Longitudinal circadian rhythms in reaction time (RT) to light and

Longitudinal circadian rhythms in reaction time (RT) to light and other signals were documented in two studies,

to test the hypothesis that the prominent rhythm τ varies between the DH and the NDH when performing tasks of different complexity. These studies were carried in close cooperation between workers71 at Tel Aviv University and a group investigators72 at the Fondation Adolphe de Rothschild Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical in Paris. The French study72 assessed performance of easy single reaction time (SRT) tests involving a series of 32 yellow light signals following simple and nonvarying instructions; it also assessed the performance of a complex and difficult task, a choice reaction time (CRT) test, involving a series of 96 yellow, red, or green signals Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical following different instructions from test to test, including which hand to use. The Israeli study71 explored DH and NDH RTs of men with an aviation background who were LBH589 expert in the use of the pilot evaluation system, a flight simulator designed as a modern cockpit

with “hands on throttle and stick” instrumentation to test performance under 7 scenarios of varying levels of complexity, from easy to very difficult. Despite differences Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical in methods, subjects, and data gathering, the two studies yielded similar results. When the task is easy (ie, SRT), the prominent period RT rhythm has τ=24 h for both DH and NDH. When the task is complex and tricky (ie, CRT), the DH maintains a prominent τ=24 h in performance, while the NDH shows a prominent rhythm with τ 24 h, eg, τ=8 h, 6 Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical h, or 12 h. These findings suggest that: Biological clocks are present in right and left hemispheres of the human cortices. Functional differences in prominent performance rhythm are task-load-related, and the NDH side is more sensitive than the DH. The aim of another study73 was to assess the influence of age and gender on the difference in τ for RT of the DH and NDH, in comparison to the grip strength rhythm. Healthy subjects of both genders were involved (9 adolescents [10 to 16 years old] and

15 adults [18 to 67 years old]). They were Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical active between 8 am ±1 h and 11 pm ±1 h; wrist actigraphs were used to assess the activity/rest rhythm, as well as sleep logs. Data were gathered longitudinally at home Endonuclease and work four to seven times daily for 11 to 20 days. In almost all cases, a 24-h sleep/wake rhythm was detected. For the SRT in adults, a prominentτ=24 h was documented for both DH and NDH, whereas for the CRT a prominent τ=24 h was detected for DH, but τ<24 h for the NDH. This phenomenon was not genderrelated, but was age-related since it was seldom observed in adolescent subjects. Hand-side differences in grip strength rhythms in the same individuals were detected: τ was ultradian rather than circadian in adolescent subjects, while τ frequently differed from that of the rhythm in CRT in mature subjects.

1 This study then showed that the met allele altered the intracel

1 This study then showed that the met allele altered the intracellular trafficking and release of BDNF. In cultured rodent hippocampal neurons, the val form of the preprotein was packaged into secretory vesicles and released from dendrites. In contrast, the met allele was not well packaged into vesicles, but instead formed clumps around the nucleus. Stimulated release in met-containing neurons was markedly reduced. These experiments suggested

that the met allele exerts its deleterious effects on episodic Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical memory, because it is not released properly in the hippocampus during formation of episodic memories. The effects of the val66met polymorphism on episodic memory scores were weak and by themselves initially not convincing. However, results from additional imaging studies offered a remarkable degree of convergent evidence. Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical First, magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to assay N-acetylaspartate (NAA), an intraneuronal metabolite closely correlated with tissue glutamate levels. Reduced NAA levels

have been reported in many neuropsychiatrie disorders, including schizophrenia. NAA is an indirect measure of synaptic abundance and/or glutamate neurotransmission. In a cohort of 300 subjects, those with a met allele had reduced NAA Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical compared with val/val subjects, consistent with the memory findings.1 This suggests that deficient impulse-dependent BDNF secretion might produce a long-lasting reduction in dendritic or neuronal density. Second, fMRI was used to assay

