(2023-04-22). [Editorial] Routine immunisations: reversing the decline. thelancet.com Over the past 3 years, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the power and potential of vaccination in real time. But it has also disrupted health services and caused supply chain challenges, resulting in stagnation and backsliding of routine vaccinations. For example, global coverage of the third dose of the diphtheria—tetanus—pertussis vaccine fell from 86% in 2019 to 81% in 2021—the lowest level since 2008. Many other routine vaccinations showed similar reductions. 25 million children missed out on life-saving measles, diphtheria, and tetanus vaccines in 2021.
(2023-04-22). [Comment] State-to-state differences in US COVID-19 outcomes: searching for explanations. thelancet.com In the USA, there has been substantial variation in COVID-19 outcomes across states. In The Lancet, Thomas J Bollyky and colleagues1 explore the reasons for this variation. The authors used correlations and multiple regression to assess the independent contributions of socioeconomic status, income inequality, race, behavioural responses, policy mandates, and support for political candidates to SARS-CoV-2 infection rates, COVID-19 deaths, and educational and employment outcomes. Their analysis showed that wide variations in prepandemic population characteristics between states were strongly associated with COVID-1…
(2023-04-22). [Comment] Even more benefit with endovascular treatment for patients with acute ischaemic stroke: MR CLEAN-LATE. thelancet.com Since 2015 endovascular treatment has been an established treatment for intracranial large artery occlusion up to 6 h after symptom onset or when the patient was last known well.1 The effect of endovascular treatment within 6 h is strong; however, the timepoint when recanalisation therapy becomes ineffective varies between individuals, and some patients might benefit after 6 h. The DEFUSE-3 and DAWN trials tested endovascular treatment up to 16 h or 24 h after symptom onset in patients selected using clinical criteria and perfusion imaging (to identify ischaemic core and tissue-at-risk volumes within strict limit…
(2023-04-22). [Comment] Offline: The UK COVID-19 Inquiry—be patient, but don't wait. thelancet.com Finally, and late, I submitted my witness statement to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry. My reflections are no more or less valid than anyone else's. But this statement was not a voluntary matter. In January, I received a letter asking me to submit my views on the UK's planning, preparedness, and resilience for pandemics between June 11, 2009, and Jan 21, 2020. I did not think this period was within my area of direct experience. The first paper The Lancet published on COVID-19 was on Jan 24, 2020. There are certainly issues I would like to raise about the pandemic after that date.
(2023-04-22). [World Report] Drug developers caution against US mifepristone ban. thelancet.com A lawsuit against the FDA embroils pharmaceutical companies in debates over access to abortion. Susan Jaffe reports from Washington, DC.
(2023-04-22). [World Report] Uganda's "anti-homosexuality" bill already affecting care. thelancet.com Activists and health-care providers are already seeing the chilling effects of Uganda's proposals to further criminalise homosexuality. Sara Jerving reports.
(2023-04-22). [Perspectives] Artesunate versus quinine: the controlled trials watershed. thelancet.com Earlier this century, two inter-related randomised controlled trials—the first in southeast Asia and a second in Africa—provided an incontrovertible breakthrough in the treatment of severe falciparum malaria. The trials, of artesunate versus quinine, proved beyond doubt for the first time that quinine, which had long been the mainstay of treatment for severe malaria, was no longer the most effective drug available, and thus catalysed a watershed in clinical practice and policy making. Like almost all decisive moments, this advance had a backstory that stretched several decades.
(2023-04-22). [Perspectives] Visual representation, medicine, and imperialism. thelancet.com In 1945, just as World War 2 had ended, anti-fascist Bengali writer Premendra Mitra published the first short story of what was to become his science fiction series, Ghana da. Set in 1939, the story, titled Mosha, literally mosquito in Bengali, narrates how the protagonist Ghanashyam Das, alias Ghana da, saved humanity from the scourge of a lethal mosquito designed by a Japanese entomologist named Nishimara, who altered the salivary glands of the mosquito, rendering it more poisonous than a snake.
(2023-04-22). [Obituary] Barbara C Staggers. thelancet.com Paediatrician who championed adolescent health. Born on March 6, 1954, in New York, NY, USA, she died in Castro Valley, CA, USA, on Feb 19, 2023, aged 68 years.
(2023-04-22). [Correspondence] Fluid retention and heart failure in the PRECISION trial. thelancet.com We congratulate Markus P Schlaich and colleagues on the PRECISION trial showing that aprocitentan, an endothelin receptor antagonist, lowered blood pressure more than placebo in patients with resistant hypertension.1 However, we urge caution in accepting the authors' conclusion that aprocitentan was well tolerated.
