Introduction. Varicella, also known as chickenpox is one of the most common immunizable diseases. In 1998, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended to incorporate this vaccine in the national immunization programs, which Argentina did in 2015. Objectives. To describe the behavior of the varicella time series for the 2005-2017 period, and to evaluate the impact of the vaccine in Argentina. Methodology. An ecological observational study was performed, using the varicella cases reported in the National Health Monitoring System, and the data of the National census as secondary data sources. A model based time series analysis of the notified varicella cases in Argentina was performed, using a Negative Binomial Mixed Model. For the verification of the vaccine impact, the 2005-2014 period was selected, and a prognosis for the following years was performed. Impact was evaluated by comparing the rates and confidence intervals between the predicted and observed values. Results. Argentina reported 1,775,587 varicella cases for the 2005-2017 period. The series exhibited seasonality, and, a decreasing trend in the number of cases was observed in 2016 and 2017. A reduction of the incidence rate after the implementation of the vaccine was observed. The transmission risk decreased in the country after vaccine implementation. Conclusions. This study is the first concrete evidence of the varicella incidence decline after the implementation of a single dose application program in Argentina.

RESUMEN Objetivo Identificar factores asociados al cambio de comportamiento en personas fumadoras mayores de 18 años luego de la implementación de políticas provinciales 100% libre de humo en Argentina. Métodos Se realizó un estudio analítico de corte transversal. Se utilizó la técnica de modelos multiniveles trabajando con datos de distintas jerarquías. Se utilizaron fuentes de datos secundarios: Encuesta Nacional de Factores de Riesgo 2005, 2009 y 2013. Resultados En el análisis individual de las variables explicativas, se obtuvo que los pobladores de las provincias que no tienen legislación tuvieron un 40% más de probabilidad de no pensar en dejar de fumar que las personas que viven en provincias con legislación. En las provincias sin legislación, el sexo masculino y la edad mayor de 65 años son las características que aumentan las chances de las personas a no pensar en dejar de fumar, en comparación con las provincias que tiene legislación. Conclusiones Los resultados sugieren que una legislación basada en el artículo 8 del Convenio Marco resultaría efectiva para estimular la cesación tabáquica en Argentina.

Background: The emergence of COVID-19 requires alternative treatments. This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic intervention with ivermectin in outpatients with COVID-19 mild disease, to increase discharge and prevent the progression to moderate or severe disease. Methods: Randomized Trial in an overall ratio 1:1, n = 254. The subjects were divided into experimental (EG: n = 110) and control groups placebo (CG: n = 144). The EG received ivermectin orally 0.6 mg/kg weight in two doses. All participants were by physical examination COVID-19 diagnosed with negative RT-PCR at the beginning and the end of protocol. Differences between the variables were determined using the Chi-square test (p<0.05). The contagion risk (Odds Ratio) was calculated using software STATA. Results: Both groups were similar in age, sex, and comorbidities. A significant reduction in the percentage of participants with symptoms (PPS) was observed in the EG and CG when the clinical evaluation of symptoms was performed from 5th to 9th (p= 0·0005). When the clinical evaluation was performed from 10th to 14th day there was no significant difference. A higher proportion of outpatient discharge was observed in EG (98·2%) vs. CG (86·1%) (p-Value = 0·0007). EG showed 8 times more chance of receiving discharge than CG (OR 8·71, 95% CI: 1·99 -38·12, p = 0·004). The treatment effect with ivermectin to obtain discharge from outpatient care was analyzed by the logistic regression. Then, the chance to obtain outpatient discharge was independent of variables sex, age, and comorbidities. Conclusion: Treatment with ivermectin in outpatients care with mild disease of COVID-19 managed to slightly reduce PPS. The treatment with ivermectin could significantly prevent the evolution to serious stages since the EG did not present any patient with referral to critical hospitalization. Retrospective Clinical Registration: ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier NCT04784481; Trial registrationdate: 03-05-2021. Last updated: 04-26-2021.

This study aims to evaluate the effect on the ability to generate Anti-Anti RBD antibodies (Anti-SAR-CoV 2-Spike-RBD) to the third dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine in two at-risk populations in the Province of Tucumán. Humoral immune responses, assayed by anti-SARS-CoV-2-Spike-RBD IgG ELISA, were measured in 223 participants, including geriatric patients and healthcare workers, at 0, 14 and 28 days after receiving third dose of the AstraZeneca between October and December 2021 in Tucuman, Argentina. The antibodies title in geriatric patients with and without previous COVID-19 diseases and complete vaccine schedule increased significantly 14 days after receiving the third dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine (p<0.001). When compared Antibody Concentration in geriatric patients with and without a history of COVID-19 14 days post-vaccination, the increase in antibodies was higher in those who did not have a previous history of COVID-19 (p<0.05). The antibodies title in healthcare personnel with and without previous COVID-19 diseases and complete vaccination increased significantly 14 days post-vaccination with the third dose of AstraZeneca (p<0.01). There was a negative correlation between age and antibodies titer 14 days after the third dose of COVID vaccine in persons with no history of disease (rs= -0.36, p=0.0001). While persons with a history of COVID-19 did not have a significant correlation (rs= -0.03; p=0.8). The results obtained provide information on antibodies dynamics after the third dose with AstraZeneca in a context of vaccine heterogeneity, indicating the importance of baseline studies of antibodies and hybrid immunity when considering vaccination policies.

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