175 research outputs found
Community Use of Repurposed Drugs Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic in the Netherlands: An Interrupted Time-Series Analysis
No full textGuiling Zhou,1 Stijn de Vos,1 Catharina CM Schuiling-Veninga,1 Jens Bos,1 Katrien Oude Rengerink,2 Anna Maria Gerdina Pasmooij,2 Peter GM Mol,2,3 Geertruida H de Bock,4 Eelko Hak1 1Unit of Pharmaco-Therapy, -Epidemiology and -Economics (PTEE), Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; 2Medicines Evaluation Board, Utrecht, the Netherlands; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; 4Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the NetherlandsCorrespondence: Guiling Zhou, Unit of Pharmaco-Therapy, -Epidemiology and -Economics (PTEE), Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, 9713 AV, the Netherlands, Tel +31 503638707, Fax +31 503632772, Email [email protected]: Repurposing registered drugs could reduce coronavirus disease (COVID-19) burden before novel drugs are authorized. Little is known about how the pandemic and imposed restrictions changed their dispensing. We aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on repurposed drugs dispensing in the Netherlands.Methods: We performed interrupted time-series study using University of Groningen prescription database IADB.nl to evaluate dispensing trends of 24 repurposed drugs before (2017-February 2020) and after (March 2020– 2021) the pandemic’ start. Primary outcomes were monthly prevalence and incidence rates. An autoregressive integrated moving average model assessed the effect of pandemic and stringency index (measuring strictness of government’s restriction policies).Results: Annual number of IADB.nl population ranged from 919,697 to 952,400. Generally, dispensing of common long-term-used drugs was not significantly affected by pandemic. The prevalence of antibacterials (− 4.20 users per 1000 people), antivirals (− 0.04), corticosteroids (− 1.29), prednisolone (− 1.32), calcium channel blocker (− 0.41), and diuretics (− 1.29) was lower than expected after the pandemic’s start, while the prevalence of ivermectin (0.07), sulfonylureas (0.15), sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor (0.17), and anticoagulants (1.95) was higher than expected. The pandemic was associated with statistically significant decreases in the incidence of antibacterials (− 1.21), corticosteroids (− 0.60), prednisolone (− 0.64) and anticoagulants (− 0.02), and increases in ivermectin (0.02), aggregated antidiabetic drugs (0.13), and SGLT2 inhibitors (0.06). These trends were positively associated with pandemic and negatively associated with stringency index.Conclusion: Dispensing of most drugs was not significantly associated with pandemic and government’s response. Despite some statistically significant disruptions, these were not necessarily clinically relevant due to small absolute differences observed.Keywords: COVID-19, drug utilization, repurposed drug, stringency inde
A framework for use of wireless sensor networks in forest fire detection and monitoring
Full text linkForest fires are one of the main causes of environmental degradation nowadays. Current surveillance systems for forest fires lack in supporting real-time monitoring of every point of a region at all times and early detection of fire threats. Solutions using wireless sensor networks, on the other hand, can gather sensory data values, such as temperature and humidity, from all points of a field continuously, day and night, and, provide fresh and accurate data to the fire-fighting center quickly. However, sensor networks face serious obstacles like limited energy resources and high vulnerability to harsh environmental conditions, that have to be considered carefully. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive framework for the use of wireless sensor networks for forest fire detection and monitoring. Our framework includes proposals for the wireless sensor network architecture, sensor deployment scheme, and clustering and communication protocols. The aim of the framework is to detect a fire threat as early as possible and yet consider the energy consumption of the sensor nodes and the environmental conditions that may affect the required activity level of the network. We implemented a simulator to validate and evaluate our proposed framework. Through extensive simulation experiments, we show that our framework can provide fast reaction to forest fires while also consuming energy efficiently
Repurposed Drugs and Vaccines for COVID-19 Prevention:Real-world Effectiveness Studies
