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Introduction: There are limited data available on the long-term presence of SARS-CoV-2-specific binding antibodies and neutralizing antibodies in circulation among the elderly population. This study aims to examine levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in vaccines who have completed at least 6 months since the second vaccine dose. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2021 to January 2022 among 199 vaccines aged 60 years and above residing in Belagavi city, who received two doses of the Covishield vaccine. Methods: Antibody response to SARS-COV-2 virus whole cell antigen was measured by a kit COVID KAWACH IgG Micro LISA (J Mitra and Company, India) in 199 participants who had completed at least 6 months after receiving the second dose of Covishield vaccine. The antibody response was measured as a ratio of optical density (OD) in the participant's sample to the mean OD in negative control test by normal (T/N). Independent Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to test the difference between the T/N ratio by months of vaccination since the second dose and by the age group strata. Results: The median T/N values among participants who completed 6, 7, 8, and 9 months since the second vaccine dose were 14.17, 10.46, 7.93, and 5.11, respectively, and this decline in T/N values was statistically significant. Antibody response values showed a decline with increasing age for participants in the age strata 60-69, 70-79, and 80 and above, respectively. Conclusions: A significant decline was observed in antibody response over 9 months supporting the administration of booster dose of vaccine.
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BACKGROUND: Stroke is the primary cause of disability worldwide, the second most common cause of dementia and the third leading cause of death. Only few studies were conducted to study the role of fluoxetine in motor recovery in either ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke patients with probably less severe paresis. However, the current study evaluates both the effectiveness and safety of fluoxetine in the stroke population with a more severe motor deficit. METHODS: Patients who had acute or subacute stroke with hemiparesis and aged between 18 and 80 years with medical research council (MRC) scale score <4 were included in this randomized, Single-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 1:1 ratio to placebo or fluoxetine 20 mg/day orally for 90 days. The primary outcome measures were changes in barthel index, time taken to complete nine hole peg test and number of hand tapping movements in 30 s by the affected limb between baseline, 45th day and 90th day. The secondary outcome measure was evaluation of the drug tolerability. RESULTS: A total of 168 patients were assigned to fluoxetine (n = 84) or placebo (n = 84) group. Mean BI score significantly improved at 90th day in fluoxetine group (70.42 ± 10.56) than in placebo group (44.23 ± 8.52). Mean dexterity value decreased significantly at 90th day (2.61 ± 0.81) compared to baseline (3.98 ± 0.53) in fluoxetine group. However higher rate of decrease of mean dexterity value was seen in fluoxetine group when compared to placebo group. Mean number of hands tapping movements in 30 s increased significantly at 90th day (16.33 ± 3.58) compared to baseline (9.83 ± 2.92) in fluoxetine group. Few ADR reported during this study were dizziness, drowsiness and insomnia. CONCLUSION: The present study indicates that early prescription of fluoxetine is safe and may enhance motor function in patients presenting with severe motor impairments after stroke. However, the findings of the study should be confirmed in future controlled studies with large sample size.