hippocampal BOLD (blood oxygenation level-dependent) signals during an episodic memory task. Fourteen val/val subjects were compared with 14 subjects Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical with a met allele (val/met and met/met groups were combined because the latter are rare).2 Consistent with the cognitive and NAA findings, the met allele group showed Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical reduced hippocampal activation during encoding and retrieval (Figure 1). Greater hippocampal activation had previously been shown to correlate with better memory. Thus, the val allele’s ability to be secreted by dendrites appeared to produce downstream effects on hippocampal blood flow during encoding of memories and this was detectable in sample of only 28 subjects. Figure 1 Effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) val66met Ketanserin on hippocampal activation during an encoding task. Statistical maps showing where val/val subjects have greater activation compared with subjects with 1 or 2 met alleles during an incidental … Similar effects were seen in two other imaging studies. A second fMRI study used a working memory task where hippocampal deactivation is typically correlated with superior performance. In two separate cohorts of 13 and 17 subjects, respectively, subjects with a met allele demonstrated the deleterious pattern of failure to find more deactivate hippocampus.

97 Furthermore, in

shift workers, dyschronism disappears

97 Palbociclib Furthermore, in

shift workers, dyschronism disappears (both the symptoms and the desynchronization) when the subject returns to regular lifestyle, and medications are ineffective in the treatment of intolerance to shift work. We can thus conclude that there is a strong link between changes in rhythm τ values and clinical symptoms in dyschronism, whereas such a link is not present or else very weak in depressive states and can be evidenced in only a fraction of cases. Consequently, depression and dyschronism presumably represent two different nosological entities. Putative mechanisms involved in allochronism and dyschronism In a discussion on depression, Kripke95, 98 raised the idea that it is the individual sensitivity Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical to desynchronization, rather than the desynchronization itself, that tips the scale between the occurrence and nonoccurrence

of clinical symptoms. This idea can be extended to interindividual differences in the occurrence of symptoms resulting from intolerance to jet lag, shift work, and disease-related chronic deprivation of night sleep. Temporal organization variability has been known for many years. Its association with clinical and pathological conditions has also been documented. However, there has been no attempt to array the temporal organization variants and, consequently, no experimental Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical data are available with regard to the mechanisms that underlie this Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical variability. We will offer here some hypotheses and models for possible putative mechanisms involved in allochronism (temporal organization variants without clinical symptoms) and dyschronism (temporal organization variants with clinical symptoms). Hypothesis A rather large variety of environmental factors Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical serve as signals that may affect the

human temporal organization. Let us assume that two groups, A and B, are exposed to any of these signals. In group A, no changes in the time structure are detected (nonreactors) , while in group B, changes are detected (reactors). Group B can then divided to two subgroups: group Bl , in whom no clinical symptoms or complaints are encountered; and group B2, in whom clinical symptoms and complaints are found. According to our terminology, group B1 should be categorized as having allochronism and group B2 dyschronism. The presence of interindividual variability (with genderrelated differences) and variability in the propensity of human subjects to unless exhibit a change (even temporary, ie, reversible),48, 64 suggests the involvement of genetic factors. However, while the mere presence of variability can be explained by simple models of genetic polymorphism, more complicated control mechanisms are needed to explain why some people are more prone to change their temporal organization than others, even if natural zeitgebers are present, and suggest how these changes can be reversed.

Other areas under investigation for genetic studies include the

Other areas under investigation for genetic studies include the serotononergic and dopaminergic systems. Van Grootheest et al34 EGFR inhibitor studied a large number of twin pairs at age 12, 14, and 16; only at age 14 and 16 were the prevalence higher in girls; genetic factors contributed at all age groups to obsessive-compulsive symptom liability, with no sex differences. Environmental factors shared by children in the same family contribute to symptom score only at age 12. The same group35 studied mono- and dizygotic twin pairs from 8083 families through parental reports on the Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Obsessive Compulsive Scale of the Child Behavior Checklist, and

concluded that obsessive-compulsive Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical behavior is moderately stable in childhood due to genetic, shared, and nonshared environmental factors. Using the same scale, Hudziack et al36 studied 4246 twin pairs and found genetic factors accounting for 55% of the results, with 45% due to environmental influences. Neuroimaging studies In a review article, MacMaster et al37 reported on the results of an extensive