Full text linkThe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, has led to global public health challenges and government-imposed restrictions. Our research focused on two key aspects: the pandemic's impact on access to healthcare and the effectiveness of prevention pharmacological strategies, such as repurpose drugs (existing medications used to treat other diseases) and vaccination.First, we examined the use of medications (including potential repurposed drugs, antipsychotic drugs, and asthma drugs) in the Netherlands and found that access to community pharmacies remained largely unchanged during the pandemic. Dispensing of most drugs remained stable, with minimal or consistent changes observed, which were similar to pre-pandemic trends. Next, we conducted a rigorous assessment of the effectiveness of pharmacological interventions in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our findings showed that several potential repurposed drugs did not offer significant protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. In contrast, vaccines provided substantial protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, vaccine-induced protection against severe outcomes, such as hospitalization and death from COVID-19, was even more robust and long-lasting. Although vaccine effectiveness against infection naturally declined over time and with the emergence of new variants, such as Omicron, booster shots could significantly restore protection against infection. These results underscore the importance of timely vaccination as the primary defense against the public health threat posed by the ongoing pandemic
Dispensing Patterns of Inhaled Asthma Medication Before and During COVID-19 Among Young Adults in the Netherlands: A Retrospective Inception Cohort Study
Full text linkGuiling Zhou,1 Irene Mommers,1 Catharina CM Schuilinga-Veninga,1 Jens HJ Bos,1 Katrien Oude Rengerink,2 Anna Maria Gerdina Pasmooij,2 Peter GM Mol,2,3 Debbie van Baarle,4 Geertruida H de Bock,5 Job FM van Boven,3,6 Eelko Hak1 1Unit of Pharmaco-Therapy, -Epidemiology and -Economics (PTEE), Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; 2Dutch Medicines Evaluation Board, Utrecht, The Netherlands; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; 4Virology and Immunology Research Group, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; 5Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; 6Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The NetherlandsCorrespondence: Guiling Zhou, Unit of Pharmaco-Therapy, -Epidemiology and -Economics (PTEE), Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, 9713 AV, The Netherlands, Tel +31 503638707, Fax +31 503632772, Email [email protected]: The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on asthma medication trajectories, including changes in medication type or dosage, remains unclear. This study compared dispensing patterns among adults who initiated asthma inhalers before pandemic (cohorts 2014 and 2017) and during pandemic (cohort 2020).Methods: We performed retrospective inception cohort study using University of Groningen IADB.nl community pharmacy dispensing database. Individuals aged 16– 44 years who initiated inhaled asthma treatment in 2014, 2017, or 2020 were followed for 2 years. Treatment steps (1– 5) were based on the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guideline. Primary outcomes included time to treatment step switch (step-up or step-down) and time to first oral prednisolone/prednisone, and were compared between cohorts using Cox regression models.Results: In 2014, 2017 and 2020, 1193, 960 and 730 patients initiated asthma inhalers, respectively. In all cohorts, more than half of the patients initiated treatment at the lowest step. During 2-year follow-up, fewer patients switched their treatment steps in 2020 when compared with 2014 (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 0.86 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.76– 0.99). From 2014 to 2020, the likelihood of treatment stepping-down decreased over time, with a 21% in 2017 (aHR: 0.79 (0.68– 0.92)) and 24% in 2020 (aHR: 0.76 (0.64– 0.90)) compared to 2014, while the likelihood of stepping-up did not change significantly. The risk of taking oral prednisolone/prednisone was also significantly lower in 2020 (aHR: 0.76 (0.61– 0.94)).Conclusion: During the pandemic, fewer asthma patients switched treatment steps and took oral prednisolone/prednisone. Since 2014, fewer individuals stepping down medication, with a decrease of 21% in 2017 and 24% in 2020. Possible drivers include improved adherence, better asthma control, and increased telemedicine use—trends that predate and have been accelerated by the pandemic. Research incorporating clinical data is necessary to confirm these hypotheses.Keywords: asthma, COVID-19, inhaled medication, treatment step, trajectory, GIN
Carbon nanotube and boron nitride nanotube hosted C\u3csub\u3e60\u3c/sub\u3e–V nanopeapods
