Does US full vaccination against COVID-19 immunize correspondingly S&P500 index: Evidence from the NARDL approach

This study analyzes the impact of COVID-19 full vaccination shocks on the US stock market in the period January 14, 2021- August 20, 2021. Using the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag model, we find that the positive and negative COVID-19 full vaccination growth shocks have a positive and symmetrical impact on the US stock market over the long run. Additionally, the short-run findings provide that the US stock market reacts negatively with delay to the positive and negative COVID-19 full vaccination growth shocks. The study findings provide good insights that COVID-19 full vaccination immunizes accordingly to the S&P 500 index in the long run. The study results indicate that the impact of positive and negative COVID-19 full vaccination growth shocks on the stock market in the short run differs from that in the long run. This research bears important implications: governments should implement preventive measures with vaccination to recover the stock market. Policy makers ought to urge adopting policy measures to reduce panic and boost investor confidence during economic and health crises.

Evaluation of VEGF-A and CCL2 in dogs with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome or canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and in normocephalic dogs

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) and canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (CIPF) of West Highland White Terriers (WHWTs) often cause intermittent or chronic hypoxemia. Our objective was to evaluate serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) concentrations of hypoxemia-related proinflammatory mediators vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and chemokine (CC motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) in brachycephalic dogs (BDs) and WHWTs with and without CIPF. Additionally, effects of BOAS severity and ageing on these mediators were assessed. 114 BDs (28 English Bulldogs (EBs), 37 French Bulldogs, 49 Pugs), 16 WHWTs with CIPF, 26 healthy WHWTs, and 39 normocephalic control dogs were included. Fifty-four BDs were re-examined after two to three years. Bead-based immunoassay was used for proinflammatory mediator measurements. Compared with controls, significantly higher serum concentrations of VEGF-A were seen in EBs (P = 0.009) and of CCL2 in CIPF and healthy WHWTs (P < 0.001; P = 0.002). BALF samples were available from controls, EBs, and WHWTs. VEGF-A was significantly lower in EBs (P < 0.001) and in CIPF and healthy WHWTs (P = 0.006; P = 0.007) and CCL2 was higher in CIPF WHWTs (P = 0.01) compared with controls. Between visits, only serum VEGF-A significantly decreased in BDs (P < 0.001), but breed, BOAS severity, or its change had no significant effect. In conclusion, in EBs with BOAS proinflammatory changes in VEGF-A were detected in both serum and BALF. Ageing reduced serum VEGF-A in BDs. In WHWTs, our results confirmed earlier findings of CCL2 as an important biomarker for CIPF.

The impact of COVID-19 news, panic and media coverage on the oil and gold prices: An ARDL approach

This study investigates whether COVID-19 news, panic and media coverage affect oil and gold prices. Using the ARDL approach over the period January 23, 2020 to June 23, 2020, we find that COVID-19 deaths and panic have negative effects on crude oil price. However, the propaganda created by the media in the long term has a negative impact on oil price. The empirical results show that the COVID-19 new infections, deaths and media coverage have positive effects on the gold price. Our findings prove that oil price is sensitive to bad news unlike gold price. According to our study, gold, which is a hedge against economic and geopolitical crises, is additionally a safe haven during COVID-19 health crisis. Overall, our results also demonstrate that the economic and financial uncertainty affect oil and gold prices negatively during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conclude that the impact of the COVID-19 new infections on oil and gold prices is depending on whether the disease is an epidemic or a pandemic.

[Transverse fracture of the sacrum: value of imaging. A case report]

Transverse fractures of the sacrum with major displacement are rare and often misdiagnosed. A case of transverse fracture of the sacrum with cauda equina injury is reported. The diagnosis was not recognized initially. Conventional radiographs of the pelvis failed to demonstrate the fracture. True lateral sacral views and CT scan with reconstructions allowed analysis of the different sagittal fracture lines to facilitate surgical planning. These examinations should be considered in all patients with history of high energy trauma and clinical signs indicating lumbosacral injury.

[Prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases among pregnant Tunisian women and validation of a clinical algorithm proposed by WHO for the management of sexually transmitted diseases]

The objectives of our study are to assess the prevalence of STD agents in Tunisia and to validate the WHO algorithm of STD management. The most frequent STD agents are Trichomonas vaginalis and Chlamydiae trachomatis, respectively with a prevalence of 5.6% and 1.7%. The assessment of the syndromic approach shows that the sensitivity and specificity of the WHO algorithm can be improved by the introduction of risk factors. The training of health care service providers and the use of an algorithm including risk factors can improve this approach, which is useful when laboratories services are not available.