literature search based on imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) and voxel-based morphometry, and concluded that the cortical-striatal-thalamic circuits are the most implicated in pediatric OCD. Glutamatergic signals from the frontal Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical cortex would stimulate striatal activity, diminishing thalamic inhibition. Results Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical of this meta-analysis included the following findings in youth with OCD: the cingular gyrus was found to be of greater volume and more active, the striatum is diminished, gray matter density in the orbitofrontal cortex is more elevated and voluminous on the right side, and thalamic volume and corpus callosum

are larger. Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Evidence from drug therapy studies indicates a role for the dopaminergic (use of atypical antipsychotics), serotoninergic (use of clomipramine and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs), and glutamatergic (use of riluzole) systems. Lazaro et al38 report on an fMRI study of 12 children with OCD compared with matched subjects; OCD patients presented significantly higher brain activation bilaterally in the middle frontal gyrus with decreased activation in the left insula and putamen after clinical improvement with 6 months of Farnesyltransferase pharmacological treatment. MacMaster et al39 studied 28 treatment-naive pediatric OCD patients compared with 21 controls using magnetic resonance imaging; OCD patients were found to have a larger right orbitofrontal cortex. PANDAS Karla and Swedo40 examined the role of neuroimmune dysfunction in pediatric OCD. As stated, antibody formation may trigger an inflammatory reaction in the basal ganglia following GABHS, as well as possibly other micro-organisms such as viruses, borrelia, and mycoplasma.

The present study found positive associations of accessibility, e

The present study found positive inhibitors associations of accessibility, esthetic quality with LTPA or LTW, which was in line with previous studies. Accessibility refers to the proximity and ease of access to commercial and physical activity destinations and public services within the neighborhood. Reviews and studies conducted in other countries have shown that living in a neighborhood with higher access to non-residential destinations and public services was positively associated

with more time engaged in LTPA (Hino et al., 2011 and McCormack Selleckchem BYL719 et al., 2008). Residents with good access to a park, play ground or public open spaces were more likely to achieve higher levels of walking and cycling (Giles-Corti et al., 2005 and Wendel-Vos et al., 2004). Mixing residential and non-residential properties with a shorter distance to facilities could increase the perception of convenience and promote physical activity accordingly (Badland and Schofield, 2005). Esthetic quality refers to the attractiveness and appeal of the neighborhood. It has been demonstrated previously that esthetically pleasing environments are positively associated with LTPA (Ball et al., 2001 and Humpel et al., 2004a), and the current study adds to the evidence base. Contrary to previous studies, results of this study showed inverse associations of residential density with LTW. Residential density refers

to the number of residential dwelling units per unit of land area (e.g., acre) (Saelens et al., 2003). It was historically thought to have positive association with more time engaged this website in physical activity because higher residential density is usually associated with smaller blocks, more mixed land-use and shorter distance to destinations (Cervero and Kockelman, 1997). But higher density alone does not appear to be a proven factor for increasing physical activities.

A recent meta-analysis showed residential density to be only weakly associated travel behavior once other variables were controlled (Ewing and Cervero, 2010). When it comes to LTPA, studies have suggested the possibility that densely settled Chinese cities could hinder LTPA due to decreased availability first of physical activity resources and increased concerns about traffic safety (Xu et al., 2010). On the other hand, residential densities of Shangcheng, Xiacheng and Xihu District are 18,156, 12,935 and 2394 persons/km2, respectively, which is much greater than the usual definition of 500 persons/km2 for densely populated areas used in the Western countries (Alexander et al., 1999). This is also likely to be an important factor contributing to the differences in the associations of residential density with physical activity. The present study analyzed the data by gender due to significant differences between genders in physical activity pattern and perceptions on built environment.

