientific output on COVID-19 in Scopus. The greater the leadership in Cuban research, the lower its impact, and the lower the indexes of international collaboration. Cuban researchers are not yet able to systematically generate research that has a significant impact on the international scientific community. https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(21)02361-6

Audio Interview: A New Monoclonal Antibody for Covid-19 and Potential Vaccination for Children. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2117187?query=featured_home

Early Treatment for Covid-19 with SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibody Sotrovimab.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2107934?query=featured_home

Waning Immunity after the BNT162b2 Vaccine in Israel.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2114228?query=featured_home

Rare Skin Reactions after mRNA Vaccination, Similar to Jones–Mote Basophil Responses. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2111452?query=featured_home

Toxic Effects from Ivermectin Use Associated with Prevention and Treatment of Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2114907?query=recirc_mostViewed_railB_article

Covid-19 Vaccination during Pregnancy and First-Trimester Miscarriage.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2114466?query=recirc_mostViewed_railB_article

BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccine Effectiveness against Death from the Delta Variant. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2113864?query=recirc_mostViewed_railB_article

Twenty Years After the Anthrax Terrorist Attacks of 2001

Lessons Learned and Unlearned for the COVID-19 Response.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785780

Monoclonal Antibodies for COVID-19 Preexposure Prophylaxis Can’t Come Fast Enough for Some People.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785781

Changes in Virtual and In-Person Health Care Utilization in a Large Health System During the COVID-19 Pandemic.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785538

Aspergillosis Is Common Among COVID-19 Patients in the ICU.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785489

How to capture the individual and societal impacts of syndemics: the lived experience of COVID-19. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e006735

Covid-19: Just a third of blood cancer patients had antibodies against delta variant after two vaccine doses, study finds.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2623

Covid-19: Symptom tracking app shows UK surge may be bigger than reported.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2619

World leaders must act now to prevent next pandemic, warns Global Preparedness Monitoring Board. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2610

Challenges and solutions: surveying researchers on what type of community engagement and involvement activities are feasible in low and middle income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e052135

Brain MRI and neuropsychological findings at long-term follow-up after COVID-19 hospitalisation: an observational cohort study.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e055164

Effect of early treatment with fluvoxamine on risk of emergency care and hospitalisation among patients with COVID-19: the TOGETHER randomised, platform clinical trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00448-4/fulltext

Fluvoxamine for outpatients with COVID-19: where do we stand?https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00501-5/fulltext

An insight on how to survive COVID-19.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00689-7/fulltext

WHO International Standard for evaluation of the antibody response to COVID-19 vaccines: call for urgent action by the scientific community.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00266-4/fulltext

Non-pharmaceutical interventions, vaccination, and the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant in England: a mathematical modelling study.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02276-5/fulltext

Cure4Kids offers online education and collaboration tools that are freely available to registered users. Join Cure4Kids and start exploring!https://www.cure4kids.org

OTHER NEWS

This digital-hygiene routine will protect your scholarship. Simple, regular checks could squelch some pernicious practices by unscrupulous publishers and preserve your digital presence. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02901-z

A non-reactive natural product precursor of the duocarmycin family has potent and selective antimalarial activity. https://www.cell.com/cell-chemical-biology/fulltext/S2451-9456(21)00439-6

Where there is no local author: a network bibliometric analysis of authorship parasitism among research conducted in sub-Saharan Africa.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e006982

Barriers and determinants of asthma control in children and adolescents in Africa: a systematic review. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e053100

Chronicling PEPFAR’s work in Africa.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00642-3/fulltext

Revisiting academic health sciences systems a decade later: discovery to health to population to society. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01752-9/fulltextReducing surgical site infections in low-income and middle-income countries (FALCON): a pragmatic, multicentre, stratified, randomised controlled trial.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01548-8/fulltext

29 OCTOBER 2021

Only 5 African countries may fully vaccinate 40% of population by year-end – WHO Africa https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-africa/only-5-african-countries-may-fully-vaccinate-40-of-population-by-year-end-who-africa-idUSKBN2HI1R1

Exclusive: Moderna COVID shot could be used in U.S. children, teens within weeks, CEO says. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/exclusive-moderna-covid-19-shot-could-start-being-used-children-teens-within-2021-10-27/

S.Africa’s Aspen aiming for 1.3 bln dose/year COVID-19 vaccine capacity by 2024.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/safricas-aspen-aiming-13-bln-doseyear-covid-19-vaccine-capacity-by-2024-2021-10-25/

 

The search for people who never get COVID. An international team of researchers want to find people who are genetically resistant to SARS-CoV-2, in the hope of developing new drugs and treatments. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02978-6

OCD drug shows promise against COVID-19.Treatment decreases risk of hospitalization in large trial. https://www.science.org/content/article/ocd-drug-shows-promise-against-covid-19

Effect of early treatment with fluvoxamine on risk of emergency care and hospitalisation among patients with COVID-19: the TOGETHER randomised, platform clinical trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00448-4/fulltext

Changes in Virtual and In-Person Health Care Utilization in a Large Health System During the COVID-19 Pandemic.. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785538

Safety and efficacy of antivirals against SARS-CoV-2.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2611

Covid-19: global vaccine production is a mess and shortages are down to more than just hoarding. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2375

What is the vaccine effect on reducing transmission in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00690-3/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Building local capacity for emergency coordination: establishment of subnational Public Health Emergency Operations Centres in Nigeria.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e007203

Maternal emotional and physical intimate partner violence and early child development: investigating mediators in a cross-sectional study in a South African birth cohort. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e046829

November 2021 – Volume 96 – Association of American Medical Colleges Learn Serve Lead: Proceedings of the 60th Annual Research in Medical Education Presentations and Medical Education Abstracts 11S.https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/toc/2021/11001?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=acadmedjournal&utm_content=775d006a-4a70-409a-83c3-89072ec42a92

1 NOVEMBER 2021

Effectiveness of a third dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for preventing severe outcomes in Israel: an observational study.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02249-2/fulltext

Effect of anti-interleukin drugs in patients with COVID-19 and signs of cytokine release syndrome (COV-AID): a factorial, randomised, controlled trial.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00377-5/fulltext

Boosters appear effective, but are they always needed?https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02388-6/fulltext

IL-1 and IL-6 inhibition affects the neutralising activity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients with COVID-19. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(21)00321-0/fulltext

The course of action for effective anti-cytokine treatment in COVID-19.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00405-7/fulltext

Benefits of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions on the prevention of other notifiable infectious diseases.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(21)00212-1/fulltext

G20 wants 70% of world vaccinated by mid-2022, sets up pandemic task force.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/g20-want-70-world-vaccinated-by-mid-2022-set-up-task-force-pandemic-fight-2021-10-29/

Common antidepressant slashes risk of COVID death. Fluvoxamine is both inexpensive and highly effective at preventing mild COVID-19 from turning severe.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02988-4

Association Between COVID-19 Diagnosis and In-Hospital Mortality in Patients Hospitalized With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785893

Covid-19: US and China prepare for mass vaccination of children under 12.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2631

REVISED High infectious disease burden as a basis for the observed high frequency of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections in sub-Saharan Africa [version 3; peer review: 2 approved]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-2

What is the vaccine effect on reducing transmission in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00690-3/fulltext

Systematic review with meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy for COVID-19 by mass spectrometry.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0026049521002225

COVID-19 and Outcomes in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34718595/

COVID-19 Mortality Risk Correlates Inversely with Vitamin D3 Status, and a Mortality Rate Close to Zero Could Theoretically Be Achieved at 50 ng/mL 25(OH)D3: Results of a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8541492/

OTHER NEWS

Diagnostic Excellence. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785845

Use of a Smartphone App to Explore Potential Underuse of Prophylactic Aspirin for Preeclampsia. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785596

Spatial patterns and inequalities in skilled birth attendance and caesarean delivery in sub-Saharan Africa. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/10/e007074

‘Making the most of our situation’: a qualitative study reporting health providers’ perspectives on the challenges of implementing the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services in Lagos, Nigeria.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e046263

Is improvement in indicators of women’s empowerment associated with uptake of WHO recommended IPTp-SP levels in sub-Saharan Africa? A multilevel approach. The WHO has recommended that pregnant women in high malaria transmission locations, including SSA, have intermittent preventive treatment of malaria during pregnancy with at least three doses of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP). 

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e047606

Awareness and readiness to use telemonitoring to support diabetes care among care providers at teaching hospitals in Ethiopia: an institution-based cross-sectional study.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/10/e050812

Advanced cancer palliative care economics in sub-Saharan Africa: an important start. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00486-1/fulltext

Palliative care and catastrophic costs in Malawi after a diagnosis of advanced cancer: a prospective cohort study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00408-3/fulltext

Coaching to enhance qualified surgeons’ non-technical skills: a systematic review.https://academic.oup.com/bjs/article-abstract/108/10/1154/6363086?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Conduct and reporting of formula milk trials: systematic review.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2202

2 NOVEMBER 2021

Update on and Future Directions for Use of Anti–SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies: National Institutes of Health Summit on Treatment and Prevention of COVID-19.https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M21-3669

‘We are protected by prayers’: the sects hampering southern Africa’s vaccine rollout. With millions of followers, the stance of some Apostolic church leaders threatens to undermine fight against Covid. The government has asked religious groups to endorse the Covid-19 vaccine. The Catholic church, evangelical and Adventist groups have done so. [Our preacher gave us an instruction that if we use little stones and holy water he prayed for nothing will happen to our families. Miriam Mushayabasa, Apostolic church member. ]But with a tradition of not seeking or trusting medical help, some of the “white garment” churches are refusing to encourage congregations to get vaccinated.. With millions of followers across southern Africa, the church’s stance could undermine Zimbabwe’s attempts to vaccinate 60% of the population by December. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/nov/01/the-sects-hampering-southern-africa-covid-vaccine-rollout

Zimbabwe approves Sinovac shots for older teenagers.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/zimbabwe-approves-sinovac-shots-older-teenagers-2021-11-01/

Daily briefing: A COVID drug for the people? The inexpensive antidepressant fluvoxamine cuts the risk of death among high-risk COVID-19 patients. Plus: the search for people who are genetically resistant to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the effects of civil war on bird life. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03006-3

The vaccine shots that rang around the world. Two books follow key runners in the historic race to immunize the world against COVID.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02996-4

A reconstruction of early cryptic COVID spread. To respond better to future pandemics, we must understand how the SARS-CoV-2 virus dispersed so rapidly. A model of COVID-19 spread sheds light on cryptic transmission, undetected by surveillance efforts, in early 2020. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02989-3

COVID Vaccine Authorized for Kids Age 5 to 11. The FDA’s decision to expand eligibility for the Pfizer vaccine to young kids could mean less illness, safer school and more freedom. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-vaccine-authorized-for-kids-age-5-to-111/

Membrane fusion and immune evasion by the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abl9463

Contributions of Single-particle Cryo-EM toward Fighting COVID-19.https://www.cell.com/trends/biochemical-sciences/fulltext/S0968-0004(21)00231-0

Immunizations with diverse sarbecovirus receptor binding domains elicit SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies against a conserved site of vulnerability.https://www.cell.com/immunity/fulltext/S1074-7613(21)00457-X

Association of Prior SARS-CoV-2 Infection With Risk of Breakthrough Infection Following mRNA Vaccination in Qatar.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785918

Durability of Antibody Levels After Vaccination With mRNA SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Individuals With or Without Prior Infection.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785919

Age- and Sex-Specific Incidence of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis Associated With Ad26.COV2.S COVID-19 Vaccination. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2785610

Covid-19: FDA puts Moderna’s paediatric application on hold to investigate side effects. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2659

Covid-19: One in four vaccinated people living in households with a covid-19 case become infected, study finds. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2638

What is the vaccine effect on reducing transmission in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00690-3/fulltext

Here’s Why Developing Countries Can Make mRNA Covid Vaccines.  2 in South Africa.  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/10/22/science/developing-country-covid-vaccines.html?smid=tw-nythealth&smtyp=cur

BioNTech says aims to start building mRNA vaccine factory in Africa in mid-22.BioNTech on Tuesday said it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Rwandan government and Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal on the construction of a first mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Africa starting in mid-2022.https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/health/1782696-biontech-says-aims-to-start-building-mrna-vaccine-factory-in-africa-in-mid-22

OTHER NEWS

The Self-directed Medical Student Curriculum.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785917

Outcomes of a Presurgical Optimization Program for Elective Hernia Repairs Among High-risk Patients.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785660

Projections of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination impact in Ethiopia, India, Nigeria and Pakistan: a comparative modelling study.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e006940

Providing effective evidence based support for breastfeeding women in primary care.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-065927

A call to action to reform academic global health partnerships. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2658

How communication can help women who experience a maternal near-miss: a qualitative study from Tanzania. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e045514

Addition of HIV self-test kits to partner notification services to increase HIV testing of male partners of pregnant women in Zambia: two parallel randomised trials.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00393-4/fulltext

Secondary HIV self-test distribution increases male partner testing.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00450-2/fulltext

The 2021 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: code red for a healthy future. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01787-6/fulltext?utm_campaign=lancetclimate21&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

Reducing surgical site infections in low-income and middle-income countries (FALCON): a pragmatic, multicentre, stratified, randomised controlled trial.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01548-8/fulltext

Prevention of surgical site infection in low-resource settings.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01695-0/fulltext

