Impact of low vaccine coverage on the resurgence of COVID-19 in Central and Eastern Europe.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a tremendous global impact both socially and economically. The mechanisms behind the disparity in the severity, vaccine coverage, and variant replacement patterns across European countries are unclear. In this work, we aim to reveal the possible reasons via data visualization and model fitting. We developed a model with a vaccination component to simulate the mortality waves in these countries. Deaths averted by the vaccination campaign were estimated. Finally, we discuss the potential reasons behind the differences in vaccine coverage across European countries. Contemporary transportation and global trade bring significant convenience to our daily life but also facilitate the spread of the novel virus COVID-19 to anywhere globally within a short time. The observations and results in this work highlight the importance of the global campaign to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics under the One Health approach.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Retinopathy of Prematurity From 2 Neonatal Intensive Care Units in a Hong Kong Chinese Population.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm Chinese infants. DESIGN: Retrospective review. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for all neonates screened for ROP between January 2007 and December 2012 in Hong Kong. Screening was offered to VLBW (≤1500 g) and/or preterm (gestation, ≤32 weeks) neonates using the Royal College of Ophthalmologists ROP guideline and the International Classification of ROP by 3 pediatric ophthalmologists. Maternal and neonatal covariates were analyzed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses for both ROP and type 1 ROP. RESULTS: Of the 513 screened infants, the mean gestational age (GA) was 30.0 ± 2.5 weeks and the mean birth weight (BW) was 1232.6 ± 325.2 g. The incidence of ROP and type 1 ROP was 18.5% and 3.7%, respectively. In univariate analysis, a lighter BW, lower GA, blood transfusion, patent ductus arteriosus, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, postnatal hypotension, inotropes usage, low Apgar scores, sepsis, mechanical ventilation, supplementary oxygen use, respiratory distress syndrome, anemia, surfactant use, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia were found to be associated with the development of both ROP and type 1 ROP (P < 0.05). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, BW, GA, and intraventricular hemorrhage were significant risk factors for ROP. Preeclampsia and eclampsia were the only protective factors for ROP development on multivariable logistic regression analysis (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In VLBW preterm Chinese infants, lower GA, lighter BW, and intraventricular hemorrhage were significant risk factors for ROP, whereas preeclampsia and eclampsia were protective.

Incidence and risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity in multiple gestations: a Chinese population study.

To determine the incidence and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) among new-born Chinese infants of multiple gestations.A retrospective review of medical records was performed for all neonates of multiple gestations screened for ROP between January 2007 and December 2012 in 2 neonatal intensive care units in Hong Kong. Screening was offered to very low birth weight (VLBW; ≤1500 g) and/or preterm (gestation ≤32 weeks) neonates using the Royal College of Ophthalmologists ROP guideline and the International Classification of ROP by 3 pediatric ophthalmologists. Maternal and neonatal covariates were analyzed using univariate and multivariate regression analyses for both ROP and Type 1 ROP.A total of 153 Chinese infants of multiple gestations were included in the study. The mean gestational age (GA) was 30.8 ±â€Š2.4 weeks and the mean birth weight (BW) was 1284.8 ±â€Š267.4 g. The incidence of ROP and Type 1 ROP was 11.8% and 3.9%, respectively. On univariate analysis, younger GA, lighter birth weight, postnatal hypotension, inotropes use, bronchopulmonary disease, and intraventricular hemorrhage were common independent risk factors for the development of ROP and Type 1 ROP (all P ≤ 0.04). On multivariate analysis, younger GA, surfactant use, invasive mechanical ventilation, higher mean oxygen concentration, thrombocytopenia, intraventricular hemorrhage, total parental nutrition, and hypoglycemia were significant risk factors for ROP. For Type 1 ROP, there were no significant dependent risk factors.In preterm Chinese infants born from multiple gestations, prematurity, lighter weight, postnatal hypotension, inotropes use, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and an intraventricular hemorrhage were common independent risk factors for the development of ROP and Type 1 ROP.

Cross-sectional study of the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness at 7 years after an acute episode of unilateral primary acute angle closure.

The purpose of this article is to investigate the long-term retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) status and determinants of RNFL thinning after an episode of unilateral primary acute angle closure (AAC). This cross-sectional study analyzed the medical records of consecutive patients with a single episode of unilateral AAC from 1999 to 2009 in Hong Kong. The peripapillary RNFL thickness was correlated with age, gender, presenting intraocular pressure (IOP), time to laser iridotomy, time to cataract extraction, follow-up duration, as well as the last IOP, vertical cup-to-disc ratio (CDR), and vision. The fellow uninvolved eye was used as a proxy comparison of RNFL loss in the attack eye. In 40 eligible patients, the mean age was 68.3 ± 8.7 years with a male-to-female ratio of 1:7. The mean presenting IOP was 49.2 ± 14.0 mm Hg and the time from presentation to laser iridotomy was 6.7 ± 6.9 days. Forty percent of subjects received a cataract extraction at 3.2 ± 2.9 years after the attack. The last IOP, CDR, and LogMAR vision were 16.0 ± 3.8 mm Hg, 0.6 ± 0.2, and 0.6 ± 0.6 LogMAR units, respectively, at 7.9 ± 2.4 years. The RNFL thickness in the attack eye (69.2 ± 19.1 µm) was 25.2 ± 17.9% thinner than the fellow eye (93.0 ± 17.8 µm) at 7.5 ± 2.9 years post-AAC. Using univariate analysis, the last vertical CDR (odds ratio [OR] = 17.2, P = 0.049) and LogMAR visual acuity (VA) (OR = 6.6, P = 0.03) were the only significant predictors for RNFL thinning whereas none of the other covariates showed significant associations (P > 0.1). At 7.5 years following unilateral AAC, the RNFL thickness was 25% thinner than the fellow eye. CDR enlargement and poor VA were the only significant predictors for RNFL loss.

Differences in risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity development in paired twins: a Chinese population study.

PURPOSE: To determine the differences in risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in paired twins. METHODS: A retrospective medical record review was performed for all paired twins screened for ROP between 2007 and 2012. Screening was offered to very low birth weight (≤ 1500 grams) and preterm (≤ 32 weeks) neonates. Twins 1 and 2 were categorized based on the order of delivery. Maternal and neonatal covariates were analyzed using univariate and multivariate regression analyses for both ROP and Type 1 ROP. RESULTS: In 34 pairs of Chinese twins, the mean gestational age (GA) was 30.2 ± 2.0 weeks. In Twin 1, smaller GA (OR = 0.44, P = 0.02), higher mean oxygen concentration (OR = 1.34, P = 0.03), presence of thrombocytopenia (OR = 1429.60, P < 0.0001), and intraventricular hemorrhage (OR = 18.67, P = 0.03) were significant risk factors for ROP. For Twin 2, a smaller GA (OR = 0.45, P = 0.03) was the only risk factor. There were no significant risk factors for ROP in Twin 1 or Twin 2 on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: In Chinese twin pairs, smaller GA was the only common risk factor for ROP while Twin 1 was more susceptible to the postnatal risks for ROP.