Based on these lines of information, it is very conceivable that

Based on these lines of information, it is very conceivable that astrocytes and microglia may play a differential role for OL developmental phenotypes. With regard to myelination, a limited studies suggest that

astrocytes may enhance myelination process (Ishibashi et al. 2006; Watkins et al. 2008), whereas the role of microglia is largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to address the above questions by examining OL development and myelination in cell cultures upon exposure to astrocyte- and microglia-conditioned Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical medium (ACDM and MCDM), which contains many secreted cytokines all together. Material and Methods Chemicals Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium (DMEM)/Ham’s F12 and F15 medium, fetal bovine serum (FBS), neural basal medium (NBM), B27 supplements, 7.5% bovine

serum albumin (BSA), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-AA), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical penicillin/streptomycin, and 2.5% trypsin were purchased from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA). The antibodies against NG2, O4, Rip, adenomatosis polyposis coli (APC), myelin basic protein (MBP), glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), CD-11b, phosphorylated neurofilament (pNF), and antibodies against the phosphorylated as well as total form of Akt, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase1/2 (Erk1/2), cAMP response element Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical binding protein (CREB), signal transducer and see more activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), were from Millipore (Billerica, MA). The XTT (2,3-Bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide)

assay kit and BrdU (5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine) kit were purchased from Roche (Indianapolis, IN). TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical dUTP nick end labeling) staining kits were purchased from Serologicals (Norcross, GA). Neutralizing antibodies Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical for PDGFaa, bFGF and insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits for ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and IGF-1 were from R and D systems (Minneapolis, MN). The antibody array kit was from Raybiotech (Norcross, Bumetanide GA). The advanced electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection kits were purchased from GE Healthcare Biosciences (Piscatway, NJ). Primary cell cultures OL, astrocyte, and microglia cultures Primary cultures of OPCs, astrocytes, and microglia were prepared from neonatal rat cortices at postnatal day 1 (P1), as described previously (Pang et al. 2000, 2010). Briefly, the cortices of P1 rat brain were separated from the surrounding tissue, trypsinized, and maintained in DMEM/F12 with 10% FBS. Upon reaching confluency, the flasks were shaken on an orbit shaker at 180 rpm for 2 h. The floating cells were filtered through a cell strainer (40 μm pore size), centrifuged, and plated in a noncoated flask.

Often the radiologists will first perform FNA with on-site evalua

Often the radiologists will first perform FNA with on-site evaluation of adequacy by the cytologist and end the procedure with a final core biopsy specimen. There are instances where the FNA contains abundant diagnostic material but the tissue biopsy is non-diagnostic and vice-versa. For hilar lesions of the liver, brushings obtained at the time of ERCP and endoscopically guided FNA are the preferred methods to obtain diagnostic material. Complications of FNA are rare, hemorrhage, hematoma

formation, bile peritonitis, pneumothorax, Gram-negative sepsis and tumor Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical seeding has been reported. These complications are less than those reported for wider bore Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical biopsies (5-6). Contraindications include refractory bleeding diathesis, uncooperative patient, massive ascites, severe emphysema, suspected hydatid cyst (as rupture may precipitate an anaphylactic reaction). Cytology is less useful in diagnosing specific localized non neoplastic and benign liver lesions, but is nevertheless helpful in excluding a malignant process. Sample preparation Aspirate smears should be made rapidly to avoid clotting artifacts, which will seriously compromise the cytologist’s rendering of a complete

and accurate diagnosis. Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Diff-Qiuk stain on air dried smears or Toluidin Blue on alcohol fixed smears may be used to immediately assess the quality of the biopsy. Cell blocks prepared from rinsing the FNA needle after smear preparation as well as harvesting the entire contents of one or more FNA passes are extremely helpful. Several reasonably sized (0.5 to 1 mm) fragments of