3 NOVEMBER 2021

African scientists race to test COVID drugs — but face major hurdles

In a bid to stave off looming disaster, scientists are trying to repurpose drugs used for malaria and other diseases, but infrastructure and recruitment challenges stymie progress. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02995-5

Common Antidepressant Slashes Risk of COVID Death. Fluvoxamine is both inexpensive and highly effective at preventing mild COVID-19 from turning severe.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/common-antidepressant-slashes-risk-of-covid-death/

Contributions of Single-particle Cryo-EM toward Fighting COVID-19.https://www.cell.com/trends/biochemical-sciences/fulltext/S0968-0004(21)00231-0

Visualizing in deceased COVID-19 patients how SARS-CoV-2 attacks the respiratory and olfactory mucosae but spares the olfactory bulb.https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)01282-4

Analysis of the Effectiveness of the Ad26.COV2.S Adenoviral Vector Vaccine for Preventing COVID-19. This comparative effectiveness research study used data from the multistate Mayo Clinic Health System to evaluate the effectiveness of the Johnson & Johnson Ad26.COV2.S vaccine at preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study’s findings are consistent with the clinical trial–reported efficacy of Ad26.COV2.S and the first retrospective analysis, suggesting that the vaccine is effective at reducing SARS-CoV-2 infection, even with the spread of variants such as Alpha or Delta that were not present in the original studies, and reaffirm the urgent need to continue mass vaccination efforts globally. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785664

Single-Dose Ad26.COV2.S Vaccine—Room for Improvement. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785672

Covid-19: Researcher blows the whistle on data integrity issues in Pfizer’s vaccine trial. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2635

Inhaled and intranasal ciclesonide for the treatment of covid-19 in adult outpatients: CONTAIN phase II randomised controlled trial. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-068060

Covid-19 vaccination should be mandatory for healthcare workers.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2670

Elimination versus mitigation of SARS-CoV-2 in the presence of effective vaccines. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00494-0/fulltext

COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy—number needed to vaccinate to avoid harm.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00691-5/fulltext

Unmet need for COVID-19 therapies in community settings.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309921006332

SARS-CoV-2 variants and considerations of inferring causality on disease severity.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309921003388

Single-dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccination efficacy in the elderly.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309921003546

OTHER NEWS

Effect of a School-Based Educational Intervention About the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine on Psychosocial Outcomes Among Adolescents. Analysis of Secondary Outcomes of a Cluster Randomized Trial.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785670

Strengthening public financial management in the health sector: a qualitative case study from South Africa. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e006911

Shortage of essential antimicrobials: a major challenge to global health security.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e006961

Integrating health services for HIV infection, diabetes and hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa: a cohort study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e053412

Gender differences in faculty rank among academic physicians: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Gender inequity in academic medicine exists across all specialties, geographical regions and multiple measures of success, including academic rank, publications, salary and leadership. Men are more likely than women to be full professors after controlling for experience, academic productivity and specialty. Although there has been some improvement over time, the gender disparity in faculty rank persists.

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e050322

Zinc for the prevention or treatment of acute viral respiratory tract infections in adults: a rapid systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e047474

The economic and public health impact of intellectual property licensing of medicines for low-income and middle-income countries: a modelling study.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(21)00202-4/fulltext

4 NOV 2021

Vaccine certificates-for-sale scam undermines Lesotho’s Covid effort. The documents, necessary for entry into bars and sporting venues, are being sold by unscrupulous health workers for less than £20. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/nov/04/vaccine-certificates-for-sale-scam-undermines-lesothos-covid-effort

COVID-19 pandemic could lead to HIV surge in West & Central Africa, says UNAIDS chief. https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/covid-19-pandemic-could-lead-hiv-surge-west-central-africa-says-unaids-chief-2021-11-03/

Why scientists worldwide are watching UK COVID infections. The country’s relaxation of measures such as masking — especially in England — is showing the limits of relying on vaccines alone. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03003-6

African scientists race to test COVID drugs — but face major hurdles In a bid to stave off looming disaster, scientists are trying to repurpose drugs used for malaria and other diseases, but infrastructure and recruitment challenges stymie progress.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02995-5

Why Vaccine Doses Differ for Kids and Adults. An immunologist explains how the immune system changes as people mature.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-vaccine-doses-differ-for-kids-and-adults1/

SARS-CoV-2 can infect and propagate in human placenta explants.https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(21)00324-4

Audio Interview: Do We Have the Tools to End the Covid-19 Pandemic?https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2117543?query=featured_home

Phase 3 Trial of mRNA-1273 during the Delta-Variant Surge.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2115597?query=featured_home

Neutralization of the SARS-CoV-2 Mu Variant by Convalescent and Vaccine Serum.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2114706?query=featured_home

Safety and Efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine through 6 Months.Through 6 months of follow-up and despite a gradual decline in vaccine efficacy, BNT162b2 had a favorable safety profile and was highly efficacious in preventing Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2110345?query=featured_home

Decline in Pathogenic Antibodies over Time in VITT.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2112760?query=featured_home

Trials Test Mushrooms and Herbs as Anti–COVID-19 Agents.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2786023

Immune Response of Neonates Born to Mothers Infected With SARS-CoV-2. Findings suggest that maternal protection goes beyond passive immunity, with immune complexes in breastmilk stimulating the active development of the neonatal immune system.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785791

Primary healthcare in the time of COVID-19: breaking the silos of healthcare provision.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e007721

Effects of covid-19 pandemic on life expectancy and premature mortality in 2020: time series analysis in 37 countries. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-066768

Are vaccine passports and covid passes a valid alternative to lockdown?https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2571

Prevalence and impact of COVID-19 sequelae on treatment and survival of patients with cancer who recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection: evidence from the OnCovid retrospective, multicentre registry study.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(21)00573-8/fulltext

Elimination versus mitigation of SARS-CoV-2 in the presence of effective vaccines.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00494-0/fulltext

Measles outbreak amidst COVID-19 pandemic in Africa: grappling with looming crises.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34727984/

OTHER NEWS

Mental health: Traditional healers have a huge role to play. https://health-e.org.za/2021/10/29/mental-health-traditional-healers-have-a-huge-role-to-play/

The African Academy of Sciences is in crisis — responsibility must be shared. The pan-African science academy is in turmoil. Funders and fellows must jointly own the crisis, and work to stop it happening again. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02991-9

Analysis of Discrepancies Between Pulse Oximetry and Arterial Oxygen Saturation Measurements by Race and Ethnicity and Association With Organ Dysfunction and Mortality. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785794

Sustainability of a Surgical Quality Improvement Program at Hospitals in Ethiopia.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2785692

Manual QT interval measurement with a smartphone-operated single-lead ECG versus 12-lead ECG: a within-patient diagnostic validation study in primary care. Smartphone-operated 1L-ECGs can be used to accurately measure the QTc interval compared with simultaneously obtained 12L-ECGs in a primary care population. This may provide an opportunity for monitoring the effects of potential QTc-prolonging medications.

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e055072

Evaluation of an early career clinical academic training programme using the CIPP model. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e052965

What are healthcare workers’ preferences for hand hygiene interventions? A discrete choice experiment. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e052195

The effects of the national HPV vaccination programme in England, UK, on cervical cancer and grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia incidence: a register-based observational study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02178-4/fulltext?utm_campaign=lancet&utm_content=185960506&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&hss_channel=tw-27013292

5 NOV 2021

Sputnik Light produces strong level of antibodies against COVID-19 – early- stage trial.https://www.mdlinx.com/news/sputnik-light-produces-strong-level-of-antibodies-against-covid-19-early-stage-trial/RlOiiak1dju99KRFKMkRp?show_order=2&article_type=selected&tag=Evening&utm_campaign=ealert_110421_Including_Trivia_ordt_rest&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost&ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2z02e4621h26u21gr1t5b22jgaasqc2942ss2oqb0

COVID-19 pandemic could lead to HIV surge in West & Central Africa, says UNAIDS chief. https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/covid-19-pandemic-could-lead-hiv-surge-west-central-africa-says-unaids-chief-2021-11-03/

WHO says reserve COVID-19 boosters for immunocompromised.

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/who-says-reserve-covid-19-boosters-immunocompromised-2021-11-04/

When are masks most useful? COVID cases offer hints. Masks offer the greatest protection indoors and during long exposures to people infected with the coronavirus — but other public-health measures matter, too.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03030-3

Daily briefing: First authorization for Novavax COVID vaccine

Indonesia has given the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine its first emergency use authorization. Plus, lessons from the UK’s COVID strategy, and the banks’ plan to help get us to net zero. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03048-7

Children and COVID-19 in schools.https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abj2042

Why is Delta so infectious? New lab tool spotlights little noticed mutation that speeds viral spread. “Viruslike particles” open the way to safely study nucleocapsid and other viral proteins. https://www.science.org/content/article/why-delta-so-infectious-new-lab-tool-spotlights-little-noticed-mutation-speeds-viral-spread

Association Between mRNA Vaccination and COVID-19 Hospitalization and Disease Severity. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/newonline

Understanding Breakthrough Infections Following mRNA SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2786040

Incentivizing a New Culture of Data Stewardship.The NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2786038

OTHER NEWS

A new lane for science. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abn0184

The United States has stopped funding virus research it defines as risky. Two controversial influenza projects approved under 2017 policy have ended.https://www.science.org/content/article/united-states-has-stopped-funding-virus-research-it-defines-risky

Estimating total spending by source of funding on routine and supplementary immunisation activities in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17: a financial modelling study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01591-9/fulltext

A Surgeon’s Guide to Machine Learning.https://journals.lww.com/aosopen/Fulltext/2021/09000/A_Surgeon_s_Guide_to_Machine_Learning.21.aspx?context=LatestArticles

The Lancet and Financial Times Commission on governing health futures 2030: growing up in a digital world.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01824-9/fulltext?utm_campaign=lancetghf2030&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

8 NOV 2021

Antiviral pills from Pfizer, Merck, show promise against worst covid-19 outcomes. Pfizer antiviral pill reduced risk of covid hospitalization and death by 89 percent in high-risk people, company study shows.https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/11/05/pfizer-covid-pill/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F3534ecc%2F61855a889d2fda9d4136fb9b%2F5cd2efff9bbc0f0bf88b0810%2F12%2F73%2F61855a889d2fda9d4136fb9b

Ethnic minority status as social determinant for COVID-19 infection, hospitalisation, severity, ICU admission and deaths in the early phase of the pandemic: a meta-analysis. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e007433

The Future of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination — Lessons from Influenza.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2113403?query=WB&cid=NEJM%20Weekend%20Briefing,%20November%206,%202021%20DM440011_NEJM_Non_Subscriber&bid=697970075

Nigeria unlikely to reach ‘impossible’ 40% Covid vaccine target. Lack of doses and a reluctant public make government programme unfeasible, say health experts, with malaria and conflict posing greater risk to life. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/nov/08/nigeria-unlikely-to-reach-impossible-covid-vaccine-target

A prominent virologist warns COVID-19 pill could unleash dangerous mutants. Others see little cause for alarm. Merck’s newly approved oral drug works by generating mutations, raising hypothetical fears.https://www.science.org/content/article/prominent-virologist-warns-covid-19-pill-could-unleash-dangerous-mutants-others-see-little-cause-alarm

Pfizer antiviral slashes COVID-19 hospitalizations. Given early in infection, experimental pill prevents severe disease, trial suggests.https://www.science.org/content/article/pfizer-antiviral-slashes-covid-19-hospitalizations

Why is Delta so infectious? New lab tool spotlights little noticed mutation that speeds viral spread. “Viruslike particles” open the way to safely study nucleocapsid and other viral proteins. https://www.science.org/content/article/why-delta-so-infectious-new-lab-tool-spotlights-little-noticed-mutation-speeds-viral-spread

Metabologenomics approach to the discovery of novel compounds from Streptomyces sp. GMR22 as anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs. https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(21)02411-7

Functional differences among the spike glycoproteins of multiple emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(21)01364-X

Antibody neutralization to SARS-CoV-2 and variants after one year in Wuhan, China.https://www.cell.com/the-innovation/fulltext/S2666-6758(21)00106-5

Antibody Titers Before and After a Third Dose of the SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 Vaccine in Adults Aged ≥60 Years. This study found that a third BNT162b2 dose in adults aged 60 years and older was associated with significantly increased IgG titers after 10 to 19 days, with no major adverse events.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2786096

Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccines. What Parents, Practitioners, and Policy Makers Need to Know. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2786095

Ethnic minority status as social determinant for COVID-19 infection, hospitalisation, severity, ICU admission and deaths in the early phase of the pandemic: a meta-analysis. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e007433

Analysis of mental and physical disorders associated with COVID-19 in online health forums: a natural language processing study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e056601

Secondary attack rate of COVID-19 among contacts and risk factors, Tamil Nadu, March–May 2020: a retrospective cohort study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e051491

Outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with primary systemic vasculitis or polymyalgia rheumatica from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance physician registry: a retrospective cohort study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(21)00316-7/fulltext

COVID-19 in systemic vasculitis and polymyalgia rheumatica: who is at risk of poor outcomes? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(21)00357-X/fulltext

The value of vaccine programme impact monitoring during the COVID-19 pandemic.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02322-9/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Recognition and management of clinically significant drug–drug interactions between antiretrovirals and co-medications in a cohort of people living with HIV in rural Tanzania: a prospective questionnaire-based study.https://academic.oup.com/jac/article-abstract/76/10/2681/6333766?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Ethical and sociocultural challenges in managing dead bodies during epidemics and natural disasters. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e006345.share

