The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) events in patients with COVID-19 treated with a standard thromboprophylaxis dose of anticoagulants remains high. We conducted a systematic review in order to explore the association between therapeutic-dose anticoagulation and its effect on mortality in patients with COVID-19. A systematic search was carried out using the electronic databases of PubMed, EuropePMC, and the Cochrane Central Database, using specific keywords. All articles that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in the qualitative analysis. There were 8 observational studies included in the final qualitative analysis. Quality assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) showed a mean score of 7.5 ± 1.06, indicating moderate to high quality of the studies. Three retrospective cohort studies reported a reduction in the mortality rate, while 6 other studies showed no mortality benefits among patients with COVID-19 treated with therapeutic-dose anticoagulation. There was a slight tendency toward a reduction in the mortality rate among mechanically-ventilated patients with COVID-19 receiving therapeutic-dose anticoagulation. Bleeding events and thrombotic complications among patients receiving therapeutic-dose anticoagulation were reported in 3 studies. Although it is too soon to draw any conclusions, this systematic review draws attention to current evidence regarding the association between therapeutic-dose anticoagulation and its effect on mortality in patients with COVID-19.

Background The evidence of using JAK inhibitors among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 is conflicting. The systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to address the efficacy of Janus Kinase (JAK) Inhibitors in reducing risk of mortality among hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Methods Several electronic databases, including PubMed, EuropePMC, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, with relevant keywords “COVID-19″ AND (“JAK inhibitor” OR “Ruxolitinib” OR “Tofacitinib” OR “Fedratinib” OR “Baricitinib”) AND (“Severe” OR “Mortality”), were used to perform a systematic literature search up to December 11, 2020. All studies pertinent to the predetermined eligibility criteria were included in the analysis. Our outcome of interest was all types of mortality, clinical improvement, and clinical deterioration. Dichotomous variables of our outcomes of interest were analyzed using Maentel-Haenszel formula to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) with random-effects modeling regardless of heterogeneity. Results Five studies with a total of 1190 patients and were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The use of JAK inhibitors was associated with a reduced risk of mortality (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.28–0.93, P = 0.02; I 2 : 7.8%, P = 0.354) and clinical improvement (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.05–2.95, P = 0.032; I 2 : 26.4%, P = 0.253). The use of JAK inhibitors was not associated with a reduced risk of clinical deterioration (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.28–1.19, P = 0.136; I 2 : 24.1%, P = 0.267). Conclusion The use of JAK inhibitors was significantly associated with a reduced risk of mortality, and clinical improvement in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

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The gastric cancer incidence in Semarang, Indonesia, is exceedingly low: only approximately 1/100th of the level in Japan. To elucidate the reason, we carried out an ecological study recruiting 69 male and 102 female participants from the general populace in January 2005. Positive urea breath tests were 0% for both men and women, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) IgG antibodies were found in 2% (0-5, 95% confidence interval) of men and 2% (0 -4) of women, significantly lower than the 62% (58-65) and 57% (53-60), respectively, in Japan. Furthermore, there were no positive findings with the pepsinogen tests in Semarang, again significant in comparison with the 23% (22-25) and 22% (20-23) in Japan. Variation in smoking levels and consumption of NaCl, vegetables and fruit were found, but not to an extent that would allow explanation of the major differences in gastric cancer incidence. We may conclude that the very low prevalence of H. pylori infection and thus chronic atrophic gastritis account for the rarity of stomach cancer in Semarang, Indonesia. (Cancer Sci 2005; 96: 873-875) S ince 2002, we have been conducting a collaborative epidemiologic appraisal of host and environmental factors for stomach and colorectal cancer in several South-east Asian countries. Ecological and case-control studies are now being carried out in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Khon Kaen, Thailand; and Yogyakarta and Semarang, Indonesia, in order to take advantage of the major variation in cancer incidence among these geographical areas and also with data for Japan. Stomach cancer incidence rates in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Khon Kaen, Yogyakarta and Semarang are approximately 1/2, 1/4, 1/10, 1/50 and 1/100 those prevailing in Japan, respectively: the annual age-adjusted incidence rates for Semarang were 0.6/10 5 for men and 0.3/10 5 for women during 1990-1999, and the respective figures for Japan in 1995 were 67/10 5 and 27/10 5 .(1,2)Gastric cancer may be caused by environmental or lifestyle risks, host genetic polymorphisms, as well as aging.(3) Many laboratory studies have pointed to roles for carcinogenic substances, including amine pyrolysate products and nitrosamines; however, grilled or barbecued meat and fish are categorized as possible risk factors in humans.(3) A probable risk factor for stomach cancer is salt or salty foods, which act synergistically with Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) infection in the development of stomach cancer in experimental animals (4) and humans. (5) Convincing preventive factors are vegetables and fruit and refrigeration, and a probable preventive factor is vitamin C. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has concluded that gastric cancer is a smokerelated malignancy.(6) H. pylori is a definite carcinogen, (7)(8)(9) and is accepted to be a major factor for chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), (5) a precursor lesion for stomach cancer.We here report the results of an ecological study of stomach cancer with reference to H. pylori infection and pepsinogen tests as a marker of CAG, ...