tissue should be obtained for cell block. If concomitant core biopsy specimens are Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical obtained they should be processed separately. Normal liver Needle aspirates of normal liver consist predominantly of Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical hepatocytes, with admixed biliary epithelial cells, Kupffer cells and endothelial cells. The hepatocytes are present as single cells, or monolayered small cell groups and sheets. The cells are round, polygonal, have well defined cell borders, and granular dense cytoplasm. Hepatocytes frequently contain cytoplasmic pigments (lipofuscin, hemosiderin, bile pigment, copper). The hepatocyte nucleus is round/oval, with smooth nuclear contour, fine selleck screening library evenly dispersed chromatin, and conspicuous nucleolus. There may be mild anisonucleosis (in extreme Resminostat uniformity a well-differentiated neoplasm needs to be excluded). Scattered binucleation may be present. Numerous intranuclear inclusions are seen in Diabetes Mellitus and Wilson’s disease. Bile duct cells are sparse in normal liver aspirates. They appear as monolayer sheets of uniform columnar to cuboidal cells with evenly spaced nuclei (“honeycomb appearance”). Bile ductal cells have less cytoplasm than hepatocytes, and contain round to oval nuclei with indistinct nucleoli (Figure 1).

The role of brain oscillations as functional building blocks in s

The role of brain oscillations as functional building blocks in sensory-cognitive processes has gained tremendous importance in recent decades. Event-related oscillations (ERO) in the alpha, beta, gamma, delta,

and theta frequency windows are highly modified throughout the cortex in pathologic brains, in particular from patients with cognitive impairment. However, they can only be characterized as clinical biomarkers by using a wide range of strategies and mathematical parameters. The oscillatory changes in multiple frequency windows and whole cortex should be taken Into consideration by analyzing relevant changes in the amplitude of function-related Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical oscillations, together with multiple connectivity deficits. The aims of this article are threefold: To briefly describe the main methods used in the brain research literature, such as evoked/event-related spectra, ERO, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical coherence analysis, and phase locking; to illustrate their clinical applications using the example of bipolar disorder

(BD); and to show how this might inform the search for neurophysiologic biomarkers in cognitive impairment.1 To explain the importance, for the design of (differential) diagnostic strategies and (preventive) drug schedules, of analyzing neurophysiologic information in a framework that includes Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical multiple methods and frequency bands. To propose a practical approach to the analysis and interpretation of brain oscillations. See Box 1 for a glossary of key terms used. Box 1 Alpha response: Oscillatory component of an evoked potential (EP) in the 8-13 Hz frequency range. Amplitude frequency Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical characteristics (AFC): The spectra of evoked MK 1775 responses in the frequency

domain potentials. Coherence analysis: A mathematical approach to examining the relationship between signals or data sets. Event-related oscillations (ERO): These include event-related potentials (ERP) and induced rhythms. Event-related potential (ERP): The measured Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical brain response resulting directly from a specific sensory, cognitive, or motor event Evoked frequency response: Dominant maximum in amplitude frequency characteristics. Delta response: Oscillatory component of an evoked potential in the 0.5-3.5 Hz frequency range. Gamma response: Oscillatory component PD184352 (CI-1040) of an evoked potential in the 30-60 Hz frequency range. Magnetoencephalography: A research and clinical imaging technique for measuring the magnetic fields produced by electrical activity in the brain. Neural oscillation: Rhythmic or repetitive neural activity in the central nervous system. Phase-locked and non phase-locked activity: Non phase-locked activities contain evoked oscillations that are not rigidly time-locked to the moment of stimulus delivery. They include induced alpha, beta, and gamma oscillations that may relate to specific aspects of information processing.

The method could be applied for a number of therapeutic applicati

The method could be applied for a number of therapeutic applications. The brain-derived PFI-2 cell line neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was delivered to the left hippocampus in mice through the noninvasively disrupted blood-brain barrier (BBB) using focused ultrasound. The BDNF bioactivity was found to be preserved following delivery as assessed quantitatively by immunohistochemical detection of the pTrkB receptor and activated pAkt, pMAPK, and pCREB in the hippocampal neurons.