Power analysis in health policy and systems research: a guide to research conceptualization. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e007268

Even low doses of steroids increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with inflammatory diseases. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2599

Malnutrition and contributing factors among newborns delivered at the University of Gondar Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e053577

Joint international consensus statement on crowdsourcing challenge contests in health and medicine: results of a modified Delphi process.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e048699

9 NOV 2021

How protein-based COVID vaccines could change the pandemic. Jabs from Novavax and other biotech firms are coming. Scientists say they have a lot to offer.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03025-0

Daily briefing: Pfizer’s COVID pill looks promising. Pfizer antiviral cut the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% for vulnerable people newly diagnosed with COVID-19. Plus, what sponges can tell us about the nervous system, and scientists judge the COP pledges so far. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03379-5

Association of Self-reported COVID-19 Infection and SARS-CoV-2 Serology Test Results With Persistent Physical Symptoms Among French Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2785832

How an outbreak became a pandemic: a chronological analysis of crucial junctures and international obligations in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01897-3/fulltext

AstraZeneca Records Most Side Effects In Botswana. The recorded side effects were much higher compared to other jabs used in the fight against COVID-19 in the country. Modise said the official figure of those who experienced side effects after taking the AstraZeneca vaccine stands at 767. She highlighted that they recorded side effects from Sinovac (337), Pfizer (six) vaccines and others (216). Modise stated that even though AstraZeneca received the most reports (on side effects) locally, Pfizer accounts for the most side effect cases globally. “AEFIS cases are a reflection of reports that have been received and depend on how many people were vaccinated per COVID-19 vaccine and generally how people react to vaccines. https://www.mmegi.bw/news/astrazeneca-records-most-side-effects-in-botswana/news

OTHER NEWS

Long-Term Follow-up of the Italian Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Screening Trial.https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M21-0977

Scammers impersonate guest editors to get sham papers published. Hundreds of junk-science papers have been retracted from reputable journals after fraudsters used ‘special issues’ to manipulate the publication process. And the problem is growing.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03035-y

Assessment of Caffeine Consumption and Maternal Cardiometabolic Pregnancy Complications. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785784

The Lancet Commission on diagnostics: transforming access to diagnostics.https://www.thelancet.com/commissions/diagnostics

Traditional healer-delivered point-of-care HIV testing versus referral to clinical facilities for adults of unknown serostatus in rural Uganda: a mixed-methods, cluster-randomised trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00366-1/fulltext

Abortion debate flares up again. The complications of unsafe, illegal abortions are a significant cause of maternal mortality in Botswana. Many women and young girls’ reproductive rights remain suppressed because abortion remains illegal in Botswana, even though many agree it is a woman’s right to decide when to bear a child or not. https://www.mmegi.bw/features/abortion-debate-flares-up-again/news

15 NOV 2021

Protein vaccines 101 and rising temperatures — the week in infographics.Nature highlights three key infographics from the week in science and research.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03421-6

Sleeplessness and anxiety: PhD supervisors on toll of COVID pandemic. Survey of 3,500 supervisors lifts the lid on the demands of overseeing junior researchers — and the impacts of the pandemic. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03374-w

How Do People Resist COVID Infections?Immune cells might abort SARS-CoV-2 infection, forestalling a positive PCR or antibody test, a study in hospital workers suggests. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-people-resist-covid-infections/

How COVID Might Sow Chaos in the Brain. SARS-CoV-2 appears to travel widely across the cerebral cortex. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-covid-might-sow-chaos-in-the-brain/

The Future of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination — Lessons from Influenza.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2113403

Experiences of Work-Family Conflict and Mental Health Symptoms by Gender Among Physician Parents During the COVID-19 Pandemic. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2786027

Association Between Androgen Deprivation Therapy and Mortality Among Patients With Prostate Cancer and COVID-19.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2786026

Disparities in COVID-19 Outcomes by Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status.A Systematic-Review and Meta-analysis.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785980

Association of Sleep-Related Hypoxia With Risk of COVID-19 Hospitalizations and Mortality in a Large Integrated Health System.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785921

The influence of gender and ethnicity on facemasks and respiratory protective equipment fit: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e005537

SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence in Sierra Leone, March 2021: a cross-sectional, nationally representative, age-stratified serosurvey.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e007271

Undetected COVID-19 cases in Africa. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00504-X/fulltext

One world, one health, one virology of the mysterious labyrinth of coronaviruses: the canine coronavirus affair. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00282-2/fulltext

Infection control in the intensive care unit: expert consensus statements for SARS-CoV-2 using a Delphi method.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00626-5/fullte

OTHER NEWS

Cervical Cancer Screening Guideline for Individuals at Average Risk.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2786400

Historicising global nutrition: critical reflections on contested pasts and reimagined futures. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e006337

Assessing the impact of polio supplementary immunisation activities on routine immunisation and health systems: a systematic review.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e006568

‘You want to deal with power while riding on power’: global perspectives on power in participatory health research and co-production approaches. Conclusions The ‘Social Ecology of Power’ framework is a useful tool for engaging with power inequities that cut across the social ecology, highlighting how they can operate at the micro, meso and macro level. This study reiterates that power is pervasive, and that while many researchers are intentional about engaging with power, actions and available tools must be used more systematically to identify and address power imbalances in participatory research partnerships, in order to contribute to improved equity and social justice outcomes.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e006978

Potential impact of 5 years of ivermectin mass drug administration on malaria outcomes in high burden countries. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e006424

Metabolic risk factors for non-communicable diseases in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e049565

The potential perils of a drug protection framework in tuberculosis.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00563-6/fulltext

Assessment of epidemiological and genetic characteristics and clinical outcomes of resistance to bedaquiline in patients treated for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00470-9/fulltext

Efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of a quadrivalent HPV vaccine in men: results of an open-label, long-term extension of a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00327-3/fulltext

16 NOV 2021

Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/latest-worldwide-spread-coronavirus-2021-02-18/

Nigeria plans mass vaccination drive, considers booster shot.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-nigeria/nigeria-plans-mass-vaccination-drive-considers-booster-shot-idUSKBN2I0234

How Do People Resist COVID Infections? Immune cells might abort SARS-CoV-2 infection, forestalling a positive PCR or antibody test, a study in hospital workers suggests. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-people-resist-covid-infections/

Debulking SARS-COV-2 in saliva using angiotensin converting enzyme 2 in the chewing gum to decrease oral virus transmission and infection.https://www.cell.com/molecular-therapy-family/molecular-therapy/fulltext/S1525-0016(21)00579-7

Direct Comparison of Antibody Responses to Four SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines in Mongolia.https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(21)00510-2

Identification of a Therapeutic Interfering Particle — a single-administration SARS-CoV-2 antiviral intervention with a high barrier to resistance.https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)01319-2

Rapid and accurate identification of SARS-CoV-2 variants containing E484 mutation.https://www.cell.com/the-innovation/fulltext/S2666-6758(21)00108-9

Epigenetic glycosylation of SARS-CoV-2 impact viral infection through DC&L-SIGN receptors. https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(21)01397-3

Oral Hsp90 inhibitor SNX-5422 attenuates SARS-CoV-2 replication and dampens inflammation in airway cells. https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(21)01383-3

Mortality Risk Among Patients With COVID-19 Prescribed Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Antidepressants.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2786136

Covid-19: US doctor who called masks “dangerous” and vaccines a “human experiment” dies of coronavirus. A Minnesota doctor who grew an online following spreading misinformation about covid-19 has died from the disease. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2796

OTHER NEWS

This Cheap Device Could Expand the World’s Access to Vaccines. A new delivery method for certain vaccines could make the lifesaving treatments more effective and accessible. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/this-cheap-device-could-expand-the-worlds-access-to-vaccines/

Sex Differences in the Pattern of Patient Referrals to Male and Female Surgeons. These results suggest that when referring patients to surgeons, male physicians may have biases toward same-sex referrals, thereby disadvantaging female surgeons.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2786065

Surgeon’s Sex Affects the Number and Types of Referrals Received—We Know the System Is Broken…Now Let’s Fix It.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2786067

Availability of population-level data sources for tracking the incidence of deaths and injuries from road traffic crashes in low-income and middle-income countries. Traffic injuries are substantially underreported in official statistics of most LMICs. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e007296

The PROSPER exercise programme was clinically effective and cost effective and reduced upper limb disability one year after breast cancer treatment in patients at risk of treatment related postoperative complications. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-066542

17 NOV 2021

Covid now a pandemic of poor nations, WHO envoy tells UK MPs. Rich counties taking risk by ‘hoovering up’ boosters, all-party group on coronavirus told.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/16/covid-now-a-pandemic-of-poor-nations-who-envoy-tells-uk-mps

Nigeria plans mass vaccination drive, considers booster shot.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigeria-plans-mass-vaccination-drive-considers-booster-shot-2021-11-15/

Association of SARS-CoV-2 Infection With Psychological Distress, Psychotropic Prescribing, Fatigue, and Sleep Problems Among UK Primary Care Patients.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2786180

COVID-19 caused significant declines in regular vitamin A supplementation for young children in 2020: what is next? https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e007507

Which outcomes are most important to measure in patients with COVID-19 and how and when should these be measured? Development of an international standard set of outcomes measures for clinical use in patients with COVID-19: a report of the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) COVID-19 Working Group. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e051065

Neutralising antibody titres as predictors of protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants and the impact of boosting: a meta-analysis.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00267-6/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Patient perspectives on integrated healthcare for HIV, hypertension and type 2 diabetes: a scoping review.  https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e054629

Trends and causes of adult mortality from 2007 to 2017 using verbal autopsy method, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e047095

Gastrointestinal endoscopy capacity in Eastern Africa. https://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/a-1551-3343

Authorship demographics in global surgery, 2016-2020. The majority of authors were male (60%), affiliated with high-income countries (HICs) alone (51%) and were of high seniority. A third of first and last authors were affiliated solely with LMIC institutions, but around 40% of first and last authors were affiliated with institutions in the USA. Two-thirds of authors in studies related to Anaesthesia and Critical Care, and studies related to Surgery were male, whereas obstetrics and gynaecology studies had equal proportions of male and female authors. LMIC authors had a greater proportion of male authors overall – 70% of LMIC authors were male across first, middle and last authors. The percentage of male authors increased with increasing seniority for middle and last authors regardless of institutional affiliation. https://www.globalsurgery.ox.ac.uk/news/stories/authorship-demographics-in-global-surgery-2016-2020

18 NOV 2021

Ambient Air Pollution in Relation to SARS-CoV-2 Infection, Antibody Response, and COVID-19 Disease: A Cohort Study in Catalonia, Spain (COVICAT Study). https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP9726

Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/latest-worldwide-spread-coronavirus-2021-02-18/

PROPHET IN PURGATORY. EcoHealth Alliance’s Peter Daszak is fighting accusations that his pandemic prevention work helped spark COVID-19.https://www.science.org/content/article/we-ve-done-nothing-wrong-ecohealth-leader-fights-charges-his-research-helped-spark-covid-19

An aluminum hydroxide:CpG adjuvant enhances protection elicited by a SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain vaccine in aged mice.https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abj5305

COVID Can Cause Strange Eye and Ear Symptoms. From conjunctivitis to vertigo, coronavirus infections can affect disparate senses.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-can-cause-strange-eye-and-ear-symptoms/

This Cheap Device Could Expand the World’s Access to Vaccines.A new delivery method for certain vaccines could make the lifesaving treatments more effective and accessible. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/this-cheap-device-could-expand-the-worlds-access-to-vaccines/

Nucleocapsid mutations R203K/G204R increase the infectivity, fitness and virulence of SARS-CoV-2. https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(21)00511-4

Efficacy of booster doses in augmenting waning immune responses to COVID-19 vaccine in patients with cancer. https://www.cell.com/cancer-cell/fulltext/S1535-6108(21)00606-1

Superiority of lymphocyte ratio over total leukocyte count in detecting the severity of COVID- 19 pneumonia. https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(21)02515-9

SARS CoV-2 Delta variant exhibits enhanced infectivity and a minor decrease in neutralization sensitivity to convalescent or post-vaccination sera.https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(21)01438-3

Audio Interview: The Legal Basis for Covid-19 Restrictions and Mandates.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2118197?query=featured_home

Early Treatment for Covid-19 with SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibody Sotrovimab.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2107934?query=featured_home

Early Convalescent Plasma for High-Risk Outpatients with Covid-19.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2103784?query=featured_home

Covid-19 Vaccination during Pregnancy and First-Trimester Miscarriage.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2114466?query=featured_home

Some Companies Will Stop Making Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2786263

Effectiveness of public health measures in reducing the incidence of covid-19, SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and covid-19 mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-068302

Covid-19: England is preparing to offer annual booster vaccination, says NHS boss.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2824

Covid-19: Booster vaccine gives “significant increased protection” in over 50s.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2814

Covid-19: Trial of experimental “covid cure” is among worst medical ethics violations in Brazil’s history, says regulator. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2819

Aspirin in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01825-0/fulltext

Safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine (NVX-CoV2373) co-administered with seasonal influenza vaccines: an exploratory substudy of a randomised, observer-blinded, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00409-4/fulltext

Unmet need for COVID-19 therapies in community settings. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00633-2/fulltext

