Publications by authors named "Stephen C Lim"
Article Synopsis
- * A case-control study involving 3,647 healthcare personnel showed that bivalent vaccine effectiveness (VE) was about 34.1%, with the highest effectiveness (54.8%) observed shortly after administration, declining as time passed.
- * The study highlights that while bivalent doses initially provide substantial protection against COVID-19, their effectiveness significantly wanes after two months, suggesting the need for ongoing monitoring and potential updates to vaccination strategies.
Article Synopsis
- Protection against COVID-19 is crucial for healthcare workers, especially as vaccine effectiveness has decreased with the rise of the Omicron variant.
- A study evaluated the effectiveness of a monovalent mRNA booster dose from October 2021 to June 2022, finding that its effectiveness dropped significantly from 86% during Delta prevalence to 65% during Omicron prevalence.
- The results indicated that while a booster dose provides strong protection initially, its effectiveness wanes over time, dropping to 32% at least 120 days after vaccination, highlighting the importance of staying current with COVID-19 vaccinations.
Importance: It is unknown whether ivermectin, with a maximum targeted dose of 600 μg/kg, shortens symptom duration or prevents hospitalization among outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19.
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of ivermectin at a maximum targeted dose of 600 μg/kg daily for 6 days, compared with placebo, for the treatment of early mild to moderate COVID-19.
Design, Setting, And Participants: The ongoing Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines 6 (ACTIV-6) platform randomized clinical trial was designed to evaluate repurposed therapies among outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19.
Background: Whether ivermectin, with a maximum targeted dose of 600 μg/kg, shortens symptom duration or prevents hospitalization among outpatients with mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains unknown. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of ivermectin, dosed at 600 μg/kg, daily for 6 days compared with placebo for the treatment of early mild to moderate COVID-19.
Methods: ACTIV-6, an ongoing, decentralized, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, platform trial, was designed to evaluate repurposed therapies in outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19.
Study Objective: Facemask use is associated with reduced transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Most surveys assessing perceptions and practices of mask use miss the most vulnerable racial, ethnic, and socio-economic populations. These same populations have suffered disproportionate impacts from the pandemic.
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- The study examined the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) against COVID-19 among U.S. health care personnel who were prioritized for early vaccination.
- It utilized a test-negative case-control design, comparing vaccinated individuals with positive SARS-CoV-2 tests (cases) to those with negative tests (controls) while adjusting for various demographics and health factors.
- Results showed that partial vaccination had effectiveness rates of 77.6% for Pfizer and 88.9% for Moderna, while complete vaccination led to 88.8% and 96.3% effectiveness, respectively, with some variations noted in specific demographic subgroups and over time.
Study Objective: Emergency departments (EDs) often serve vulnerable populations who may lack primary care and have suffered disproportionate COVID-19 pandemic effects. Comparing patients having and lacking a regular source of medical care and other ED patient characteristics, we assessed COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, reasons for not wanting the vaccine, perceived access to vaccine sites, and willingness to get the vaccine as part of ED care.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey conducted from December 10, 2020, to March 7, 2021, at 15 safety net US EDs.
Interim Estimates of Vaccine Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines Among Health Care Personnel - 33 U.S. Sites, January-March 2021.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep
May 2021
Article Synopsis
- Health care personnel (HCP) were prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination to protect them from SARS-CoV-2 exposure and ensure ongoing health services during the pandemic.
- Early distributions of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines allowed for real-world effectiveness assessments among HCP at 33 U.S. sites.
- Interim analyses showed a vaccine effectiveness of 82% after one dose and 94% after two doses, confirming their strong protection against symptomatic illness comparable to clinical trial results.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess the rates of diagnosed and undiagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infections among emergency department healthcare workers in the US before July 2020.
- A cross-sectional analysis involved testing volunteer healthcare personnel for past or current COVID-19 infections through serology and PCR testing.
- Results indicated that 4.6% of ED staff were infected with SARS-CoV-2, with nearly 38% not previously diagnosed, and many were unaware they had the virus despite showing symptoms.
Objectives: Accurate and reliable criteria to rapidly estimate the probability of infection with the novel coronavirus-2 that causes the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) and associated disease (COVID-19) remain an urgent unmet need, especially in emergency care. The objective was to derive and validate a clinical prediction score for SARS-CoV-2 infection that uses simple criteria widely available at the point of care.
Methods: Data came from the registry data from the national REgistry of suspected COVID-19 in EmeRgency care (RECOVER network) comprising 116 hospitals from 25 states in the US.
Background: In Louisiana, deaths related to COVID-19 have disproportionately occurred in Black persons. Granular data are needed to better understand inequities and develop prevention strategies to mitigate further impact on Black communities.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients admitted to an urban safety net hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, with reactive SARS-CoV-2 testing from March 9 to 31, 2020.
In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a sublingual fentanyl wafer formulation.
Drug Des Devel Ther
June 2013
Background: The objective of this study was to prepare a novel fentanyl wafer formulation by a freeze-drying method, and to evaluate its in vitro and in vivo release characteristics, including its bioavailability via the sublingual route.
Methods: The wafer formulation was prepared by freeze-drying an aqueous dispersion of fentanyl containing sodium carboxymethylcellulose and amylogum as matrix formers. Uniformity of weight, friability, and dissolution testing of the fentanyl wafer was achieved using standard methods, and the residual moisture content was measured.
Objective: To assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its association with sociodemographic, clinical and lifestyle variables among Australian patients with a variety of psychiatric disorders.
Design And Setting: Cross-sectional study of patients attending a public mental health service in Western Australia between July 2005 and September 2006.
Participants: Patients who were aged 18-65 years; diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms, drug-induced psychosis or borderline personality disorder; and currently taking at least one antipsychotic drug for a minimum of 2 weeks.