It was shown that BDNF Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical delivered this way induced signalling effects in a highly localized region in the brain [71]. However it is the area of targeting brain tumours that have attracted most interest in the FUS disrupted BBB [72]. Mei and colleagues investigated the effects of targeted and reversible disruption of the blood-brain Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical barrier by MRI-guided focused ultrasound and delivery of methotrexate to the rabbit brain. The authors recorded that the methotrexate concentration in the sonicated group was notably higher Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical than that in both the control group (intravenous administration) and the internal carotid artery administered group. They observed a greater than 10-fold increase in the drug level compared to internal carotid administration without FUS [73]. Liu et al. investigated the delivery of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) to glioblastomas

in rats with induced tumours with the help of FUS. The authors found that FUS significantly enhanced the penetration Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical of BCNU through the BBB in normal and tumour-implanted brains without causing bleeding. Surprisingly, treatment of tumour-implanted rats with focused ultrasound alone had no beneficial effect on tumour progression. However, treatment with focused ultrasound before BCNU administration controlled tumour progression and improved Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical animal survival relative to untreated controls [74]. Liu and colleagues recently assessed FUS-mediated delivery of an iron oxide magnetic nanoparticle (MNPs) conjugated to an antineoplastic agent,

epirubicin. They used MNPs because of the favourable MR imaging characteristics, which could facilitate imaging. They demonstrated a substantial accumulation of MNPs, as well as epirubicin, up to 15 times the therapeutic Linifanib (ABT-869) range in the brain when delivered with FUS. They further showed decreased tumour progression in animals with brain tumours that received MNP with epirubicin via FUS [75]. Receptors targeting liposomal nanocarriers have been combined with MRgFUS to treat brain tumours. In a recently presented study it was shown that pulsed HIFU and human atherosclerotic plaque-specific peptide-1- (AP-1-) conjugated liposomes containing doxorubicin (AP-1 Lipo-Dox) acted synergistically in an experimental brain tumour model.

The vaccination status

of the child was assessed through

The vaccination status

of the child was assessed through the vaccination card, asked for during hospitalization. Also, data were obtained by home visits, telephone or the family health team of the area of residence of the child. Vaccination status was classified according to the presence and number of doses and time between last dose and hospitalization. Weight at admission was taken from hospital records and its deficit evaluated according to the weight-age standards of the National http://www.selleckchem.com/products/NVP-AUY922.html Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) for boys and girls [29]. Mother’s skin color was self inhibitors reported. Questionnaires for all potential cases and controls were sent to ISC/UFBa and reviewers confirmed the classification

of cases and controls by assessing the inclusion and exclusion criteria. To complement data on maternal reproductive period and child birth we consulted live births routine data (SINASC) from 7 cities. This system covers 80–90% of births in Brazil. The child age on admission and on administration of first and second doses and breastfeeding duration were calculated in days at the date of admission. Cases and controls were classified into three age-groups, according to age on admission: 4–6 months, 7–11 months and 12–24 months. The minimum sample size required (using EPI-INFO 6.0) was 88 cases and 88 controls (for vaccine coverage of 70%, VE of 65%, find more 95% confidence interval and 90% power. The achieved sample size of 215 cases and 1961 controls enabled estimation of genotype-specific vaccine effectiveness. Vaccine effectiveness was obtained by multivariable unconditional logistic regression, which is appropriate when frequency matching is used. The odds ratio was adjusted for: a) sex and age both used for frequency-matching, b) year of birth, to control coverage of vaccine by year and c) robust variance estimation

of Jackknife, with clusters being hospitals. Potential confounders were included in the final logistic model when the p-value of association was <0.20 (bivariate analysis). We used the backward method to analyze the presence of confounding. The best adjustment was given by the Akaike information criterion (AIC) [30]. Given the absence many of confounding by measured variables apparent in the analysis by number of doses, the subsequent analysis by time since second dose vaccination, genotype- specific was conducted without controlling for confounders other than age, sex, year of birth, and robust variance estimation of Jackknife. The frequency of missing values for any confounding variable was very low (less than 1%), and they were attributed to the category of reference (considered not exposed) to keep all cases in the analysis. We repeated the analysis stratified by year of admission to control for increasing vaccine coverage with time.