Mask-wearing cuts Covid incidence by 53%, says global study. Researchers said results highlight the need to continue with face coverings, social distancing and handwashing alongside vaccine programmes.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/17/wearing-masks-single-most-effective-way-to-tackle-covid-study-finds

OTHER NEWS

Navigating the violent process of decolonisation in global health research: a guideline.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214109X2100440X

The IARC Perspective on Cervical Cancer Screening.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsr2030640?query=featured_home

Barriers to decolonising educational partnerships in global health. In this article, we explore the historical entanglement of education, health and colonialism. We then use this history as context to identify barriers that arise when decolonising contemporary educational global health partnerships. Finally, we offer global health partners strategies to address these challenges. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e006964

Implementation of the WHO’s collaborative framework for the management of tuberculosis and diabetes: a scoping review.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e047342

Temporal trends of carbon monoxide poisoning mortality at the global, regional and national levels: a cross-sectional study from the Global Burden of Disease study, 1990 and 2017. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e053240

Global, regional, and national causes of under-5 mortality in 2000–19: an updated systematic analysis with implications for the Sustainable Development Goals.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(21)00311-4/fulltext

Tuberculosis screening among ambulatory people living with HIV: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00387-X/fulltext

Integration of pre-exposure prophylaxis services into public HIV care clinics in Kenya: a pragmatic stepped-wedge randomised trial.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00391-0/fulltext

Cytomegalovirus acquisition in infancy and the risk of tuberculosis disease in childhood: a longitudinal birth cohort study in Cape Town, South Africa.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00407-1/fulltext

Lifetime burden of disease due to incident tuberculosis: a global reappraisal including post-tuberculosis sequelae.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00367-3/fulltext

Quality indicators for breast cancer care: A systematic review.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34298301/

22 NOV 2021

COVID Quickly, Episode 19: Mandate Roadblocks, Boosters for All, and Sickness in the Zoo. https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/covid-quickly-episode-19-mandate-roadblocks-boosters-for-all-and-sickness-in-the-zoo/

Influenza Vaccine Uptake in the Year After Concurrent vs Separate Influenza and Zoster Immunization.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2786351

Access to COVID-19 Vaccines in High-, Middle-, and Low-Income Countries Hosting Clinical Trials. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2786299

Pandemic Vaccine Trials in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and Global Health Security. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2786300

Covid-19: AstraZeneca says its antibody drug AZD7442 is effective for preventing and reducing severe illness. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2860

Unless we address the inequity in global health, then the world will not be prepared for the next pandemic. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2848

Covid-19: Doctors will refuse to limit use of antiviral drug to unvaccinated patients, say ethicists. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2855

Covid-19: Antimicrobial misuse in Americas sees drug resistant infections surge, says WHO. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2845

Unless we address the inequity in global health, then the world will not be prepared for the next pandemic. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2848?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage  

OTHER NEWS

Texting Thumb, Trigger Finger, Gamer’s Thumb and Other Smartphone Injuries. What causes them and how to protect yourself.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/texting-thumb-trigger-finger-gamers-thumb-and-other-smartphone-injuries/

Changes in behaviour last year led to fall in antibiotic resistant infections. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2853

Interviewer effects on abortion reporting: a multilevel analysis of household survey responses in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Rajasthan, India.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e047570

A future for the world’s children?A WHO-UNICEF-Lancet Commission.https://www.thelancet.com/commissions/future-child

Post-partum psychosis: birth of a new disorder?https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(21)00440-5/fulltext

A critical moment for health care. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00505-1/fulltext

Integration of pre-exposure prophylaxis services into public HIV care clinics in Kenya: a pragmatic stepped-wedge randomised trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00391-0/fulltext

Cytomegalovirus acquisition in infancy and the risk of tuberculosis disease in childhood: a longitudinal birth cohort study in Cape Town, South Africa.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00407-1/fulltext

Lifetime burden of disease due to incident tuberculosis: a global reappraisal including post-tuberculosis sequelae. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00367-3/fulltext

Burden of enteric fever at three urban sites in Africa and Asia: a multicentre population-based study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00370-3/fulltext

Safety and efficacy of a three-dose regimen of Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite vaccine in adults during an intense malaria transmission season in Mali: a randomised, controlled phase 1 trial.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00332-7/fulltext

30 NOV 2021

COVID-19 mortality in women and men in sub-Saharan Africa: a cross-sectional study.Sex and age are important predictors of COVID-19 mortality globally. Countries should prioritise the collection and use of sex-disaggregated data so as to design public health interventions and ensure that policies promote a gender-sensitive public health response.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e007225

Covid-19: Omicron may be more transmissible than other variants and partly resistant to existing vaccines, scientists fear. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2943

Daily briefing: Omicron coronavirus variant puts scientists on alert

What we know about a worrying new variant of SARS-CoV-2. Plus, the ‘shadow pandemic’ in the global south and how to give great hugs.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03564-6

‘Patience is crucial’: Why we won’t know for weeks how dangerous Omicron is.Lab tests and patterns of spread will show whether the new SARS-CoV-2 variant’s many mutations are a serious threat. https://www.science.org/content/article/patience-crucial-why-we-won-t-know-weeks-how-dangerous-omicron

Covid 19: Omicron is a cause for concern, not panic, says US president.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2956

Could the Omicron variant have been avoided? It could set back vaccine successes around the world. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/29/could-the-omicron-variant-have-been-avoided-it-could-set-back-vaccine-successes-around-the-world

Scientists sharing Omicron data were heroic. Let’s ensure they don’t regret it.https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/28/scientists-sharing-omicron-date-were-heroic-lets-ensure-they-dont-regret-it

Covid live: UK to bring in new measures after Omicron variant detected; Israel bans oversea visitors – as it happened.https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/nov/27/covid-news-live-omicron-variant-spreads-to-europe-countries-rush-to-impose-travel-bans-on-southern-africa

Omicron’s full impact will be felt in countries where fewer are vaccinated. Analysis: the new coronavirus variant seems highly transmissible, but the big question is whether it causes severe disease. Either way, poorer nations will be hit hardest.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/27/omicrons-full-impact-will-be-felt-in-countries-where-fewer-are-vaccinated

India promises more COVID-19 shots to Omicron-hit Africa after Chinese move.https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-promises-more-covid-19-shots-omicron-hit-africa-after-chinese-move-2021-11-30/

WHO flags Omicron risk, travel curbs tighten, Biden urges vaccination.https://www.reuters.com/world/spread-omicron-variant-forces-nations-rethink-plans-global-travel-2021-11-29/

China’s Xi pledges another 1 bln COVID-19 vaccine doses for Africa.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/chinas-xi-pledges-10-bln-credit-line-african-financial-institutions-2021-11-29/

Cuba tightens restrictions on eight African countries over Omicron concerns.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/cuba-tightens-restrictions-eight-african-countries-over-omicron-concerns-2021-11-29/

S.Africa’s COVID-19 cases could triple this week, expert says.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/safrican-expert-says-vaccines-likely-effective-vs-severe-covid-19-variant-2021-11-29/

Victories against AIDS have lessons for COVID-19.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03569-1

Administration of aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 to K18-hACE2 mice uncouples respiratory infection from fatal neuroinvasion.https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciimmunol.abl9929

Complex regional pain syndrome after severe COVID-19 – A case report.https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(21)02565-2

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies elicited by COVID-19mRNA vaccine exhibit a unique glycosylation pattern. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)01608-9

Two-adjuvant multiantigen candidate vaccine induces superior protective immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 challenge. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)01606-5

SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers profibrotic macrophage responses and lung fibrosis.https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)01383-0

A Deep Learning Approach for Predicting Severity of COVID-19 Patients Using A Parsimonious Set of Laboratory Markers. https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(21)01494-2

SARS-CoV-2 at the human-animal interphase: a review.https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(21)02599-8

The antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 Beta underscores the antigenic distance to other variants. https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(21)00519-9

Pannexin-1 channel opening is critical for COVID-19 pathogenesis.https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(21)01449-8

Audio Interview: What’s Gone Right in Our Battle against Covid-19.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2118514?query=featured_home

A Possible Role for Anti-idiotype Antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Vaccination.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcibr2113694?query=featured_home

Severity of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfections as Compared with Primary Infections.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2108120?query=recirc_mostViewed_railB_article

Effectiveness of BNT162b2 Vaccine against Delta Variant in Adolescents. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2114290?query=featured_home

Severity of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfections as Compared with Primary Infections. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2108120?query=featured_home

COVID-19 Vaccine Makers Plan for Annual Boosters, but It’s Not Clear They’ll Be Needed. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2786818

Myocardial Infarction, Stroke, and Pulmonary Embolism After BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine in People Aged 75 Years or Older.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2786667

Effect of High-Titer Convalescent Plasma on Progression to Severe Respiratory Failure or Death in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19 Pneumonia. A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2786680

Factors Associated With Risk of Postdischarge Thrombosis in Patients With COVID-1.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2786413

Efficacy of Inhaled Ciclesonide for Outpatient Treatment of Adolescents and Adults With Symptomatic COVID-19.A Randomized Clinical Trial.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2786012

COVAX and the many meanings of sharing. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e007763

Elapsed time since BNT162b2 vaccine and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection: test negative design study. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-067873

Outcomes after perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with proximal femoral fractures: an international cohort study.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e050830

Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in women attending antenatal care in eastern Ethiopia: a facility-based surveillance. This clinical convenience sample illustrates the dynamic of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in pregnant women in eastern Ethiopia; infection was rare before June 2020 but it spread in a linear fashion thereafter, rather than following intermittent waves, and reached 10% by the beginning of 2021. After 1 year of surveillance, most pregnant mothers remained susceptible.

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e055834

COVID-19 and diabetes in Africa: a lethal combination.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(21)00315-6/fulltext

Fungal infections in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 during the first wave: the French multicentre MYCOVID study.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00442-2/fulltext

Managing secondary fungal infections in severe COVID-19: how to move forward?https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00500-2/fulltext

COVID-19 vaccines in the age of the delta variant.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00688-5/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

We Must Improve Equity in Cancer Screening.Eliminating disparities in routine examinations will require outreach, availability and cultural consideration. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/we-must-improve-equity-in-cancer-screening/

Spinal Anesthesia or General Anesthesia for Hip Surgery in Older Adults.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2113514?query=featured_home

Patient-Centered Outcomes after General and Spinal Anesthesia.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2116017?query=featured_secondary

Fifth anniversary of the Sex And Gender Equity in Research (SAGER) guidelines: taking stock and looking ahead. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e007853

Primary healthcare in the time of COVID-19: breaking the silos of healthcare provision.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e007721

COVID-19 raises a health and human rights imperative to advance a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e007710

Rethinking public health campaigns in the COVID-19 era: a call to improve effectiveness, equity and impact. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e006397

Polio eradication vaccine investment: how do we ensure polio vaccines are available to keep the world polio-free after transmission of wild poliovirus (wPV) has been interrupted? https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e006447

COVID-19 caused significant declines in regular vitamin A supplementation for young children in 2020: what is next? https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e007507

Growth patterns by sex and age among under-5 children from 87 low-income and middle-income countries. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e007152

Antibiotic stories: a mixed-methods, multi-country analysis of household antibiotic use in Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e006920

The impact of pulse oximetry on diagnosis, management and outcomes of acute febrile illness in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e007282

Acceptability of a mHealth strategy for hypertension management in a low-income and middle-income country setting: a formative qualitative study among patients and healthcare providers. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e052986

Surveying and mapping breast cancer services in Ghana: a cross-sectional pilot study in the Eastern Region. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e051122

Scoping review of food safety at transport stations in Africa.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e053856

BMI, waist to height ratio and waist circumference as a screening tool for hypertension in hospital outpatients: a cross-sectional, non-inferiority study.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e050096

Offline: The real meaning of decolonization.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02687-8/fulltext

1 DEC 2021

How the New Antiviral Pills Help Thwart COVID. A drug made by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics—which an FDA panel recently greenlit—and one made by Pfizer work in different ways, but both prevent the virus from replicating.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-new-antiviral-pills-help-thwart-covid/

Omicron Is Here: A Lack of COVID Vaccines Is Partly Why.Global players need to get more vaccines to African nations, and convince more people to take them.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/omicron-is-here-a-lack-of-covid-vaccines-is-partly-why1/

Odds of Testing Positive for SARS-CoV-2 Following Receipt of 3 vs 2 Doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2786890

Covid-19: Poorly controlled asthma increases risk of hospital admission among children sixfold, finds study. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2959

Omicron variant could outcompete Delta, South African disease expert says.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/omicron-variant-could-outcompete-delta-south-african-disease-expert-says-2021-11-30/

Omicron variant was in Nigeria weeks before South Africa raised alarm. Authorities retrospectively identified case of Covid variant from October, raising fears of global spread. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/01/omicron-variant-nigeria-south-africa-covid

OTHER NEWS

What humanity should eat to stay healthy and save the planet

What we eat needs to be nutritious and sustainable. Researchers are trying to figure out what that looks like around the world. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03565-5

Barriers and Facilitating Factors for Conducting Systematic Evidence Assessments in Academic Clinical Trials.  In this qualitative study, Swiss stakeholders and international funders generally agreed that new clinical trials should be justified by a systematic evidence assessment but that barriers on individual, organizational, and political levels kept them from implementing it. More explicit requirements from funders appear to be needed to clarify the required level of comprehensiveness in summarizing existing evidence for different types of clinical trials.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2786686

Association Between Early Amino Acid Intake and Full-Scale IQ at Age 5 Years Among Infants Born at Less Than 30 Weeks’ Gestation. In this cohort study, high amino acid intake at 7 days after birth was associated with an increased likelihood of an FSIQ score greater than −1 SD at age 5 years. 

