The incidence of AP based on a highly sensitive method of case identification was higher than previously reported. A clear relationship was found between socioeconomic deprivation and incidence of AP, which was largely explained by a higher incidence of alcoholic aetiology.

No abstract

Importance: This study assessed the longitudinal impact of new COVID-19 cases when a mask ordinance was implemented in 2 of a 5-county Midwestern U.S. metropolitan region over a 3-month period of time. Reduction in case growth was significant and reduced infection inequities by race and population density. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the impact that a mandatory mask wearing requirement had on the rate of COVID-19 infections by comparing counties with a mandatory policy with those neighboring counties without a mandatory masking policy. Design: This was a quasi-experimental longitudinal study conducted over the period of June 12-September 25, 2020. Setting: This study was a population-based study. Data were abstracted from local health department reports of COVID-19 cases. Participants: Raw cases reported to the county health departments and abstracted for this study; census-level data were synthesized to address county-level population, income and race. Intervention(s) (for clinical trials) or Exposure(s) (for observational studies): The essential features of this intervention was an instituted mask mandate that occurred in St. Louis City and St. Louis County over a 12 week period. Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s): The primary study outcome measurement was daily COVID-19 infection growth rate. The mask mandate was hypothesized to lower daily infection growth rate. Results: Over the 15-week period, the average daily percent growth of reported COVID-19 cases across all five counties was 1.81% (sd 1.62%). The average daily percent growth in incident COVID-19 cases was similar between M+ and M- counties in the 3 weeks prior to implementation of mandatory mask policies (0.90% [sd 0.68] vs. 1.27% [sd 1.23%], respectively, p=0.269). Crude modeling with a difference-in-difference indicator showed that after 3 weeks of mask mandate implementation, M+ counties had a daily percent COVID-19 growth rate that was 1.32 times lower, or a 32% decrease. At 12 weeks post-mask policy implementation, the average daily COVID-19 case growth among M- was 2.42% (sd 1.92), and was significantly higher than the average daily COVID case growth among M+ counties (1.36% (sd 0.96%)) (p<0.001). A significant negative association was identified among counties between percent growth of COVID-19 cases and percent racial minorities per county (p<0.001), as well as population density (p<0.001). Conclusions and Relevance: These data demonstrate that county-level mask mandates were associated with significantly lower incident COVID-19 case growth over time, compared to neighboring counties that did not implement a mask mandate. The results highlight the swiftness of how a mask ordinance can impact the trajectory of infection rate growth. Another notable finding was that following implementation of mask mandates, the disparity of infection rate by race and population density was no longer significant, suggesting that regional-level policies can not only slow the spread of COVID-19, but simultaneously create more equal environment.

No abstract

In the ten years between 1965 and 1974,2227 patients with rhesus isoimmunization were seen at the Newcastle centre. The antibody titre and previous history were the basis on which patients were selected for amniocentesis and determination of the amniotic fluid bilirubin ratio. There were 288 patients with a bilirubin ratio which was greater than 1 1 ; of these 206 were treated by intrauterine transfusion (IUT). Evidence for the belief that the treated and untreated groups were similar is presented. The overall survival rates were 44 per cent for cases treated by intrauterine transfusion and 50 per cent for those not treated in this way. The mortality directly attributable to the procedure was at least 20 per cent and did not take into account errors of selection nor accidents associated with amniocentesis.