(2023-04-22). [Correspondence] Fluid retention and heart failure in the PRECISION trial — Authors' reply. thelancet.com We thank Donald E Kohan and Hiddo J L Heerspink for their interest in the PRECISION study and their comments regarding the potential for fluid retention and heart failure associated with endothelin receptor antagonists. Indeed, as described in publications from the past few years,1,2 there was a dose-dependent effect of aprocitentan on oedema and fluid retention occurring in 9 ∑1% and 18 ∑4% of patients treated with 12 ∑5 mg or 25 mg of aprocitentan per day, respectively (2 ∑1% on placebo). As expected, this was accompanied by reduced haemoglobin concentration and increased plasma volume.
(2023-04-22). [Correspondence] Key questions regarding the SYMPLICITY HTN-3 trial. thelancet.com In their Article, Deepak L Bhatt and colleagues1 report results from the SYMPLICITY HTN-3 (Renal Denervation in Patients With Uncontrolled Hypertension) trial, showing that blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension undergoing renal denervation was lower at 36 months than in patients in the initial sham control group, with adjusted treatment differences of —22 ∑1 mm Hg for office systolic blood pressure and —16 ∑5 mm Hg for 24-h ambulatory systolic blood pressure. These findings are in contrast to those observed at 6 months, when differences in blood pressure between the two groups…
(2023-04-22). [Correspondence] Key questions regarding the SYMPLICITY HTN-3 trial — Authors' reply. thelancet.com In response to our Article,1 Sverre E Kjeldsen and colleagues raise several points that require clarification. The subgroup of patients in the sham control group who did not cross over either did not meet minimal blood pressure requirements or elected not to cross over. These patients had a subsequent rise in systolic blood pressure after unblinding, as shown in the appendix of our Article (p 14).1 Although poor long-term medication adherence remains a plausible explanation for poorly controlled blood pressure in this group, medical inertia is less likely to have occurred in our study because patients had already…
(2023-04-22). [Correspondence] Improving access to global cancer services. thelancet.com A recent Editorial1 highlights the complexity of cancer care, which is burdened by restricted access to expensive and specialist treatment. In many low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), typical patient journeys are complicated, delaying access to diagnostics for 2—3 months, and serve as a prominent bottleneck to timely treatment.2 Health-care networks in LMICs are not equipped to handle complexity of care; as such, it is crucial to highlight experiences of high-quality models in LMICs as opposed to extrapolating solutions from high-income countries.
(2023-04-22). [Correspondence] Decentralised elements in clinical trials: recommendations from the European Medicines Regulatory Network. thelancet.com Clinical trials of investigational medicinal products (IMPs) increasingly use procedures conducted outside the traditional clinical trial site—a concept referred to as decentralisation. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance and usefulness of decentralisation when visits to hospitals and other health institutions were restricted. In addition, interested parties, such as from the pharmaceutical industry, issued general plans to introduce more decentralised elements in clinical trials (eg, the Association of Clinical Research Organizations' decentralised trials toolkit1 and Trials at Home).
(2023-04-22). [Correspondence] Rare diseases: democratising genetic testing in LMICs. thelancet.com Although infections are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, rare diseases are an unexplored burden in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite the similar prevalence of autosomal dominant and X-linked conditions in LMICs and in high-income countries, the prevalence of recessive monogenic disorders is higher in LMICs because, in these countries, consanguineous marriages in minority ethnic groups are more frequent.1…
(2023-04-22). [Correspondence] Lessons learned from COVID-19 to stop future pandemics. thelancet.com The pharmaceutical industry delivered billions of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines at speed but, as highlighted by Els Torreele and colleagues,1 these vaccines did not reach lower-income countries quickly enough. Science delivered, but the equity challenge did not. To acknowledge this, we supported calls for greater sharing of vaccines.2…
(2023-04-22). [Department of Error] Department of Error. thelancet.com Komamura K. Japanese medical workers' sacrifice for universal health coverage. Lancet 2023; 401: 1073—In this Correspondence the second sentence of the second paragraph should read "after April 1, 2024, it will be illegal for clinicians to work more than 960 h of overtime per year (and no more than 100 h of overtime per month)". This correction has been made to the online version as of April 20, 2023.
(2023-04-21). Alberto Fernández anuncia que no se presentará a la reelección. telesurtv.net El mandatario señaló en un mensaje en redes sociales que el próximo 10 de diciembre "entregaré la banda presidencial".
(2023-04-21). Petro pide a Biden eliminar medidas coercitivas a Venezuela. telesurtv.net Las medidas contra Venezuela se endurecieron bajo el Gobierno de Donald Trump (2017-2021) con restricciones económicas contra varios funcionarios venezolanos.
(2023-04-21). Declarará en Brasil exministro aparecido en video golpista. telesurtv.net El juez del Supremo instó al Gobierno a que informe acerca de los interrogatorios a los implicados del 8 de enero.