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2786691

The impact of childhood malnutrition on mortality from pneumonia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e007411

Changes in prevalence of violence and risk factors for violence and HIV among children and young people in Kenya: a comparison of the 2010 and 2019 Kenya Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00457-5/fulltext

2 DEC 2021

Africa: tackle HIV and COVID-19 together. Failure to get COVID-19 vaccines to nations with high rates of uncontrolled advanced HIV puts people living with that virus at even greater risk, and could drive the emergence of coronavirus variants.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03546-8

Where did ‘weird’ Omicron come from? Mutations could have accumulated in a chronically infected patient, an overlooked human population, or an animal reservoir.https://www.science.org/content/article/where-did-weird-omicron-come

The Benefits of Vaccinating Kids against COVID Far Outweigh the Risks of Myocarditis. Vaccination is likely to prevent many more COVID cases than it is to cause a rare and nonfatal heart side effect in 5–11-year-olds.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-benefits-of-vaccinating-kids-against-covid-far-outweigh-the-risks-of-myocarditis/

S.African data suggests Omicron gets around some, not all immunity.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/safrica-festival-halted-after-36-test-positive-covid-site-2021-12-01/

U.N. chief slams COVID-19 ‘travel apartheid’ as unacceptable.https://www.reuters.com/world/un-chief-slams-covid-19-travel-apartheid-unacceptable-2021-12-01/

Explainer-Does Omicron pose higher risks for infants than other variants?JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Data from an area in South Africa hard-hit by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has shown a high number of hospital admissions of infants under 2 years old, raising concerns that the variant may pose risks to young children.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-variant-infants/explainer-does-omicron-pose-higher-risks-for-infants-than-other-variants-idUSKBN2IG4UK

Botswana’s health director says majority of Omicron variant cases were asymptomatic. JOHANNESBURG, Dec 1 (Reuters) – A senior Botswana health official said on Tuesday that 16 of the total 19 cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant detected in the country were asymptomatic, while President Mokgweetsi Masisi said travel bans on its citizens were unfair and unjustified. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/botswanas-health-director-says-majority-omicron-variant-cases-were-asymptomatic-2021-12-01/

Audio Interview: The Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2118839?query=featured_home

Viral Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Persons.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2102507?query=featured_home

WHO expects to have more information on Omicron transmission ‘within days’.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/who-expects-have-more-information-omicron-transmission-within-days-2021-12-01/

WHO advisory group will review data on COVID-19 booster shots next week.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/who-advisory-group-will-review-data-covid-19-booster-shots-next-week-2021-12-01/

Exclusive: U.S. CDC to collect data on southern Africa passengers over COVID variant. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/exclusive-us-orders-airlines-disclose-passengers-who-have-been-southern-africa-2021-12-01/

Germany expected to impose restrictions on the unvaccinated. Germany is expected later today to announce it will impose restrictions on the unvaccinated as it seeks to break a surge in daily coronavirus infections.https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/dec/02/coronavirus-news-live-south-africa-sees-exponential-increase-in-covid-cases-dominated-by-omicron-variant?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with:block-61a895f48f08988db2bec29f#block-61a895f48f08988db2bec29f

Daily briefing: Omicron was already spreading in Europe. The Omicron coronavirus variant was present in the Netherlands before it was identified in southern Africa. Plus, Anthony Fauci on four decades of progress against HIV, and the ripple effect of the Moderna–NIH vaccine-patent fight. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03610-3

Myocarditis after Covid-19 Vaccination in a Large Health Care Organization.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2110737?query=featured_home

Myocarditis after BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine against Covid-19 in Israel.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2109730?query=featured_home

Toxic Effects from Ivermectin Use Associated with Prevention and Treatment of Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2114907?query=featured_secondary

Factors Associated With COVID-19 Vaccine Receipt by Health Care Personnel at a Major Academic Hospital During the First Months of Vaccine Availability.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2786699

Odds of Testing Positive for SARS-CoV-2 Following Receipt of 3 vs 2 Doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2786890

The COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare systems in Africa: a scoping review of preparedness, impact and response. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e007179

Visualising SARS-CoV-2 transmission routes and mitigations.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-065312

Covid-19: FDA expert panel recommends authorising molnupiravir but also voices concerns. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2984

Covid-19 preparedness and response: Implications for future pandemics.https://www.bmj.com/covid-19-preparedness-and-response

Expert elicitation on the relative importance of possible SARS-CoV-2 transmission routes and the effectiveness of mitigations.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e050869

Lenzilumab in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 pneumonia (LIVE-AIR): a phase 3, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00494-X/fulltext

Visualising SARS-CoV-2 transmission routes and mitigations.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-065312

RESOURCES

TRAINING MANUAL FOR CANECSA TRAINEES AND TRAINERS 2022.https://canecsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CANECSA-training-manual_WEB-2022.pdf

OTHER NEWS

COVID-19 took toll on AIDS fight, UNAIDS chief says.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-reuters-next-byanyima/covid-19-took-toll-on-aids-fight-unaids-chief-says-idUSKBN2IG3P9

21-Gene Assay to Inform Chemotherapy Benefit in Node-Positive Breast Cancer.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2108873?query=featured_home

Self-reported provision of person-centred maternity care among providers in Kenya and Ghana: scale validation and examination of associated factors.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e007415

Optimising a couples-focused intervention to increase couples’ HIV testing and counselling using the person-based approach: a qualitative study in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e047408

Global HIV efforts need to focus on key populations in LMICs.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02692-1/fulltext?rss=yes

Identifying the women most vulnerable to intimate partner violence: A decision tree analysis from 48 low and middle-income countries.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(21)00495-8/fulltext

Surgical Safety Checklist Use and Post-Caesarean Sepsis in the Lake Zone of Tanzania: Results from Safe Surgery 2020. Adherence to the SSC may reduce maternal morbidity during caesarean delivery, reinforcing the assumption that surgical quality interventions improve maternal outcomes. Future studies should continue to explore additional synergies between surgical and maternal quality improvement. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00268-021-06338-3

3 DEC 2021

Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant: a new chapter in the COVID-19 pandemic.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02758-6/fulltext

Safety and immunogenicity of seven COVID-19 vaccines as a third dose (booster) following two doses of ChAdOx1 nCov-19 or BNT162b2 in the UK (COV-BOOST): a blinded, multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 2 trial.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02717-3/fulltext

S.Africa’s health body sees threefold higher risk of reinfection from Omicron.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica-variant/s-africas-health-body-sees-threefold-higher-risk-of-reinfection-from-omicron-idUSKBN2IH21O

Zimbabwe detects case of Omicron variant in country.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/zimbabwe-detects-case-omicron-variant-country-2021-12-02/

S.Africa sees rise in COVID reinfections from Omicron, mild symptoms – scientist.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/safrica-sees-rise-covid-reinfections-omicron-mild-symptoms-scientist-2021-12-02/

Factbox: What COVID-19 vaccine and drug makers have to say about Omicron.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/what-covid-19-vaccine-drug-makers-have-say-about-omicron-2021-12-02/

WHO says surge team deployed in S.Africa’s Gauteng to tackle Omicron.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/who-says-surge-team-deployed-safricas-gauteng-tackle-omicron-2021-12-02/

Dutch say 14 air passengers from S. Africa with Omicron were vaccinated.https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/dutch-covid-19-quarantine-ends-most-safrica-passengers-authorities-2021-12-02/

How bad is Omicron? What scientists know so far. COVID researchers are working at breakneck speed to learn about the variant’s transmissibility, severity and ability to evade vaccines. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03614-z

Omicron is supercharging the COVID vaccine booster debate. The data are growing that booster jabs enhance protection — but their durability, impact and ability to quash the new variant are unknown. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03592-2

Omicron-variant border bans ignore the evidence, say scientists. Researchers say travel restrictions in response to the newly detected coronavirus variant come too late and could even slow studies of Omicron. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03608-x

Protection from SARS-CoV-2 Delta one year after mRNA-1273 vaccination in rhesus macaques is coincident with anamnestic antibody response in the lung.https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)01405-7

Strong humoral immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 Spike after BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination with a 16-week interval between doses. https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(21)00569-2

Covid-19: UK approves monoclonal antibody sotrovimab for over 12s at high risk.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2990

Therapeutic implications of ongoing alveolar viral replication in COVID-19.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(21)00322-2/fulltext

Lenzilumab in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 pneumonia (LIVE-AIR): a phase 3, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00494-X/fulltext

Stimulating severe COVID-19: the potential role of GM-CSF antagonism.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00539-7/fulltext

RESOURCESTRAINING MANUAL FOR CANECSA TRAINEES AND TRAINERS 2022.https://canecsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CANECSA-training-manual_WEB-2022.pdf

ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS OPEN. Submit your abstract for the Annual Dublin Meeting in Patient-Centered Global Surgery, Virtual Conference. 15-16 March 2022. We’re particularly interested in science that puts the #globalsurgery patient at the center.The deadline for submission is Sunday, 9 January 2022.https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/news-and-events/events/event/2022/patient-centred-global-surgery

ELSEVIER Novel Coronavirus Resource Directory. OPEN ACCESS. https://www.elsevier.com/novel-coronavirus-covid-19

OTHER NEWS

Progress of labor and obstetric outcome in parturients with combined spinal–epidural analgesia for labor: A comparative study. https://www.annalsafrmed.org/article.asp?issn=1596-3519;year=2021;volume=20;issue=4;spage=270;epage=275;aulast=Shivanagappa

Perspectives of General Surgery Program Directors on Paternity Leave During Surgical Training. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2786571

Mapping global trends in vaccine sales before and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional time-series analysis.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e006874

Stark choices: exploring health sector costs of policy responses to COVID-19 in low-income and middle-income countries. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e005759

How community participation in water and sanitation interventions impacts human health, WASH infrastructure and service longevity in low-income and middle-income countries: a realist review. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e053320

Rabies mortality and morbidity associated with animal bites in Africa: a case for integrated rabies disease surveillance, prevention and control: a scoping review.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e048551

Experiences of seeking healthcare across the border: lessons to inform upstream policies and system developments on cross-border health in East Africa.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e045575

Quantifying clinic transfers among people living with HIV in the Western Cape, South Africa: a retrospective spatial analysis.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e055712

Validating machine learning models for the prediction of labour induction intervention using routine data: a registry-based retrospective cohort study at a tertiary hospital in northern Tanzania. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e051925

Prognostic accuracy of antenatal Doppler ultrasound for adverse perinatal outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e049799

Mid-upper arm circumference for identifying adult overweight in large-scale population-based surveys: empirical evaluation using data of the EAT Addis study, Ethiopia. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e049602

Blood pressure-lowering medicines implemented in 12 African countries: the cross-sectional multination EIGHT study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e049632

Childhood obesity: a growing pandemic.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(21)00314-4/fulltext

Reinstating universal health coverage on the global agenda.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02742-2/fulltext

6 DEC 2021

How a Harvard-affiliated lab in Botswana became the first to identify the Omicron variant. https://www.mmegi.bw/news/how-a-harvard-affiliated-lab-in-botswana-became-the-first-to-identify-the-omicron-variant/news

REVISED Pharmacological management of seizures in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations].https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-29

‘Extreme’ vaccine discrimination risks leaving Africa behind – report.https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/extreme-vaccine-discrimination-risks-leaving-africa-behind-report-2021-12-06/

S.African official says children sick with COVID-19 have mild infections.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/safrican-official-says-number-children-sick-with-covid-19-is-not-cause-panic-2021-12-04/

Omicron variant may have picked up a piece of common-cold virus.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/omicron-variant-may-have-picked-up-piece-common-cold-virus-2021-12-03/

South Africa hit by fourth COVID wave driven by Omicron.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/south-africas-health-minister-says-country-entering-4th-wave-covid-infections-2021-12-03/

Omicron is supercharging the COVID vaccine booster debate. The data are growing that booster jabs enhance protection — but their durability, impact and ability to quash the new variant are unknown. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03592-2

COVID-19 reinfection study from South Africa yields ominous data about Omicron. New variant is better at evading immunity from past infection—and perhaps from vaccination. https://www.science.org/content/article/covid-19-reinfection-study-south-africa-yields-ominous-data-about-omicron

 How the Omicron Variant Got So Many Scary Mutations So Quickly. The numerous changes in the coronavirus’s spike protein could have arisen in an isolated population or an immunocompromised person, or in animals.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-omicron-variant-got-so-many-scary-mutations-so-quickly/

COVID Quickly, Episode 20: The Omicron Scare, and Anti-COVID Pills Are Coming.https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/covid-quickly-episode-20-the-omicron-scare-and-anti-covid-pills-are-coming/

Critically ill COVID-19 patients exhibit peripheral immune profiles predictive of mortality and reflective of SARS-CoV-2 viral burden in the lung.https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(21)00348-7

Secretory IgA and T cells targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein are transferred to the breastmilk upon mRNA vaccination. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(21)00340-2

Roles of antiviral sensing and type I interferon signaling in the restriction of SARS-CoV-2 replication. https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(21)01523-6