Full text linkWe investigate electronic and transport properties of a novel form of nanopeapod structure, where the “pod” component is either a carbon nanotube (CNT) or a boron-nitride nanotube (BNNT) while the “pea” component is a chain of C60–V dimers. Compared to the conventional carbon peapod where the “pea” is a chain of C60 fullerenes, marked changes in the electronic structures are found due to the formation of coordination bonds between V and two neighboring C60 molecules. The local spins in the (η6-C60–V)@CNT or (η6-C60–V)@BNNT peapod are coupled via antiferromagnetic (AFM) exchange interaction. In particular, the C60–V chain in BNNT yields a well-defined spin qubit. Density-functional theory calculation suggests that the (η6-C60–V)@CNT peapod is metallic with characteristics of multiple carriers contributed from CNTs, C60, and V. The (η6-C60–V)@BNNT peapod is predicted to be semiconducting with a narrow band gap, and its charge carriers are contributed by the C60–V chain. Evidently, the insertion of a V atom between every two C60 fullerenes can enhance the conductivity of the peapod. Binding H atoms on all the α positions of the pentagons in C60 can further strengthen the V–C60 interaction. Both AFM and FM states of the H-containing peapod are nearly degenerate in energy. The FM state gives rise to a magnetic moment of 3.0 μB per unit cell, three times greater than that of the V–benzene or V–cyclopentadiene multidecker complexes. The binding of H atoms to the C60 however cannot enhance electron transport due to the removal of the π channel of C60. Previous experiments have demonstrated that C60 molecules can enter BNNTs through the open tips of the BNNTs, offering a strategy that the V–C60 dimers may be encapsulated into nanotubes through the open tips of the nanotubes to form M–C60 peapods
Study on the Impact of Delayed Retirement on the Sustainability of the Basic Pension Insurance Fund for Urban Employees in China
No full textWith the aging of China’s population, the problem of pension security has become more and more prominent, and whether delayed retirement can effectively alleviate the pension fund gap and ensure the sustainability of the pension fund has become the focus of social concern. This study predicts the income and expenditure of urban workers’ basic pension insurance fund from 2021 to 2050 by constructing an actuarial model of pension insurance fund income and expenditure, and simulates the effect of delayed retirement policy. The prediction results show that under the existing system, the basic pension insurance fund for urban workers will have a shortfall for the first time in 2027, and the shortfall will expand year by year. Compared with the non-implementation of delayed retirement policy, the simulation of the implementation of a delayed retirement program delayed the emergence of the fund gap until 2029, and the forecast period of the pension fund gap significantly narrowed, indicating that delayed retirement policy has a certain positive impact on alleviating the pressure of pension payments, but delayed retirement cannot completely eliminate the pension fund gap. In view of this, this paper suggests that a progressive and flexible delayed retirement policy should be introduced as soon as possible to better adapt to the needs of different groups. At the same time, differentiated policies should be formulated for different groups of people and a pension incentive mechanism for delayed retirement should be set up to improve public acceptance of delayed retirement policy. In addition, delayed retirement policy should be combined with other measures, such as lowering the corporate contribution rate and enhancing the value-added capacity of the pension fund, so as to ensure the sustainability of the pension fund
Study on the Impact of China’s Pension Insurance System on the Savings Rate of Urban Residents Based on the Preventive Saving Perspective
No full textIn the context of population aging, the study of the impact of the pension insurance system on the savings behavior of urban residents can help reduce preventive savings, increase current consumption, and promote the healthy development of the economy. This study constructs a two-period OLG model of the pension insurance system based on the preventive saving perspective using urban panel data of 31 provinces from 2002 to 2021 and conducts empirical analysis through the systematic generalized method of moments. The results show that the pension insurance participation rate was positively correlated with the savings rate, while the pension replacement rate was negatively correlated with the savings rate, and this effect varied significantly across income levels and different levels of aging. Increased participation in high-income areas promoted savings, while increased pension replacement rates in low-income areas reduced savings. The positive correlation between participation rates and savings rates was more pronounced in regions with higher levels of aging, while the opposite was true in regions with lower levels of aging. In addition, the negative correlation between pension replacement ratios and savings rates was particularly pronounced in high-aging regions
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