(2023-04-21). Coalición opositora paraguaya anuncia gabinete ante elecciones. telesurtv.net La propuesta al Ejecutivo por la coalición opositora destacó que "aquí vamos a estar todos los paraguayos".
(2023-04-21). Presentan nuevo referéndum para votar por estatus de Puerto Rico. telesurtv.net En noviembre del 2023 el pueblo de Puerto Rico decidirá el estatus de su país con respecto a Estado Unidos.
(2023-04-21). Musulmanes llaman a la paz durante fiesta del Aíd al Fitr. telesurtv.net El rey de Arabia Saudí, bin Abdulaziz, realizó su oración en el Palacio Al Salam, ubicada en la ciudad costera de Yeda.
(2023-04-21). Renuncia por acoso secretario de Justicia del Reino Unido. telesurtv.net Los empleados testificaron que Dominic Raab los intimidaba. El premier británico, Rishi Sunak, aceptó su renuncia.
(2023-04-21). Presidente de Brasil llega a Portugal en visita oficial. telesurtv.net Tras visitar los principales socios comerciales del gigante suramericano (China, Estados Unidos y Argentina), Lula vuelve la atención al viejo continente.
(2023-04-21). Cinco obras legadas por Mark Twain al mundo. telesurtv.net Además de sus libros, verdaderos clásicos de la literatura universal, Twain también tuvo una exitosa carrera como comediante.
(2023-04-21). Chile anuncia política de explotación del mineral de Litio. telesurtv.net El mandatario habló de las grandes reservas del país del llamado "oro blanco" como una oportunidad de crecimiento económico.
(2023-04-21). OMS eleva a 413 la cifra de muertos por enfrentamientos en Sudán. telesurtv.net La ONU demandó en el jueves una tregua en Sudán durante la celebración del Aíd al Fitr, que pone fin al mes sagrado de ramadán.
(2023-04-21). Gobierno haitiano y la ONU firman acuerdo de cooperación. telesurtv.net El convenio ofrece un enfoque global e integral, centrado en promover a largo plazo la gobernabilidad, la seguridad, el Estado de Derecho.
(2023-04-21). Denuncian intentos de desestabilización de oposición argentina. telesurtv.net Los grupos opositores al presidente Alberto Fernández tratan de generar una crisis económica y una megadevaluación del peso argentino.
(2023-04-21). Conoce cinco innovaciones para lograr un mundo sostenible. telesurtv.net El significado de la palabra creatividad puede abarcar desde la expresión artística hasta la resolución de problemas en un contexto socioeconómico.
(2023-04-21). Ataque israelí deja dos heridos en el sur de Cisjordania. telesurtv.net El alcalde de Beita, denunció que los soldados israelíes irrumpieron en un barrio de la urbe, provocando enfrentamientos con los locales.
(2023-04-21). Venezuela se clasifica al Mundial de fútbol sub'17. telesurtv.net Con la clasificación alcanzada el jueves al Mundial sub 17, la selección venezolana igualó la gesta conseguida en 2013.
(2023-04-21). Detienen a 100 personas en operativo de seguridad en Costa Rica. telesurtv.net El Ministerio de Seguridad Pública de Costa Rica indicó que 87 de los arrestados son sospechosos de cometer algún tipo de delito.
(2023-04-21). Acnur alerta sobre situación migratoria en la frontera peruana. telesurtv.net La Acnur y la OIM denunciaron que se han registrado casos de abusos sexuales, aumentando el riesgo de las niñas, mujeres y comunidad LGTBI+.
(2023-04-21). Eclipse total solar oscurece el noreste de Australia. telesurtv.net Partes de Australia, Indonesia y Timor Oriental se vieron inmersos en la oscuridad en pleno día por el eclipse total.
(2023-04-21). Registran 12.591 nuevos casos de Covid-19 en India. telesurtv.net La cartera sanitaria informó que el total de enfermos activos ascendió a 65.286 casos.
(2023-04-21). Inicia edición 45 del Festival Internacional de Cine de Moscú. telesurtv.net Se exhibirán estrenos de autores rusos y películas extranjeras que ya han sido premiadas en certámenes internacionales.
(2023-04-21). Ratifican rechazo a la reforma de pensiones en Ganges, Francia. telesurtv.net Cientos de personas se manifestaron contra la reforma de las pensiones en la pequeña localidad francesa del sur…
(2023-04-21). Continúan protestas contra la reforma judicial en Israel. telesurtv.net La ley pretende otorgar la facultad al Gobierno de seleccionar los jueces que integrarán la Corte Suprema.
(2023-04-21). Reportan dos casos importados de malaria en Cartago, Costa Rica. telesurtv.net Se trata de dos pacientes femeninas, a quienes se les realiza seguimiento.
(2023-04-21). OPS insta a intensificar campañas de vacunación en la región. telesurtv.net La OPS alertó que los programas nacionales de inmunización sufrieron graves retrocesos en la última década.