Strong humoral immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 Spike after BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination with a 16-week interval between doses. https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(21)00569-2

IFP35 as a promising biomarker and therapeutic target for the syndromes induced by SARS-CoV-2 or influenza virus. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)01622-3

Tracking the amino acid changes of spike proteins across diverse host species of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(21)01530-3

Global Changes in Electricity Consumption During COVID-19.https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(21)01538-8

Immunogenicity of Extended mRNA SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Dosing Intervals.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2786992

Data Emerge From the UK’s COVID-19 Vaccine Extended Dosing Interval.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2786993

Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant: a new chapter in the COVID-19 pandemic.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02758-6/fulltext

The political theatre of the UK’s travel ban on South Africa.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02752-5/fulltext

Severe breakthrough COVID-19 cases in the SARS-CoV-2 delta (B.1.617.2) variant era.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00306-2/fulltext

WHO international standard for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies to determine markers of protection. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00307-4/fulltext

Post-mortem lung tissue: the fossil record of the pathophysiology and immunopathology of severe COVID-19.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00408-2/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Equitable Open Access Publishing: Changing the Financial Power Dynamics in Academia. https://www.ghspjournal.org/content/early/2021/12/03/GHSP-D-21-00145

“We shall have gone to a higher standard”: Training village heath teams (VHTs) to use a smartphone-guided intervention to link older Ugandans with hypertension and diabetes to care

 [version 2; peer review: 2 approved with reservations]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/3-25/v2?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

Delays in initiating rabies post-exposure prophylaxis among dog bite victims in Wakiso and Kampala districts, Uganda [version 2; peer review: 1 approved].https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-49/v2?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

A Nationwide Enumeration of the Surgical Workforce, its Production and Disparities in Operative Productivity in Liberia. https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s00268-021-06379-8?sharing_token=ghQNEuKCALVfnQz1u9btAve4RwlQNchNByi7wbcMAY7KdCe-zoH0EGHMfLjfLnbZ7eoAGaevtf_F_aGNzC95XFA_HT2BGg_64iNh-tI_lGmRaqbdfmyjypXMBiv9sVZoYcV2P-aCXvyPBn5qKbTEdCA1QGAMhy3yYxBHMv_PrjI%3D

The Risk of Postoperative Complications following Major Elective Surgery in Active or Resolved COVID-19 in the United States.https://journals.lww.com/annalsofsurgery/Abstract/9000/The_Risk_of_Postoperative_Complications_following.93177.aspx

Build on HIV investments for future pandemic preparedness.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e007980

Magnitude of preterm hospital neonatal mortality and associated factors in northern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e051161

Perceptions of the functioning and effectiveness of nursing regulators in Ghana and South Africa: a cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e050580

Cost-effectiveness of bedaquiline, pretomanid and linezolid for treatment of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in South Africa, Georgia and the Philippines.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e051521

7 DEV 2021

What you need to know about the coronavirus right now.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/what-you-need-know-about-coronavirus-right-now-2021-03-02/

Namibia detects Omicron coronavirus variant in 18 of 19 samples.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-namibia/namibia-detects-omicron-coronavirus-variant-in-18-of-19-samples-idUSKBN2IL14V

S.Africa’s MTN seeks mandatory vaccination for employees from Jan.https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/safricas-mtn-seeks-mandatory-vaccination-employees-jan-2021-12-06/

South Africa readies hospitals as Omicron variant drives new COVID-19 wave.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-readies-hospitals-omicron-variant-drives-new-covid-19-wave-2021-12-06/

Beyond Omicron: what’s next for COVID’s viral evolution. The rapid spread of new variants offers clues to how SARS-CoV-2 is adapting and how the pandemic will play out over the next several months. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03619-8

Natural resistance against infections: focus on COVID-19.https://www.cell.com/trends/immunology/fulltext/S1471-4906(21)00259-3

Neutralization breadth of SARS-CoV-2 viral variants following primary series and booster SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with cancer. https://www.cell.com/cancer-cell/fulltext/S1535-6108(21)00614-0

SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid protein attenuates stress granules and interacts with mRNAs to impair host stress response. https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(21)01532-7

Acriflavine, a clinically approved drug, inhibits SARS-CoV-2 and other betacoronaviruses. https://www.cell.com/cell-chemical-biology/fulltext/S2451-9456(21)00513-4

The Effects of COVID-19 on Livelihoods of Rural Households: South Wollo and Oromia Zones, Ethiopia. https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(21)02653-0

Covid-19: “Mix and match” primary vaccines are safe and effective, study finds.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3030

RESOURCES

TRAINING MANUAL FOR CANECSA TRAINEES AND TRAINERS 2022.https://canecsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CANECSA-training-manual_WEB-2022.pdf

ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS OPEN. Submit your abstract for the Annual Dublin Meeting in Patient-Centered Global Surgery, Virtual Conference. 15-16 March 2022. We’re particularly interested in science that puts the #globalsurgery patient at the center.The deadline for submission is Sunday, 9 January 2022.https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/news-and-events/events/event/2022/patient-centred-global-surgery

ELSEVIER Novel Coronavirus Resource Directory. OPEN ACCESS. https://www.elsevier.com/novel-coronavirus-covid-19

OTHER NEWS

Evolving use of ancestry, ethnicity, and race in genetics research—A survey spanning seven decades. https://www.cell.com/ajhg/fulltext/S0002-9297(21)00385-2?utm_medium=homepage

Causes of infective endocarditis in the Western Cape, South Africa: a prospective cohort study using a set protocol for organism detection and central decision making by an endocarditis team. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e053169

A bright future in typhoid vaccines.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00520-9/fulltext

FROM 6 DEC

Equitable Open Access Publishing: Changing the Financial Power Dynamics in Academia. https://www.ghspjournal.org/content/early/2021/12/03/GHSP-D-21-00145

“We shall have gone to a higher standard”: Training village heath teams (VHTs) to use a smartphone-guided intervention to link older Ugandans with hypertension and diabetes to care

 [version 2; peer review: 2 approved with reservations]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/3-25/v2?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

Delays in initiating rabies post-exposure prophylaxis among dog bite victims in Wakiso and Kampala districts, Uganda [version 2; peer review: 1 approved].https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-49/v2?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

A Nationwide Enumeration of the Surgical Workforce, its Production and Disparities in Operative Productivity in Liberia. https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s00268-021-06379-8?sharing_token=ghQNEuKCALVfnQz1u9btAve4RwlQNchNByi7wbcMAY7KdCe-zoH0EGHMfLjfLnbZ7eoAGaevtf_F_aGNzC95XFA_HT2BGg_64iNh-tI_lGmRaqbdfmyjypXMBiv9sVZoYcV2P-aCXvyPBn5qKbTEdCA1QGAMhy3yYxBHMv_PrjI%3D

The Risk of Postoperative Complications following Major Elective Surgery in Active or Resolved COVID-19 in the United States.https://journals.lww.com/annalsofsurgery/Abstract/9000/The_Risk_of_Postoperative_Complications_following.93177.aspx

Build on HIV investments for future pandemic preparedness.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e007980

Magnitude of preterm hospital neonatal mortality and associated factors in northern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e051161

Perceptions of the functioning and effectiveness of nursing regulators in Ghana and South Africa: a cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e050580

Cost-effectiveness of bedaquiline, pretomanid and linezolid for treatment of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in South Africa, Georgia and the Philippines.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e051521

8 DEC 2021

EU sources say no immediate plan for easing Omicron travel curbs on southern Africa. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/eu-sources-say-no-immediate-plan-easing-omicron-travel-curbs-southern-africa-2021-12-06/

South Africa’s Biovac to start making Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in early 2022 – exec. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/south-africas-biovac-start-making-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-early-2022-2021-12-06/

What you need to know about the coronavirus right now.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/what-you-need-know-about-coronavirus-right-now-2021-03-02/

Daily briefing: How to predict COVID’s next move. The science of coronavirus variants, the most stunning science images of the month and how to build better solar-energy systems. Daily briefing: How to predict COVID’s next move.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03670-5

Beyond Omicron: what’s next for COVID’s viral evolution. The rapid spread of new variants offers clues to how SARS-CoV-2 is adapting and how the pandemic will play out over the next several months. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03619-8

Omicron: the global response is making it worse. The pandemic will not end while vaccine equity keeps getting pushed to the margins.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03616-x

How bad is Omicron? Some clues are emerging, and they’re not encouraging. New variant appears to evade immunity and shows signs of being more transmissible.https://www.science.org/content/article/how-bad-omicron-some-clues-are-emerging-and-they-re-not-encouraging

Robust immune responses are observed after one dose of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine dose in SARS-CoV-2 experienced individuals.https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abi8961

How Scientists Can Update COVID Vaccines against Omicron. A microbiologist explains how Pfizer and Moderna would rapidly adjust mRNA vaccines.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-scientists-can-update-covid-vaccines-against-omicron/

Boosters Can Help End the COVID Pandemic.The extra shot doesn’t mean that vaccines are ineffective; our bodies just need a reminder.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/boosters-can-help-end-the-covid-pandemic/

SARS-CoV-2 ferritin nanoparticle vaccines elicit broad SARS coronavirus immunogenicity. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)01639-9

Covid-19: Whatever happened to the Novavax vaccine?https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2965

Perception and knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for cervical cancer prevention among fully vaccinated female university students in the era of HPV vaccination: a cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e047479

Retrospective case–control study to evaluate hypocalcaemia as a distinguishing feature of COVID-19 compared with other infective pneumonias and its association with disease severity. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e053810

The value of open-source clinical science in pandemic response: lessons from ISARIC. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S147330992100565X

Assessing the evidence on remdesivir.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309921006939

What Actually Worries U.S. Doctors About Omicron. https://time.com/6126293/doctors-omicron-worries/

OTHER NEWS

Misleading Reporting (Spin) in Noninferiority Randomized Clinical Trials in Oncology With Statistically Not Significant Results. A Systematic Review.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2786921

Misleading Reporting in Statistically Not Significant Oncology Trials—Joining Efforts Toward Unbiased Results Interpretation. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2786922

Length of stay in health facilities after childbirth and associated maternal and neonatal factors in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study from a national survey.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e055327

Modelling the cost-effectiveness of essential and advanced critical care for COVID-19 patients in Kenya. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e007168

Reducing surgical site infections and mortality among obstetric surgical patients in Tanzania: a pre-evaluation and postevaluation of a multicomponent safe surgery intervention. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e006788

If we build it, will they come? Results of a quasi-experimental study assessing the impact of maternity waiting homes on facility-based childbirth and maternity care in Zambia. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e006385

Hypertension incidence among middle-aged and older adults: findings from a 5-year prospective study in rural South Africa, 2010–2015. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e049621

Antibiotics for neonatal sepsis in low-income and middle-income countries—where to go from here?https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1473309921001997

An urgent need: vaccines for neglected tropical diseases. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309921002607

Dismal global tuberculosis situation due to COVID-19.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309921007131

Why Black Lives Matter In Global Surgery. https://static2.one.surgery/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/formidable/17/In-Solidarity-And-Celebration-Issue-10_-November-2020_compressed-11-13.pdf

12.12.21 • International Universal Health Coverage Day. Leave No One’s Health Behind: Invest in health systems for all. https://universalhealthcoverageday.org

Outcomes after perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with proximal femoral fractures: an international cohort study.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/11/e050830.full

9 DEC 2021

Pfizer, BioNTech vaccine neutralises Omicron with three shots.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/biontech-pfizer-say-test-shows-3-doses-vaccine-neutralise-omicron-2021-12-08/

Act now to curb Omicron’s spread, WHO’s Tedros tells world.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/act-now-curb-omicrons-spread-whos-tedros-tells-world-2021-12-08/

South Africa reports nearly 20,000 COVID-19 cases, an Omicron-wave record.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/south-africa-reports-nearly-20000-new-covid-19-cases-record-omicron-wave-2021-12-08/

S.African health regulator SAHPRA approves Pfizer’s booster shots.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/safrican-health-regulator-sahpra-approves-pfizers-booster-shots-2021-12-08/

What you need to know about the coronavirus right now.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/what-you-need-know-about-coronavirus-right-now-2021-03-02/

Omicron likely to weaken COVID vaccine protection.Early lab results suggest existing vaccines could be less effective against the fast-spreading coronavirus variant, but boosters should improve immunity. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03672-3

How Scientists Can Update COVID Vaccines against Omicron. A microbiologist explains how Pfizer and Moderna would rapidly adjust mRNA vaccines.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-scientists-can-update-covid-vaccines-against-omicron/

SARS-Cov-2 Spike binding to ACE2 is stronger and longer ranged due to glycan interaction. https://www.cell.com/biophysj/fulltext/S0006-3495(21)03893-5

Evidence for increased SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 severity related to pre-existing immunity to seasonal coronaviruses. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)01669-7

ACE and ACE2: Insights from Drosophila and implications for COVID-19.https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(21)02658-X

Pre-existing humoral immunity to human common cold coronaviruses negatively impacts the protective SARS-CoV-2 antibody response. https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(21)00570-9

SARS-CoV-2 ferritin nanoparticle vaccines elicit broad SARS coronavirus immunogenicity. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)01639-9

Audio Interview: Waning Immunity against SARS-CoV-2.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2119211?query=featured_home

BNT162b2 Vaccine Booster and Mortality Due to Covid-19.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2115624?query=featured_home

Protection against Covid-19 by BNT162b2 Booster across Age Groups.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2115926?query=featured_home

