OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 vaccines have a favorable safety profile in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) such as idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs); however, hesitancy continues to persist among these patients. Therefore, we studied the prevalence, predictors and reasons for hesitancy in patients with IIMs, other AIRDs, non-rheumatic autoimmune diseases (nrAIDs) and healthy controls (HCs), using data from the two international COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) e-surveys.

METHODS: The first and second COVAD patient self-reported e-surveys were circulated from March to December 2021, and February to June 2022 (ongoing). We collected data on demographics, comorbidities, COVID-19 infection and vaccination history, reasons for hesitancy, and patient reported outcomes. Predictors of hesitancy were analysed using regression models in different groups.

RESULTS: We analysed data from 18 882 (COVAD-1) and 7666 (COVAD-2) respondents. Reassuringly, hesitancy decreased from 2021 (16.5%) to 2022 (5.1%) (OR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.24, 0.30, P < 0.001). However, concerns/fear over long-term safety had increased (OR: 3.6; 95% CI: 2.9, 4.6, P < 0.01). We noted with concern greater skepticism over vaccine science among patients with IIMs than AIRDs (OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.08, 3.2, P = 0.023) and HCs (OR: 4; 95% CI: 1.9, 8.1, P < 0.001), as well as more long-term safety concerns/fear (IIMs vs AIRDs - OR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2, 2.9, P = 0.001; IIMs vs HCs - OR: 5.4 95% CI: 3, 9.6, P < 0.001). Caucasians [OR 4.2 (1.7-10.3)] were likely to be more hesitant, while those with better PROMIS physical health score were less hesitant [OR 0.9 (0.8-0.97)].

CONCLUSION: Vaccine hesitancy has decreased from 2021 to 2022, long-term safety concerns remain among patients with IIMs, particularly in Caucasians and those with poor physical function.

Vaccines are useful tools to control influenza A virus infection in poultry, but they need to be periodically reformulated to guarantee appropriate protection from infection and to limit viral replication and circulation, which could favour the emergence of new variants. In this study, a deep sequencing approach was used to characterize and follow the evolution of the hemagglutinin of the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viral population in infected animals vaccinated with two vaccines conferring different protection levels. Results from this preliminary investigation suggested that the evolution of the viral population, as well as the abundance and heterogeneity of minority variants could be influenced by the immune pressure conferred by vaccination.

Tumor associated vacuolar H+-ATPases (V-ATPases) are multi-subunit proton pumps that acidify tumor microenvironment, thereby promoting tumor invasion. Subunit 'a' of its V0 domain is the major pH sensing unit that additionally controls sub-cellular targeting of V-ATPase and exists in four different isoforms. Our study reports an elevated expression of the V-ATPase-V0a2 isoform in ovarian cancer(OVCA) tissues and cell lines(A2780, SKOV-3 and TOV-112D). Among all V0'a' isoforms, V0a2 exhibited abundant expression on OVCA cell surface while normal ovarian epithelia did not. Sub-cellular distribution of V-ATPase-V0a2 confirmed its localization on plasma-membrane, where it was also co-associated with cortactin, an F-actin stabilizing protein at leading edges of cancer cells. Additionally, V0a2 was also localized in early and late endosomal compartments that are sites for modulations of several signaling pathways in cancer. Targeted inhibition of V-ATPase-V0a2 suppressed matrix metalloproteinase activity(MMP-9 & MMP-2) in OVCA cells. In conclusion, V-ATPase-V0a2 isoform is abundantly expressed on ovarian tumor cell surface in association with invasion assembly related proteins and plays critical role in tumor invasion by modulating the activity of matrix-degrading proteases. This study highlights for the first time, the importance of V-ATPase-V0a2 isoform as a distinct biomarker and possible therapeutic target for treatment of ovarian carcinoma.

Leakage in sewerage system can cause groundwater and soil contamination in urban areas, especially in area with a high groundwater table. This is a serious problem in small agricultural villages which rely on ground water as a source for irrigation and drinking purposes. In the developed countries, the recent trend in areas with low population densities is using vacuum sewerage system. Vacuum system could be environmentally safer than conventional gravity system, protecting public health, preventing exfiltration to the ground water, very easily applied in a relatively short time, and can cope with a faster expansion of the urbanized areas. Detailed hydraulic design were held for both gravity sewer and vacuum sewer systems in 28 Egyptian agricultural villages as a case study for developing regions. Different conditions, such as population, areas, and terrain slopes were evaluated. Cost comparisons based on statistical analysis were done to assess the feasibility of using vacuum sewerage in developing regions. Based on this study, from financial point of view, vacuum sewerage system was a good competitor to conventional systems in flat areas and areas with high groundwater table. From the environmental point of view, it is recommended to construct the vacuum sewerage system in such agricultural villages. The local market supplying of the construction equipment especially collection chambers will greatly affect the investment cost. Capacity building and social mobilization will also play a great role in sustainability of this system.

Background: Obesity is a medical condition that may adversely affect wellbeing and leading to increased incidence of
many health problems. Abdominal obesity tends to be associated with weight gain and obesity and it is significantly
connected with different disorders like coronary heart disease and type II diabetes mellitus.This study was conducted
to investigate the efficacy of vacuum therapy as compared to abdominal exercises on abdominal obesity in overweight
and obese women.
Methods: Thirtyoverweight and obese women participated in this study with body mass index > 25 kg/m2andwaist
circumference ≥ 85 cm. Their ages ranged from 28 - 40 years old.The subjects were excluded if they have diabetes, abdominal
infection diseases or any physical limitation restricting exercise ability. They were randomly allocated into two
equal groups; group I and group II. Group I received vacuum therapy sessions (by the use of LPG device) in addition
to aerobic exercise training. Group II received abdominal exercises in addition to the same aerobic exercisesgiven to
group I. This study was extended for successive 8 weeks (3 sessions/ week). All subjects were assessed for thickness of
the abdominal skin fold, waist circumference and body mass index.
Results: The results of this study showeda significant difference between group I and group II post-interventionas regarding
to the mean values of waist circumference and abdominal skin fold thickness (p<0.05).
Conclusion: It can be concluded that aerobic exercises combined with vacuum therapy (forthree sessions/week for
successive 8 weeks) have a positive effect on women with abdominal obesity in terms of reducing waist circumference
and abdominal skin fold thickness.
Keywords: Vacuum therapy, Abdominal Exercises, Aerobic Exercises, Abdominal Obesity, Women, Obesity.