RESUMEN
Background: The protection of fourth dose mRNA vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is relevant to current global policy decisions regarding ongoing booster roll-out. We aimed to estimate the effect of fourth dose vaccination, prior infection, and duration of PCR positivity in a highly-vaccinated and largely prior-COVID-19 infected cohort of UK healthcare workers. Methods: Participants underwent fortnightly PCR and regular antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2 and completed symptoms questionnaires. A multi-state model was used to estimate vaccine effectiveness (VE) against infection from a fourth dose compared to a waned third dose, with protection from prior infection and duration of PCR positivity jointly estimated. Findings: 1298 infections were detected among 9560 individuals under active follow-up between September 2022 and March 2023. Compared to a waned third dose, fourth dose VE was 13.1% (95% CI 0.9 to 23.8) overall; 24.0% (95% CI 8.5 to 36.8) in the first 2 months post-vaccination, reducing to 10.3% (95% CI -11.4 to 27.8) and 1.7% (95% CI -17.0 to 17.4) at 2-4 and 4-6 months, respectively. Relative to an infection >2 years ago and controlling for vaccination, 63.6% (95% CI 46.9 to 75.0) and 29.1% (95% CI 3.8 to 43.1) greater protection against infection was estimated for an infection within the past 0-6, and 6-12 months, respectively. A fourth dose was associated with greater protection against asymptomatic infection than symptomatic infection, whilst prior infection independently provided more protection against symptomatic infection, particularly if the infection had occurred within the previous 6 months. Duration of PCR positivity was significantly lower for asymptomatic compared to symptomatic infection. Interpretation: Despite rapid waning of protection, vaccine boosters remain an important tool in responding to the dynamic COVID-19 landscape; boosting population immunity in advance of periods of anticipated pressure, such as surging infection rates or emerging variants of concern. Funding: UK Health Security Agency, Medical Research Council, NIHR HPRU Oxford, Bristol, and others.
RESUMEN
OBJETIVO: Avaliar ambulatorialmente a morfologia e histologia endometrial de mulheres sem sangramento genital após a menopausa. MÉTODOS: Em estudo descritivo foram selecionadas 52 mulheres, após a menopausa, entre 50 e 60 anos, sem terapia hormonal nos últimos seis meses. Todas foram submetidas a exame ultrassonográfico, histeroscópico e biópsias endometriais. RESULTADOS: Das 52 mulheres selecionadas 32 (61,5 por cento) apresentaram ultrassonografia normal, cavidade uterina normal com endométrio atrófico à histeroscopia, confirmada pela biópsia endometrial. Vinte (38,4 por cento) apresentaram achados histeroscópicos ou histológicos anormais, sendo que apenas cinco destas mostraram endométrio com espessura superior a cinco milímetros ao ultrassom. CONCLUSÃO: A histeroscopia diagnóstica associada à biópsia aspirativa (Pipelle) pode evidenciar alterações não observadas ao ultrassom transvaginal.
OBJECTIVE: Evaluate in outpatients , the endometrial morphology and histology of non- bleeding postmenopausal women. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive study where 52 menopausal women were selected, between 50 and 60 years of age, who had not used hormone replacement therapy in the last six months and did not present any kind of vaginal bleeding after menopause. These women underwent ultrasound examination, hysteroscopy and biopsy, and then endometrial findings were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 52 women selected, thirty two (61,5 percent) had normal ultrasound, normal uterine cavity with atrophic endometrium, hysteroscopy, confirmed by endometrial biopsy. Twenty (38,4 percent) had hysteroscopuc and histologic alterations and only five women showed by ultrasound an endometrial thickness of more than five millimeters. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic Hysteroscopy associated with aspiration biopsy (Pipelle) performed in the day care facility can reveal endometrial alterations that cannot be diagnosed by transvaginal ultrasound.