Tracking the Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha Variant in the United Kingdom.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2103227?query=featured_home

Evaluation of mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Adolescents.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2109522?query=featured_home

Waning of BNT162b2 Vaccine Protection against SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Qatar.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2114114?query=featured_home

Waning Immune Humoral Response to BNT162b2 Covid-19 Vaccine over 6 Months.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2114583?query=featured_home

Waning Immunity after the BNT162b2 Vaccine in Israel.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2114228?query=featured_home

Effect of High-Flow Oxygen Therapy vs Conventional Oxygen Therapy on Invasive Mechanical Ventilation and Clinical Recovery in Patients With Severe COVID-19. A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2786830

Immunogenicity and safety of a third dose of CoronaVac, and immune persistence of a two-dose schedule, in healthy adults: interim results from two single-centre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 2 clinical trials.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00681-2/fulltext

Booster doses for inactivated COVID-19 vaccines: if, when, and for whom.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00696-4/fulltext

Immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive medication modification among patients with rheumatic diseases at the time of COVID-19 vaccination.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(21)00372-6/fulltext

Monitoring inequalities is a key part of the efforts to end AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02756-2/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

How pandemic pressure is re-engineering clinical trials. COVID-19 spurred nimbler trials that demand less of patients—and many changes may stick.https://www.science.org/content/article/how-pandemic-pressure-re-engineering-clinical-trials

Effect of Use of a Bougie vs Endotracheal Tube With Stylet on Successful Intubation on the First Attempt Among Critically Ill Patients Undergoing Tracheal Intubation.A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2787158

Geographic barriers to establishing a successful hospital referral system in rural Madagascar. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e007145

Does the implementation of UHC reforms foster greater equality in health spending? Evidence from a benefit incidence analysis in Burkina Faso.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e005810

Awareness of obstetric fistula and its associated factors among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia: a multilevel analysis of Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data: a cross-sectional study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e053221

Potential for health economics to influence policies on tobacco use during pregnancy in low-income and middle-income countries: a qualitative case study.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e045624

Intimate partner violence among reproductive-age women with chronic mental illness attending a psychiatry outpatient department: cross-sectional facility-based study, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e045251

Global estimates of paediatric tuberculosis incidence in 2013–19: a mathematical modelling analysis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00462-9/fulltext

Systems thinking in COVID-19 recovery is urgently needed to deliver sustainable development for women and girls.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(21)00232-1/fulltext

COVID-19 antivirals must not affect HIV drug supply.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(21)00321-0/fulltext

Novel, Low-Cost Intervention to Promote Women’s Advancement in Global Health Research.https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Abstract/9000/Novel,_Low_Cost_Intervention_to_Promote_Women_s.96563.aspx?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=acadmedjournal&utm_content=2b0c8777-89e4-4ddf-8321-565737f37238

10 DEC 2021

South African Covid cases up 255% in a week as Omicron spreads. Private healthcare provider says symptoms in country’s fourth wave are far milder than in previous waves. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/09/south-african-covid-cases-up-255-in-a-week-as-omicron-spreads

WHO warns against vaccine hoarding as poorer countries go without.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/who-warns-against-vaccine-hoarding-poor-countries-go-without-2021-12-09/

New COVID strain hits revival of S.Africa’s international tourist trade.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/new-covid-strain-hits-revival-safricas-international-tourist-trade-2021-12-09/

WHO’s Tedros says Omicron coronavirus variant highlights “perilous situation”.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/whos-tedros-says-omicron-coronavirus-variant-highlights-perilous-situation-2021-12-09/

People with health issues or inactivated vaccine should get COVID-19 booster – WHO.https://www.reuters.com/world/whos-advisory-panel-outlines-recommendations-boosters-2021-12-09/

COVID Variants Hint at How the Virus Will Evolve.The rapid spread of new variants such as Omicron offers clues to how SARS-CoV-2 is adapting and how the pandemic will play out over the next several months.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-variants-hint-at-how-the-virus-will-evolve/

How Scientists Can Update COVID Vaccines against Omicron.A microbiologist explains how Pfizer and Moderna would rapidly adjust mRNA vaccines.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-scientists-can-update-covid-vaccines-against-omicron/

HLA-A∗02:01 restricted T cell receptors against the highly conserved SARS-CoV-2 polymerase cross-react with human coronaviruses. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)01667-3

OTHER NEWS

Half of top cancer studies fail high-profile reproducibility effort.  Barriers to reproducing preclinical results included unhelpful author communication, but critics argue that one-time replication attempts don’t tell the whole story.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03691-0

Prior upregulation of interferon pathways in the nasopharynx impacts viral shedding following live attenuated influenza vaccine challenge in children.https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(21)00337-2

Economic inequality in malnutrition: a global systematic review and meta-analysis.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e006906

Participants’ experiences of engagement in community-centred mental health and psychosocial support programmes in conflict-affected communities within sub-Saharan Africa: a qualitative systematic review.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e005388

Management of pneumonia in critically ill patients.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-065871

Trend and decomposition analysis of risk factors of childbirths with no one present in Nigeria, 1990–2018. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e054328

Effect of educational interventions on knowledge of the disease and glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e049806

Benefits and drawbacks of videoconferencing for collaborating multidisciplinary teams in regional oncology networks: a scoping review. VC is highly useful for various types of collaboration in oncology networks and improves decision-making over treatment plans and care coordination, with substantial benefits for patients and specialists. Drawbacks are additional time related to administrative preparation. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e050139

Global health system resilience is in everyone’s interest.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3043

13 DEC 2021

The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic on mortality in South Africa in 2020.http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/13448

Comparative Effectiveness of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 Vaccines in U.S. Veterans.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2115463?query=nejmWeekendBriefing&cid=NEJM%20Weekend%20Briefing,%20December%2011,%202021%20DM535750_NEJM_Non_Subscriber&bid=734479024

Replication of SARS-CoV-2 in adipose tissue determines organ and systemic lipid metabolism in hamsters and humans. https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(21)00621-5#%20

COVID-19 and Pregnancy. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2787240

Adherence of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Pharmacologic Treatments of Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19 to Trustworthy Standards. A Systematic Review.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2787001

Analysing COVID-19 outcomes in the context of the 2019 Global Health Security (GHS) Index. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e007581

Covid-19: Do vaccines work against omicron—and other questions answered.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3062

OTHER NEWS

A Failure to Disseminate Transformative Science — HIV Treatment as Prevention, 10 Years On. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2113118?query=nejmWeekendBriefing&cid=NEJM+Weekend+Briefing%2C+December+11%2C+2021+DM535750_NEJM_Non_Subscriber&bid=734479024

Challenges with pediatric anesthesia and intraoperative ventilation of the child in the resource-constrained setting. Paediatr Anaesth. 2021 Dec 3.  doi: 10.1111/pan.14353.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34861089/

The race to make vaccines for a dangerous respiratory virus

Millions of people a year are hospitalized by respiratory syncytial virus and tens of thousands die. After decades of failure, four vaccines are now in late-stage trials.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03704-y

Universal health coverage: the roof has been leaking for far too long.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e008152

14 DEC 2021

Wastewater network infrastructure in public health: Applications and learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic. https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000061

Field evaluation of specificity and sensitivity of a standard SARS-CoV-2 antigen rapid diagnostic test: A prospective study at a teaching hospital in Northern Ghana.

https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000040

Global Manufacturing Supply is Sufficient to Reach Coverage Targets.https://covid19gap.org/insights/chapter-2-global-manufacturing

Canada to drop 3rd-country COVID test rule for residents returning from southern African nations. – Canada will start recognizing molecular COVID-19 tests conducted at an accredited lab in South Africa for residents returning home, dropping a heavily criticized travel restriction introduced to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant.https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canada-drop-3rd-country-covid-test-rule-residents-returning-southern-african-2021-12-13/

South Africa’s Ramaphosa has COVID-19 but symptoms mild, presidency says.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africas-ramaphosa-has-covid-19-symptoms-mild-presidency-says-2021-12-12/

Merck’s COVID pill loses its lustre: what that means for the pandemic. Molnupiravir was initially heralded by public-health officials as a game-changer for COVID-19, but full clinical-trial data showed lower-than-expected efficacy.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03667-0

Daily briefing: Merck downgrades COVID pill results. Merck’s oral COVID drug appears to be less effective than originally thought. Plus, promising vaccines for the respiratory virus RSV, and the most stunning science photos of the year.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03754-2

Waning COVID super-immunity raises questions about Omicron. The pairing of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination against it confers powerful protection, but data from Israel show that that protection gradually declines.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03674-1

COVID Is Driving a Children’s Mental Health Emergency. Deaths of parents and other terrible experiences have hurt hundreds of thousands, so new initiatives are trying to help families in pain. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-is-driving-a-childrens-mental-health-emergency/

A Single mRNA vaccine dose in COVID-19 patients boosts neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and variants of concern. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(21)00358-X

Efficacy and Safety of COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma in Hospitalized Patients. A Randomized Clinical Trial.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2787090

Unequal global vaccine coverage is at the heart of the current covid-19 crisis.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3074

What challenges did junior doctors face while working during the COVID-19 pandemic? A qualitative study. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e056122

OTHER NEWS

Plasmodium falciparum parasite prevalence in East Africa: Updating data for malaria stratification. https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000014

Knowledge, attitudes and practices on tuberculosis infection prevention and associated factors among rural and urban adults in northeast Tanzania: A cross-sectional study. https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000104

The global burden of tuberculous meningitis in adults: A modelling study.https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000069

A phenomenological study on experiences of cancer stigma amongst selected people living with cancer in rural and urban Zimbabwe [version 1; peer review: 2 approved].https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-48/v1?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

Evaluation of the 3-Minute Diagnostic Confusion Assessment Method for Identification of Postoperative Delirium in Older Patients.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2787070

To Restrain or Not to RestrainA Teachable Moment. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2787087

Impact of night travel ban on road traffic crashes and fatalities in Zambia: an interrupted time series analysis. We conclude that a night travel ban may be an effective way of reducing the burden of RTCs and RTFs in Zambia and other LMICs. However, complementary policies are needed to achieve more gains. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e005481

Concomitant health benefits package design and research prioritisation: development of a new approach and an application to Malawi.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e007047

Determinants of continued maternal care seeking during pregnancy, birth and postnatal and associated neonatal survival outcomes in Kenya and Uganda: analysis of cross-sectional, demographic and health surveys data.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e054136

Prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension in people with comorbidities in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e045880

Effect of complete adherence to antenatal care guideline during first visit on maternal and neonatal complications during the intrapartum and postpartum periods: a prospective cohort study in Northwest Ethiopia.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e049271

Mortality in mechanically ventilated patients in middle-income countries: a call for action. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00522-2/fulltext

Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, ventilation management, and outcomes in invasively ventilated intensive care unit patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome: a pooled analysis of four observational studies.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00485-X/fulltext

Global access to existing and future antimicrobials and diagnostics: antimicrobial subscription and pooled procurement.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00463-0/fulltext

15 DEC 2021

No Omicron deaths in J&J vaccine study in South Africa, scientist says.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/no-omicron-deaths-jj-vaccine-study-south-africa-scientist-says-2021-12-14/

Rapid COVID Tests Could Help Curb Infections–Especially During the Holidays. An expert answers questions about when and how to use the tests.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/rapid-covid-tests-could-help-curb-infections-especially-during-the-holidays/

Global Percentage of Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infections Among the Tested Population and Individuals With Confirmed COVID-19 Diagnosis. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2787098

Tracking the uptake and trajectory of COVID-19 vaccination coverage in 15 West African countries: an interim analysis. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e007518

OTHER NEWS

Gender-based disparities in burn injuries, care and outcomes: A World Health Organization (WHO) Global Burn Registry cohort study.https://www.americanjournalofsurgery.com/article/S0002-9610(21)00421-9/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Sociological variety and the transmission efficiency of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a secondary analysis of qualitative and quantitative data from 15 communities in Zambia. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e047136

Lay knowledge of cardiovascular disease and risk factors in three communities in Accra, Ghana: a cross-sectional survey.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e049451

Socioeconomic inequalities in child growth failure in Ethiopia: findings from the 2000 and 2016 Demographic and Health Surveys.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e051304

16 DEC 2021

Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from six national phone surveys. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e055159

Pfizer shot less effective in South Africa after Omicron emerges, study shows.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/pfizer-vaccine-protecting-against-hospitalisation-during-omicron-wave-study-2021-12-14/

UK to remove all countries from COVID travel red list on Wednesday.https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-remove-all-countries-covid-travel-red-list-wednesday-2021-12-14/

Court halts implementation of COVID vaccination requirement in Kenya.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/court-halts-implementation-covid-vaccination-requirement-kenya-2021-12-14/

Africa sees 83% surge in COVID-19 cases in past week.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/africa-sees-83-surge-covid-19-cases-past-week-2021-12-14/

No Omicron deaths in J&J vaccine study in South Africa, scientist says.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/no-omicron-deaths-jj-vaccine-study-south-africa-scientist-says-2021-12-14/

How COVID vaccines shaped 2021 in eight powerful charts

. he extraordinary vaccination of more than four billion people, and the lack of access for many others, were major forces this year — while Omicron’s arrival complicated things further. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03686-x

Vaccines 2020: The era of the digital vaccine is here.https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abm3249

What does Omicron mean for future COVID-19 vaccinations? Scientists debate the best strategy for now and later: normal boosters, custom variant shots, or universal coronavirus vaccines. https://www.science.org/content/article/what-does-omicron-mean-future-covid-19-vaccinations

Two-step fitness selection for intra-host variations in SARS-CoV-2.https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)01709-5

A Single mRNA vaccine dose in COVID-19 patients boosts neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and variants of concern. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(21)00358-X

Efficacy and Safety of NVX-CoV2373 in Adults in the United States and Mexico.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2116185?query=featured_home

Audio Interview: How Much Protection Does Prior SARS-CoV-2 Infection Provide?https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2119539?query=featured_home

Universal Coronavirus Vaccines — An Urgent Need.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2118468?query=featured_home

Efficacy of Natural Immunity against SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection with the Beta Variant.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2110300?query=featured_home

Phase 3 Safety and Efficacy of AZD1222 (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) Covid-19 Vaccine.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2105290?query=featured_home

Effectiveness of mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine among U.S. Health Care Personnel.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2106599?query=featured_home

Association of Complement and MAPK Activation With SARS-CoV-2–Associated Myocardial Inflammation.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2786891

Effectiveness of mRNA-1273 against delta, mu, and other emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2: test negative case-control study. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-068848

Covid-19: Long covid symptoms among hospital inpatients show little improvement after a year, data suggest. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3092

Omicron: a failure to act with a global focus will continue the proliferation of new variants of covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3095

Anticoagulation in COVID-19.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02503-4/fulltext

Rivaroxaban versus no anticoagulation for post-discharge thromboprophylaxis after hospitalisation for COVID-19 (MICHELLE): an open-label, multicentre, randomised, controlled trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02392-8/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

GA4GH: International policies and standards for data sharing across genomic research and healthcare. https://www.cell.com/cell-genomics/fulltext/S2666-979X(21)00036-7?utm_medium=homepage

Evaluation of Clinical Practice Guidelines on Fall Prevention and Management for Older Adults. A Systematic Review.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2787179

Psychosocial Risk Factors and Cardiovascular Disease and Death in a Population-Based Cohort From 21 Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2787178

Outcomes of a Delirium Prevention Program in Older Persons After Elective Surgery. A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/2787212

Alcohol consumption and oesophageal squamous cell cancer risk in east Africa: findings from the large multicentre ESCCAPE case-control study in Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00506-4/fulltext

Alcohol consumption as a risk factor for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma risk in sub-Saharan Africa. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00569-6/fulltext

Mass drug administration of ivermectin and dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine against malaria in settings with high coverage of standard control interventions: a cluster-randomised controlled trial in The Gambia.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1473309921005570

Ivermectin for mass drug administration against malaria.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1473309921006472

Epidemiology of infective endocarditis in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00400-9/fulltext

17 DEC 2021

Covid-19: Omicron is causing more infections but fewer hospital admissions than delta, South African data show. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3104

COVID-19 Vaccination Associated With Reduced Postoperative SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Morbidity.https://journals.lww.com/annalsofsurgery/Abstract/2022/01000/COVID_19_Vaccination_Associated_With_Reduced.7.aspx

COVID-19-related Post-intubation Tracheal Stenosis. Early Experience With Surgical Treatment. https://journals.lww.com/annalsofsurgery/Citation/2022/01000/COVID_19_related_Post_intubation_Tracheal.68.aspx

Management of Post COVID Tracheal Stenosis: A New Twist on an Old Problem.https://journals.lww.com/annalsofsurgery/Citation/2022/01000/Management_of_Post_COVID_Tracheal_Stenosis__A_New.69.aspx

S.Africa reports record daily COVID-19 cases as Omicron spreads.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-reports-record-daily-covid-19-infections-2021-12-15/

Rwanda and Kenya confirm cases of Omicron coronavirus variant.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/rwanda-confirms-six-infections-with-omicron-variant-2021-12-15/

COVID-19 vaccines may be less effective against Omicron – WHO.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/covid-19-vaccines-may-be-less-effective-against-omicron-who-2021-12-15/

Winnie Byanyima: Vaccine warrior. https://www.nature.com/immersive/d41586-021-03621-0/index.html#section-ooUfKb41pU

Omicron blindspots: why it’s hard to track coronavirus variants.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03698-7

News at a glance: A bold antitobacco plan, updated Arctic warming rates, and a COVID-19 infection from a lab. The latest in science and policy.https://www.science.org/content/article/news-glance-bold-antitobacco-plan-updated-arctic-warming-rates-and-covid-19-infection-lab

Recruitment of highly cytotoxic CD8+ T cell receptors in mild SARS-CoV-2 infection.https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)01718-6

Antibody Response and Variant Cross-Neutralization After SARS-CoV-2 Breakthrough Infection. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2787447

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and myocarditis or myopericarditis: population based cohort study. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-068665

Myocarditis after vaccination against covid-19.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3090

Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants: shooting the messenger.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309921007702

COVID-19 vaccine strategies must focus on severe disease and global equity.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02835-X/fulltext

Projecting COVID-19 disruption to elective surgery.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02836-1/fulltext

OTHER NEWS

Effect of 3 Days of Oral Azithromycin on Young Children With Acute Diarrhea in Low-Resource Settings. A Randomized Clinical Trial.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2787227

Performance Assessment of the Universal Vital Assessment Score vs Other Illness Severity Scores for Predicting Risk of In-Hospital Death Among Adult Febrile Inpatients in Northern Tanzania, 2016-2019.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2787229

Clinical Severity Prediction Scores in Low-Resource Settings and the Conundrum of Missing Data. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2787231

Estimation of the Timing and Intensity of Reemergence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Following the COVID-19 Pandemic in the US.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2787220

Long-term effects of payment for performance on maternal and child health outcomes: evidence from Tanzania. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e006409

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in The Gambia: health impact, cost effectiveness and budget implications. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e007211

Costs of hand hygiene for all in household settings: estimating the price tag for the 46 least developed countries. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e007361

Antibiotics for neonatal sepsis in low-income and middle-income countries—where to go from here?https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1473309921001997

20 DEC 2021

T-cells in Pfizer Covid jab recipients stay robust against severe illness. Research in South Africa raises hopes that similar responses may be present with other vaccines.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/17/t-cells-pfizer-covid-jab-robust-against-severe-illness-south-africa-research

South Africa says vaccines and natural immunity are limiting latest Covid wave. Global experts fear countries with older and more vulnerable populations may have different experience of Omicron variant.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/17/south-africa-says-vaccines-and-natural-immunity-are-limiting-latest-covid-wave

What you need to know about the coronavirus right now.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/what-you-need-know-about-coronavirus-right-now-2021-12-17/

South Africa to donate 2 mln J&J COVID-19 shots to African countries.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-donate-2-mln-jj-covid-19-shots-african-countries-2021-12-17/

Malawi makes COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for frontline workers.https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/malawi-makes-covid-19-vaccines-mandatory-frontline-workers-2021-12-16/

Small S.Africa patient study shows Omicron breaking through booster shots.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/small-safrica-patient-study-shows-omicron-breaking-through-booster-shots-2021-12-16/

Treating the Most Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19. The Evolving Role of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2787451

A three-layer system to win the war against COVID-19 and invest in health systems of the future. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e007365

Covid-19 vaccines, immunity, and boosters.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3105

Vaccine inequality may undermine the booster programme.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3118

Covid-19: The significance of India’s emerging “hybrid immunity”.https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3047

Covid-19: Need for social restrictions will gradually shrink over time, says England’s CMO. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3107

OTHER NEWS

Intermittent Fasting and Obesity-Related Health Outcomes. An Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses of Randomized Clinical Trials.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2787246

Adaptation of the Texas Christian University Organisational Readiness for Change Short Form (TCU-ORC-SF) for use in primary health facilities in South Africa.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e047320

Cost–utility analysis of antimicrobial stewardship programme at a tertiary teaching hospital in Ethiopia. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e047515

21 DEC 2021

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Africa: a call to action.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00563-5/fulltext

Reduced neutralisation of SARS-CoV-2 omicron B.1.1.529 variant by post-immunisation serum. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02844-0/fulltext

Managing waning vaccine protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02841-5/fulltext

Diagnostics for COVID-19: moving from pandemic response to control.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02346-1/fulltext

Pfizer says pandemic could extend through 2023, studies three-dose vaccine course for children. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe-gears-up-more-restrictions-omicron-infections-rise-2021-12-17/

S.Africa says vaccines, prior infection help mildness of COVID cases.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-seeing-slight-increase-covid-19-deaths-off-low-base-2021-12-17/

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children by COVID-19 Vaccination Status of Adolescents in France. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2787495

Factors Associated With Severe Gastrointestinal Diagnoses in Children With SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2787258

OTHER NEWS

A mapping of health education institutions and programs in the WHO African Region [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-55

REVISED An ecological study on the association between early childhood caries and intimate partner violence in 20 low- and middle-income countries: 2007-2017 [version 2; peer review: 1 not approved]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-39

Journals adopt AI to spot duplicated images in manuscripts. A few publishers are using automated software to catch flaws in submitted papers.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03807-6

Effect of Regional vs General Anesthesia on Incidence of Postoperative Delirium in Older Patients Undergoing Hip Fracture Surgery. The RAGA Randomized Trial.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2787494

General Anesthesia and Postoperative Neurocognitive Outcomes.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2787496

Risk factors associated with the coexistence of stunting, underweight, and wasting in children under 5 from 31 sub-Saharan African countries.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e052267

Decade of research into the acceptability of interventions aimed at improving adolescent and youth health and social outcomes in Africa: a systematic review and evidence map. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e055160

Do deaths from road traffic injuries follow a classical trimodal pattern in North West Ethiopia? A hospital-based prospective cohort study.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e051017

Safety and immunogenicity of the Vi-DT typhoid conjugate vaccine in healthy volunteers in Nepal: an observer-blind, active-controlled, randomised, non-inferiority, phase 3 trial. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309921004552

Towards a marketplace for Vi polysaccharide-conjugate typhoid vaccines.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1473309921005600

South Africa: What Is Government Doing to Restore TB Services?https://allafrica.com/stories/202112150556.html

FROM DEC 2021

The impact of COSECSA in developing the surgical workforce in East Central and Southern Africa.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1479666X21001888?dgcid=author

Surgeon burnout, impact on patient safety and professionalism: A systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.americanjournalofsurgery.com/article/S0002-9610(21)00759-5/fulltext?rss=yes

Research: From idea to publication. https://www.sajaa.co.za/index.php/sajaa/article/view/2741

The challenges of defining global health research.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e008169

FROM 21 DEC 2021

A mapping of health education institutions and programs in the WHO African Region [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-55

REVISED An ecological study on the association between early childhood caries and intimate partner violence in 20 low- and middle-income countries: 2007-2017 [version 2; peer review: 1 not approved]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-39

Journals adopt AI to spot duplicated images in manuscripts. A few publishers are using automated software to catch flaws in submitted papers.https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03807-6

Effect of Regional vs General Anesthesia on Incidence of Postoperative Delirium in Older Patients Undergoing Hip Fracture Surgery. The RAGA Randomized Trial.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2787494

General Anesthesia and Postoperative Neurocognitive Outcomes.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2787496

Risk factors associated with the coexistence of stunting, underweight, and wasting in children under 5 from 31 sub-Saharan African countries.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e052267

Decade of research into the acceptability of interventions aimed at improving adolescent and youth health and social outcomes in Africa: a systematic review and evidence map. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e055160

Do deaths from road traffic injuries follow a classical trimodal pattern in North West Ethiopia? A hospital-based prospective cohort study.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e051017

Safety and immunogenicity of the Vi-DT typhoid conjugate vaccine in healthy volunteers in Nepal: an observer-blind, active-controlled, randomised, non-inferiority, phase 3 trial. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309921004552

Towards a marketplace for Vi polysaccharide-conjugate typhoid vaccines.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1473309921005600

South Africa: What Is Government Doing to Restore TB Services?https://allafrica.com/stories/202112150556.html

FROM 20 DEC

Intermittent Fasting and Obesity-Related Health Outcomes. An Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses of Randomized Clinical Trials.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2787246

Adaptation of the Texas Christian University Organisational Readiness for Change Short Form (TCU-ORC-SF) for use in primary health facilities in South Africa.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e047320

Cost–utility analysis of antimicrobial stewardship programme at a tertiary teaching hospital in Ethiopia. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e047515

FROM 17 DEC

Effect of 3 Days of Oral Azithromycin on Young Children With Acute Diarrhea in Low-Resource Settings. A Randomized Clinical Trial.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2787227

Performance Assessment of the Universal Vital Assessment Score vs Other Illness Severity Scores for Predicting Risk of In-Hospital Death Among Adult Febrile Inpatients in Northern Tanzania, 2016-2019.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2787229

Clinical Severity Prediction Scores in Low-Resource Settings and the Conundrum of Missing Data. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2787231

Estimation of the Timing and Intensity of Reemergence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Following the COVID-19 Pandemic in the US.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2787220

Long-term effects of payment for performance on maternal and child health outcomes: evidence from Tanzania. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e006409

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in The Gambia: health impact, cost effectiveness and budget implications. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e007211

Costs of hand hygiene for all in household settings: estimating the price tag for the 46 least developed countries. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/12/e007361

Antibiotics for neonatal sepsis in low-income and middle-income countries—where to go from here?https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1473309921001997